Billionaire Cowboy: Siblings (Book 2 in the Richland Series)

Chapter 7: Michael

Michael’s pov

Watching Tank escort Rianne out of the large space known as the “family” area in the clubhouse had my nerves on edge. Something felt different, but as an outsider I could not acknowledge the warning in my gut.

Needing to calm down, I tried to look on the bright side, anything to reduce the pounding in my chest. Holding up my pointer finger in my head, I internally started counting. One: Rianne looked relaxed next to her cousin. Unable to find a second, I mentally changed the digit to my middle finger. Nothing about this place was predictable, f*ck!

Scanning the room, everyone carried on with their conversations like nothing was happening right in front of them. No one gave a crap, except Hawk. Why did he follow them down the hall?

As expected, Tennessee, a club bunny, walked up with a beer and a big smile. It’s like an unofficial club rule that no guy will be without a drink for more than five minutes. Accepting the beer, I took a step back to give a yardstick-of-space between us. Her fake boobs were so large, they probably had their own area code. After a previous visit, where I watched how the club man-handled an outsider who touched their “property,” I made sure my intentions were clear.

Tennessee, named after her strong accent and roots from the Volunteer state, flirted with her s****l drawl, “Hey, Michael, all the girls agree it’s nice having you around again.” Seeing a couple of the guys looking in our direction, I accepted the beer with a smile and took another step backwards keeping my eyes on her face avoiding her large rack.

Those f*ckers behind me laughed.

Tennessee continued her burlesque torture, “I’ll be on stage soon, hope you’re watching.” Peeking over her shoulder, I briefly acknowledged the catwalk on the far side of the room and the stripper pole centerstage. The bunnies like to rile up the members and I may watch, but from a distance.

**** ****

Finishing the beer, my buzz was hanging on by a thread awaiting Rianne’s return. Through the years, I’ve learned to find a happy-medium between sober and drunk in order to relax in this place. It’s not my first and won’t be my last visit, but the volatile scene always had my nerves misfiring, unable to function on all cylinders.

Violence is bred in most MCs and while I’m accustomed to bar fights, more than once I’ve witnessed how these mammoths pack a punch like no other.

In my current state, I need keep my sarcasm and witty comments to a minimum and avoid a beat down.

Finding an open stool near the pool table, I kept enough distance from Tennessee on the catwalk and the half-naked bunnies working the dance floor.

Hawk returned puffing on a cigar with an arrogant smirk on his weathered face, strolling towards the pool table. Yeah, that’s not shady. I nodded, then looked over his shoulder for Tank and Rianne. What’s taking so long?

Within minutes, loud Clydesdale stomps echoed off the walls as Tank stormed towards Hawk. Standing with his chest puffed out, Tank mumbled about club property. Removing myself from the situation, I accepted another beer from a bunny and retreated across the room to the poker table, letting others discreetly observe the scene.

Taking another long gulp, I rubbed my chin, unable to savor the taste. Free drinks are not worth having to endure this uncomfortable atmosphere.

This visit was a mistake.

Tank barked, “Wrench,” and like a well-trained soldier, the prospect strutted to the infamous hallway that had been capturing my attention.

A deep voice boomed, “Church!” rattling my confidence further. Every guy stood with purpose and walked to the darkened hallway where Rianne still had not come back from.

What’s going on?

Before I could ask questions, Wrench escorted Rianne through the wall of muscles to my arms. She held her head high, but I could tell something was wrong.

The young kid whispered, “Keep her safe, don’t leave.” Wrapping my arms around my girl, she buried her face in my chest as soft sobs soaked my shirt. I looked at the prospect with a “WTF?” look but he just ignored me and leaned in whispering, “Rianne, everything will be okay, I promise.”

This guy isn’t even a real member. What can he do?

Her muffled voice pleaded, “I don’t want to...” Don’t want to what? My buzz was fading quickly. Helping us move to a couch, a couple of the Old Ladies shared concerned looks but refused to share their thoughts. I noticed a guy with a spiderweb tattoo on his hand watching us with a smirk.

Why wasn’t he attending church?

***** *****

Tank’s pov

My blood was boiling as guys filed into the room. As the club’s Vice President, my chair sat to the left of the Hawk, but right now I doubted him as my president, my brother, and my best friend.

How could Hawk throw me under the bus?

Having church called tonight, gave me no time to convince my closest brothers to protect Rianne. A majority vote would change her life forever, with or without her permission.

Hawk raised his hand to call the meeting to order. I stared straight in front of me, meeting no one’s eyes, ready to swing or kill if need be. A sweet smokey smell from my right was probably Hawk puffing on his cigar as the room became silent. From my peripheral view, I noticed how he leaned back in his chair, meeting eyes with his brothers, except mine.

With his deep voice, Hawk announced, “This meeting was called for a vote.” Clenching my fists against my thighs, I tried to listen to his arrogant words as the fighter within me began to push forward.

I could never take down all my brothers, but if a few took my side without question, I might survive.

My other concern, was anyone packing? We’re not supposed to bring weapons or phones into church, but would the urgency of the meeting cause someone to forget to hand over their gun or knife?

Hawk stood, noticing the tension in the room as my brothers were slowly witnessing my behavior. “As many of you know, Rianne, our VP’s cousin, was given a shield the day he became one of our brothers. Over the years, she’s become, what one might say, more than an outsider.” Table knocks and uh-huh’s murmured around the room, agreeing with Hawk.

Sh*t!

Speaking slowly, giving each phrase strength, he continued, “Many of us, including our Old Ladies, have found themselves confiding in Rianne. I will admit her opinion was given openly, more than once, about matters that concerned the club.”

His stern voice felt like a knife shoved violently into my chest as he manipulated the room.

Eagle, one of the founding members, spoke up with his gruff voice, “Tank, what’s going on?” I could feel more eyes turn my way, but I refused to acknowledge this spectacle. Whispers circled the room.

Yeah, my closest brothers are not happy.

Hawk spoke quickly, “I chose to share my thoughts with my brothers first.” More whispers bounced off the walls. From the day he was voted into position, Hawk has always confided in me, before addressing the club, and here he changed things when it comes to my cousin. He might be twelve years my senior, but he was closer to me than any friendship I have ever had.

Arsehole!

The bastard raised his hand before speaking again, “We have never had a female member and it will not happen while I’m alive.” I felt his eyes on me, but I refused to verify his words. I’m not going to show allegiance to this bullsh*t. Trying to keep control of the room, Hawk quickly added, “I’m putting it up for a vote that Rianne becomes club property.”

Here we go. Various shouts filled my ears, “Hell no!” “What are you thinking?” “Not Rianne.”

Eagle pounded on the table and spoke with his drill instructor's voice, silencing the room, “Are you suggesting Rianne become a club bunny?” More yells filled the room, but it was so loud it was difficult to determine who was supporting this nonsense. My heart was pounding in my chest, making me speechless.

At this point, I will be swinging, not speaking.

Hawk stood up, “Now, hold up. Let’s get the record straight.” Yeah, why don’t you do that boss. He leaned on the table, using his size to intimidate the room. D*ck! He spoke with his booming voice, “I, for one, think of Rianne as family. She knows how to connect with most of us better than our Old Ladies.”

What is he saying?

Numerous chairs dropped to the floor as guys shot up yelling.

All hell was breaking out.

Taking the time to finally observe the room, I needed to know how many were against this sh*t. To my far left, Eagle, a respected leader, was making eye contact and shaking his head, spreading his demand to vote against the president. Wrench, a prospect and former MMA champion, was sitting against the wall, holding a scowl, shaking his head and Mouse, our IT genius and proud owner of a deadly punch, glanced over his shoulders with his predatory eyes.

Yeah, my boys are preparing to take out as many as possible.

Sh*t is going down tonight and will forever change our club.

The tension at church became stifling, the yelling still hadn’t decreased. One pound of a fist on the table, a chair bounced against the floor, or the c***k of knuckles would set this place into a blaze. Without a vote, it would be tough to determine who was on whose side, but at this point, we’ve gone beyond rational thinking.

Hawk cleared his throat, gaining everyone’s attention, “Your reactions prove this vote must happen. As your president, the one that was voted in unanimously, I demand that, as a club, we create a new law where Rianne is treated like an Old Lady to the club. Just to make it clear, no one, I mean NO ONE, touches her without HER permission. And as property of the club, we agree to protect her with our lives,” he pointed across the sea of men, “Each and every one of us.”

The silence was broken as everyone understood Hawk’s demand. Hands smacking the table, voices roaring, “Hell yeah,” “I’ll always protect her with my life,” “F*ck yeah, let’s vote,” chaos erupted once again.

Letting Hawk’s words slowly soak in past my temper, I turned my head as a strong hand grabbed my shoulder. Meeting my best friend’s eyes, I stated “She will never be a bunny while I’m alive.” Staring with emotion, Hawk stated with his gruff voice, “Never.”

**** ****

Rianne’s pov

A soft male’s voice caught my attention, “Uh, Rianne, we need you at church.” Whispers among the Old Ladies and bunnies, that once echoed around me, were suddenly silenced. Michael held me tighter, he questioned, “Only club members go to church, why do you need her?” Wrench tilted his head, “Hey, don’t kill the messenger. I promise, I’ll never let anything happen to her.”

Yeah, there’s that promise again.

Begging with puppy dog eyes, the young pup reached towards me as Michael kissed my head, “I’ll be right here waiting.” A couple of the Old Ladies walked up patting my arms for comfort.

Why does this feel like I’m walking to my death?

Guiding me into the large room called church, with his arm around my shoulder protectively, Wrench walked us to the front next to Hawk. Moving into Hawk’s arms, my skin was crawling. Hawk’s deep voice spoke but my pounding heart heard rumbles, unable to decipher his words.

A pause caused me to look up. Everyone’s eyes were on me. Smiles and heads bobbing. What have I gotten myself into?

Looking over at Ty, I remained speechless. What was I supposed to do? He stood pulling me into an embrace. Whispering until he got my attention, he repeated his words a couple of times before they soaked in. I whispered back, “I don’t want to be a bunny.”

Laughs and hollers bounced around the room. My cousin leaned in, “Never. You are the first to be protected by the club without being an Old Lady or a bunny. You’ll be part of our family. You need to agree.”

Looking from Hawk to Ty and back a couple of times, I asked, “What am I agreeing to?” The room was silent as Ty explained, probably for the nth time, “If you agree to being part of our family, you will protect the club with your life, without question. You will never reveal our club business and you will treat everyone as family.”

With scrunched brows, I stated, “I already do that.” Loud cheers, whistles and table pounding caused my body to jump. Being pulled back into thick arms, Hawk’s deep voice announced, “That’s why the club voted unanimously to officially change our laws.”

Realizing my innocence was no longer in danger, I looked up into Hawk’s suddenly soft eyes, “How does this change my life?”

Hawk’s deep contagious laugh echoed in the room, “You will go from Tank protecting you with his life to every brother and Old Lady. Everyone will protect you with their lives.”

Unable to keep the tears from sliding down my cheeks, I looked around the room of men and tried to speak, but ended up whispering, “I agree.” These might be tough guys who rarely show emotions, but my spirit has cracked, and the tears won’t stop.

Between the bear hugs and kisses on my head, my shaky limbs leaned against a hard body, Ty.

Once again, he was my protector.

As everyone left, I turned to face my cousin, “I never wanted to join your club, this is your life. I didn’t mean for things to change.” Feeling his strong arms embrace me in a warm hug, he whispered, “My brothers are my family. You are my family. Change can be hard, but this, this is improvement.”