“Thank you.” She brought it to her lips.
“I’m Paco. You’re Breanna, right?” She nodded as she swallowed. “Good to finally meet the woman who’s fuckin’ with our prez’s head.” He came out from the bar and stood in front of her, his dark gaze checking her out. “I can see what he sees in you.”
“Back the fuck off, Paco.” Steel’s hard voice made her jump.
He laughed. “I saw you coming, brother. I knew that’d get you.”
The bearded man who’d approached her first laughed loudly.
“Why don’t you two fucking hyenas move it,” Steel said.
“Let’s go play some pool, Army. I’m in the mood to make some money,” Paco said as he strode away.
“Then you’re playing with the fucking wrong person. I’m gonna—”
Breanna couldn’t hear his voice anymore. She turned to leave.
“What the fuck? Where’re you going? Army said you had some news about Chenoa.”
She spun around. “The department has decided that Chenoa can live with you if you have a house. They don’t want her near the clubhouse,” she said in a flat voice. Turning away, she stormed out the door. Her eyes were stinging; she pulled out a tissue and dabbed the corners.
“Breanna. Wait up. What the fuck?”
Footsteps pounded behind her as she ran to her car and jumped in, slamming the door just as he reached her. He tried to open the door but she’d locked it. He pounded on the window. “Open up. What the fuck’s the matter with you?”
She turned on the ignition. A huge bang on her window made her jump. She turned and ice curled around her nerves; his face was a mask of rage, his eyes burning and his lips pulled back. “Roll down the fucking window or I’ll break it!”
She took several deep breaths and released them, trying to calm her nerves and push away the hurt and tears. She pressed the button and the window rolled down halfway. “What do you want? I’ve got to go to work. I don’t have time for this shit.”
“Why the hell did you take off?”
“I told you, I’ve gotta go to work.”
“You’re fucking lying to me. Why’d you come all the way out here to tell me the good news and then run away all pissed off? Tell me what’s going on.”
“Aren’t you busy?” she asked coolly.
He raised his eyebrows. “Busy with what?”
“Alma.”
His brows furrowed and his eyes widened. “Alma? What the fuck?”
She tapped her fingers against the steering wheel. “I’m kinda in a hurry here. We don’t have any claim on each other. We had some fun. You’re free to do whatever you want with whoever you want.”
He narrowed his eyes. “And so are you. I saw you taking advantage of that last night.”
“Last night? What’re you talking about?”
“I came by and saw you on the porch. You looked pretty cozy with that dude.”
She scrunched up her face, trying to remember what she was doing on the porch.Nicholas. That’s right.“Is that why you took off?”
He shrugged. “Like you said, baby, you and I are free agents.”
Sniffing, she shook her head. “That guy was my brother, Nicholas.”
“Your brother?”
