Page 53 of Love Gamble
“I know.” She’s a ride-or-die chick, but I just need her to stay out of trouble while I handle this shit with the rest of the men.
“Are you going to leave us with a gun? We might need a gun,” she says suddenly, and I can’t help it, I laugh.
“Do you know how to use a gun?” I ask her.
She lifts her head and looks me in the eye. “River is my brother—what do you think?”
Right.
Of course.
I leave her to read her book and start getting ready for war.
Chapter Twenty-Four
Corey
“So we just have to hide out?” I ask, frowning at Julianna and Bella. “Surely there’s something else we can do to help?”
I know Damon just wants me to sit here and look pretty tomorrow night, but I want to be useful. And I know they don’t want me to message Tatum anymore, but what if I can get something else out of him?
“We just need to stay away so the other men can’t use us as leverage,” Bella explains, sighing. “River basically told me I’m his weakness, and he can’t let them use his weakness against him.”
I purse my lips. “Wow, my brother has a way with words. You aren’t just his weakness—you’re his strength, too.”
“He did say that also,” she admits, grinning.
“Well, we have the most important job, which is to make sure Julian is safe,” Julianna adds, tucking her blonde hair back behind her ear. “I don’t love hiding either, trust me, but Bella is right. We can’t let them use us. And if we are safe the men will be able to do what they need to do with clear minds.”
“The whole thing is crazy—do we even know what their plan is?” I ask, looking to Julianna, who is the most likely to know.
“We will decide tonight when we go to church,” she says, glancing between us. “But I don’t know if I can tell you every detail, especially if you aren’t happy with staying behind.”
I know that comment was aimed at me, and fair enough. “It’s not that I have FOMO or anything. I just would help if given the opportunity.”
“We know,” she and Bella say at the same time.
“Who is staying with us, then?” I ask, knowing they aren’t going to leave us without someone staying behind to protect us.
“I’m not sure, but it will have to be someone they trust.”
Jeremiah, one of the Devils MC members, sticks his head into the lounge room where we are all congregating. “What are you three whispering about?”
“Come and sit down and find out,” I tell him.
He grins and steps inside. He’s wearing his staple leather pants, a black tank top, and one of those chain belts I haven’t seen anyone else in this decade wear. “Okay, what’s the gossip? Is this about Damon and Corey? Because we all know already. And yes, some of us are jealous.”
I open my mouth, then almost choke on my words. “What?”
“Damon has a hot, younger old lady,” he replies, shrugging. “And he got one that was off-limits. We love forbidden fruit.”
I cover my mouth with my hand, both amused and horrified. “Please don’t refer to me as forbidden fruit ever again. Or talk about me like I’m not sitting right here.”
Although I get a secret thrill at being called Damon’s old lady. I know I shouldn’t, but I love it. Being known as his is something I’ve wanted for a long time. Not that I’d ever admit that out loud.
Jeremiah puts his hands up in surrender. “Sorry, it’s a compliment.”
Jag walks in eating a mango, speaking of fruit, which makes us all laugh. “What?” he asks.