35. Chapter Thirty-Five
CHAPTER THIRTY-FIVE
ORA
The whole bakery is destroyed.
Lu looks devastated.
And the two of us are huddling together as we watch the firefighters put out the last of the fire.
Haze stands nearby, leaning against the car with his arms crossed, watching my best friend. War is standing in front of the building, talking to the sheriff, and Lore and Angel are searching the perimeter.
“I’m so sorry, Lu,” I say, not for the first time. “We can rebuild. We can add in that extra fridge we wanted.” She laughs. “You’re staying with me at the clubhouse, right?”
She nods, her teeth raking over her lower lip. “Yeah, until they find out who did this. Haze won’t take no for an answer.”
“He’s intense,” I whisper.
She makes a sound of agreement. “Name one of the Serpents who isn’t?”
“You going to tell me what’s going on with you two?” I press.
“Nothing,” she replies in an emotionless tone. “Absolutely nothing.”
I somehow find that hard to believe, but I let it drop.
“Has Sheriff Grayson always been such a hottie?” she whispers, but her eyes dart to Haze, who still hasn’t taken his eyes off her. He looks contemplative but also like a man on a mission.
“Yes, he has.” I grin. I have to admit I noticed the sheriff was a good-looking man the first time I saw him—a buzz cut, hazel eyes, full, luscious lips, and a no-nonsense attitude.
What’s not to find attractive?
“Damn, he fills out that uniform,” she adds under her breath.
I couldn’t agree more.
War comes over to check on us, dipping his head and pressing a soft kiss on my mouth. “You okay?”
I nod, pulling my jacket tighter around my body. “Yeah, did you find anything else out?”
“Cops took as much evidence as they could.” He shrugs, not looking like he has much faith in them. “There were some footprints, but I think we all know who did this.” He lowers his voice. “There’s something I haven’t told you yet.”
“What?” I ask, frowning.
“Your neighbor, Pippa. We think she’s been spying for Insanity MC. We followed her and saw her meeting up with Sarah too.”
“Seriously?” I whisper-yell, wrinkling my nose. “But she was fucking Ghost?”
“I think they were trying to get her with him, have someone on the inside,” he explains, absently playing with the ends of her hair. “But Ghost generally doesn’t do repeats and hadn’t replied to her.”
“Lovely.”
War smirks, kissing my forehead. “Come on, let’s get you home. I want you naked in my bed, moaning my name so we can forget all about this shit day.”
“I’m standing right here, you know,” Lu says, rolling her eyes. “I hope my room is far away from yours because I don’t want to hear my best friend screaming your name all night.”
War turns to her and winks. “Don’t worry, you’re on the other end of the hallway. Right next to Haze’s room. But he usually stays at his own house.”
Lu and I share a look, having a silent conversation only best friends can have. She doesn’t want to stay anywhere near Haze’s room.
He won’t be there, I mouth, and she scrubs her hand down her face, suddenly looking tired.
We stop at my house for me to pack a bag and spot Pippa staring at me through her blinds. Is my house going to be safe? I make sure to pack everything important to me in case—my passport and my mother’s jewelry, along with my favorite clothes and shoes.
Instead of War looking put out when I come out with two massive suitcases, a slow smile spreads across his handsome face, which is now lit up with satisfaction. “Moving in?”
“Not forever.”
“We’ll see.” He chuckles under his breath.
When we get back into the car, the air is filled with tension I try to ignore.
Lu is scrolling her phone, then sighs heavily.
“What?” I ask.
She shows me her screen. It’s a picture of Ben, her ex situationship, on his wedding day. “That’s all of my backup men married now.”
I smirk. “Just catch them after the divorce.”
Lu laughs while Haze looks up at her in the rearview mirror, scowling.
War reaches back to stroke up my leg. “You have any backup men, Ora? If so, I’m going to need first and last names.”
I roll my eyes. “I don’t have any backup men, and if I did, I wouldn’t be stupid enough to tell you.” I giggle.
“Fine, just first names. Between Angel and Blade, they will still be able to find them.”
I could honestly see War sending out his security and tech guys to find my exes and eliminate any threats. “I’ve only dated two other men, and I wouldn’t touch them again if someone paid me.”
And that’s the damn truth.
One didn’t even go down on me, and the other couldn’t find my clit even if I drew him a damn map.
War hums in approval. “Good girl.”
Lu looks over at me and fans herself. Hot , she mouths.
War’s fingers slide up under my knee, sending shivers down my spine.
Haze better step on the gas because I’m getting horny and need at least an hour alone with my man.
“Prez has been calling nonstop,” War murmurs, typing away on his phone. “We have to go and pick him up tomorrow afternoon.”
“That’s great news.” When I visited him this morning, they weren’t too sure when he would be released.
“I can’t remember the last time I didn’t have to go to work,” Lu mumbles. “What am I going to do with all the free time?”
“I usually just do the same thing I do at work, but here.” I grin, playfully nudging her with my shoulder. “No one else uses the kitchen, so maybe we could try out some of those new recipes we’ve been wanting to.”
“Lore would like to taste test those, I bet.” I laugh, then realize something. “Did we leave Lore and Angel behind?”
“No, they had some shit they wanted to look into,” War says from the front.
“I’ll be your taste tester,” Haze rasps, clearing his throat.
“I’m sure you’ll be too busy for that,” Lu replies in a saccharine sweet voice before her tone takes on an edge. “Wouldn’t want to keep you from all the women you need to fuck to use as a distraction from your own reality.”
Ouch.
When Lu needs to strike, she does so with force.
She fits in with the Serpents more than she knows.
Haze slams his hand down on the steering wheel, the action making me jump.
“Haze,” War snaps in warning. “You scare my woman one more fucking time, and we’re going to have a problem. I don’t know what the fuck is going on between you two, but Lu is under my protection, and you need to sort that shit out.” He then turns to me, searching my face. His voice and dark eyes soften. “You okay, baby?”
I nod. He’s being sweet but ridiculous.
And I’ve never felt safer than when I’m with War.