Chapter 13 Brunch With Satan #2
“Love that you want to protect one of my boys, but it’s already a done deal.
It also has everything to do with you. Some people were under the mistaken impression that Roxy was going to be claimed by Baffle.
He never intended to do that and didn’t realize, until now, that even some members thought it was in the works.
Your man is explaining because he doesn’t want anyone confused or wrongly placing blame for that not happening on your shoulders.
” His gaze slid over to his wife then and she ducked her head in what appeared to be shame, remorse, or possibly a bit of both.
As if they were summoned by our conversation, or the smell of the pancakes Tilly whipped up for the boys, club members started to flood into the kitchen. When Punchy saw me there, he veered off in my direction.
“Sorry for everything you had to deal with yesterday, young lady.” Everyone’s eyes tracked to the two of us and it made me feel incredibly uncomfortable to be under that much scrutiny, so I tried to keep my attention focused solely on Punchy.
“You have nothing to apologize to me for.” My explanation was met with a blank stare for a moment before the man collected himself.
“I do. I appreciate that you’re willing to let it go, though. My ol’ lady and Roxanne won’t be an issue for you anymore. You have my word on that.”
I offered him a stiff nod because I wasn’t sure what to say to that. Then, I shored up the courage to look around the room. There were a lot of sympathetic looks thrown my way, the same one I fussed at Tilly for moments ago when I realized she knew what Roxy had done to Baffle.
“You told them what he did?” I asked as my gaze finally landed on my husband’s when he took the seat beside me.
“I did. They had to know, so we can keep you safe and because of his affiliation with the Mojave Devils.”
“Okay,” I murmured while stirring the yogurt that no longer held my interest. He had a point.
Unfortunately for me, it was one I couldn’t argue without looking like an ungrateful brat.
I hated that people knew what almost happened to me but at the same time, I understood.
Besides, it would help explain the hint of yellowing on the faded bruise at the bottom of my mouth since I didn’t have makeup to cover it up.
I certainly didn’t want anyone to think Baffle may have done that to me.
“That’s it? All you have to say is, ‘Okay?’” My husband seemed confused, or for lack of a better word, Baffled. I almost snickered at the play on his name. Then I lost the battle and giggled.
“Yep. Did you expect me to pitch a fit for some reason?” My husband shook his head and tossed a panty-melting grin my way.
I ignored it, despite wishing we could be alone in that moment.
“Now that they know, when can we go back to Flagstaff to clear out my studio? I have expensive equipment, supplies, and a partially completed commissioned piece sitting there to worry about.”
“You do commissioned installations?” Rick asked, sounding impressed. A few other members were also paying close attention as they waited for my answer.
“Sometimes. A friend of this guy bought something else I sold online and asked if I could do a specific piece in a similar style. It was in my wheelhouse, even though what he wanted was on a much larger scale, so I agreed.”
It wasn’t really a huge deal to me, outside of the fact that I was making a very large paycheck on the piece upon completion.
I had been paid a portion upfront, to help with expenses, but I would need to hit my deadline for the project to get the full amount.
That was assuming my studio hadn’t been discovered by Slicer.
If my work had been destroyed, it would set me a little too far behind to meet the previously agreed to timeline.
“Need you to do something for me,” Rick said as my mind raced to the worst-case scenario for my work.
“What’s that?” I asked as a nervous bubble formed in my belly.
“Need the address, keys, and code if there is one, for your studio space.” Rick didn’t give me a chance to argue with him.
“I know it’s your personal space and you might not be ready to share your art with me but it’s not safe for you to go back there right now.
I won’t gamble with your well-being. We just said our vows and I don’t even have my patch on you yet.
Not gonna take the chance that the fucker is lying in wait and possibly has his friends in the Devils at his back. ”
Reluctantly, I handed over everything he asked for.
I should have expected what came next, but somehow it still felt like an unwelcome surprise.
Since Rick was going to Flagstaff to collect everything in my studio, that meant I was stuck at the clubhouse on my own until he made it back.
The last time I’d been left on my own things hadn’t really gone too well for me.
“Crutch is going to be looking out for you while I’m gone. You need anything, anyone bothers you, go to him. Do not hesitate.”
Knowing Crutch was the one I was supposed to go to didn’t leave me with warm and fuzzy feelings.
I didn’t get any bad vibes off the man, but again, his wife had been the one to demand that I leave the clubhouse the night before.
Sure, she apologized, but that could have just been a front.
What would happen if we were left alone again?
Crutch was her husband, her old man, surely he would have her back over mine.