Page 19 of Devil's Valentine

“Thank you,” I whispered against her lips.

When I pulled back from her, she let out a little whimper and something passed in her eyes. I’m not sure if she had more questions, or if she had concerns, but then the look was gone and replaced with something sweeter.

“Be careful while you’re riding. There are far too many idiots on the road.”

I chuckled softly and kissed my woman again, hating that I was going to have to leave her and entrust her safety to a Prospect. But I had to do it.

The moment I got on my bike and got into formation with my brothers around the transport truck to head to Charleston, I felt it. I was leaving my heart behind.

The whole run has been a blur. We finished the mission and spent a night partying at the Charleston clubhouse. It was fucking wild. That club doesn’t have the grounding that Old Ladies can provide, and it showed.

The club angels were out in full force and all the single men with me, which was most of them, took full advantage. It shocked the hell out of my brothers that I stayed away from the angels and turned more than one away when they approached me.

Hammer looked at me as we leaned against the bar together with a beer in our hands. “What’s going on with you? Not feeling the angels here? There is some prime pussy to choose from.”

I flashed him a grin, “I’m off the market.”

He sputtered as he choked on his swig of beer. While coughing, he barely got out, “What?”

“You heard about the Old Ladies bringing up the issue with that bakery?” He nodded and I smirked. “I met the owner and baker. She’s mine.”

“Holy shit,” Hammer shouted.

Hammer’s a good guy. He runs Devil’s Construction and because of the jobs he does with the business, he doesn’t go on a lot of runs. Still, I’m always glad when he’s out on the road with me because he’s a guy who is always steady.

That doesn’t mean he won’t beat the shit out of someone, but he’s not as reactionary as some of the other brothers. But when he gets pushed over the edge? Watch the fuck out. His road name isn’t just because he wields a hammer at construction sites.

Once he recovered, he shook his head and muttered, “Another one becomes a victim of Cupid.”

I could only grin at him, and shrug one shoulder.

But his words got me thinking. Valentine’s Day is coming up soon. I know Scarlett is going to be busy, I saw the calendar on the wall of her kitchen. She has a lot of orders and is planning on her business in the bakery increasing because of the holiday.

Hopefully she’ll think about hiring more staff, I know Crescent Sugar is only going to continue to grow. The DSMC will make sure of it and everything she makes is just too fucking good for her not to be almost too busy.

Valerie is great and I know she has a few other people who help out behind the counter, but she needs someone else in the kitchen with her. She’s stubborn though.

As we pull into the clubhouse, I’m relieved as hell to be home. From the looks on the faces of my brothers, I’m not the only one. I know Apostle can’t wait to get back to Sioux. The man is besotted and had to work to get her to accept him. They’re solid now.

It takes a few minutes to debrief Lucifer in his office and take a shower, but then I’m striding through the common room of the clubhouse. I have somewhere to be. And it’s already been too many days without seeing my woman.

The texts and phone calls were good, but they weren’t nearly enough. Maybe one day she’ll be bold enough to send me sexy pictures of herself. Fuck, if she sent me a video? I don’t even know what I would do with myself, other than jerk off.

When I hear someone call out my name, I mutter under my breath, “Fucking hell. I was so damn close.”

I turn toward the bar to find Hacker sitting there with a shit eating grin on his face. As I approach him, I give him a chin lift. His eyes are glimmering with amusement. At least he’s not telling me something went down with my woman. He wouldn’t find that something to joke about; none of my brothers would.

“Just wanted to let you know everything’s good with your girl,” even though there’s a lightness in his voice, there’s an edge of steel that tells me he took his assignment to look over her seriously. “I’m still waiting on everything I need to get her fully hooked up so I can monitor her security system. Should be here in a few days. Until then, any movement on the cameras at night will send me an alert. It’s been quiet while you’ve been gone.”

“Thanks, brother,” I say sincerely.

“Of course.”

Tack walks up at that moment and slaps me on the back while grinning at Hacker. The guys are best friends, and they do most things together. I’ve seen them rail the same woman more than once at one of the club’s parties.

“You off to see your girl,” Tack teases me.

“Fuck, yes, I am,” I growl. “The fact that you fuckers think it’s funny to slow me down is pissing me off.”

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