Page 41 of Devil's Own: Roughneck

The three of us stomp inside the clubhouse, where the pissed-off vibe in the air ratchets up enough to get people to stop and stare at us momentarily. There are bodies everywhere. Vlad called up all the men who keep places off the compound. All old ladies. He’s even brought in the pussies who are known to be affiliated with us. He’s not taking any chances with this shit.

Nic, Greer, and Rae fly around from room to room trying to find places to accommodate everyone as Vlad barks orders at men. The madhouse never fucking ends.

Once Vlad spies the three of us, he gestures toward the war room. I nod and start walking with Reap and Cut next to me.

Sarge and Dark are already in their spots around the table waiting for us. “Everyone good?” Sarge asks.

Reap nods. “With us, yeah. Don’t know about any strays hitting the neighbors’ houses. There was too much commotion to find out. Police swarmed the neighborhood.”

“We called Detective Doyle and the Lords to give them a heads-up,” Sarge says next.

We can’t start until Vlad gets here—frustration and small talk pass between us for a few more minutes before Vlad appears. “The madhouse never ends,” he says.

“I don’t think we’ve ever put the whole club on lockdown before,” I reply. “There’s a learning curve.”

“Right. But it still fucking sucks. Gee’s okay. I talked with her. The other women seem fine.”

“Yeah.” Reaper brings his fist down on the table, not hard but noteworthy. “But they shouldn’t have been put in that situation to begin with. My wife is fucking pregnant. Those fuckers tried to take out my whole fucking family.”

“They’re watching,” Cutter says. “They know I’ve got Freya now, too. Those fucking cowards went after my wife and my baby girl. Who the fuck goes after women and children? Got a problem with me? Take it up with me.”

“We already know they don’t have a problem going after the women,” Dark puts in.

“Next move?” I ask.

“Reap, Cut, what exactly did you see?” Vlad asks.

“Black SUV. That’s it,” Cut replies.

“Might’ve been a Yukon,” Reaper adds to a table full of grumbles. A black Yukon made the hit on the Lords.

“Nothing else?” Sarge asks.

Both brothers shake their heads.

“Right. Calling Duke back. Told him I’d do it when I found out more.” He pulls his phone from his pocket and hits a button. Then he hits a second button and ringing fills the space. Speaker.

“Vlad,” Duke answers.

“Wasn’t much more to gain. Black SUV. Might’ve been a Yukon.”

“Shit,” Duke snaps. “We’re on our way.”

“No. Need you to clean up the problem here. We’ll get them there.” Every brother in the room knows what Vlad means. We know what we’re about to face.

“Right,” Duke replies. “Need us, call. We’ll be there.”

That done, Vlad looks pointedly to each man at the table. “Got a half hour before we ride out. Use it wisely.”

I stand first to go find Gee. She’s in the kitchen just filling a pot for what looks like mac and cheese. She’s feeding people who didn’t get lunch before they had to haul ass up here. She looks up at me smiling, but the smile fades when she sees my face.

She sets the pot down to walk to me. I press a kiss to her then take her hand, leading her out of the kitchen, and down the hallway to our room. Someone else can finish the food. I got a damn half an hour to use wisely. Damn if I’m not prepared to use them.

Even with no words spoken, Gee knows what’s up and pulls her top over her head, then drops her jeans, kicks off her shoes, and crawls onto the bed with all the gravity the situation deserves.

How do I show this woman everything she’s come to mean to me in the time we’ve been together in only a half hour? She deserves years, not less than a fucking hour, but I’m determined to give it my best effort. It’s while moving inside her that I realize even a lifetime wouldn’t be long enough with Gee.

Fuck, she made it beautiful, giving all of herself to me.Allof herself. I look at my watch and sigh, knowing I have to go. “Don’t ask because I can’t tell you anything, babe. We don’t know where they’re getting the information from, but we’re sure now about the leak in the club.”

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