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“They need protection?” Trip asked, eyes narrowed. “She hasn’t said anythin’ to me about bein’ worried.”
“Nope. But they’ll be there alone.” It was his job to protect his club and everyone in it. That protection extended to Crazy Pete’s since it was owned by both the club and Trip’s ol’ lady. By default, with Cassie working there, it put her under his protection.
He didn’t give a fuck what anyone else thought about that. He would protect her like club property whether she was or wasn’t.
Whether she would be or not.
He’d let nothing happen to her on his watch. He already had enough guilt eating at him.
Sig was studying him way too closely. He almost lost his woman because of them not being watchful enough. Because of Judge not taking his position as seriously as he should have. Having Autumn kidnapped had driven Sig to a breaking point. Hell, it almost drove a lot of them to the breaking point. So, the man understood Judge’s concern.
“Want them up in your apartment while you’re gone? Red and I can keep an eye on ‘em.” Sig glanced around the table. “Hell, we all can.”
Judge shook his head. While he appreciated the offer... “Don’t wanna uproot her girl again so soon. And there’s only one bed in my place. Neighbor girl’s gonna watch Daisy while Cass works.”
“You two be back before Sunday?” Trip asked.
“Leavin’ tomorrow mornin’ and hopefully be back way before Sunday. Don’t wanna miss a fuckin’ patch party,” Deke said. “Missed the last one. With loose liquor comes loose lips. You know which ones I mean.” He smirked.
“Can’t leave the business that long anyway,” Judge told Trip.
“Want someone to check on Cass when she’s not at the bar?” the prez asked.
“Don’t think she’s in any danger. Ex ain’t violent, just a crook who gambled away everythin’ they had. Dogs should be good enough.”
Trip nodded and spun the gavel within his fingers. “Any other business?”
“Yeah,” Deke spoke up. “All the paperwork’s finally settled with the crematorium. Easy and Shady know what their fuckin’ doin’ now. Everythin’s movin’ forward. It’s all ours now. The vet said he’d be available if any questions come up.”
“Good,” Trip said. “More scratch in our pockets.”
“And a good way to dispose of any evidence,” Sig said under his breath.
“Let’s hope to fuck we don’t need it for that. Anything else?” Trip’s head swiveled around the table. When no one else said a word, he slammed the gavel against the table. “Meetin’ a-fuckin-djourned.”
As the dogs pushed past him and rushed into the house, he heard an ear-splitting squeal, a thunder of feet both four-legged and two-legged as they bum-rushed each other from two different directions.
“Yo!” he yelled as he hurried inside and dropped the shit he was carrying at his feet, worried the two big dogs would plow right through and over Daisy, scaring or hurting her.
As he quickly made his way into the living room with Cassie on his heels, he saw that did happen. But Daisy was rolling around on the carpet, maniacally laughing her little ass off as the dogs licked her face.
“Momma!” she laugh-screamed. “Are these my new dogs?”
“No,” Cassie said. “Judge asked if we could watch them while he goes away.”
Daisy’s blonde head popped up between two blocky bulldog heads. “Where ya goin’, Judge?”
“Got some business to attend to, kid.” He clapped his hands. “Jury, Justice, settle.”
Both dogs flopped to their bellies next to the five-year-old, their tongues hanging out and both wearing “smiles.”
“Guess they like kids?” Cassie asked with eyebrows raised.
“Haven’t eaten one yet.”
“That’s reassuring.”
He peered down into her face. “You worried?”
“I’m a vet tech, remember? American Bulldogs are not a breed I’d worry about around her. And they both seem well-adjusted and well-trained.”
“Best dogs ever,” he assured her.
“Maybe when she’s older I’ll get her a dog.”
“Want one noooooow, Momma!” demanded the little hellion.
“Well, you have two right now to deal with. Let’s see how well you do taking care of them for Judge. Then we’ll see.”
“How long are they stayin’, Judge?” Daisy asked as she laid flat on her back, one hand on each dog, petting them.
“’Til your aunt and uncle get back.”
Daisy’s smile got so big it practically lit up the whole room. “When you leavin’?”
“In the mornin’.”
“So, you’re gonna make me breakfast?” came the high-pitched question.
Judge smiled down into Cassie’s face. “Depends if your momma lets me.”
Another ear-piercing squeal filled the room as she sat up. “Pleeeease, Momma! Judge can make me French toast since you won’t.”
“I make you French toast,” her mother exclaimed.
“His is better.”
“Doubt that, kid.”
“It is,” Daisy insisted.
“Maybe we’ll have your momma make us both French toast and we can see whose is better.”
Cassie narrowed her eyes up at him. “Wow,” she mouthed.
He grinned at her and she shook her head.
“Time for you to get ready for bed.”
“Sounds like a plan,” Judge said under his breath just loud enough for Cassie to hear.
