Undaunted (The Kings of Retribution MC)

Quinn puts his hands up. “It’s not like that with me and Bella, bro. She’s become a good friend. You’re my friend too, but if you keep sitting on your ass with her, someone else may swoop in is all I’m saying.”

I know he’s right.

“Fuck, we’ve got all this shit going on with the club right now. I can’t risk putting her in the middle of it.”

Quinn eyes me for a moment. “Look, you and I both know she can handle it, brother. That woman is exactly what you need.”

“Enough with these feelings and shit. You’re starting to sound like you’ve grown a pussy,” I smirk at him.

Quinn grins. “Man, if I had me a pussy, I’d be flickin’ that bean right now instead of talking to your ass.”

I can’t help but chuckle. “Call me if anything happens tonight. Later, brother.”

I’ve made my way back downstairs, and the party has picked up. Loud music and the smell of weed fills the air. I sit down at my usual spot at the end of the bar, so I can see everyone and everything. Blake hands me my beer and whiskey. I take my first shot. The burn feels good, so I take one more. Gabriel sits down next to me, grabs the bottle I’m drinking from, and snatches a glass from behind the bar. He pours himself a shot and downs it.

“Don’t like this waiting shit.”

I know how he feels.

“Look, man. I get it, but we need to do this the way Prez said. We can’t be pissing our suppliers off. We need the extra man power. Just wait it out, brother. You’ll get what you want.”

He sits there, gripping the bottle as his nostrils flare.

“Pull it together, man.”

I take the whiskey bottle and pour us another shot. “I get it, brother...don’t wait for death—hunt the fucker down.”

CHAPTER TWELVE

Bella

I haven’t seen much of Logan in the past couple days, which I don’t mind him not being at work.

Not having to look at his face every day makes the hurt and disappointment a little easier to bear.

I’ve missed our lunch time conversations the most. That little bit of time we shared had become my favorite part of the day. Something about him puts me at ease. He makes me feel safe.

Since my run in with that blonde chick, while out shopping this past weekend, I haven’t returned any of his calls. I’ve noticed the guys have been on edge lately too. I’m getting the sense that something is wrong but haven’t heard anyone talking about anything. More of the members have been riding around town a little more often too.

Naturally my curiosity is piqued, but I’m also very aware that club shit is none of my business, so I haven’t asked any questions about it. I’m not naive. I know they aren’t saints, but to me, they’re good men.

I continue to concentrate on what I’m doing. Today has been a slow day, so I took inventory of all the low and out of stock items we have in the back.

I’m standing at the computer putting in orders in, when the door chimes alerting me that someone has walked in. I look up to see, Lee.

What the fuck is he doing here?

He stalks up to the counter with a cigarette hanging from his mouth. I know he can’t miss the look of surprise mixed with disgust on my face as I lean back from the counter.

“I heard you were seen working here for these piece of shit bikers, so I thought to myself, why don’t I come down and see for myself what my stepdaughter is up too.”

Shit. The last thing I need is Lee doing something to make me lose this job.

“I’m not anything to you,” I seethed, “You need to leave.”

Blowing smoke into my face, he leans in close. “You slummin’ it with some biker, Bella? You letting one of them taste that pussy of yours? Huh?” Lee licks his lips, trailing his eyes over me.

My skin crawls with the words coming out his mouth.