Page 46 of Puma's Pride

Trouble and I look at each other with both our eyebrows raised. Is that it?

“Would be efficient.” I say and Trouble nods.

“But who?” He asks.

I look at Alisa. “Juan.” We both say.

“Juan?” Trouble asks.

“Juan Gutierrez. Sal’s youngest.” I tell him. “I don’t know if he’s behind this or not, but he’s the one who held Corinne prisoner and made it possible for Josef to grab me. He threatened Alisa and Corinne yesterday, and he terrorized my little girl last night.” I tell him.

“Is she alright?” Trouble asks, pulling Corinne to his side.

I send him a questioning look, but I respond. “She’s fine. He frightened her by staring at her through her bedroom window. But he couldn’t get in.”

“How the hell did he get near your clubhouse?”

“He hitched a ride with Sal, without Sal’s knowledge.” I explain. “He’s a sneaky bastard who likes to play games. This sounds like something he’d do.”

“If he killed Toga, it’s no longer a fucking game.” Trouble snaps.

“Oh, I know. I can’t wait to get my hands on him and prove that to him.” I tell him.

“I can’t wait to help you.” Trouble agrees.

The prospect behind the bar answers the phone before addressing Trouble. “There’s a prospect from the Demons at the gate.

“Alisa, Corinne. Showtime is outside. Trouble and I have some planning to do.” I start but stop when Alisa gives me an eye roll.

“I can tell when I’m being dismissed.” She says with a chuckle, stretching up to kiss me. I smack her on the ass as she walks away. I watch my woman sashay her way out the door, all the while ignoring the tongue action between Corinne and Trouble. If I know my woman, she’ll grill Corinne on the way back to the clubhouse about her relationship with Trouble. Good, because I don’t want to have a heart to heart with Trouble about his intentions toward the mother of my son. We have a killer to find and eliminate.

“Let me have it.” Trouble says as I follow him into his office.

I frown in response, but speak my mind. “Look, I don’t have any rights to object to you and Corinne hooking up. I love Alisa. But Corinne is the mother of my son, so if you hurt her or him, I’ll kill you.”

“Feel better?” Trouble asks as I snarl at him. He holds his hands up in capitulation. “I care about her. This isn’t purely physical, although the physical is amazing. She’s the most beautiful woman I’ve ever met, but that’s only part of the attraction. She’s fucking brave, intelligent, funny, and kind.”

I nod as I consider his words. He’s right. Corinne is all that. “I get it, I do. She’s also the mother of my son, so it isn’t just her you’re taking on, you know that.”

“I do. I don’t know him yet, but I hope to, soon. You’re his father, but that doesn’t mean there is no room in his life for me.” Trouble says. “Unless you don’t think I’m good enough for them.”

I bark out a laugh. “You’re so full of shit. You know I don’t think that. I’m happy for you and her. But let’s get one thing straight. Mal will be a Demon.”

Trouble laughs. “We’ll see. Now what are we going to do about this asshole who killed my man?”

“If your guys don’t find the asshole with Toga’s bike, then we’ll need another plan.” I say.

“Monty is a former cop. He can pull fingerprints off the bike. He has a buddy who can run them.” Trouble says.

I nod in appreciation. Dante has a cop in his club. Maybe I should look into finding one to join mine. “I can show Sal the traffic cam footage, see if he recognizes the guy. I feel in my gut that whoever is helping Juan is someone from Sal’s organization.”

When my phone buzzes, I’m surprised to see Alisa’s name flash on the screen. “Babe?” I answer. The fear in her voice has me bolting for my bike with Trouble right behind me.

CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT: ALISA

As soon as the door closes on the SUV, Corinne turns to me. “Go ahead. What do you want to know?” She asks.

I laugh as I watch her face color.

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