I sighed. “He grabbed my arm when I was trying to leave after my shift. He’s not really accepting the breakup well.”
Rage rolled off Eva in waves.
“Please don’t tell Reaper,” I begged. “If you do, he’ll tell Merrick, and this will become a whole thing. I just want to move on. Luca will too after today. I’ve kneed him in the balls twice in as many days now. I’ve made it clear that we’re done.”
Eva crossed her arms. “Good. Because if he touches you again, I’ll be the one he answers to. I’ll stab that fucker in the eyeball.”
I grinned. “You’re the perfect woman for Reaper, you know that?”
Chapter Four
Grease streaked my knuckles black. I stepped away from Coast’s army-green Dyna Street Bob and wiped my hands on a ripped red rag. “Carburetor’s fucked.”I ambled to the mini fridge.“Beer?”
Coast nodded, and I tossed him a can of Lone Star before cracking my own. The ice-cold beer offered relief from the early-summer Texas humidity.
Coast let out a slow whistle. I followed his gaze to a pair of long, bare legs striding across the parking lot. I threw the wrench to the ground and stormed outside.
“I thought you had to work tonight.”
Merci grinned. “Playing hooky. Like the outfit?” She struck a pose, one hand on her hip, the leather miniskirt riding dangerously high on her tattooed thigh. The crop top showed off her toned stomach and sparkly navel ring.
“Where’re you headed?” I demanded.
“A party. You’renotinvited.” She stuck her tongue out at me.
A low growl rumbled in my chest. “We’re having a party here tonight. Stay.”
Merci scoffed. “Nah. You overprotective alpha-holes won’t allow a single guy to even look at me, let alone talk to me.”
I balled my fists. She wasn’t wrong.Over the past several days, I’d warned off more than a few hangarounds and prospects who didn’t know who Merci was to the club.
“I promise I won’t get into trouble.” Based on her saccharine tone, she was lying. “I’m having drinks with some girls I knew in high school.”
I released a breath and stared up at the sky, begging whatever God that might be listening for her to stay out of trouble. “Call me if you need a ride home.”
“Sure thing, boss. Don’t wait up.”
Merci peeled out of the lot, gravel spraying behind her truck’s tires. Her hand hung out the window, middle finger in the air. I stared long after she was gone until Coast cleared his throat.
“What’s going on there?” Coast asked, his curious brown eyes examining me.
“Nothing,” I insisted. “I’ve known Merci since she was in junior high. Just want to make sure she’s safe.”
Coast nodded, though I could see in his expression that he wasn’t fully convinced of my intentions. “I get it. My daughter went through a wild phase right before she went off to college. Picked her up from more parties than I’d have liked to. Couldn’t get mad at her though, because at least she’d trusted me enough to call for help.”
I choked on my beer. “You have a daughter? You’re like, two years older than me. How the fuck do you have a college kid?”
Coast shrugged. “I was sixteen when Savannah was born.”
“Damn,” I muttered. “Fucking crazy.”
“You’re telling me,” he grunted. “She just finished her freshman year at Texas A&M. She’s traveling with her mom this summer to every rodeo they can hit.”
“Rodeo?”
“She’s a barrel racer. One of the best on the circuit right now.”
“That’s pretty cool.” I glanced back at the parking lot where thedust hung in the heavy air. “Hopefully Merci stays out of trouble tonight.”
