Page 112 of Property of Chaos

“They’re playing with the others,” she purrs, wetting her lips as her hooded gaze falls to his mouth again.

I put a hand to my neck, elbow on the bar, and scowl at the scratched surface.

A fist knocks me in the shoulder. “You good?”

I turn my head and nod at King. “Sure.”

He grins as though thrilled for the challenge. “You been paying attention since you been here?”

“What do you mean?” Of course, I have. You're instantly the aggressor when you walk onto another club’s property with one of your men in tow. Chests puff, and shoulders roll back,whether you’re friend or foe. All I’ve fucking done is pay attention.

“If you had,” he teases while a shy woman I’ve learned is Abbey pours him a new drink. “Then you’d have noticed that half these fuckers are younger than even you.” He pauses to take a sip of his whiskey. Somewhere around forty, he doesn’t look that old, but in comparison to many of these guys around us wearing the patch, he is. “I recognize a sulking kid when I see one. Got a couple of my own on top of these juvenile assholes.” He gestures to a trio of guys bantering over a game of pool. “So tell me again, and tell me the truth this time. You good?”

“How do you do it?” I say quietly, leaning toward the guy. “Talk about the shit we just did and still sit there looking as though you’re on goddamn holiday.”

He smirks, swirling his drink. “Never judge a book by its cover, brother.” He gestures to his old lady, Elena. “She’s picked me up off the bathroom floor more times than I’d like to admit.”

“That so?”

He dips his head to one side. “You’re young, Chaos. About the age I was when I first met your old man.” King’s face contorts briefly as though he’s sorry he has to mention the traitor. “Don’t discount the work you’re doin’ holding it all together for your boys.”

I swallow hard, fingers toying with the edge of my phone.

“This arrangement will be good for your club,” he states, alluding to the two-year deal we cut with them to spread our green into multiple states nationwide. “At the end of the tenure, if you decide it’s not in your best interest anymore, I invite you to call it quits. You ain’t indebted to us, and we ain’t to you. If you think you can do better without us, that’s your choice, not mine.”

“Appreciate that, brother.” I offer him my hand, and he claps his palm across mine.

“The shit you’re goin’ through ain’t anything but a rough patch, kid. It’ll pass.” He twists at the waist and leans back to shunt a cynical-looking brother as the man walks past. “You giving your woman a break any time soon?”

The blond guy—Sawyer—twitches his upper lip and then looks at our bartender. The intent in his stare makesmefeel as though I should get a room. “How long you got to go, Abbey-girl?”

Her chin dips, gaze feral as she peeks at him from beneath her lashes while sorting dirty glassware. “Figure I’ll get someone to take over in another half hour. That good with you, pretty boy?”

“How long she been there?” he asks King.

“Since this shit kicked off, so four hours or so.”

“Why are you dropping me in the shit?” she quizzes King, teasing the Fallen Aces president.

“Because it’s fun watching him get worked up,” he jests, thumbing to the tower of muscle who looks ready to steal the small woman away. “As you were.”

“Nah,” Sawyer—their enforcer—growls. “She can quit early.” He lifts a hand and beckons her with a stiff finger.

She sets the glassware down, chest heaving. “Sorry, King.”

He chuckles as the blond guy scoops Abbey off her feet and storms through the clubhouse with her over his shoulder.

“Sonya,” King hollers. “You’re up.”

A pretty, older blonde slides in to take Abbey’s place with a wide smile.

I shake my head, thumbing my phone again. I know this visit is good for our club, but shit, my heart is at home with Vanessa. She sent me a goddamn video shot in our new house. Inmyroom. And all I could think when she asked where I’d put the bed was wherever would be best to watch her from when I fucking put her in it.

“Don’t look so scandalized,” King teases with a laugh. “Those two have been together for years, and it hasn’t faded. It’s good to wind them up occasionally so that the single guys see what’s important in life.”

“Yeah?” I say. “And what’s that?”

“Living,” he states, turning his head to stare at me. “Find someone you love and let that feeling take away all the pain you got to go through to honor your position.” He gestures to my president badge with his chin. “I’m guessin’ it was no accident your boys voted you into that position.”

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