Chapter 23
CHAPTER
TWENTY-THREE
Logan
I find Payden upstairs, laughing with Ivy. Of course Payden would find the biggest troublemaker in the entire clubhouse and become friends with her. She has a soft spot for the spitfires, too.
I’m about to ask her if she needs anything from the grocery store when I falter in my tracks.
I listen in, hoping Dozer is still doing what he does best—sleeping.
“Ugh, I don’t think he even sees me as a real person, you know?” Ivy is saying. “I’m just Bane’s little sister to him. What’s worse, he’s overly protective in a way that even I don’t understand. Talk about mixed signals.”
“From what I saw, he has his eye on you for a reason, not just that ‘brotherly love’ thing.”
“You think?”
“Oh, honey, I know. That kind of sexual frustration is clearly a sign,” Payden says. “He just doesn’t know how to articulate it into words or actions, like most men.”
They’re talking about Shadow. I’ve got eyes in my head, and even if I do feel a little creepy listening to their conversation, it wasn’t like I came up here to snoop.
In fact, I’m about to make my presence known when Ivy suddenly says, “What about you and that hottie down there? Does he know how to put words into action?”
“Oh, you’ve no idea,” Payden says, and Ivy giggles. “I don’t usually kiss and tell, but that man is fucking hot in the sack.”
I stand up a little straighter.
“Don’t hold back,” Ivy goes on, her tone encouraging. “Those Nomad Brothers have a reputation, but I had no idea the last single Dawson was so damn hot. Jesus. Maybe I’m into older guys and didn’t even realize it.”
They both giggle.
“Older guys are way hotter. The facts are, I wouldn’t trade Logan for anything or anyone. Not just where orgasms are concerned, but he’s sweet, too, in his own way. He’s just a little… frosty sometimes.”
Sweet in his own way?
Frosty?
What the fuck is that supposed to mean? Though, I can’t help but feel my chest puff out just a little at the sound of her not wanting to trade me.
“You guys look good together, too,” Ivy goes on. “I have a sixth sense with these things.”
“If you have a sixth sense, why can’t you work this whole thing out with Shadow?”
Good point, she’s in lawyer mode again.
“Ugh, tell me about it. He’s hot, but he’s not for me. We have this love/hate thing that will never change. The matchmaking thing doesn’t seem to work on myself, but I definitely have an ability. So does Bane.”
“Are you shitting me?”
“Nope.” She pops the P. “Our Grandma on our mom’s side had the gift. Bane has always had what I call ‘spidey-senses,’ ya know? He just always seems to know when something bad is gonna happen, or when to walk away and save revenge for another day. He’s great at reading people.”
Bane has been running this club for over a decade, and even I know the people on these streets have respect for the man. Civilians who don’t know him may cross the street when they see him, or one of the members, coming their way. That’s inevitable, and for good reason.
We’re all used to it as Rebels.
What I’ve come to understand after years of being at loggerheads with my brothers and Cash, is that these are real men who fight for what they believe in.
I may not agree with all their methods, but I’ve been around the Rebels long enough to know they aren’t the bad guys.
We have ethics and values, and we demand justice.
If we see an opening to rectify a problem when the police do nothing about it, then we step in.
The Hellions? They’re a different breed. Still legit, but there are gray areas. Cash’s alliance with Bane goes way back, and I trust in that.
Do I trust any of them to not hit on my girl? Heck no, but I know they won’t hurt her.
My girl. I’ve been here all of five minutes and I’ve already lost my mind.
“Huh,” Payden says thoughtfully. “That’s pretty cool, though.”
“It’s a blessing and a curse. My brother is super annoying, but after what you’ve been through, you’re better off here than anywhere else. This place is literally Fort Knox.”
“It’s certainly secluded,” she says.
“Yes, and surrounded by surveillance. It’s literally a glamorous prison.”
Payden laughs, then sobers a little. “I guess I just didn’t want to bring any of my baggage here. That isn’t fair, and if we were being followed I was worried about involving the club. I’m in enough shit as it is.”
Ivy snorts. “The people who are potentially after you have no reason to suspect you’re here. They think you’re dead, remember? And don’t worry about the Hellions, they’re tough sons of bitches.”
Payden must have told Ivy the more sinister plan we’d cooked up. Either that or she’s seen it on the news—it isn’t like you can avoid it. It looks as if faking Payden’s death has actually worked in our favor. All I want is to keep her safe until this blows over.
“Yeah, I keep forgetting I’m supposed to be keeping a low profile,” Payden sighs.
“Shit happens,” Ivy says. “Plus, you can keep a low profile here and recuperate."
I almost scoff at that. I know Payden. She’s a workaholic. She’ll be dying to get back into the case and find out why this happened to her colleagues. But we don’t need any more rogue detectives.
“Hey,” a voice says behind me. “Who are you?”
Immediately, Dozer barks.
I wince. Great. I turn and see a woman heading up the stairs. “Logan,” I reply, clearing my throat. “I’m lookin’ for my ol’ lady.”
“You’re not a Hellion.” She points to my patch.
“Nope. I’m a Rebel.”
Dozer runs out of the room and I scoop him up into my arms.
“Oh, okay, hey, I’m Chloe.” She’s a pretty brunette with bangs hanging low and freckles across her nose. “I’m looking for Ivy and the new chick. And who is this little guy?”
“Dozer,” I say. “I’m fosterin’ him?—”
“Keeping him,” Ivy yells from the other room. “Or I’m taking him home!”
I frown. I hadn’t considered that thought. That someone else could take him away. I am, after all, always saying he’s ‘just a foster’ and nothing more. But a part of me doesn’t want to let him go.
“Aww he’s so sweet!” She tickles him under the chin and he laps it up.
I take it back; this little dude is a chick magnet, but even that idea has lost its way with me because all I want is one woman.
Jesus Christ.
He licks my face and suddenly Padyen sticks her head out the door and I palm the back of my neck. Maybe they won’t think I just got caught listening to a private conversation. “Oh, hey there,” she says to me.
“Chloe!” Ivy squeals. “You’re here!”
“I’m back with a tan,” she says, hugging Ivy.
“What’s it been? Like two weeks? I missed you.”
“More like you missed the free blowdry.” She smiles at Payden. “Hey, I’m Chloe, her bestie.”
Payden sticks her hand out, but Chloe does one better and pulls her into a hug. I smirk. Payden isn’t touchy-feely like these women are, but she hides it well. “Payden. We’re here just, uh, visiting for a while.” She motions between us.
“Oh, so you’re not the chick from the news who faked her death and is hiding out here so the killers who took out your whole office with a vengeance don’t come after you?” Chloe says without missing a beat.
Ivy nudges her. “Subtle.”
Payden blinks, then her eyes meet mine. “I guess good news travels fast around here?”
Chloe lowers her voice. “You should know, all news travels fast around here.” Then she smirks.
I clear my throat once more. “Payd, I’m headed out, you gonna be okay here?” I set Dozer down and he runs back to Payden. She scoops him up, kissing his head.
She nods. “I’ll be fine, sweetie.”
My lips twitch at the nickname. “Do you need me to get anything?”
“Just tampons,” she says with a smile. “If that’s okay?”
I grind my teeth. “Of course, pookie bear. Anything else?”
“Some Reece’s Pieces, Diet Coke, oh and Tylenol—it helps with the cramping.”
I don’t know if she really needs those things, but who am I to deny her?
I’ve never bought women’s hygiene products in my life so this should be interesting.
I also can’t question it in front of the other girls because we’re faking our relationship status in the MC.
I have questions, but none of them are going to get answered right now.
I’ll text her with specifics about the tampons.
Jesus. I shudder at the idea, but I guess this is what all good ‘boyfriends’ do.
“Got it. What about those chocolate covered cherries you love?”
She blinks.
It takes all of two seconds to realize what I’ve done. Okay. Maybe I paid a little too much attention to her likes and dislikes.
“Uh, okay. Thanks, Logey.”
“Aww, he’s so sweet!” Chloe gushes.
“Yeah, could teach the guys around here a thing or two,” Ivy agrees.
Time to get the fuck outta dodge. “Won’t be long,” I say. “Stay put.”
I take off before the list gets too long.
Bane told me not to buy food, they have plenty here, but I decide to get snacks anyway.
As much as the clubhouse is clean and tidy, it’s not Payden’s home, and I want her to feel comfortable.
Bane even said we could take one of the cabins instead of an upstairs room, which means we won’t be sharing quarters with the prospects.
I’ll tell Payden when I’m back from the store.
I rub my chin as I think about the logistics of all of this.
Keeping her safe is my priority, that’s about all I know right now so I quash my feelings down.
I grab all of the stuff, including Payden’s tampons which I’m told are just the regular kind, and head back. As soon as I’m parked, Sawyer is calling me.
“Brother, I found Becca.”
“Holy shit,” I mutter. “Is she okay?”
“Yeah, she moved in the nick of time, but she’s been compromised because seriously, how is it witness protection if you’re not protected?”
“Fuck.”
“I also know the reason the gunmen did what they did at Payden’s office.”
“Spit it out,” I bark.
“I managed to log into one of the drives that was locked on Ryan’s computer, there’s a video that he intercepted. Becca sent it to Payden.”
“And? What’s on it?”
He sighs heavily. “The assassination of a senator—Douglas, I think.”
I go quiet. “What the fuck? What does this have to do with Payden’s office?” I recall something a few months back, but it’s hazy.
“It’s sketchy, but my best guess is that it implicates Cini Media, unless that’s just a smokescreen for something more sinister. I’m not certain yet, but that would be my prediction. Ryan could’ve been covering it up, or just using the information for leverage.”
“What do we need to do?”
“Becca isn’t safe. I talked to Cash after he saw the footage and he thinks it’s a good idea for the MC to intervene. I’m sure we can all agree the cops can’t be trusted, even at the new location.”
I blow air out of my cheeks. “What about here?”
“Great minds think alike. Cash is callin’ Bane, but we’re gonna owe him favors as long as my dick.”
I roll my eyes. “Thanks for that visual, asshat, and let’s not get ahead of ourselves.” I pause. “You said the video was intercepted and sent to Payden initially?”
“Yep, which makes me believe this Ryan asshole is shady as fuck. Either that or he’s not as smart as he makes out to be.”
“Where is he?”
“At the warehouse.”
Oh, fuck. That ain’t good. “Let me guess, he’s a prissy ass piece of shit?”
“Got it in one. We can’t fuck him up too much because he’s one of the few survivors and the cops will be on our case, but he’ll squeal, don’t worry about that.”
“Call me if he does. I wanna know what he’s up to.” Then I remember Bobby. “Speakin’ of the warehouse, what happened to Bobby?”
“Dealt with it. Me and your brothers went for a trip to the bayou.”
“Good,” I say. In all the commotion I forgot about that sack of shit. “Need to get back to Payden.”
“How convenient.” He almost sounds smug.
“Keep me in the loop,” I warn. “I mean it.”
“Got it.” He pauses. “I’ll send you the footage. We’re not handin’ it to the cops just yet.”
Probably a good idea, because then they’ll want to know how we obtained it. Obviously we could use Payden’s email as a ploy, but best not to involve her right now since she’s supposedly dead. This Ryan guy sounds like a complete fuck face. What the fuck is he up to?
“Okay. I want any updates no matter how small.” I sound like a broken record, but I need to know what’s going on at all times.
“I will.”
We hang up.
No wonder Becca made that frantic call—she must’ve known shit was going down.
I don’t know what Bane is gonna think of another woman seeking refuge in his clubhouse, but the MC won’t turn our backs on innocent people who need help.
Now I have to go break the news to Payden, but at least it’s good news that Becca is alive and well.
The only question is where she is, and how they’re gonna get her here when she’s being guarded.
It’s only a matter of time before they find Payden again, and that can’t happen. Not on my or the MC’s watch.