Diamond in the Dust (Lost Kings MC 18)

Shelby bounces up and down, waving her hands and pointing at Jiggy. “What he said!”

“All right. Easy, chickadee.”

“What’d he say?” Jigsaw asks.

I give him the rundown, which still makes no sense to me, and shrug.

“No one else was here, so it’s not like he was trying to build up his cred. Pony’s probably right,” Jiggy nods to Shelby. “Acorn’s jealous. You’re here with your girl, who’s way the fuck hotter than his wife—”

“That’s not nice,” Shelby cuts him off. “Heather didn’t do anything.”

“Who said I was nice?” Jigsaw asks. “I’m stating a fact. You’re younger, hotter, more successful, and not tied down with four kids. Guys like him get their balls twisted over shit like that all the time.”

“Gross,” Shelby mutters.

“All right.” I hold up my hands in a back-off gesture. “Can we psychoanalyze the guy some other time?”

“Sure.” Jiggy blinks at me in his sarcastic impersonation of someone trying to be helpful way. “When would be convenient for you?”

“Fuck off,” I growl.

“What’s going on?” Dex steps off the path and Pants follows.

“You get into it with Acorn?” Pants asks. “Came back lookin’ like he went a few rounds with Tyson Fury.”

For fuck’s sake, how many times am I going to have to tell this story?

Dex whistles after I explain. “Shit, brother. Sure you wanna let that go?”

“What should I do? I already punched the shit out of him. I’m not askin’ Pony to levy a fine too. I just don’t want it happening again.”

“We stick together until we head out tomorrow.” Pants points at my VP patch and then taps his SAA patch. “I outrank you on safety matters.”

I scoff but agree to his plan.

“Let’s go back before they think we’re plotting Acorn’s death,” Dex suggests.

“We’re not?” Jigsaw asks.

“Knock it off.” I shove Jiggy toward the path leading back to the rest of the club.

Shelby and I trail behind the others. “I feel bad for Heather,” she says in a voice not meant to carry. “Her dad’s a pervert and her husband’s a dumbass.”

I snort in agreement. “Keep that to yourself.”

“Like I was plannin’ to announce it?”

I laugh even harder. Love how riled up she gets when she’s pissed.

Pulling her closer, I lean down and whisper in her ear, “I really want to find that secluded spot and fuck the sass out of you.”

“You can try,” she taunts, skipping away from me. “But the sass is baked right in.”

No one pays attention to our return. I throw a glance Acorn’s way. He’s sprawled out on his back with his head in Heather’s lap while Anita applies an ice pack to his face.

“Wonder what he told them?” Shelby whispers to me.

“I can only imagine.” I pull her down onto our blanket with me and curl myself around her.

“I really want to put ice on that.” She touches my cheek and stares into my eyes.

“Don’t need it.”

“You don’t want anyone to see you doing it,” she counters.

I lift one shoulder.

She lets out a low, frustrated growly noise that’s more cute than threatening.

“Hey, Shelby,” Anita calls out. “Heather says you’re a singer. You sing anything anyone’s actually heard?”

Everyone focuses their attention on Shelby. For a second she freezes. But then what I’ve decided to call her professional celebrity mask slips into place.

“Well, that depends,” she drawls, infusing extra twang into her words. “If y’all listen to country music, or have eaten at a Southwest Steakhouse recently, you might’ve.”

“Ugh, I hate country music,” Dana whines. “It hurts my ears.”

Shelby shrugs off the comment with grace. Only because I know her so well do I notice the slight way she clenches her jaw, indicating she’s holding back a few choice words. “Country’s one of the most popular musical genres, but it’s not for everyone.”

“Huh?” Dana’s ditzy expression lands on Heather. “What’s a john-ra?”

“Doesn’t matter,” Heather says, dismissing her friend. “Shelby’s amazing.”

“Shelby’s got a huge fan base. And she’s opening for a big artist.” Jigsaw frowns at Dana. “What’ve you been doing with your life again?”

“Shit, yeah. Shelby’s got lines of people waiting for her every night,” Pants adds.

“Oh.” Dana sits back and whispers something to Anita.

“You should see the tail that shows up for the headliner every night too,” Steer ever-so-helpfully adds.

“Oh my God,” Heather gushes. “What’s Dawson Roads like? His voice is pure sex.”

Shelby slides a glance my way. “He’s been really nice. It’s been quite an experience opening for him.”

“He’s a cool dude,” Pants says. “He’s got some of us working for him, setting up and breaking down his set.”

Pony perks up and joins the conversation. “No shit?”

Great, just what I need. I’d told Priest I’d consider brothers from other charters for security jobs on the tour but the truth is, we have everything smoothed out between the five of us and I don’t want to add anyone new to the mix.

Especially after that bullshit with Acorn.