“I think she’d like it.” I bite the inside of my cheek until the metallic taste of blood fills my mouth.

“Then it’s settled Missy’s Place it is.” Nix reaches over, slaps me on the arm, before moving on to the next topic. I miss it entirely, my mind’s too lost in the memories of Missy and what this means for me. For her.

I never thought I’d ever come to a point in my life where I’d be able to honor her name.

Until now.

It might have taken ten years, but fuck it feels good.

“You still with us?” Nix asks a while later, pulling me back. I look up and notice the boys have all left, leaving Nix and me.

“Yep.” I stand, ready to go.

“So you wanna tell me what happened to your face.” He stops my exit like I should have known he would.

Taking a seat back down, I prepare to lay it all out for him. “One of T’s boys jumped me after leaving Fireside last night.”

“How’s he look?”

“Lucky to be alive.”

He draws a breath in and slowly releases it. “This gonna come back on us?”

“Depends if he has the proof he says he has.”

“Is there a chance he has proof?”

“I don’t think so, but he seems adamant.”

“You don’t think so? Jesus, Beau. You either know or you don’t.”

“I don’t fucking know. I can’t be sure. It wasn’t a planned rescue. It happened so fast. You know this already. I saw her and took her.”

He taps the table three times, thinking through our options. “Well, where is she?”

“She’s still in town. Tiny has her in one of his safe houses. She doesn’t want to leave in case he files kidnapping charges. Tiny’s dealing with it.” It’s probably not the best place to have her considering Baz is losing it, but after this, I’ll make sure I talk with Tiny.

“Well, keep an eye on it. If this fucker gets out of line again, don’t be so easy on him next time.”

“Oh, I look forward to it,” I tell him, knowing I don’t need my Prez’s permission to take this shit further. If Baz fucks up again, I won’t have a problem taking the asshole down.

“You really okay with using Missy’s name? Didn’t mean to throw that shit out there when you’re unprepared.” Nix changes the tone of the conversation, but I’m prepared.

“It’s fine. I’m good.” His brows dip a little, watching me for a reaction.

“You just seem a little wired. Everything okay at home with Mackenzie?”

Fucking wired is an understatement. I’m on fucking edge and don’t need to be sitting around fucking talking about it.

“I’m good. Look, I gotta head out to the new building with Kelly. She wants to discuss furniture shit. We done?” I stand and look down at him.

“Yeah, we’re done.” He finds his feet and follows me back out to the bar.

“You ready?” Kelly stands when she notices me.

“Yep. You bringing her?” I ask, looking down at Mia playing at her feet. I don’t have a problem if she does, but I have a feeling we’re gonna have to go shopping and, fuck, shopping with Mia where she runs around touching everything is gonna drives me nuts.

“Don’t be an ass, Beau.” She shakes her head, before digging through her bag.

“What did I say?”

“She has a name. It wouldn’t hurt for you to use it.” She pulls her keys from her bag and starts to walk out to her car.

“You’re a dick,” Jesse shouts across the clubhouse, happy for once I’m copping it and not him.

“Yeah, says the biggest dick of all.” I flip him off.

“I know I have a big dick, thanks.” His laughter can be heard all the way outside as I follow Kelly.

Jesus, I’m losing my touch. I fucking walked right into that one.

Fifteen

Mackenzie

“Please, tell me this did not actually happen?” I laugh at Kadence’s reaction as Holly relays a story involving Nix, Valentine’s Day and Viagra.

“Oh, it happened,” Kadence answers, laughing just as hard as the rest of us.

It’s a Friday evening, five nights after my tense encounter with Beau where he told me he wanted me as much as I wanted him but wouldn’t act on it.

I had planned on having a quiet night in until Beau was called into work, and he didn’t want to leave me alone, so I told him I would call Kelly over to keep me company. She showed up with alcohol, Kadence, Holly, and Bell, turning my quiet night into a girls’ night.

“So what did you do?” I take another sip of my drink, my third for the night, and I sit back in the chair I now call my own. I know it’s not really mine, but I’ve claimed it as my own whenever I sit down to watch TV or read a book, it’s the comfiest spot.

“We had to go to the ER. It was so embarrassing. Everyone knew.” Kadence giggles, hiding her face in her hands.

“I can’t even imagine.” I laugh along with them, picturing it all play out.

“Enough about us. We want some gossip on you.” Kelly leans forward and tops up her cocktail.

“What? I don’t have any gossip.” A warm blush creeps up my neck and four sets of eyes fall on me.

“Girl, you’re hot gossip at the moment. Don’t leave us hanging,” Kadence encourages, and I almost feel disappointed I have nothing to gossip about with them.

“I swear, I have nothing.” I shrug, those four sets of eyes, fading from excitement to suspicion.

There is no way I can tell them what has or rather hasn’t happened between Beau and me.

“You mean to tell me, you’ve been living under this roof, living in your own bubble with no interruptions, no nosey club members to cramp your style and you have nothing to share?”

“Believe me, if I had something to share, I would.” I let out a huff at my own displeasure.

Ever since that night when Beau told me what he wanted to do to me, then told me we can’t, he has been reserved, keeping to himself and staying clear of me. It’s been tense and somewhat awkward, but I’m trying to put it behind me with hopes maybe things might change.

“So you do like him. I knew it!” Holly stands to raise her glass.

“Sit down, fool. We all knew she liked him.” Kadence rolls her eyes and turns back to me.

“So what’s the issue? He’s too moody?”

I laugh at her question only to find them all staring back at me blankly. “Beau is not moody. He’s just composed,” I defend him, watching as each of them share a look.

“Girl, the man is so moody, some days I wonder if he’s PMSing on the same cycle as me,” Kadence fires, and I can’t help but laugh along with them.

“He’s not that bad.” I shrug, not seeing Beau the way they do. He’s direct and quiet, but moody? No.

“We have bets to see how many words he can say sometimes. I think the most I’ve ever heard in one night was fifteen. Fifteen, Kenz. Fifteen.” Kelly shakes her head, disturbed by the number.

“He talks to me,” I offer, hoping to show them he’s not the moody asshole they seem to think he is.

“Yeah, ‘cause he likes you, probably wants to tie you up and spank you.” Bell’s hand slaps over her mouth just as fast as the words leave her lips.

Oh, God, did everyone know about Beau and his wants but me?

“What. Do. You. Know?” Kadence turns to face the younger woman, whose eyes are practically falling out of her head.

“Oh, God. No, nothing. I know nothing.” She shakes her head, denying it as much as a kid caught with his hand in the candy jar would.

“Bullshit. Don’t you dare hold out on us,” Kelly pushes this time.

“I can’t say. I wasn’t meant to say. Oh, I’m gonna be in so much trouble.” Bell starts rocking.

The thought of her knowing something she isn’t supposed to doesn’t sit well with me. A spark of jealousy settles in me. What does she know?