Devil (Savage MC--Tennessee 1)

“Yeah. Three were from a low level gang. They don’t have real ties here. According to Wolf, their former president’s daughter was in the area and this gang tracked her down and kidnapped her. The club came up quickly to retaliate and that’s why they didn’t bother with protocol.”

“Fuck. I’m never having kids.”

“I wouldn’t give anything for Ryan, Ese, but kids make you damn vulnerable. You have too much to lose when it comes to them. It’s one of the reasons I’m thinking of turning the reins over to Crusher.”

“You love the club, man.”

“I do. You guys are my family, but I need to do what I can to protect Ryan and being the leader of this club puts a mark on me.”

I rub the back of my neck as I think over Diesel’s words. I’d like to argue with him, but honestly, I’m not sure I can. I’ve never had kids; I’ve never had anyone that made me that vulnerable. If I did? I can’t say I wouldn’t be considering the same exact thing. I’m not about to speak out of my ass and offer him advice either. I haven’t lived Diesel’s life and I sure as hell haven’t walked in his shoes. His decisions need to be his own.

“So we’re headed to Nashville?” I ask instead.

“Well, more to the point, Murfreesboro.”

“You okay to leave Ryan?”

“Yeah, Dani will keep him. He’s comfortable with them and he and Dakota get along really well. Besides, if I don’t take a break from being a dad for a bit, I’m going to go insane. We’ll just be gone one night—two tops.”

“When are you wanting to leave?”

“They’re going to have a send-off for him tomorrow. It won’t be a long trip, so we can leave early in the morning. That work for you?”

“Yeah man. I’ll be ready to go. Maybe you’ll do yourself a favor and get laid while we’re away. I’m starting to think the Pope has more sex than you do.”

“He probably does,” Diesel mutters. “Shit, I doubt I even know how to pick up a woman anymore.”

“Aww fuck, that’s easy. It’s like riding a bike.”

“You mean once you do it, you don’t forget?”

“Nah. I mean you tell a woman some bullshit about how they’re special, then hop on them and ride them like a bike.”

“Jesus, you’re such an asshole.”

“That’s me. But I ain’t lying. Maybe while I’m there, if the old man’s daughter isn’t a total barker I’ll let her pour her heart out to me about everything she’s been through and let her comfort herself by sucking my dick,” I say with a wink.

Diesel shakes his head and starts to walk away.

“Try keeping it in your pants. I got the feeling the new President is sweet on the girl. Last thing I need is for your dick to cause a club war.”

“Shit man, my dick is easy going. If I can’t play with her, I’ll find another chick. He’s not particular and he only gets mean if he doesn’t get petted.”

“You’re a fucking loon, Devil,” Diesel yells over his shoulder as he exits the garage. I smile because at least I made the bastard laugh and that’s better than the misery I see on his face most of the time.Torrent“How are you doing, Tor?”

I tense when I hear Wolf. I fight to hide my irritation from him. It’s not fair. It’s just that he seems to check on me every hour on the hour. I get it. He’s worried about me. It’s not even that he’s wrong to feel like that, because I do feel like I’m falling apart. I don’t like being reminded that I’m as fragile as glass.

Cracked glass…waiting to shatter.

“I’m fine,” I lie. The words feel so heavy it’s hard to force them out.

I avoid Wolf’s eyes and instead keep staring out my bedroom window, giving him my back. He comes up behind me and it takes everything in me not to jerk away when his hands drop down on my shoulders. I can see his face reflecting in the glass.

Wolf’s a good-looking man. He’s fifteen years older than me, but a blind woman would know his appeal. He’s got warm brown hair the color of chocolate that’s cut short and choppy and kind of lays around his head and looks easy and permanently windblown. He’s got a scruffy beard that shows more gray in spots, which to be honest, gives him even more sex appeal. Plus, the beard is shorn close enough that it doesn’t take away from any of his features. His face shows age, but even that can be seen as sexy. From the laugh lines around his eyes to the creases around his nose and dimples, he’s got everything in him to make a woman weak in the knees. His lips are full and round and seem to stay in a permanent smirk…