Page 27 of Slayin Villain (Royal Bastards MC: Nashville, TN #11)

Villain

The bar at Royal Road was sticky with spilled whiskey and sweat. The jukebox was blasting outlaw country, someone had won a major prize on the nearest slot, and I was three bourbons deep into pretending I didn’t give a shit.

Then Rome walked in.

Cocky bastard.

His new patch caught the light like it was polished just for show, and the smirk on his face made me want to put him through the nearest wall. I could smell the arrogance rollin’ off him like cheap cologne.

He strutted up like we were old chums. Like I wasn’t his superior. The boss of him.

“You got a minute?” he asked, tone all casual.

“Not really.” I tossed back my drink.

He didn’t take the hint. Leaned right against the bar next to me, close enough for his cologne and attitude to choke a man.

“You think you’re real slick, huh?” he said, eyes glinting. “Playin’ both of ‘em like a damn puppet master.”

My knuckles cracked just gripping my glass. “What the hell did you just say?”

“Rachel, Ember. Both knocked up. Both thinking they’re the only one that matters to you.” He chuckled like this was funny. “Rachel waddling around like she’s owed something. That bitch doesn’t even fit on the back of your bike anymore…”

I didn’t let him finish.

My fist met his mouth with a crack so loud the music skipped. He hit the floor hard, spitting blood.

“You don’t talk about her like that,” I growled, lunging again.

Pagan and Irish were on me in a second, dragging me back.

Rome wiped the blood from his lip, smirking like a cocky little shit who thought he’d won just by pushing the button.

“Ember ain’t your property, Villain. Won’t ever be if you’re gonna treat her like trash.”

“Say that again,” I snarled, fighting against my brothers’ grips.

“Let him go,” Kingpin’s voice cut through the noise like a shotgun blast.

Everyone went still.

The crowd parted like the damn Red Sea as Kingpin stormed over. His bare feet padding on the concrete, sunglasses still on despite the hour. Eve wasn’t far behind him, arms crossed and glaring.

“Both of you,” he barked. “Office. Now.”

I shoved off Pagan’s hand and stalked behind him. Rome followed, dragging his feet, still grinning like he hadn’t just stepped on a live wire.

Inside, Kingpin shut the door and leaned against it like he was trying not to strangle us both.

“You really think I’m gonna let either of you ruin what we just pulled off?” he asked, spitting venom. “I’m finally free of Jameson’s bullshit, and y’all wanna go and make some noise. I’ll throw both you motherfuckers out so fast, you’ll think God took a wet shit.”

Rome shrugged. “He threw the first punch.”

“And you opened your goddamn mouth,” Kingpin snapped. “Talking like that about a club girl? About your Sergeant-at-Arms’ woman?”

Rome crossed his arms. “That’s right. We all know Rachel’s his woman.”

Kingpin ignored him and turned on me next. “And you? You think swinging fists in the bar is leadership material? You’re damn near my third and acting like a prospect on a bender.”

I dropped into the leather chair, running a hand through my hair. My knuckles throbbed, but it wasn’t enough pain to settle what was boiling inside me.

That’s when Kingpin grabbed Rome by the collar of his cut. “You just patched in, boy. Hear you’re plannin’ on bolting if Ember’s baby is yourn. You think that’s wise?”

Rome physically quivered as Kingpin reminded him, we’d skin the fresh ink from his back, the one that now covers him in our patch. Boy might have peed himself a bit, too.

“You gonna put him out in the barn?” I muttered, jerking my chin toward Rome.

Kingpin snorted. “No. But I am gonna put you both into a new setup.”

Rome lifted a brow. “What kind of setup?”

“You two pussies are shackin’ up. Movin’ out back. One of the houses. Roommates.”

I shot up. “The hell we are!”

“Sit down, Villain.”

I froze. Kingpin didn’t raise his voice. Didn’t have to.

He looked between us, cold and serious now. “Y’all got yourselves into this mess. Two women. Two babies. One club. But you’re brothers, like it or not. You’re not settlin’ this shit behind each other’s backs anymore. We got too many eyes on us now. Too much at stake.”

He walked over to his desk, leaned on it.

“If Ember’s baby is Rome’s,” Prez said, nodding toward him. “Then you’re gonna pay up, boy. Like a man. But if she chooses Villain, that’s it. Doesn’t matter whose kid it is. She rides with who she rides with.”

Rome’s mouth opened, but he shut it fast.

Then Kingpin turned to me. “And you?” His gaze burned like a damn laser through me.

“I know that baby in Rachel’s belly is yours.

No question. I ain’t touched her in years and was probably the only other biker she had before you.

She’s been hangin’ on your dick like she’s your property already.

So, you better figure out what the hell you’re doing before you lose both of ‘em. This ain’t about just knockin’ someone up anymore.

It’s legacy. It’s loyalty. This is our new club, and y’all are not gonna make a name for it, already. ”

Silence.

Rome wouldn’t meet my eyes. I didn’t want to meet his either.

“You two will figure it out. Because I’m done cleaning up after your dicks.”

Then he opened the door and walked out, like he hadn’t just flipped both our lives upside down.

Rome sank into the other chair.

“Well, this should be fun,” he muttered.

I didn’t answer. I couldn’t.

All I could think about was Rachel’s tears. Ember’s silence. And the ticking time bomb growing in both their bellies.