Page 14 of The Devil's Conflict

“That’s what I’m afraid of,” he mutters. “Now, what’s up?”

“Athena Sutton will be starting this morning,” I tell him. “I already let Eric know.”

Shadow’s brow arches at that. “And you know that how?”

“I paid her a visit and told her to be here.”

Shadow doesn’t say anything for a moment. Then he groans. “Sniper, you seriously are an asshole, you know that? You can’torder a woman to work for us. And the last thing I need is a pissed-off woman on my hands.”

“The only person she’ll be pissed at is me. And yes, she was very clear on what she thinks of me last night when I went to her apartment. Unlucky for her, she didn’t learn anything from the first time we met and she pushed just the right buttons. So now we have the additional person we need, and she’s got a smart head on her shoulders and the skills you’ll be able to use.”

Shadow shakes his head. “And all of that is no good if she shows up just to spite you and then quits.”

“She won’t quit,” I say confidently. No, Athena Sutton would never quit and prove me right. It’s the exact thing I’m banking on. “Now, I have shit I need to do today, but if you have time, meet me at the bar, and we’ll go through some of the back room. That will take two people to move some of the larger things around.”

Shadow nods. “Fine. I need to pick Macy up at school at three and Quinn at four, so it’ll have to be before that.”

“Plan for around noon then. Any issues that you heard of from around here last night?”

“No, Hulk said that everything was quiet.” He frowns. “And that’s what worries me. I already heard from Bowie and Frost that all the businesses are quiet. After the bar shootout, you would think they would want to strike again just to see what we’ll do again.”

“I looked into Nikolai based on Cryos’s information, and he’s methodical. He’ll know that’s exactly what we expect him to do and he won’t want to play into our hands. He’s going to be watching us and planning.” If I was in his shoes, that’s exactly what I would do, and considering the sniper training Nikolai’s record boasts, along with some of the other things he’s done, he and I are far more alike than I’d like to consider. But I also recognize the value in that. After all, the best way tobeat someone is to know what they’re thinking or how they’ll respond.

“Then we better make sure there’s nothing for him to see. Alright, I’ll be there at noon. Hulk can cover there tonight, and I’ll be here.”

I arch a brow at that. “I can cover here if you need to be at home with your woman and daughter, Shadow.”

“I know, but Quinn wants a quiet night, and Macy has gymnastics tonight, which will tire her out. I’m going to put Bowie or Frost on them tonight once they go to sleep.”

I nod. “If you’re sure, but let me know if you need me here. Being able to come and go as I please is why I stay single.”

“And here I thought it was because no woman would put up with your crankiness,” Thea says sarcastically from behind me. I turn to look at her, where she and Theo stand a few feet away. Theo manages to keep his face neutral, but his eyes give him away. The laughter is clear. I shoot him a hard look, but he doesn’t so much as twitch in reaction. Before I can retort, she cuts her gaze to Shadow and says, “Apparently your VP thinks he can order civilians around now. So here I am, but only on a trial basis. I’ll agree to give the job two weeks to see if it’s a good fit. If not, I’m done, no harm, no foul, and no bad blood. Agreed?” Her tone is clear she’s not going to budge, and I’m almost proud of her.

Almost. Mostly I’m irked at her little jab, but I push it aside as I watch her interact with Shadow. Just as I figured, she’s here, early, and ready to work, all to prove me wrong.

“That’s fine,” Shadow agrees. “I appreciate you willing to give it a chance. We have some paperwork for you both to fill out and then we’ll get you started on your first tasks.”

“Alright,” Thea says agreeably. “But I’m going to need a moment to speak with your VP.”

I’m almost surprised but not quite. Shadow glances at me, then nods. “Alright.”

Thea nods and stalks toward the front door, not even glancing back at me. I follow her out, ignoring Theo who frowns slightly but doesn’t say anything as he follows Shadow to his new desk. I’ll give it to the guy, he’s got a lot of faith in his sister. I see Eric’s surprised look, followed by a look of sympathy, though I’m not sure if that’s aimed at me or Thea.

When we step outside the building, Thea continues walking until we’re next to my bike. I’m not sure what to make of that, but I merely cross my arms over my chest and look at her expectantly. The blue of her eyes is icy and her lips are pressed into a thin line as she stares up at me, her stance rigid and her hands clenched into fists at her side. It’s the first time I’ve really seen her this riled up. Even the first time I was an asshole to her, she wasn’t as expressive of her emotions.

“Let’s get one thing straight, Sniper,” she tells me in a voice so frigid I’m surprised I’m not covered in ice. “I’m here because I won’t jeopardize my brother’s chances with your MC or his job here. And that means for now I’m going to play nice, but that courtesy doesn’t extend to you. You are in no way my boss here, and you’re not going to pull rank on me again. Ever. Because as far as I’m concerned, the two of us are on even ground, and I’m no longer the green officer under your command. And the next time you speak to me the way you did last night, it’ll be me showing you just how creativeIcan be. Are we clear?” Her final words are sharp, almost as if she thinks she has the authority to speak down to me.

This woman is something else. I can almost respect it even, but she has no idea about the man she’s poking right now. I’m not like my brothers. They’ve all been through plenty, seen many things, but the shit I’ve done, that I’ve gone through, makes metheir worst nightmare, and they know it. Soon enough, Thea will too.

I step in closer to her, leaning down so that my voice is low, my words clear so there is no chance she’ll mishear me. “That is where you are very much mistaken, Thea,” I inform her darkly. “Because you and I will never be on the same ground. You have no power here. This isn’t the Forces, and we’re an MC that plays by its own rules. Women here, you have no say in club decisions, no say in business decisions. And considering where you are working is a club business, and I’m VP of the club, that does make me your boss. As for threatening me, I wouldn’t be so foolish as to try it, Thea. Like you said, your brother’s future with the club, with this job, stakes on it. So I would think long and hard if you want to go toe to toe with me.”

Her face flushes with her fury, but her iron will keeps her in place instead of lashing out. “You think I care about your MC? You’re wrong. And you don’t think I don’t know why you said what you did last night? Trying to push me into a corner to pick at me to do what you want? Just like before? You might have gotten older, Sniper, but wiser isn’t something you’ve picked up on, clearly. As for Theo, he’s a big boy and can handle himself, but he won’t stick around your MC if you mess with me. You need him more than me. I am not a scared girl anymore, Sniper, and you better remember it. Now, I’m someone who battled her way to her position, overtaking men who wanted to see me fail. Just like you want to try and do now.” She steps closer, our bodies almost brushing, and the scent of her shampoo and soap fills my senses. It’s a heady mixture of lavender and something else floral I can’t quite place and it’s enough to almost distract me. “And you will not win,” she tells me fiercely. “No matter how hard you push me.”

It’s taking all of my self-control not to reach out and grab her. To release that tight bun she has her hair pulled into, bury myhand in the strands and hold her in place. A part of me wants to shut up that mouth in a pleasurable way, the images from my dreams battling in my head, while another part of me wants to wrap my hand around her throat and strangle it.

Instead, I lower my face a bit more until we’re almost eye to eye. “Then I suggest you stay out of my way and I’ll stay out of yours. Because you don’t want to push me, little girl. You won’t like the consequences.”

“I’m thirty-fucking-two, old man.” She sneers at me. “Far from a kid. And this woman can put you on your ass faster than you’d be able to react. Consider yourself lucky I don’t because I don’t want to hear you whine if you break a hip.”

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