Axle's Brand (Death Chasers MC 3)

Another small rumble of laughter has me squirming. It’s a really sexy sound. I’m not sure why my body is acting as sex-starved as his.

“No one dances on Drex anymore. He usually fucks Eve somewhere in the club. It’s just where we do our business, and we need to put in an appearance from time to time. It’s also one of our businesses where we clean our money. Speaking of which, thought you wanted us to do a job.”

I yawn, nestling into him a little farther. “I do want you to do a job. But can I make a suggestion?”

I feel him shrug.

“You lost all your money from five accounts very recently. So…don’t clean the money. I’ll pay in cash, as you should ask all your clients to do for a while, and then you should put all the money in different safes between all of you. You can run your business with dirty cash on the down-low.”

He shifts, and I fall onto my back as his face hovers over mine, taking me in with a curious expression.

“Why?”

Reaching up, I let my finger trace the scar on his lip. He doesn’t flinch away. Instead, he leans in to the touch like he can’t get enough. I really like a loosened up Axle. It’s my favorite new thing to enjoy.

“Someone could easily figure out what happens to the money if they know the legit businesses you use to launder it. And someone inside the club might have told Herrin when it was laundered. You put the money in separate safes without telling anyone outside your circle—not even Eve—where it is, and no one will touch it. Then, you’ll wait on someone to start asking questions. This is the long game—the waiting game. The person who knows you’re bringing in money but can’t figure out where you’re cleaning it will start asking questions. Discreetly at first. Then they’ll start nosing a little harder.”

He shakes his head. “Herrin had our accounts hacked,” he tells me like he’s arguing.

“And he’d need to know what accounts to hack,” I volley. “You have leaks. This is a solid way to flush this particular one out.”

His gaze sweeps over my face, like he’s taking me in, and it finally settles on my lips. I know what that means, and I’m smiling like it’s the first time again.

“I’ll tell Drex,” he answers.

“Right now?” I ask, worrying he’s about to leave without one more round.

His lips tilt up in that devastatingly perfect grin he never shows for long, but as always, it’s gone before I can truly appreciate it.

“Right now, I have to go to a strip club. You really won’t go with me?”

It sounds like he actually wants me to go, and that’s seriously tempting. But I’m crazy. I might go crazy jealous if any girl gets too close to him right now. I totally can’t be trusted to keep my composure. And they don’t need that drama.

Not to mention, it’s not wise for me to risk the exposure. Halo is crawling with Lathan’s goons. And while Phillip isn’t stupid enough to expose our identities, he’d likely have some of his close inner circle with him who know who we are.

“I’m sure,” I say with a one-shoulder shrug.

He drags his lips across my shoulder before he pushes up and climbs off the bed. I take every opportunity to admire his body, so I watch with shameless abandon as he gets dressed.

As soon as he’s finished—which is like five minutes later—he picks up his phone and texts someone.

“Eve isn’t going tonight,” he tells me as though I’ve asked. “She’s working at the shop. Wants to know if you want to hang with her and Drake.”

I don’t respond right away, but finally nod after I think about it. I guess it’d be good to get out for a while and avoid cabin fever.

I dress quickly while he continues to text. I half wonder if he’s texting Eve, and ignore the unimportant twinge of jealousy. See? I’m not completely sane.

Axle walks out first, and I lock the door behind me as I follow him. Lots of bikers are down below, but none of them check me out anymore. Pretty sure that has something to do with Axle knocking that one guy out.

Or the fact Axle normally doesn’t have a girl around, which makes me different than the usual fling they suppose the others have.

I like that.

If they knew who I was, it’s unlikely any of them would be suicidal enough to touch me.

As soon as we’re down the stairs, Axle’s arm drops around my shoulders and he steers me out of the warehouse. I’m not sure when he started touching me like this so easily, but I like it.

It’s a taste of normal. I’ve never had a guy brave enough to touch me in public. My father was always…a tad overprotective. Smitty has taken over that role nowadays.