Page 82 of Property of Player

He shoves me back. “Can’t talk. Get out of here.”

The door slams in my face, and I stand there with my mouth open.

What the fuck is going on?

My gaze hits the camera again, and I return to my car like there’s nothing wrong.

Starting the engine, I slowly pull out, scanning the building as I do. Cici’s car is parked at the very back of the lot by the dumpsters. There’s a back camera, but Sleaze let it slip once that it's broken. He cursed the fact that he was going to have to get a ladder and replace the thing. Studying it now, I can see it's still an old model, and I realize he never got around to replacing it.

I grin and plot out coming back tonight. If I can get inside, I could hide, and they’d never know I was there.

I’ve got to figure out why Cici and Taylor are there and why they’re on lockdown. I need to lure Cici away. Duck won’t wait much longer.

Frowning, the thought crosses my mind that maybe Duck and the Sinners have made a move that tipped off the Kings of Anarchy. Morons. If Duck would just listen to me, I’d give him fucking Cici.

If he’d just be goddamned patient.

I bite my lip. Somehow, I’ve got to get in there tonight, if just to find out why the hell Taylor is there. Cici I can see. She’s Gage’s daughter, and the club is out of town. It makes sense that he’d have the prospects watch out for her until his return.

Does Taylor’s presence indicate she means more to Player than I thought? Does it mean the club is returning soon?

I’ve got to find out.

When night falls, I park down the road and sneak onto the lot under cover of darkness. I skirt around to the back of the clubhouse to avoid the working cameras in front. The back door that comes off the kitchen is locked, so I creep around, trying windows, but can’t find any that aren’t locked tight.

Squatting against the wall, I cuss under my breath, wondering what to do.

A moment later, the back door flings open, and Billy Jack strolls out, whistling and carrying a trash bag. He pauses to wedge a stick under the door, then heads across the lot to the dumpsters in the far corner.

I dart inside and move through the kitchen and into the hall.

Everything is dark, but I can hear voices coming from the dining room.

The sound of the back door shutting echoes to me, and I try a door, finding a broom closet filled with buckets and mops. I squeeze inside, and a minute later, Billy Jack tromps down the hall past me, still whistling.

Waiting until the sounds fade into the distance, I crack the door open and peer out. The hall is empty.

My eyes hit the door to Gage’s office, and I try the knob but find it locked.

Cursing, I move to another door and find it unlocked.

Slipping inside, I realize it's someone’s room. Glancing at the photos on the tall dresser, I realize it must be Cruz’s room. There’s a shot of him with his Harley. He’s the son-of-a-bitch who hates me. The one who wanted Player to dump me at a gas station the morning we rode to the beach house.

The day Player ran into Taylor at the cemetery.

Cruz is an asshole, and I knew from the start he’d be trouble. He’s smart. Maybe too smart. I should pee on his bed just to teach him a fucking lesson. But I’m tired and decide to put it to better use, crawling under the covers and playing on my phone.

I yawn. Tomorrow I’ll make my move.

Chapter twenty-four

Taylor

Cici and I are sitting at the bar, bored.

I’m on my third cup of crappy coffee when the sound of two Harleys vibrates the building as they thunder up.

I’m off my stool in a flash, but Sleaze grabs my hand and holds me back.