Page 24 of Ace

“That is the fucking million-dollar question.”He reached up to trace the outline of my lips with the rough pad of one finger.

“What does this have to do with the guy I saw get murdered?”I tried to ignore the tingle in my gut as his finger slid down to my neck.

“Intel says he was a drug mule, and he tried to keep some of the product for himself.That kind of shit never goes well.”

Still didn’t make sense to me.“How do you know the guy was a mule?”

“Club business, but you can count on it.Our source is reliable.”He quirked the corner of his mouth.

The butterflies in my belly stirred to life.“I’m still in danger?”

“Not as long as you’re with me.”

“Fun as that sounds, what about my life?My job?School?Friends?”Frustration had me clenching my fists, and the pain in my side did nothing to calm me down.

Ace looked thoughtful.“Your job is a dead-ender.If you want to sling drinks, you can do it at the club’s bar.Plenty of protection there, and the girls make good tips.”He chuckled.“Assuming you’re any good at it.”

“At flirting with guys for money?I’m really good at that.Just come watch me some night.”

A thunderous expression crossed his face.“I don’t think I’d like that.”

“It’s really not up to you, is it?”

“Actually, it is.You’re under my protection right now so you might want to be careful.”

“Or what?You’ll throw me out?”

“Worse.”His smile held no warmth.“I’ll have you locked in, with a twenty-four seven guard on you.”

I gaped.“You wouldn’t dare!”

He stood and stalked over to the dresser.Pivoting, he pinned me with a glance.“Try me.You asked for protection, and I promised you’d be safe with me.I never promised you’d like it.”

A giggle escaped my lips.I couldn’t help myself.Standing there, with his hands on his hips and that cold, don’t-fuck-with-me expression on his face, he reminded me of the godfather in some Mafia movie.All he needed was a couple of menacing bodyguards to back him up.

Oh right.Tiny and Tigger.

He closed the gap between us in two long steps, grasping me lightly around the waist.“Care to share the joke?”

“You.”

Brows raised he studied me.“Me?”

“Yeah you.”I managed to get my laughter under control.“You looked like the godfather from a Mafia movie.All stern, and in control.”

“Well, I am the Prez of a powerful motorcycle club,” he pointed out.

“True.”The throbbing in my side was increasing painfully.Laughter and gunshot ribs were apparently a bad combination.“Sorry.I blame the drugs.”I glanced at the doorway behind him.“Speaking of which, is Joker around?I really hurt, and the drugs don’t seem to be working as well as they did yesterday.”

“Yesterday you weren’t jumping all over the place.I think you need to lay down for a bit.Tiny should be back with Joker soon.”

I raised my eyes to his.“Can you lay with me?Just for a little while.”Wow, those drugs might not be handling the pain, but they sure killed my inhibitions.

“Thought you’d never ask.Just let me have a word with Tigger first.”

I clutched my injured side, watching him stride to the door.

Returning minutes later, he closed the door and lowered himself to the edge of the bed.He rubbed his hand gently down my arm, waking my inner sex fiend.Hopefully he wasn’t aware of her voracious nature.

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