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Darko—

“You okay?” I look at Lizzie on her barstool and find her staring at my cut and swollen knuckles.

“Fine.” She turns away.

I turn my shot-glass upside down and signal to Rock. “Gonna head out.”

His gaze shifts to Lizzie, then to me. “Got church tonight. Don’t forget. Bring the kid if you want. He can shoot pool or something until we’re through.”

“See ya then.” I wait while Lizzie slips off her barstool, and we walk out together.

The bouncer holds the door for us.

We don’t say a word; we just climb on the bike and roll out.

I take her to the office so she can get her car. It’s almost 7pm, and it’s turned chilly.

When we dismount, she slips the jacket off and passes it to me. “Thanks for the ride.”

I take it and the helmet, studying her. “I feel like I’ve done something wrong.”

She shrugs. “Nope. I guess I just had my eyes opened to who the Royal Bastards really are.”

I take a step closer to her. “You saw Gigi. You think that guy didn’t deserve it? You think I wouldn’t do the same to any man who hurt you?”

My directness has her licking her lips and stepping back. “I should go.”

“Wait.” I put a hand on her arm, stopping her. “I’m sorry if it was too much for you. Maybe I shouldn’t have brought you to The Cherry Bomb. I thought you could handle it.”

“It has nothing to do with the strip club, and you know it.”

“You’re right. I know exactly what this is about, Lizzie. I’m not hiding who I am from you. I sure never meant to drag you into anything you want no part of, but I’m a Royal Bastard and always will be. That’s the man you work for.” I pause. “I thought you had a good time today.”

“I did. That’s what makes this so hard.” With that, she pulls free and walks inside.

I follow and find Rob and Eli working together on a car. I’m shocked my son is actually showing interest in it.

An empty pizza box lies on a nearby table.

“Hey, you’re back,” Rob says. Then his eyes follow Lizzie as she marches toward her office, grabs her things, and heads out, car keys in hand.

“Bye, Lizzie,” Eli says.

“Bye, Eli,” she replies, not even turning to look, and then she’s gone without a word to me or Rob.

“She pissed about something?” Rob asks.

“Guess you could say that.” I drag a hand through my hair.

“What’d you do, Dad?” Eli asks, and I pause, stock still.

It’s the first time he’s called me that. I’m afraid to make a big deal out of it for fear he’ll never say the word again, so I play it cool. “Not really sure.”

It’s a lie, but I’m not about to get into the rest.

“You should apologize,” Eli suggests.

It’s hard to apologize for who I am.

“Girls like gifts and flowers,” Rob suggests.

“I’m not giving my employee flowers,” I mutter. “What are you two working on?”

“Eli put a new carburetor on… all by himself,” Rob says proudly.

“No kidding?”

“Rob helped,” Eli says, but the grin on his proud face tells me everything.

Rob taps his shoulder with a light slug. “I only helped you get it loosened. The rest was all you.”

I ruffle my son’s hair. “That’s fantastic, kid.”

I hear Lizzie’s car pull out and watch her headlights flash across the glass door. In that moment, an idea comes to me. I glance at my watch. “I’ve got to run a quick errand. When I return, Eli, we’ve got to go by the clubhouse for a bit. I’ve got Church.”

“All right. See ya,” Rob says, and they both get back to work.

“I’ll see you in a few.”

An hour later, Eli and I walk through the clubhouse door. Most of the guys are at the bar. The prospect and Brooklyn are playing pool. I nod toward them.

“Why don’t you go play pool, Eli?”

He wanders over, and I take a stool next to Memphis and Trez.

Trez lifts his chin toward them. “Who’s the chick?”

Memphis grins. “Darko’s latest stray.”

I get right in his face and grab his shirt. “You want to repeat that?”

Memphis lifts his palms. “Jesus, I didn’t mean nothin’ by it, VP.”

I haul him off his barstool, and all the way to the damn wall, slamming him into it, then lean in, my voice low so Eli can’t hear me. “You make a crack like that again about my son and—”

“Whoa, Darko, I didn’t mean anything about him. I swear to God.”

I shove him away and hear Rock’s voice cut across the bar.

“Darko. My office. Now.”

I follow him to his office with the big window behind his desk overlooking the mountains. I’ve always loved this office, and he and I have sat in here many a night talking, but right now, I’m pissed.

“Sit,” he barks.

I plop on one of the leather chairs facing his desk, and he comes around it.

“You want to tell me what the hell that was about?”

“He said something I didn’t like. I set him fucking straight.”

“He was talking about Brooklynn, who—by the way—I hear is our new cleaning lady?”

“Sounded to me like he was making a crack about Eli and Lizzie. Saying I’d brought in another stray.”

Rock wipes his jaw with his hand. “Fucking hell.”

“He said he didn’t mean that.”

“I’m sure he didn’t. Goddamn, VP, what’s got you so touchy? Is it the boy or your new employee?”

I lean forward, elbows on my knees, and drag my palms down my face. “Both.”

“Things not working out with Lizzie?”

“She’s a mess, but that’s only half the issue.”

“What’s the other half?”

I give him a look. “Seriously?”

“What?”

“Have you looked at the girl?”

A Chesiree Cat grin forms on his face. “Oh, so it’s like that, is it? Have you and her…?”

“No… but that doesn’t mean I’m not constantly thinking about it. I swear to God, my dick stays hard all day.”

“Really?” He sing-songs the word, and I want to knock his teeth out of that smirk. He pulls a bottle out, pours me a drink, and slides it across the desk. “Here. Looks like you could use this.”

I drain it and slam the glass on the desk. He goes to refill it, but I wave him off. “I got the kid with me. I don’t need to get fucked up.”

Rock leans forward, folding his arms on the desk. “So, what’s your plan?”

“My plan?”

“You gonna let this chick go, you gonna hit on her, or are you gonna walk around with a permanent hard-on?”

“Fuck you.”

“Gotta be one of the three. Door number one, two, or three, brother.”

“She just lost her goddamn husband. I don’t even think it’s been a year yet. She’s not ready for another man.”

“Says who?”

“Can you just shut up and call Church already?” I snap.

“Nope. This is too much fun. And what the hell is the idea of bringing on that teenage girl out there? Think you oughta run that by me, VP?”

“Sorry. There wasn’t time, and I didn’t want to leave her there. If he called the cops, she’d be a witness. This way she’s beholden to us.”

He huffs a laugh. “Like that buys loyalty.”

“She’s got no job and no home. She’s a runaway.”

“And possibly a thief, for all you know.”

“I think I scared the shit out of her. I doubt she wants to get on our bad side. She had a front-row seat to what happens when we get crossed.”

“Have we heard the last of that asshole?” Rock asks.

“I think so. I’m pretty sure I broke his jaw.”

Rock nods. “We better watch our backs, just in case. If this guy’s the kind I think he is, he may come around for some payback.”

“It’ll be the last thing he does,” I growl.

“Someone’s gonna need to stay on top of him.” Rock stares at his desk. “Maybe I should put a prospect on him. Tail him for a while.”

“Probably a good idea.”

“Have you watched the news lately?” Rock asks, and I lift my eyes.

“No, why?”

“Been a bunch of robberies around town. They’re hitting gas stations, convenience stores, even a couple of fast-food joints. No one’s been killed, but reports say they’re heavily armed.”

“How many?”

“Two guys. They’re hooded. No one knows how they get away.”

“Getaway driver?”

“They’ve got no witnesses of one.”

“In this day and age of cameras everywhere? Bullshit.”

“Anyway, watch your back. You might want to keep the garage locked up. Who knows where these guys will hit next.”

“They pay me a visit, they’ll be leaving in a bag.”

“No doubt.” Rock grins and stands. “Come on, Darko, let’s go call Church.”

I stand.

“Oh, and where the fuck we puttin’ this new cleaning lady of ours?” he asks.

I grin. “Give her Trez’s old room. He never uses it anymore.”

Rock chuckles. “I’ll be sure to tell my son that was your idea.”