Duke(19)

Sam spoke up. “Margarita’s sound nice, if you don’t mind. Also, it sounds like my husband has decided he needs to be by my side and he’s on the way. I hope it’s okay?”

“Perfectly fine and perfectly understandable. What kind of car’s he driving?”

Duke texted one of the guys watching the gate and looked up. “Anyone else have a spouse or boyfriend on the way?”

Cassie’s hand went up and Duke stilled as he realized the ramifications. He’d known this moment was coming, but it couldn’t happen at a worse time. He was pretty sure Cassie had told them what’d happened, and he knew Frisco would be pissed. And if Frisco was pissed, Isaac would be, as well.

Isaac was one of the few people on the planet Duke was afraid of.

“Well, Cassie dear,” he told her. “This complicates things, doesn’t it? I’m glad for you, and for Gen, that you have people who love you enough to storm a motorcycle club with the intention of going after the club’s president, but I need to step away and make sure my men know the score. I’ll be right back.”



* * * *



When Duke came back, he sat across from Gen and made up silly drinking games. He played footsies with her, he made her laugh, and he made her friends laugh. Some of the guys came over to meet Duke’s “little spitfire,” and a few of their girlfriends high-fived her for taking down the guy in the bar. Several of the men were in awe over meeting Sam, and when Ethan arrived and sat with them, even more people came by to talk and chat.

Gen was secretly glad Frisco lived so far away, as she’d enjoyed this time with Duke. About the time she thought this, she saw him look at his phone, his body tighten and then relax as he looked up and said, “Your brother and Isaac are here. Want to walk with me to them, see if we can contain the scene?”

Gen nodded.

Ethan and Sam stood to come with them, as did Cassie and Cam. Duke told them to hang back, but Gen said, “No, Ethan’s good at calming him. So’s Cam, and Cassie’s magic. Sam just threatens to pound his rear into the ground. Let them come.”

Gen reached for Duke’s hand as they walked. He’d been so careful with her since he realized he’d scared her, and she felt like he needed her moral support. She didn’t know if this was going anywhere, but Bethany’s words came back to her. You aren’t like anyone else she’s ever dated, so maybe you won’t turn out to be just another fucking asshole.

Bethany was right. Gen always picked the same basic kind of guy, and always got the same results. Would picking a different kind of guy give different results?

They stepped away from the party, made their way to the parking lot, and Gen noted Duke had taken them into a corner area, out of sight of both the party and the bar across the road. She understood why when Frisco lunged forward, ran towards them, and took a swing at Duke.

Duke caught Frisco’s fist as if a toddler had taken the swing. All in one motion Duke let go of Gen and twirled Frisco. When the action stopped, Duke’s arms were around Frisco, with Frisco’s back to Duke’s front, held firm so he couldn’t escape, and it happened in less than a second.

Duke’s voice came out in a growl. “I gave my men the heads up this was a family thing and it might get rough, but you just walked onto an MC compound and took a swing at the president, and my guys don’t know you. We’re about to be surrounded by an army of pissed off brothers. I suggest you calm your ass down and talk to me, Frisco. I don’t want animosity. I want to work this out. Can I let you go?”

In answer, Frisco said Isaac’s name, and Duke looked to Isaac, who didn’t look at all happy, and had his arms at his side, loose, ready to use them in a microsecond if necessary. Isaac’s words were a quiet threat. “You know I can wipe your parking lot with every one of your men, and none of us wants to broadcast what that would say about either of us. Talk to Frisco. Say what you need to say, but if you hurt him, you answer to me.”

Frisco spat out, “She’s an innocent, Bevering. What the hell are you thinking!”

“You don’t think I know that? I can see it for myself, and I screwed up earlier with some coarse language, but I learned. I stayed away in high school but I won’t do it again. Sorry man, she calls to my soul.” Duke looked at Isaac and added, “Both of them.”

Gen’s heart jumped into her throat and then melted a little. Who knew the bad-ass scary biker could talk in poetry? She figured it was time to step in, so she stepped forward and said, “Hey, big brother, do I get a say in this?”

Frisco said “No,” at the same time Cam and Cassie said, “Yes.”