Page 4 of Devil's Valentine

“Scarlett will be happy to know that.” When Cherise says the name Scarlett, something inside of me sits up and takes notice. It’s an odd fucking sensation; one I push aside for the moment.

Lucifer questions, “What’s so important about this bakery other than the fact that the brothers can decimate the desert table?”

“Today we went into Cresent Sugar Bakery to get a snack before doing some shopping. Scarlett is a sweet girl. She’s always nice when we go in and has never looked at us sideways for our cuts. She’s a happy person who normally wears a big smile on her face. Today, was different,” Cherise gets down to business.

I find myself shifting in my seat, something being wrong with the owner doesn’t sit right with me. I’m aware that doesn’t make any fucking sense considering I’ve never met her, but it is what it fucking is.

“She was clearly upset about something,” Cherise explains, “even though she was trying to hide it.”

“Her smile was fake as hell,” Wrenley adds in and Cherise nods solemnly.

“It took a little convincing,” Sioux snorts out a laugh with Cherise’s words, “but we got her to tell us what has been going on. Apparently, she’s had problems with someone messing with the bakery.”

I perk up, unable to keep out of it, “Messing how?”

Lucifer looks over at me with an arched eyebrow and all I can do is shoot him a sheepish smile. Thankfully, he doesn’t call me out on why I feel the need to be involved in this conversation. I’m curious, but my hackles are raised a little bit.

It’s not a common thing for the women of the club to get involved in club business and they definitely don’t bring other people’s issues to us. I’m not sure how to feel about this turn of events, but I also can’t deny that I want to know more.

“Today when she went into the bakery, there was graffiti on the back wall.” I open my mouth to tell her it’s not such a big deal, but Cherise doesn’t give me a chance. “It’s not the first time. This time it was only the back wall, but it’s been the front and back before. Once her bakery was broken into,” her words have my spine straightening, “nothing was stolen, but whoever it was destroyed most of the interior of the bakery.”

Lucifer’s voice is gentle, like he’s cajoling his wife, “This sounds like an issue for the police.”

Cherise narrows her eyes to slits and it’s the epitome of ‘if looks could kill’ which has me thinking about taking a step back. She might be a sweetheart, and a mom figure to many of us club brothers, but I’ve also seen her put someone in their place when needed. And she does it with precision.

“No,” Cherise’s voice is firm, “this is an issue that we can help with.”

“She’s not club,” Prodigal gently points out which earns a hard glare from Wrenley, “and neither is her business.”

Prodigal notices the look on his woman’s face and blanches slightly as he holds his hands up in surrender. “She’s our friend,” Wrenley points out, “and she needs help.”

“You’re not willing to help our friend?” Sioux’s face is incredulous as hell as she looks at Apostle. “She needs help. I’ve never known you all to be men who turn your backs on a woman who needs help,” there’s a tsk in her voice.

I’m not the only one who drops my head. With just a few words, they’ve been able to chastise us completely.

Lucifer sits up a little straighter and I know what he’s going to say before he even says it. “No,” he concedes, “you’re right.We’ll help your friend. We can’t have women in our city being terrorized.”

The women beam and the men light up and puff their chests out like they just won something. I swear they look like fucking peacocks right now. It’s amusing as hell because they don’t even see how their women manipulated them. Even if they’re doing it for a good reason.

I barely bite back a chuckle as the women get up in a flurry of activity, kissing their men on their cheeks and walking away while talking to each other excitedly. I shake my head and run a hand over my face to try and hide my grin.

“What’s so funny?”

My head snaps up to find Lucifer glaring at me. I shrug one shoulder and try to keep my face neutral. But I can’t fucking do it.

With a bark of laughter, I tell them, “You’ve all been had.”

“The fuck we have,” Scythe snarls.

I point at him, “Your woman didn’t even have to say a word and you were nodding right along with Apostle and Prodigal.” My words are filled with amusement, “They played you and knew exactly which buttons to push.”

“Oh, like you’d rather us not do a damn thing and leave this Scarlett woman out there to deal with this problem on her own?” There’s a challenge in Prodigal’s voice.

I straighten up quickly and shake my head. “I’m not saying that, I’m just saying that those women did a number on you.”

“Maybe,” Lucifer concedes while rubbing his chin.

I’m not sure I like the way he’s looking at me right now. My gut sinks because I know that look, I’ve seen it before when he’s coming up with some sort of fucked up plan I’m going to hate. I might not hold a position of power in the club, but that doesn’t mean I’m not in the thick of things.

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