Page 99 of More Tricks

Void just chuckled. “I'm well aware of how you feel about being wounded, Eagle. Can’t speak for the others, but I’m not gonna get in your way. Little demon might have other thoughts, but you can take that up with her.”

“Oh, like she was a treat when she was shot,” I muttered. “Shooting her again might get me buried six feet under.”

Dani burst into laughter. “God, she really has you men whipped, doesn’t she? To be fair, she was one of the most difficult people I’ve had to work with.”

“You just keep remembering that for the next two weeks, or I might do something drastic. Like make her your next patient,” I warned.

“Alright, you two, I’ll see you when you get back,” Void said, ending the call.

He was never a man who talked on the phone. I should be grateful he even picked up the phone to begin with.

When we got to the entrance of the compound, Dani stopped the car, put it in park, and turned to me. “Look, while I know you are the big man on top here, I won’t allow you to disrespect me in front of others to make yourself feel better. I’m looking after you because it’s my job and I respect Dax, who is my boss. She signs my paychecks, and she is the one who calls the shots on where I spend my time, not you.”

Shocked, I blinked at her for a moment. “Have I given you the impression that I’m that disrespectful to women or would be to you?”

“We weren’t on your turf. Now we are,” she challenged. “I know bikers. My ex was part of the Wild Aces in Arizona. The biggest part of why we split is because he viewed women, how many in the MC world do… as less than. I wouldn’t stand for it, that wasn’t my world, and I didn’t want to be a part of it. I realize the Phantom Saints are different, but I’m laying down the law now, so if you pull some shit, I will bring it up to Dax.”

Well, fuck, whoever her ex was certainly did a number on her.

“I hear you, Dani,” I said, holding her gaze so she knew I meant it. “While we’re clearing the air about things, I hate how MCs run their crews, but we are a bunch of insecure dipshits who can’t handle a woman being better at things than we are,” I announced, making her crack a smile. “I might be an ass when I’m in pain, but you have my permission to bitch my ass out if I cross the line. You’re here helping me out and what kind of man would I be if I treated you like shit for it?”

Dani searched my face for a moment, then nodded, throwing the car in gear and peeling down the gravel drive. I regarded her out of the corner of my eye and wondered if she might actually be related to Dax in some way. While they were incredibly different women, they held many of the same values. All I knew was I was glad she was on our side, making sure my people were looked after.

Seeing the house and everyone hanging out on the porch chatting made me feel an immediate sense of relief. The compound didn’t look worse for wear or show any signs of there ever having been a fight. Granted, I remember Dax saying something about keeping them outside the fence so it wouldn’t have been near here. Damn pain was making my brain fuzzy.

Picasso was at my door, pulling it open before I even realized he’d left the steps where he’d been sitting. “I could have gotten the damn door myself,” I muttered.

“Yeah, yeah, we know you're not a gimp and can do everything yourself. Let’s get you in the house before you piss everyone off,” my brother commented sarcastically as he waited for me to get out of the car.

Dax met me standing on the second to last step, so we were at eye level. Her silver-blue eyes scanned me over as if to make sure I was just as she left me. Reaching out, I grabbed her chin and pulled her to me so I could kiss the shit out of her. I might be out of commission for a bit, but I was gonna take what I could when I could. She responded instantly, wrapping her arms around my neck and deepening the kiss. When I pulled back, I gave her one more quick peck and smiled.

“It’s almost like you missed me or something,” I said with a chuckle.

“Ignore whatever is about to come out of her mouth,” Sprocket interjected. “Our woman has been a wreck all day waiting for you to come back home.”

Dax glared at my road captain, but he didn’t seem bothered in the slightest. “Come on, little hellcat, let's get in the house so I can take my pain meds and get more comfortable.”

That had her moving and dashing up the stairs to open the door for me as I slowly made it up the steps. Fuck, why did my body have to hurt so fucking much? I aimed right for the couch and laid down on the short end with my head on the armrest. Before I could even ask, Dani was handing me a glass of milk and the pain pill.

“Milk?” I questioned.

“These might upset your stomach if it’s empty, but the milk will help fill it some,” she explained.

Shrugging, I took a few sips, then swallowed the pill, finishing off the glass and handing it over. With a groan, I sprawled out, relieved to finally be home and not having to worry about being without backup. Yeah, the FBI made sure to have someone in my room to make sure no retaliation from the Mad Dogs happened, but I didn’t like being on my own.

“So, anything important happen that I haven’t been told about yet?” I asked, letting my eyes fall shut.

There was a shuffle of feet as the others came to join me in the living room. I knew Dax sat down by my feet because she was the only one small enough to fit in the space left.

“I filled him in on the basics when I talked to him last night,” Dax shared. “The FBI is still wandering around the compound, taking statements, cleaning up the crime scene, and being a bother.”

“Ah, loba just doesn’t like them because they were spouting off, and she had to teach them a lesson,” Cognac said with a chuckle.

The asshole loved it when she got all stabby. Something tells me he would have done something just so she’d get wild.

“There is one other thing we need to fill you in on, but you’re not going to like it,” Picasso offered hesitantly.

That had me cracking an eye to look at him. “What the fuck does that mean?”