Bikers Librarian (Lords of Mayhem 1)

Blackmail could be just as effective as violence. It all depended on the person’s motivation. Being in the M.C. felt like the military in a lot of ways. Chain of command, delegation of authority, and looking out for your family above all. Shooter had taken to it like a duck to water.

Relaxing only when they pulled into the compound, he helped Juliette off the back, truly seeing her for the first time. The black dress stopped just above the knee and hugged her curves in all the right places. His gaze trailed down to the bright-red, three-inch-heel pumps.

“I needed a pop of color.”

Meeting her gaze, he smiled. “Forget hot for teacher—I’m hot for librarian.” Wrapping his arms around her waist, he pulled her to him. “You okay?” he whispered against her lips.

“Yes. He’ll find I don’t scare so easily.”

Shooter frowned. “I don’t want you anywhere near him.”

“Me either.”

He scoffed.

“If I don’t stand up to him this time, it’ll never stop. He’ll take over my life again, control where I go, steal my joy and put me right back where he left me. A basket case, one step away from rocking back and forth in a chair in the corner.”

“I’m here now to do the heavy lifting.”

“I know. But you can’t wrap me in bubble wrap and put me in the Popemobile.”

“The what?” He furrowed his brow, pissed she’d chosen now to launch into an I-am-woman-hear-me-roar crusade.

“You know, the bulletproof square contraption they used to drive the Pope in.”

“I love it when you talk smart to me.” He wrapped an arm around her shoulders, and they walked toward the club. Now wasn’t the time to get into this. He needed her squared away so he could start solving the problem.

“I was serious about what I said,” she reminded him.

“I know you were. We’ll work it out.”

“If that’s your way of diverting my attention from the topic, it won’t work.”

“I wouldn’t dream of it,” he assured her.

“I want to learn to shoot a gun.”

His back stiffened. “That’s a huge jump.”

“We both know the police don’t do shit about stalking until it’s do or die or you have a ridiculous amount of proof, and that’s just for normal people, which Peter and his family aren’t.”

“You think they know what he’s up to?” The thought disgusted him.

“No. But he’s Mommy and Daddy’s darling boy, and they’d do anything to keep him from behind bars and on the most eligible bachelors list.”

They stepped inside the club and he met Moose’s gaze over her head. Giving a quick nod, he walked her to his bedroom.

“You cleaned up. I’m impressed.” A sweet butt had cleaned and done the laundry, not that he’d tell her that.

He cleared his throat. “Figured I needed to up my game now. Tell me what I need to know about Stant. Then I’ll go in and hash things out with the club and I’ll come get you.”

“First, you can’t shut me out of my own problem, Shooter.” She crossed her arms beneath her chest and rocked back on her heels.

He held his hands up. “I’m not trying to do that. Do you trust me?”

“Yes.” Her voice wavered. “Of course. I’m just worried. He wa

s into some heavy shit. He owned a club with a few buddies. I wasn’t sure exactly what they had going on. It operated like an illegal sex club. You came in with a partner, or if you paid the right price one was provided for you.”