Chapter 11 #2
Savannah laughed, making me smile, because it reminded me of making Alanna giggle. The prez’s old lady was like another sister to me.
“What do you need?” she asked.
“A favor.”
“Wait…you’re asking for a favor?”
I sighed. “Prez would kick my ass if I actually tried to cash in on one you owe me.”
“It will be our little secret.”
I frowned. “Neither of us keeps secrets from Kane.”
“I know. But it’s so much fun riling him up about the possibility.”
My mouth twisted into a grimace. “First, I don’t want to hear anything about…well, anything between you two. Or Kane’ll put a bullet in my brain just to erase the memory. Second, my punishment for keeping something from him, especially involving his woman, would probably end with losing my patch.”
Savannah chuckled. “Fair enough. What is this favor you need?”
“It’s Lark’s day off, and I am bogged down with club business. Can you round up a couple of old ladies to keep her company?”
Savannah was quiet for a beat, then guessed, “You don’t want her leaving the compound.”
“The clubhouse,” I corrected. I didn’t worry about her asking for details because I’d already mentioned this was about club business, and she knew what that meant.
“Don’t worry. We’ll take care of her.”
“Thanks.” Relief crept through my chest.
Kane’s comm pinged on the inner channel, so I said goodbye to Savannah and got back to work. “Check-in.”
Nitro: “Outer fence sings. Guard shack has teeth.”
Drift: “Neighborhood quiet. One sedan with fogged windows moved along when I smiled at it.”
Piston: “Transport prepped. Keys on hook two.”
Fury: “My whisperer didn’t know he knew something until I helped him remember. Two out-of-towners asking wrong questions at a bar near the courthouse. Headed west.”
Kane: “Can head anywhere they want, as long as it’s outta town.”
I closed my eyes for a heartbeat, let the comfort of brotherhood settle my bones, then stood. The sun hadn’t fully broken yet. If I moved fast, I could be back before Lark opened her eyes and found the space beside her cold.
On the way to my room, I took a quick detour and crossed the lot to the small concrete shack by the back gate. The prospect on shift straightened when he saw me, eyes wide like I might fail him in a test he didn’t know he was taking.
“You see anyone park for long?” I asked.
“Couple of minutes here and there.” He swallowed. “I took plates. Sent them to Nitro.”
“Good.” I clapped his shoulder. “If a car sits more than three minutes staring at us, you call the number on the board, and you don’t hang up till someone with a patch is breathing in your ear.”
“Yes, sir.”
I turned, boots grinding gravel, and cut back across the yard.
The clubhouse smelled like coffee now. Voices filtered from the kitchen, low and tired.
At my door, I paused with my hand on the knob and let my breath smooth.
Whatever waited on the other side, I needed to meet her with calm.
Not fear. Not the violence brimming inside me, ready to take on any motherfuckers who thought they could get to my woman.
She was still asleep when I stepped inside, curled up in the dent I’d left in the mattress, hair a dark tangle on my pillow, and one bare, sexy leg thrown free of the sheets.
My note sat by the lamp where I’d left it.
I crossed the room and stood for a long second just looking.
The tightness in my chest loosened by inches.
The part of me that only shut up when she was close went quiet.
My phone buzzed once.
Drift
Stop staring and get your ass to the tower by nine. We’re walking routes.
I smirked at the screen.
Me
Jealous?
Drift
Nah. I’ll save the jealousy for when she realizes she can do better.
Oh, he’s gonna pay for that.
Lark sighed, distracting me from my plans to shove my boot up my brother’s ass.
I brushed a knuckle along the back of her knee, just the lightest touch, and watched her eyes flutter before the pretty, light brown orbs were looking up at me sleepily.
“Mornin’, baby.”
“Hi.” Her expression was soft. “Did I oversleep?”
“Nah. I was up early. Club shit. Hate that I can’t spend your day off with you, but it’s important, and I’ll probably be working all day.”
“I get it.” Her tone was honest, and it just re-enforced what I already knew but hadn’t admitted yet. This woman, who was so fucking perfect for me, owned my heart.
“Thought you might like to get to know some of the other old ladies.”
She blinked up at me, and I almost smiled, knowing she was probably hung up on the word “other.”
Bending down, I kissed her thoroughly, then groaned at the sight before me when I pulled back. The sheet had pooled at her waist, giving me a perfect view of her incredible tits.
“Fuck,” I grunted, adjusting myself as my eyes roved over her hungrily. “Gonna need to eat at some point, though.”
“Let me know, and I’ll make you some food,” she replied sweetly.
I cupped the back of her head and gave her another kiss, this one short and hard. “Baby, only thing I’m gonna eat is you.”
Tearing myself away from her, I took a quick arctic shower, then dressed and headed out to meet my brothers.
I couldn’t wait for her vest to arrive. But I wouldn’t give it to her until all this bullshit was behind us. Which meant these motherfuckers needed to make their move sooner rather than later.
And I knew one thing for certain—whoever came looking for her, thinking they could finish what they started two years ago, they were going to learn what it meant to fuck with a woman under the Redline Kings’ roof.
What they didn’t understand yet—but would—was that to reach her, they had to go through me.
Good fucking luck.