Page 40 of Scorched King

“Fuck,” I snarled before looking at the cards on the table and in my hand and deciding I didn’t have shit to bet on and wasn’t in the mood to bluff. “I’ve got nothing,” I said, throwing out my cards face down.

I wasn’t in the mood for any of this.

“What’s with you tonight?” Axel asked. “First you were late, and now you seem to be somewhere besides the game.” He turned and looked at the window behind where he sat. “I hope you’re not still thinking about trying to tap that.”

I glared at my VP, but wisely kept my mouth shut. I was never much for a lot of talk, but on this topic, I especially had nothing to say. What got up between Sasha and me was no one else’s business.

“He brought her tacos today,” Cash said, with an almost sing song lilt in his voice. “I think he’s sweet on JD’s girl.”

“She’s not his girl,” I snarled before I could stop myself.

“You don’t think so?” Axel asked, a warning look in his eyes. “So you think he’s got her living there for what? Shits and giggles?”

I didn’t like the attitude Axel was throwing my way, especially since I wasn’t in the mood for it. If he was looking for a fight though, I might be the one to accommodate him. I was pretty sure I was healed enough to handle it, but there was only one way to be sure.

“Prez did say she ain’t his,” Cash interjected with a shit eating grin as he laid out his cards to show his royal flush while everyone else threw down their cards in disgust.

“Yeah? When did he say that? Because I don’t think I believe him.”

“So you calling him a liar,” I asked, trying to hide my sneer from Axel who was on my last nerve now.

“You’ve never said something you didn’t literally mean?” He leaned back in his chair and puffed on his cigar. “If you ask me, that woman is so far under his skin he can’t even see it. Which I’ll admit is a dangerous thing. If he doesn’t realize how much she means to him now, when he finally does it’s going to make one hell of a fucking mess.”

“He’d probably kick your ass for trash talking behind his back too,” Tel said. He did not look happy by the turn of this conversation and I couldn’t say I blamed him. Sasha didn’t deserve to be the topic at this table.

“Hell, if he was here I’d ask him. But since he’s not, I can’t. You’d better get your head on straight before you get so wrapped up in her you take this too far.”

“Although technically,” Cain drawled. “Prez has been known to share. Maybe the two of you could work something like that out.”

Axel jumped up, shoved his chair back, and lunged across the table at Cain before I could even set my beer down. He also hauled back and punched him in the face before anyone could so much as react.

The distinct sound of bone crunching on bone sounded through the room before everyone jumped from their seats and tried pulling them apart.

It took both Tel and me to get Axel off of Cain, and it wasn’t before he got in a couple of more strong hits.

“What the fuck is your problem?” Cain shrieked, his voice sounding off thanks to what looked like a broken nose.

“You sound like a fucking traitor,” Axel bellowed. “That kind of disrespect for our prez and what he went through when his old lady died is un-fucking-acceptable.”

“What?” Cain screamed, backing away while also being pulled away by me. “That’s not what I…”

He didn’t finish his statement, likely because he realized just how bad it had sounded. No one talked about that time in Prez’s life. Ever. Not anymore. The love triangle between JD, Malia and Pop had ended in tragedy, nearly tearing the club apart. That subject was beyond taboo in here. It could get you killed.

“Axel, calm the fuck down,” Tel warned.

“Don’t tell me to fucking calm down,” he bellowed. “Look at him. Only a traitor would sit around and talk about their President like that. Is that what you are? Our fucking traitor?” Anger burned so hot from Axel I braced for him to take another swing.

“He is the newest patched member,” Cash said, coming up beside Axel with hatred rolling off of him as well.

“This is not why Prez told us about the situation. Making accusations without evidence is not cool,” Tel continued. While I appreciated what he was saying, and I’m sure the other guys would too if they could think straight, now was not the time for a lecture. No matter how much they might need it. Not until cooler heads prevailed.

“Neither is slamming your president about something you know shit about. I’m not going to just sit back and let that slide—EVER.” Axel was still fighting to get loose from my hold. Clearly, he wasn’t done with the likes of Cain. I had to admit that I had my suspicions as well, especially after that comment.

Despite no one talking much about the past anymore, it was still common knowledge that the woman JD had loved and shared had been murdered by Pop because of their situation, so to assume he would entertain another similar relationship was about the most asinine thing I’d ever heard.

“For fuck’s sake. I was just stating the facts, not making some sort of accusation,” Cain whined through his fingers, the blood still pouring from his nose. “It was a joke. It didn’t mean shit.”

“Then you have poor taste in jokes, asshole,” Axel seethed before turning to me. “Let me go. I’m done with his ass.”

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