Page 93 of Soul of the Chaos

Mongrel’s hand tightened further, digging into my flesh, and a dangerous rumble started up in his chest. I placed a hand over his, squeezing gently to let him know it was all right. Grimm wouldn’t hurt me. But he could throw me out of his club. And this time I might even deserve it.

Now, that was a sobering thought. I felt a little ashamed at my attitude. The man was trying to be nice, after all. Well, I was pretty sure.

The smirk was back as Grimm straightened, dropping the keys onto the table with a clatter and crossing his arms over his chest. I tried to resist the temptation but my eyes darted down to look at the keys longingly before they zipped back up to meet his knowing gaze.

“No one is taking over your business, sweet cheeks,” he rumbled. “I’m giving you the keys and telling the boys to run you over so you can start setting up shop.”

He shrugged like it was no big deal and my eyes narrowed. There was something almost playful dancing in his eyes now. Like the fucker was enjoying watching me squirm. I wanted that bar. And he knew how much I wanted it. However, I also needed to know what strings were coming attached to this offer.

“The sooner you open your doors, little alpha, the sooner you start paying your dues. Just like everyone else.”

“What dues?” I growled and internally winced.

Fucking hell, I just couldn’t stop poking the beast in front of me.

Grimm offered me a wolfish smile, baring his teeth. “The ones you will owe for the bar’s protection. The ones that will pay your new bouncers for their time. The ones that will contribute to that bacon Mongrel is trying to oh-so-elegantly shove down your throat.”

I pretended to think on it for a minute. Then I offered him up my prettiest smile and snatched up the keys. “Well, that’s alright then.”

I turned and took a large, satisfying bite of the bacon and winked at Silver who all but fell against the back of the booth in relief.

“Glad to hear you approve, little alpha.” This time the term didn’t feel like a sneer, it almost sounded affectionate. In a gruff, Prez kind of way. Grimm chuckled—like actually laughed—as he stuck his hands in his pockets and sauntered away. I stared after him, still chewing industriously.

“Well, that could have gone worse,” Silver quipped, wiping his brow dramatically. Mongrel rumbled in agreement, then held up another strip of bacon. I rolled my eyes but took the offering, earning a pleased smile from my giant of a mate.

* * *

“You’re riding with me,” Mongrel rumbled, grabbing my hand and tugging me away from the van just as I was about to climb into the back with everyone.

Silver grinned and waggled his eyebrows. “Have fun!”

“Uh, no. I’m not,” I replied, dragging my feet. “That thing is a death trap. Plus I don’t have a helmet.”

The giant biker shoved the helmet he was holding in his other hand on my head and tightened the strap. Then he took off his outer leather jacket, put me in it and zipped it all the way up to the neck.

“Seriously. I’m not that coordinated.”

“Doesn’t matter, my mate. Riding is like sex. You move when I move, lean when I lean. Pretty soon, we’ll be dancing together on the wind.”

My mouth was left hanging open at the poetic sentiment expressed by a big, tatted-up biker as Mongrel sauntered the rest of the way to his bike. He fixed his own helmet, calm as you please, and swung a graceful leg over his ride. Then my beta looked back to me and waited.

I nibbled on my bottom lip. The man looked hot with that hunk of machine between his legs and I kinda did want to snuggle up close and let my mate fly me away from all my troubles. “Okay, big guy. You’re on. Only, don’t blame me if we crash.”

I swung up behind him and plastered myself to his back because it seemed like the safest place to be. Mongrel dropped a hand on my thigh and squeezed it in welcome as a happy rumble started up in his chest.

“Won’t ever happen, baby,” he murmured. “You and me? We got a lot of miles to cover before we crash and burn.”

I shook my head and snuggled in closer to Mongrel’s back as his ride thundered to life beneath us.

Two of the prospects pulled out first, leading the way. The van kicked up dust in its wake next, but not before I saw the grinning faces of Addy and Louise blowing mocking kissy faces at me through the rear window. I flipped them off but I couldn’t help smirking back at the sight of Silver's proud grin, reflected in the side mirror as he drove away.

Mongrel pulled out smoothly behind him, flanked by a couple more Soul Reapers. And for a moment, despite the dust I was doing my best not to swallow, I felt like a queen in a royal procession.

Yeah, I decided, this is going to be a good day.

* * *

I’d never owned anything in my life so this was supposed to be a triumphant moment. Instead, I scowled at the interior of my family’s bar—my bar—while the heady thrill of ownership rapidly cooled, replaced with a cold wash of hatred for my former custodian.

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