“I’m to stay at the house to protect you.”
“Me?”
“Yeah. They want to … to …” His face goes red again.
My body flashes hot with fear. I have no idea he’s trying to say. “They want to what?”
“Be the first. You know. First you’ve had.”
The blood drains from my face. “How do they even know about that?”
Adam shrugs. “It’s a novelty. It gets talked about.”
I don’t know what to do with the skewer in my hand. My appetite has totally fled. “Should I get it over with so they don’t have anything to take?”
His mouth goes still, mid-chew. He swallows. “You mean right now?”
Oh, God, he thinks I mean him. “No, no. I don’t know what I’m saying.” I can’t hold the skewer any longer, so I set it back on Adam’s plate.
“Hey, I’m sorry.” He reaches out like he might touch me but pulls back. “Look, Merrick suggested we put the word out it had happened so they’d back off, but Iron Jack isn’t sure they will.” He sets the plate on a side table. “I swear upon everything I have that I won’t let them harm you. We’re taking action on Thursday, and they will surely back off. A bunch of us will be here when that happens, just in case.”
My stomach quivers. “What are you going to do?”
“Don’t worry about that part. Just know that the message will be sent. They’ll know not to mess with the Wild Hair.”
I pressed my hand to my chest. It seems to me that all we’re doing is escalating a conflict.
And somehow, it’s revolving around me.
CHAPTER 22
MERRICK
One more day until the operation against Lucifer’s Kin.
I haven’t told Diesel about it. No sense worrying him.
The Wild Hair have been all over the bar tonight. Chain brought Marietta to work for Vicki.
A few of them are scattered around even though it’s almost closing time. Chain approaches Marietta as the last of the non-club customers close out the tabs.
I watch them as I enter the ticket.
Marietta’s shoulders glow in the neon above the shiny white shirt that cuts across her collarbone. It’s short with an elastic ruffle cutting across her ribs. A black miniskirt sits low on her hips, showing off plenty of midriff, pale and smooth.
We’ve played with fire a couple of times, but the stakes have changed. The Wild Hair wants Adam for her. And Lucifer’s Kin is using her to needle the club.
I need to back off.
Chain says something to her, and she points to me. He glances back and nods. Then, he and the rest of the Wild Hair leave. Looks like she convinced them to let me take her back to the club.
A few days ago, I would have looked forward to whatever we might do. Now, I’m not so sure I should be alone with her at all.
When the customers leave, I latch the front door and flip off the sign. Jake and Scottie have already gone. It’s just the two of us again.
“Most of the club was here tonight,” she says.
I shrug. “We’re on edge.”
