Page 35 of Moon's Promise

“I was concerned for her.”

Evie tilted her head curiously. “Why?”

“People are getting sued for everything; if she had gone to the doctor, it would be documented that I didn’t hurt her. She could say some crazy shit, like that I attacked her for no reason.”

“I see.” Evie shrugged. “You have nothing to worry about if she does.” Evie’s free hand came up to gesture toward the cameras on the wall. “What you did was caught on tape, from two different angles.”

“I still don’t appreciate her mocking me.”

Evie laughed. “That’s the part I don’t get. Usually, you just blow off someone showing you attitude.”

Moon sighed. “You’re right.” Raking a hand through his hair, he told himself to get a grip. “I’ve been uptight lately. Once I’m confronted with a problem, only solving it will take that weight off my mind.”

King’s lips curved into smile. “Maybe, or maybe not. From the way you’re acting, your problem involves a woman. Solving the problem could entail more than you bargained for. I didn’t bargain on falling for Evie.”

“Aw …” Evie leaned over to kiss King.

Moon rolled his eyes at the PDA.

“I need to head out.” He took out his wallet despite Evie shaking her head. “It’s my turn to pay. You haven’t let me pay the last three times I’ve come to eat.” Hell, the only times they had let him pay was when he managed to catch them gone from the restaurant.

“We don’t want your money.” King pushed the money back to him.

The way he said it made him glance at Evie.

“You told him.”

“King’s my husband; he deserves to know.”

“I would have never told him.”

“I still owe you.”

“You don’t owe me jack shit. I’ve told you—”

“It doesn’t matter what you told me; you won’t let me give the money back to you. At least let me pay you back with a meal every now and then. Okay?”

Moon pressed his lips together. “Give Valorie the money as a tip, then.”

Evie didn’t argue.

Telling them goodbye, he strode out of the restaurant. The downcast day didn’t lighten his dark mood.

On his bike, he drove to the convenience store around the block. He parked and went inside, returning in less than three minutes to sit on his bike and open a pack of cigarettes, something he had quit six months ago. He tore the package open, pulled out a cigarette, and flicked the new lighter he had purchased. Drawing the poison into his lungs, he let loose a vicious curse, startling a man walking into the store.

When he waved that he was good, the man continued inside.

“You’ve got to get your shit together,” he muttered to himself. Moon knew what was bugging the piss out of him was the only alternative to the women who lived in the club—those who had been there the night he got drunk were the wives. Had one of the brothers’ wives been the one he fucked? How was he going to find out if he had?

After smoking the cigarette to the nub, he stomped the butt out.

That’s going to be me if I did.

CHAPTER THIRTEEN

Moon stuck his head inside Nickel’s open bedroom door. “Hey, you got a minute?”

Nickel pulled his gaming headset off. “Yeah. What’s up?”