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“Then think of Vlad as nothing more than part of the scenery. He won’t get in your way.”

I glanced at Vlad and his broad frame. Up close, I noticed the tattoo designs on his forearms—ravens in flight, wings spread wide across a bristling forest. Over the years, I learned there was a very good reason why bikers came to earn their road names. I pressed the phone to my shoulder, muffling it.

“Let me guess,” I said. “Vlad the Impaler?”

“It was self defense,” Vlad rumbled.

“I’m sure the other guy would disagree.”

Vlad shrugged his huge shoulders.

“The dead can’t talk, so we’ll never know.”

I shook my head, bringing the phone up to my ear again.

“He has such a…pleasantpersonality,” I said dryly to Neil.

“Well, he’s not there for chitchat at an ice cream social. Don’t worry about him. You’ll hardly notice he’s there.”

I scoffed.

“It’s impossible to miss a biker the size of a mountain lurking around, looking like he’s scoping out which house he wants to break into. Are you trying to get my sister’s neighborhood swarming with police?”

“Hmm,” Neil mused. “I’ll send Big G instead. He’s not as physically intimidating, and you kind of have a thing for him.”

I rolled my eyes. Did he really have to be so petulantly jealous for no reason?

“I don’t have athingfor him. Back off, Neil. No bikers. At all.”

He huffed.

“Fine. Put Vlad on.”

I passed the phone back. Vlad listened for a second or two, then hung up. He started his bike with a deafening roar. I retreated a few steps, covering my ears.

“I apologize for troubling you today,” he said over the growl of his motorcycle.

Then Vlad sped off down the road, disappearing from view. I knew that wouldn’t be the last of him though.

Neil didn’t give up that easily. Ever. Not when I was involved.

Chapter seven

Kingpin

Hattie was sharp as a tack. She knew I wouldn’t back down, not when she needed help, whether she was willing to admit it or not. Assigning Vlad to look after her was reassurance that I was simply doing exactly what she expected me to do.

Hopefully, it would take her a little while longer to figure out there were two more of my men tailing her.

I met Vlad in the parking lot of the clubhouse when he rolled up.

“Did my ex-wife take a bite out of you?” I asked.

He shook his head and killed his engine.

“Your woman is strong-willed, but she didn’t want my head on a spike. That honor is reserved for you.”

“Yeah, I figured as much.” I clasped Vlad’s meaty palm in gratitude. “Did you see anything out of the ordinary while you were there?”