Page 13 of Dev

“That’s all choices they made, darlin. I’m just suggesting we think about this a little harder. Long Beach is nowhere near where I want it to be yet, and–”

“This was your idea, Raze.Youwere the one who suggested we start a family, and now you’ve got me all excited to the ide...” She drops her hand from mine and grips her hair in frustration. “Sometimes you make me feel as if I’m losing my mind.” She backs away from me and sits on the edge of the bed.

“That’s not my intention, you know how I feel about you. I just think we should hold off on baby making for a while.” I run my hand over my face, knowing that my words are gonna be crushing her. Peyton’s right, she’s been getting real excited about the idea of being a mom, she’s planned out all the things our kid would do with Wrath and Eden’s kid. She even has a list of names she likes written out around here somewhere.

“I just don’t understand why you would be so keen to do something, then change your mind.” She shrugs sadly.

“Listen, I gotta head back to the club for a while, there's something I forgot to do before I left.” I make an excuse so I can get the hell outta here. Seeing my girl sad only makes me angrier.

“Okay,” she whispers, pulling back the covers and climbing beneath them.

“I love ya, Peyton,” I tell her before I leave.

“I love you, too,” she answers, pulling a tiny smile to her lips before turning her back and resting her head on the pillow.

Even the goddamn bird judges me as I leave her and make my way back to the club.

The lights are still on, but only Saint and Ruckus are in the barroom when I step inside.

“What ya doin’ back here? I saw the look your old lady had in her eye when ya left. Can’t tell me you're finished already.” Ruck laughs, then blows down the cocked barrel of the sawn-off shotgun he’s cleaning.

“What time do you boys take over from Dev and Vike?” I ask, heading to the bar to pour myself a whiskey. I left Wrath in charge of putting together the schedule, so I’m clueless.

“Not till four am,” Ruck answers, not looking thrilled at the idea.

“So where’s ya girl?” I know for a fact Ruck wouldn’t have left her alone in the apartment above the gym. Not while we have a psycho on our streets killing women.

“She’s staying here tonight. Polly made up a room for her and Alicia. Vike’s out there now, and she didn’t want to go home alone,” he explains, and I nod back at him.

“I understand that.” I clutch the glass I’m holding a little tighter when I think about another huge fuckin’ problem that needs solving.

I haven’t got the manpower to have someone on the gate twenty-four/sevenandwatch the shipping yard. But I do have Tawk, Sasquatch, and Rocco all residing at the motel.

“You know, this shift work is lame as fuck. We ain’t gettin’ no intel. I say we crash a cage through the gates, raid the joint, and leave Wrath and Dev to get creative. Hell, we could even let your old man at ‘em. I’m sure Vex has plenty of tricks still left in him,” Ruck points out.

“Someone's thirsty for a fight.” Saint sniggers at me.

“I just don’t like hanging around and waiting on shit. I’m a strike first kinda guy and after what those cunts did to us on the road, I’m fuckin’ ready to unl–”

“Burlusconi needs to be sure that the person behind all this is who he thinks it is. We just need a few more days… max,” I promise. “What are you even doing here. You two still have a few hours before the shift swap.” I look up at the clock on the wall, it’s only just past one am.

“Saint here's too scared to go home in case his landlady comes a knockin’.” Ruck reaches across the table and ruffles up Saint's hair.

“You behind on your rent?” I check. The club may have had its troubles lately, but we’ve been earning big. All the boys have been well compensated.

“No, Sinner makes sure of that, don’t he, Saint?” Ruck keeps the wide grin on his face while Saint shudders. I have no idea what the fuck they’re talkin’ about, and if Sinner’s involved, I don’t think I want to.

“I noticed Corey here earlier, was he askin’ you to give him a shot at prospect again?” Saint rapidly changes the subject.

“He was hinting at it,” I admit, knowing that Saint and Dev are close. They came here from Nebraska together, and Dev’s about the only person I know who's ever gotten through to Saint’s other personality, Sinner.

Saint is sure to take Dev’s side on the way he’s been handling his brother, but I can’t help thinking that he’s making a mistake.

“Dev needs to loosen up, Corey ain’t a kid no more. He’s entitled to make his own choices, just like we have.” Ruck snaps the barrel back shut before placing his gun on the table. “We need a prospect, Polly can’t keep up with the bar on her own, and you know how she feels about cleaning all you dirty fuckers’ cum off the couches.” He raises an eyebrow at Saint.

“And whose cum do you think she’s cleaned up the most of, huh?” He comes right back at him.

“We could just enforce the rule Wrath wanted in place,” I remind them. “There are perfectly good rooms right across the yard, ain’t no need to be doing your business in here for us all to see.”

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