Page 16 of Devil's Vengeance

Lacey raised an eyebrow lazily. “Brewer can ask all he wants. If I’m not interested, I don’t give in to him. You do. And if that’s how your relationship works and you’re both happy, then more power to you. Don’t compare relationships. Each is unique.”

“You missed your calling as a therapist,” I pointed out when the other two women pouted but stopped ranting.

Lacey smirked at me. “I’m exactly where I need to be. But I do play therapist to my girls at the club, and sometimes the clubhouse too. What about you? Do librarians play therapist to their patrons?”

“No,” I laughed, shaking my head. “But I do get to see the kinds of things people will check out. You’d be surprised at how raunchy some of the old ladies in our town are. We have a book club and everything.”

She cackled, and I gossiped about the strangest things I’d seen people check out. It wasn’t usually the book so much as who was checking out the book. It was fun just to chat and hang out, and I almost forgot about the security detail until Riley stiffened.

“What the hell?”

The club, which was mostly filled with older twenty-somethings hanging out at the bar or dancing, was not the place you’d expect to find a group of bikers. Especially a group as intimidating as the ones who walked in the door. It felt like I’d seen one of them before, but before I could figure it out, Chase and Gunner were at our sides.

“Outside. Through the back. Now.”

For a group of women who pitched a fit about having security, they didn’t even blink before following orders. Quinn was tucked between Allie and Riley, with Sam at the front and Lacey in the rear. I glanced over myshoulder as we shuffled out, frowning at the group, but they either didn't notice us or didn’t care.

Once we got outside, I raised my eyebrows at Lacey. “Who was that?”

“Rival crew,” she explained. “There are two in the city. They don’t come close to the Devil’s Disciples territory, though, so if they’re here, they’re probably looking for trouble. I’ve got a kid at home. I’m not looking to play that game. We can finish out our night at my place instead.”

I’d been so focused on the realness of the women and the crew that I momentarily forgot that it meant the rest of it was real, too. The security was there for a reason. If the girls were out alone and someone knew they were connected to the crew, they could be hurt or taken in some kind of revenge plot. That honestly was a little terrifying.

“I told you,” Chase growled as he waited for me to slip into the back seat of my car. “You don’t belong here. It’s fucking dangerous. Get it yet?”

On one level, I did. I even understood why he was so determined to keep me away. But there were plenty of women who spent time with the crew who weren’t claimed. I didn’t see him chasing off any one of them. It felt personal, and that pissed me off because I hadn’t done anything to earn that. Aside from what? My job? That was idiotic.

“You’ve made yourself perfectly clear,” I hissed under my breath. He turned to walk away but froze when I finished. “I still don’t remember asking for your opinion. I’m not doing anything wrong. And I can take care of myself.”

CHAPTER 11

CHASE

It didn’t escape my notice that Trick was part of the group who’d shown up at the club. Since his crew didn’t live near the city, it was suspicious, and I wanted to go after him straight away to deal with him while I had the chance. But having the girls with me, I couldn’t risk it. I had to get them home first. Hopefully when I came back, he’d still be here.

I was hustling the girls out the back door when I noticed the fear on the librarian’s face. I felt bad seeing her that way, and I wished I could say something to reassure her, but maybe now she’d take the fucking hint. I had to use the opportunities I could get, even if it made me feel like a fucking asshole.

“I told you. You don’t belong here. It’s fucking dangerous. Get it yet?”

I probably should’ve kept my mouth shut. I’d been watching over the girls long enough to know what would tick them off enough to fight even the smartest decisions on their behalf. I tripped the woman’s stubborn button with my comment, and she looked up to glare at me as she hissed, “You’ve made yourself perfectly clear. I still don’t remember asking for your opinion. I’m not doing anything wrong. And I can take care of myself.”

Spinning around, I opened my mouth to argue with her again, but Gunner cleared his throat, giving a significant look to the club. When I glanced over the roof of the car, some of the guys we’d seen inside wereexiting through the back. Following us or stepping out for a deal or a smoke, I didn’t know, and I wasn’t sticking around to find out while the girls were with me. I jerked my chin at Gunner, who was closer to Riley’s car.

“Let’s go.”

He nodded, dropping into the front seat while I slid behind the wheel of the little Honda that I assumed belonged to the librarian. She made an irritated sound when I climbed in, but I didn't give her a chance to complain. I waited for Gunner to go first, since he had the First Lady with him, and followed after him, both of us ignoring speed limits to get them the hell away from the club.

After we were well enough away, I pulled out my phone and dialed a number, putting it to my ear. I didn’t look forward to making the call, but I knew if I didn’t, I was a dead man.

“What?” Croy snapped.

“Rival crew showed up at the club. We’re bringing the girls home.”

I could almost hear him straighten, his voice deepening to something more dangerous. “Did you see who?”

“No.” That was a fucking lie, but I didn’t want them knowing it was Trick. I wanted to go after him myself.

“That club is in our territory,” Croy growled. “Don’t make any fucking stops. Bring them straight here. I’ll send a few guys out to check and chase them off after you’re back.”

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