Viper (Hell's Handlers MC 9)

Viper snickered and kissed her temple. “You gonna throwdown if shit goes south, baby?”

With a snort Cassie nodded. “Damn straight I am.”

Another warm press of his lips to her temple had her smiling. This time he lingered then moved those lips to her ear. “Love the fuck outta you, Cas. You were perfectly made just for me.”

Then he went and did something romantic like that, making her heart melt into a gooey puddle in her chest.

The man really did love her.

A mischievous thought had her smiling. “You know, when we get home tonight, let’s…wait a second.” She straightened.

Where the hell was Sarge?

Cassie looked around.

“Don’t leave me hanging,” Viper said, nuzzling her neck. “Finish that thought, babe.”

She batted him away. “Viper, stop.”

“Hey—”

She’d have laughed at the affronted tone any other time. This was too serious for laughter. “How long has Sarge been gone?”

“I don’t know.” He shrugged and tried to snuggle in again. “Close to ten minutes? Why?” Then his eyes widened and he jerked back. “Oh, fuck me.”

“He couldn’t be, right?” She grabbed, Viper’s arm, giving a little shake as her gaze moved to the door of the men’s room. “Please tell me he has the runs or something and he isn’t in that disgusting bathroom screwing our waitress.”

A heavy sigh came from her man as he sagged against the booth. “Wish I could, baby. Wish I could.”

Cassie groaned though she wanted to gag. “Oh, gross.”

As they both stared at the men’s room door, a man in low hanging baggy jeans and a black wife beater tried to push the door open. She couldn’t make out what he was saying, but he slapped his palm on the door a few times before stomping off in a huff.

Yep, Sarge was in there banging the waitress.

“She had better wash her freakin’ hands before she comes back out here.”

“She’d better wash more than that,” Viper said with a snort.

Cassie shuddered.

A full ten minutes later, Sarge strolled out of the men’s room, running a hand through his tousled hair as Cindy slunk out behind him. She used Sarge’s body to hide her own until they’d moved close enough to the bar she could scurry behind it.

Her supposed boyfriend seemed completely oblivious. The bar had grown crowded since they’d arrived and he hopped from thirsty patron to thirsty patron. Cindy plastered a smile on her face, flirted with a customer, then picked up her next order. The woman didn’t miss a beat.

At the same moment, Sarge slipped back into the booth with a shit-eating grin on his face and a new, relaxed posture.

Man, it would feel so damn good to crack her palm across that egotistical smirk.

“You’re a fucking animal,” Viper said with a disbelieving laugh as he shook his head.

Sarge shrugged, wagging his eyebrows. “Pretty sure that little lady agrees with you, brother.”

“Oh, vomit,” Cassie said. Why the hell had she made that stupid bet? Now it was time to pay the piper. With a sigh, she held out her hand. “All right. Let’s get this shit over with.” She curled her fingers. “Hand it over.”

“Babe, you don’t have to do Sarge’s dirty work for him,” Viper said, shooting a disapproving glare Sarge’s way.

Sarge shifted to pull the note from his back pocket. “Uh, she sure does. A bet is a bet. I’d have covered your runs if I lost.” He held the paper out and lowered it toward her hand. Just as she went to close her fingers around the paper, he jerked it back. “No reading it.”

“What? Come on. You said I could read it if I agreed and you won.”

“Nope. No reading.”

This was utterly ridiculous. “Whatever. I really don’t give a crap what it says. Just give it to me so I can be done with this. Wonder if that poor stupid girl knows she was nothing more than a bet.”

“Pretty sure with the way she was howling a few minutes ago, she doesn’t care one way or the other. Trust me when I tell you she got hers.” He dropped the paper in her open palm.

“Spare me the gory details, please.”

Viper stood from the booth, and she followed, sliding along the cracked vinyl. “Seriously, babe, this is a stupid bet you do not have to uphold.”

“Fuck you, V. When did you become such a pussy?” Sarge’s tone dripped with disgust.

Meanwhile, Cassie loved her man all the more for standing up for her. “It’s fine. I got this. All I’m doing is handing the man a note then walking back over here. No biggie.”

“I’ll come with you,” Viper said.

She shook her head once. “Nah, stay with Sarge.” She leaned in. “Find out what the note says.”

He cupped her face then laid a long sweet kiss on her. The sound of Sarge retching broke them apart. “I’ll be watching,” Viper said.

With a nod, Cassie was off, weaving her way through the crowd to get to the bar. As she stepped up to where the bartender stood, someone from the other end of the bar caught his attention. He darted down to take care of them, holding a finger up to her. She could just place the note down and walk back, but she wanted to give Viper a chance to talk to Sarge. So she waited, tapping the note in time with the music.