“Greaser!” Alicia stares at him in shock, then looks at me with an open mouth when his hands move protectively to cradle her stomach.
“Are you both okay?” he asks in a soft voice as his eyes check her over.
“We’re fine.” She stares back at him for a moment before she shrugs herself out of his hands. “Millie had something she needed to take care of. Vike was protecting us,” she explains, looking at Vike and smiling sheepishly.
“That club is owned by the fuckin’ Russians…” Greaser turns his head and seethes at Vike.
“I know that, which is why I never left her fuckin’ side,” Vike growls, gripping Greaser by his cut and slamming him into the wall.
“Hey…hey!” Wrath races over to get between them. “What's all this about?”
“Just Vike, letting the girls go to that Russian brothel on the outskirts,” Greaser explains sarcastically. “Me and Sin just got back. Dev had to abandon the job we were doing. Becausethisguy let the girls stray.”
“What the fuck?” Wrath looks to Vike for answers.
“I didn’t know that’s where they were heading. Alicia was driving, and I was following. But they were never in any danger. I was with ’em the whole time.”
“You let these girls go to a Russian fuckin’ whore house while we’re at war with their suppliers?” Wrath checks he’s hearing this right.
“Yeah, and you stole Grimm’s mom from a nuthouse. Sometimes we get caught up in a situation, Wrath. I told you I was taking care of it,” Vike assures him. “And what the fuck has any of this got to do with you?” He turns his attention back to Greaser and snarls.
“In case you forgot, Alicia’s carrying my little niece in there.” Greaser places his hand back on Alicia’s stomach, and when I see how uncomfortable it makes her, I quickly step in.
“This is all my fault. Please don't yell at each other.” I look between the two men who clearly care very much about her. “I had no idea the place was dangerous. I just wanted answers, and I was very insistent.” I look to Wrath. He’s Raze’s second in command, and I’d hate to think Vike got into trouble because of me.
“Come on, I’m drivin’ you home.” Greaser grabs hold of Alicia’s hand.
“The fuck you are!” Vike takes his arm and throws it away from her.
“Alicia?” Greaser looks at her, waiting for her to make a decision.
“It’s sweet that you're concerned, but really, we’re fine.” Her hand rests on her tummy. “It was my choice to go there withMillie. She was upset and needed answers. None of this is Vike’s fault; he was protecting us the whole time.” She smiles up at him before looking toward Vike guiltily.
“Saul would be expecting you to take better care of her; it’s just as well I came back.” Greaser storms past us to get on his bike, and when I hear the roar of a different engine pull into the yard, I know without checking behind me that it belongs to Dev.
Nerves start to stir in my chest as I watch him park up, and when he storms through the arch, ignoring us all on his way into the clubhouse, I can see he’s furious, and it’s all my fault.
“I better check if he’s okay,” I tell the others, rushing after him and finding him sitting at the bar. He’s gripping the edge of it and breathing himself calm while Polly pours him a drink.
“I’m sorry.” I stand directly behind him and come right out and say it. “I had no idea the place was dangerous, and I take full responsibili?—”
“Did Corey ever hurt you?” He turns around so abruptly, it makes me jump. “And I don’t mean your heart. I mean physically.” His jaw is clenched, his nostrils are flaring, and he looks much paler than usual.
“What? No. Of course, he didn’t.” I shake my head, confused.
“He never tried to force himself on ya or… lay his hands on ya?”
“Dev, why are you asking me this? You know Corey would never have hurt me, he loved me… At least, I thought he did.” My voice trails off when I’m reminded of his betrayal.
“Why did it matter enough to put yourself in danger and go there today?” His tone softens, and he looks much more hurt than angry. “You and Corey weren’t together when he died; does it really matter now that he was screwing that whore while you were together?” he questions, with a creased brow and stern look on his face, and I’m surprised how vulnerable he looks.
“Yeah, Dev, it matters. I never thought Corey would betray me that way. I?—”
“Yeah, well, there’s a lot about Corey you don’t fuckin’ know!” He finishes drinking what’s in his glass and storms back out the door, grabbing Sinner on his way out.
“Dev, what are you doing?” I chase after him, watching him strip off his cut, then the t-shirt he’s wearing beneath it.
“Dev?” I’m confused as hell when I see him starting to climb the ladder into the empty pool in the center of the yard.
