Page 45 of Smoke

Rex has already got the car facing down the slope that leads past the clubhouse to the gates so when I get myself situated in the driver’s seat, I put the key into the slot, but instead of hitting the ignition button, I take it out of park and put in into neutral mode, letting the car freewheel down the hill. Once out of ear shot of the cabin, I power it up and put it into drive.

On the gate tonight is a new prospect. He’s a young stocky guy with hair shaved close at the sides, a narrow tuft running from his forehead down to the nape of hisneck. He can’t be much older than eighteen with his youthful, acne-covered face. I can’t help but think that the punk haircut, lip and eyebrow piercings is his attempt to make himself look older and more badass. I’m just hoping that as he’s relatively new to the club, he’s clueless to the restriction that Stone has put on me when leaving the compound.

As I pull up beside him, I give him a nod and a wave. At first it doesn’t look as though that’s going to be enough, but I hover over the button that brings down the window. Surely, he must realize that if I’m already on the premises that I can’t be that much of a threat.

Suddenly he seems to recognize me, and he gives me a quick salute before pressing the release button, and the gates begin to slide open. I pull through them slowly so as not to seem suspicious. Once out, and a few down yards down the street, euphoria hits me at pulling off my devious escape plan, I gun it toward downtown Reno.

Chapter

Twenty-Eight

Tenley

“Just a second,” I shout at the knocking at my door. I down the rest of the red wine from my glass and place it on the low table in front of the couch.

I was so pissed after today’s altercation with Smoke that as soon as I’d got home, I’d cracked open a bottle of my favorite red and switched out the clothes I’d been wearing for a pair of leggings and an oversized sweater. A bag of chips and a good blood and guts zombie movie was in order to soothe my anger. Strange, I know, but it worked for me.

I’m halfway down the bottle, the snacks nearly depleted and getting to the best bit of the movie when a second, more persistent knock has me pushing up off the couch and rushing to the door.

I check the peephole. My hopes that it might be Smoke coming to apologize after realizing what an asshole he’s been are quickly squashed when I see adistorted Paddy Dunne standing at the other side of the door.

My chest tightens, butterflies flutter in my stomach, and the hairs on my arms stand to attention. Not from arousal or sexual tension like they do when I see Smoke. No, this is different. He scares me a little. Despite my fears, the wine having boosted my bravery, I open the door.

“Hey, what are you doing here?” I smile up at him from the open doorway. “I wasn’t expecting you, as you can see,” I laugh, gesturing to my attire. Without responding to me, he pushes forward, forcing me back into the hallway.

It’s when he lets the door slams closed behind him, I see the anger that has taken over not just his face but his whole body. His fists are clenched tight, hands held up at waist height as if ready to fight. The green of his eyes was no longer vibrant but dull, dark and threatening.

“What’s going on, Paddy,” I back-up further into the room, yet as soon as I put space between us, he takes it away.

“What were you doing at the Young Outlaws compound today?”

Fuck.

I should deny it, lie out of my back teeth to save my ass, but the wine is the devil’s juice, and my mouth has a mind of its own. A cocksure one at that.

“How do you know?” I fire back at him. “Have you had me followed?”

He takes another step forward. I take another back, but I’ve run out of space, and my ass hits the back of thecouch. The thunder in his face distorts it so much that I wonder why I ever thought he was a looker.

“What do you expect? You fucking lied to me.” He sneers into my face. “I should have known that you were a fucking reporter and that you’ve been following my ass.” The laugh he lets out sends a shiver down my spine. “I was stupid to think our paths crossing was coincidental when all along you’d planned it. Well, bravo, you had me fooled.”

“That’s not what happened. I promise, meeting you at the grocery was a pure fluke.”

“Liar,” he shouts in my face, spit from his mouth hitting my cheek.

When his arms suddenly jerk, I’m convinced that he’s going to hit me, but he’s so close, his chest only an inch from mine, there’s no way I can escape it. I slam my eyes shut, my body tensing in readiness to take the first blow.

When it doesn’t come, I pry open my eyes to find Paddy all up in my face, glaring at me like a rabid dog.

“What did you tell those MC assholes?” he growls.

“Nothing,” I lie. The perfect excuse would be to tell him I was there to see my stepsister, but doing that could put her at risk. I’m not sure whether he’s aware that Oriana is not only the nanny to the club’s VP, but something much more, or even the fact that we’re related. Throwing her under a bus is not an option.

He grabs a handful of my hair and uses it to pull my head back, so I’m forced to look him in the eye. My scalp burns as he tightens his grip.

“Tell me, bitch, what the fuck did you tell them about me?”

“I suggest you let go of my sister,” Oriana’s demanding voice rings out loud and clear.

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