The votes had been tallied, and the new generation of leadership was in place. Snake was the new President, Dagger the new Vice President, and Abaddon was the choice for Master at Arms. “I didn’t even put my name in,” he complained as he accepted the patch.
“You’re welcome,” Meghan said. “I figured you needed a job down here with me.” They kissed and accepted congratulations.
“Any other business,” Snake asked, the gavel in his hand. Crash yelled out he did. “Crash, you have the floor.”
He stood in front of everyone, bible in his hand. It wasn’t until we saw Steven and Meghan stand in front of them that I figured it out. “Holy shit!” Meghan gestured me over, and I practically ran to her side. Everyone laughed, then Crash took over.
“Dearly beloved, we are crashing this epic party because this Wolf and this Doctor can’t wait another night before they bang the shit out of each other. Love, honor, yada yada yada, repeat warnings about being married, hell, none of you listen to me anyway.” We all were cracking up by this point. “If anyone has any reason why these two disgustingly sweet lovebirds shouldn’t be married, speak now or forever hold your peace.”
He looked around, no one spoke up. “Perfect, we have stuff to do anyway. The rings?” Gabriel had come to stand next to Steven, he dug in his pocket and handed them to Crash. “Meghan, your vows.”
I handed her his ring and she put in on. “Steven, my secret crush, my love, my protector, I promise to be a loving wife, to care for and support you, and to make you the happiest man around. No more jumping off cliffs, though.” We all laughed, the story had been quickly told and she had forwarded the video to some of us. “I promise to be by your side as we raise our children, and to love you until the end.”
“That was sweet, but not what I’m used to,” Crash said as he handed Steven the band for her.
“Meghan, you’ve entranced me since the moment I first saw you. I promise to love, honor, and protect you and our family with all that I have, and to make you the happiest damn woman ever to ride a Harley next to her man.”
“Jesus, you guys are boring,” Crash said. “Well, by the power vested in me by the State of Minnesota and the Church of Mastercard, I hereby declare you husband and wife. You may now…”
“MOLEST THE BRIDE,” the whole Club yelled out in response. We cheered as they kissed, they didn’t come up for air for at least thirty seconds. Hammer tossed some ice water at them, causing them to come apart.
“Hey, ice cold water works to get humans unstuck too,” Gabriel said as the wolves all laughed.
“And with that, the meeting is over. Let’s get ready to party!” At Snake’s announcement, people started to head back out, there was a lot to do. Hammer and I hugged Steven and Meghan before passing them off to others. “Wow,” I said. “He moves fast.”
“He didn’t string her along,” Hammer agreed as he pulled me into his lap. “I’ve never seen her as happy as she is today. This isn’t official, they have to get their marriage license and fill out the forms, that will take a few days.”
“They made this memorable,” I said with a smile. “Our little girl is all grown up.”
“She is. What was all that talk about family and children? Are they adopting?”
“I don’t know, but if Meghan said it, she has a plan to do it. Always has, always will.” I got up, leading him outside where I could put him to work getting ready for the party. It was going to be epic.
Sheri’s POV
The meeting was over, and I immediately started directing people in the last-minute preps for the party. Our Patchover party now doubled as a mating celebration for Adam and Eve, plus a marriage reception for Steven and Meghan. I think the happiest guy in the room was Hammer; with his only daughter now married off in what was for him a zero-dollar wedding bill, and zero time spent planning? Huge guy win.
I made sure the prospects had the ice around the kegs topped off, and checked all the outside decorations and preps. Snake and Mia were handling the food, and Kelly was making sure the kids were settled in the rooms upstairs. We’d hired some of the older kids to be babysitters, feeling better if everyone was in one place. They’d watch movies and play games all night, and we had plenty of mats and sleeping bags for them to spend the night. The party promised to go well into Saturday morning.
I’d put my manager in charge of the restaurant and bar, something I was doing more often now. Moose was no longer Master at Arms, and I was mulling over an offer to buy me out. We had talked about it, neither of us were getting older, and since I had fertility issues, we’d never had children. He was in his mid-fifties now, I was eight years younger than him, and we were starting to think of what we might do if we retired. Twenty-three years of running a bar had taken a toll on me and our marriage.
The one thing I would miss about it was the people. I had a huge number of friends, in and out of the club, and I’d introduced eighteen of them to their current spouses. It was like I had a sense for who might get along with who, so when the Knights gave up their chastity vow, I made a few phone calls. I had to twist a few arms, more difficult when one was a Krav Maga master and former Secret Service agent, but I got them to come. I’d introduce them to the guys I thought they’d be perfect for tonight. Others I didn’t have a sense for, but if they were good people. in their thirties or forties, and open to the motorcycle culture, I asked them to come too. They were reluctant until I showed them a few pics of the guys and mentioned they were single.
It was my way of making sure the party was truly epic. I didn’t want the dance floor to be empty all night.
The portable dance floor I had for weddings and such was set up in the middle of the lot; additional lighting made sure there were no spots that were too dark. The night was good for this, it was in the eighties today before a front had come through, knocking the humidity down, and a refreshing breeze would keep the mosquitos down. After forty more frantic minutes, I told Snake we were ready and he had the Prospects open the gates.
Donuts was on security tonight, in his Deputy uniform. It was punishment for his lapses in operational security, he would get to police the drunks but not drink himself. Viper was still pissed at him, and since it affected Snake’s daughter, he wasn’t getting an early pardon. “Everything going all right?”
“No problem, Sheri. We’ve got plenty of parking in the next lot and on the street, and it looks like it will be a good crowd.”
I had to agree; I’d already seen a bunch of friends come in, and with the representatives of most of the Twin Cities motorcycle clubs attending, it should be a fun party. “Don’t let things get out of hand, this is a family joint,” I said. It was true, our club was structured like an outlaw club but was far different. I walked towards two motorcyclists who were just backing their Harleys into their spots, nose out on the side of the road. “Zee! Lee!”
The two cut their engines and put the kickstands down, getting off and leaving their gloves and helmets on their bikes. “Sheri!” I hugged them both, which annoyed the hell out of Mackenzie but Natalie loved. The two sisters were two halves of the same coin. Zee was the toughest woman I’d ever met; former Secret Service agent, martial arts expert, and owner of an executive protection service here in the Twin Cities. No one would expect that the beautiful, five-foot-five brunette in a clingy dress and heels was the most dangerous person in the room, but she always was. She exploited that in her business, often posing as a girlfriend or assistant. She was far more effective than the hulking bodyguards she employed, and was the best at protecting women. The girls at the bar called her Cleopatra, because guys were always trying to hit on her, and she was the Queen of Denial.
Lee was the girly girl, who wore a hot pink biker jacket and oozed sex appeal. She looked the part, with Daisy Duke shorts, a halter top and knee-high leather boots. Her blonde hair cascaded over her shoulder in tight curls as she pulled it free of the ponytail. She was a great woman with no luck in finding a guy to match. She’d left a trail of disappointment behind, including three failed marriages. “Sheri, those hot guys better be here tonight,” she said. “I need to change my luck.”
“They are, Lee. It’s like a buffet in there.” I hooked my arm around hers. “Come on, I’ll make introductions.”
“They better not get grabby,” Zee said. “One reason I don’t go to motorcycle club parties is because the guys seem to think any girl attending is their personal whore.”
“I told you, my club isn’t like that. These are good guys, I’d be happy if you liked any of them. They are a different breed, very dedicated and chivalrous. You’ll be fine.”
Zee snorted. “Chivalry? In a motorcycle gang?”
“Club. Come on.” I walked them through the gate, leading them to where our new officers were all standing around. A steady stream of people had been coming through to meet and congratulate them, it would be a while before they could sit and eat. Seeing Snake with a woman for the first time in eighteen years, and Meghan together with Steven, was reason for more congratulations. “Guy, these are our new Club officers. There are my friends Mackenzie Paulson, who goes by Zee, and her little sister Natalie, who goes by Lee. Zee, Lee, this is our President, Snake, and his girlfriend Mouse. Don’t ask how she got that name.”
“How did you get that name,” Zee asked as she shook their hands.
“I’m the favorite thing for Snake to eat,” she said with a grin. Lee cracked up at that.
“This is our Vice President, Dagger, and his fiance’ Sara, who goes by Shadow.” They had been together almost a year now, and I knew it wasn’t going to be much longer before it was official. My guests shook their hands, Lee complimenting her on her glossy black hair. “And finally, Steven, our Master-At-Arms, and his brand-new bride Meghan, who is also our Club Doctor. They had a surprise wedding less than an hour ago.”