When I finally see the Charger, my heart begins to race. Toni sticks her head through the window and screams. Before the car even comes to a complete stop, her door is open and she’s jumping out. She’s tall, athletic, milk-chocolate gorgeous, and has the lightest brown eyes I’ve ever seen. Oh, my God, she looks so different! She’s relaxed her hair and dyed it burgundy since the last time she sent me a picture.

“Rave!”

With an excited shriek, I jump into her arms. “Toni! Oh, my God, I missed you.”

“Jesus Christ, gal, what a way you get fat!”

“Whatever. I am not fat!”

“Mmhmm. That ass looks fatter. What’s Gage been feeding you?”

“Just get back in the car. Let’s go.”

“After you, fatty.”

I climb in and find Chrissy in the back seat. Ron teases that they’ve been talking his ears off. Great! I was wondering if they’d get along. “Where we headed?” I ask Ron.

“Orders are to take you to the clubhouse.”

“Can you stop at the house first, please?”

“Got it.”

After Toni and I shower and change, we head over to the clubhouse. Even from outside, we hear the hip-hop music blaring. Toni starts to dance before we walk through the doors. I can smell Chopper’s burgers, so there’s definitely a party going on. The music stops when Ron pushes the door open for us.

“Surprise!” Everyone yells.

What the fuck? All the guys are here, grinning from ear to ear. It’s obvious they started the party without me because they’ve all got drinks and Hounds hanging on them.

“What’s going on?” I ask no one in particular.

Gage moves toward me from the back of the room, a big, beautiful smile on his lips.

“Bomboclawt,” Toni drawls. “Swag buck. He got that big dick walk.”

“Take your eyes off my man’s dick.”

“Mmhmm…mi see if you big, bad, and brave when him fling cocky under yu rass.”

“Yeah. I’ll tell you all about it.”

“What does she mean?” Chrissy whispers.

“That his swag is turned all the way up, and basically I won’t be so smug after he fucks me.”

“Oh.”

“That’s Mr. Flintstone right there,” Toni continues.

“He’ll definitely make your bed rock,” Chrissy adds.

I look between the two of them in marvel. I can’t believe they just met today. “Yeah, well…I’ll be his Wilma any day.”

I smile up at him as he stands before me.

“Hey, babe.”

“What is all this?”

“The guys wanted to throw you a party…our way. But I think this is more for them than you.”

There’s a chorus of “happy birthday” and then the music starts back up. I’m overwhelmed. I just don’t know what to say.

“You must be Toni,” Gage says to my bestie.

“Yeah. Nice to meet you. Thanks for the trip.”

He raises a brow at me when she hugs him and kisses his cheek. I wave it off and he shrugs.

“No problem. My girl wanted you here.”

“Shit, Rave. Please want me here more often.”

“Move. Then I won’t need to miss you.”

“Find me a man like him and we have a deal.”

Gage gives her his cocky grin and motions to the room as he pulls me away. “Take your pick.”

Everyone greets me as we pass by. Even some of the Hounds. Ellen kisses my cheek and whispers in my ear.

“Happy birthday.”

“Thanks. Where’s Mikey?”

“In the back, sleeping. That kid can sleep through anything.”

Gage leads me into the corridor and pushes me against the wall. I forget about everything going on in the next room and wrap my arms around his neck as he lowers his head. His lips cover mine as he grabs my ass and lifts me off the floor. I wrap my legs around his hips and part my lips for his insistent tongue. I moan at the first taste of him – like peppermint and my favorite dessert. He sucks on my tongue and presses his crotch into mine with a groan.

“Fuck. I can’t even look at you without getting hard.”

“Perfect. ’Cause I get wet just thinking about you.”

He lets me down and reaches into his back pocket. I stare down at the small, rectangular box he presents me with.

“Happy birthday.”

I open it and there’s a replica of his necklace and “12 Gage” pendant. It’s smaller, but it looks exactly like the one he gave me that I now wear all the time. He removes it from my neck and places it back around his. I lift my hair out of the way and he clasps mine for me.

“Oh, Gage…I love it.”

He smiles proudly as he stares at the necklace. “Mine.”

I return his smile, grab his cut and pull him in close. “Mine,” I tell him.

He takes my hand and we walk back to the bar. Pandemonium ensues. There are cheers, whistles, catcalls, and hooting. My cheeks must be flaming red. I hold my head down and avoid everyone’s gazes. Dr. E comes over and hugs me tightly. He eyes my necklace then winks at Gage.

“Happy birthday, sis.”

He kisses my cheek and loses himself in the crowd. Sis. Is that what this is all about? Is it some kind of welcome to their club? Their family? My heart constricts. This band of men who I once despised has embraced me into their lives. I couldn’t feel more at home. They’ve even welcomed my friends. Chrissy is on Ron’s lap and Toni is next to them, sitting on the bar talking to Allah. Huh...so all it took was my bestie to pull him away from the turntables. I smile as I watch him whisper in her ear. I don’t hear her answer, but he obviously doesn’t like it.

“Fuck you, bitch!” He sneers.

I lose my shit. “What did you call her?” I try to storm over there, but Gage holds me back.

“Don’t get in the middle of it.”

“If you won’t do something about it, I will. I won’t let him disrespect her like that!”

I fight against his hold but it’s futile. Then Toni speaks and I remember just who my friend is.

“How big is your dick?”

Allah stares at her in confusion and she hops down from the bar.

“What?”

“I said how big is your dick? If you ain’t got at least eight inches in them boxers, then you watch how the fuck you talk to me.”

Ha! Serves him right. Gage chuckles and releases me.

“You all got fucking smart mouths.”

Allah silently fumes as his brothers laugh at him. He grabs Toni’s hand and drags her off to where Gage and I just came from. Oh, hell no. Gage tries to stop me, but I evade him and follow them. They’re at the end of the corridor and Toni’s hand is in his jeans. Okay, then. I guess she doesn’t need my help after all. I slowly back away. Deena corners me before I can make my way back to Gage.

“Hey. Have you heard from Lonnie?”

“She doesn’t talk to me when she’s here. Why would I hear from her?”

“She’s disappeared like this before, but she usually calls after a day or two.”

I shrug, looking over her shoulder at the ongoing party.

“He kisses you.”

I snap my gaze back to her, surprised. There’s no hate or jealousy in her tone.

“I’ve never seen him do that with anyone. Lonnie’s been trying to get to him for a while. It’s funny that he ended up with you. He looks happy. I’m glad.”

She backs away and I watch her, just a little confused. As Lonnie’s friend, I thought she would want to scratch my eyes out. Go figure. Gage appears at my side and jerks his head toward the corridor.

“What happened?”

“There’s a little show and tell going on,” I mumble, still a little distracted by Deena’s words.

The lights go out as he begins to laugh. Movement from the kitchen area catches my attention, and I turn to see Aunt Nita and Chopper wheeling out a ginormous cake. Everyone sings the birthday song and Gage helps me blow out the candles. I don’t need to make a wish; there’s only one thing I want and I already have him. He swipes some of the frosting and offers it to me. I suck it from his finger, fighting the urge to make it a demonstration of my skills. Someone, I’m not quite sure who, pushes a bottle into my hand. I look around at my new family and throw my hands in the air.