Page 62 of Start A War (Saint View Psychos)

“That’s hardly reassuring. You won’t…hurt her, will you?”

I blanched. “What kind of abusive asshole do you think I am?”

“You’re the leader of an outlaw motorcycle gang.”

I stared at her.

Leader.

President.

“Fuck,” I swore under my breath. “Fucking fuck!”

Bliss jumped.

I put a placating hand up in a stop signal. “Shit, sorry. Not you. And not Rebel either. Don’t stress your pretty little ass over it. I’ll tell her to pull her head in, she’ll come back with a smart-ass comment, and that’ll be the end of it.”

Bliss visibly relaxed, but curiosity still played out all over her face.

I just wanted to keep her here and talking. ‘Cause while I didn’t really want the company of any of my brothers and sisters in the club because their tiptoeing around me was too much, I was sick of my own poor company. “You just made me realize that I’m prez. Of the club, I mean. President. My pops is gone, and I was VP.” I scrubbed my hands through my hair and groaned.

“You weren’t expecting it.”

I shrugged. “I mean, I know what this life is. Being prez makes you a target. I’ve known that since I was a boy. But fuck.”

“You never think your parents are actually going to die, do you?”

“Yeah, that.”

She nodded. “I really am sorry for your loss.”

“Thanks.”

She went to stand. “I should leave you two alone. I’ve overstayed my welcome.”

“I liked the distraction.”

She paused, and I let myself drink her in. Though she was dressed more casually today, it was easy to picture her back in that sexy black number she’d been wearing at the club.

“What?” she asked self-consciously.

I was too tired to come up with a lie. “I was thinking about how much I wanted to fuck you on Friday night.”

Her mouth dropped open. “You…you what?”

I chuckled. “Ain’t nobody ever said that to you?”

She laughed uncomfortably. “Ah, no. Definitely not.”

“They think it. Trust me. You still got that fiancé?” I eyed her fingers. They were bare.

“No. I told him this morning that we’re over. Gave back his ring.”

“Good.”

I wasn’t exactly sure why it was good. Because her having a fiancé wouldn’t have stopped me wanting her. But I guess it might have stopped her wanting me.

She looked down at her feet.

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