Page 13 of Spinner's Luck

“We’re done for now,” Devil said, rising from his chair. “Spinner, keep your eyes on Lucy until we can trust her.”

Oh, I’d keep my eyes on her, all right. There wasn’t anywhere else they’d rather be.

CHAPTER SEVEN

THE MOON WAShigh by the time I found Lucy outside,leaning against the railing of the clubhouse porch. I signaled Jacob to head off. The soft glow cast her in shadows, but even in the muted light, I could see the tension in her shoulders, the way her fingers gripped the wood like it was the only thing keeping her steady.

She didn’t look up as I approached, but I knew she heard me. Lucy was the type who always knew when someone was near, like survival was stitched into her DNA.

I needed her story.

“You good?” I asked, stopping a few feet away.

She let out a dry laugh, low and humorless. “Define good.”

I leaned against the railing beside her, arms crossed. The night was quiet, save for the crickets and the occasional rustle of leaves. She stayed focused on the horizon, avoiding my gaze.

“She’ll heal,” I said, knowing her mood had to do with Zeynep. “Mystic’s seein’ to that.”

“I know.” Her voice softened, losing some of its edge. “It’s just... seeing her like that...” She trailed off, shaking her head. “I didn’t expect it.”

“Dragon Fire doesn’t mess around,” I said grimly. “You know that.”

Her jaw tightened as she turned to me, anger flashing in her eyes. “Yeah, I know. That’s why I was in that shitty clubhouse. To stop them.”

Lucy wasn’t going to let go of what they did to Zeynep. She’d be out for revenge, and while I understood the fire, I knew what it could do. I’d lived it. Vengeance wasn’t something you walked away from unscathed.

“Look,” I said carefully, “I get why you’re pissed. I do. But you’re no match for Dragon Fire. They’ll burn you to fuckin’ ash.”

Her eyebrow shot up, arms crossing as she squared her stance. “I don’t care! I refuse to stand by while they traffic women and kids like livestock. Those bastards deserve to rot.”

I ran a hand through my hair, exhaling sharply. “Trust me, I know. But you can’t take them down alone. Stand back and let us handle it.”

Her lips twitched into a faint smirk. “I’m gonna do what I want to.”

“Yeah, I’ve noticed,” I said dryly. “But you gotta be smart, Lucy. You keep pissin’ off the wrong people, and they’ll kill you. Hell, they might even torture you first and make you beg to die.”

She tilted her head, studying me like she was weighing whether I was worth listening to. “Why do you care?”

The question caught me off guard, but I didn’t flinch. “Because you saved my ass,” I said simply. “And because I know what it’s like to carry that kinda anger. It’ll eat you alive.” I nudged her shoulder lightly and added, “Plus, I kinda like you.”

Her smirk softened into a small smile before she sighed, her shoulders slumping. “I’m not here to stir up trouble for your club, Spinner. I just want to make sure Zeynep’s safe. After that, I’m gone. Your club and I don’t share the same goals.”

The words twisted something in my chest, but I shoved the feeling down. “You think Dragon Fire’s just gonna let you walk away? They’ll hunt you down.”

“I’m not afraid of them,” she said firmly, but her eyes told a different story.

“Maybe you should be,” I said, getting frustrated. “They’re not just thugs, they’re animals. If they get their hands on you, it won’t end quick or easy.”

She stepped closer, her voice steely. “If I can save even one woman or child from those sick fucks, it’s worth it.”

Her fire should’ve pissed me off, but instead, it drew me in. Something about the way she stood her ground, even with the odds stacked against her, made it impossible to look away. I hated and admired it all at once.

“You’re a special kind of trouble, you get that?” I said, my voice dipping into something almost amused.

She smirked, the stiffness in her shoulders loosening. “What can I say? I leave an impression.”

“Lucy,” I said after a moment, “you’ve gotta play this smart. While you’re here, you’re playin’ by Devil’s rules. No sneakin’ off, no startin’ fights, and don’t give anyone a reason to question you.”

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