Page 15 of Reckless Pawn

He grabbed a glass from behind the bar and passed it and the bottle across the table as he took a seat across from JD. "I think all it will take is a job to calm her down. She's acting out because she's bored."

"She's acting out because you're not doing your job. You got a soft spot for her too?"

"I've got a soft spot for any woman I think will suck my dick."

JD shook his head. "You're playing with fire and dumber than shit if you think you're going to get that one. She's got exactly one man on her mind and she ain't letting go. You might be able to sway her for a while, but when Houston comes back she'll be on him like a bitch in heat."

"If that's true then how come you don't tell her the truth?"

"Because I don't give a shit about Houston's love life. I only care about that prick getting the job done. And as long as he thinks they can't be together and she's moving on, the more his head is in the game." JD poured another two fingers of whiskey into his glass and gulped it down. "Don't look at me like that. She can have her job even if she wants to be a whore. I just wanted her to know exactly what she was getting herself into before she took that bullshit further."

"She ain't ready for that job. If she foolishly thought she was, I'm pretty sure she got your message she ain't."

His Pres nodded. "When we get done here you best go check on her. Make sure she doesn't do something stupid. Tell her she can start off as the hostess here two nights a week and after she proves herself we'll see where that goes. But if that doesn't settle her down then I'll find her something or someone who does."

Axel ground his back teeth, making sure to keep his mouth shut for now.

He had a good goddamned notion that JD was trying to save her for his precious golden boy. It seemed most of the club brought Houston back into the fold without question. No one said a word about how he abandoned the club during its darkest days while they fixed all the shit his father left behind. While he was off shooting foreign boogeymen halfway around the world, the rest of them fought for their lives and their club right here on American soil.

Axel took a deep breath and tried to push the darker memories out of his mind along with the bitterness souring in his gut. There was no time to dwell on the past today. They had a lot riding on Houston's under cover mission and it was on him to get Izzy settled and on board with the program.

"I don't know what's put that pissed off look on your face, but we don't have time to deal with it. The clock is ticking against that girl we're supposed to find. Now tell me where we are with Houston. Is he making any progress?"

Axel pushed the thought of Izzy's tears and Houston's betrayal out of his mind so he could get down to business.

Eventually he would have to face his brother with the truth and one way or another find his way back from that with or without Houston at his side.

When it came to this job there was too much at stake. Houston would do his part. Like him, they both burned to watch Frank die. Although if he had his way it would not be as easy as a bullet to the brain. He wanted to watch that old bastard suffer like he made everyone else suffer. If he had any say in it, he would not go gently into the night.

"Earth to Axel." JD's gruff voice brought him back from the depths of his mind.

"What?" he asked.

"You need to listen to me and listen good."

He started to say something, but JD talked over him.

"I don't know if you've got designs on that girl and frankly, I don't care. But, if you do and you don't figure out how to get them out of your system, then I fear things are going to turn bad for you. Much worse than you think."

"I don't need love life advice. I was thinking about fucking her, not marrying her."

JD narrowed his eyes. "Uh huh. You trying to convince me or yourself?" He swallowed down some more liquor. "Take it from someone who knows. You seriously don't want to go down that road. Two men loving the same woman is a road best not traveled. I don't care how good your intentions are. If she's hung up on him, then you need to stay the hell away from her."

The sadness creeping into JD's voice picked at his already frayed nerves. He knew the old man had fallen down memory lane and the baggage from all that still clung to him no matter how hard he tried to shake it free.

He seriously knew.

Isabella wasn't meant for him.

There wasn't a doubt in his mind that she was hooked on the Hawk.

So why the fuck did he want to punch someone right now?

Chapter Six

Izzy

After spending way too much time thinking about what to wear the first night on my new job, I hurried through the trail behind my cabin leading to the casino building. It was well after sunset and more than a little creepy in these woods even with the flashlight I carried. I tried my best not to think about what could be lurking behind the trees or bushes encroaching upon my path.

---