“Watch your mouth asshole,” I grunt at him, trying to keep my tone light. It makes him laugh more.
“Prez isn’t all that closed off,” Talon nudges me, trying to keep the moment light and not look as if we’re on edge.
Before I can tell him to shut his fucking mouth, he carries on.
“He definitely got some the other night. My sister’s house reeked of pussy. Can’t say I blame him, he needed cheering up after his bike got fucked up again.”
Handlebar’s reaction is instant. Our eyes meet and lock. Usually he’s calm and collected, keeps himself straight. Now, the storm in his eyes tells me a lot about what he thinks of Talon’s words.
Fucks sake I could beat his ass for opening his fucking mouth. But I won’t hide it. Why should I? Cassie doesn’t belong to Handlebar. That woman will never belong to anyone. In a split second it’s clear to me, Handlebar thinks there is more to whatever it was he had with her.
He was one of a few of the guys sitting on his stool so it’s obvious when he gets to his feet, his elbow knocking into a glass on the bar top. Luckily it doesn’t fall over. Everyone stops laughing and looks at him as his stare hardens on me. There is no hiding his anger and utter contempt.
This really isn’t the place for this. The brothers of the other chapter are looking over now.
“Sit down,” I tell him.
His top lip curls in a snarl. What the fuck? Does he have some kind of thing with her? No, I’ve seen them around one another, he pines after her, and she tries to avoid him. I never had him down as being pussy whipped by a woman who doesn’t want him. It’s not my concern if he’s jealous.
Handlebar’s fists clench and he remains standing. This cannot get out of hand, not here. If being here tonight has showed us anything, it’s that we’re not trusted. I doubt we ever will be.
“Whatever you think you want to say to me, don’t.”
He steps toward me, swiping his bottle of beer off the counter. My brow lifts and Talon shifts beside me. “What did you do?” Handlebar asks, quietly enough that only those standing right next to us can hear.
The music and chatter is loud and the three women beside us start laughing at something loud enough to drown out his next words.
“You fucked her?”
“We’re not doing this.”
“Did you?”he asks again.
I keep my mouth shut, but it’s all the answer he needs. I don’t miss how his fist clenches around his beer bottle. I’m caught in that split second of preparing to take him down, he can’t be that stupid.
“You’re a fucking asshole,” he growls.
“I didn’t see you making a claim on her,” I drawl. Not the right thing to do at this point but he’s irritating me. He doesn’t get to tell me who I fuck. “I didn’t force her to do anything she didn’t want.”
“You…” he cuts himself off and glares at me.
Is he going to call me some other name that is going to piss me off? I have no reason to explain myself. My back is up and I’m sick of people treating me like shit.
I’m the fucking President and I’m not being given the respect I deserve, either by this chapter, or the men supposedly working alongside my own.
“What are you going to do about it?” I step closer to him, which is probably the wrong move because the last thing we need is us getting into a fight. “No one has any control over Cassie Beillo.”
He draws up straight and faces off with me, the rage in his eyes is unmistakable. He wants to hit me. My men are circling around us, both to be on guard if Handlebar tries anything, and to keep the others from witnessing this. Too late for that.
With impressive control, he takes a step back, never losing eye contact, but he’s backing down. At least that is how it seems, until he barges past me, shoulder checking me hard enough to make me falter back a couple of steps.
“What the fuck?” Talon steps forward, but I put a hand to his chest, stopping him. “What the hell was that?” he snaps.
“Nothing. Don’t make this worse than he did.”
“Is this about before?” Talon asks watching as Handlebar leaves the room, the door slamming against the wall.
I have no intention of bringing up the Veil Line. No matter how pissed I am at Handlebar right now, that is something I won’t talk about. I’m sure they’re all wondering why the hell I let Handlebar get away with shoulder barging me with no repercussions. One look and Talon clenches his jaw, everyone is watching.
