Page 6 of Steamy Ever After

“But Jace didn’t say shit about him sneaking around with a girl, did he?”

“Not that he told us.” I shake my head.

“Get his ass in here.” Linc’s pissed off. I don’t blame him. Pres always liked Blake, but he’s also always known everything about him and what he’s doing. I don’t know why he hasn’t told Blake that we know what he is and that we want him in our back pocket just like Roger. I’m not looking forward to the day when I’m going to have to stare down my brother and tell him I knew he’d been lying to me since the beginning.

Then again, I’d be telling that to a man who’s saved my life half a dozen times and even helped kill my fucked up father and bury his abusive ass. He didn’t tell his super about that either. We didn’t even tell Pres. I shake off the unwanted emotions creeping up on me.

Blake’s a good guy, but why the hell he’d bring a girl in fully knowing the risks is beyond me. I’m having a hard time wrapping my head around that. He shouldn’t have brought her around. He shouldn’t have risked her. Part of me wants to go out there and kick his ass for doing that shit. But then he’d know that I know. This is so fucked.

“Yes, sir.” I shoot a text over to Jace, who walked into the club a few minutes ago hammered. So much for keeping an eye on the cop.

I think back to when I caught her running from him. “For what it’s worth, he looked pissed when I grabbed her. He covered it up quick,” I say and let out a sigh, “but he wasn’t happy that I had my hands on her.”

“No shit.” Linc looks at me like I’m a damn idiot. “Would you like it if another man had their hands on your girl?” I smirk. No fucking way.

“Yo, Pres.” Jace barrels in the door and nods his greeting. “Veep, what’s going on, guys?” He takes a seat across from Linc, to my left.

“Who’s Marie, Jace?” Linc jumps right into it. He doesn’t like to waste time.

“Who the hell is Marie?” His drunk ass looks confused. I shake my head and run my hands down my face. Yeah we like Blake, but Jace is supposed to watch him. He should know what’s going on. The look on Linc’s face tells me he agrees and he’s fucking furious. He tilts his head to crack his neck on both sides and then stretches out his shoulders, all the while looking right at Jace. I can’t help but smirk, hiding it behind my hand. Jace shrinks back into his seat and gains some sort of composure. The three of us and Pinch are the only ones who know Blake’s a cop and we all let loose around him, but Jace should be following orders. It’s his job to keep an eye on what Blake’s doing. Especially since they spend nearly every day together at the tattoo shop.

“Has Blake had a girl around lately?” I ask, trying to ease some of the tension.

“No, nothing’s changed.” Jace looks right at me, avoiding the Pres’ hard stare boring into his head.

“You’re supposed to keep your eyes on him.” Linc’s firm voice grabs Jace’s attention.

“He’s patched, Pres; we were just having a few drinks.”

I purse my lips. Yeah he’s patched, but that shouldn’t matter. We patched him last week, ‘cause, well fuck, ‘cause we like him. He’s more of a brother to me than half the guys in this club. I wish Pres would just tell him we know already. It’s like he has fun fucking with him. At least he was until tonight.

“I don’t give a fuck if he’s patched. I told you to watch him and you obviously weren’t watching enough to see that he was bringing a woman around.”

“If you’d told me that’s what I was supposed to be watching for, then I’d have noticed. What’s the deal with the chick anyway, what’s she look like?”

“I don’t have to tell you shit, Jace.” Linc’s losing his shit. I look to him and narrow my eyes. When he nods, giving me the go-ahead to take over, I lean into Jace.

“The chick’s not the issue. Why the hell would he bring someone around that we could use against him if we,” I wave my hands in the air and roll my eyes, “found out that he’s a cop?”

Jace looks like he’s contemplating an answer and then starts shaking his head as he says, “He wouldn’t do that.”

I give him a blank stare and point out, “He did.” I gesture to the window. “He’s staking his claim on her right now.”

“No shit, he’s gonna have an old lady?” Jace asks in wonder while leaning over to get a look.

I look right at Linc and ask, “Does he know that we know?” Before he can answer me, Jace yells out.

“No fucking way, I know her.” We stare at him, waiting for him to continue. “She’s friends with that chick.”

My stare turns hard. Fucking Jace. “A little more specific, asshole.”

“Just some chick who came in to touch up her tattoo. Her friend’s name is Lexi. Hot little piece. I’ve been looking out for her at the bar, but she hasn’t shown up yet.” He clucks his tongue. After a minute he shakes his head. “He hasn’t been seeing her. She came to the bar tonight looking lost and left about an hour ago, all pissed off for some reason. He was with me and didn’t say a word to her the whole time.”

“What the hell?”

“Yeah, there’s no way she’s his girl.” He leans over, looking out the window again and adds, “Well, she wasn’t his girl a couple of hours ago.” The thought that she’s not that attached to him makes me grin. It lasts only a few seconds as I realize what I’m thinking is fucked up. I can’t do that to Blake. What the fuck’s gotten into me?

“You sure, Jace?” He nods his head at Pres’ question. “Alright then, keep an eye on him tonight. No more fucking around.”

---