Page 6 of Unruly Defender

Soft fingers slide over my wrist and my arm is being yanked forward.

Gracy pushes her body against mine and slides an arm around my neck so she can pull me down as she whisper-hisses, “Stop staring as if you would like to rip them apart. We’re here to observe and not confront.

” She pulls back and cups my face with both hands.

“Vengeance is blinding, while justice is like karma; it will hit those who have it coming right in the face. Distance yourself, Henley. I can see it in your eyes the way you crave to get even. You’ve waited so long, but you’re out now, you’re right here.

Take your time because you have loads of it. Now focus, dammit.”

I could drown in her gaze and taste her lips for decades and yet she asks me to fucking focus.

“Yes, ma’am,” I croak.

“Good.” Her hands slide from my face to my shoulders as she says, “Now, let me buy you a drink and I’ll call your buddy so you can see how he reacts. Then we’ll either head home or you can hook up with your buddy and I’ll head home by myself.”

“I’m not letting you walk away alone, but I can’t have anyone thinking we’re connected once they know who I am. It’s too dangerous.”

Shit. What was I thinking pulling her into this? But it was too good to pass up, I need her to make sure I can test Yates.

She rolls her eyes. “I’m a big girl, Henley.”

She steps closer to the bar and leans over to give the bartender her order.

There’s one guy and two chicks behind the bar and I don’t recognize any of them.

The guy I hired to run this bar knows exactly what it needs to make a good profit every night.

He isn’t cheap, but he’s the best at what he does.

Gracy grabs her wallet but I’ve already handed the guy a twenty and tell him to keep the change.

I take a seat next to Gracy and the way we’re sitting, it allows me to have a clear view of Yates and the others, while Gracy is blocking their view so they don’t notice me.

I grab my burner and punch in Yates’ number.

“Ready?” I ask and she gives me a nod.

We’ve talked it through before we came here and we came up with a few lines for her to make sure Yates knows this is about me and Rush. So, now is the moment of truth. Will Yates be loyal to me or will he let Rush know who he’s off to meet?

Gracy takes the burner along with her drink and hits the call button. She stands and strolls to the opposite side of the room so she doesn’t put any attention on me and can give Yates a reason to head out the back without any suspicion. It would look like he took a random girl with him.

I take my beer and keep it in front of my face as if I’m sipping it, and slide across the room so I’m near the bikers sitting at the table. They are way too loud, and this allows me to hear them clearly and also notice their every move. Yates’ phone rings. Showtime.

He fishes it from his pants and glances at the screen before answering. “Who the fuck is this?” he growls and a few seconds later he’s glancing around the bar.

I know she just told him to come to her because she has information about me, and especially the hit on his president sitting across from him. But she instructs him not to say anything to Rush.

“What are you doing, Yates?” Rush asks.

Yates’ eyes land on Rush as he keeps his phone to his ear.

I have a clear view of Yates and I can tell by the look he gives his president that he holds no respect for Rush.

His words also don’t leave anything to the imagination as he glares at Rush and says, “I’m not going to sit here and watch you guys get drunk. I have better things to do.”

Yates’ eyes go straight to Gracy. “Later, dickheads,” Yates snaps and stands.

“Sit down, VP,” Rush barks.

Yates places a hand in the middle of the table and leans into Rush’s space.

“You know exactly how I feel about your insane intentions to drag this club down just because you like to powder your nose. You’re not getting my vote.

Not now, not ever. And no amount of beer is going to change that fucking fact. ”

Yates pushes away from the table and stalks straight to Gracy.

Utter fury flows through my veins when he places his hand on her upper arm and guides her to the back. My heart is slamming against my rib cage, but I need to stay put for a moment. I can’t draw any attention to myself, and I would if I followed them right away.

“He’s never going to be on our side, Pres,” Maxton says to Rush.

“Then we strip him of his rank or make sure he has an unfortunate accident. It won’t be long now, things are already set in motion, it’s only a matter of days,” Rush states, satisfaction evident in his voice.

The hairs on the back of my neck stand on end due to this asshole’s chuckle.

They start to sip their beers and fall into small talk.

Time to head out back where Gracy went with Yates.

A few minutes have passed and I could say the Yates I used to know wouldn’t hurt a woman, but after what I went through, I doubt everyone. ..even Yates.

Yates and I go way back. We were both prospects around the same time.

He’s the VP because I needed someone I could trust when I became the president.

We were working side by side together in my father’s company before things went to shit and he continued running it when I was on the inside.

My mother said he did very well, that’s the reason I’m reaching out to him first.

And I do have the feeling I can trust him completely.

His reaction just now and what he said to Rush also suggests he’s solid.

Stalking into the back, I take a turn and check left and right but I don’t see either of them.

Panic flows through me. I never should have asked Gracy to help me.

What if something happened to her? I’d never forgive myself. Fuck. Ma would be pissed too.

“I said you should stay put,” Gracy’s says, her voice an angry snap coming from further down the hall on my left.

“And I said I’m done playing games. Now, you tell me right this fucking instant what you know or you and I will have a problem.” Yates has Gracy caged between the wall and his body, his hands on each side of her head.

I see red and jog over. I grab him by the shoulder and push him back. “Leave her the fuck alone,” I growl in his face.

Yates is about to go into defense mode, but his eyes narrow and he takes me in as I have my forearm pressed against his neck.

“Pres?” he asks in disbelief.

“VP,” I grunt and step aside. I glance back at Gracy. “Are you okay?”

“Yeah.” She gives me a timid smile. “Are you?”

I have to swallow back a chuckle, but I hear Yates snicker and ask, “Did the little curvy one really ask if you’re okay? Kinda makes me wonder what she’d do if you weren’t...would she kick my ass?”

“Probably,” Gracy mutters.

Both me and Yates now laugh as Gracy puts her tiny fists on her hips and starts to glare at us.

“Calm down,” I tell her, holding both my hands palms up but all it seems to do is throw oil on the fire because now she’s narrowing her eyes at me.

“Come on, we’re taking you home so Yates and I can have a chat,” I suggest.

Gracy leans forward and asks in a low voice, “Are you sure?”

Yates leans in too and adds in a fake whisper, “If he wasn’t, what are you going to do about it?”

I swear I blink and Yates grunts as he doubles over.

“Did you just gut punch my VP?” I ask in awe.

“I wasn’t expecting it, dammit. I didn’t have the damn time to prepare and she knocked the wind right out of me. What the hell are you? Fuckin’ superwoman or something?”

“Nope. I’m just Gracy, his friend.” She turns to me and asks, “How about him? Is he the kind of friend you’d show garters to?”

“What garters? Why is she mentioning garters?” Yates grunts as he’s rubbing his stomach.

“Come on, Gracy, it’s time to take you home.” I lean in next to her ear and whisper, “Yeah he is, but like hell are you ever going to show anyone else but me those garters, understood?”

Gracy snorts, “You’re not the boss of me.”

“Well, he is the boss of me,” Yates mutters. “And I think I recognize you now...you work at Maggie’s estate, don’t you? I’ve seen you once or twice when I dropped off the books. So, that would also mean he’s your boss too.”

“Yeah, technically, I am the boss of both of you.” I’m wearing a big grin when Gracy’s eyes go wide with surprise.

“All of it is yours?” she whispers but it’s not for us, it’s mainly to herself because she slowly shakes her head and spins around to head out the back.

We make sure to follow her and drop her off at her bungalow before Yates follows me to mine.

I have a lot to discuss and plan and none of it involves dragging my new friend in trouble along with it.

Not only is it too dangerous for her, but it’s dangerous for me because she already occupies every dirty thought that pops into my head.