"Drifters are far and wide, and we have alliances with other clubs. Don't think your ugly face hasn't been dispersed to all of them. If they see you in any other tattoo shop, they're going to kill you. The only thing bikers like more than motorcycles and women is tattoos. You fuck with that, we fuck with you."
"Step foot in here again, and we'll hold you down until Max or his other buddies can come in and take care of you," Yohan says.
"Bury you in the fucking basement. Guess you wouldn't get charged then, though. Might be your best bet to not end up someone's bitch behind bars," Max says.
Nick takes off, and the men all cheer. Daphne turns and stares at him. "You bought the shop?"
"It's your dad's shop, Daph. You wouldn't let me give you the money to buy, and I couldn't let you lose it."
"It's too much, Max," she whispers. "What if things don't work out with us? How do we do this then?"
Cupping her face, he leans so only she can hear him. "First of all, there's no chance this doesn't work out. I'll do whatever I have to in order to keep us solid. Second, that makes your second question a non-factor."
"Max-"
"Fine, if we're going to play this game, it won't change a thing. Tattoos are a great investment for us, and we're trying to work in more legitimate businesses. Plus, Griffin's Beach already has strippers and a repair shop. Unless we want to lose money in a bar or a bike dealership, this is the most logical decision."
"Nelson's okay with this?"
He laughs and pulls away. "Fuck no. He's the only one against this, though. Plus, when they saw your cover up work, it was a done deal."
"I'm really the boss?"
"Yep. Well, we own it, but you run it."
Daphne turns to the guys. "Do you have appointments booked for the rest of the day?"
"Fucking Nick ran them off last minute," Phil says.
"Take the day off to celebrate. We'll meet here tomorrow at nine for a game plan on what we can do to turn things around for us and the club. I want your ideas because I think the four of us are the best artists in the area, if not the state. We just have to figure out what to do in order to get people to see Nick was a lying asshole."
"Oh, I fucking love having you as a boss," Yohan says. "Booze?"
Phil nods. "Fuck yeah. You two joining?"
"No, I need to talk to Max about a few details before we meet tomorrow to make sure I know exactly what the expectations are. But don't get too drunk. I need you thinking clearly tomorrow, and I don't have bail money right now for you."
All three men salute her with a laugh and filter out of the shop. She walks over to lock the door and turns to look at Max.
"What details do you need? I don't have all of them, but I can call Kip," he says as she guides him into the office.
"Take off your pants."
Smirking, he doesn't hesitate, and she gets on her knees, something she's not a fan of. Her mouth wraps around his cock, and he braces himself on the desk. Normally, he's in a lying position when she takes him deep like this, and his knees buckle slightly.
"Daph, baby, we can go upstairs," he moans. "Fuck, I love when you flick your tongue ring on me."
"Max?"
He looks down as she releases him, her dark eyes staring up into his. "Yeah?"
"Thank you."
He's about to respond when she takes him in again, and he's captivated as her eyes stay looking up at him as his head hits the back of her throat. Everything about this makes him want to shout that he loves her right now. As right as it feels, it doesn't feel right at the same time. With what he and the club just did, it may apply too much pressure for her to say it back, and he wants it to be genuine.
"Daphne," he moans, his fingers tangling in her surprisingly soft hair. "I'm gonna come."
Her mouth releases him, but her hand quickly replaces it as she strokes him hard and fast until he shoots his release on her chest.