Page 20 of Devil's Vengeance

Trick scowled at me, arms crossed over his chest. “I paid for that lap dance. You gonna get me my money back?”

“Consider it payment for her having to get anywhere near you. What the fuck are you doing here?”

He opened his arms to gesture around him, eyebrows high on his forehead. “Why else would I be here? To enjoy a good show. I heard this place is popular. Your crew has been doing well for itself, hasn’t it?”

I wasn't about to answer that. I didn’t share details about my crew with anyone.

“You’re in our territory, Trick. Move on before I make you.”

That brought his grin back. Slow and smug, with that hint of mischievousness I remembered from when we were kids. He always loved doing the exact opposite of what he was told to do.

“Oh, baby boy. I’d love to see you try. But aren’t you working right now? I thought I saw you playing bodyguard back there. Should you have abandoned your post?”

My hackles went up, and I spun around just in time to watch Lacey come out from the back, a gun pointed at a giant dude with his hands up in surrender. He was wearing an Iron Horsemen cut, a grin on his face. I abandoned my conversation with Trick, heading straight for Lacey instead.

“Hey, now… I was just askin’,” the retreating man said, eyeing Lacey like she was a fucking piece of meat. “Surely someone as sexy as you belongs on stage instead of hiding away in the back, right? Unless you’re coming on later?”

“Can it, asshole. Chase, get him out of here. And the rest of his friends, too. I don’t want any of them thinking they can get away with harassing my girls,” Lacey hissed.

The dude’s eyebrows jumped, legitimately surprised for a second. “Hold on.Yourgirls? You own the joint? I thought it was owned by the Devil’s Disciples.”

Lacey scoffed, her usual disdain all over her face. She and Brewer had come up with this story themselves. They didn’t want her or the strip club tied to us, so she’d be protected. She knew exactly what to say to get people off their tracks.

“They wish. Are you so stupid that you think assholes like them would willingly put a woman in charge? They’re all misogynists. Like you.”

It made him hesitate, like it always did when some criminal or another tried to say we had something to do with the club. Proving that Trick was sharing secrets, the guy shot me a pointed look. “He’s part of the Devil’s Disciples. You’re saying you hire them but don’t work with them?”

Again, she rolled her eyes. “I don’t ask if my employees are part of a stupid ass crew. But if he ever brings his business here, I’ll put a bullet in his head. He knows that. Now get the hell out of my club. And don’t come back.”

Trick sauntered up, a charming grin on his face. “Now, come on. Don’t be like that. We’re just looking for a good time. We could bring in good business. My crew has a lot of members. They’re all looking for a fun night.”

Lacey was unimpressed and the hand still holding the gun pointed at his crew member didn’t waiver. “We don’t offer the kind of entertainment you’re looking for. My girls are entertainers, not prostitutes. And I’m not letting some asshole with a dick complex sneak into the back to hurt someone.”

I’d snort if I wasn’t so fucking worried about her right now. With more members of the Iron Horsemen in the club, Bear couldn’t move from where he was watching over the rest of the girls. The other bouncers were both civilians and busy watching the door. I’d be able to fight off the two men, maybe give Lacey a chance to get away, but if they all decided to come for us, it’d be dangerous for her.

Trick shook his head like he was disappointed. “Damn it, Ratchet. I told you no fucking around. This is a classy place, after all.” He shot Lacey another charming smile. “What if I send him home? The rest of my guys will only look. No touching. Deal?”

Something calculative crossed her face and my stomach clenched uncomfortably. I couldn’t tell her they couldn’t stay without explaining why. And since it was her job to gather information, she would let a rival club stick around just to see if she could get more from them.

“Lola–”

“Shut it,” she snapped. “It’s my club. I don’t give a shit what rivalries your little boy band has. If they’re respectful and don’t put my girls in danger, I’m not turning away business. Go cry to your leader or whatever if you’ve got a problem with it.” She looked at Trick again, jerking her chin at the other guy. “That one goes. But if I catch any one of you acting shady, the rest of you go as well. I’m not bringing whatever motorcycle territory bullshit you’ve got going on into my club, and I won’t let anyone put my girls in danger. We clear?”

The triumph on Trick’s face was only a flash before the slimy charm came back. “Absolutely. You’re the boss. Ratchet, fuck off. You aren’t ruining the night for the rest of us.”

Lacey gave me a pointed look, the demand clear. Escort him out like a regular bouncer would or she’ll toss me on my ass and replace me with a brother who followed orders better. Now that Trick had his eyes on the club, I wasn’t going anywhere. He’d target her just to fuck with me. I had to play the game.

“Let’s go,” I demanded, shoving the guy toward the door. He didn’t look happy about it, which probably meant it wasn’t his original plan to be kicked out. I guess we were all having a bad night then.

By the time the night was over and the club was closed, my jaw hurt from grinding my teeth all night. Trick kept his promise, keeping his hands to himself and his guys on their best behavior. From the way they deferred to him, I had to wonder if he was an officer. Or maybe he was making a play for a position. Using me to screw with the Devil’s Disciples would be a hell of a way to get some clout. Either way, his guys listened to him and gave me no reason to kick them out.

After he left and Bear locked up the front, I heard Lacey’s voice snap from her office. “Chase! Get your ass in here!”

Putting on a mask to hide my anger, I turned on my heel, heading for her office. It wasn’t much, mostly file cabinets and her desk, but there was a pull out couch in there in case one of her girls needed a place to crash for the night. She’d nearly been on the streets with Diego before she came to us looking for help, so she knew what it was like and always prepared for the worst. Lacey was protective of her girls and wanted what was best for them.

“Shut the door,” she demanded when I stepped inside. I did as asked, dropping into the chair on the opposite side of her desk when she raised an eyebrow at me.

“So who are they, and do I need to worry?”

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