Stand Off (Predators MC 2)

“You wouldn’t.” Gianna laughed. Both women knew her threats were all talk.

“I might,” Casey said, remembering her Christmas dinner. “Either that or I’ll be skipping that holiday dinner.”

“I’m not doing anything tonight, and I’m kind of in the mood for pizza. Is that good-looking stepbrother of yours going to be there?” Anna asked with excitement glittering in her eyes.

“Yes, he’ll be there with whoever his recent girlfriend is,” Casey told her and saw the excitement die.

“Damn, just once, I want to catch him between women.”

“Good luck with that.” Casey snorted. “That man has a replacement before he breaks it off with his cookie.”

Anna and Gianna burst out laughing.

Anna recovered first. “Cookie?”

“He does a new type every time I see him. I’ve seen him with a clothes stylist who works for Kaden Cross, a stripper, and now he’s dating a woman who teaches at a college.”

“Does he like chocolate cookies?” Gianna asked eagerly, smoothing her dress down over her hips.

Casey stared at her voluptuous breasts. “Max doesn’t pick favorites. He likes to sample all the different flavors.” Casey rolled her eyes at Gianna’s squeal. “You seriously would date a biker who’s in the Predators?”

“He’s not the only one who has a sweet tooth.” Gianna grinned unashamedly.

“Get to work before I decide you’re not sane enough to handle other people’s money.”

“Don’t you ever get tempted to live on the wild side?” Anna asked her curiously, eying the staid blouse and skirt she was wearing.

“No, thanks. One Jamaican Me Happy a week is all I need to satisfy my need for adventure.”

“What in the hell is a Jamaican Me Happy?” The women stared at her in confusion.

“Hit the liquor store on the way home and find out. I plan on drinking a couple as soon as I get home from the restaurant. I have a feeling, after the pizza or Max, I’m going to need it.”

“I thought you said you only drink one?” Anna asked.

Casey shook her head. “Max makes it a two-drink-minimum night.”

Now that she thought about it, she decided to stop at the liquor store herself on the way to Mugg’s birthday dinner. She was going to need the four pack.

Chapter 6

Casey chewed her plain cheese pizza as she watched Max set a plate down in front of his son. The five-year-old smiled up at his father, who sat down next to him with his own plate piled high with a variety of pizza slices.

“Dad, I’m going to get another plate.”

“Don’t get the Thai Chili one. I don’t want your mom calling me tomorrow, bitching that she sat up with you all night because you were sick.”

The ten-year-old rolled his eyes at Max before leaving the table.

One side of the long table was filled with Max and his four children. The resemblance was startling, each a miniature version of their father. The youngest, Randy, was eagerly eating the pizza that his father had given him. The eight-year-old was playing games on his cell phone and eating pizza with his other hand. His thirteen-year-old daughter Maxie was quietly eating her spaghetti as if she wanted to be anywhere but there, sitting at the end next to Mugg and Renee.

“You still working at the killzone?” Max asked loudly as Maxim returned to his seat with a plate piled as high as his father’s. Casey had no doubts that Max was going to get the dreaded phone call from the boy’s mother.

Casey noticed Mugg and Renee quit talking when they heard Max’s loud question.

“Ned found someone to work the night shift, so next week will be my last.”

He grunted at her answer, staring at her as he took another bite of his pizza.

“What’s he talking about?” Mugg asked.

“I’m working at the Quik and Go on Market Street,” Casey answered, throwing Max a heated glare.

“You’re working the night shift?” Mugg straightened, looking at his wife angrily.

“I didn’t know. Why didn’t you tell me?” Renee’s frown had her feeling guilty for not telling her mother. Not because Renee would be worried, but because Mugg would.

“Because it’s only for a couple of weeks. The place has cameras, and it’s never been robbed before. I’m safer working there than the bank,” Casey told them truthfully. “I was only helping Ned out until he found a new worker, and he has. As I just said, I’ll train this week, and then Friday will be my last day.”

“Call him and tell him you quit. He can train his employees himself. I don’t want you a sitting duck for anyone wanting a quick score. If you need money, I can—”

“I’m fine, Mugg.” Casey smiled at her stepfather’s concern.

Even though Renee had married Mugg after she had moved out of her mother’s house, he had always treated her like a daughter, despite Casey’s own attempts to keep a distance between them. She had been burned too many times from Renee’s relationships ending to develop a close relationship with a man she was sure would end up leaving her mother just like all the others had.