Page 49 of Saving Grace
“By leaving?”
“Trust me, sister mine.” Matt smiled faintly as he pulled the door open and left.
Exactly ten minutes later, he was being led inside the biker compound’s club house.
Troy sat at the bar with a bottle of Jameson beside him. The biker boss tracked his approach with unfriendly eyes, the bruise Matt gave him forming on his jaw.
“You have lot of balls showing up here alone,” Troy said, taking a sip from a high ball glass. “What’s stopping me from killing you and burying you in some dump somewhere?”
Matt shrugged. “I’d like to see you try.”
Troy shook his head in disbelief. “Knowing you, you didn’t tell anyone you’d be here.”
Matt didn’t say anything, but took the stool beside Troy instead.
“I don’t know whether to admire you for your nerve showing up here or be offended that you think you can walk out of here unscathed,” Troy griped. “I have a rep to protect, you know.”
“Not my problem.”
“I can’t tell you anything about my business with Grace.”
“I’m not here for that and I wouldn’t ask you for that information without Grace beside me.”
“Then we both have a problem if Millie decides to keep her sequestered away from us,” Troy replied. “I’m sure you’re aware by now this whole mess is causing me problems. Cartel on my back and the sheriff on the other side …”
“Maybe you should drop the cartel.”
“Easy for you to say.” Troy tossed back his drink and slammed the glass on the counter. “The Reaper has already killed two of my men.”
This was news to Matt. “When?”
“Two days after the airport bombing.”
“You’ve been gone these past three weeks. Where were you?”
Troy’s eyes dropped to the bottle of whiskey. “Can’t tell you.”
“If this has anything to do with why The Reaper is after her…”
“I thought you didn’t want info—”
“The hell, Troy,” Matt growled. “If it concerns Grace’s safety, I need to know.”
“That’s Millie’s problem at the moment,” Troy reminded him. “Although I’m letting you know I’m coming up with a strong suit for having Grace stay with me at the compound.” The biker’s gaze challenged Matt, sending his temper flaring. “Just saying.”
“Good luck with that,” Matt said tightly, getting off the bar stool before he gave in and clocked Troy another one.
“Leaving?” the biker asked, clearly baffled.
“Grace is not with Millie,” Matt told the other man. “I took her home with me this evening.”
Troy rose slowly from his seat. “I should have known better than to trust a bunch of ex-assassins,” the biker grated harshly. “I have as much right to her as you, Foster, and you know it.”
“Do I?” Matt scoffed. “I’m going with my gut, and my gut tells me Grace is not the type of woman to hop beds. I was stone-cold sober when I left her in the motel room. I didn’t hallucinate being with her, so that only means you’re lying.”
“Watch it, Foster,” Troy warned, eyes narrowing. “You’re walking a very thin line right now.”
Unconcerned about the gathering biker crew behind him, Matt stepped into the other man’s personal space.