Page 25 of Devil to Pay: Cutter

A smirk plays at the corner of his lip before he answers,“Well, shit, brother. Maybe it’s just time.” Then, staring down at his plate, he picks up his fork to take another bite.

Panic begins to rip through me. What kind of bullshit answer is that? This is my best friend, my Horde brother. Where’re the sage words of wisdom to help me out of this shitstorm?

“What the hell do you mean by that?”

He picks up his mug again, sipping on his coffee. “Partying hard and fucking anything with a pussy is fun when you’re young, but we’re not as young as we used to be.”

“I don’t seeyousettling.”

Rough shoves a piece of bacon into his mouth, really chewing it and concentrating hard like it holds the meaning of life between the layers of fat and lean. “I’ve never been closed off to the idea like you all. I just haven’t met the right one yet.”

I throw my arm out, circling the room. “So you’d give up all this for one pussy?”

“I’m notgiving upshit. Iearnedmy patch. That’s mine. And my brothers are my family. But would I change it? Sure, for the right woman. Vlad, Sarge, Dark, Reap—they haven’t given up the club.”

“How can you say that? They don’t even go on runs. That’s you and me.”

“Vlad and Sarge haven’t done runs since Rage was still around. As for Dark and Reaper, don’t you think that maybe they’ve earned a little bit of a reprieve, given all the shit that’s gone down? They’ll get back to it.”

“Look, everyone!” I shout. “The Prophet Roughneck has come to save us.”

Not a damn person looks our way.

“You done?” he asks. “Just because you don’t like my take on things, doesn’t make it any less true. So how ’bout you check the attitude and instead grow some balls. I was as upset as anyone that she stole from you, but I’ve been watching since we brought her here. I’ve been watching you with her. Truth?”

I nod.

“I think she’ll be good for you.”

“Then you think I should try to make a go with Aja?”

“Canyouget over her stealing from you?”

“Already have. She really was in a bad spot and didn’t see any other option.”

“Okay. Think you can open yourself up to her? Not screw her over? She acts tough but I got a feeling she’s been screwed over by too many people in her life.”

Fuck.I think Rough reallyisthe prophet of the Horde. “You don’t know the half of it, man. She needs someone to take care ofherfor a change.”

“Got your answer then. You don’t need my permission.” Rough cuts into his eggs, ending the conversation. We’ve been through a lot together. I trust him more than anyone. Since Brandi so graciously cooked it for me, I eat the breakfast she placed in front of me.

It shits me just how right he is. I’ve had the answer this whole time.

I promised to help Aja find a job, but now I have to convince her to stick around and give us a chance. I’ve got my work cut out for me with that one.

9

AJA

When I open my eyes, Cutter’s side of the bed is cold and empty. He’s been up for a while. I stretch, do my business in the bathroom, then slip on a pair of slippers so I don’t have to walk on that disgusting floor in the common area. I’m sure someone has a pot of coffee going.

It doesn’t even occur to me to get dressed before I go in search of liquid life. They partied so hard last night that the other brothers are either still passed out in their beds or at work. And what do I care if the women still hanging around see me in my pajamas? I highly doubt they’ll be any more covered than I am.

He locked me in the other day, but I feel like we’ve come far enough in the time I’ve been here that we’ve moved passed that. I try the door and sure enough, it pops open. The hall is quiet this time of morning. Peaceful. How ironic, given that I’m in a biker compound. Still, when I round the corner into the common, sure as shit, there’s Cutter sitting on a stool at the bar eating, with Roughneck sitting next to him.

Rough’s a handsome guy. Thick, in that stocky sort of way. Taller by a few inches than Cut, but Cutter takes my breath away in a way that Rough doesn’t. If I plan to get out of here with my heart intact, I need to stop seeing him that way. He needs to register in my fuck-adled brain the same way any other man in this place does.

“Morning, gents.” Two heads spin my way. “Coffee in the kitchen?”

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