Savage Road (Torpedo Ink 7)

Seychelle stood immediately, a welcoming smile lighting her face. “Eden, how lovely to see you.” She hugged the woman and kissed her on the cheek. Looking at Tony, she couldn’t help laughing. “You even told me your last name. Ravard. No wonder you looked familiar. Your eyes. Blythe, you must know Eden Ravard. This is Tony, her son. This is Breezy and Blythe, my friends.” Tony wasn’t wearing his colors, but she wanted Blythe and Breezy to know exactly who they were dealing with. “Tony and his older brother, Leonardo, are members of the Diamondbacks.”

“Yes, of course,” Breezy said. “Shark and Lion, right?”

Seychelle looked at her sharply. Of course Breezy would know the names used in the Diamondback club. Breezy seemed to know everything about the various clubs.

Tony nodded. “Mom wanted to come over and say hello,” he said. “I hope we’re not interrupting.”

“I saw your friends leave and thought we could visit until they returned,” Eden said cheerfully. “Is that all right?”

Seychelle’s heart dropped when she saw Blythe and Breezy exchange another long look. She would have said yes in a second. Eden was a dear friend and very sweet. That was all she saw. Tony was Diamondback. That was what they saw. That was what Savage would see. She wasn’t certain how she was ever going to fit into the Torpedo Ink club. She waited for Blythe to make the decision. She’d been up front with them; that was the best she could do.

“We’d love to have you join us,” Blythe said, her smile genuine. “Please do sit down, Eden. Tony, I don’t think we’ve met before.”

Tony Ravard helped his mother into Czar’s chair, and he took Savage’s former seat directly across from Seychelle. She had to, once again, manage to slide onto the padded chair without wincing. Her bottom wasn’t nearly as sore as she had anticipated, but she definitely felt those stripes on her cheeks. It didn’t help that Tony seemed to be watching her very closely the entire time.

“I knew you had several children, Eden,” Blythe continued. “We talk so much when you come in for your therapy massages, but I think I pictured them as teens. You’re quite young-looking, and I have teens, so I suppose I wish them on everyone.”

Seychelle found herself laughing with the others, even though she was nervous that Savage might strangle her when he saw Tony sitting across from her, staring at her so intently.

“I have a stepson, and four sons,” Eden said.

The way she said stepson, with a small shiver in her voice, had Seychelle’s head going up alertly. Eden had mentioned she had several children. She’d included the stepson in her telling how many. This was the first time Seychelle had caught that little tell that she might be afraid of her stepson. A little chill went down Seychelle’s spine. That had to be the connection Czar and the others were looking for. Brandon Campbell had to be Tony Ravard’s half brother. That was Brandon’s connection to the Diamondbacks. And what would she do if Brandon suddenly walked in and sat down? Savage would kill her for certain.

“What’s wrong?” Tony asked, his tone low, almost a whisper. “You’re suddenly very pale.”

Seychelle picked up her glass of water. “I think the thought of raising all those boys is quite frankly daunting.” She raised the glass. “To you, Eden. And Blythe. Breezy, you too. I’m going to be a cat lady, myself. I don’t have one yet, and so far, every time one sees me it runs the other way, but I’m holding out hope.” She took a sip while the others laughed. Tony did as well, accepting her ridiculous explanation. Savage would never have let her get away with it.

She took out her cell phone and, under the table, stared at it. For all she knew he could be up on a roof with a sniper rifle, protecting Alena. Or in a tense standoff with Pierce. If she sent a text, she could get him killed.

“I highly recommend being a cat lady,” Eden concurred.

“Mom,” Tony objected. “I’m sitting right here, and I took you out to the restaurant of your choice. I had to bribe our way in.”

“Who did you bribe?” Breezy asked, signaling Darby, who was two tables away, looking a little harassed. “Sorry, babe, but we need clean water glasses and more bread. They aren’t joining us for dinner. They’re at table six.”

“Thanks,” Darby said. “Coming right up.”

“My cousin. He has a standing spot, and I told him mom really wanted to come out tonight, so he was kind enough to let me take his reservation.”

“Originally, Crow 287 never took reservations; it was first come, first serve,” Eden chimed in. “I wanted to eat here every night, the food was so good.”

“I know what you mean,” Seychelle agreed. “Just smelling it puts ten pounds on my thighs.”