She hadn’t looked at him.
“You’re my old lady, too.”
Lexie tensed, glancing behind her at him.
“I know you don’t have a clue what that means, but I promise you I’ll discuss it all with you in time. I think we need to get home and just forget about what happened tonight.”
His cell phone went off, and he checked to see the caller wasn’t recognized.
Ten minutes later, Devil was fuming. Snitch was back, and The Skulls were in danger. His men were needed to right a wrong from his past.
Walking back to Lexie, he wrapped his arms around her, pulling her back against him. “I’ve got to go for a little while. I need you to promise me you won’t disappear.”
“You’re leaving?”
“Only to handle some business. A friend needs me, and I promised to help him.”
“Fine, go.”
“Promise me.” He tilted her head back to look into her eyes.
“I promise, Devil. I’m not going anywhere.”
Seeing she wasn’t lying, he kissed her lips and disappeared inside the club. It was time to put the past to bed.
Chapter Eleven
Four days Devil had been gone. Lexie placed Simon on the floor in the sitting room, watching him play. She sat beside him, finding his antics cute. Judi sat with a book in her lap, and Phoebe was in the kitchen making some kind of curry. They were her closest friends. A couple of Devil’s boys were hanging around at the club, checking in to make sure she was safe and happy.
He hadn’t phoned.
She hated the fact she was sat most days beside the phone waiting for him to call. Closing her eyes, she looked up at the ceiling wishing she hadn’t let him leave. What he’d said had been in the heat of the moment.
“He’ll be back before you know, and then you’ll be moaning and groaning,” Judi said, smiling.
“I’m sure he will.”
“The boys will be back, and we’ll get some normality to this strange world we live in,” Phoebe said, taking a seat and sipping at a warm cup of tea.
Running a hand over her face, Lexie wished there was something she could do to make him call. Glancing at her cell phone she smiled as Phoebe made a frustrated noise.
“He’ll call. I promise you, he’ll be back before you know it.”
“Are you really sure?” Lexie asked, pouting. Phoebe had a way about her that made her forget her sadness.
“If he doesn’t call then he’s got something else planned. Vincent is at the strip club today taking the deliveries for beer and shit. Kids are in school, Simon is playing nicely, and Judi is getting ready for her exam. Everything is all right in my book.”
Lexie noticed Phoebe was fidgeting with the edge of her shirt.
“You don’t sound all that convinced if you don’t mind me saying so.” Lexie moved a ball out of the way so Simon could continue on playing.
Judi had her head in a book.
“I didn’t get my period,” Phoebe said, whispering the words.
“Wow, do you know if it’s, you know, the right news?” Lexie asked, lifting her feet underneath her.
“No, I’ve not said anything to Vincent. He wants to wait a couple more years before we have another kid.” Phoebe looked troubled now.
“I’m sure he wouldn’t mind. He’s, erm, partly to blame.” She looked toward Judi, who was chuckling. “Shut it, you.” Lexie threw a pillow at the young girl.
Judi collapsed onto the floor in a heap of giggles. In no time at all they were all laughing. During their crazy laughter, the sound of the doorbell being rung invaded their fun.
“I’ll go. I’m expecting a delivery of my course stuff,” Judi said, getting to her feet.
“I love that girl,” Phoebe said.
“Me, too. She’s fun.”
Staring at Simon, Lexie thought about her own sister. She had more in common with Judi than she did with her half-sister.
“Don’t let it get to you, honey. Devil’s a good man. Vincent told me what happened. All he did was get angry and lash out.”
Lexie shrugged. “I’m not even mad about it anymore.” She chuckled, thinking about the heated yet scared expressions of the men she’d danced for. Lexie said as much to Phoebe.
“The boys know they can look but can’t touch. I wish I could have been there.”
Looking behind her, Lexie couldn’t hear anything from the door, and Judi had been gone a couple of minutes. Getting up from the chair, she walked down the hall and started running as she finally saw Judi fighting with a man.
“Wait, stop.” She yelled the words. The man threw Judi to the ground, kicking her in the stomach. “I said f**king stop it.”
She flew out of the door and paused as the man she now recognized as Rob grabbed Judi pressing a gun to her temple.
“Get inside, Lex. Stay out of this,” Judi said, sobbing. “This is my punishment.”
“That’s right, whore. This is your punishment for everything that f**ker did to me.” The hand across Judi’s body was bound up. “Took my girl and I’m down f**king money. No one wants to do f**king business with me.”
Taking a step closer, Lexie held up her hands. “You do not want to do this. She’s under Devil’s protection. He’ll f**king kill you if anything happens to her.”
“Do you think I give a f**k? He rides into our county and tells me what I’m going to f**king do. This is bullshit. I want my property, and I’m taking it. Get down on the f**king ground.”
Lexie took another step and screamed as a bullet bounced off the floor near where she was stood. Lexie hoped Phoebe wasn’t close by. If the other woman was pregnant then the last thing she wanted was to put the other woman in danger.
“Leave her alone, please.” Judi was speaking through gritted teeth. Lexie hated the fear she could hear in the young woman’s voice. She wished there was something more she could do.
With her hands flat on the ground, Lexie waited for what would happen next.
“Get in my f**king truck, bitch.” She heard some commotion, movement, and then a door opening and closing.
She moved her head to the side, and she saw the guy raise his foot in the air, bringing it down on her back. He didn’t use any force, simply laid his foot on her back. “I’m taking my girl, but if anything happens, I’m coming back for you. I just want my woman and what is due me.”
When she thought he was going to drive his boot down, he didn’t. He got into his truck and drove away. Lexie then heard the sounds of bikes approaching. The car pulled off.