Page 19

NINETEEN

FIRE

Something’s wrong with Evelin, I know it in my gut. Whatever is bugging her, she’s not letting it show. She’s never been one to shield her emotions from anyone. She’s a tell you like it is type of person, and the fact she’s not talking now makes me question what’s going on with her.

Evelin was fine when we’d gotten up. I’m sure it annoyed her that I didn’t tell her why the Black Mark MC was coming and what the talk with Scotch had to deal with. I figured she’d deal with it and get over it. She knows the score when it comes to ‘club business’ and what it means. I should’ve just taken the time to tell her instead of being an asshole about it. I didn’t tell her cause I didn’t want her to be there for the conversation ‘cause I know about Scotch’s flirting with her and didn’t like it. Considering the discussion has to do with the bar, she’ll have to be present.

I’ve got a feeling that whatever is bothering her has something to do with the horas . I don’t know what yet, but I’ll be finding out. Heat had Boot and Trigger wire certain rooms in the clubhouse for security purposes. I’ll pull up the feed if I have to, however, I’d prefer Evelin to tell me.

I’ll give her a bit of time to come to me about it, but I’m not waiting long. The bullshit that’s going on with her doesn’t need more piled on top. Now that we’re back from the rally, I plan to fix the problems at hand.

If I didn’t need to get with Brimstone and Flame now, I would ask Evelin to spit it out. Better yet, I’d tell her ass how I didn’t like the fact she left the bedroom without me. I like having her close in ways I don’t get. I’ve always been fine with being alone. I hadn’t wanted a woman staying in my room longer than it took to get off.

Evelin, though, she’s different. Always has been.

“I need to get to the bar,” Evelin announces, pulling me out of my thoughts. “I have to go over the stock take. See what needs to be ordered.”

“Why didn’t you do that last night?” She’d been in her office for a while.

“Do you realize everything that I do to manage the bar?” she asks, brows furrowing.

“Enlighten me.” I knew what all she did, but she didn’t need to know I knew.

“Considering I handle the payroll for everyone but myself. Do the hiring and firing. Make the schedule. Francie and me both handle the monthly inventory together and make sure the numbers aren’t wrong in any way. I make sure the cleaner is coming daily because there are some serious flakes out there. I also have to deal with all the usual paperwork that goes along with ensuring that money isn’t missing while paying bills?—”

“Baby, I know you handle a lot of shit at the bar.” I stop her before she can continue listing even more, ‘cause knowing her, she’ll keep going and going.

“Well, then you know I have to go the bar.” She huffs.

“I’ll take you after meeting with Scotch,” I tell her, pulling her in against me. “I’ve got to go find Brimstone and Flame. Once I finish that we’ll be meeting with Scotch. We’ll go to the bar afterward.”

“Why do I have to wait until after you meet with Scotch?” she demands, her voice filled with irritation, alerting me to the fact she’s not just annoyed. Something is definitely bothering her. “I thought it was club business .”

“It is,” I confirm and give her the rest. “It also has to do with business, including the bar, so you have to be there for part of the meet.”

“Fire, you should come play with us,” Kaley calls from across the room loudly.

“Yeah, Fire, you haven’t played with us in so long.” Janie giggles.

Evelin’s body grows tenser, and I have a feeling I know exactly what’s wrong with my woman.

“Now that you and me are together, Evelin, I’m not gonna do anything that jeopardizes that. You know that, right?” I ask, watching Evelin’s expression closely.

“Why do you say that?” she finally asks, but it’s not in the question that concerns me. It’s in her voice.

Dropping my hands from around her, I pull her with me down a small hall off the main room that goes to the kitchen. There’s no waiting for this conversation. With the way she’s tense right now, I won’t let her stew on it.

Once I know we’re both alone, I let her go and face her.

“All right, Eve, tell me what’s going on in your head.”

“You mean besides needing to get to work?” The way she tries to play it off and act like what we’ve got to talk about isn’t a big deal.

“What happened after you left my room?” I ask her.

“I got coffee.” She shrugs.

“You know what I’m talking about, baby, what did those bitches say to you?” I’m losing patience, and I’m trying not to.

“It’s nothing I haven’t heard before.” Evelin again plays it down.

“That was when you weren’t an ol’ lady. Now, you are. You’re my ol’ lady, baby, and they’ll fuck with your head because you have what they want and it pisses them off.”

“So, it’s okay for them to fuck with an ol’ lady’s head, say things like how they want your cock? That I wouldn’t be able to give you what you like? That you’ll still go to them when you want something? Tell me, did Kaley come in the room after I walked out?”

“Why the fuck would she come in the room?” I find myself surprised by this.

“It’s a question, did she?”

“No.”

“According to Chellie, Janie, and Same, which, by the way, what kind of name is that? Do I even want to know how she got it? I mean, what is she?—”

“What did they say to you?” I grind out, getting her back on topic.

“That she was probably riding your cock,” she snaps, nostrils flaring, her finger coming up to point at my chest. “I’m telling you now, I won’t share you.”

“That’s good, ‘cause I’m not about to share you either.” Moving quickly, I jerk her against me. “You can’t let those bitches fuck with your head.”

“It’s not like I want to listen to them.” She huffs.

“You don’t, baby,” I tell her, my voice deepening even to my own ears with frustration. “You don’t take shit from any of them. I don’t give a fuck what they say because it’s all bullshit, but I do care if they fuck with your head. Next time they get in your face, don’t let them score any marks.”

“Next time?” She cocks a brow. “You think I’m going to put up with them more? No, Fire, I’m not. I’ll tell you now, they get in my face again, and I won’t be nice by brushing it off. I’ll beat the shit out of every last one of them.”

The vision pops in my head briefly, and I can’t help grinning at the woman. She’s hell on wheels when she’s riled, and seeing her going at it with those bitches would be worth selling tickets to watch. Considering who her mom is, Evelin could take all the horas on at once, and I know she’d come out on top. What doesn’t sit well with me is the idea of one of them leaving even a mark on her. If they were to do so, I’d kill them.

The thought of anyone hurting Evelin in any way doesn’t sit well with me. Makes my blood boil and . . .

“Fire,” Evelin calls my name, drawing my full attention back to her and the fact her brows are creased deeper.

“What?”

“Your hands,” she murmurs and looks down at them.

“What about them?” Fuck, did I do something? Since we left the rally, I hadn’t done anything else out of the ordinary, well, besides burning the hell out of Luca’s throat.

Evelin lifts her eyes back up and meets my gaze. “They were getting hot.”

Immediately, I drop my arms from around Evelin. No way was I going to hurt her. “Sorry.”

“Why?” she asks. “It felt good. Soothing.”

I didn’t believe her. Clearing my throat, I jerk my chin toward the door. “I need to find Brimstone and Flame. Scotch will be here soon. After the meet, I’ll take you to the bar so you can get to work.”

I don’t wait for her to follow me. I don’t stop to listen to her. I need to clear my head. Figure out what’s going on with me before I fuck up and end up hurting her as I swore I would never do.