"I know you love him, but it's a mother's job to worry and always want the best," Irene defended.

"Trust me when I say there's not a man out there who could take better care of me," Juliette said.

The mother and daughter duo locked gazes, exchanging a silent conversation.

Joey breathed a sigh of relief.

Hurricane Irene had passed over without any casualties. Irene stepped back and turned to the dresses. "So what are we looking for, honey?"

"I want something flowy, light, airy-maybe even ethereal, but not so over the top it doesn't fit the wedding setting," Juliette said.

"So sort of the mythical forest concept with a touch of vintage flair Joey here described?" Irene asked.

"That's actually a pretty accurate description," Juliette confirmed.

A rail-thin platinum blonde with striking blue eyes and artfully done makeup strolled over on three-inch white stilettos. A flattering charcoal-colored suit hugged her curves, accentuating a tiny waist and slender frame. "I see your entire group is here now. Hi, guys, my name is Lisa, and I'll be helping our beautiful bride today. She's given me a bit of a rundown of what she's looking for. Is there anything you'd like to add before we start?" Lisa gazed at Juliette.

Joey looked around, half listening to the conversation as she took in the gowns that cost as much as, if not more than her car. It gave her the willies. She had nothing against marriage. But she couldn't see going into debt over the ceremony. I love you, honey, let's start our life together in debt. NO thanks. "Now that I have a good mental image, I'll take you ladies to the seating area and lead my bride to the dressing room." Joey linked arms with Evonne and Hil, following the three women in front of her on a mission.

This would be interesting. Seated on a large couch beside the girls and Irene, Joey leaned forward, excited to see the third pick. The first dress had been too over the top, and the second had been too pink, making Juliette feel like she was going to the prom, instead of getting married. The third pick was the best of both worlds. A light blush pink at the top that faded to a lighter pink toward the bottom, it had a corset top with a sweetheart neckline. A light speckle of beading with a silky blush bow that adorned the top of the dress like a layer, then the skirt belled out to a wispy overlay of organza. It looked whimsical, ethereal, and vintage.

"Are you ladies ready?" Lisa walked down the hallway, and they all sat up and turned toward her. "Come on out, Juliette."

Juliette appeared, and they all gasped. The gown made her skin glow. She was a slender vision with a giant smile plastered across her face.

"Oh my God, you look amazing!" Evonne cheered.

"Seriously stunning, Jul," Hil concurred.

Juliette spun to face them.

Joey nodded as her eyes watered. She held a hand to her mouth, completely stunned by just how beautiful Juliette looked. This was the face of true happiness.

"Mom?" Juliette lifted the layered material gently.

"You look absolutely breathtaking!" Irene grabbed Juliette's hand. "This is the one, baby."

"I think so too." Juliette beamed.

Joey couldn't help but be swept into the joy. Mission accomplished.

"Hey man, what do you know about the Crazy Eights?" Moose asked while nursing a beer at the bar beside Shooter.

"Depends, what do you want to know?" Shooter shrugged.

"What's our agreement with them exactly?"

"Pretty much, they have the outskirts and the next town as their territory. We make nice, and everyone continues their lives. What's going on?"

"An Eight hit on Joey last night."

Shooter snickered. "She's a good-looking girl."

"Yeah, but he was persistent. He wouldn't leave her alone until she told him her name."

Shooter frowned. "Did she tell him she was Mayhem property?"

"No." Moose shook his head. "Just told him he flew the wrong flags."

Shooter laughed. "I'd like to have seen that. She knows a lot for someone from suburbia."

"I know. I've been meaning to ask her about it, but-she has a way of distracting me."

"Yeah, I bet," Shooter mumbled.

"Ey, don't act like you aren't getting hitched in a few months."

"Never said I wasn't." Shooter grinned.

Moose rolled his eyes and flicked his wrist. "Kachee," he said, mimicking the sound of a whip flying through the air.

Shooter shook his head. "But back to Joey, sounded like the guy was just barking up the wrong tree. She didn't tell him you were Mayhem, so maybe he didn't give a fuck. Did he scare her?"

"It was more than me not liking it. I wondered if maybe they were in league with Peter's crew."

Shooter tensed. "Did he say something that made you think that?"

"No, I would've told you immediately. But I think we're all waiting for the other shoe to drop in that situation," Moose said.

"Yeah, we're all thinking it. If we let it make us crazy though, they'll win," Shooter said.

"I hear what you're saying and it sounds good in theory. But let me ask you this, you willing to bet your old lady's life on it?" Moose asked.

"I didn't say we shouldn't look into it," Shooter said.

"Yeah, that's what I thought. Does the name Snubs mean anything to you?"

"Snubs..." Shooter's eyelids flew up. "You sure that was his name?"

"Yeah, she said that's what it read on the patch." Moose frowned. "Why?"

"Because that's their V.P." Shooter looked troubled. "What the hell would he be doing at that club, hitting on a chick when he has a clubhouse full of women falling all over themselves to get to him?"

"Fucking fantastic, now I like the situation even less." Moose scowled. The way he'd doggedly pestered Joey for her name made him twitchy. Why would he care, unless he needed it for some reason?

"Hey, I say no harm, no foul. Chances are, they'll never run into each another again, and if they do? Joey can set him straight."

"I want to look into it more anyways." Moose scowled.

"Figured. What do you want to do?"

"Learn more about Snubs and the Eights. Specifically, how they treat and acquire their women." The world they lived in was a dark one, and some had no morals.

"I'm pretty sure they don't peddle flesh if that's what you're worried about," Shooter offered.

"I want to be positive."

"All right, we can ask Maverick. He knows everyone's dirty laundry."

"Good." Moose nodded. The tension eased from his shoulders.

Shooter finished off his drink. "I'm guessing you want me to hit him up right now?"

"That obvious?" Moose shook his head. Women had a way of complicating life.

"I know the look of a concerned male. I wore it long enough." Shooter snickered.

"How is that coming along? No trickle down?" Moose wondered about the ass who abused Juliette before she met Shooter.

"Nothing so far, which makes me even more suspicious. If his partners were anything like Peter's crazy ass, they shouldn't be taking it lying down. Don't let Joey know I'm worried. I don't want to get Juliette on edge. She's been through enough."

"You know I don't do sharing corner like that, brother."

"You seem pretty tight." Shooter raised a brow.

"Yeah, I'm man enough to admit I'm in deeper than I ever imagined myself being. She just gets me and this life." He shrugged. "It's not something every woman could handle. Plus, she puts it down like a boss."

Shooter laughed. "Things I didn't need to know about my old lady's best friend."

"Shit, I had to tell someone. Didn't think she had it in her, man. She's a freaking lioness." He licked his lips, thinking about the night before. She'd taken to the candle play like a fish to water. His cock twitched in his pants. She made it difficult not to become completely enamored with her. "Do you know what the meeting is about?" Moose asked, grasping on to the distraction.

"No clue."

The door opened. Gadget and Specs walked in together. The two best friends had an apartment together not too far away. Both were sons of Lords of Mayhem patch holders, who'd done their prospecting together. The two nodded, and Moose waved them over.

"It must be semi serious if he called in the technical twins," Shooter observed.

"Shit, knowing Tiny, it could be a healthy bout of paranoia setting in." Moose rolled his eyes.

There was a reason Tiny stayed on top. He thought about everything that could go wrong and took preventative action. They had a Plan A, B, and C drilled into their heads for worst-case scenarios.

Moose glanced down at his watch. "Let's open up the conference room. They should be trickling in soon. We got thirty minutes 'til we start."

"Calling the meeting to order at 3:00 p.m." Moose tapped his gavel down.

They all turned to look at Tiny, who stood from his seat at the head of the table. "I know this meeting was last minute. I received news that made me want to tighten up security." Tiny cleared his throat. "We just found out Boston is pregnant."

Moose's jaw dropped as murmurs rose around the room.

"Yeah, you think you're shocked," Tiny said half laughing. "We're excited. It's about time we started working on the next generation to pass the title down to. I want more cameras around my house and the club. We're going to get some new protocol going just for families in case of a lockdown situation with infants. This is all new for us. We haven't had babies around in the M.C. in a long time. We were founded on a family-first mentality and I want to make sure that continues. Over the past ten years, we've busted our ass securing our position, building up our finances and solidifying our alliances. It's time we expand and look inward. With Shooter's wedding coming up and Boston expecting. I feel like we're headed in the right direction."

One by one, the heads turned to look at Moose.

"Don't fucking look at me. Congrats, boss man!" Moose stood up and clapped the Prez on his shoulder.

"Thanks, I'm hoping for a boy first at least. Then he can decimate anyone who even looks at his sister wrong later."

They all laughed, and the mood lightened as celebration filled the space. They dismissed the meeting fifteen minutes later with Gadget and Specs headed to the local electronic stores to get everything installed and set up by the end of the night.

"Hey, mate, you got a minute?" Moose called to Maverick.

"Yeah what's up?" he asked, stopping to stand beside him.

"My sweetheart had a run-in with a guy from the Eights named Snubs. What can you tell me about him?"

Maverick shook his head and let out a wolf whistle. "Snubs. The guy is every bit as hardcore as his name. Crazy son of a bitch." He shook his head. "Tell me about this run-in."

"Not much to tell, she told him he was barking up the wrong tree, but he was persistent."

"She claim Mayhem?" Maverick asked.

"No, just said his flags were wrong," Moose said.

"I never heard of anything going down with the Eights and women. If she told him to step off, I imagine he will. Moral compass-wise, they're like us. A little busted, but not completely broken," Maverick said.

"Thanks, man, that takes the weight off," Moose said.

Maverick smirked. "No problem. Shit getting serious with you and Joey, I take it?"

"Let's just say she'll be around for awhile, eh?" Moose answered.

"Better be careful. With Tiny's wild hair up his ass, he'll have you hitched up and living in marital bliss." Maverick rolled his eyes.

"Fuck, man, don't even say that shit out loud." Moose shuddered. The thought of a ring and paperwork made him want to break out in hives.

Maverick laughed. "That all you needed?" he asked.

"Yeah, man," Moose said.

"All right, I'm going to hit up the bar. The new house mouse is sexy as hell." Maverick wiggled his eyebrows.

Moose glanced at the dark-haired girl with caramel skin slinging drinks in a tiny pair of cutoffs and a tight white tank top. She was pretty, but she held no pull for him. And I called Shooter whipped. Acquired by Slick in a poker game with another chapter, Layla had taken over for Red. Quiet but witty and always ready with a smile, she seemed like an okay chick.

"Feeling better?" Shooter asked, appearing by his side.