Page 35 of Outlaws' Dirty Secret

“This was a waste of fucking time,” I growl on the way out.

“On the bright side, no one got shot.” Skyhigh laughs.

“Yeah, bright side.” I'm pretty sure I sound about as skeptical as I feel.

“Listen—” Skyhigh looks around. “Let’s get outta earshot first.”

Well, now I’m curious.

The bouncer gives us a wide berth as we leave.

“Whad’ya got?” Crank asks, arms crossed over his chest.

“Okay, this is a longshot.” Skyhigh throws his leg over his bike and settles in the seat. “Remember the collar we dug up? Tanner’s fucking dog was named Brutus. Odd for history to beshowing its face twice in a row like that, but it’s too much of a coincidence to not mention it to Hellfire.”

“It’s a reach…” Dragon rumbles. “But weirder shit’s happened. Like you said, worth the mention.”

“Brutus isn’t that unusual. You think Tanner would use his fucking dog’s name as cover?” I dunno if I’m buying it.

Skyhigh shrugs. “Yes? No? It’s probably nothing.”

Poe shakes his head. “Go with your gut. Yeah, strange fucking coincidence, but it’s a potential lead.”

“Let’s report back and then go see if Willow’s up for a private party,” I suggest.

Dragon nods. “It’s fucked up, isn’t it? We might spend our day covered in blood and guts, and then go to her so she can smile and wash it the fuck away. I’ll take every second of goodness I can get, but if she saw us here, or down in the cells, would she even let us touch her?”

“We didn’t make this world, we just live in it,” Skyhigh answers. “If we did half this shit in uniform, we’d get medals of honor. That’s how fundamentally fucked up the system is.”

I catch Dragon’s eye and give him a nod. In this, I think we’re more alike. Skyhigh has his demons, but he knows who he is and what he’s worth. Shit, he even still has parents he talks to sometimes. Dragon was fucking tossed away, and I might as well have been born in the accident that stole my past twelve years ago. How long before she sees us for what we really are and I that look in her eyes changes?

It might be easier to just let her live her life. But I’m too fucking selfish for that.

19

WILLOW

I've never written so muchin one day. Colleen would be blown away if she'd seen me today. She might actually get the book she's waiting for if this continues.

And it's good. Sexy. Wild.

The only problem is that my male leads are getting a bit too rough for the genre I’m supposed to be writing in. According to her feedback, she still wants me to make them good guys, but do good guys act good all the time? Also, she thinks they swear too much.

The sex scenes, though… no notes.

Which is good, because every time I try to edit them, I have to practically read them through my fingers out of sheer embarrassment that I actually wrote something that dirty. And then I need some time for myself. It's a good thing the bedroom isn't far from my office, that's all I've got to say about that.

Even Blackout's blindfold made it into the story, though it was black silk instead of my tank top. On the other hand, improvising with the tools at hand is sexy too.

No, I can't rewrite—again.

Despite all the pauses and rethinking of the characters, I've got six new chapters ready for editing. Grace is going to be a busy girl when she gets it to read. And hopefully, Terry will be a very happy hubby. I giggle out loud, a little punch drunk after so many hours behind the keyboard.

Speaking of Grace, she's supposed to be here soon so we can check out the local biker bar together. I’ve driven past the Burnout dozens of times, but never set foot inside. I think it’s time to change that. In the name of research, of course.

And also? I think I need confirmation that the feelings I have for Blackout, Dragon and Skyhigh are actually aboutthem.There's this voice in the back of my head asking if maybe it’s just the idea of sexy bad boys swooping into my life and carrying me off to do all sorts of dirty things to me. What if it had been someone else from the club? Or a different bike club altogether?

I don't think that’s the case, but this is a chance for both a girls' night out and for me to see what it’s like withoutmybikers. Not that they’re mine. But they kind of are, right?

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