Page 8 of Crusher

“Venom wants everyone to be on high alert,” Gamble continues.

I know I should head back to the clubhouse, be with my brothers to try to figure out what the hell is happening, but that’s not where my mind is at right now. All I can think about are Sadie’s dangerous curves, her steel-gray eyes, and those silky black-and-blue tresses. Besides, I need to make sure she stays safe and the only safe place for her is with me.

“Alright.” I groan, stretching my arms over my head. “Before we go in, I need you to do me a favor.”

My brother looks at me skeptically. “What favor?”

I don’t answer as I brush past, waiting for him to follow me. When we get to the nurses’ station down the hall, his curiosity is heightened.

“What the fuck are you up to?” he snaps.

I stealthily point to that nurse who was none too happy to see me discharged without asking for her number. “I need you to go over there and work that charm of yours to find out Sadie’s address.”

“Sadie… Your Sadie? She works here?” Gamble’s eyes widen. Damn, I must be talking about her a little too much at the clubhouse if he knows her by name.

“Yeah, my Sadie.” I love the fucking sound of that. “Now go over there and ask that cutie where she lives.”

“Brother, that sounds stalkerish as shit.” He laughs. “Why didn’t you just ask Sadie?”

“She’s not here, and even if I did ask her, she wouldn’t tell me.” I sound like a petulant child, but I don’t give a fuck.

“Yeah, I can’t imagine why.”

“Look, I don’t know what I did to that woman other than give her a dicking of a lifetime. Still, she somehow managed to fuck her way into my damn brain, and I can’t let it go. So this is really all her fault. Now, can you just go over there and find out her address for me?”

“Why don’t you go?”

“Because the woman already told me no when I asked earlier.” I shrug.

He releases an exasperated breath—something he does a lot around me—then rolls his eyes before marching off in Katie’s direction. The poor girl doesn’t stand a chance when he gives her his best smile and leans against the counter. I watch from around the corner, shaking my head as he makes her giggle and blush. I thought I was good with the ladies, but Gamble has me beat, hands down. It takes about five minutes before Katie writes something down on a piece of paper and slides it across the counter to Gamble.

He mouths, “Thank you,” before pressing a kiss to her cheek and strolling back over to me. She flops down in her chair and fans herself with a clipboard.

“Well, aren’t you just a lady killer?” I bust his balls while he grins at me.

“Better be glad I am so I could help your sorry ass.”

“You gonna hand it over or what?”

Gamble starts to extend his hand but then draws it back. “They should really tighten up security if it’s that easy to get personal information.”

“I doubt it’s that easy. I’d say that girl went out on a limb to get you that address because she’s hoping you’ll ask her out or something.”

“You know, you could’ve just asked Mav to get it for you,” he says.

“I would have until you told me he’s on a high-priority assignment right now.”

Gamble looks skeptical but hands me the note anyway. I open the folded piece of paper to find Sadie’s address written in feminine, curly handwriting, along with Katie’s phone number at the bottom. I angle the note for him to see and watch a shit-eating grin spread across his face.

“What can I say? Ladies love me.” He shrugs as we head for the exit.

Once we’re outside, I hit him with my next request. “I need you to do one more thing for me.”

4

SADIE

The melodious chime of my Ring doorbell resounds through the house, distracting me from the movie on the TV screen. I’m instantly cautious because anyone who knows me either texts or calls or… they just don’t come over because it’s not my thing, having people in my house. I’m not a hermit or anything. I just like having my quiet, peaceful space.

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