“I don’t pick men because I like ’em. There are some I’d never bother with if it weren’t for the club, but if I only took brothers I liked, I’d have a chapter of four fuckin’ men. Dunno if you’ve noticed, Aislynn, but I’m a bit of a cunt.”
I let out a snort, my heart skipping a beat as his dark mood seemed to lift and his eyes crinkled with humor.
“I’ve got my circle, but I’m not a people person or a team player. I like to be in charge and give all the orders. What I don’t like is takin’ ’em. That’s why I worked my ass off to hold the gavel. A lotta men said I didn’t have what it took and that I was too young and inexperienced, but my boss saw somethin’ in me and gave me the green light to open my own chapter. The moment I committed to it, I had to put my personal feelings aside and treat everyone equally. A lotta those brothers aren’t who I would choose as friends, but they’re still my brothers, and they deserve my loyalty. That goes for the girls who work here too, even the whores. If someone fucks up, they’re out, but I have to give everyone the same chances, and if you’re gonna be my ol’ lady, you’ll have to do the same.”
My spine stiffened. “Even though Saskia hurt my family?”
Pagan dipped his chin in confirmation.
My belly warmed at the softness in his eyes as he gazed down at me.
It was hard to believe I’d only known him for a few days. Pagan might piss me off more often than not, but he also made me feel like I could do anything when I was with him.
If it were just me that Saskia had just been a bitch to, I could have put my feelings aside, but she went out of her way to destroy my family, who meant everything to me.
“If someone hurt you or your brothers. I wouldn’t ask you to put your feelings aside. I’d back you up,” I pointed out.
He blanched because he knew what I was getting at. “Baby. She’s been here a couple of weeks, and it’s been fine. Can’t say she’s a girl’s girl ’cause she’s not. In fact, the other whores can’t stand her, but the brothers do, and it’s their club, so I gotta keep her—at least until she fucks up.”
All the fight drained out of me. I wasn’t going to get anywhere, so why was I letting a bitch like Saskia ruin my night? “Okay. Out of respect for you, I’ll ignore Saskia, but please don’t ask me to give her my time because I won’t. She’ll show you her true colors one day. Until then, I’ll keep my mouth shut and let it play out the way I know it will, but please watch your back. That bitchwillcross you if there’s something in it for her, and please warn your brothers to be careful too.”
His big, calloused palm caught my jaw to angle my face up, and he rested his forehead on mine. “You lookin’ out for my brothers?”
My heart clenched at his wistful tone. “Of course I am. They’re important to you.”
His stare darted between mine, and for a split second, I could almost see his brain working behind his eyes as his thoughts took over.
“Had a run-in earlier with the town sheriff and his deputy son,” Pagan blurted.
I gave him a cursory look at the sudden change in subject. “The same sheriff and deputy who threatened to lock up my brother?”
“Yeah. Seems Junior has been throwin’ his weight around town and usin’ his working relationship with my club to frighten a young girl into sleepin’ with him.”
My heart jolted, and my voice was deceptively soft when I murmured, “Bastard.”
“He caused trouble at our strip club last night, which was what last night’s call was about. Castle pulled him in, and when I got back, we showed him and his daddy how droppin’ the club’s name was not acceptable. Needless to say, baby, it didn’t go well for them.”
My jaw tightened. “Good.”
“Yeah,” he agreed. “But now we’ve gotta clean up the mess Junior caused. We’re new to town, and we need to keep the locals onside. The girl Junior abused is the town’s sweetheart, who volunteers to help the seniors. Her dad’s a third-generation resident who owns a farm here and helps everyone out. Hank’s well thought of and has a lot of influence within the community, so if he badmouths the club because of the deputy’s barefaced goddamned lie, the town could rally against us, which in turn would affect our businesses. It means I gotta do some damage control.”
“Or you could just go see him and offer him your support,” I corrected gently. “It seems you’re more concerned about the club’s reputation than doing the right thing for that poor girl?—”
“That’s not it, baby. There’s more to it than just the club; it’s personal too.” He paused briefly before muttering, “Castle’s sweet on the girl.”
My head reared back.
“He went loco on Junior earlier today, stabbed him, and beat the fuck outta his face. It turns out that Veep stayed awayfrom Gracie because she’s only eighteen. He was waitin’ for her to go to college and live some life before he made his move. Then Junior comes along and violates her, and now my brother’s wracked with guilt ’cause with him around, she would’ve at least been protected.”
My heart hurt for Castle and what he must have been feeling, but he was in his thirties, and if the girl, Gracie, was only eighteen, he’d made the right decision.
“Castle was right to stay away,” I stated. “Eighteen’s too young to get caught up in something so serious. She’s still discovering who she is and what she wants in life. He would’ve come along and dazzled her, and okay, he may have protected her too, but that’s not how life works. Nobody can shield her from evil men, and as women, we have to learn how to deal with them. Castle shouldn’t feel bad for what happened, but the bastard who hurt her should.” A fire lit inside me, and I slid out of Pagan’s lap, holding my hand out. “Come on. We’ll go see the family now.”
He took my fingers in his and rose to his feet, a slow grin spreading across his face. “I fuckin’ knew it.”
I squinted. “Knew what?”
His grin widened, revealing his straight, white teeth. “That I couldn’t have picked better.”
