Page 35 of Laying it Bare Biker Style: Ryder

But before I could plant my fist inhis face, Sage stormed up to him and cocked her arm back, clenchedher hand into a tight fist, and punched him square in the jaw. Shehit him so hard – also catching him off guard – that he dropped tothe floor in an awkward sprawl. “Get a life. Stop being themessenger for a bully.”

Stifling a chuckle – since this entireincident had me fuming – because I was pissed the fuck off thatWasp had the audacity to claim her as his, I wrapped my arm aroundSage’s shoulders and tugged her to my side. Needing to centermyself, I kissed the top of her head. “Nice hit there Slugger.Better you than me. Not that you didn’t do a bit of damage.” Therat had a nice bruise emerging on his face. “But I’d have toexplain to the cops what was going on and most likely have to beescorted down to the police station to sort things out, but withyou it was self-defense.”

“I didn’t lay a hand onher.” Rubbing his face, the rat sneered and shifted into a seatedposition on the floor.

“The intent was there withyour little message. And people don’t own people. I’m not Wasp’sproperty.”

Sage’s words stirred up a renewedbatch of anger inside of me. But it wasn’t the punk ass kid on thefloor I wanted to kill. It was Wasp. “Randy, would you mind keepinghim in here until I find out what Prez wants to do withhim?”

“No problem. I know whatI’d like to do with him.”

Probably dice him up with some dullkitchen utensils and deposit his remains in the dumpster out back.Sounded immensely satisfying, but wouldn’t solve the problem. Weneeded to attack the problem at its root. The kid was just anextended limb. “I’m going to step out into the hallway for aminute.” Arm still around Sage’s shoulders, I led her out of theroom with me.

“What do you think he willsay to do with him? I’m mad as hell about him being here, but he’snot the one I need to fear.”

Wrapping Sage into my chest, I huggedher close and pressed my lips to her temple. “You don’t need tofear anyone. He’s not going to get you again. We’re going to findout where they are hanging out around here and put an end to theirclub. Even if they don’t have an official place here; they have tobe meeting somewhere. But my main priority is going after Wasp.Once he’s gone, we can work on disassembling theirclub.”

“I refuse to live in fear,but I don’t want to find myself in that situation ever again.” Herentire body trembled against mine. “I don’t know that you’d everfind me. I still don’t know how I ended up in the woods that lasttime. He wouldn’t have dumped me somewhere if he still wantedme.”

Untangling myself from her, I cuppedSage’s face in my hands. “Maybe someone in his club didn’t likewhat was going on. Or they have a mole. But I won’t leave you aloneuntil he’s no longer a threat. And you have a gun now too. I’llstart taking you to the shooting range daily so you becomeproficient at handling it and hitting your target.” Then I droppedmy lips to hers for a gentle kiss. “I’m going to text Prez aboutthis and get him to send over a tail for the rat. I can’t tail himbecause he’d hear and notice my bike. So we’ll get someone tofollow him in a car or truck to see where he ends up.” Tucking herback into my side, I pulled my phone from my pocket and shot off along text.

When my phone buzzed a few minuteslater, I read his response. “We just have to keep the little shithere for about five more minutes. Prez is sending someone overright now to tail him. I’ll send Randy a text to release him infive minutes. I don’t want to go back in there and risk mepummeling the shit out of him. Are you ready to gothen?”

“I need to grab my purseand clock out. I didn’t get to do that earlier. Too much excitementgoing on.” She pursed her lips.

“Do you want me to takecare of that?”

“No. I’ll be quick.”Unwrapping herself from me, she rushed into the lounge and was backin less than a minute.

Grabbing her hand, I led her out to mybike and we headed home.

Once inside, I pulled her into my armsand took her mouth in a firm kiss, pushing my tongue in between herlips so I could devour her. Then I leaned my forehead against hers.“After we take care of Wasp and you are safe again; I’d like foryou to continue to stay with me. Not because you have to, butbecause you want to. I want you to live with me. If it starts toget weird, we can always get our own place. Grayson has to settledown sometime.” I released a short chuckle. “Well, maybe. But wewill have a little one to think about too in the nearfuture.”

Sage blinked up at me, her eyesshimmering with unshed tears. “I know you had said you loved me andI believe you, but are you sure you want me to stay? You don’t wantsome time and space to adjust to us first, when it’s safe to doso?”

“No way. Now that I figuredout that I love you, you’re stuck with me, Sage.” I shot her adevilish grin.

“I think there are worsethings I could be stuck with.” She gave me a brightsmile.

“What do you want to do fordinner? We could eat out; my favorite is when you are on the menu.”My mouth curved into a wicked smirk as I waggled my eyebrows ather.

A beautiful blush bloomed across hercheeks and down her neck. “I like the sounds of that too, but Ishould probably eat first so I have the energy to survive yourravishing.”

“I love your way ofthinking. And I do need to remember you are eating for two now. ButI can handle waiting to have you for dessert.”

The pink in her cheeks darkened. “It’sbeen an exhausting day. Can we make dinner here instead of goingout?”

“We can do whatever youfeel like. What do you have in mind?”

“We had bought ingredientsfor stuffed shells during our last grocery run. I think I’m hungryfor some Italian. Would you help me make that?”

“I could definitely eatsome Italian. Then afterwards I want to ride over to the club totalk to Prez in more detail about today’s happenings.”

“Do you think he will wantto call a meeting tonight? I’m really tired so maybe Angel andMisti would come over here to hang out with me in case it getslate.”

“This situation isn’t clubbusiness. Now don’t get me wrong; my brothers will have my backwith this and do everything they can to help protect you. But we’vealready met about what to do about Brutal Demons. I want to askpermission to have security checks done more frequently at therestaurant when you are working. Since I’ll be pulling myself andother guys from their work more often; I’ll need his approvalfirst. So it won’t take long at all. I just want to do it in personrather than over the phone.”

“I’ll text Angel and Mistito make sure they are around and then we’ll stop over after dinner.Then I have special plans for dessert.” After pressing a kiss toher forehead – because if I would have touched her lips I wouldhave spread her out on the bar to devour as an appetizer and wewouldn’t have gotten our meal prepared – we set about fixingdinner.

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