“My fucking kids, don’t know how the fucking fuck I’ve gone wrong raising ‘em,” the Prez muttered. He then glared at Ashe. “You’re my VP, Ashe. Why are you in the middle of this and not shutting this shit down?”
“This moron hit me.”
“I warned you to let my wife go,” Travis growled. “No one lays their hands on what’s mine and gets away with it.”
It was then that the Prez took a good look at Travis, walking closer and stopping just in front of them. He extended his hand. “I’m Nicholas Crane. President of the Iron Skulls Motorcycle Club.”
There was an uncomfortable pause, where Travis just stared into the eyes of Crane. Then he shook hands with theMC president and said, “Travis Bennett. This is my wife, Caitlin.”
“Damn, Ashe, this guy’s got ex-military written all over him,” Crane guffawed a belly laugh. He eyed Travis critically. “And not regular infantry. What are you? Ranger? Special Forces?”
Travis shook his head. “If you’ll excuse me, I think my wife and I have had enough excitement for tonight. Come on, Caitlin.”
He nodded to Crane and turned around.
“SEAL?”
Caitlin’s steps faltered, but Travis kept on moving, his arms tight around her.
When they were a distance away, she heard Crane say loudly, “I’ll be damned, Ashe, you just tangled with a fucking frogman.”
Though he had turnedhis back away from the Iron Skulls MC, Travis still had all his senses engaged. They passed the entrance of the bar where a group of spectators observed the fight from a safe distance. One of them was Bella. She didn’t look pleased and was staring daggers at Caitlin safely ensconced in Travis’s arms.
“Bennett!”
Closing his eyes in resignation, he turned around to face the MC’s VP.
Ashe caught up with him. “Sorry for the misunderstanding.”
“Misunderstanding?” Travis scoffed. “Try attempted kidnapping.”
“Duke has a misguided notion of being an outlaw,” Ashe explained. “The MC is not that way.” He nodded to Bella, who had tensed. “Prez is a good man, but he spoiled his kidsafter the tragic death of his old lady at the hands of a rival MC. We keep on cleaning up their messes. I wasn’t going to give your woman to him.”
“Why are you telling me this?”
“We don’t want you to leave town.”
“Too late for that.”
“This town needs the tourists. Folks like you are probably staying at old Betty’s place. She needs the money.”
Travis sighed, remembering how they snagged their suite via a cancellation. “Well, maybe you guys need to rein in the crazies in your town.”
Bella gasped and huffed away in indignation.
“We’ll take care of it. If you want, Prez can send Duke away for the duration of your stay.”
“That’s probably for the best,” Travis replied. “Because if I see that fucker around, I may just kill him.”
Ashe smiled. “We good?”
Travis inclined his head. He had been ready to pack up and leave tonight. It was going to be a hell of a drive because there was nothing more he wanted to do right now than fuck Caitlin. Hard. He’d already been going half-insane imagining her mouth on some other guy’s dick after her remarks in the car. What happened tonight pushed him past the point of no return. He glanced at the woman tucked safely by his side. He had protected her from the MC, but who was going to protect her from him?
The entranceto their suite was at the side of the inn. This allowed them privacy for their comings and goings. Right now, Caitlin wished there were other people around because Travis had not spoken a word to her since his exchange with Ashe.
He was seething; this much she could tell. And somehow she had a feeling all that energy was directed at her, and shewas going to have hell to pay. She just wasn’t sure of the form of payment. She was excited as well as nervous.
Travis unlocked the door. Caitlin hesitated entering. She exhaled deeply. “Travis, I’m sor—”
