Snagged by Hook (Royal Bastards MC: Provo Chapter #2)

Hook

HOOK

“ A nother day, another dollar, am-I-right?” reached for his soda.

It was a rhetorical question just to break the silence since the radio took a dump earlier, but Squatch, being Squatch, replied anyway.

“You’re getting paid?” He feigned outrage. “Prez told me I was doing it for the pussy. But I have yet to have a big tittie blond run down her driveway once her car was hooked up and throw her snatch at me. Her chanclas, yes, insults, most definitely, but snatch? Nope, not even once.”

laughed so hard his mouthful of liquid shot across the steering wheel. “You asshole.”

“Better an asshole than a whole ass.”

Fucking Squatch.

“I guess that’s true, brother.”

Squatch turned toward the window, then back to . “Speaking of asses, especially those of the female persuasion.”

cut his gaze toward his passenger and saw him waggle his eyebrows. He knew exactly where the conversation was headed before he spoke the next words.

“One in particular that’s just so…” He cupped his hands in front of him, squeezing Devin’s imaginary ass. “You sure you’re not hittin’ that?”

was tired of being asked if he was fucking Croon’s sister by every single brother except Croon himself.

“For the last fucking time, no. I’m not fucking my brother’s sister, and you should stop thinking about her like that too. She’s out of bounds, bro.”

“Out of bounds isn’t off limits, exactly.”

“Yeah, the fuck she is.” That wasn’t one hundred percent true. Croon would be lucky to have Squatch as his sister’s ol’ man. “Unless you plan to make it permanent and approach Croon and Prez.” Out of the corner of his eye, saw Squatch visibly recoil at the word permanent.

gripped the steering wheel a little tighter.

“And if that were your intention, you wouldn’t be talking about her ass every five fucking minutes to anyone who’ll listen.”

“Hell no. I’m not ready to buy a house next to Prez on Monogamy Court yet. I just wanted to see your reaction and make sure you weren’t hitting out of bounds. No way you’d let me talk about her like that if you were.”

Sure, that might have been a piece of it, but knew there was a lot more to it than just recon, but he let Squatch have his illusions. No man needed to be called out by his brother for noticing what every other straight man did. Devin did have a juicy peach of an ass, but he didn’t think about her like that. Not that he never entertained the idea. He had done so on more than one occasion when she’d first arrived. However, once they became friends, he thought of her as his own sister.

“That it?” Squatch pointed to the red sports car backed in at an angle in a narrow drive rowed by hedges and solar lights. Fucker thought they wouldn’t get it if he made it mildly inconvenient.

“Yep. That’s it. Shithead’s probably asleep.”

Normally, with the history of this guy’s violence and size, they’d try to hook it at night, but this was a unique case. Their target conducted his business at night from his house, so the middle of the day was best. His home had blackout curtains and storm shutters. Not that they were for storms, it was just the way of these geniuses when they did illegal shit. Totally didn’t make his house stand out in the subdivision at all. had the image of Marisa Tomei in his head going, oh yeah, you blend . Stupid fuck.

“Yeah, and he’s probably inside banging the reason his car’s getting hooked.”

“Right? Side chick etiquette 101: don’t let the one who pays the bills and holds the titles find out about the others who aren’t,” Squatch explained.

Because Mr. Genius Petty Dealer couldn’t keep it in his pants, his girlfriend—ex-girlfriend, that is—gave up all the intel. It was one reason brought Squatch with him, to keep an eye on the door while he was focused on the car. Also why they were both armed.

“Okay, let’s do it.”

“I bet you five Bens you can’t get all tires onto public property,”—Squatch pointed to the end of the driveway—“in ninety seconds without knocking over a single cheap-ass solar light.”

“You’re on.”

drove past the house and turned around. He wanted to drive out of the neighborhood once he had the car rather than make a square on fifteen miles-per-hour streets. Too much time for the asshole to put his dick away and get off a shot.

As soon as the front of his rig hit the property line, said, “Mark” and Squatch hit the timer on the dash they’d attached just for that purpose.

backed in quickly, maneuvered the car to a better angle, pulled forward a little, and backed up to maneuver the car again. One final time, he lifted the car and pulled off.

The second felt the back tires of the car transition from concrete to asphalt, he slapped the timer but couldn’t look at his time as he was focused on the road.

“What’s my time?”

“Eighty-two, but you took out a light.”

looked in the rearview. “Look again, fuck face. Still standing, just a little cockeyed.” held out his hand.

Squatch turned in his seat and cursed.

“Damn it.” He pulled the money from his wallet and slapped it into ’s waiting palm.

lifted the wad of bills in salute before shoving them in his front pocket. “First beer is on me tonight.”

“It doesn’t count when it’s our own bar, asshole. We drink for free every night.”

“Not tonight. We got that chick band from Vegas playing. Dale doesn’t let us slide when there’s a live act, he refuses to cut into the band’s take.”

“Fuck yeah, Vengynce. Have you seen their drummer? She is smoking hot and a healthy six feet if she’s an inch. Maybe she’ll have a ‘Bigfoot’ sighting she can tell the women of Sin City about.” He air-quoted Bigfoot, then cupped his crotch.

“She’s not with them full-time anymore. Decided to devote time to her club. But I’ll be sure to ask her ol’ man what he thinks about cryptids next time I see him.”

“No shit? She’s a Shadow Angel?”

“Yeah. Kept it pretty quiet until she left the band. Most people didn’t have a clue. And get this, her ol’ man…ex-cop.”

“The fuck you say? They do it different out there in Vegas, don’t they?”

“You can say that again.”

It was silent for a few moments before Squatch piped up.

“How the hell do you know so much about Vengynce?”

just laughed. “If I tell you that now, then I won’t get to enjoy your annoyance at not knowing everything.”

It was a little mean because Squatch was definitely the cat in the curiosity saying. He hated not knowing something. Not to mention, he was the self-proclaimed trivia king. He knew the most obscure facts known to man. planned to enjoy his trivia superiority for as long as possible.

chanced a glance at his passenger, and he was furiously tapping his phone. Probably Googling everything and anything about the band.

The rest of the ride back to the salvage yard was quiet except for the sounds from Squatch’s phone as he continued his quest for information.

Getting the car dropped and settled didn’t take long. It was waiting for the rightful owner to come collect it that put him behind schedule. Since it wasn’t an official repo, there was less paperwork, so time averaged out in the end.

As soon as the owner made it through the gate with her car, sprinted upstairs to get ready for their night out. He was back down in no time.

“Hey big guy, you are looking foooooiiiiine,” Devin drawled exaggeratedly as came down the stairs in black jeans and a Henley, slipping his arms through his cut. Devin never failed to make him smile. She was all sunshine and rainbows. Pretty much like his prez, but with tits, although she looked more like her brother with tits, and that was worse.

That thought made him shudder.

“Note to self, bleach brain,” he mumbled.

“Well, you’re not too shabby yourself, darlin’. Your brother’s gonna be busy kicking ass all night with you looking like that.” He opened his arms, and she ran into them with such force he had to brace for impact. had her feet dangling above the ground and swinging her back and forth when Croon came downstairs with Gwen on his arm and a scowl on his face.

“Better put me down, you sexy beast, or I’m going to have to field a million questions about your oh-so-perfect cock.” As Devin spoke teasingly, Croon growled, and she turned her head and stuck her tongue out at her brother. When set her down, she spread her hands apart and mouthed in Croon’s direction, it’s massive.

Shaking his head at her antics, Croon headed for the door.

“Grab your jacket, and let’s go, little shit-stirrer, before your brother starts believing your bullshit and attempts to kick my ass.”

“Attempts? No attempt about it.” Croon’s words would’ve made him laugh if the man wasn’t one hundred percent serious in his delusion. Gwen and Devin had no such restraint.

Dev walked up to her brother and kissed him on the cheek. “Bless your heart.” With that, she looped her arm through ’s and headed to his bike.

As straddled his baby, he scolded Devin. “You shouldn’t bait him like that.”

“Why not? He’s always cranky with me. It’s like he doesn’t want me here.” She slammed her helmet into place. Her pain was evident in her voice. waited until their helmets Bluetoothed together before he spoke, more understanding this time.

“He wants you here, Dev, more than you know. It’s what you’re letting him believe that’s the issue.”

Croon had been beside himself with worry from the second she didn’t call him on schedule. He got wound tighter the more Dev remained tight-lipped about her disappearance.

“He’ll hate me. He already thinks I just abandoned everyone to be with a man. He won’t understand why I?—”

“Give him some credit, sweetheart. It may take him a hot second to grasp it all, but I guarantee he’ll get it. For what it’s worth, you did what you had to, he’ll see that eventually. Croon’s just relieved you’re here and whole, and he’ll be even more so when knows the story. He suspects there’s more to it than you shacking up with some guy, and it’s killing him.”

didn’t point out that once Croon knew the whole story, he’d go back to Nebraska and end the man. Hell, would go with him.

“I can’t keep your secret much longer, you know that, right? He’s my brother too, and I’m gonna have to tell him if you don’t.”

Her sigh was audible through the earpiece, so were her attempts to hold back her tears. It was all could do not to tell Croon the second he dismounted and let Dev hate him for it. She’d made him promise, and he always kept his word, but it was starting to feel like he was choosing her over his club brother, and that was a bitter taste that he wouldn’t continue to swallow.

“I know. He has a good heart, but I guess I just don’t want to face that look of his. That one that says I’m so disappointed in you. That cuts deeper than anything.”

rolled into the parking lot of The Metal Shop. He heeled the kickstand down and dismounted before Devin could say another word. After dismounting, she handed him her helmet. He hung it from the handlebar and cupped her cheeks, widening his stance so he could look her in the eyes.

“He would never be disappointed in you. He adores you, hell, we all do.” He dropped a kiss on her forehead.

Dev wrapped her arms around him and murmured her thanks. Then she pulled away and lightly punched his bicep.

“What was that for?”

“For making me look like a trash panda.” She swiped her fingers under her eyes. “Is my mascara ruined?”

“No, darlin’, you look marvelous.” He draped his arm over her shoulders, and she wrapped one of hers around his waist.

Devin laughed. “Your Billy Crystal sucks.”

“I beg your pardon.” He feigned outrage as they turned toward the door.

stutter-stepped when his eyes locked on the sexiest woman he’d ever seen. Curvy as fuck was an understatement. Mama was stacked with long dark hair and even darker eyes that looked black in the ambient light coming from the overhead neon sign.

His gaze devoured every inch of her body.

She was mesmerizing.

Just so there was no mistaking his appreciation and interest, he added his best come-hither look, complete with a panty-melting grin and an I wanna see you naked wink.

But instead of the receptive smile he’d hoped for, she practically sneered at him. maintained eye contact, hoping it was just a delayed reaction to his charm, but no. Her sneer morphed into a something smells rancid look as she rolled her eyes before turning and darting inside.

“Damn, I must be losing my touch.”

Dev smacked his arm. “Really? You don’t know why she totally blew you off?”

“Nope. Do I have something on my face?” he joked, pointing to his tattoos. “Spinach in my teeth?” He flashed his teeth for inspection.

When he opened the door, Dev dropped her arm from his. “No, my incredibly dense friend, it’s because she thinks you were coming on to her?—”

“I was.”

“As I was saying, she thinks you were flirting with her with your girlfriend right there. And if you’d do that, you’d treat her the same way. Once a cheater, always a cheater.”

followed her inside.

“But you’re not my girlfriend.”

Dev turned and tapped him on the temple. “Think, monkey.”

She started ticking off points with her fingers.

“One, she doesn’t know that. Two, we were hugging in the parking lot, you kissed me, and from her vantage point, she couldn’t see it was my forehead. And three, we’re probably more touchy-feely than most platonic friends. Which is my fault…” Dev trailed off, caught in her own thoughts.

“Well, I’m gonna make it my mission to let her know you and I are not a thing, but her and I could be.”

“You should let me handle that, big guy. The harder you go after her, the more of an asshole she’ll think you are. I need to make it clear we aren’t together, and you are now, and always were, single and ready to mingle.” She gestured with her hands.

laughed as she shot him with finger guns.

“Okay, lust guru, I submit to your expertise.” He sketched a bow, and they made their way to their reserved tables before the band started.