Page 25 of Savage Devotion
“Copy that, Prez.”
“Drugs aren’t our thing, in case anyone needs a refresher. Make sure our patches know that.” Ash slams a fist down on the card table with a thud. “They will be out before they can raise an argument. Understood?”
Our enforcers nod. “Preaching to the choir, but we feel you, Ash.” Cipher takes the pills and dumps them into his palm. “If this was on the Vultures, that means they are getting into shit that will eventually pull us into a war.”
I hold Cipher’s gaze and nod. “Glad we are all understanding the same thing.”
Beside him, Beast growls like a demon and looks ready to send some souls to hell. “What do you want us to do, Prez? Overdoses on our watch is bad for business.”
I lean over the table and brace my weight on my knuckles. “The beat down y’all gave the bastards today will force Grudge to save face. Ride the lines. Not one Vulture crosses into our parish. We don’t seek out violence, but we don’t allow it on our turf either. The people of Harlon have our word they are safe. Let’s make damn sure we keep it.”
And I’m going to find out what Grudge wants with Arabelle.
I don’t say it but I hope that filthy bastard tries to do something that makes me put a bullet between his eyes.
Heads nod in agreement around the room and then they pile out leaving me to my thoughts which is never a good thing. These men are good people. Men who haven’t seen the levels of death I have and thank whatever god they believe in for that tiny miracle.
I’m a killer.
If it were up to me, I would burn every fucking Vulture establishment down to the ground. Our rivals are the scum of the bayou and it’s been that way for decades. Drugs, prostitution, and even human trafficking are on the table for those men. But not in Harlon. My crew doesn’t work that way.
Back when my grandfather established this club, he had a purpose. A drive to do good. Even if it meant getting dirty to make sure those who needed help got it.
But not if it meant hurting others to get it done. Hurting people for money is not how my family operates. With nearly one hundred years of my family’s blood running in my veins, I will die before I let the Vultures ruin what my family has built.
It’s why I came back. It’s why I am here after swearing the nomad life was for me.
These men trust me. I have more than just my reputation to lose if I let anyone destroy this parish.
I catch the hint of honey and jasmine over the stench of the place when I leave the back room and head toward the front.
I cast around but I don’t see the woman it belongs to.
I grab Jax by the collar and growl, “You had one fucking job, patch. Where is she?”
9
ARABELLE
Idon’t know how I managed to shake off Reaper, but it’s barely been twenty-four hours since I took him in my back room. He probably had club things to tend to. All for the better, really. I need a breather to gather my thoughts.
I grab a stack of books that just came in and head toward the back shelves where I keep the historical romances. I can’t even focus on all the delicious covers like I usually do.
“All because of that infuriating man.” I throw out into the empty space around me.
I pause, a book halfway to its slot on the shelf. “He ravished me the second he walked into my store, giving me no choice.”
I smile into the empty row of shelves. “And it was good, too.”
I’ve showered and obviously brushed my teeth. But I can still smell and taste that man as if he were standing in front of me taking my mouth with one of his punishing kisses again.
I sigh heavily. “Damn man has me talking to myself.” I shake my head, finish my task and go back for more books.
I grab a new series of biker books from the bottom of the large box that Charli hasn’t seen yet. Habit has me looking down both sides of the street to see if I can spot her.
“I wonder how long these will stay on the shelves?” Amused by my friend’s book addiction, a few more ideas come to mind that would help accentuate the reader’s experience. Maybe I should open up a display of vibrators and batteries, too.
The bell jingles, and I look up from the stack of books to see not only Charli but a whole group of women coming in behind her.
