“Yeah well, a little danger never hurt anyone.”
“Speaking of, who is this guy you’re hot for. Is he one of them?”
She tries to look demure as she smiles. “Maybe.”
“Where is he?”
“Not here yet,” she pouts. “But he will be, he comes here but sometimes it’s late.”
“Mhm,” I drink some more of my cocktail. It’s really good, you can hardly taste the alcohol which is what makes it dangerous. I don’t have anywhere I need to be tomorrow so when we finish our first, we call for another which Raven drops off promptly. She winks at us before sashaying away.
“She’s my hero,” Dana watches after her. “I want to be her.”
“There is nothing wrong with who you are,” I poke her arm. “You’re beautiful, funny, talented and the best friend a girl could ask for.”
“Aw,” she leans into me for a second. Then eyes my drink. “Maybe you need something a little less… loaded,” she laughs.
“I am not drunk.” Not yet, but I do feel a little lighter.
This was definitely a good idea. I’m even coming around to the venue. Only thing that remains to be seen, is this guy Dana is drooling over. If he ever gets here.
Chapter Six
Nero
Downstairs is quiet. I sent those who were hanging around over to the bar, because what we need to discuss here cannot be overheard by anyone except my council. Stryker’s bombshell from earlier today has been on repeat inside my head.
A fucking traitor. I got complacent, thinking Storm was in the past. Kept an eye on him for a while to be sure but after three years, I let it go, taking Ghost off his tail. Fuck, I wish I could call Ghost right now to pick that back up.
The other thing that keeps plaguing my thoughts, and one I’m fighting with everything I have, is Cherry.
Jesus, I’ve even given her a fucking nickname. Her swollen cherry red lips keep popping into my head at the most inopportune moments. I’ve spent far too long imagining them, wrapped around my cock preferably, smearing cherry red lipstick all over me.
I push her from my mind. She is not my concern. If anything, I need to steer clear of her, I’m the one who told her to forget we ever met after all.
We’re on Disciples turf here, that is what I need to focus on. Not the sexy, spitfire nurse who’s lips I want to devour to see if they taste as good as I imagine. Cherries have always been a weakness.
Every one of my officers is in the room. Rebel got Raven to give him a couple of bottles of her best whisky from the bar. She’d made him pay for them before she handed them over. He’s been grumbling about it since he got in here.
I filled him in on what this was about before I gathered everyone here. Rebel understood we’re going to need it.
Stryker has been quiet. He’s a man of few words as it is, but the news he brought to me has rendered him mute. When you find out family is not only fucking you over, but everything you hold dear, it will do that to you.
When I dropped Jesse’s car at home and grabbed my cut, he said Stryker didn’t say a word, handed over the cut and walked away. He’d also quizzed me about my trip to the clinic and the fact I even took off my cut but I waved him off. It’s unexplainable.
I look around at my men, we’ve talked about other business and everyone has had a couple of drinks. But now it’s time to get down to the real problem. Stryker is standing apart from us, leaning against the wall holding his glass. It’s not disrespect, he often stands when we’re holding Church, but tonight it’s different. I’m not having him feel separated and catch his attention.
“Take your seat.”
He hesitates for a beat, then pushes off the wall and sits beside Blaze, our club secretary, clasping his hands on the table. His knuckles are bruised and cut after his last fight. The one where he learned what his cousin is doing.
He knew this moment would come the minute he told me what he found out. The brothers won’t judge him, but his shoulders are tense, anyway.
Everyone listens as I explain, not making Stryker even more uncomfortable by asking him to repeat it.
The men around the table became my council within days of me starting my presidency. I handpicked them all because I trust them. Knowing there is a traitor in our ranks has them in varying degrees ofannoyance. Rebel shows the least reaction, his questions will come after everyone has gone.
Whereas Beast our Tail Gunner is visibly upset, he’s been close to Chains for years.
