This time when I reach out my hand, she takes it. She pulls herself up and pushes past me while mumbling, “Club business is none of my business.”
I watch as she climbs back up the steep embankment. She doesn’t want my help, so I enjoy the view of her ass as I climb up behind her. The ride back was cold, with way too much space between our bodies. I can’t tell if she’s pissed that I didn’t answer her question or afraid of what the answer might be. This is a hell of a time for her to cop an attitude. The constant buzzing of my phone has me on edge. Tank wouldn’t be blowing up my phone if it was urgent. I have no idea what the 9-1-1 is. Did they find Fuel? Has Hound found dirt on Raven that changes everything? Has ATF followed through on the threat? Whatever it is, the hairs on the back of my neck are standing on end.
When I pull through the gate at the compound, I know why. The clubhouse is surrounded by bikes and not just the club’s. I pull into my parking spot and help Raven off the back of my bike, unfasten her helmet, and toss it on the seat.
“Stay behind me.” I growl as we make our way to the door.
“What’s going on?” She’s nervous and I don’t blame her. Something is off.
“Not sure. Do what I say.” I want to reassure her, but I can’t. Another club doesn’t show up uninvited unless they’re looking for a fight. And if it’s a fight the Demon Sons want, it’s a fight they will get.
I shift Raven behind my back and pull out my gun. Just because I don’t like to use one doesn’t mean I won’t. The front door is part way open. I stand to the side and glance inside, trying to gauge what I’m walking into. Diablo, the President of the Demon Sons and Grim, his Vice President sit at a table across from Tank and Cobra. Both sides are surrounded by the other members of the club. No guns are drawn, but the tension in the air is thick. They appear to be waiting on me. I push the door open and step forward. “What the fuck is going on here?”
“How nice of you to join us.” Diablo spits out, standing from his seat. “Your brothers and I are having a friendly discussion about how to repay your debt.”
I rush forward as my agitation grows, closing the distance between us. “I don’t recall extending an invitation.”
His club brothers shift behind him, ready to draw on me if I get too close. The members of my club stand behind me, their hands circling their guns. Diablo raises his hands in the air to halt everyone from reacting. “No need to get hostile, I came here with a proposition.”
The arrogant prick settles back down in his seat. I brace my hands on the back of an empty chair on our side of the table. My temper is getting the best of me. But Raven’s hands gripping the waistband of my jeans, her fingers brushing against my skin, grounds me. I inhale a deep breath, steadying the fury threatening to explode. Situations like this can escalate fast, and with her near me, that’s the last thing I want. “I’m getting fucking sick of propositions. We reached an agreement already and I’ll hold up my end.”
“How do you plan to do that when you have no fucking idea where my guns are? That’s why I’m here. I have a job for you.”
“We’re not taking on new jobs right now. In case you haven’t realized it, we have a lot going on.”
“Yes, I can see that.” He glances past me, his eyes skimming over Raven. A smirk spreading across his face. “I can see why you’d want to keep her, but she’s another man’s woman and the reason ATF is in the way of my guns. You owe me.”
The way he looks at her sets my skin on fire. It takes all my strength not to jump across the table and gouge his fucking eyeballs out of his skull. “Don’t fucking look at her. Don’t even fucking talk about her. The only man she belongs to is me.”
I don’t know the exact moment it happened. It’s only been a few days and if it wasn’t for the shit my club is knee deep in, I might never have taken notice. But now that the words are out of my mouth, there’s no turning back. Nothing I’ve ever said has been truer. Raven is mine.
I owe it to Diablo to hear him out. The sooner we get this shit over with, the sooner I can focus on our other problems. I turn my head to meet her eyes, relieved to see there’s not an ounce of fear or regret in them. “Join the girls on the couch while I deal with this and then we have some things to settle.”
She nods her head and does as she’s told. As sexy as it is when she’s combatant, she’s even sexier when she obeys. I round the chair and take a seat at the table. “Tell me what you need.”
Diablo unfolds a map on the table and points at a location just west of the Ohio border. “Her Ol’ Man is transporting our guns to a storage facility here.”
“I fucking told you once. He’s not her Ol’ man. Don’t make me tell you again.”
I’m ready to lunge out of my chair, but Crusher places his hand on my shoulder and leans forward to study the map.
“That prick Agent Ward has my guns.” Diablo snaps. “My intel tells me they aren’t logged in as evidence. None of the shit he’s been pulling is on the books. Him and his agents are dirty, and I want my fucking guns back.” Diablo snaps his eyes down, drawing his finger along the map. “They will move along this highway here. My club will cause a diversion where these two roads intersect, separating the truck from the agents following behind. Your club takes this route west and cuts the truck off here. Unload the guns and follow this route back where I’ll have a crew waiting to take them off your hands.”
I narrow my eyes at him. His plan is well thought out, but something about it is unsettling. “Why don’t we cause the diversion while you do the heist?”
“Because the asshole knows your time to recover my guns is almost up, that’s why he’s moving them tonight. He won’t be expecting us to work together and since your man lost them, it’s only fitting you get them back.”
Diablo folds the map and slides it across the table. “The timing needs to be perfect. It’s a long drive, so I suggest you hit the road soon.”
This feels like a trap, but all a man has is his word. I extend my hand and Diablo and I shake on the terms laid out.
The moment the Demon Sons empty out of the clubhouse, I gather Raven in my arms. “We have a lot to talk about when I get back. Promise me you’ll stay here.”
She nuzzles herself a little closer, resting her head against my chest. “I promise I’ll stay, but you have to give me something too.”
My heart beats erratically in anticipation of fucking some things up tonight and frustration I won’t be fucking the beauty in my arms. “I’ll give you anything you want, little bird.”
She looks up at me under those long lashes and smiles that sassy smile, “Come back alive.”
