Page 32 of Enforcing the Rules

“Message received, all right? Drop it.”

His smile faded as he studied me. Then he leaned an elbow on the railing and watched the water speed past. “Well, don’t let it get to you. Chicks are hard to figure out.”

“You seemed to be doing okay with Prez’s daughter.”

“Lola’s a different breed. Unlike any woman I’ve ever met. She gets me, and I get her. We’ve got a connection I know I’d never find with any other woman.”

“You’re a lucky man.”

“Didn’t feel that way when we first met.” He chuckled. “I thought I was a dead man walking. Thought for sure when Rock found out I’d fucked his daughter, he’d put a bullet in my brain.”

“Yeah, well. Glad things worked out for you.” I took a last hit off my smoke and ground the butt out in an ashtray.

“Speaking of Rock, he called a meeting.”

“When?”

“Soon as we get there.”

“Shit. Why didn’t you say so?”

“’Cause you were in a mood. Seemed like you needed to talk.”

“Do I have time for a shower?”

“If you make it fast.” He followed me into the house and headed to the kitchen, opened the fridge, and bent to peer inside. “You got anything for breakfast?”

“You’re welcome to whatever you find,” I threw over my shoulder as I headed to the bathroom.

Twenty minutes later, the club gathered around the table for Church when Memphis and I strode in the room. Rock hadn’t come in yet, and the chair at the head of the table was empty.

I yanked a chair out and sat. My patience was hanging by a thread, and that only made me angry. I should be flying high right now. After the phenomenal time I had last night, I should have been grinning from ear to ear, but no, all I could think about was how Kate had given me the slip. Me.

I drummed my fingers on the table, and muttered, “So where’s Prez? We havin’ a goddamn meeting or not?”

“What’s the bug up his ass?” Trez asked, lifting a brow at Memphis who took the chair next to me and pulled the cigarette from his mouth.

“His little piece of ass from last night gave him the slip this morning.”

Darko leaned in his chair, the leather creaking. “No shit? I didn’t think a woman like that existed for Utah.”

“So, which order of yours did she refuse to follow?” Baja grinned from across the table.

I scowled at him. “Shut the fuck up.”

“Maybe you should try playing nice,” T-Bone advised, like I wanted or needed his fucking advice.

“That’s not in his wheelhouse,” Memphis replied, studying me.

“Maybe he should learn,” Darko suggested.

“So, what is it with this girl? Why’s she so different? I didn’t think there was a chick alive who was immune to you,” Trez asked.

Wildman strolled in, catching the end of the conversation. “What’s this, you say? There’s a woman who can actually resist Utah?”

“Don’t you start, either. I’ll knock both of you into next week.” I slumped in my chair and scrolled through the notes on my phone, wondering if there was some small thing I’d missed regarding the Dude. I was sure that would be the topic of today’s meeting. Memphis and I had covered every location, every lead we had. They were all dead ends.

What was I missing? I wanted to put my fist through the Dude’s jaw, chain him to a chair, and beat the information out of him. I’d get the club’s money back, or I’d kill him in the process. Actually, I’d kill him anyway, but we needed that information before I did.

---