Page 57 of Clint & Ivy

“There’s bad blood with the new president and the guys he pushed out. Those men have sons looking to ride with the club that kicked Zodiac’s ass back in the day.”

“Is that what they tell you or is that what you know?”

“I wouldn’t patch in anyone I didn’t trust.”

Exhaling hard, I shook off my irritation with the LM Jokers’ quick expansion. I didn’t think Tricky planned to make a move against my club, but I knew he tended to reach for short-term fixes for long-term problems.

“You should invite me to this pow wow with Zodiac and his boys.”

“Is that what you want, Tricky? Won’t you look like my bitch if you come to the meeting I set up?”

Tricky didn’t give away how he hadn’t fully considered the situation. Though I held the upper hand, he kept smiling like nothing had changed. He learned that trick from his dad.

“Fine, do your thing, but understand how the Rainbow Bright bitches aren’t welcome in Little Memphis. If my guys see them riding around town, we won’t let that behavior stand.”

Flashing him a smile, I promised, “If you kill one of them and go to war, I’ll buy your mom the best roses in the state to place on your grave.”

“What, no eulogy? Hell, you ought to pay for my fucking funeral while you’re at it.”

“It’ll depend on how embarrassingly you die. If you get taken down by a tiny guy with a mullet, I might need to pretend I never knew you.”

“Do they really have a guy like that in their crew?”

“You’re the one with the Baton Rouge boys in your ranks. Ask them.”

Tricky’s blue eyes flickered around the courtyard before they focused hard on me.

“Are you sure this gas station hooker isn’t a ploy by someone trying to get close to you?” he asked and then shrugged. “You’re a tough nut to crack. Sending someone into your clubhouse wouldn’t gain any info, but sliding a pretty blonde between your sheets might offer someone the inside track.”

Leaning back on the bench, I fought the urge to punch Tricky in his smug face. This sensation in my chest was new. I rarely felt vulnerable. My family could hold their own. My club was filled with badasses. My only real weakness was my tiny dog and his giant ego.

But Ivy was fragile. She didn’t know this world, and she was desperate to be accepted. People could hurt her in a million different ways.

My temper sparked hot at the thought of Tricky messing with her head. “If you ever find yourself alone with Ivy, you'd best behave as if your mom’s watching. If not, I’m going to behave as if my mom’s watching.”

“Shay does enjoy a good brawl.”

“Especially when it’s her boy kicking someone’s ass.”

Tricky grinned. “I’ll be sweet to your lady. Even if she ditches you for another guy, I won’t hold a grudge.”

His dig at me didn’t land as he hoped. Mostly, I realized he still held a grudge over our childhood friend, Cher, dumping him to join the Crimson Guard.

She was the daughter of Hazard, a member of the Rawlins Heretics MC, and Anise, who rode with the Everything Nice Crew. Cher and her younger sister Stevie were destined to be like their wild mom. They jumped at the chance to join my club and ride with their friends.

Despite knowing Cher’s wild nature, Tricky talked about marrying her. He always seemed to go from zero to a hundred with women. But Tricky was genuinely torn up inside when she left him. I never understood why he figured that relationship would work. Did he really think Cher would be happy playing homemaker while Stevie rode motorcycles and kicked ass?

“Keep me informed with this Rainbow Bright thing,” Tricky said when I clicked my tongue for Hanzee to head inside. “Zodiac’s a troublemaker. If he wants to expand his territory into Arkansas, he might think you’re dumb enough to help him.”

“Sure,” I muttered, fighting the urge to roll my eyes. “Men are often distracted by my good looks.”

“And your hot club members,” Tricky grumbled.

“There’s no denying Rock is quite the beauty.”

Tricky cracked up, losing his edgy club president's bad attitude. He was still snickering at my comment when I walked to the side door and headed upstairs.

Hanzee couldn’t stand still, wandering around the elevator and seeming uneasy after Fuzz gave him the business downstairs. Already agitated, he began barking when we entered the condo to find a crying Ivy standing in the living room. She looked around like something was out to get her. As soon as her gaze locked on me, she calmed down.

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