That was probably the wrong thing to say. Her green eyes flash. “Fuck you!”
“I can arrange that too.”
She blows out a breath and it warms my chest right through my T-shirt. “You’re an impossible and arrogant asshole.”
“Maybe so, but you’re stuck with me until we get this settled.”
Her eyes flash but she keeps whatever thoughts are rambling through her mind to herself, at least for now. “I need to go tend to some business. Some of my boys are here. Don’t go anywhere tonight unless you let them know. Are we clear?”
“We’re clear, now out of my way so I can get away from you.”
I swear that woman has gotten right under my skin. I push away from the wall and away from her, immediately missing the warmth of her body next to mine. Damn this impossible situation all to hell. This chemistry between us at one time or another, we’re going to have to put it out if we’re going to continue working together.
And I’m supposed to be protecting her, not thinking about getting into those tight little pants of hers. I head downstairs and the door behind me slams causing me to smile. As long as she’s in there, she’s not out on the streets causing trouble. At least for one night, I can breathe.
Pearl’s gone when I get down to the bar. “Where’s Pearl? Don’t tell me I have to go find her now too?”
Brandy laughs. “No, Carver found her and they’re upstairs.” She gives me a set of air quotes. “Talking.”
These women are going to be the death of us. Hopefully not literally. “If Carver’s looking for me tell him to give me a call on the cell. I’ll be back in about an hour and a half.” I need to head back to the RBMC club, shower and change. I can do it here but there I can get Onyx out of my head.
The minute I’m showered I head into the club bar. My VP, Taze, who I’ve put in charge here while me and a few of the boys are over at the Harlots gives me an update. Nothing out of the ordinary going on, and they’re getting ready for some of the bunnies to come over and have a good time. The ol’ ladies will love that. The married guys stay clear of the bunnies, well most of them, but that doesn’t mean the ol’ ladies like them coming around.
One of the regulars and her friend have already arrived and sidle up next to me. I huff out a sigh. A few times in the sack a long time ago and they’re like fucking glue. I nod to the barkeep. “A drink for the ladies on me.” I try to ignore the looks and giggles while answering a couple calls and enjoying my beer.
Maybe we’ve been thinking about this all wrong, waiting for the clubs to come after the ladies. It was hard not to with the gift bag they left Onyx for Pearl and what happened the night of the reception, but there’s another way.
The drugs. The Larussios will know who the Desert Riders are running drugs for because it’s sure as shit not them. Carver makes runs through the desert for the Larussios.
I hit the contact for Bruiser, owner of a bar we frequent to see if he’s heard anything about one of the Scorpions’ recruits getting blown up or if any of the Scorpions or Desert Riders have been back in his bar lately. The last thing we heard the Larussios told Bruiser to let them know if they came back because they had been told to stay out of the state.
“Funny you should ask. They’ve been riding through. I let the Larussios know, and they weren’t too fucking happy. Pretty sure they have their Rivalry crew in the area, just waiting for those Scorpion bastards to breeze through again.”
Good to know. I hit Carver’s contact, and it goes to voicemail. I scowl and send him a text, laughing at his reply.Honeymoon.
Clearly his conversation with Pearl went better than mine. But the night is young and this fucking chemistry between Onyx and me, it’s not going to clear itself without a little help.
Suddenly, everything is clear. I get up and head out the door still trying to decide if we’re better to stay on offense of go on the defense with these pricks when they’re least expecting it. I head out, tossing a hand in the air as I leave the guys to fend forthemselves and head back to the Harlots’ for a Friday night, with only one thing on my mind.
9
ONYX
Pearl meets me on the steps heading downstairs. Loving Carver looks good on our prez. “Hey, you two decide to come up for a little air?”
She laughs, and it’s a sound that until Carver I didn’t hear too much. “Starving. The beast needs food. He’s out back grilling.”
The smell wafts into the air around us. “I knew someone was cooking something on the grill. It’s permeating the entire place and making my mouth water.” I look around for the babysitters. “It’s getting busy in here.” I gesture to the crowd over in the corner, best seats in the house to watch the dancing girls. “I’ll head outside with you. As long as Carver’s out there Hawg won’t jump down my throat.”
She gives me a look. “What’s up with you two? You a thing?”
My eyes narrow. “A thing? What are we, in grade school? No, we’re not a thing. Maybe there’s some, I don’t know, chemistry, call it what you want, but I don’t want to mix business with personal shit. I’d just walk away after a few dates and it would go south from there. It was different for you and Carver.”
Pearl stops at the bottom step and gives me the look.
I exhale. “He wasn’t with the Royal Bastards when you started seeing each other. He was out on his own and that’s the difference. If things went south, he would have said goodbye, and you never would have seen each other again. I’d have to deal with seeing Hawg from time to time. No thanks. I’ll blow off steam out of town every once in a while, or not at all. I have a little friend who works just fine.”
She rolls her eyes, shakes her head, and walks in front of me without saying a word until we reach the bar. “Three beers,” she tells Brandy.
