“You shouldn’t be here,” Zook said, wrapping his arms around her
“You’re only planning a get-together.” She slung her arm around his neck. “If it gets out of hand, I’ll fake a yawn and go to bed. Besides, I’m here for Aunt E, not any of you.”
I smiled, proud of her, and she winked at me.
“I can’t think.” How closed his eyes.
“He only answers to his advantage, so we can pick a place, send him the location, and he still might not show up,” Thunder said, draping an arm around my shoulders.
“Back and…forth. Our move…next.” I shrugged. I didn’t have any ideas, and the brothers were better at bouncing ideas off each other.
“What if we plan a date?” Op brought his beer up to his lips, watching Thunder over the lip.
“You know I hate that.”
“Somewhere private but public enough that we can protect her.” Dead shifted, staring at Thunder over me, but Thunder never returned his gaze. He bristled at the suggestion that I’d be alone.
I laid my hand on his chest, tuning everyone else out. “I’m sorry, Bob…by. They’re only…saying what…already know. I have…to go alone.”
He growled, making the hairs on my neck stand on end. “There’s nothing for you to apologize for. We knew this was coming, and now that it’s here, I have to accept he was in your life. Doesn’t mean I have to fucking like it.”
“Will this work? Somewhere…private?” I asked Op.
“I don’t know, but it’s worth a try. He might show up if he thinks it’s you calling.”
I nodded, willing to take the chance to put an end to this. “First date…rented…restaurant. Need to do…the same.”
“Oh, I have just the dress.” Emily bounced excitedly, but a grimace crossed Zook’s face.
“Fuck me. I need another beer.” How drained his, getting up to get another round from the bar.
“It’s going to work. Aunt E will fix this, right?” Emily asked Zook, but he shrugged.
My eyes met Op’s.
Dead slung his boots onto the coffee table, crossing his feet at the ankles. “I’d rather go down swinging instead of being the cartel’s bitch.”
Thunder’s hand tightened on my shoulder, but it felt like dead weight.
Chapter 28
A Time To Act
Sabre
I knew.
They knew.
I had caught whispers from the rumor mill the morning after the fire. They’d named the brothers who’d sat with Aunt E and Emily, discussing the club’s next move. I really hadn’t thought about it.
The enforcers started hanging out with Op in the main room.
I went to grab a drink from the clubhouse kitchen, and Dead was sitting with Emily, looking at restaurant layouts.
I sat watching them from the head of the table. I didn’t expect any of them to break. However, I was their president, and this wasn’t a democracy, as much as I relied on the club’s input.
They were all staring straight ahead, but one would shift to look at another before they quickly came back to center, their training clearly kicking in.
