Page 86 of Exile & Lula

Zodiac watched her strut to the bar top and glanced at me. “She’s charming.”

“You should be happy about tonight.”

“I am happy,” Zodiac said and looked back at his guys. “Don’t I look happy?”

York shrugged and gave his president a nod. The other men remained frozen in pissed off biker mode.

“Were you hoping we’d kill one of the Jokers?” I asked Zodiac.

“No.”

“Then, why are you so surly?”

Zodiac’s hostile expression flipped on a dime. Smiling now, he ran his hands through his hair and shrugged.

“Your curiosity is appreciated, but a man needs his secrets.”

Standing up, he took his beer and walked to the bar top. Most of the Black Rainbow followed after him. Exile remained with me while York fled the overhead music.

“It’s his tinnitus,” Exile told me when I frowned at York’s behavior. “One of his ears has it worse from the same explosion that messed up his face.”

“We could turn down the music, so he doesn’t need to hide outside alone.”

“Are you worried that someone would take a shot at him outside?”

“You heard Sabrina. You boys are the real targets. Why would a sniper waste their bullet on a girl?”

Exile studied me with his whiskey-brown eyes. “Are you angry about what Zodiac said?”

“No.”

“Are you angry that I protected you?”

“Did you really protect me, though? If that had been a real fight, those guys would have wanted to jump the Black Rainbow VP. I might have needed to protectyou.”

Exile studied me. “I know you’re tough.”

“Do you?”

“Yes, but I get scared. The first time we met, you were tied up and helpless. My sister can hold her own. She fucked up the shooter’s eye with her canned goods, but she still nearly died. Being tough isn’t enough to make me stop worrying.”

“Can I worry about you?”

Exile frowned. “I would be offended if you didn’t.”

Smiling, I nuzzled his jaw. “I know who I am and what I’m capable of. I’m not the toughest fox in the club. Hell, I’m not even the toughest girl in my family. But I know my skills. I don’t need Zodiac or you to fluff me up.”

“It’s not personal, you know?” Exile said and kissed my forehead. “With Zodiac, I mean. He isn’t upset that you were out there or that any of the other women were.”

“Foxes, baby. That’s what we call each other.”

“Sure,” Exile replied, refusing to back down on his stance about using the term. “It’s all about Ford Reed’s daughter.”

“She has a name.”

“No, I get it, but I think Zodiac has zeroed in on Elle because her dad was one of the very few people in the world to beat him in a fight.”

“She’s also attractive.”