Keeping The Biker (Royal Bastards MC: Charleston, WV 4)

“I don’t think now is the time.” Jules glances around the room at their audience and I agree.

“Link say something to you?”

“I overheard him talking to Roane. He mentioned that things aren’t good.”

“I’m gonna kill him. Alexa, I’m with you.” Pam jumps up out of her chair.

“Shit fire,” Slick mumbles and goes to dial someone on his phone.

“Don’t you dare tell him I’m coming. This is between Link and me.”

**

The ride to The Devil’s Playground is quiet and tense. The radio hums some classic rock, but it’s too low to make out the words. I don’t know what I’m so damn nervous about, but I

can’t help but notice from my back passenger seat of the SUV that Slick has his right hand on Lily’s thigh.

“You want to talk about it? If you walk in there all pissed off...”

Pam’s palm flies up in front of my face. “Don’t.”

“Okay. I won’t, but if you change your mind, I can be a good listener.”

“I’m good.”

The SUV rolls to a stop outside the gate.

“You don’t want to hear it, but gonna say it anyway. You need to think long and hard about what you might see and whether or not you want to see it,” Slick warns.

Shit. He knows. Link is up to no good. Fuckity. Fuck.

He catches my eye in the rearview mirror.

“Not saying Link is doing anything. That’s my brother and I love him. Got mad respect for both of you, and I’ll catch whatever hell is coming my way if need be. I’m just asking you to think before you make a move.”

Pam licks her lips. “Appreciate the pep talk, but I need to speak with Link.”

“All right.” He uses the electronic opener on his key ring and drives us through, stopping at the door.

The vehicle idles while Slick exits and comes around to open my door. I hitch my overnight bag up on my shoulder and climb out, hoping Pam changes her mind.

Lily rolls down her window. “Watch out for her.”

I nod and follow Pam inside.

Cherry Pie by Warrant booms over the speakers. Two club girls work the poles, and another is dancing around in nothing but her G-string rubbing up on whoever is closest. I expected much worse. I don’t see James right away, but I do get a chin lift from East as he nurses a beer by the bar looking bored out of his mind. I smile knowing he’d rather be home with his girls.

Pam stops abruptly in front of me and I nearly bump into her backside. “Little warning next time.” I look past her and that’s when I see it. Link slumped down in a chair with his fist buried in some skank’s hair as her head bobs from between his legs. “Pam...”

“It’s fine. I’m fine. I’m just gonna go pick up Connor,” she mutters, her voice cracking toward the end.

“You aren’t going to beat both their asses? I’d kill James.”

“It’s what I agreed to. He wants to explore his options. Who am I to stop him?”

“You’re his wife. That isn’t right.”

“Learn your place, Alexa. You used to be the other woman. Now you’re an Old Lady and the rules have changed.”