It didn’t.
The note tied to it made that crystal clear.
Wheels yanked the paper off, and his fingers curled tight.He read it, then looked at me, jaw clenched.
“You better read this.”
I snatched the note.Leave.Or you’ll regret it.
No signature.No bullshit.Just that.
“Anyone see anything?”I barked and scanned the clubhouse.Sully and Chewy were checking the front entrance.Swift was already pulling up the surveillance feed on his phone.
“Black car,” Gramps said, pointing at the grainy footage over Swift’s shoulder.“No plates.Couldn’t see a face.”
“Cowards,” I muttered, crumpled the note, and tossed it on the table.
“What do you want to do?”Swift asked.
“Lock the place down.”I ran a hand over my jaw.“Nobody comes in or out unless I clear it.”
“And what about the new sign?”Wheels asked.“We still picking it up?”
“No,” I said.“Fuck the sign.We’ve got bigger problems now.”
The tension in the air was thick, like a thunderstorm had rolled through the building.The rest of the guys were quiet.Alert.Every single one of them waiting for the next move.
“Push,” I called.“Do a sweep around the block.Take Rev with you.Look for tire marks.Maybe someone saw who did this.”
“On it,” Push nodded, and was already moving.
“Swift, you’re with me.We’re going to the Den.”
Swift arched a brow.“You think they’re gonna target the bar next?”
“I don’t know,” I said honestly.“But Tempi’s there.And I’m not taking any chances.”
The Badger Den was steady when we rolled in.Mid-afternoon crowd.A few couples, a pair of college girls sharing loaded fries, and some guy reading the paper like it was 1985.
But all I saw was her.
Tempi was behind the bar with her hair down today.It curled around her shoulders, wild and soft.She wore a red tee tied at the waist and ripped jeans.It was like her curves were poured into every inch of them.
My body reacted before my brain caught up.
“Prez,” Swift said under his breath.“You good?You’re staring at her like she’s your next breath.”
I didn’t bother denying it.“Nothing is going to happen to her,” I said more to myself than to Swift.
We headed to the bar.
Tempi looked up and smiled at Swift with that easy one she gave to customers, until her eyes landed on me.Then it shifted.Softened.Warmed.
“Hey,” she said and set napkins in front of Swift and me.“Didn’t expect you in the middle of the day.”
“Plans changed.”
She nodded and reached for a towel to wipe down the bar.“Everything okay?”