Bull, p.19
Bull, page 19
I took time to digest his words and the meaning behind them by taking a drink of my own coffee. I was thankful that he was offering me his protection, but then worry for him crossed my mind. “Won’t that be dangerous for you? Put you in the line of fire, so to speak?”
His grin didn’t begin to set me at ease. “Baby, it’s what I do. I’m the enforcer of my club. Protecting one little sprite is nothing compared to protecting all the members of the Desert Rebels and their families.”
“Wow, you have a big job. How much will you charge me to protect me?”
“I’ll pretend you didn’t just ask that.” He glared at me over the rim of his cup.
His glare didn’t bother me in the least, as I was more interested in the sight of his hard, muscular chest and washboard abs anyway. “Who do you think is behind this?” Nick was the first person who came to my mind, but I didn’t want to believe that he would go this far.
“Your ex?” His expression revealed that he was surprised I’d even asked.
I shook my head, not wanting to believe that Nick would threaten me in this way.
“You got any other people pissed off at you I don’t know about?”
I deflated. “No. But I can’t believe Nick would go this far. Threatening to kill someone just because they broke things off with you seems kind of extreme.”
“It is. But he’s obviously unstable.”
“Do you think he, ah, means it?”
He ran his hand over his lower jaw and took a breath. “Doesn’t matter. I’m taking it as real. Until I find out for sure what the fuck is going on, you’ll be safe at the clubhouse.”
I opened my mouth to protest, but Bull stopped me.
“Not going to hear it, Sprite. Not going to worry about your ass when I’m out doing club business.”
I sat back with a resigned sigh, mixed feelings running through me. Bull was so firm on this that I knew he wasn’t going to bend. There was something very sexy about a protective, alpha male just taking over because he was worried about my safety. Especially the one sitting at my table, half-naked and drinking my coffee.
One I’d spent the night with screwing our brains out.
Still, I felt compelled to list the reasons why it wasn’t a good idea for me to leave. “Bull, I can’t just pick up and move. I have BS to think about, too. And work. The whole idea of the alarm was to keep me safe, and it did its job. If you hadn’t been here, someone would have shown up to help.” I wisely didn’t mention that the someone might have been TJ, but he probably knew that.
Bull’s jaw tightened, and I could tell that he was getting ready to run right over me. He had that look. It was something my dad had been really good at too, when he’d been alive.
“Listen, I know you’re an independent wench and you tend to look at everything through rose colored glasses, but until I take care of the threat, you are coming with me.”
Wench? That was cute. “Wow. So forceful. How do I break up with a friend?”
He leaned across the table. “We’re not friends.”
I wasn’t sure how to take that but was too afraid to ask.
“Put BS in your suitcase with the rest of your shit.”
He got up from the table and went to where the coffee pot was, pouring himself another cup. I watched Bull silently, wondering why I was fighting so hard to keep from going with him. I mean, who didn’t like being safe? And I had no doubts that he would take care of me. I felt safe around Bull. As I ran my gaze down his magnificent body—lord even his feet were sexy—it hit me why I had reservations about going to his clubhouse.
After the night we’d spent, I wasn’t sure I could take seeing him with other women.
Especially women he’d already been with.
Damn. I reminded myself that I wasn’t a clingy female, so it wasn’t as if I could tell Bull how I felt. It would probably send him running the other way. No. I had to suck it up and accept it for what it was, and being at the clubhouse would only be temporary, right? I could do temporary. However, I didn’t think a noisy clubhouse would be ideal for BS. Maybe Millie could take her for a few days.
“What are you thinking?” Bull asked after a few minutes.
“That I need to see if Millie can babysit BS while I’m gone. Too much noise and activity at your clubhouse, and I don’t want her traumatized.”
He snorted. “Probably a good idea.”
Smiling, I gave him a saucy wink. “I have one once in a while.”
His lips twisted. “I can tell you’re going to be trouble.”
I smiled big. “Worried, Big Guy?”
Humor caused the light in his eyes to dance. “I think I can handle you.”
Oh, yes, he could!
Chapter 27
BULL
I showed Viola where to park her car and then continued around to the back to where we kept our bikes. I’d wanted to bring her back on my bike, but she’d brought up a good point about needing her vehicle for work. She was waiting for me by the door with a small bag in her hands when I got there. I grabbed it from her and led her inside.
The first thing my eyes lit on were my brothers sitting at the bar, their backs to me. LD, Yogie, and Frenchie were sitting at one end, drinking and talking, but that all stopped when I opened the door and stepped inside. All three turned our way, and I saw LD’s brows shoot up with surprise when he took in the suitcase in my hand. Curiosity spread across all of their faces, but they remained silent. They acknowledged me with the usual chin lifts as we walked through the room.
“Hi, boys,” Viola said cheerily as we reached them. “I see you’re drinking your breakfasts.”
“Lunch, darlin’,” Yogie grinned, raising his glass to her. “Get it right.”
A wolf whistle cut through the air. I hadn’t noticed TJ and Orlando sitting at one of the tables off to the side. Bambi was sitting on Orlando’s lap, rocking back and forth, but she still had her clothes on.
“Hey, beautiful!” TJ greeted Viola with a little too much enthusiasm.
“Hi, TJ!”
Did she have to sound so fucking happy to see him? I didn’t like how his eyes swept down her body either, but short of going over there and knocking his teeth out, there was nothing I could do. I couldn’t stop him from eye-fucking her, and she was an unclaimed woman. Still, the possessive animal inside of me wanted to make it known that I’d fucked her.
“Bed still holding up?”
“Yep,” she smiled. “Thank you again for fixing it.”
“Any time. I’m your man.” His eyes swung to me, and I recognized the challenge in them.
“So, what’s the suitcase all about? You movin’ in?”
I’d been waiting for LD to acknowledge it. “Let me get Viola settled and I’ll fill you in.”
I took her by the hand and led her from the room to where the members’ rooms were located at the back. I’d see about getting her her own room later, but until I knew what was available, I’d put her in my room.
“Is there going to be trouble with me staying here?”
I could hear the slight worry in her tone. I opened my door and ushered her inside. “Nope.” I set her suitcase down by the door. “Give me a few minutes to fill LD in and I’ll be back. If you want a shower, it’s through there.” I pointed to the other door in the room. “Watch TV or something.”
“I have some phone calls I can make.”
She stood staring up at me, the sparkle in her eyes as welcoming as her smile. She was worried, and yet she trusted me to keep her safe. She wasn’t falling apart over the fact that someone had threatened her. When I’d made the decision to bring her to the clubhouse it had been with the mindset that she’d have her own room and that I’d leave her alone. She knew the rules.
But it appeared that I was the one forgetting them. Because I was the one backing her against the door that we’d just come through and consuming her with a hard kiss. I crushed her body with mine so I could feel every fucking curve, curves that I now knew intimately by heart. Her softness against my hardness. As soon as her moan reached my ears and I felt her submission against me as she kissed me back, I pulled away with a fear I was unaccustomed to feeling.
“Shit!” I sucked in my breath and stepped back further. “Didn’t mean for that to happen, Sprite.” It was a poor attempt at an apology. “I’ll be back.” I left before I lost control.
When I opened the door, Jade was waiting for me on the other side. She didn’t meet my eyes, as was her custom, so she didn’t see my frown at her appearance at my room. Lately I’d sensed a change in her, subtle yet telling.
“Jade, what’s up?”
“I came to please you,” she said softly. She peered up at me through long bangs that all but hid her almond shaped eyes from me and offered me a timid smile.
Her approaching me was new. She’d done it the other night as well, and now I had to question it. I expected it with the other club girls, they were always eager and aggressive in what they wanted with a brother. Not Jade. Fuck, was she getting attached? I reminded myself that I wasn’t the only brother who made use of her services.
“Not now,” I said.
“Later? I wait for you in your room?”
Frowning, I put a finger beneath her chin and raised her face to me. “When I want you I’ll come to you,” I said firmly. Even as I said it, I wondered to myself how any of the club girls would satisfy me now that I’d had a taste of Viola. I didn’t wait for Jade’s response. I stepped around her and headed for the bar.
My brothers were still sitting where I’d left them, and I noticed that TJ had joined them. I walked up to the bar, drawing the attention of the prospect working behind it. “Beer,” I ordered.
“So what the fuck is going on?”
I turned to LD and gave him the rundown of what had occurred at Viola’s apartment that morning.
“You spent the night at her place?” The growl came from TJ.
I couldn’t hide my smirk. “Yeah, Brother, you got a fucking problem with that?” Fuck, just thinking about the night Viola and I had shared caused my dick to get hard.
“You tapped her fine ass?” Frenchie grinned.
“Okay, let’s stay on track,” LD growled, clearly not in a good mood. “You claiming her?”
I brought my beer to my lips to stall for time. LD would expect a legitimate reason for the club to offer Viola protection. Direct threats made to our women usually got them shipped over to Demon’s clubhouse in the desert. Threats to the club led to bringing in our families and going on lockdown. Viola was considered a friend to the club because of her association to Lissa, who was Frenchie’s girl until he made up his mind about whether to claim her or not.
“No.” I wasn’t going to lie to my president. “I know the fucking rules, Prez. But I like her, and she’s been good to my uncle. Not going to leave a defenseless woman to fend for herself after the kind of threat she got.”
Our eyes remained locked. With LD you never could tell what he was thinking when he had his expression set, like now, in fucking stone. His eyes were cold. “You got any idea who’s behind it?”
“Only one—her fucking ex.”
“The one you and Loco paid a visit to?” TJ inquired right before draining his glass and setting it down on the bar. “Thought you had that settled.”
I shrugged. “Thought so, too. Especially after he pissed himself. Guess I need to pay him another visit.”
“Maybe this time you need to break some bones,” Yogie suggested, motioning the prospect over. “Give me another.” He slid his glass across to the kid.
“Shit never ends.” There was a bowl of nuts on the bar, and Frenchie grabbed a handful and started popping them one at a time into his mouth. “Being that Lissa and Viola are tight, I need to put eyes on my girl now, too.”
“Probably a good idea,” LD agreed. He cut his eyes to me. “And until this shit is worked out, looks like you have yourself a sweetheart.”
I opened my mouth to argue.
“Don’t want to hear it, Brother. You brought her here. I let you get away with it, all the brothers will start doing it.” He took a breath. “To make sure we don’t get questions, she’ll stay with you in your room.”
Fuck. I should have seen this coming, and maybe deep down I hadn’t cared if it did. Sleeping next to Viola all night wouldn’t exactly be a hardship. It would, however, put a damper on my sex life. As much as I wanted to fuck her, I had planned on keeping my hands off her now.
But damned if I wanted my hands on her.
“We’ll have prospects follow them to work and back.” LD’s eyes shifted to Frenchie. “You bring Lissa here. It’ll make things easier.”
Frenchie nodded and looked at me. “I want to go with you when you go see Viola’s ex.”
“From what I know, he works a nine to five job at a bank, and he lives with his parents.”
“Shit. Maybe we should pay him a visit at his job after hours.”
“Ambush him on his way home,” Yogie suggested. “When it’s dark.”
“I like that thought better,” I agreed with a smirk. I wasn’t going to kill him, but I was going to leave him with substantial injuries to get my message across.
LD must have received a text because he reached into his back pocket for his phone. His frown grew as he read it. “Fuck.” He glanced at me. “The cops are at the gate. Anything I should know about the other night?”
The night that we’d taken out Freak and Radar, Orlando had dragged the woman who’d been with them back to the clubhouse. It had turned out that Radar had beaten her husband and left him for dead and then snatched her off the street. She was thankful that we’d rescued her, and she’d said that she had no intention of going to the police. To be safe, we bugged her phone and had a prospect watching her movements.
Aware that LD was waiting for a reply I shook my head. “Nope, told you everything, Prez.”
“You and TJ, come with me,” he ordered.
The fact that the cops hadn’t forced their way into the clubhouse was a good sign. It suggested that they were just there to ask questions. As I followed behind my prez and VP, I noted the unmarked car parked off to the side and the suits waiting by the gate. Detectives, I snorted to myself. We were familiar with Peters, but her partner looked like a fresh newbie eager for action.
“Detective Peters.” LD addressed the woman, who was petite in stature but had the tenacity of a pit bull. We’d had dealings with her before, but she was not on the payroll.
“Mr. Dyson,” she acknowledged, addressing LD by his legal name. Her tone said that she wasn’t there to make nice. “We’re investigating a shooting that occurred Tuesday night,” she said smartly. “You wouldn’t happen to know anything about that, would you?”
LD’s expression never changed. “That’s pretty fucking vague.”
She pressed her lips before clarifying. “Timothy and George Dunlap were killed at the Starlight Motel.”
Fuck.
“Don’t know anyone by either name.”
“Really?” she asked skeptically.
“Why would I know anything about it?”
Her small shoulders lifted in a shrug. “Oh, I don’t know, maybe because someone mentioned they saw a biker wearing your colors in the area around the same time, and considering your recent trouble...” She didn’t finish.
I played stupid. “A hit and run and some random shooting. I don’t get the fucking connection.”
Her brown eyes flickered to mine briefly before returning to LD, whose stony expression gave nothing away. “I’m not talking about the hit and run. I’m talking about your trouble with the Knights, which George Dunlap was a member of.”
Radar’s real name.
LD narrowed his eyes and crossed his arms. He never offered up information. “And?”
I smirked. LD was going to make her work for it, and I could see that she was already losing patience. She would have been considered cute if she hadn’t pulled her blonde hair back in such a severe, tight style. As it was, her features were sharp and uninviting, which was probably the look she was going for.
“Word is that your club and the Knights have been going at it for some time now. A lot of them have just, ah, disappeared off the face of the earth,” she said in mock wonder.
“We’ve heard that, too,” I snorted.
TJ snickered next to me. “You think we’re the only MC that has issues with the Knights?”
“No, but I don’t think it’s a coincidence that one of your members turns up dead in a hit and run and then one of theirs turns up dead two weeks later.”
“So you are trying to make a connection,” I smirked.
She wasn’t particularly good at hiding her irritation, shooting me a glare.
“You don’t believe in coincidences, Detective Peters?”
Her partner finally stepped forward. “We believe in evidence.”
She shot him a look of warning, as if he’d said too much.
LD snorted. “What evidence?”
Her partner clearly didn’t get her silent message for him to shut up. “Witnesses.”
I swear I heard Detective Peters groan.
For the first time, LD’s expression cracked, and into a rare grin. It was kind of scary. “Cut the bullshit. We all know you would have slapped the fucking handcuffs on someone by now if you had witnesses. The truth is you’re fishing and have fucking nothing.”
It was apparent that they were going on pure speculation, which amounted to nothing more than fucking rumors on the streets. That kind of shit happened all the time. It was possible that someone had seen us in the area, but if the cops had a solid lead that we were involved in the actual killing, one of us would already be in jail. The law had it out for bikers, and for the cops, just being in an area where a crime occurred made us guilty.
“Why you so worried about one fucking outlaw? Usually you guys don’t bother when you think MCs are shooting each other up.”
TJ was right.
“Truth is, Detective Peters, you’re grasping at straws. Hit the next MC up on your list and get the fuck off my property.” LD didn’t wait for her response. He pivoted on his heels and headed back toward the door. TJ and I followed.
