Page 19 of Stella
I give a chin lift to Tag as I approach. “This prospect shit’s really happening then?”
He doesn’t spare me a glance as he maneuvers around Amanda’s bumper. “You’ve got eyes. Yeah, it’s happenin’.”
“And you agree with it? That Stella would be a good fit as a Rebels member?” I almost choke on the words.
“Not discussin’ club business with a pig.”
His derogatory comments don’t mean a thing to me, I’ve been hearing them for so long anyway it’s like second nature. “It’s not exactly ‘club business’ if she’s displaying it on her motorcycle jacket, is it?”
“What’s it to you, anyway? Don’t think I didn’t see you standin’ far too fuckin’ close, pretty boy. Gonna say this once as her employer, Sergeant at Arms, and her godfather; back the fuck off if you know what’s good for you.”
I frown. “It’s not like that.” Okay, maybe my dick tells me otherwise, but he doesn’t need to know that.
He snorts. “Right. You know how many fuckin’ guys come in here and say that? Then try and pick her up? I’m not fuckin’ stupid, I’ve got eyes. While it’d be my absolute pleasure to rearrange your face, orange ain’t exactly my color.”
“Something tells me you don’t have much to worry about, Stella seems big enough to look after herself.” I’m trying to gauge if he really is throwing her to the wolves. He’s protective like her father, so at this point, I think he can be trusted. Despite our differences, maybe having Stella’s best interests at heart is our common denominator?
Who’d have thought I’d have anything in common with this man?
“She may think that, but she’s still got a lot to learn about the world and the people in it. She sees the good in everyone, that’s her downfall.”
Okay, so maybe me and Tag have been on the wrong path too long, and I just didn’t see it before. He does care about her, and I’m not mad about it.
I won’t admit it to him, but I have no doubt that Tag would take a bullet for his goddaughter, and that is a rare thing these days. I always thought he was just being an asshole because he could, but I see the warning in his eyes and I back down. If Tag feels threatened, he won’t talk.
“So how does it work? Harlem’s in charge of the prospects.”
“Harlem is about as thrilled at the idea as I am,” Tag huffs. “So rather than everyone sayin’ she’s gettin’ special treatment, she’ll answer to me. She works here full-time now, so I can keep an eye on her. If that’s okay with you,Detective.”
Hmm, it doesn’t quite have the ring to it that Stella has when she says it. When Tag spews my name like that, my dick could shrivel up and never return to its happy hanging place.
I don’t know if he’s realized, but he’s actually having a civilized conversation with me. That’s gotta be a first.
“You think she’s really cut out for prospecting?”
He side-eyes me. “Why, you thinkin’ of tryin’ out?”
“No, but I always thought you bikers were a bunch of Neanderthals who have women wrestling in mud pits and fist fights for fun.”
“You’re really fuckin’ clueless.”
I’m at a crossroads. If I tell him I’m worried about her, he’ll get suspicious. If I ask too many questions, he’ll bury me. Somehow, I’ve got to keep this as professional as I can.
“That may be so, but it’s no life for someone like Stella. We both know it.”
He spares me an annoyed look. “You don’t know shit. For the record, I don’t like the idea, but Cash has spoken. He’s in charge, and frankly, Stella might show the other prospects a thing or two about cleanliness, loyalty and hygiene.”
Weird combination, but okay.
I step closer. “You sure the club isn’t using her as an unpaid maid?”
As our eyes lock, his nostrils flare. “What the fuck?”
Calli growls, and I tell her to stand down. “It’s a fair question, T.”
“Don’t call me that, only my friends call me T.”
“Seems like Stella would be the perfect fit to clean up after all of you, things get pretty wild at that club.”
