Never Kiss an Outlaw(13)

“No need,” the Prez growled, aiming his next line of smoke at my face. “I'll handle it, Firefly. The girl deserves that much, a heart-to-heart, seeing how I wasn't able to stop her old man from killing himself, practically in front of her.”

“Shit, that's fucked,” Sixty murmured, pulling his goatee.

Like we don't all know that, asshole? These were the times when I wanted to walk outta church and find the closest bottle.

The whole damned situation was past recovery, however you cut it. Everybody was sitting here pretending to give a shit while they decided her future. Fuck.#p#分页标题#e#

“She's doing me a solid, watching my dog.” Joker broke the stony silence.

Crawl looked at him and snickered, his long, dark hair flopping over his face. Veep looked like he was ready to whip out that switchblade he always played with and tear him open like a fish.

Sixty punched his closest brother in the side, shutting him up, and redeeming the boy just a little bit in my eyes. Skin, Sixty, and Crawl had their own little posse going. They managed to keep each other from getting their asses kicked.

“Keep laughing,” Joker said, a wicked smile spreading across his crazy face.

“No, VP, you've got yourself a pooch to look after. You'd better promise me that animal ain't gonna tear this clubhouse apart. Expect him to learn some respect and behave – just like the rest of you.”

Half the guys sank into their seats. Me, I sat up straighter, giving Dust the look he was waiting for.

Are we done?

“Church dismissed. We'll meet again at the pig roast later this week, or else the instant I hear about any Torches fucking around in our neighborhood when they shouldn't be.”

Thank fuck. I was outta my chair first, bolting for the door, when somebody locked onto my arm like a damned monkey.

I spun around to see it was the Prez. Shit!

He didn't let go 'til all the other guys left the room. Then he emptied the burned tobacco from his pipe into the ash tray and stood up.

“You handle her as best you can, and don't get too attached. Jimmy was all twisted up before he died, but once upon a time, he was my best friend. I'll die before I let his little girl get one iota more fucked up than she already is – and that includes any man in this club slipping his dick in her when he knows damned well he shouldn't.”

Fuck! I could feel an invisible boot nailing me square in the nuts. Bastard must've been psychic, reading my mind so well it chilled my bones something fierce.

“What? You think I don't have pussy lined up right and left? I fuck more than any man here.”

“And you'd better keep on doing it, just as long as none of your bitches are named Cora Chase. I'm not blind, Firefly. I've seen how you've been looking at her from the second we pulled her out of that shitshow at the house. You're hungry, boy, and that's dangerous.” His hand slid across all the little silver crosses flanking the side rocker on his cut. Some say each one stood for a dozen guys he'd personally put down, and others said only one.

All for the patch. No man wore PRESIDENT on his leather unless he'd killed and bled for it. That went double for Dust, taking the gavel right after Early took a bullet to the guts.

“Dangerous?” I cocked my head, chewing on the word.

“Yeah, asshole. For you.”

“Fuck, Prez, you act like I'm some half-starved jackal aching for some cunt that'd probably need training wheels to fuck right. She ain't my type. Not even fucking close.”

I'd never told a bigger lie in my life. Prez must've smelled it because he wrinkled his nose.

“Last warning I'm giving you, Firefly. Last and only. You're the only other guy with this patch who put time in with Uncle Sam besides me. You know promises and duty like your own fuckin' asshole. I expect you to keep your word.”

“You know I will. I'm here to help her un-fuck herself – not fuck her.”

My dick throbbed when I spat each miserable word. Lies, lies, lies.

I'd have to put a fucking choke-chain on the unruly bastard in my pants, the only thing in this world insane enough to make me lie to the Prez's face about my caveman intentions.#p#分页标题#e#

“You'd better. I'm not asking you to cross your heart and hope to die, brother.” He rounded the table, his eyes falling over the Civil War heirlooms and World War II trinkets he kept framed on the wall, buried in all the club history. Then he stopped, looked up, and pointed at my chest.

“I'm telling you, Firefly. You'll do as I say with this so you don't get your fucking dick snapped off.” He turned around, reaching for some fresh tobacco to stuff into his pipe. “Get the hell out of here. Make sure she's all right. Tell her I'll be down tomorrow to talk to her about the job.”