Page 12 of The Devil's Conflict

Stop being a coward and stop being stupid. Take the job, see what it’s like and call it good.

I want to roll my eyes at the voice in my head, but before I can, there’s a sharp knock on the door. I glance at Theo sharply, and he gives a small shake of his head as he moves toward the door on silent feet. I don’t move, waiting as he looks through the peephole. Then he relaxes and turns a wicked grin toward me, before he opens the door and says loudly, “Sergeant Major, to what do we owe the pleasure?” Then he steps back to reveal Grayson standing there with two other men behind him, wearing matching cuts.

All three of them enter the apartment, and I see the two men in the back glance around quickly, smirk, and then look at me. Both give me a quick nod before they look back at Theo. “This our new Prospect?” one of them asks. His cut declares him as Bowie.

“It is,” Grayson says. He holds out a cut similar to his own to Theo, who beams excitedly. “Put that on, Prospect. From here on out, that’s what you’ll be referred to, and as of tomorrow morning, you’re on call for not only the business but us.” His deep voice is hard and firm. “You’re to do anything and everything that a patched member asks, is that understood?”

Theo nods and puts on the cut quickly. “Yes, sir,” he says respectfully. I almost expect him to snap to attention, but he manages to refrain.

“Viper is your sponsor, so he’ll give you the rundown in the morning when you show up for work,” Grayson continues. “You’ll refer to us as our road names as well.”

“Got it,” Theo says with a smile.

“Good. A room will be ready for you to move your things into tomorrow. You don’t need any furniture since anything you need will be in that room. Just bring anything of importance and your clothes. You got your bike out of storage?”

“Thea and I went and got it earlier, so I’m all set,” Theo assures him, grinning. “And thank you. I’m grateful for the chance.”

“Don’t get ahead of yourself, Prospect,” the other guy with them, Frost, says. “You haven’t seen the shit you’re going to have to deal with.”

“Or rather, who.” Bowie snickers softly.

“Are you talking about the Coven?” Theo asks. “Eric said they’re great and a lot of fun. I’m sure I’ll get along with them just fine.”

All three men look at each other, and I note the wariness between them. It’s my turn to smirk. Oh, now, isn’t that interesting? A group of bikers scared of a few women? Maybe I’ll take the job just to see what all this is about. “You’ll soon learn otherwise, Prospect,” Bowie tells him grimly.

Then Grayson turns and looks at me, and the feel of his gaze on mine is like a punch to the gut. Even after all these years, one look from him and my insides turn to jelly. I continue to fold the laundry as he watches me. “Sergeant Major,” I say politely. “I’d get up and salute, but we both know I wouldn’t mean it, and I’m kind of busy here anyway. Unless you’d like to help me, of course? You know, show us that sweet, gentle, feminine side to you?”

Theo chokes on a laugh, and I hear a soft snort from Bowie or Frost. Grayson steps forward, his expression dark and unyielding. But I don’t miss the look in his eyes that tells me he knows exactly what I’m doing, and he’d love to make me pay for it. Too bad for him, I’m not intimidated, and I just give him a cool smile, daring him to try. I’ve taken down men bigger than him, and I’m younger and faster.

“That stick certainly didn’t help work out any of that smartass in you, did it, Sutton?” Sniper returns calmly. “Anddon’t call me Sergeant Major. I haven’t been one of those in a long-assed time.”

“Oh, right, I forgot just how old you are,” I say with mock sympathy, his eyes flashing. “Then what should I call you? Maybe you’d prefersir? Or would you prefer Grayson? I could always call you Hudson, make you sound all distinguished. You just let me know, and I’ll see what I can do.”

“I like her.” Frost chuckles. “But doesn’t she remind you of a few certain someones?”

“Fuck, not another one,” Bowie groans.

“My name is Sniper,” Grayson tells me, ignoring the other men. “My legal name will only get your ass in trouble.” He gives me a sharp smile. “And I can still be very creative in my punishments.”

My gut clenches at that, and my mind instantly heads deep into the gutter, before I force myself to crawl out of it. “Then it’s a good thing I don’t answer to you, isn’t it?” I return sweetly. I put the last item in the basket and get to my feet. “And as lovely as this entire pointless chat is, I have things to do tonight, and dealing with your growly ass isn’t one of them. Sir,” I add sarcastically.

Grayson—no, Sniper now—steps forward, his eyes foreboding, and the wave of danger rolling off him should have me wary. Instead, it only invigorates me that he’s clearly affected by my words. So many times I saw him unflappable that seeing him this pissed is definitely a win in my book. When he’s only on the other side of the coffee table does he stop. “You’re treading on thin ice, little girl,” he tells me in a low voice. Low enough that I know that Theo, Bowie, and Frost can’t hear him. “Keep pushing me and you’re going to realize just how much you shouldn’t.”

“I haven’t been a little girl in a long time, old man,” I tell him with a low sneer. “And you don’t scare me, just like you didn’tthen. Pissed me off, sure, but I became the exact thing I wanted to be. And if you can’t handle that, then I suggest you turn around and walk right back out that door and never come back because I’m not going to change. I would hate to have to make you look like a fool in front of your club brothers.”

I see the clench of his hands at his side out of the corner of my eyes. No doubt he’s trying not to reach out and strangle me. I hold his gaze, daring him to do it. I learned a long time ago never to back down with men like him, and that isn’t going to change now. Finally, he says in a tight voice, “You’re to report to the security office tomorrow with your brother. Your first shift starts at oh-eight-hundred-hours. Don’t be late.” Then he turns and stalks back toward the door.

“You don’t get to order me around anymore, asshole,” I snap at him, anger making my cool facade slip. He stops in front of Bowie and Frost, before looking over his shoulder at me. “And I won’t be taking any kind of job I don’t want.”

“But you want this job,” he returns sharply. “And we need another person. And since you’re too damn stubborn to do it on your own, I’ll make the decision for you. Just like I did a decade ago.” This time, his smile is cold and lethal, as I silently seethe when he adds, “And you’ll show up because we both know you’re not a coward. Not like you were back then, isn’t that right, Sargeant? So put on your big girl pants and prove me wrong, or don’t show up and prove me right.” Then he looks at Theo and says, “Prospect,” before he moves to the door, opens it, and strides out.

Bowie and Frost shoot me sympathetic looks before they silently follow him out and shut the door behind them. Theo doesn’t say anything as I quietly fume. I grab the clothes and storm back into my room to put mine away, leaving Theo to deal with his own.

I slam the drawers of my dresser and closet with more force than I should, but I can’t seem to stop myself. That man gets under my skin like no one’s business, and all I want to do is prove him wrong. Well, that and kick his tightwad ass from here to Timbuktu. How dare he come in here and order me around like that? And how dare he back me into a corner? Just like he did a decade ago.

“Thea,” Theo says softly in the doorway. I turn to look at him and see the concern on his face. “Look, I know what he said, but if you don’t show up, that’s not something for you to worry about. He’s not your boss, and he doesn’t run the security company so he can’t order you.”

“Oh, but he can,” I say with a humorless laugh. “Better brush up on your MC politics, Theo, if you’re going to join yourself with them. Sniper is their VP, which means that it doesn’t matter who runs those businesses, if he says something, Shadow and Viper will fall in line. It’s no different than the Forces or any other branch. There just isn’t the rigidity we’re used to. And if he tells them to expect me and I don’t show up, that will prove that I’m not trustworthy or reliable. And it could also negatively affect you. Because you have at least a year before they patch you, and in that time, any slight or fuck up bad enough on your part means they can get rid of you without a worry.”

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