Eden's Joker (Devil’s Nightmare MC Next Generation, Book 7)

Chapter 14

I can’t believe I was able to tear myself away from that kiss. Just as much as I can’t believe I gave in and kissed her in the first place. She’s so damn sweet she even tastes sweet. But there’s a hardness in her that I didn’t see until tonight. She doesn’t have just a soft center for me to bend and twist like I want to, but something hard. Or something hard to break, more like. A challenge. And I like those. That’s why I couldn’t stop myself from kissing her. I just got impatient.

But the hike through the woods back to my bike cleared the last of the hard on she gave me and chased those impatient thoughts out of my head. She’ll be all the sweeter if I wait for it. She likes dark romances, she says. But she ain’t seen nothing yet. Only there won’t be much romance in what I have planned for her. She won’t be able to touch another one of those romance books once I’m done with her. And that’s just one of the levels of my revenge plot. One of the nastier levels. But then again, they’re all nasty.

Just like Fire Heart Inn is. The smoke in here is making my eyes water, and everything smells like puke and shit. It’s not blending well with the overabundance of perfume the ladies are wearing. Luckily Karma, who is sitting next to me doesn’t go for perfumes and such. But it would be better if the three Devil’s Nightmare MC brothers—Fossil, Archer, and Bane—who are also seated at my table, would consider something along those lines.

I don’t think they’ve showered yet this month, and they possibly haven’t changed either. I thought Cross ran a tighter ship, but clearly, he’s letting things slip. Or he’s finally cut their no-good asses loose.

These three jewels have been my informants since pretty much the start of the war against the Devils. But they’re not aware of it. I have them convinced I’m just interested in being the first to pick up anything valuable after a battle the Devils win in their typical fashion—killing all the men and scattering the rest. They’re not interested in much more than winning and killing, so all the stashes of drugs and businesses get left behind to rot after the Devils are done killing the previous owners.

Me and the Sons have made a fortune that way since the war started. And Fossil, Bane and Archer have been invaluable in letting me know when and where the Devils will hit next. It has not yet occurred to them that I might be passing the info on to their enemies. Though I can’t just blame their stupidity for that. I am cunning and my MC is officially based in Chicago. I have them convinced I want no part in the actual war. Plus, I give them a generous kickback for the info.

Occasionally I do spill the locations to their enemies, since sometimes I prefer to let them get slaughtered. I will be the one winning the war against the Devils, even if those other assholes didn’t think to include me in starting it.

“What will it be, Joker?” Karma asks me pointedly.

She’s dealing and wants me to make a bet. I’m holding a Jack and a Queen and it’s only the first round of bidding. I push the whole pile of money into the center of the table anyway. “I’m all in.”

The Jack and Queen in my hand are a good omen. They’re like Eden and me. But win or lose, this will be my last hand tonight. I need to be rested and on my game tomorrow. For my first official date with Eden.

Despite me storming out like I did, she just confirmed. Guess she wants another kiss. I do too.