Page 13 of Devil's Due: Sarge

“Have you ladies eaten?” I ask. “I can mess us up some eggs.”

“That’s so sweet of you,” Nic says. “But you look like shit and Greer here is actually a great cook, too.”

Her assessment is spot on. I look like shit because I feel like it.

“Why don’t you sit, get caffeinated while Greer and I make breakfast?” she continues. “You can get us tomorrow. Vlad should be out here soon; he was just showering.” Then Nicola grabs hold of Greer’s hand, dragging her from the barstool and back into the kitchen.

She forgot one problem; the coffee is in the kitchen. But luckily, Jinx stumbles into the common room.

“What’s a man gotta do to get a cup ’a joe around here?” I call out to the possible prospect. He wasn’t supposed to stay the night here in the club. Only actual prospects and fully patched-in members are allowed, but as I’m glad he’s here, I won’t push the issue.

The man hardly has his eyes open all the way, but he nods as he heads into the kitchen without another word. He’s lucky that’s all I'm making him do, but I like him; I think he’ll make a good prospect. Some of the brothers are ruthless, coming up with the nastiest jobs. Prospecting is a young man’s game. I wouldn’t go through that again for anything.

While I’m contemplating on whether or not to just go get the damn coffee myself, because even though I just sent him in to fetch it, the punk is taking too damn long, Vlad rounds the corner from the hallway showered and dressed for the day. When he sees me, he heads over to the stool closest to mine. “Seen Nic?”

“Kitchen. She and Greer decided they wanted to make us breakfast.”

“Nice,” he drawls. “My woman can cook.”

It must be nice to be able to say, ‘My woman can cook.’ It must be nice to be able to say, ‘My woman.’ Thank god, Jinx finally walks out carrying a mug of coffee for me and I presume one for himself, but before he gets to taste, he thinks better of the situation and hands it over to Vlad.

“Good thinking,” Vlad grumbles with a hint of a smirk. Although he doesn’t like to dole out the shit jobs, he never minds handing them shit. A rite of passage.

Laughing, I breathe in the aromatic steam while taking my first fortifying sip just as Dark strolls out from the hallway. He has his arm dangling around the shoulder of some bitch he presumably fucked last night until he sees us. He drops his arm and shoves her the opposite way. Not hard, not to hurt her. It’s just his way of letting her know that he’s done. She winks at him before heading to the door to leave the clubhouse. It’s that easy with the bitches. She got what she came here for and leaves a happy woman.

“Okay,” Dark says. “Dude, you made Greer off-limits, then plant a wet one on her in public? You claiming her?”

“Fuck, yeah, I’m claiming her. She’s just sort of resisting at the moment,” I explain. The brothers break out in raucous laughter at my expense, and I haven’t had near enough caffeine to deal with it all.

“Right,” Dark says and slaps my shoulder. “Well, I’m grabbing some coffee and then I got to hit the shop. You two have a good day.” As he walks away, he throws out, “Hope your balls don’t turn blue while she makes you wait.” He continues to laugh until he’s out of sight.

Vlad sips his coffee. “What do you mean she’s resisting?”

“I mean exactly that. I’m claiming her. She’s mine to take care of. I don’t want any of the other brothers sniffing around her. We have a connection, but she’s skittish – as I assume any woman would be having gone through what she went through.”

“Do you know her story?” he asks.

“I know enough not to push it. There’s a reason she ended up in that safehouse in Texas. I know I’ve got to go in careful. So, yeah – I’m keeping the other brothers from her, but I’m also distancing myself, at least somewhat.”

“So you really like her,” he says.

“Fuck, yeah. What’s not to like? But I’m not a prick.”

“Don’t have to tell me that… I know exactly who you are. You want her in your bed for the long haul, just go slow. I’ve seen the way she looks at you. She’ll come to you. Trust me, that’s how it went with Nic. I really wasn’t going there, either. She forced herself on me.”

“I’m sure you’re scarred by the experience,” I laugh.

“Just give it some thought. She could do a hell of a lot worse than you, brother.”

I take another sip of my coffee, not meeting his eyes. “But she could do a hell of a lot better, and you know it.”

5

Greer

It’s been over a week since the party at the clubhouse with all the Horde brothers and the Lords. Sarge always hangs around, always keeping his eye on me. It’s comforting to know he’s there, but he rarely ever makes an approach. I shouldn’t have been so harsh with him. I liked that kiss – who am I kidding? Ilovedthat kiss. He’s gorgeous, with those tortured eyes and strong arms and hands that actually make me feel safe when he’s holding me. He’s like this impenetrable force that nothing can get through, but he wanted me and because Iamme, I pushed him away. What if I can’t get him back?

By the afternoon, we’re all waiting for lunch to finish baking in the oven – this chicken corn casserole that Nicola made. Well, we both made it. I was her sous chef. The clubhouse smells divine and my stomach is on the verge of consuming itself, I’m so hungry.

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