Page 3 of Jackal

Daisy turned, then righted herself in her chair. “Hit that yet?”

“Not yet,” I said with way more confidence than I should have.

Lacy made a short humming sound then said, “He’s a bit older than you.”

“I distinctly remember you promising me a biker daddy andalcohol. So far you have only delivered on the alcohol.”

Daisy grinned. “He’s pretty swoony and very respectful. I’m glad he patched in. These younger guys need some real guidance on the ways of life.”

“You mean the ways of women,” Lacy said with a smirk. There must have been a story there.

“Did you?” I asked, dragging out the last word.

Daisy waved me off. “Oh no. It was Falcon from the start. But Jackal’s more seasoned and gentlemanly than some of these guys. He sees women differently than just bunnies.”

“Falcon seems pretty respectful of you. And Eagle–”

Daisy cackled and cut me off. “Eagle wasnotthat way until recently. Lacy had to give him some tough love so he’d get his head out of his ass. Still, even Falcon treats me like a little fragile woman, and they keep a ton of secrets. Which is understandable,” she said with a shrug. “But Jackal seems more reasonable and forthcoming. Like I said, more seasoned.”

“Shh, shh, shh!” Lacy said, waving her hand at Daisy.

We all looked over and Jackal raised his sunglasses and gave a slight nod. I wanted to wrap his long black hair around my fists and ride him like a pony.

“I want that one,” I said.

Daisy leaned toward me and put her hand up, so I obliged with a firm high five.

Lacy giggled. Once he walked inside, she looked over. “So, you want him to be your biker daddy? And you plan to stay? Do you think you can handle that? This life isn’t like how we were raised, Shiv.”

“I didn’t say I wanted tomarryhim. I said Iwanthim.”

Daisy and Lacy shared a glance.

“What?”

“They can be a little possessive,” Daisy said. No laughing.

“But I’ve observed they don’t often stick with the same woman.So why would that be an issue?”

Lacy smirked and leaned closer. “Shiv, for someone so smart, you really are clueless.”

They both giggled, so I pressed for more info. “What am I missing?”

Lacy said, “Shiv, do you really not see the way he looks at you? Or how he follows you around like a puppy?”

“Do you mean how he’s polite and doesn’t glare like half of the men here? That’s hardly a sign of interest. Are you both okay? Blink twice if you need help.”

Looking back at the door, I started to wonder. Was I overlooking some signs? My lady bits sure seemed to hope so.

Chapter 3

Jackal

I finally had a free night. I’d gone up to the mechanic’s shop that DE owned the last couple of days to lend a hand and try to find a regular job. Some of the guys had jobs outside of the DE-owned businesses, but as a lifer, it made sense to stick with the club. There was a bar, a dance club, a tattoo shop, and the mechanic and body shop. I had plenty of tats, but never held one of those guns, so there wasn’t a place for me there. I’d lent a hand at the bar for a few shifts, and played security at the dance club.

We had beefed up Destiny’s Desires, the dance club, a lot since Butch took off. Not only was he the main security there, but he knew the place in and out: the layout, the schedules, all the employees, and all the best escape routes nearby. Cindy was having a fit because Hawk pulled her from going in. The club had been her baby for years. She’d managed it from a hole in the wallto a classy place with classy ladies. She ran it like a business and didn’t let any fuckery happen there. As much as I understood her being pissed, I supported Hawk’s decision.

There was too much shit up in the air and we had to keep these women safe. Especially her. She was lucky she made it the night Raven was killed. Since Butch was like her son, it would make sense he’d gun for her, even if it was just to get to Hawk. She sure didn’t keep her dislike a secret, though.

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