Page 6 of Bad Luck, Hard Love (Heaven’s Rejects MC #6)

THOR

Leaving Charlotte’s room, I head to mine a few floors up. Once inside, I put my phone on the charger. It had died sometime in the night after I’d gotten them back to their room. I collapse onto my bed, replaying last night’s events.

I can’t shake off the images of those two girls, so vulnerable and unsuspecting, completely at the mercy of those assholes.

How could anyone be so heartless as to do that to another human being?

Charlotte and her friend were just out having a good time.

I’m just glad I was there to stop it from going any further.

Who knows what they would have woken up to this morning had I not.

I roll onto my back, staring at the ceiling as my charger breathes life back into my phone. The battery icon flashes, and notifications start flooding in—three missed calls from Raze and a string of texts demanding updates. I should call him back, but I need a minute to clear my head.

Charlotte's face keeps flashing through my mind. Something about her got under my skin. Maybe it was the way she held herself together even when she was clearly terrified, or how her blue eyes lit up when she finally smiled.

“Fuck,” I mutter, scrubbing a hand over my face.

I've got no business thinking about her like this.

I'm here on club business, not to play white knight to some tourist. But I can't deny the pull I feel toward her, something that goes beyond just wanting to keep her safe. Charlotte seems like a decent person. Though her taste in friends might be a little questionable, I couldn’t hold that against her, considering my current profession.

Most of the guys in the club would fall into the same category.

The scene from last night plays over in my head. I analyze it, looking for something to clue me in about them, but nothing sticks out. Four non-descript assholes preying on women.

I decide to get up and take a shower, hoping the steam will clear my head. Usually, I’m not one to get so emotionally invested in something like this. I’ve been around the block enough times to know that these things happen, but something about it just doesn’t sit right with me.

Under the hot spray, I let the water wash away the tension in my shoulders.

The Vegas chapter situation weighs heavy on my mind, but every time I try to focus on Ace and his cryptic bullshit, Charlotte's face intrudes.

The way she looked at me when I told her what happened, like I was some kind of hero instead of just a guy who happened to be paying attention.

I've never been the type to get wrapped up in rescuing damsels in distress.

Hell, most of the women I know can handle themselves just fine.

But there is something different about her.

Something that makes my protective instincts kick into overdrive.

Maybe it's because she reminds me of my sister before she became entangled with her ex.

Same vulnerable strength, same quiet dignity, even when her world's spinning out of control.

The shower does little to wash away my thoughts of Charlotte.

I turn off the water with a frustrated grunt and grab a towel, roughly drying myself as I step out onto the cold tile floor.

Steam clouds the bathroom mirror, obscuring my reflection—probably for the best. I don't need to see the confusion written all over my face.

My phone buzzes again on the nightstand. Raze. I can't ignore him any longer.

“Yeah,” I answer.

“About fucking time,” he growls. “I've been trying to reach you for hours.”

“Phone died. I was handling something.”

There's a pause on the other end of the line. “Something or someone?”

“Not like that. Just some assholes at a club trying to drug a couple of women. I stepped in.”

“Playing hero now?” There's a hint of amusement in his voice, but it quickly fades. “Tell me you've made progress with Ace.”

“I'm working on it.” I sit on the edge of the bed, running a hand through my damp hair. “He's not exactly rolling out the welcome mat. I need more time.”

“Time is something we don't have. Every day those fuckers operate independently is another day they're undermining everything we've built.”

“I know that.” I pace the length of my hotel room, droplets of water trailing down my back from my wet hair. “But pushing too hard will just make Ace dig his heels in deeper. You know how he is.”

“Yeah, I know exactly how that paranoid bastard operates.” Raze sighs, and I can picture him rubbing his temple the way he does when he's strategizing. “Fine. You've got three more days. Then I'm coming out there myself.”

“That's the last thing we need,” I argue. “Ace already thinks you're trying to control him. If you show up, he'll see it as confirmation.”

“Then get me something concrete before then.”

I grunt in acknowledgment, “I'll see what I can dig up.”

“Find out who they're dealing with.”

“Roger that.”

The call ends, and I toss my phone onto the bed. The club has been my family since I was eighteen. The only real family I've had since my sister.

I finish drying off and pull on a clean pair of jeans and a black t-shirt. The tattoos decorating my arms—remnants of my Norse heritage and club loyalty—stand out stark against my skin. I check the time. Still a several more hours before I'm supposed to meet Charlotte for dinner.

Might as well make those hours count, but first, there’s something else I need to do. Scrolling through my contacts, I find V’s name and press it. It rings a few times before he answers.

“Kinda early for you to call, isn’t it?”

“It’s nine o’clock in the morning,” I fire back. “I’m more surprised you’re up this early.”

“Dude, I have a newborn and a toddler. No one is sleeping in this house.”

“I’m surprised Leia hasn’t staged her first coup yet.”

“Give her time. She may only be a few months old, but I can already tell she will either end up president or a dictator. There will be no middle ground with this one. Han, on the other hand, will just be happy to be included in her evil plans.”

“Sounds about right,” I chuckle.

“Enough about my kids. I take it this isn’t a social call.”

“I need to ask a favor.”

“It’d be great if someone actually called me just to chat instead of for work all the time. Can’t you guys just have a normal conversation?”

I scoff and shake my head. “You do realize which club you belong to, right? We’re not exactly known for being touchy-feely or talking about our emotions.”

“Well, my wife is very good at that kind of stuff. You should book an appointment. We’re going to need a bigger house soon,” he chuckles. “Anyway, what do you want?”

“I’m sure Raze clued you in about my introduction to the Vegas chapter.”

“He did,” V answers. “Didn’t exactly throw out the welcome mat, did they? I’ve got some things working on them. Haven’t had any hits yet, but you know I’ll get down to the bottom of it. Assholes can’t hide from me for long.”

“Ain’t that the truth.” After Slider’s run-in with Homeland Security last year, which resulted in the total loss of our clubhouse, V had spent the better part of his free time wreaking havoc on the Feds.

If anyone could track down Ace’s business partner, it’s him.

“But my favor is more of a personal nature.”

“Please tell me you got caught up in the Vegas spirit and ended up marrying some random girl last night.”

“That’s your style, V. Not mine.”

“Gambling debts? Steal someone’s girl? Oh, I know… you maxed out your credit card at one of the brothels.”

“No, V.”

“Seriously? You’re in Vegas. Anything goes there. I’m low-key envious that Raze sent you instead of me. A little break from reality would be damn nice right about now, especially with Vegas Comic Con happening. I had planned this elaborate costume—” he continues before I interrupt him with a sigh.

“Focus, asshole. I need you to check some security camera footage from last night. The Dice Club at Luxor.”

The sound of clicking keys fills the receiver.

Keystroke after keystroke until he starts to laugh.

“Jesus, that was easier than counterfeiting Ratch’s marriage certificate.

That took like all of two seconds. I don’t know who their IT team is, but they need to be fired,” he mumbles to himself. “What am I looking for exactly?”

“A group of four guys sitting at the main bar. One on the far-left side was in a business suit.”

“Time?”

“Around ten thirty.”

“Please hold.” He starts humming elevator music into the receiver while he works. The tune switches three times. My patience is wearing thin with each one, “Got them.”

“There will be two women who approach the bar. One is in a black dress.”

“Hot damn,” he whistles. “She’s a looker. Her friend isn’t half bad either.” I ignore his comment. “Look at you riding in like a white knight. Did she thank you properly for the rescue, Sir Thor?”

I pinch the bridge of my nose. I like V. I really do, but his Nosy Nellie nature is enough to drive a sober man to drink sometimes. I sigh, “I need to know who those assholes are. I think they dosed her first round of cocktails and then attempted it again. Think you can identify any of them?”

“Shouldn’t be too hard. Let me run some facial recognition software. Once I get a name, it won’t be hard to figure out if they’re staying at the hotel.”

“Thanks, V. I’ll owe you one.”

“I mean, I like having one over on you, but if you would say, bring me back a signed photo of Kate Beckinsale from the Con, I think I could call it even.”

“How about dinner?”

“With Kate? I don’t think Presley would like that, but you know what, I’ll take it.

” Presley would have his balls if he even thought about it, followed by Raze as a punishment for even thinking about someone other than his baby sister.

How he managed a threat like Raze, I’ll never understand, but the fact that he is still alive tells me he’s either cracked the code or cheated death.

“Not what I meant, jackass.”

“Too late. That’s my payment,” he laughs into the receiver.

“I’ll see what I can do… Oh, one more thing. Do you happen to have the number for that friend of yours who is a chef in Vegas?”

“You mean, Big Rick? I think he’s the head chef at one of the restaurants at Luxor, actually. Why?”

“Text me his number.”

“That’s an oddly specific request that is unrelated to the first favor you asked. What’s going on?”

“Don’t worry about it,” I fire back. The last thing I need is for him to find out my plans for dinner with Charlotte tonight.

She may have wanted it to be a thank-you dinner, but I have other plans.

It’s been a long time since a woman has piqued my interest this much, and sharing her with a crowd is the last thing on my mind.

“Spill, or I lose Big Rick’s number.”

“Fine. I’ll text Presley and ask her about Kate.”

“You play dirty, asshole.”

“Learned from the best, dickhead.” My phone vibrates with a new notification. I peer at it and see a text from V with the number.

The shrill cry of an infant rings out shortly after. “Shit,” he hisses. “I’ve gotta go. Either Han woke up Leia, or Leia is hungry. Either way, it’s not good. I’ll call you once I find something on the guys.”

I hang up the phone and sit back, crossing my arms. If I can track down these guys, I’ll make them regret what they did to Charlotte and her friend. No one messes with innocent women on my watch.