Page 5 of Venus

Piston chuckled. “Hey there, little Clover Bee. How’s my girl?”

Clover didn’t speak, but peppered Piston’s face with kisses. She had huge smile on her face and obviously loved Piston. She had been non-verbal since being put into group home for wards of state. I wanted to stay angry, but seeing how much Clover was at ease with the big, gruff biker softened something inside me I’d have rather stayed hard.

“She ran all the way from the family side.” Daisy, the older girl with Clover smiled affectionately at the little girl in Piston’s arms.

“Because she knows she’s my favorite.” Piston gave Clover raspberry kiss to her neck. The little girl sucked in a surprised gasp, but her lips were firmly shut even though she was smiling. With one last kiss to Piston’s cheek, Clover scrambled down and ran back the way she’d come. Daisy waved and chased after the little girl.

“She’s still not talking.” Piston sounded like he knew he was stating obvious and didn’t phrase it as a question, but expected Sting to answer.

“No. She doesn’t say anything. This was the first time she’s gone anywhere without someone holding her hand since the last time you visited.”

“I’m glad I can provide a distraction for her.” It struck me then that I hadn’t seen Piston smile like he was now. There was affection as he continued to look after the retreating child.

Another pang hit my chest. I’d been having those lately which wasn’t something I was used to having to deal with. Only emotion I ever showed was anger or displeasure. And only to get reaction I wanted from someone.

“Yet another reason Victor will die.”

Sting raised an eyebrow. “You think he’s responsible for what happened to the girls? El Diablo seemed to think they got everyone involved.”

“He did. In that cell. El Diablo cleaned his city but did not shut everything down. Was just one cell Victor controls.”

“Is it like El Diablo to leave even one leg of a trafficking ring open?” Sting looked appropriately incredulous, but I knew the truth.

“El Diablo took out what he could reasonably enforce.” Piston glanced over at me as he spoke. Checking with me? Why would he do that? “His city, and everyone knows he considers Palm Beach his as well. He knows shutting it all down is impossible, but he can make it more difficult for anyone to do business in his territory.”

I gave Piston side-eye. I wasn’t in mood to agree with him, but I could find no fault with his logic. Fact was, I was thinking same thing. “I agree. While El Diablo protects his territory fiercely, he knows how much control he can reasonably expect.”

“Why was Victor after you, Venus?” Sting gave me quizzical look, and I could tell the answer mattered to him.

“If you’re worried about me bringing trouble to your club, Sting, don’t. I would never bring danger to your door and risk children and your women.”

Sting gave me an impatient look. “Venus, the club can protect our own. If you need us, you get word to us or just get your ass here as fast as you can.”

“I promise you, I am more capable of taking care of myself than you are of protecting everyone in compound.”

“Venus.” Sting scowled at me, looking from me to Piston and back. Younger man raised an eyebrow at Piston. They seemed to be communicating silently, and it grated on my nerves. I also knew I was being bitch.

“I don’t know why I’m included in this conversation. Two of you seem to have everything figured out anyway.”

Sting gave Piston a grin. “Bit prickly, ain’t she?”

“Only when around this ape.” I bared my teeth at Piston. “He brings outsukain me.”

“How about a visit with Iris and the other women?”

Again, I felt that pang in my chest. Spending time with the old ladies of Iron Tzars, even though all of them were at least a decade younger than me, was one of my favorite things to do. I considered all old ladies of Salvation’s Bane to be my family and the women of Black Reign were just as close. Women of Bones were all like sisters, especially since my own sister, Millie, was there. But women of Iron Tzars were… more. There was something about all of them that soothed me. I had found home in Grim Road, too, but Grim was Piston’s home. And I wasn’t sure I wanted to be in such close proximity to him.

“Is my usual room in clubhouse open?”

“It is. Danica will want word from Lemon. They Facetime every day, but I think she would feel better to hear how Lemon’s doing from someone other than Lemon. Apple misses her sister, too.”

I couldn’t help but smile. Lemon was hell on wheels, but she was still teenager. It was easy to forget. “Tell her I’ll meet her for dinner in common room. I have many stories to tell to lift her spirits.”

“Don’t we all.” I glanced over to find Piston grinning while he toed gravel at his foot. Obviously, there was some memory he was reliving that amused him. Out of nowhere, surge of something that felt suspiciously like jealousy slammed into me. It was on the tip of my tongue to remind big baboon Lemon was taken, but I managed to keep retort to myself.

“Right.” Sting had wary look on his face as he glanced from me to Piston and back. “Well, you both know where to go. Make yourselves at home.”

I didn’t wait around, instead securing my bike before slinging my backpack -- pink, of course -- over my shoulder and heading inside. I needed hour of peace and quiet. To decompress and get my thoughts under control.

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