Free Grasping For Freedom by Debra Kayn Page B

never truly free.
    When it was time for the last vote, Pete said, "Nay."
    Torque shifted in his chair. Votes only counted if unanimous. Without everyone's vote, Rain couldn't carry through with the punishment. That was something he wasn't expecting, or deserved.
    "You've got the table, Pete," Rain said.
    Pete crossed his arms over his vest-covered chest. "I can't in good conscious punish Torque for something my son-in-law did only two short months ago and wasn't punished for. Bruce went behind my back, the club's back, and disrespected himself and my daughter."
    Torque's chest ached and he rolled his shoulders trying to find relief. Bruce had not only broken club rule, he slept with a member's daughter. It'd caused a riff in the club for a few weeks, until everyone—especially Pete—accepted that Bruce and Kristen were serious for each other.
    "Brandy's an employee, not a daughter, an old lady, or sister. I believe if Torque takes this as a warning, we're good. If he believes there will be another incident between him and Brandy, he must notify Rain." Pete ran his forearm over his whiskered lower face. "It's the right thing to do."
    "Aye if you agree, nay if you disagree," Rain said.
    The vote came back from all members in agreement with Pete. Torque lifted his chin and met each of their gazes. "Understood."
    "Meetings over." Rain chuckled when Raul swung his arm out and knocked Slade's stocking cap off. "Get the hell out of here and go work. Torque, you stay for a few minutes."
    Pete stood, laid his hand on Torque's shoulder, and squeezed. He nodded his thanks.
    The other members left after looking back at Torque, lifting their chins in acknowledgement that everything was cool between them, despite the ruling. Torque stood from his chair. He was ready to get out of the room. A half hour was about his limit in confined spaces, especially when he was the center of attention.
    He remained silent, letting Rain decide when to talk. Now that he was free to seek out Brandy and find out what was going on with her, he had nothing more to say to Rain about what went on between him and Brandy.
    The door clicked shut. Rain opened a bottle of whiskey, poured a shot, and motioned for Torque to take it. He downed it without taking a breath. Until the warmth hit his chest, loosening the tension in his fucked up shoulder, he hadn't realized how stressed he was about today's vote.
    He held out the glass and let Rain refill it. Bantorus was his life. Living on the outside, he'd have a hell of a time finding a job. Nobody hired a known felon.
    "Better?" Rain studied him.
    He nodded. "Yeah."
    "Good." Rain inhaled deeply. "We need to talk before you walk out that door."
    "Vote's over." He shrugged. "I'd like to talk about the run we're making to California. I've changed my mind. If there's room, I'd like to go."
    "Not this time. I need you here." Rain sat down and changed the subject. "You might as well tell me now if you have plans to fuck Brandy again. I don't need you knocking at my door, waking my woman and my daughter up at three in the morning."
    The hit of alcohol to his system did nothing to soften the blow from the question. "Leave her out of this. Votes over, and anything between her and me is none of your business."
    "It's a fair question. My newest employee walks into my office, gets her cute little body all bent out of shape over one of my members, and then my brothers refused to vote your ass out of the MC." Rain grinned. "It's been an exciting afternoon full of information."
    He stared at Rain. "What did she say?"
    "I made a deal with her, so I won't say." Rain lost the grin. "The person I worry about is you. I can't begin to assume you have feelings toward her, and because she's an employee I won't sit back and watch you hurt her."
    He rubbed his shoulder. "Not trying to do that either. I don't know what the fuck is going on. She's...shit. Half the time, I don’t think she's listening to a word I've said, not that we've talked