Page 12 of Rebel

“Only if you want it to.”Charming leaned back, completely at ease despite the edge in her voice.“We’re particular about who passes through our territory.Especially those carrying.”

“I’m not looking for trouble,” she said.“Or business.Just a place to rest before moving on.”

Havoc and Charming exchanged a look I couldn’t quite interpret.

“Rebel’s vouching for you,” Charming finally said.“That counts for something.Enjoy your stay, however brief.”

The dismissal was polite but clear.Rio seemed to relax marginally, taking her first sip of the whiskey -- much better quality than what we’d had at the main bar.

I guided her away from the President’s table toward a quieter alcove near the back, where the music was muffled enough for conversation without having to shout.A couple of the older members nodded as we passed, their expressions neutral but observant.

“That seemed important,” Rio said once we were relatively private.

I shrugged.“Just how things work.Territory, respect, chain of command.”

“Military without the uniforms.”Her voice had a bitter edge.

“Something like that.”I studied her over the rim of my glass.“You didn’t stay in long.”

Her expression shut down instantly.“No.”

“Bad discharge?”

“Medical.”The word sounded like it had thorns.

I let the silence stretch, giving her space to elaborate if she wanted to.When she didn’t, I nodded.“None of my business anyway.”

“That’s right, it’s not.”She took another drink, then sighed.“Sorry.Touchy subject.”

“Figured that much.”I leaned against the wall, deliberately casual.“Look, I didn’t bring you here for any other reason -- I’m impressed by you.Not trying to recruit you, sleep with you, or pump you for information.”

She tilted her head slightly, those blue eyes searching my face for deception.“Why are you impressed?You don’t know me.”

“I know you walked into a biker clubhouse alone, armed but not threatening, and didn’t back down when challenged.That says something about your character.”

“Or my stupidity,” she muttered.

I chuckled.“Maybe both.”

Around us, the party continued.I’d had every intention of just introducing her and walking out.Hadn’t counted on the conversation lasting as long as it had.Across the room, Chaos was entertaining a group with some wild story, his arms gesturing broadly as his audience laughed.The club girls circulated, some working the room for potential customers, others already paired off with members or hang-arounds.Through the doorway to the main bar, I could see more Prospects keeping order, ensuring the growing rowdiness didn’t evolve into actual problems.

Rio watched it all with the same careful attention she’d shown earlier, though her posture had relaxed somewhat.The whiskey probably helped.

“How long were you in?”I asked, steering back to safer ground.As much as I wanted to get her out of here, I wondered if she needed this bit of chaos a little longer.

“Two years.”She stared into her glass.“Signed up at eighteen.Out by twenty.”

I nodded, not pushing for details.“Army?”

She stared at me, but didn’t deny it.

“They taught you to handle yourself?”

“Some.”Her mouth tightened.“Life taught me the rest.”

From the corner of my eye, I noticed Havoc watching us, his conversation with Charming continuing but his attention divided.The Sergeant-at-Arms didn’t miss much, especially potential security concerns.But his expression wasn’t hostile -- more evaluating than anything else.

“Your club seems… organized,” Rio observed.“Different than what I expected.”

---