Page 23 of Phoenix

“Because I thought for sure that you were younger than me,” she admitted.

“Does age matter to you?” he asked. “I mean, we are just friends, right?” She had told him that numerous times. He would catch her hanging around him, following him around like a puppy, and when Vin accused her of liking him, she would insist that they were just friends. Why couldn’t she just admit that she liked him? Hell, she wanted him, but giving him those words was damn near impossible.

Aggie bandaged his forehead and looked him over, “I think that the bleeding has stopped, but you’re going to hurt like hell tomorrow.”

“That’s not an answer to my question, Aggie,” he insisted. “We’re just friends, right?”

“Why do you keep asking me that, Vin?” she asked.

“Because I need to know, Aggie. Are we or are we not friends?” She knew him well enough to know that he wouldn’t give up without an answer to his question.

“Um, yes, we are just friends,” she lied. For a split second, she thought that she saw a flash of disappointment cross his face, but then he adapted his stoney-chiseled expression again.

“Good to know,” he almost whispered. He stood from the wooden chair and thanked her for helping him.

“Where are you going?” she asked.

“Anywhere but here,” he grumbled, grabbing the key to his bike and turning to leave from the back door.

“Why do you seem angry at me, Vin?” she asked. “You asked me a question and I gave you an honest answer.” Her answer wasn’t honest at all, but she wasn’t about to change her mind about what she said now. It was too late.

He shrugged, “I just expected you to be honest with me, Aggie,” he almost whispered. “And I guess I was hoping that your answer would be different.” Her gasp filled the room as she watched him walk out the back door, letting it slam shut behind him, and she wondered why she suddenly regretted lying to him.Maybe she was trying to protect her own heart, but she’d never thought herself capable of hurting Vin’s heart.

Vindicator

Vin pulled into the parking lot at Savage Hell and groaned. He had forgotten that it was the Harlot’s night to use the bar, but he needed to talk to Savage and God, he needed a beer.

He pulled his bike around back and cut the noisy engine, not that anyone would notice around there. The women all rode bikes, and if they didn’t, their men did. They were used to bikes coming and going, and that worked for him because he wanted to get in and out of the bar undetected. The last thing he wanted to do was see Aggie again. After last night in her kitchen, he decided to lay low and hope that she’d forget the entire conversation. He could make up some excuse that he must have had a concussion, but he doubted that she’d believe him. She wasn’t honest with her answer, but at least she gave him one, and now he knew where he stood with her. But damn, if he didn’t want to call Aggie on her bullshit, pull her into his arms, and kiss her until she gave him the truth. Not that his plan would work on Aggie. She was as stubborn as they came and for some reason, she was denying her feelings for him. Shit, maybe he was just making it all up in his head. Maybe Aggie had no feelingsfor him. Maybe it was just wishful thinking on his part, but he needed to know.

The night that he showed up in her kitchen, about five guys from a rival club jumped him and beat the shit out of him. He hated having to go to her for help, but when he thought about who he could go to for patching up, Aggie came to mind. The problem was, the same assholes who beat the shit out of him, had followed him back to Aggie’s home. They would think that he lived there, and if they went after Aggie while looking for him, he’d never forgive himself. Talking to Savage was the only way to figure out how to get through this mess and keep Aggie safe.

He walked into the back of the bar and found Savage behind the bar, playing bartender. The Harlots loved it when Savage made the drinks because he had a heavy pour.

“You look like shit, man,” Savage said, looking Vin over.

“Yeah, thanks for that,” Vin breathed.

“You forget it’s the Harlot’s night for church?” Savage asked.

“No,” he grumbled. “Kind of,” he admitted. “I need to talk to you, man,” Vin said. “It’s important.”

“Life or death important or you want a beer important?” Savage joked.

“The first one,” Vin said. He could tell by Savage’s expression that he didn’t like what Vin needed to talk to him about, even before he told him. Savage nodded over at his wife, Dallas, and asked her to work the bar while he talked to Vindicator, and she smiled and quickly agreed. She kissed Savage and waved at Vin as they walked down the dark hallway to Savage’s office.

“I’m sorry to pull you away from everything, but this is important,” Vin explained.

“So, I’ve gathered from you telling me that the problem is life or death,” Savage grumbled. He pointed at the chair that sat in front of his desk and Vin sat down. Savage sat behind his mahogany desk and waited for him to spill the details.

“Last night, I had a visit from about five guys from the Ghosts,” Vin said.

“Shit,” Savage mumbled, “I thought that we already took care of those assholes. Last I heard, they were all but shut down.”

“Well, they are coming back strong, and they want information,” Vin said.

“Information about what?” Savage asked.

“That is something I haven’t figured out yet. They didn’t ask too many questions. They were more interested in beating the shit out of me.”

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