Page 40 of Devil's Own: Roughneck

I press Rough’s contact. He answers right away. “You okay, baby?”

“We’re fine. Scared.”

“Get shit packed. You’re heading up to the compound. Please don’t argue.”

“I’m not,” I whisper.

“Fuck!” he barks. “I should’ve been there.”

“No. You’re exactly where you needed to be. Getting to know my son better. Your brothers were here.”

Cutter and Reaper jog into the living room to find us. “Brave,” Cutter says into his phone. “Shielding Aj, Freya, and Dusty.”

“You shielded them?” Rough asks in my ear.

“Are you on the phone with Cutter?”

“Switching back between you two. Vlad, Sarge, and every lieutenant carry a burner meant only for us to use. We know when that shit rings, wedo notignore the call. Now, what’s that about?”

“I don’t know. I just went into protection mode.”

“Fuck,” he says low and slow. “Love you, woman. See you at the club.” Then he hangs up.

I guess I’m going to the club.

Dusty and Reaper drag me back to their place first so Dusty can pack a bag. Cutter and Aja drive their own car with the baby. Reaper helps his woman pack, and then the three of us head up to Bentley.

Rough and Waite stand outside the clubhouse on the tarmac, waiting for us. Both men have their hands on their hips, glaring. At me.

What now?

13

“What the fuck were you thinking?” Waite snaps at his mom as she approaches us with her suitcase and a brown paper bag folded down to give her a way to carry it.

“Watch it. That’s your mother,” I say to him, then I turn to snap at the woman. “What the fuck were you thinking?”

“You both about done?” she asks, completely straight-faced, and holds up the paper bag. “I brought leftovers. Enchiladas with tomatillo sauce, beans, and rice.”

“Answer the damn question,” I demand.

“Thinking about what? What was there to think about? I had friends over for lunch. One is pregnant with twins and the other is a new mom. I herded them into a safe corner of the house when shots rang out. Tell me what I did wrong exactly.”

“You used yourself as a shield,” Waite bites out.

“And I’d do it again,” she replies, stepping around us. “Eat before your brothers steal it.”

“The fuck just happened?” I ask Waite while we both watch her walk inside the clubhouse.

“My mom just shut us both down,” he replies, sounding every bit as perplexed as me.

That’s when Dusty pats my shoulder as she passes us. “Know who’s in your bed, my friend. If you want a woman who comes to heel, better end it now. She’s as brave as she is feisty.” Then she continues inside. Cutter and Reap storm up to me.

“Waite,” Reaper says to the kid. It’s meant as both ahelloand aget the hell out of here.

He nods. “Right. I’ll keep an eye on the women.” Then he takes off.

Smart kid. He’ll make a good brother. Good ally.

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