Page 41 of Scorched King

I wasn’t sure if he really meant what he’d said, but if he went after Cain again that was on him. JD was already going to wipe the floor with our asses when word of this got to him. Inter club fighting was strictly prohibited unless in the ring or during church.

“I’m not?—”

Cash pointed at Cain. “Just shut the fuck up while you still can. If you don’t want anyone else to misunderstand your meaning, then keep your mouth fucking closed. Prez don’t need your shit. Unless you have a confession to make. Is that what this is?”

“I don’t need whose shit?” A voice boomed from across the room. We all turned to find JD looming in the doorway, his body blocking almost the entire entrance. Sometimes I forgot just how big and imposing he was considering my own bulk. But seeing him in the shadow like that, a dark scowl on his face, even I felt the intimidation oozing out of him and it gave me pause.

“It’s nothing. Just a disagreement that we’ve already worked out.” Tel was quick to try and diffuse the situation. Next to Axel, he was probably the one who spent the most time with our president and they seemed close. Or at least they were close enough for him to intervene.

JD ambled into the room, surveying all the men and taking in the scene. I had a feeling no matter how this went down we were all about to be fucked.

“Is someone going to tell me what’s going on? Or am I going to have to beat it out of you? Because I’m not going to lie, I’m kind of in the mood.”

Axel shook his head. “No.It’s nothing. And it’s been handled.”

“I can see that. However, we have rules about this shit and consequences for breaking them. So unless someone gives me some details, I’ll have to assume you’re all to blame.”

“It was me,” Cain admitted. “I made an inappropriate comment and apparently went too far.”

“And?” JD looked around at each of them. The entire room got quiet except for Cain’s wheezing. I doubted there was anyone in here that wanted to repeat what Cain had said directly to JD. Least of all me.

“Well, all right then. Must have been one hell of a comment. Can one of you grab me a whiskey from the bar and I guess someone should call the new medic while the rest of you can clean up this fucking mess.”

After the medic finished bandaging Cain, no one felt like playing more poker. Most wandered off to their rooms with a few of the club girls, while Axel went home to Mandy. With just JD and me left, it was time to man the fuck up and bring up Sasha—whether I wanted to or not.

I handed him the last unlit cigar, waiting as he lit it and took his first few drags.

“I’m a little worried about the club, boss. Tensions are running really high.”

He nodded. “So I gather. Maybe I shouldn’t have told everyone about the traitor.”

“Nah,” I said, shaking my head. “You had to. Keeping secrets only makes things worse.”

“Does it?” His eyebrows raised and I got the impression we weren’t talking about the traitor anymore. Clearly this was the only opening I was going to get and I had to take it.

“If she’s your girl, just say the word and I’m out. I would never interfere with another brother’s woman, especially yours.”

“Is that what y’all were fighting about? The boys speculating on who Sasha should belong to again?”

I didn’t answer, but at this point I figured I didn’t need to. He’d figured it out easy enough and I couldn’t gauge how he really felt about it.

“I have half a mind to drag all their asses back in here and throat punch each and every last one of them. Who I’m fucking or not fucking is not fodder for club gossip. Christ.” He slammed his fist down on the table and the glass ashtray jumped as did the half empty glasses left behind.

“It’s mostly the traitor thing causing the short fuses. It’s got everyone unsettled and worried. We need to end that situation. Is there anything I can do to help?”

He shook his head. “I’m working on it nonstop. There has to be something we can do to draw him out. There’s a weak point somewhere, we just haven’t quite figured it out. But Tel is the best. If anyone can find it, it’s going to be him.” His stare on me lingered and I wondered whether I was truly free of suspicion.

I nodded. Simply because I didn’t disagree. Unlike Tel, I wasn’t a tech geek. I didn’t put a lot of stock in digital information. In another life I’d been a detective, and I still believed there was something to be said about good old-fashioned instinct. I just didn’t like where mine was leading me these days.

“Look. About Sasha.”

I shook my head, trying to stop him. “It’s not my business.”

“It is if you are interested in her. Are you?”

“I’m not into stepping on any toes.”

JD mumbled something that merely sounded like a growl before he sat up and leaned in my direction. “Stop fucking beating around the bush. Either you’re into her or not. I’m not into wasting my breath. If the two of you are just friends then this conversation ends now. So what’s it going to be?”

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