Battling Troy: Devil's Knights Series (22 page)

“You ok, doll?” Gwen asked as I climbed into Meg’s truck.

“I’m not really sure. I’m terrified, but I’m not going to run. Troy might not come over tonight. His job of protecting me is done. I was an obligation before and now I have to be something he chooses.”

“I saw the way he looked at you, doll. There’s more there than you think.” Gwen started the truck and we headed out the parking lot.

“I hope you’re right, Gwen. I want him so much, but I need him to want me as much.”

“Don’t stress about it. Everything works out. Just look at it this way. Six months ago, you lost your fiancée and didn’t know what you were going to do. Now you have a kick ass job with a bitchin’ boss, reconnected with your dad, new friends from what I just saw, and one smoking hot guy who I
know
has the hots for you.”

“But it could all go away in an instant.”

“Marley,” Gwen took her eyes off the road and glanced at me. “You of all people know that things can change in an instant. But maybe in that instant they can change for the better. You’re never going to know unless you take the risk and see if the risk is worth the fall.”

“OK, you’re right. Take me home, I’ve got a plan,” I smiled, finally believing the only way to be happy was to lay all my cards on the table and let the chips fall where they may.

The first thing I was going to do when I got home was unpack all my boxes and prove to Troy that I was here to stay and nothing was going to make me run.

Not even falling in love with the man I had been waiting my whole life for but never knew existed. Time to stop fighting my feelings for Troy and take what I wanted.

*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*

Chapter 29

Troy

“Before you called me, King, I had an interesting phone call from a man who went by the name Big A.”

Holy shit. Leo, King, and the rest of the Devil’s Knights were gathered in the room where they normally held church.

I hadn’t wanted to leave Marley, but I knew something had to be up when King had called my name. I was standing by the door, my arms crossed over my chest, waiting to hear what the hell Leo was talking about.

“Why would Big A get in touch with you?” King asked.

“Well, he had somehow found out we were contracted by Mr. Mark and he thought we might be interested in helping him take out a man named, Rigid.”

Rigid growled and slammed his fist down on the table. “That fucking cocksucker.”

“He informed me all that had been going on between the two of you. I always like to know all the facts before I back the winning horse. Mr. Big A does not appear to be the winning horse to me.” Leo rested his elbows on the counter and steepled his hands in front of him.

“So where does that leave us?” King asked.

“Well, Big A continued to go on and say he wouldn’t feel bad at all if something were to happen to Mr. Rigid or all the Devil’s Knights for that matter.”

“Did he tell you anything more, where they were?”

“No, he did ask to have a meeting with me to discuss things further. I told him I would have to think things over and get back to him. He said he would give me two days to decide if I wanted to help him.”

“I guess the question to ask is if you are planning on helping him,” King said, leaning back in his chair.

“I make very decisive decisions and don’t back away from them. Five minutes into my conversation with Big A, I knew what I was going to do. The only thing I fear is that my decision might bring repercussions to the Devil’s Knights. Big A is going to try and take each and every one of you out, regardless if I help him or not.”

“So what the hell are we going to do? We’re basically in the same spot we were before. We know the Assassins are after us, but we don’t know where they are,” Demon said.

“Well, this is where my proposition comes in. I am more than willing to offer any help you could use in getting rid of your problem with the Assassins if you help me with my own situation my nephew has gotten himself into.”

“And what situation would that be?”

“Well, it would be my nephew and sister you would be helping out. My nephew, Antonio, got a little too big for his britches and started stirring things up with a local gang. Small potatoes really, but it would best for his mother and him to leave town for a bit, if not longer.”

“So what exactly do you want us to do?”

“I just need a quiet place for them to lay low until I get things under control. Right now they are staying at our estate in Martha’s Vineyard, but we rent it out during the fall and winter. Our first renters will be there in three weeks. They would arrive at the first of November and more than likely stay until the first of the year. I will pay for all their lodging and such, but I would ask for you to look after them and make sure nothing happens to them.”

“What exactly did your nephew do to get on the wrong side of this gang?” Slider asked.

“I deal in, let’s say, undesirable things. I know you’ve all gone legit, so I know not to bring that business aspect to your door. Antonio got it in his head that he wants to go into the family business and started with small potatoes, mueling drugs. I do not want my life for my nephew. It is a hard life that few can handle.”

“So, did he fuck up a drop or something?”

“No, the problem is he was too good at it and started taking business away from the gang who use to do the mueling. I believe that is where your trouble with the Assassins began if I am correct. They thought you were stealing their territory.”

“Hard to believe, but yeah, that was what our first meeting with them was about. Then their cousin beat up Rigid’s ol’ lady and they didn’t like the way we came to a resolution.”

“Well, I feel I could help you with your problem with the Assassins and in return you could look out for my sister and nephew until I get things settled at home.”

King looked around the table, gauging everyone’s reaction. “I think that could be an even trade. I might know of a place she could rent for a couple of months. I’ll talk to Meg and see if she knows of anything.”

“All right, we can hammer all the details out later.” Leo held his hand out to King and they shook hands. “I’ll be in town until Tuesday. We’ll meet again before I leave.” Leo stood up, nodding his head in the direction of all the members and walked out the door.

“Are we all right with what just went down?” King asked, looking around.

“Hell yeah. If it means we get the Assassins off our backs I’m down with babysitting for a couple of months,” Demon said. Everyone else nodded their heads and mumbled yes.

“One last thing,” King said as everyone started to get up. They all sat down, wondering what else there could be. “Until we get everything wrapped up with the Assassins, we need to keep an eye on everything and everyone. Meg, Cyn, Ethel and Marley need to be with someone at all times. Gambler, you get Gwen and bring her back to the clubhouse.”

“What the hell do we need to watch her for?” Gambler groaned.

“I don’t want to leave any stone unturned and I don’t want anyone to get hurt just by knowing us. You’ve been with her the past week, Gambler, so you have her until this is all cleared.”

“This is bullshit!” Gambler pushed away from the table. “The fucking chick does everything to annoy the fuck out of me. I won’t even tell you what she did to me when I was in the shower this morning.”

“What? You finally found a chick that isn’t falling at your feet? I think I might like this chick,” Gravel laughed.

“Ha ha, yuck it up, assholes,” Gambler grumbled as everyone laughed.

“It shouldn’t be long. You can handle her for a couple of weeks, Gambler.” King didn’t leave any more room for argument from Gambler.

“Uh, I see how ya’ll don’t have a problem keeping an eye on Meg, Cyn, and Ethel because you live with them, but I’m not in the same boat as you guys.” All eyes turned to me.

“What the hell are you talking about? You dumping my girl?” Gravel stood and advanced towards me.

“No, but I have no idea what she’s thinking. Even if we are together, how the hell do I tell her she needs to move in with me?”

Gravel got right in my face and growled. I swear I could see steam coming out of his ears. “You tell her she’s moving in with you and that’s that. You want to be with my daughter, you need to fucking be there when she needs you. Not whenever you want to get your dick wet.”

“That’s not what I fucking meant.” Gravel and I were face to face, ready to rip the other ones head off.

“Then say what the fuck you mean!”

“You’re a fucking asshole, you know that?”

“What. The. Hell. Are. You. Doing. With. Marley?”

“I’m pretty sure I should tell Marley that before you, asshole,” I bit out.

Gravel and I stared each other down, neither of us backing down.

“Break it up you two,” King said, walking in between us. “Do whatever you have to do to keep Marley safe, Troy.”

“I’m on it,” I growled, turning to the door and stormed out.

Who the fuck did Gravel think he was to demand what I was doing with Marley? He may be her father, but he hadn’t been a part of her life for how long, and now he thought he could just roll in and take over where he left off. He may have good intentions, but he was about to get his ass kicked if he didn’t back the fuck off.

I had no idea what the hell Marley and I were. Telling her she had to move into my house again until things gotten taken care of seemed to be pushing the bounds of our relationship I didn’t even know the limits of.

“Oh good, you guys are done. Cyn fell asleep on the couch.” Meg pointed to Cyn, who was sprawled out on the couch snoring softly.

I looked around the room, noticing Marley and Gwen were nowhere to be seen. “Where the hell did Marley go?” I demanded.

“Um, she and Gwen took my truck and left,” Meg mumbled.

“She fucking ran, didn’t she?”

Meg looked at me, pity in her eyes. “I honestly don’t know. She didn’t have the same look in her eyes as the last time. I honestly think she is just trying to figure everything out, Troy.”

“She had to run to figure shit out?”

I started pacing the room. I had no idea what the fuck to do. She seemed fine when I left her, but now she was gone. “Do you know where she went?”

“She said she was going home and if you wanted to see her you could go over there. Gwen was going to drop her off at her house and she said she had something to do.”

Yeah, like pack her fucking bags. “Son of a bitch!” I ran my fingers through my hair and stopped in my tracks. She was leaving me again, I fucking knew it.

“I think you need to go talk to her before you assume anything, Troy.”

“How the hell do you know, Meg? Do you have the one person you love running every chance they got?”

Meg looked at me shocked, her mouth hanging open. Fuck, I just told Meg I loved Marley. I hadn’t even admitted to myself I loved Marley and now I just blurted it out.

“You love Marley?”

“I don’t know, I could,” I muttered.

“Holy shit, Troy. That’s huge for you. The only thing I’ve ever heard you say you love is beer and Bandit.”

“Yeah, well, I do like beer,” I smirked. “Wait, where’s Bandit?” Bandit was at the apartment with us and I hadn’t seen him yet.

“King had Remy go pick him up and took him back to my house. I figured he could hang out with Blue tonight and I’d bring him over tomorrow.”

“Thanks,” I mumbled.

“Can we get back to the fact that you love Marley?”

I didn’t know what to say. Did I love Marley? I sure as hell didn’t want her leaving and the idea of having her stay with me pleased me more than it annoyed me.

“Oh my god, you love her! Stop being an ass and go get her!” Meg and I both turned to the couch, surprised to hear Cyn awake.

“Dude, you were snoring like five minutes ago.”

“Yeah, well, with you and Troy yapping so loud, you woke me the hell up.” Cyn sat up, her head popping up over the back of the couch.

“Why the hell are you sleeping so early anyway?” Meg asked.

“It’s what people do when they are tired,” Cyn shot back.

“Dude, feisty much?”

“Would you stop saying, dude? You’re going to be thirty-seven in three months,” Cyn grumbled, laying back down on the couch.

“You’re so PMSing aren’t you?”

Cyn raised her hand up, flipping the bird. “Sit and spin, Meg.”

“You first, babe,” Meg laughed.

“You both suck. Go get Marley, Troy and, Meg shut the hell up. I’m freakin’ tired.” Cyn ordered.

“Gah, you better go. She’s grumpier than a hungry bear right now,” Meg whispered.

“I don’t have a car, remember, I did get kidnapped a couple of hours ago.”

“I think we can-” Meg started but was cut off when keys came flying at me, hitting the side of my head.

“Nice shot,” Meg laughed.

“Jesus Christ. Have you heard of maybe saying heads up when you throw something,” I barked at Cyn, bending down to pick up the keys.

“Have you heard of manning up and taking what you want? You want Marley, fucking take her,” Cyn snapped.

“Who the hell pissed you off, beautiful?” Rigid asked, walking into the common room, followed by the rest of the club.

“I think you need to take your woman home,” Meg advised Rigid.

“I think you might be right,” Rigid said, ducking a pillow that came sailing over the couch. Meg didn’t see it in time and got smacked on the side of the head.

“You bitch,” Meg spat out. She darted past Rigid and pounced over the back of the couch onto Cyn.

All Rigid and I could see was asses and elbows as Meg and Cyn wrestled each other.

“You really think they’re pissed at each other?” Rigid asked, unsure of what the hell was going on.

“Nah,” I said, hearing Meg laugh. “You might want to break it up soon before Slider gets out the cooking oil.” I nodded towards the kitchen where Slider was searching the cabinets and looked at Rigid and me with a big grin on his face.

“Oh fuck no,” Rigid called, moving over to Meg and Cyn. “King, get your woman off mine,” he called.

I watched as all the guys made their way over to the couch, trying to see what the hell was going on.