Page 5 of Craved By Gray

I expected this. It’s what the Rebels would have done for any prospect, except we would never have stopped until we knew everything about the person. We nitpick every aspect of a prospect’s life until we are sure they can be trusted.

A fraud like myself would never have made it through the Steel Rebel’s front door. With the Vipers, I made it to their president’s office.

“I have connections who helped clean up my record,” I say, clearing my voice before I quickly add, “But don’t worry, it’s nothing that will come back to bite me in the ass.”

Stone nods. “Best believe we’ll keep an eye on you,” he says. “We’ll see what I think in a year.”

I won’t be here that long, but I smile. “Thank you so much, Mr. Stone. I promise I’ll not let you down,” I say, injecting enthusiasm into my tone. “Whatever it is you need to get done, I’m your man.”

Stone is about to say something when there is a soft knock on the door seconds before it opens. We both turn to the door just as someone steps in, and my jaw nearly drops when a set of familiar hazel eyes lock with mine.

It’s…her.

In the flesh. Dressed casually in jeans and sneakers with her hair tied in a sleek ponytail, she looks miles apart from the woman I saw at the cookout last weekend. She seems just as surprised to see me as I am to see her but expertly masks it as her eyes shoot past mine to the man behind the desk.

“I’m sorry, I didn’t know you had company. I’ll come back later,” she says, about to step out when Stone’s voice stops her.

“Get in here!” he bellows, and she flinches, but I watch her steel herself before stepping back into the room, slowly shutting the door behind her.

Scarlett.

I asked about her after the cookout, and Brooke was all too eager to tell me whatever I wanted to know. And I wanted to know everything.

She’s a college sophomore studying accounting. According to Brooke, Scarlett is a nice girl who mostly keeps to herself, but that’s obviously wrong. After all, what would a nice girl be doing with the Vipers, unless…

My eyes narrow to slits at the thought that she too could be a victim of these monsters. Someone they’re planning on auctioning like they did Saint’s partner. If so, I have to get her out of here.

“Pete,” the man booms, his voice drawing my attention back to him. “This is my daughter, Scarlett.” The initial shock of the announcement has barely passed when he drops the next bombshell. “She manages the club’s revenue.”

My eyes fly back to Scarlett, who turns to look at me, those beautiful green-brown eyes locking with mine, and I suddenly realize why Stone had felt so familiar. I wait for her to exposethe fact that she knows me, that I’m really a Rebel. There is no fucking way I’ll make it out of this building alive if Stone finds out who I really am.

Fuck, his own daughter was atourclubhouse. She’s seen me interact with the members. Seen me talk casually with my president and the others. All she needs to say is that she knows me, and it’s over. This mission, my life…everything.

Scarlett walks forward and extends her hand for me to take. “It’s nice to meet you.”

My eyes are locked on hers as I take her hand, so much smaller than mine, soft and cold against my calloused skin. “Good to meet you, miss.”

“Scarlett here is the little genius that does magic with the Viper’s books. Our last accountant was stealing from me, so I buried a bullet in his skull, but my darling daughter would never do that, would you, sweetheart?” Stone asks, his voice slicing between us like a knife, and Scarlett jumps back from me.

“No, Dad.”

“Women,” Stone scoffs. “You have to teach them their place, or they’ll walk all over you. Luckily for my daughter here, she knows the only way to earn her keep is either on her back or behind her desk. Luckily for her, she chose the latter.”

“Right,” I laugh without mirth, disgusted by the man’s crude words, but expressing my disgust isn’t going to do me or Scarlett any favors. “Gotta teach them their place.”

“That’s what I am saying,” the man echoes before his voice quickly hardens. “That said, my daughter is off limits to you fuckers. No one in the club goes near her without my permission, or they’ll be digging their own grave. Can’t have any of youmessing with the one person I can trust to sort out my finances, or worse, get her pregnant!”

“Of course, finding people you can trust these days is hard.”

Scarlett flinches at the not-too-subtle jab as she quietly places the file she’s carrying on her father’s desk and turns around to leave. “I have some more work coming your way,” Stone calls. “Get it done before tomorrow.” She nods once before leaving the room.

Stone turns to me, giving me a rundown on what my roles are going to be and inserting a threat or two on what will happen if I betray the club, but I hardly pay attention to a word he says. It all sounds like static in my ears as my thoughts are on the girl who left her scent behind. When Stone finally says that he’ll have someone text me what errands I need to run, I have to bite back a sigh of relief, ready to get the hell out of this place.

“I won’t let you down, Mr. Stone,” I call out, before slowly closing the door behind me, breathing out a sigh when I step into the hallway. I start to head downstairs when a door to my left opens and someone grabs my arm. It all happens so fast; I am pulled into a bathroom before I can even think about defending myself. My first reaction is to fight, but then my eyes lock with beautiful hazel ones, bright in a dimly lit room.

“Please don’t make a sound,” she pleads, shutting the door behind me. Her breath is coming in short pants, and there is panic written on that gorgeous face. “God, what the hell are you doing here?”

My eyes narrow on hers. “I could ask you the same question about your presence at our clubhouse.”

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