Page 88 of Dagger

My breath caught at her beauty, which hit me square in the gut.

Her blonde hair had grown past her shoulders, and her soft curls shone. Every time I’d seen Leesy during the past thirty years, she’d been dressed as a mayor’s wife. Skirts, blouses, twin sets, not a hair out of place, but lately, her style had become more relaxed. She wore jeans, tees, and sweaters that hung from one shoulder, and I’d even seen her in leather pants and a tank top at one of our impromptu shindigs.

Elise had filled out slightly—probably because I made sure Iris fed her, and her curves—although not back completely—were definitely more pronounced. She had tits and hips, her face was no longer gaunt, and her eyes weren’t haunted.

Elise told me Robert forced her to get plastic surgery on her face, which was why she looked so young, but it wasn’t the surgery that made her more youthful; it was her inner light.

When she first came to the club, she was unsure of herself and her place within the Speed Demons. But then, over the weeks, she’d burrowed inside the fold and made everybody fall in love with her.

Elise had a wicked sense of humor and was smart. She cared about people, and the men fell under her spell. Iris mothered the men and looked after them, but she was Abe’s and always held herself at a distance.

Elise was more open and treated them more like equals. She was interested in their lives and the stories they relayed as they got to know her better.

Every man over forty—even those with an ol’ lady—were a little bit in love with Elise Bell because, how could they not be? She was beautiful inside and out.

It wasn’t lost on me how my eyes involuntarily followed her whenever we were in the same room. How my heart quickened, and my pulse raced each time she turned those pretty green eyes on me and smiled. Or how my cock thickened as her infectious giggle filled the air when one of the men or ol’ ladies yanked her chain.

Elise kept telling me that she wasn’t the girl I knew anymore, and she was right—she wasn’t.

She was even more incredible.

“Earth to Dagger,” Atlas crowed. “Come in, Dagger.”

My stare went from Elise to Atlas, who sat forward with an evil glint in his eye.

“Put your tongue back in your mouth,” the SAA muttered. “It’s embarrassin’.”

“John and Elise, sittin’ in a tree…” Cash said under his breath.

Kit grinned.

“Fuckers,” I groused, feeling my face heat.

Leesy’s mouth twisted as she bit back her laughter.

I glowered before demanding, “Can we get the fuck on with it?”

Atlas let out a snort.

Abe set a chair down for Elise and walked around the table to take his seat.

Elise parked her ass, cocking her head at me. “Abe said you wanted to talk to me about something?”

A loud knock sounded.

“What now?” I muttered.

Atlas stood. “Whoever’s interruptin’ Church is gonna get toilet cleanin’ duty.” He stalked across the room. “It’s clear in the club rules, do not interrupt Church.” He pulled the door open and froze. “What the fuck?”

“We’re here to back Elise up,” a soft voice said.

Bowie stilled before calling out, “Doe?”

My head reared back as big, burly Atlas got shoved to one side, and a procession of ol’ ladies strolled into Church.

Layla led the group, followed by Sophie, Kennedy, and Cara. Freya brought up the rear, her high-heeled boots clacking on the wooden floor as the women surrounded Elise like a group of fantastic-haired, attitude-filled bodyguards.

Cash shot Cara a look of confusion. “Wildcat, why do you need to back Elise up?”

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