Page 51 of The Heiress

“Anything else you need before we hole up in biker hell?”

He wanted me to laugh, so I laughed. “I think I have everything I need.” Before we left Key West I repacked my bags, replacing some of my normal clothes with the new items Georgia got me. She also put together a case of luxurious cosmetics, creams, and soaps. It was the most motherly thing she’d done yet and even though it took all of two minutes to hand off the case, a connection was made. Maybe not mother to daughter, but definitely woman to woman.

“Then it’s time to load up and ship out.” He hefted the duffle bag over one shoulder while rolling his suitcase behind him with the other. When I offered to help I was given the stone cold glare of a man fully capable of carrying everything himself.

We left the rental in his driveway and took the pickup truck north to Tampa. “So why did Todd move the club to the city?”

“Because the island very politely asked us to leave.” He shot me a grin. “No really, the mayor asked us to move, and Todd was growing the club quite a lot. There was more work off the island than on, so we shifted our base of operations. It was the perfect time, too. Real estate in the city was shit and we got a great deal.”

The smoke and mirrors Jace and his brothers played with their clean-cut appearances now extended to the club. My assumption was that we’d roll up in a dicey parking lot of some rundown old Tampa strip club. Someplace no one would intentionally wander. Instead, Jace drove through downtown streets to a building on the edge of Ybor City with its own parking garage and bar downstairs. Jace entered the parking garage, rolling past public parking to the second level. Rows and rows of motorcycles stood parked behind a gate. We kept going up to the third level to yet another gate. He keyed in a code and the gate swung open.

“Is this all club parking?” There were a few more bikes on this level, but it was mostly other vehicles. A few pickups, three Jeeps, a Mustang, a Challenger, and, most unexpectedly, a Tesla. Huh.

“Yep. The whole building is ours. Third floor is bedrooms and living spaces. Second floor is our offices. First floor is the bar. We have a private room in the back that’s just for us.”

I had to force my mouth closed. “Not gonna lie, I’m pretty surprised.”

He shrugged, throwing the truck into park. “Hiding in plain sight is our new modus operandi. Todd hates it as much as he loves the money we bring in, and most of his friends tolerate it, mostly because they’re flush with cash these days and have nice rooms.”

“Money talks.”

His eyes flashed. “Money is power.”

And Jace was busy accumulating as much power as he could. One of these days I hoped he’d tell me what the plan was. Pay Todd off? Take over? Walk away? For now I let it be one of Jace’s many secrets.

I had other things to worry about.

Inside I was surprised yet again. Instead of a dirty, tackily decorated frat house, the third floor of Devil’s Wrath was more like a very nice hotel. The floors were a dark laminate wood, the walls cream, and the common space had floor to ceiling windows with a view of the city. Comfortable couches made a horseshoe around coffee tables. A large dining table sat between the couches and the counter that separated the living space from the kitchen. It was all very bright and welcoming.

Three large men waited near the windows. The shortest nodded our way. “The bastard returns!”

Jace shook his head. “Gonna drop our shit in my room. Find your manners before we get back?”

“Not a chance!” another said. He seemed familiar, but I couldn’t be sure from a distance.

Jace led me down another hallway and around a corner, stopping in front of a door with the word Treasurer beside it. “Perks of being in management, I get my own bathroom.” He unlocked the door and pushed it open, inviting me to step inside first.

The room wasn’t large, but it was as nice as the rest of the floor. More wood flooring and cream walls. A king-sized bed with a red comforter and red pillows. A dark, tall dresser with a mirror above, a black chair in the corner, and a piece of Mantas artwork above the bed.

The art was the only sign this room belonged to Jace.

“Make yourself at home. I seriously don’t care how much space you take up. Throw your clothes all over everything, cover my bathroom counter in girly lotions, maybe hide a pair of panties for me to find later?” He bounced his eyebrows and grinned as he dropped his duffle near what appeared to be a closet.

“Oh, I’ll leave my hair everywhere. You’ll love finding it in the shower drain and all over your sheets. Guys always love having girl hair on everything.”

He shook his head chuckling. “I’ll take the good with the bad. Come here.” He tugged me against his chest and sighed when my arms came around his waist. It had been a long, stressful day and we hadn’t stopped once to breathe. His heart thudded against my cheek, strong and steady. “I feel better now that we’re here.”

“So do I.”

“My brothers are going to be a lot, but they’ll keep you safe. I trust these guys with my life.”

“If you trust them then I trust them.”

* * *

“Red!”The first man grinned at Jace. They clapped hands together and pounded backs.

“Hey Storm.” Jace laughed as he wrestled away from the man.

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