Page 95 of Jingle Belle's Biker

Belle.

“Sorry, no can do, Hastings. We went over this. I’m not about to cross the line and break laws. I am here to help defend my home.”

“Then your sublease is terminated.”

I don’t move. I’m a barrier between him and Belle, and he knows it. “Consider it up. But my friends and I don’t take kindly to illegal activities.”

Lance snarls a savage laugh. “What? You’re good bikers?”

“Not good. Decent. And this isn’t right. These are our people. Sidelined, working class, people who are trying to make ends meet. People who want to live out their retirement and people who need a roof over their heads.” I pause. “And for fuck’s sake, it’s Christmas.”

Suddenly Belle pushes past, holding up her phone. “You’re in breach of your grandmother’s leases. Her wishes. Worse, you’re just in breach of the law. So, if you want a fight, we’ll bring it. I can call the cops to sort this.”

“I’ll have everyone arrested.”

That’s when Sin joins her, followed by Mellie.

“Go ahead,” Belle says quietly. “I’m sure they’ll love to see the discrepancies in the contracts, old and new.”

“Yours isn’t like that.” Lance frowns. “You’re bluffing.”

The idiot just gave himself away, and I want to grab her, spin her high in the air, and then kiss her right in front of his face.

Then again, I’m that kind of guy.

Vindictive.

“You changed the wording in the electronic versions which is illegal.” That’s Sin, who moves past me to Belle’s side.

Lance’s gaze darts to me. I move up too. Because while he won’t do anything to her, the need to protect is too overwhelming. “Very,” I say. “Like you having people here, on the property. We’ve been over it, well my friends and your tenants have, and gotta fucking say, between you handing me keys and these weapons . . .”

I wave a hand at the other bikers.

“Seems there might be things to answer to. But I can let that slide. As long as you understand I know you’re in the wrong here, and I’ll stand with and defend these people.”

“Did you hear that?” He looks at Belle. “He threatened me.”

“Sounds like he offered us support.”

Lances mouth screws up. “You’re fucking him.”

“What I do isn’t your business.”

The lawyer steps right up and takes Lance’s arm. Sin is right at his side. It’s intimidation at its finest. Like me, Sin fucking hates the little person getting trodden further down.

“Mr. Hastings,” the man says, “we got a look at the different and illegal leases, and more importantly, the parts of your grandmother’s will you tried to hide. So, let’s go talk somewhere private?”

Lance nods and goes off with them. Gravel comes up with Mellie and an adoring little Pepper, who’s followed by Nomad.

I’m aware of Belle standing there, toeing her shoe in the courtyard’s dirt. It’s like flames licking against my skin.

Call me a coward, but I don’t talk to her. Yet. Instead, I fucking welcome Gravel. “I was kinda looking for a fucking fight.”

I snort. “A guy like that wanted you to throw a punch.”

“What happens now?”

“He finds out that everyone gets to stay here and he can’t do what he tried. And more.”

---