Page 45 of The Devil's Conflict

I agree with that. As much as I know the Heaven’s Misfits are on our side, that doesn’t mean shit can’t turn and go sideways. I learned a long time ago to not trust just anyone with anything.

“I still say we should look at Thea having a look at it,” Cryos interjects, holding up his hands when I turn to glare at him. “I know you don’t want her to, but honestly, as smart as Silver is, he’s not military trained, and to me, all that looks military.”

“What we need to do is find out where Dagger hid anything else,” I say tightly. “Including possibly the answer key, because no way he memorized all that shit.”

“He did have a long time to do just that,” Shadow reminds me. “I mean, it’s clear that he was working on this for a long time, which means that he also might have used Bull’s, but changed it to make it his own instead of chancing someone finding it and figuring it out if Bullet or Hammer had known what it meant somehow.”

He has a point. “Fuck, this is a fucking mess and I’m done with this bullshit.” I turn toward the door, needing to get out and away for a bit. “I’m going to do a little hunting. Who’s coming with me?”

“I’ll come,” Shadow offers, following me out. “I want to check out the old farmhouse we found they were using before. It could be that since we didn’t find anything, they might have deemed it safe to use again.”

“You think Vlad would be that stupid?” I ask as we walk out of Cryos’s office and down the hall.

“I think he’s getting desperate, and desperate people do stupid things.”

When we get back into the common room, I see Macy is now doing the other side of Thea’s hair. I walk toward them, smiling down at Macy when she looks at me. “I’m going to make her hair supper pretty, Uncle Sniper,” Macy says proudly.

“You’re doing a great job, honey,” I praise her. Thea smirks up at me, knowing full well that I’m worrying how the hell we’re going to get all the knots out of it. Clearly she’s not worried though, so I guess she has to have a plan. “We’re going out, and we’ll be back shortly,” I tell Thea, placing my hand on her neck and giving it an affectionate squeeze. I want so badly to taste her again, but with Macy in her lap, Shadow will probably kill me. “Behave,” I warn Thea instead, squeezing just enough to make her understand how serious I am. “Any issues, tell one of the brothers and they’ll get in touch with me.” Then I release her and head for the door.

The sooner we get this done, the sooner I can come back and finish what we started earlier. And the sooner I can convince her there is no way in hell that she’s going anywhere.

TWENTY

THEA

Seriously, the Russians?

“So what’sthe deal with work tomorrow?” I ask Viper as I move to stand beside him at the bar where he’s drinking and talking to Hulk and a couple of the bikers from the new MC that have arrived. I haven’t missed the 1%er patch on their cuts, or the rough around the edges vibes they give off, but if they’re here they must be okay. Still, I’m not liking the ideas floating in my head on what is going on around here. And I wasn’t able to cleverly get any of my questions answered when I asked Rose or any of the other women. And I know Rose knew exactly what I was doing by the look in her eyes and the smile on her face, but still, none of them gave anything up. Not even a hint.

It’s frustrating, but I can respect that she doesn’t want to betray any confidences that she shouldn’t. Especially considering I have no station or position here. But I don’t likebeing left in the dark, and I’ll be pushing Sniper for answers the moment we’re alone. I’m not foolish enough to think I can get the information from one of the other men in the club, or even the new ones that are here.

“Now why would a pretty thing like you need to worry about work?” one of the new guys asks, his tone smooth, and considering his cut calls him Whiskey, and I can see why. His eyes are the color of his name, bright and warm as they watch me, but there’s no missing that he’s a biker through and through. His hair is heading toward unkempt, and I’m not sure he’s brushed the light brown locks, with silver throughout, in a while. His dark boots are scuffed, and he’s got tattoos on every piece of skin I can see. Not to mention the ZZ-Top vibe he’s got going with his beard. “If you were my woman, you’d never have to work a day in your life, honey. That Sniper’s been mistreating you? Don’t you worry your pretty head, because I’ll set him straight.”

There’s a few snickers from the others in his group, but I ignore it. Instead, I say with a cool smile, “I’m no one’s woman, and I’m happy to stay that way. But thank you for your concern.” I look back at Viper. “I’m assuming you want me at work tomorrow?”

“Not sure what’s going on tomorrow,” Viper tells me. “We don’t have major anything to do other than some security installs, but that’s Cryos’s territory.”

“And, what, I’m supposed to twiddle my thumbs?” I ask, irritated.

“No, we’ll have something for you to do,” Viper assures me. “I just don’t know what until we’re in the office. I imagine Sniper will bring you in, but you can talk to him about that.”

I want to snap that Sniper is not responsible for me and I can drive my damn self, but I can also feel the eyes of the other club guys on me and I have a feeling that won’t go over well.So instead, I nod, turn on my heel and walk away back toward where Rose is sitting talking to Izzy, Syn, Sage, Eden, and Sadie. Quinn already went up to bed with Macy, clearly worn out. Though I can’t imagine carrying twins is easy work.

“Feeling restless, huh?” Rose says with a knowing look.

“I’m not used to being kept in one spot,” I tell her with a sigh.

“It’s something you get used to after a while,” Syn drawls, leaning down to pet one of the dogs by her feet. Two dogs that were watching the new comers very closely. Not aggressively, but more out of curiosity. The one she pets, Loki, licks her hand before returning to scan the crowd. “And now that I’m pregnant, Stone never wants to let me go anywhere or do anything.” She glances at Rose. “Your son might be bunking with you if he gets too overbearing.”

Rose laughs. “And if that happens, you let me know he’s on his way and I’ll make sure he sees the errors of his ways. But Bullet was like that too for a while, especially with Stone, so you might have to grin and bear it for a little bit. Not saying you don’t slap him upside the head though if he gets out of line,” she adds with a wicked grin.

“Or a chomp on the ass.” Sage snickers, giving Ebony, the other dog, an affectionate pat. “Personally that would be my go-to. Nothing like smartening a man up with some pain. And, if he complains, just tell him what you’re going to go through while giving birth as graphically as possible, so he can suck it up,” she adds cheerfully.

Syn arches a brow at her. “You really do love talking about the whole birth thing, don’t you? Maybe I should make it that you’re there with me, hmm? Give you a taste of it too.”

“I’m good,” Sage replies cheerfully when Izzy and Eden snicker. “I love you, sis, but we’re not that kind of close. Besides, we both know that you want Stone and Rose there so you can scream at him, and have Rose there to back you up. I’d just laughand enjoy myself too much. Besides, remember that time I had to help Brady with the woman in the back of the cruiser? Yeah, no, never again.”

“It was your own fault you got yourself arrested,” Syn points out with a smirk. “And I still remember Brady being green, but mostly from the vomit you blew all over his shoes than the woman having a kid in the back of his seat.”

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