My stomach turns, and I rub it furiously. I should tell them Hogan is alive. I know I should. I want to, but if he finds out...oh god. Maybe if I tell Hogan they don’t know, it will buy them a little more time because he will think he’s got one over them, and create a plan. It might give me more time to be able to figure this out. I can’t let him kill them. God, what am I doing? What sort of person have I become?

Then I see Ebony’s little face in my mind, and know I can’t let him hurt her. I’m doing this for her. I have to protect my friends little girl.

“Serenity?”

Shit. Addison.

“Um, sorry, I’m coming.”

“Are you ok?”

“Y-y-yes, I’m fine.”

I take a deep breath, and quickly swing the door open. Addison gives me a once over, and smiles. We both turn, and head back out to the bar. I quickly step behind it, and begin helping her. The first man that comes up has long, thick red hair, and stunning blue eyes. His arms are covered in colorful ink. He’s got a dimpled smile, and a kind, handsome face.

“Well, you must be the new girl,” he drawls. “I’m Muff.”

I let off an unexpected giggle that has Addi giving me a look of shock. I smother it quickly. I know it’s completely random for me, but I can’t help it. Muff...his name is Muff?

“Nice to meet you, Muff.”

He grins at me. “You gettin’ some enjoyment out of my name, princess?”

I flash him a smile. “It’s interesting.”

“There’s a story behind it, you wanna hear that story?”

“Muff,” Addison warns, giving him a look. “Not now.”

He grumbles at her, but winks at me. “Maybe later then? And you can tell me where you got all those nasty bruises.”

I frown, and he flashes me another smile. He’s very handsome, in an odd kind of way. He leans over the bar, and orders a whiskey neat. I turn and promptly get it. When he takes it, our fingers brush and he lets his gaze rake over me. Jesus, he’s totally hitting on me. At least, that’s what I think he’s doing.

“Later then?”

“Later, Muff.”

He turns and walks off. The minute he disappears, Addison walks over, rolling her eyes. “He’s such a ladies man. Most of the girls love him, because he’s...well...apparently great in the sack. Gives them loads of attention.”

“Let me guess,” I say, lifting a glass to dry it. “He likes Muff?”

Addison bursts out laughing, and I feel warmth deep inside me as she wraps an arm around me.

“I like you, Serenity. It’s not often I meet someone with the same personality as me.”

Shit.

This was a problem.

Because I liked her, too.

~*~

JACKSON

“This is a good thing, yeah?” Spike says, lighting a smoke and leaning back in my large, leather chair.

I’m pacing the room, frustrated and angry. We have no information on the survivors from Hogan’s club, and worse, they’ve disappeared from their lot and no one knows where they’ve gone. It’s bad. I know it in my gut. They aren’t going to sit back and accept what we attempted to do, which means we need to find out where they are, so we can get in first.

“How is it good?” I growl, lifting a glass of whiskey and shooting it back.

“Well, if they knew it was us, they would have come here. We’ve all got watches going, and there ain’t no other bikers in this town.”

I shake my head, meeting his eyes. “Don’t sit well with me, Spike. I don’t think it’s that simple.”

“He was in that house, Jack’s. We saw him go in. He’s dead. The other guys have moved on.”

I stare at him, and shake my head again. “Maybe, but until I know for sure, I ain’t sleepin’ soundly.”

“When does your man get the information?”

“He was meant to get it back to me already,” I growl. God, some of my fuckin’ guys were slack bastards.

“Well, give him until tonight. If he ain’t back, we’ll send one of my guys out.”

I nod, and grip my jacket before turning towards the door. “I’m goin’ for a ride. Tell Cade.”

“Right, boss.”

I walk out, and into the bar. Addison and Serenity are laughing at something on Addi’s phone. I can’t help but smile, seeing the way their faces are all lit up. Women are beautiful, don’t matter what they look like, they’re all beautiful. Precious damn gems, that light up your life daily if you’ll let them. They can also destroy it in a split second, because even if we don’t want to admit it, we’re all fuckin’ suckers for them.

“You girls workin’ hard I see?”

They both jump, and snap their heads up to meet my gaze. Addison rolls her eyes, but Serenity’s cheeks flush. Fuckin’ girl blushes every time I open my mouth, but fuck, it’s cute. Shouldn’t even been looking. Dirty fuck I am. I move my eyes from hers, to meet with my daughters.

“Goin’ for a ride, anyone asks, you tell them that.”

“On it,” she nods.

“Later,” I murmur, meeting Serenity’s gaze again. “Ladies.”

They both murmur a goodbye, and get back to giggling at the phone. I head out front, and squint as the sun burns my eyes. I pull out a pair of sunglasses and pull them over my eyes. I’m about to get on my bike, when a hand strokes down my back. I turn to see Kayla, one of the club whores, grinning at me. She’s blonde, bouncy, and easy.