The Biker's Fate Chapter 140

Mack

I WALKED BACK inside, admittedly distracted by my not so newfound adoration of Darien. I'd never felt like this before and it was strange for me. I headed back out to the front of the club and scowled when I found Knight talking with Katya Kozlov.

Fuckin' Nika sent his sister to do his dirty work.

"Mack!" Katya crooned, her Russian accent thick as she smiled at me.

I once thought it was sexy, especially in bed, but today, I found it grating. I forced a smile and made my way to her. "Afternoon, Katya." Kissing both of her cheeks, I raised an eyebrow. "Nika was supposed to be here."

"I know. Family emergency, so I'm here."

"Why aren't you with the family?" I challenged.

She chuckled. "His kids."

"Ah. Well, I don't know that you and I can solve anything today, but I appreciate you stopping by."

Katya stepped closer to me and ran a finger down my chest. "Oh, darling, I think you and I can solve everything today."

I removed her hand and put distance between us again. "Your brother has twenty-four hours to make this right, Katya, or he deals with me directly. Remind him it's his last chance."

"I will. But what about you and I have a little fun while we wait?"

"No."

"Why not?"

I shook my head. She seemed genuinely surprised. "Katya, I don't want to insult you, but our fun is over. I told you that six months ago and then again three weeks ago."

She licked her lips. "But I thought we could try again."

"I'm flattered." I wasn't, but she needed to be 'managed.' "But, no."

Katya's lip popped out in a very practiced pout. "Well, when you're done with whoever you're fucking, let me know."

I shook my head. "Tell Nika, yeah?"

"I will." She stomped out of the club like a petulant child whose toy was taken away from her.

"Need me to handle that?" Knight asked.

Aidan 'Knight' Quinn got his nickname partly due to his gallantry toward women and partly due to the fact he was a genius with horses. His brother Ace had been with the club for years, and Knight had just got his patch.

"Not sure yet, brother," I admitted. "Booker and I need to make a few decisions."

"They're gettin' in deep."

I sighed. "Yeah, they are, and now that shit's bleeding into club business."

That shit was mob shit, and although the club dealt with folks of all legal standing, mob shit wasn't something we were willing to get into bed with. Nika Kozlov had a pride problem and he'd made connections with people in an effort to win a pissing contest. Now those people were messin' with the Dogs and they would have to be dealt with.

I squeezed the bridge of my nose. "I'll bring this up at Church. Gather the receiving documents, by Tuesday, yeah?"

Knight nodded. "No problem."

Knight headed to Eliza's office and I headed to mine. I wanted to find Darien again, I missed her, but I had too much to do and she'd be a distraction, albeit a welcome one at the moment.

Darien

"Are you insane?" Pauley bellowed.

I rolled my eyes. "Pauley."

"No, just stop." She waved her hand as she paced the living room.

It was just past midnight and Pauley had walked in less than half an hour before. I was sitting cross-legged on our sofa, Barney in my lap, watching Pauley put on an impressively dramatic show.

"You cannot date Mack," Pauley continued. "He's a player, Darien. Next to the word 'man-whore' in the dictionary, there is a photo of him. I don't think there's a woman in Portland he hasn't screwed."

"You?"

That brought her up short. "What? No. Ew!"

I smiled. "Well, there's one and I know for a fact Kim's another one, so that's two. Pretty sure he didn't "screw" Dani, so that's three."

"Ohmigod, Darien, shut up!"

My phone rang in between her yelling episode, so I answered it without looking at the caller ID. "Hello?"

"Hey, you okay?" Mack asked.

"I'm kind of in the middle of an argument with Pauley, can I call you back?"

"Is that him?" Pauley snapped.

"Yeah, you can call me back," Mack said.

"Give me the phone," Pauley demanded.

"No," I snapped.

"Darien," she said in her mother voice.

"I'll talk to you soon," I said to Mack, and hung up before Pauley could get my phone.

"You cannot date him," she said.

"I know you forget this a lot, sissy," I said firmly, trying not to let my irritation and fatigue overwhelm me, "but I am not a child and you are not my mother!"

Pauley stared at me for a few seconds. "You know he's a lawyer."

I shook my head, wondering where the hell my sister was going with this. "So?"

"You hate lawyers."

"No, you hate lawyers."

"Oh, right."

I smiled. This was Pauley coming down off the ledge. I just had to let her rage for a little bit. We were both verbal processors, I just processed a little quieter than she did. I patted the seat next to me and Pauley flopped onto it.

"Pauley, I like him. A lot. A lot, a lot. We're getting to know each other. He hasn't made any grand promises... just that he won't see anyone else while we're getting to know each other. I feel I can trust him at his word."

She crossed her arms and dropped her head back to the ceiling. "I'm gonna grill Kim."

"Grill away, sissy," I said. "But if she's his real friend, then she won't tell you anything he's not willing to tell me himself."

Pauley rolled her head to me. "I can't handle the thought of you being hurt."

I shrugged. "I know, but I have to grow up in your mind sometime, and is there a better-looking guy to hurt me than him?"

Pauley chuckled. "In my mind?"

"Yeah, you're the one who still sees me as a little girl."

She sighed. "You're crazy."

"I'm crazy with a super hot man... sort of."

"You got me there."

"I'm going to call him back." I smiled and slid off the couch. "You good?"

"I'm going to get a beer and take a bath."

I giggled. "You're good."

Heading to my bedroom with Barney following, I redialed Mack.

He answered on the first ring. "You okay?" he asked, sounding concerned.

"Yes, fine. I just had to talk my sister down off the ledge." I smiled. "You weren't really worried, were you?"

"A little, yeah. I want to make this work, Darien, but I'm not getting between family."

"I'm sorry?"

"If what we do causes strife with Pauley, I'll shut it down."

"You'll shut it down."

"Yeah."

Irritation started to bubble. "Wow."

"You sound irked."

"You think?" I snapped.

He sighed. "What's the issue, babe?"

"Oh, I don't know. Maybe this sudden need for everyone to tell me what I can and cannot do. Last time I checked, I was an adult, so if I want to date you, and it gets 'between family,' then that's my issue to deal with." I blinked back angry tears. "I'm going to have to call you back."

Mack sighed. "Babe."