Page 58 of Daughters of Chaos

I blow out a breath, glancing to where the guys are still talking before saying, “Jesse took the edge off for a while, but that’s all it was. When that stopped working, I needed something else to ease my temper.” I motion to the gym. “This place seems to do the trick.”

Nix dips her head as she sits on the edge of the ring. “And there’s nothing else that’s doing that? No new person of interest to pick up where you and Jesse left off?” she asks.

Her question shocks me.Where the hell did that come from?

I eye her warily. “No, there’s no one new. Why would you think that?”

She bites her lip, shaking her head. “No reason. I just wondered. That’s all.”

She looks away, refusing to meet my eye. Nix is a shit liar and knows I can see right through her, but this isn’t the time or place to call her on it. Plus, I'm not sure I want to know what sparked her current theory on my sex life. And I definitely don’t want to knowwhoshe thinks I've moved on to.

There are few options in our close circle, and under the current circumstances, any dalliances outside the club are a risk. We have Dom and his assholes to thank for that. Any fraternizing with strangers is always risky, but with the war looming, it's downright dangerous.

So, whenthatneed arises, I have to pick from the meager choice of Sons or take care of things myself. The second option is more likely now that things have cooled down with Jesse.There's a fat chance in hell I’ll find comfort with any of the other members.

Raptor is my type to a T, but I’d never go there, not with Nix’s heart on the line. Stitch is attractive, but he and Lace have something going on. Tweak is hot, but his history with cocaine is enough to keep me away.

Then there’s . . .

I look up to see the men still talking. My eyes catch on the tallest of the group, and for a moment, I lose my sanity.

No. Nope. No fucking way.

Thatis never gonna happen.

Even if we could stand each other, it would be a fucking disaster.

As if he can hear my thoughts, Reaper looks up. His eyes narrow as he tries to read the expression on my face. I throw on a mask of indifference, trying to look bored as I cross my arms and sink lower onto the platform behind me.

When he turns away, I let loose the breath I'm holding.Jesus. What the hell was I thinking?Sure, the broody bastard’s nice to look at, even with that permanent scowl he wears, but every time he opens his mouth, I want to choke him.

“What do you think they’re talking about?” Nix’s voice startles me out of my insanity.

I shake my head. “I have no idea,” I tell her. “But by the looks on their faces, it’s nothing good.” I hear her swallow as we both sit lost in thought, waiting for the guys to tell us what the hell is going on.

Finally, Viper, Bear, and Miguel tear off, leaving the gym in a rush. The others walk over to Nix and me. All wearing varying expressions of anger and concern.

“What is it?” I ask.

Jesse shares a look with Raptor before telling us, “There’s been a hit on one of our warehouses. A shipment was supposed togo out tomorrow and the goods stored at the warehouse were stolen.”

“Taken by who?” Nix asks, but I already know. The look on her face tells me she does too.

Jesse’s jaw tightens as he says the name. “The Desert Bastards.”

Fuck.

“Viper wants us back at the house while he and the others try to figure out who leaked the warehouse location and drop details,” Raptor says.

I can’t help the surge of anger that spreads through me. “He doesn’t think we have anything to do with it, does he?” I grind out, not bothering to keep the fury from my voice.

Jesse shakes his head. “No,” he says quickly. “Of course not, but he is looking at the sweetbutts and anyone else who has any link to the club who could have sold us out.”

He refuses to meet my eye, but Reaper is staring. His expression is unreadable as I glare back at him.This is fucking ridiculous. Why the fuck would we get involved in the MC bullshit?

I shake my head, grabbing Nix by the arm and tugging her toward the door. “Let’s go. Looks like we’re back under house arrest until their master gets his head out of his ass.”

An hour later, I'm still seething when the six of us camp out in the living room of my and Nix’s rental. The TV is buzzing in the background, but none of us are paying attention.

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