“I am aware. If all goes to plan, Ivy will be with her mother again the day after tomorrow. I will need you then, so do not make other arrangements.”
He walked away without waiting for an answer, but I was used to that.
What I wasn’t used to? Bear the Mechanic gawping at me from his workstation.
Irritated, I stared back until he found something better to do, but his attention made me feel violent, and with Decoy’s lips still imprinted on mine, I wasn’t here for that.
I got back on my bike and rode away to find Saint.
The rest of my day was spent visiting building sites controlled by the Rebel Kings, tightening security and showing face. With Saint and Mateo for company, it wasn’t the worst way to earn a living, but every moment I wasn’t focused on the probability of an imminent brawl, my mind drifted to Decoy. To Ivy. ToRiver, until the message buzzed through that he’d got to Lauren’s car undetected and left it incapacitated.
River:Fucked for days, but cheap to fix
Ideal. I sent him a thumbs up and opened my thread with Decoy. Meddling behind his back felt dirty, but that man deserved a day without stress, and if it meant his nasty ex got some in return, I couldn’t bring myself to regret it.
While I waited for Saint and Mateo to finish scowling at a weak spot in the perimeter of a remote industrial site, I tapped out a message to the man on my mind.
Folk:What time do you want me to come over tonight?
Decoy was rarely unoccupied. The timber yard and the haulage firm kept him busy on top of moonlighting behind the bar when he didn’t have Ivy. I dropped my phone in my pocket, not expecting an immediate answer. But my phone buzzed the second I let it go.
I snatched it back with almost comical speed.
Decoy:if you’re free for dinner, that would be great. ivy wants to see you. if not, whenever is fine. don’t mess your life up
My fingers itched to tell him there was nowhere I’d rather be than with him, but how true that felt was something I needed to deal with before I ever got the chance to tell him.
Folk:Dinner sounds good. I can be with you around 6? I need to go back to the compound first.
Decoy:i’m at the compound with ivy. we can wait for you?
Folk:That works. See you soon.
“Who put a smile on your face?”
Glancing up, I pocketed my phone. Mateo was in front of me, smoking. Saint stood a little way away, not smoking, but his stare more intense.
I shrugged. “I smile every day, brother.”
“You’ve never smiled at me like that.”
“You want me to?”
Mateo smirked. “If you want to fight my husband.”
Not particularly. Embry was wild. And I’d seen him shoot someone in the face without blinking. Honestly, I’d rather fight Saint, and that was saying something.
I let the comment hang. Mateo got bored and pulled out his own phone.
Saint kept staring. I waited, but he said nothing, so I pointed at the bikes. “Are we done here?”
“Soon.”
Saint ground out the syllable like it hurt. Used to him, I accepted it for what it was and went back to daydreaming about Decoy. About his inked body and deep sounds of pleasure. But it wasn’t all filth. I thought about the rest of it too. The phone calls. The messages. The strain in his entire body as his ex had piled on the pressure.
It was a world away from the tranquillity still warming mine. I tipped my face to the sun and tried to ignore the agitation threatening the contentment Decoy had brought me with his quiet company as much as his hot hands and mouth. But knowing he was hurting so much sent a flare of pain to my rusty joints.
I rotated my wrists and massaged my thumb joints.
