Page 41 of Lies Beneath Secrets

“Don’t have this old bastard get you a phone. You should have seen the one he had before you met.” Knox cackles a bit more before Con reaches over and punches him in the arm.

“Fucker,” Con grumbles. “I’ll have Sienna grab one for you.”

“Okay.” I look over to the bar where Siena is. “Have you slept with her?” I blurt out, getting Knox to laugh and answer for him.

“No one has slept with that pistol.” He raises his glass in her direction. “Not for a lack of trying though.”

“He’s not speaking for me on the trying part,” Con says, speaking up. “I’ve been with the other ones though.” He points to a corner of the room where three women sit with some of the men. “Once or twice. Long before I met you.” His honesty about it shocks me a little, and I find myself respecting the fact he told me instead of me finding out about it later. Like finding out he’s part of a biker gang. Orclubas he put it.

“Thank you for the honesty.” I decide then to take a sip from the glass Con offered me when we sat down and instantly regret it. The liquid burns and causes me to cough.

“You okay?” Con asks, coming closer and putting his hand on my back.

“This stuff is not for me,” I say, coughing a little more. Con’s face softens a little, then he takes the glass from my hand. “I’m getting a vodka,” I state, then stand. Almost instantly, Con grips my arm. It isn’t hard, but it isn’t soft either.

“I said stay by me.” I look down at where he’s holding me.

“I’ll be right there.” I point with my free hand to the bar, then look back at his face. His beard has come in so much, and he looks nothing like the man I first met months ago in the diner. I’ll admit that his now-rugged look suits him more than the ‘clean-shaven guy next door’ image he maintained in the beginning. Then, something suddenly dawns on me.

“Did you keep your beard shaved to make yourself seem more approachable?” I narrow my eyes at him, and Knox fills the space again with more laughter.

“Busted,” Knox jeers. Con must decide to leave this argument alone because he lets go of my arm.

“I’ll be back,” I state and turn toward the bar again. I draw in a deep breath before beginning the short walk over to the bar that might as well be miles away for how long it seems to take me to get there. My skin prickles with the feeling of every eye on me. I do my best to keepmyeyes trained on the bar stool I’m going to sit on. Before I reach it though, someone sits down right in that very spot. They lean back and watch me walk over. I don’t recognize them at all, but I’m sure they recognize me.

“Allow me,” he says when I get closer. He pulls out the barstool next to him for me to sit. Not wanting to back down, I take the offered seat. “I’m Pace,” he tells me, extending his hand. I don’t take it. Instead, I turn my body away from him.

“Lauren.”

“Yep,” he says. “What will you have, Lauren? Siena!” he calls out.

“Vodka, neat.”

“We only have one kind here, and I’m afraid it isn’t the good kind,” Siena tells me, pulling out the bottle with a brand I’m not familiar with on the label.

“Not like my day could get any better anyway.” I shrug and take the glass. Sipping the liquid slowly, I decide that it will have to do.

“Straight vodka and a complete badass. Where did Con find you?” Siena asks with a smile.

“Other end of King’s gun,” I say and take another sip. I expect her to be a little shocked; instead, she throws back her head and laughs.

“I’m going to love having you here.” She winks at me, then walks away.

“She’s our newest member. Besides you that is,” Pace says. I had actually forgotten he was there.

“I didn’t think motorcycle clubs had female members.” I don’t know much about clubs, but I’ve never heard of one with women as members. How does that even work?

“Hell yeah. Women can be crafty. They’re untaped resources.” Pace looks over at Siena, who has come back over by us.

“It’s going to stay untapped too,” she jokes, getting a laugh from Pace.

“You’ll give in one day. No way you can resist me forever.” I watch their exchange and notice the way Siena looks his way. I hate to break it to her, but he might be right.

“Get your drink?” Con’s voice comes from behind, vibrating all the way through me. I turn slightly and hold up my now almost empty glass in answer. “I see you met Pace.”

“Somewhat,” I respond, getting a wink from Pace.

“Seeing her up close and now talking to her, I’m beginning to understand.” I’m about to ask what Pace means bybeginning to understand,but Siena takes that moment to top off my glass.

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