Page 47 of Viper

“Jeez, is it hot in here or is just me?” Leonora asks, fanning herself and grinning so wide I’m surprised her face doesn’t split in two. “Honey, if you don’t give him a shot, I’ll have to find someone who will, because damn.”

Viper grins at her and winks. “Then you’ll have to help me convince her, sugar. She’s playing hard to get.”

I roll my eyes. But then I laugh when Shadow drawls, “I think you should be running the other fucking way, brother. We’ve already got one dick breaker, we don’t need one who can slice it off when the other one’s done.”

“Don’t forget that Izzy can shoot it off, and Syn can sic her dogs on it and have them bite it off,” Rose offers.

Sadie is laughing her head off. “Damn, I want to join this group for sure now,” she announces. “What kind of dick related thing do I need to do to join?” Laughter fills the room, though I notice that Shadow and Viper are exchanging a look of worry. Seems that these guys are clearly uneasy with the tone of this conversation.

“Ladies, we hate to break up your party, but we’re going to have to move this to another location,” Shadow interrupts, making the laughter die away with shock and concern fill their faces now.

“What’s wrong?” Rose demands.

Shadow looks at me and then back at Rose, who seems to understand whatever is being silently communicated. “We just need to get back to the clubhouse, and felt it best to make sure you are all able to get there without a problem,” Shadow tells the others, but the happy mood is gone.

I look up at Viper in confusion and worry beats at me. What’s happened that involves me? But he just gives my neck another quick squeeze, of what I have to assume is meant to be reassurance, before he lets go and gives the women a charming smile. “And, honestly, the kind of conversation you’re having needs to be at the clubhouse where we can keep all sharp and dangerous instruments out of your crazy clutches. Including you, dollface,” he adds with a wink at Raven.

I probably should be annoyed that he’s calling another woman a pet name, but I don’t get the sense there’s anything behind it other than habit and friendly affection. Still, it makes me wonder if I go back to the clubhouse with him what other kinds of names he has for some of the women there. No, that’s something to worry about later.

“I probably should head home anyway to check on Maverick and Ellie,” Gwen says. “You never know what those two could get up to.”

“I’ll go with you,” Raven offers. Slowly, all those not associated with the MC agree to head out, clearly sensing something is up that they don’t want or need to know about. Still, they all hug me and tell me they plan on getting my number from Rose or Sage, and not to be a stranger. It’s the oddest thing, but I’m actually okay with it.

Finally, that only leaves Rose, Sage, Izzy, Quinn, Syn, myself, and Sadie, with Viper and Shadow, and the tension in the room is instantly heightened. “Are we safe to head back to the clubhouse?” Sage askes Viper.

Viper nods. “There’s a Prospect outside, so he’ll make sure you all get back safe. Rose, you drive. Eden, Sadie, how did you get here?”

“I drove,” Sadie answers.

“Alright, I want you and Eden to go back to your apartment, then I’ll come over with my truck to pick you up. You have a back exit out of your apartment?” Viper asks.

Sadie nods, but I can see the worry on her face. “What’s going on?” she demands, then looks at me and narrows her eyes.

“I’ll tell you later,” I say vaguely. Then I look at Viper. “Why do we need to go back to the clubhouse? And don’t even think about lying to me.”

“We’ll talk about it when we get there,” Viper says firmly. “I need to get Archer, so I’ll come and get you then get him before we go to the clubhouse. Everything’s fine right now, but we’re not taking chances. But I need you to do this for me. Please?” I hesitate for a moment, but then I nod. I can feel Sadie boring holes in me, so I can only imagine the questions when we get in the car, but she keeps them to herself for now. “Thank you, baby girl,” Viper says, leaning down to kiss the top of my head.

He might not be thanking me when we get alone and I start grilling him, but I’ll handle that later. Right now, I want to know what the hell is going on.

EIGHTEEN

VIPER

It’s about damn time.

I paid the staff at the restaurant a very hefty tip for them to not mention that the women had all been dining together before going to Sadie’s apartment to get them. I manage to get both women out to my truck and into the backseat without anyone spotting us. Thankfully, the windows back there are tinted enough that no one should be able to see them as we’re driving. But as soon as the doors are shut and we’re on our way, Sadie screeches, “Someone is after Eden and you’re only mentioning this now?”

“Sadie,” Eden barks at her. “Calm your shit and lower your damn voice. If someone is watching, you doing that is only going to confirm we’re in here, and we’re trying to avoid that.”

Sadie thankfully takes that to heart and lowers her voice, but I can hear the fear in her voice. “Did you figure out who it is that might know she overheard the whole bribing the judge thing? And is that why you’re taking us to your clubhouse? Which I’m excited about, by the way, because I’ve never been in a biker clubhouse before and I want to know if it’s like it is on TV.”

I head toward the school, checking the time and there is plenty. So I decide to take the long way there to give me a couple extra minutes. “It’s club business so I can’t say,” I tell her calmly, and I hear her curse and a slap which I assume was Eden’s way of telling her to be quiet. “But just know this is just a precaution and I’m making sure Eden, and now you by extension, are perfectly safe. But I need to talk to Eden about a couple things and it’s going to be easier to do at the clubhouse.”

“And keep your mouth shut when Archer gets in the truck,” Eden adds sternly to her friend. “As far as anyone is concerned, we’re just going over to hang out with the other women.”

“I got it,” Sadie snaps at her. “I’m not an idiot.”

“Never said you were, but you have a tendency to blurt things out you shouldn’t.” Sadie pouts, but doesn’t disagree so I have to assume Eden’s right. Eden looks at me in the rearview mirror when I glance back and she asks, “So what’s the story we’re giving to Archer?”

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