Page 27 of Bullet

Bristol’s fingers tunneled into my hair, and she climbed onto the chair, straddling my lap. “I’m ride or die for you, baby.”

I cupped her ass and pulled her snug against me. “You don’t want me. What we got is easy, but I’m not that kind of permanent.”

She tipped her head back and laughed. “Don’t I know it.” She focused on my face again, her fingers tracing the ink on my neck, then slid into my cut. “So what happened? You didn’t recognize Stormy at first.”

“She looks different. She had long hair. I couldn’t see much of her in the truck. It was her eyes. I haven’t been able to get her out of my head.”

“Now, you can do what you wanted to do that night. Help her, but don’t make decisions for her. Like Lacey, Clover, Jinx, Scarlett, and now Skye,” she said as she slid off my lap. “—like me—she might not want to leave you.”

Chapter Four

Stormy

Romeo plucked pieces of bacon off his glazed maple donut and piled them on a napkin next to Levi, who demanded a girl named Pippa give hers up as well.

“Just take the whole topping.” Pippa leaned over the table and peeled off the frosting, nuts, and bacon bits from her donut. “No sacrifice is too much for the bean.”

Levi patted her belly. “See, that’s why Pippa will be your favorite,” she said to her tummy.

I broke a small piece off my donut and ate it. An hour after Bullet had left, Levi’s quiet knock had pulled me from the depressing room and out here to the chapel of the MC. The television in the corner played, and the voices blended with the nameless faces.

Not that Levi hadn’t been making introductions, but I’d given up trying to remember.

Romeo and Blue had their names on their leather cuts. And so did the girl Jazzy. She had her blonde hair tied up in a black bandana.

“Are you here with Blue?” Jazzy asked. Her lips pursed. “Even if you are, you’re not changing your name,” she said to him.

Levi leaned into me. “Blue for blue balls. Hana has a few other names for him. You’ll meet her tonight, but not until late. Saturdays are busy for her at Wild Ink.” She took another bite of her donut. “Now that she has her own tattoo shop, she’s crazy busy inking bikers.”

Blue bumped his shoulder against Jazzy’s. “Whether or not I’m getting my dick wet doesn’t change that my balls are always in play. You’re either busting them, or I’m ready to nut from working with Bullet’s girls.”

“Since Stormy is one of Bullet’s girls,” Levi said. “You’ll be seeing a lot of each other.”

“No,” I snapped, and it seemed like everyone at the table stared. “I mean, I’m not one of Bullet’sgirls.” I emphasized the word. “I don’t work for him, or he doesn’t work for me.” I tried to clarify, but obviously, I was making the conversation awkward. “He’s not my manager.”

Blue chuckled. “Don’t worry.” His smile was soft and his eyes warm. “Bullet already made it clear you weren’t going to be working for him.” He arched a brow. “But Bristol was fighting for you.”

“She doesn’t need to do that.” The few bites of donut settled like rocks in my gut. “When did you see him?” Not that I needed him to answer. Bullet had to have gone to Bristol as soon as he left here. Why wouldn’t he? I was safe behind the fence, and she was his lover.

“Romeo!” A little girl squealed. She dropped the box in her hands and rushed toward our table.

“Lilibug.” Romeo jumped from his seat just as the girl threw herself into his arms. “Did you score?” He spun her around and sat her on a stool.

The little girl’s lips puckered into a pout. “No, and I got a yellow warning.”

“They give penalties to five-year-olds?” Levi asked.

“No penalties, but Lili is a Heller. Soccer is full contact with my girl. She likes to throw elbows.”

She crossed her arms over her chest. “Only accidentally on purpose because Myra wouldn’t get out of my way. And I can’t be a Heller. My mom said no.” Her lips formed an O, and her blue eyes widened. “Can I have a donut?”

“I didn’t think you liked braids.” Jazzy tugged on her braid. “You look amazing.”

She reached into the center of the table for a donut. “You don’t have to lie. Dad doesn’t know how to do a Princess Leia bun.” Her hair had been divided into two mostly equal parts and braided. A pink and white striped shirt had the number eleven on the back and her team name, the Cherry Blossoms, on the front.

I tilted my head to look under the table. She wore one pink and one white soccer sock over her shin guards, but she wasn’t wearing cleats. Instead, worn, pink, canvas ballet slippers covered her feet.

“Lili.” The firm command came from the doorway.

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