There’s no chance in hell I’d let her go with anyone else. I would go apeshit if I couldn’t be beside her to protect her.
Besides, he and Tank are too high up in the pack to go to the club. Putting them in the vampires’ clutches could invite assassination or kidnapping. We just declared peace, but it’s best not to tempt the vampires too closely. An attack on a pack alpha or his second could mean war.
Jared might do it, if I asked, but he just took a mate. I’m single, expendable. And if I lose it and kick the shit outta a leech, the pack can write it off easier. Blame my bad temper, slap me on the wrist. As long as I beat up on a lesser leech, and don’t go after Lucius himself.
“I’ll do it,” I tell my alpha.
Sheridan waits until Garrett looks away to flick a brow at me. Wearing a sexy club get up instead of a stuck up suit really brings out the sass in her.
I gotta get her out of that outfit.
But not back into the suit.
Naked.
Fuck. No. Not that.
I’m staring at Sheridan. Her eyes widen as if she knows what I’m thinking, but she glares back with a shake of her head and makes another face.
Garrett catches her at it and frowns. “Behave.”
“Of course.” She smiles like a naughty angel. “Don’t I always?”
Trey
“HOW’D you know we’d be here, anyway?” I ask Sheridan as I drop her off by her car in Fight Club’s lot. After a few questions, Garrett and I discovered she didn’t have her car, having walked. We took turns chewing her ear off before Garrett told me to give her a ride.
Which is how I ended up riding my bike back with Sheridan’s arms around my waist and her soft body pressed into my back, fangs descending in my mouth and my dick ready to split the front of my jeans.
Lucky me.
“Sheridan?” I ask again, getting in her face so she can’t dodge my question. “How did you know we were meeting the leeches in the wash?”
The way she hesitates before answering, I know I’m not going to like the answer.
“Nero,” she admits. “It was the leech, Nero.”
My curse echoes around the lot.
“Trey, I can handle it.”
“Yeah? Why would he invite you to something like this?”
She nibbles her lip. “I don’t know.”
“Fuck, he’s into you.”
“You don’t know that,” she says quickly. “He probably just wanted to throw the Phoenix pack into the mix. Stir up trouble.”
“Why would he do that?”
“I don’t know.” She glares at me like I’m the problem. “Why do leeches do anything?”
I curse some more, and kick gravel, wishing it was Nero’s head. Or Lucius’. Don’t care that touching the vampire king would start a war. If he messes with Sheridan, killing him would be worth it. “I don’t like it.”
Sheridan rolls her eyes. “I’m not crazy about him hanging around me either. Next time he touches me, I’ll throw him into the bar.” She rubs her wrist and my vision narrows, my wolf so close fur crackles along my forearm.
“Did he touch you? Fuck, Sheridan, these guys are dangerous-”
“You think I don’t know that?” She gets back in my face, gesturing towards the building. “You’re the one who lets them in. This place is crawling with them!”
“This area is no man’s land. We’re not on pack territory; otherwise Garrett would have to police us. This way we welcome everybody, but that means leeches and shifters are free to roam. I don’t like it, but it’s the way it’s gotta be.”
“And what do you get out of this?” She shifts closer, studying my face as if she really wants to know. “This place is a dump.”
I step back, shutting down. “I guess that’s where lowlifes like me belong.” I don’t think Sheridan really thinks that of me-at least she didn’t when we were kids. But I’m parroting her dad, who never wanted me hanging around her.
“I didn’t say that. I know you like to fight but…” She stops. “But this place, with the scary bouncer and leeches lurking in the corner, and the drunks. It’s almost like you have a death wish.”
“I’m not talking about it. It’s none of your business. Besides, you can talk, accepting invites from vampires. What if he’d planned to get you alone and corner you?”
“I can take care of myself, Robson.” Her lip curls. “You’re not the only one who can fight.”
I refrain from rolling my eyes, but only barely. Yes, she’s a strong alpha female, but she’s not invincible. There are dangers out there that go far beyond attending college out of state or running numbers for a brewery.
“Want me to prove it?”
I don’t attempt to hide my exasperation. “No, Sheridan. I want you to stay out of fucking danger.”
“You and me, in the ring,” she challenges me.
Oh for fuck’s sake. I hold up my hands. “Okay, sweetheart. You don’t have to get defensive.”
She crosses her arms over her chest. “This isn’t defensive. This is me gearing up to kick your ass. Name the time and I’ll come down here and get in the ring with you.”
“Okay, okay, you can take care of yourself,” I concede.
“Name the time, Robson.” Her voice gets flinty. “I thought you loved sparring.”
I stare at her for a long moment. I’d like to pretend I’m not imagining the two of us sliding around in a jello-pit, or mud-wrestling naked, but my dick thickens against my zipper. “Okay, fine. Tomorrow. Noon.”
Her expression sears me like acid. “Get ready, Robson. Your ass is grass.”
“I’m looking forward to it,” I shoot back, and snarl at my own lame comeback.
“Tomorrow then.”
“Fuck me,” I mutter.
“No, thanks. Been there, done that, got the t-shirt.” She tosses her hair and shrugs out of my jacket. “Here.” Orange and vanilla wafts up from the leather, mingling with my scent. It smells good. Right. Meant to be.