Vicious Cycle (Vicious Cycle #1)(20)
Ignoring me, Rev stared straight at Case. “I think Deacon should have an escort at all times he’s outside the compound.”
I groaned. “Come on, man. You’re acting like I’m a marked man.”
“You are,” he growled.
“With our cuts, we’re all marked men every moment of the day,” I countered.
Slamming his fist down on the table, Case barked, “That’s enough.” Rev and I both eased back in our chairs. “I agree with Rev. Until we can get a better handle on all this, you’re not to leave the compound without an escort.” Before I could protest, Case swept up his gavel and then banged it. “Meeting is adjourned.”
When I started to rise out of my chair, Case shook his head. “You stay.”
I knew the other guys were just as surprised as I was by his request. Reluctantly, I let my ass fall back in the seat. After the rest of the guys filed out of the room, I glanced expectantly at Case. “What’s eating at you now, Prez?”
“I’m worried about this teacher.”
My brows shot up in surprise. “With all the shit going on with the Knights, you’re thinking about her?” When Case nodded, I asked, “You worried for her or for the club’s safety?”
The flame from Case’s lighter illuminated his face as he lit his pipe. After taking a few puffs, he replied, “She’s an outsider.”
“Yes, I’m aware of her status,” I replied, digging in my pocket for my own smokes.
“Just having her here in the clubhouse or at your house is trouble waiting to happen.”
I hastily lit a cigarette. As I inhaled sharply, I let the sweet nicotine sting fill my senses. “She’s more trouble if we keep her out.”
“I know. That’s the only reason why I’m letting her in here. But my issue with her isn’t just the fact that she could bring CPS sniffing around in here.”
“What is it, then?”
He slid a manila folder over to me. “I had someone look into her background.”
“Is it that serious?” I asked, flipping the folder open.
“If you consider the fact her uncle is a retired state trooper.”
I grimaced as I glanced over the papers regarding Alexandra’s life. Of all the teachers I could have had snooping around, I had to have one who was tied to the law. And this uncle wasn’t just someone she saw on the holidays. He had become her guardian when she was seventeen and her parents died in a car accident.
“He’s a lifer here in town, and so is his wife. It won’t take long for him to put two and two together about who Alexandra is working for,” Case said.
“Did he ever put any heat on us when he was active?”
“No, he didn’t. He even collected toys from his fellow officers for our charity runs.”
I flipped the folder shut. “Then I don’t think he’s going to be an issue.”
“I hope not.” Case took a thoughtful drag on his pipe. “She’s a very beautiful woman.”
I snorted. “Better not let Kim hear you say that. She’ll have your balls on a platter.”
Case grinned at the mention of his possessive wife. While there was amusement in his eyes, he still pinned me with a hard look. “Beautiful women like Alexandra are trouble for a man like you, Deacon.”
“What the f*ck is that supposed to mean?” I demanded, stubbing my cigarette out in the ashtray.
“It means a woman like her can get under your skin. She’s smart, independent, and good-hearted. She loves your kid, and your kid loves her.”
“Jesus, Case, you sound like an old woman.”
“I’m trying to give you something to think about.”
“Trust me when I say that regardless of how ‘beautiful’ Miss Evans is, I’ll have no trouble keeping my dick in my pants around her.”
Case shook his head. “It’s not your dick I’m concerned about. It’s your head and your heart.”
Shaking my head, I said, “Jesus, man. When did you grow a f*cking vagina and start talking out of your ass with head-and-heart bullshit? This is me we’re talking about, Case. Not Rev.”
“I am serious.”
“I don’t know what I should worry about more: Sigel or the fact that my club president thinks I’m going to let some white-bread piece of ass turn me soft.”
“All I’m saying is just be careful. And for f*ck’s sake, don’t say or do anything to piss her off. We need her on our side.”
“Fine. Anything else?”
“She doesn’t go anywhere in the compound without someone watching her. She doesn’t need to be hunting for the john and accidentally stumble onto something she shouldn’t. Got it?”
“I’ll put the prospects on her.”
I rose from my chair and patted Case’s back on my way out of the room. I didn’t know any other way to put the man at ease. I mean, he had nothing to worry about with Miss Alexandra Evans. The woman was beautiful, yeah—for sure—but that little sweet-ass chick and I were never going to tumble in any sheets. I’d stay away for the same reasons I’d warned Bishop away. I was far less concerned about her getting a rise out of my dick than I was about her making waves for the club.