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So I screamed like a girl and hid behind Bull.

That was enough to get everyone’s attention, and then they were all on Charmer, restraining him and pulling him into non-consensual bear hugs and passing him around for noogies and attempted wedgies.

The clubhouse was and always had been as if you put a large handful of 12 year old boys into a playhouse with no parental supervision. Add a few beers to the mix, and the average age probably dropped closer to eight.

Either way, it was enough time for me to slip out of the chaos, jump onto my bike and rip off down the highway with a smile on my face (and the keys to Charmer’s bike in my back pocket).

* * *

It probably wasn’t my smartest move to waltz into BoredHeux in the middle of the day, knowing damn well that Zarina’s shitty excuse for a bodyguard would be there.

But it couldn’t wait.

Not when so much was riding on the outcome.

It was time for the Redliners and the Santinos to work together. And as much as it hurt my pride to have to be the one showing up to offer an olive branch, I knew that it would be best for everyone.

Those fucking mafia turds would never be the ones to relent, so it looked like it was up to us.

Well, me.

I was alone. Showing up with a crowd of us would’ve probably only escalated the tension, maybe even made the little man a tad trigger happy if he was too on edge.

So I walked in with my hands up, stepping through the buzzer a little slower than necessary so as to not surprise anyone.

But, that apparently wasn’t enough. Because Mario-Without-A-Moustache had his gun out and in my face after about three seconds.

“Ashe?” Zarina blinked between me and her bodyguard, looking absolutely panicked that I was there. “Theo! Put the fucking gun down!”

She stomped over and placed herself between me and the gun, putting her hands on her hips and scowling up at Theo. He lowered the gun, but kept his finger on the trigger.

Zarina spun around, looking up at me with a warning in her eyes.

“What do you want?”

I noted how she looked a little more tired than usual. I also noted that she wore the same skirt as the night before, that little denim thing that had been far too easy to nudge up and fuck her in.

Don’t get a boner right now,I scolded myself.

“I’m actually here to talk to him,” I gestured towards Theo, who arched a brow and pursed his lips at me.

“Him?” Zarina snapped. “What the fuck for?”

“Not about you, Princess.” I nearly broke and reached up to stroke her cheek. But I didn’t. “I’m here on behalf of the club.”

Theo nodded once, holstering his gun and stepping backwards to let me further into the shop.

Zarina folded her arms in on herself. The other girl, Larissa, watched with excitement sparkling in her eyes, like the interaction was the most interesting thing she’d seen in months.

“We can talk in the back room.” Theo motioned to a door behind the counter.

“Ah.” Zarina put a hand on my chest, stopping me from moving. “I don’t fucking think so.”

“It’s fine, Zar,” Theo waved a hand dismissively, motioning for me to step forward.

“Don’t speak for her,” I pointed a finger in his face, perhaps more aggressively than I should’ve while trying to make peace.

“No Family business at my shop,” she shook her head.