Page 84 of Break Out

I tipped my head back, caught sight of a smattering of clouds, exhaled, and looked back to her. “Where’s your gun?”

She smirked. “Still in the glove box where you made me put it four hours ago. Should I go get it?”

“No. Leave it, please. It will make me feel better.”

“Funny, it would make me feel better putting it back in my purse.”

I couldn’t fight my grin. “Being cute here isn’t going to help you, sweetheart.”

“Fine. Should I just hang in your room, or would you prefer I get to know the club bunnies?”

I took her hand and led her toward the clubhouse. “Now who’s anti-social?” She responded with a fake grin. “You can hang in my room if you want, but you might be better off to try making some in-roads.”

She nodded. “You’re right, but out of curiosity, if I need to get into your room, is there any chance I can get a key?”

I ran my thumb and forefinger along my chin, then I dug my keys out of my pocket, and pulled my room key free. “Yeah, that’s a good point. Here’s my key. My room is across the hall from where we have church, so you don’t need to wander upstairs or down the main hallway.”

She took my key and nodded. “Got it. No Alice in Wonderland shenanigans.”

Chapter 16

Conniving and Devious

Simone

With his hand at the small of my back, Steel guided me into their clubhouse. It was brighter than I expected, since they had florescent lighting throughout the common room. To my immediate left I saw at least seven aluminum baseball bats hanging from a wooden wall mount. That was convenient… and telling. I glanced over my shoulder at Steel.

“Keep moving,” he murmured.

I kept moving and realized none of the women were here. “Torque didn’t mess around.”

A member across the room sauntered to the bar. “No, he doesn’t. Tor knows how to scare ‘em off.”

His voice sounded vaguely familiar, and I noted his name patch read ‘Tie.’

“Did he go outside?” Steel asked, moving beside me and I caught a whiff of his crisp, woodsy cologne.

Tie huffed out a laugh. “Probably. He ain’t got no shame.”

Torque entered the room from hallway to the right. “I’m not outside, asshole.”

A mischievous smile crossed Tie’s face. “My bad, Veep.”

Torque rolled his eyes at Tie, then faced Steel, but not before giving me an unimpressed look.

I shoved the key to Steel’s room into my pocket. “I’ll just head out back.”

Steel looped a finger into the belt loop of my shorts. “Jade.”

I turned to him, wondering if he wanted a kiss before I left, but the earnest look in his eyes stopped me short.

“Remember what I said.”

My eyes slid to Torque and back to him. Something about this byplay irritated me, but I didn’t know why. Through a small miracle, I kept my temper in check. “Hard for me to forget.”

His brows drew down, but I pulled free of his hold, ignored Torque, and walked to the back door.

Before I made it outside, I heard Torque ask, “Why did you bring her here?”

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