Page 38 of Love Gamble

Jag: Maybe.

I need to be prepared, in case. This venue is always packed, attracting a big crowd. I’m happy to be here, but I’d rather be back at the clubhouse with Corey, who I now might not be able to see tonight.

Echo, the manager, walks by me with her clipboard in hand. I remember once when I was asking about Corey, Bella tried to talk me into being interested in Echo instead, telling me she’s another red-haired beauty.

And she is, don’t get me wrong, but she’s not for me.

There’s no other woman who makes me feel the spark that Corey does.

Sometimes the penis wants what the penis wants, or whatever that saying is.

I send Corey a text letting her know I probably won’t be able to see her tonight. It’s too risky dropping into the Devils clubhouse at nighttime anyway. If River sees me, he will definitely know something is up, and he will lose his shit.

And fighting with him puts me in a lose/lose situation, because at the end of the day he is Corey’s only family left, and she loves him like crazy.

If I kick his ass, I would be the bad guy.

If I don’t and kiss his ass, I’ll look weak to the club.

He’s also a psychopath, and the enforcer for the club, so he basically has a degree in torture and murder.

So he’s not really someone I want to fight with.

That doesn’t mean that I’d back down, though.

I’m a good fighter, and well trained at that, and I know how to defend myself.

Name one biker who doesn’t.

I’m hoping we can just talk it out, and deal with it in a civilized way. We both respect each other, so why not?

“Damon,” Echo calls, placing her clipboard on the bar and studying me. “Are you okay? You seem distracted.”

“I’m fine,” I say, smiling at a group of people that enters, scanning them to see if I recognize anyone. Lions members specifically. Echo takes their money and leads them into the club.

Corey: Wait, you’re where? At the strip club?

Shit.

Damon: It’s a burlesque club, and you know that. And I’m working, Romeo wanted me here in case anything goes wrong. We’re short one security guard.

She doesn’t reply.

Fucking hell.

An hour passes, and still no response.

Is she already mad at me? That has to be some kind of record.

I wander outside and stand with the security checking ID at the door, and then do a perimeter check. The loud music hits me when I head back inside, and Echo looks up from the bar at the entrance. “Everything okay?”

I nod. “Yep. Is there anything you’d like me to do?”

She gives me a once-over, and my eyes widen in surprise. Echo doesn’t hit on any of the men in the MC. In fact, I was starting to think she might be into women, because the men told me that they’ve never seen her even as so much show interest in the opposite sex.

But I know that look.

“I mean, what are you doing after this?” she asks, looking me right in the eye. She’s confident, and bold. And straight to the point.

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