Page 3 of Stripping Keys (Devil’s Riot MC Tennessee #6)

CHAPTER TWO

KEYS

“Keys.”

I lift my head from the inside of the engine I was working on. I started remodeling this car a month ago, and it’s already come a long way since I started it.

I needed a way to get out from behind my computer screens, and this was the best way to do it. It works both my mind and body at the same time.

If I sat too long, my mind seemed to always wander to a certain green-eyed beauty that haunts me more now than she did before. The only difference is now I know what she looks like, whereas before I didn’t.

“Yeah,” I call out, seeing Griz and Blow coming my way. It’s not the first time one or two of my brothers had come up to me in the past few weeks to ask me if I was good. But considering Blow and Griz were coming together, my gut was telling me something was up.

“You good?” Blow asks, watching me closely.

“Yeah, just been working on this beaut,” I answer and jerk my chin toward the car itself. “What do you think of the work so far?”

“She’s lookin’ good,” Griz grunts, appraising the work I’ve done so far. “You’ve worked your ass on it.”

“Feels good to get out from behind the screens and work on this,” I tell him with a shrug. “There something you two need?” I need to get to the reason they’re at the garage and not somewhere else.

“Yeah, need you at the clubhouse. Got a call that we’re needed for a meeting this afternoon at the clubhouse.”

“By whom?” I ask, not waiting for Blow to finish giving me more info than he’s given already. The only ones who are able to call a meeting within the club are members of said club. No one outside it calls a meet without speaking to Blow first.

“Don’t know yet. Just know that they called me and asked for a meeting with all the members of the club,” Blow grunts, brows creased. “Need you to look and see if you can’t figure it out before the meet is supposed to happen.”

“When’s that supposed to be?” Depending on when, I might have enough time to find out that and more.

“This evening at six,” Griz grunts.

Glancing behind them to the clock on the wall, I see it’s already two-thirty. “Not a lot of time, but I’ll head to the clubhouse and look into it. “

“Appreciate it,” Blow mutters, expression dark. “I don’t like someone callin’ to set a meet within my own club. Especially without giving me a reason.”

“Did they give you anything?” My mind whirls with possibilities as to who it could be we’re up against here.

“All I know is they said it was important that all members of the club be at the clubhouse at six. They even said it might be best to have the ol’ ladies there as well.”

“You’re not going to have them there, are you? It could be a trap,” I tell him.

“That’s why I’m not letting any of those women get anywhere near the clubhouse tonight.”

“Marley is distracting the women by taking them to the farm. Her grandmother, as she put it, it’s a girls’ night. Though, Michael and Marshall have asked to be there. Evidently, they got a message saying they’re needed for a meeting later tonight after the one set for us,” Griz grumbles.

Now, it’s all making sense. There’s only one person who could be connected between both the club and Marley’s family. One missing link that disappeared two months ago. Two months and a week to be exact.

After Marla left my room that night, she up and vanished. I couldn’t even find her, and I looked. It’s why this past month I’ve done everything in my power to distract myself, because I couldn’t stop thinking about her and where she could be.

“Was it a woman who you talked to?” The question slips past my lips before I can stop it. The last thing I need is for my brothers to wonder why I’d ask that. Or worse, think I’m thinking of Marla.

Fuck me.

This could get dicey.

“It was a man I spoke to, why?” Blow cocks a brow in question. “What are you thinking?”

I shake my head. If it wasn’t her on the phone, then I need to find out who.

“Nothing, I was just curious.” No way was I about to tell them I was hoping it was Marla.

Not knowing where she is is getting to me—more than I care to admit.

“I’ll head to the clubhouse, see what I can find out.

Send me the number that they contacted you from. ”

Blow nods, takes a step back, eyes still on me. “You sure you’re good, Keys?”

“Yeah, I’m good.” It’s not a lie. Distracting myself is a good way to keep from thinking.

“If you say so, brother, but know we’re here for you if you need us. We’re family for a reason.” With that said, Blow turns on his heels and leaves, heading for his bike.

I stand there staring for a moment longer, realizing Griz was still standing near me. I glance at him to find him watching me.

“What’s going on with you?” he asks, cocking a brow, watching me closely.

“It’s nothing, Griz,” I say, brushing it off.

None of them need to know about Marla, just like they don’t need to know about the other secrets I hold.

The last thing I need is for those to be revealed to anyone.

If they knew the truth, I’m sure without a doubt they’d all look at me with disgust in their eyes.

Without another word, I leave Griz standing there to wash up. When I come back, he’s moved on to wait for me where both our bikes are parked.

I don’t bother locking up the garage, one of the mechanics will do that at closing. They still have work to do. Where I was working was a private bay where we work on other shit besides the day-to-day stuff around here.

Griz doesn’t bring up his question again as I straddle my bike. Something I’m grateful for.

The ride to the clubhouse isn’t long enough to clear my head. Means later, I’m gonna have to find another way to release the building tension inside me. One of the fallen harlots will do for what I need. Doesn’t matter to me which one. They are at the clubhouse for a reason and one reason only.

Parking in front of the club next to Griz, the two of us head inside together. Spotting Claire sitting at the bar, I make my way straight toward her. She’ll do perfectly for the time being. Claire’s eyes come to mine as I get closer.

I crook my finger at her and motion for her to come with me. I don’t have to look back to know she’s following. At my door, I unlock it, open it, and step inside. Once Claire steps through and closes the door behind her, I take my seat at my desk.

“On your knees,” I order, my attention going to my computer.

Claire gets to her knees, crawls between my legs, and pulls me out. “You want my hand or mouth.”

“Both,” I tell her without looking down.

“You got it, Keys,” she purrs. She probably thinks I’m gonna fuck her after she blows me, but that’s not happening. I need to focus. I need to relieve the tension inside me. That’s all.

As Claire wraps her lips around my cock, I get to work tracing the number Blow sent to me. Of course, it couldn’t be easy to find out who it belonged to. Damn burners. Good for many things, but a headache to trace.

I deepen my search, feeling Claire suck me deeper. Her fingers working me along with her mouth. She’s good at sucking dick and knows how to check her teeth.

By the time I blow my load down Claire’s throat, I’ve finally made some headway in my search. Claire sits back, licking her lips, catching my attention. But not in the way she expects. Shoving myself back in my jeans, I jerk my chin toward the door.

“Go on,” I tell her, and return my attention to the screen.

“But—”

“Go,” I interrupt her before she can finish her protest.

Huffing, Claire leaves my room, slamming the door behind her. Oh well. She’ll get over it. I’m sure she’ll find one of my brothers who’ll be willing to make her feel better.

By the time the meeting is supposed to take place, I finally find the connection I’m looking for. It’s not something that thrills me. In fact, it pisses me off.

The question that remains is what the fuck is she playing at now?