My gaze slides back to Teagan’s daughter for a moment. “Think of Gaby,” I say between clenched jaws, but I have no idea if I’m talking to Paxton or Teagan.
“Crazy bitch?Crazy bitch? Fucking asshole, you’ll mean. How long have you known me? I think you were still pissing your pants when we met. You think I’d fuck my best friend over with people who want her dead? Are you that thick, you fucking moron? I would’ve expected you to know better. Get the fuck off me, asshole.” They stand nose to nose, her body pressed against his.
“Who says they didn’t threaten you, Teag?” Pax raises an eyebrow.
“Me. Besides, I know that leading them here will destroy them. On this property, none of you get whacked. So, dear Paxton, if I were threatened, I would have doomed them by now.” Then she walks around the truck to let Gaby out. “Now my daughter and I would like to have tea with my best friend Layne. Do you mind?”
Pax closes his eyes and pinches his nose. “Yeah, damn it, but I don’t think I have much of a say in it.” He sighs.
Teagan slaps him on his shoulder. “Glad you understand that, biker boy.”
He puts up a finger at her in a belligerent manner. “If you say that again, I’ll throw you off the lot. You know damn well that if I don’t want it to happen, it won’t happen, Teagan. So shut up and hurry up before I lift you up and kick you off the grounds.”
My best friend bows to him and clenches her jaws together like she’s a rabid dog trying to bite at him. They’re like two toddlers.
“Hey Gaby,” I exclaim enthusiastically when Teagan let her daughter exit the car. “Will you join me for a drink? Rebel’s upstairs.”
She comes running toward me. “Up the stairs?” she asks and points to Kyler’s apartment. I nod and she runs up.
‘Hey, Pax?’ Teagan waits until he looks at her. “You desperately need to stick your dick in something.” Then she raises her middle finger and runs after Gaby as fast as she can.
“Damn it, Layne. Put that bitch on a leash or something.” He shakes his head and walks away, though he’s still muttering to himself.
“I’m heading downstairs,” Kyler says, pulling his cut over his shirt.
Nodding, I hand a cup of tea to Teagan. The girls are setting up the craft supplies Gaby brought on the table.
“I’ll see you later,” I respond, and sit down next to Teagan on the couch.
The door opens and closes again, and then Kyler’s gone.
“Are you stuck here all week with that whiny kid?” Teagan is obviously referring to Pax.
“He doesn’t bother me. Honestly, I barely see him.” I think about Abby’s words again. Maybe I should go see him and ask what she meant by that?
“What a weirdo he’s become. He used to be such a sweet kid.”
I chuckle. “Kids grow up.”
“Well, tell me what’s going on.” Teagan blows into her tea and turns to me.
I cast a quick glance at the girls and then softly tell the whole story.
“What the fuck?” is all Teagan can utter when I finish.
I take a sip of my now lukewarm tea and shrug. “I have no idea, and nobody tells me a damn thing. You know how it is. Club members don’t share club business with outsiders.
“Okay, I’ve always thought that rule was bullshit, but this time it’s revolving around you. You need to demand that he tells you something, Layne. What if Rebel is in danger?” Her voice rises, panicked at the last sentence.
“Shh,” I urge her to silence and look at the children. Thankfully, they’re still doing crafts. “I trust him. I truly believe he keeps us safe.”
“Oh, come on Layne. You know as well as I do the club comes first. It always has.” Shaking her head, she settles against the back of the couch.
“I do know that, but besides that, I can pretty much trust Kyler.”
A grin appears on her face. “Oh, shit.”
“What?” I look at the girls again, but they’re still busy and chatting away.
