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My dick was aching with how close her hands were to where I wanted them. Needing something to distract me from how close she was, I hammered down on the throttle, taking us faster down the road. Ryan’s laugh fluttered behind me, bringing an unwelcome smile to my face. She was just as much of a daredevil as I was. It was clear she had been on a bike before because she kept her thighs pressed against mine and leaned with each turn we hit. I didn’t want to overthink if she was used to her own bike or being on the back of another man’s bike.

I pulled up to the address Ryan had given me back at the clubhouse, instantly missing the heat of her body and wishing I had a reason to keep her on my bike longer.

“Well, partner, now that I have proven my loyalty to your club, can we finally get to business?” she asked. “Because we have shit to get ready before the next shipment arrives.”

Our fingers brushed against each other as she handed the helmet back, her eyes zeroing in on the point of contact. The corners of my lips tipped upward; she was just as affected as I was, but I gave myself a mental shake and focused on keeping things professional. She had asked a partnership question, after all.

“Yeah, we can get started now. I need you to walk me through the shipment process at Lotería, as well as the shipment schedule. I’m guessing you want to move that product within twenty-four hours of delivery.”

Ryan may have been involved in the illegal side of shit for Los Muertos, but I’d seen Lotería. She took pride in that club, and while she may never say anything to Sergio or Mario, she didn’t want to risk her legal business getting busted. Keeping illegal firearms from Mexico stored too long was an excellent way to do that.

“That would be ideal. But Mario couldn’t always make that happen, so if we need to store them longer, we can make it work.”

Something in the tone of her voice and the way her body tensed when she spoke of Mario put me on edge. I noticed it at the party earlier when she mentioned him texting her. Pres said they were close, but her reactions didn’t paint that same picture.

“I can move them out of there as fast as you want, babe,” I answered, eyeing the way she was biting her bottom lip.

“Let’s meet at Lotería on Monday. I’ll give you a more in-depth tour, and we can go over the deliveries scheduled and who they’re going to and all that.”

A chirping noise came from her hand. Her brows furrowed, and her beautifully plump lips turned down. She was displeased with whatever she was reading on her screen. She suddenly seemed completely sober. If I hadn’t watched her all night, I wouldn’t have known she’d had a single drink tonight. It was none of my fucking business. In fact, the break in the conversation was the perfect opportunity to get my ass back to the clubhouse. Yet instead of doing that, I found myself pulled to help fix whatever was bothering her.

“What is it, Ryan?”

She looked up at me like she was surprised I was still here, or maybe she was surprised I was asking about what was wrong.

“Just some shit going down at Lotería. I have to go change and then get down there,” she answered distractedly. Ryan hadn’t even finished her sentence before turning around and heading toward her building. I leapt off my bike, reaching for her arm before she got too far away.

“Whoa, babe. I don’t know how hard you got hit tonight, but you got here on the back of my bike. How are you planning on getting to the club? And it’s one in the morning. There isn’t anyone else to handle this tonight?” I asked, tugging her arm to get her to face me.

If looks could kill, I would have been dead on the spot. The woman was pissed. I wasn’t sure if it was at me or whatever was happening at her club. My guess was it was probably a combination.

Her words came out cold and clipped. “Uber, Gunner. I was able to survive in the world before meeting you. I can figure out how to get to my damn club. I’m buzzed, not stupid.”

I stiffened. Damn, the woman was feisty, but it pissed me off that she felt like she needed to defend her intelligence and ability to handle herself. That was not what I meant to insinuate, but obviously, she got that enough to go on the defensive. I did something I should not have done for the millionth time that night.

Cupping her dainty face, I tipped her head back so she would be able to see the sincerity in my eyes when I spoke to her. She furrowed her eyebrows, confused by my actions.

“Ryan. I don’t, in any way, think you’re stupid or incapable. I only asked you so it would help me see how I can help. You were in a fucking fight tonight and kicked ass, but still, you need your rest.” My thumb rubbed along her cheekbone, and I watched as her defenses lowered. “That’s why I asked if there was someone else to handle whatever it is that’s going on. But if you feel it needs to be you, let’s get you changed and over to the club.”

Surprise filled her eyes when she realized I was proposing to go with her.

“You want to go with me?” she asked hesitantly.

I gave her a curt nod, her face still in my hands. You would have thought I asked her to marry me with the way she was looking at me.

Has no one ever looked out for this girl before? Or does she just think no one outside of Los Muertos would look out for her?

Ryan

There are reapers here.

That was what Nikki’s text had read. What the fuck were those good-for-nothing bastards doing at my club? That MC was filled with the scum of the earth, and I had banned them from Lotería years ago. They knew the rules, but apparently, they needed a reminder of what happens when I’m crossed.

I barely registered the thumping base, dead set on my goal of finding the assholes with death wishes. Pushing past the sweaty bodies tightly packed into any free space, I made my way behind the bar and looked for Nikki’s blond locks. Gunner and I had made it to Lotería fifteen minutes after her text came in.

Fuck, Gunner.

My head whipped around. Had he followed me? I hadn’t bothered to look after we pulled up to the club and I leapt off his bike. The bloodlust was pulsing through my veins, demanding I take what I was owed.