Page 60

“In all her dealings with me, Genie has been conscientious of her deal with you and of not doing anything to break her word to you or to create problems between the coterie and MC. From a personal standpoint, I look forward to the day her loyalty lies with Brooke and not you, but from a political one, Genie is her own person and I don’t see that changing, no matter who holds her oaths.”

Frost crossed his arms. “I scented fear and anger on her when I mentioned Brooke.”

Dev sighed. “Genie was not injured or harmed. Brooke tested her, and our little owl passed with flying colors. It was one of those tests that would be impossible if the details were known ahead of time, so no, she wasn’t consulted prior.” He shook his head. “Look, the two of you have been around long enough to know theold onesare very good at doing what they want by using the fine print of any agreement.”

Mad Dog put his hand on Frost’s arm. “The letter of the agreement versus the spirit of the agreement. It’s an age-old argument, and one we won’t win with a vampire. If Genie forgives her, then we’ll have to. If Genie does not, we will not either without serious concessions and payment.”

Genie stepped into the room in short-shorts and a crop top without a bra underneath. She’d have been less exposed if she walked out naked, and Dev breathed through his annoyance. He knew Mad Dog had never fucked her, and he didn’t think Frost had, but if he had, it wouldn’t have meant anything because Frost was in love with a lynx.

“I haven’t forgiven her,” Genie said, “and I appreciate that the MC will have my back if she does something completely out of line, but she tested me to see how I might fit intoher organization, which I think I’m going to have to take as a compliment.”

“I’m certain she scared you, and I’m pretty sure she hurt you,” Frost told her.

Genie gave a sexy little insouciant shrug, but then the muscles around her eyes tensed in anger. “She scared the ever-living fuck out of me, and it hurt worse than I imagine the fires of hell do, but she didn’t injure me. I was fine as soon as it stopped. I can’t tell you I’ve forgiven her, or that I’m not royally pissed, because you’d scent both statements as a lie, but I can honestly, truthfully tell you I don’t believe she did it with malice. She believes she was helping me to learn something. I don’t agree with her methods, but I can’t fault the results.”

Genie glanced at Dev and looked back to Mad Dog. “If you need to use my fear of her to gain political points, I will back you up on it. I would prefer not to if the decision were mine, but my loyalty is to you, not her. The decision is yours.”

Dev had been taught by Brooke and otherold onesthat honor is what defines a person above just about everything else. He wanted Genie’s loyalty, but he didn’t have it, and he respected her for standing behind her oath. If anything, it made him love her even more.

“We will keep that as an option, certainly,” Mad Dog spoke slowly, as if considering his words. “You came to us temporarily. Your oaths are to the MC, but they are specifically to the Chattanooga chapter. I believe it’s Duke you need to speak to if you are interested in changing allegiances.”

“If I do, it will be imperative to walk away on good terms. The MC has filled an important need for several years. Also, protection wasn’t so important in Chattanooga, but it has been in Birmingham, and ya’ll havealwaysbeen there for me, and you went above and beyond when I called for help.”

“When have you needed to call them for help?” Dev asked.

“Someone tried to carjack me once, saw my bracelet, and left without taking my car — and before I could get my gun pulled. So, that was them protecting me without having to show up. At work one night, I had an issue with one of the local gangs. I was the one who stepped into the waiting room and made an immediate triage assessment of which shooting victim got pulled in first, and the opposing gang members made threats while I was getting him into the back so we could save his life. Both shooting victims walked in within minutes of each other, but the second one to enter was bleeding out and I knew we had minutes to save his life. Which we did, along with the other guy, who only had to wait another three or four minutes before he was seen, but they took issue with me letting him jump the line.

“Later in my shift, we were told the other gang, from the first guy, was hanging out in the parking lot, and security couldn’t run them off because they kept moving around, rather than parking. Hospital security was prepared to walk me to my car when my shift ended, but I called the security number the MC gave me, and twelve bikers walked me to my car and followed me to the clubhouse, because they wanted me sleeping there instead of at home until they were sure the problem was handled.”

“I’d already talked to the leaders of both gangs and made it clear she’s one of ours,” Mad Dog explained. “They’d backed off already, but we wanted to be certain none of the gang members went against orders and attacked her anyway.”

“For the rest of the week, I had two MC members take me to work and walk me in, and then walk me out and drive me home,” Genie said. She looked at Mad Dog. “And don’t think I didn’t notice there were extra safety patrols around my apartment.”

“You understand,” Mad Dog told Dev, “she isn’t ours in the way an ol’lady is. There isn’t that kind of emotional connection, but she’s still ours, and we protect our own. It means we can let her go to you if she chooses, but it also means we’re going tomake sure she isn’t being mindfucked by the vampire. One of my top men trusts Brooke, and that goes a long way, but I need to be certain.”

“I don’t think anyone can be certain,” Genie said. “I’m not, and I’ve been around and around the whole thing a zillion times. I believe that what I feel for Dev is real. What I feel for Ezra and Elijah is different, but also real. I trust my feelings for those three, and that doesn’t mean it isn’t part of a mindfuck, but in my gut, I don’t think it is.” She sighed. “I’m not so certain about my feelings for Brooke, however. My gut isn’t telling me anything. On the one hand, if she was going to mindfuck me, she could make me forget the whole ‘test’ thing, or make me forgive her for it, and she clearly hasn’t done either, but maybe that’s part of the mindfuck? Who’s to say?”

“I could give you all the reasons I know of that would keep Brooke from tricking you into liking her, but we all know I’m one of her creatures, so you wouldn’t trust my word in that.” Dev looked to Mad Dog. “I’m in love with Genie. I belong to Brooke, and Genie more or less belongs to you, though not in the way I belong to Brooke. It’s good that you and Brooke are allies and not enemies, but it still seems as if Genie and I have this division between us. I’m not happy with the status quo, but I won’t push Genie into doing anything she isn’t comfortable doing.”

“No, you won’t,” Genie told him. “I’m happy to hear you don’t intend to try, though.”

Dev smiled. “That’s my girl.”

She smiled back at him, and he looked back to the two bikers. “I have breakfast ready. If the two of you would like to join us, I can throw some steaks on to help stretch what I’ve already cooked. I can scramble more eggs, too.”

Mad Dog shook his head. “Thanks for the offer, but we’ll take our leave.”

Frost stepped forward and shook Dev’s hand, then Mad Dog did, and Dev walked them to the door and closed it behind them.

He’d plated the eggs while they’d talked, and everything was on the table except the drinks. “I’m drinking orange juice, what do you want?”

“I want a screwdriver, in honor of this being breakfast, and then I need bed in the worst sort of way.”

He poured a glass with half vodka and half orange juice, stirred it, dropped a few ice cubes in, and set it in front of her without comment.

“How did you know where I keep my vodka?”

“Saw it while I was searching for a flour sifter, which you don’t appear to own.”