Page 37 of Bear

“Oh, God. I am a terrible person.”

“It was self-defense.”

“Not for killing him—for making out with you right next to him. What the hell am I going to do with a dead body in my shop?”

“I’ll call in the clean-up crew.”

Her eyes grow round as saucers. “You can’t let anyone in here.”

“We’re a biker club, darlin’. Trust me when I say this is nothing compared to the carnage we wreak every day.”

“Right.” She nods and buries her face in her hands as I step back to make the call.

I pull out my phone and bring up Ruin’s number. “I need a crew.”

“Well good evening to you too, asshole,” Ruin says.

“What’s up, motherfucker?” Sterling shouts in the background. Crashing and whoops of excitement follow through the receiver. They must be having another one of their movie nights—something Ruin, Sterling, and Saint have all been doing a lot more of since they paired up with their old ladies and patched in.

“I need a clean-up crew here now. Those Bayou Bastards came after Tink.”

“The fuck?”

I nod as if Ruin can see me. “It’s been handled, but the shop could use a tidy up.”

“Okay, we’re on our way.”

“Prospects with you?”

“Yeah, they’re here. Saint just left, but I’ll make the call.”

“Mm-hmm. See you soon, brother.” I hang up and slide the phone back in my pocket. “They’re on their way.”

Tink lets out a long sigh and her throat bobs as she swallows. “Ruin?”

“Yep. Sterling, too, and a few others. They’ll be by in a little bit. You got a spare change of clothes?”

“There’s an oversized hoodie in my office.”

“It’ll do. Take off your shorts and T-shirt.”

“What?”

“We gotta burn our clothes and destroy the evidence. I’m not having this come back to bite us in the ass.”

“This shirt is vintage.”

“And now it’s fuel.”

Her lips pinch together. “I’m not letting you burn it.”

“Okay then, baby girl. Send me a postcard from prison. I’m sure you’ll find a Mommy who’ll treat you real nice in there.”

“I’m not getting naked here.”

“Darlin’, I’ve fucked that sweet little pussy of yours twice already and you were practically riding my dick in front of a dead man a second ago. Now you got your panties all wadded up over a fuckin’ T-shirt?”

“I’m not wearing panties.” She scowls and turns on her heel, but I reach out and grab her arm.

---