Page 48 of Tracking Luxe

Rider’s jaw grew tight and pensive.

“And get this. I hit re-dial on the landline, guess who it connected to?”

“Who?”

“Asshole Uncle Rex.”

Rider’s growl startled Zara enough she stopped eating, placed the plate on the coffee table and turned worried ice eyes on him. He rubbed her calf reassuringly. “The fuck is he doin’ talkin’ to the mob? Goddamn that fuckin’ man, why won’t he just die already.”

The ex-president of theSoulshad never been a fan of Rider’s, not even when he was a young prospect, that asshole had preferred Hades, no accounting for bad taste, but since none of the other brothers at the time, Rider’s own father included, hadn’t wanted Hades, he was kicked out without the patch. Rex, Rider’s uncle on his father’s side, disliked his nephew, what with Rider biding his time and using his experience and contacts to kick the prez out years ago, cleaning house as he went, kicking most all the previous members with him.

Rex had tried to rouse several coup’s afterwards that never really went anywhere, Rider’s boys were too loyal to side with Rex, and the older bastards were too lazy to do much and the noise had died down, the ex-members fading into the background so much so Rider had forgotten they existed. Until now. With one bad smell he knew there would be more if he dug and searched. Rex never plotted alone.

As his mind worked to fit the pieces together, Rider had to factor his own father in there somewhere. Mad-dog was always Rex’s right hand, Once Rex had been ousted, Ajax Mad-dog Marinos, the then VP had voluntarily given up his patch … not so voluntarily as it turned out, but only Rider and Ajax knew the blow they both came to, Rider hadn’t given his father a choice for leaving the club in Colorado behind. He was now home in Austin and Rider barely spoke to him at all if he could avoid it.

He’d seen his father a few weeks ago when Gia was ill, they’d spoke maybe four words. Ajax made it clear how he didn’t think Zara had what it took to be associated with the club and that was enough for Rider to give his father thefuck you.

“You’re going to the club.” Zara stated when he’d hung up.

“Yeah, baby.”

“It’s late, can’t it wait until the morning?”

Plucking her hand from her lap he brought it to his mouth, kissing along her inner wrist, relaying what Grinder had told him. “Why would your uncle have any reason to talk to the Russian mafia?”

“That’s the question, isn’t it? I doubt they’re swapping recipes.”

“What does it mean for the club, are we in danger from this?”

We. He fucking loved she thought of the club as hers. He’d watched his Icy-girl grow stronger in both mind and body this last year, coming into her own in their personal life and within the MC, she ran the office like a drill sergeant, even Texas feared her wrath if he moved her invoices, and fuck if Rider didn’t worship her every day for it. He smiled and kissed her knuckles, she gave his hand a supportive squeeze.

“I don’t know. I’ve made the mistake in allowin’ them room to breed whatever they’re up to. I can’t ignore this. If Rex is involved, be it for money or to make a move on the club, I gotta do somethin’.”

Pensive, Zara stayed silent for a second, worry in her ice blue eyes. He leaned over and cupped her cheek, his free hand going to her round belly, his baby, strong kicking his palm. For his family.

Everything he did was for the two people under his hands.

Rider would go to his grave fighting to make a safe, happy life for his old lady.

“Nothin’ will touch you or the peanut, Icy. I swear it. The boys and me won’t let any danger touch you.”

“Rider. I know that, it goes without saying. These Russian people have been unpredictable. It scares me that you or the one of the others will get hurt. There’s only a few months left before the baby comes.”

“Icy,” his gut twisting. “It’s not ideal, to go to war right now. Fuck, I want you to only think about what shit you want me to do in the nursery, you get me? This won’t touch our life and once it’s done all you’ll need to think about is when to decide to marry me finally.”

Her eyes filled with tears but she smiled at the same time. He had her in his lap cuddling her in.

“I love you so much, Rider. And I’m scared.”

While he called a prospect to come and sit with her, as she told him when he’d wanted to get Pretty-boy here instead;Don’t Rider, Mace was on a date tonight!Rider could give a fuck who was getting his dick wet when it came to his old lady’s safety, he pulled on some clothes and felt the acid build in his gut.

He’d bury Rex, see if he didn’t.

Then he’d deal with each one of the Russians who were swinging their bold egos in his town, starting with the annoying prick Grigori.

“Are you going to call Hawk home?” She asked in the doorway.

Rider yanked a shirt over his head and slid his Prez cut on top of it. “Maybe.” His VP and best friend was a maniac in all forms of the word and wouldn’t hesitate to take out Rex and the entire Russian mob if that was asked of him. He’d missed that shithead a lot. He hadn’t heard from Hawk in a couple weeks, but he was going to need a full-strength club if this new info was going to turn into a battle.