End Game (Sinners MC Book 2)

by Jennifer Hanks

  With my eyes locked on his, I took a small step toward him. “I don’t know. Sometimes, you just surprise me.”

  He took a step closer but then glanced around the room and stopped, which made sense. We were in a crowd of people who believed I was dating Bull. Standing any closer than we were had the potential to stir up too many questions. “How’s your kid?”

  I studied him for a moment, searching for signs he was being sarcastic, considering the lengths I’d gone to in order to find out what Dominic was up to, but all I saw was sincerity.

  “He came in and talked to me on Monday.” I’d been surprised and relieved when he’d walked into my office Monday after school. I wasn’t sure what prompted it, but during that hour while we talked, I began to see glimpses of the kid I knew at the end of summer.

  “That’s good.” Bear lowered his voice, and his expression turned solemn. “Did he tell you what he was doing there?”

  I shook my head. “No, but he agreed to start seeing me once a week, so I’m hoping he will.”

  “No more stunts like last weekend, Josie.”

  That one statement reminded me of his words after we’d had sex and changed the conversation immediately. “You have no say in what I do.”

  He reached out and wrapped his hand around my arm when I started to walk away. He leaned down close to my ear and lowered his voice. “I fuck someone, I have a say.”

  “Hey, Josie.”

  Bear groaned and slowly straightened while I twisted so I could see around Bear. I smiled in relief when I saw who had found me. “Hi, Lucy.”

  Lucy returned my smile and then glanced up at Bear. “Hi, Bear.”

  “Lucy,” he growled. It was obvious by his tone that he was pissed we’d been interrupted, but I was glad. This was not a conversation that would end well, and I didn’t want to have it in a room full of Becs’s friends.

  “We need to talk,” Bear stated, but I shook my arm free of his hold.

  “Not now, Bear,” I replied and moved toward Lucy. “I have to get the food.”

  “Can I help?” Lucy asked with a smile.

  “That would be great.” I returned her smile and moved quickly away from the man who’d been occupying too many of my thoughts lately.

  Lucy and I walked side by side through the crowd and toward the kitchen. We were almost there when she spoke. “I finally met with Dominic.”

  My head snapped her way, and I stopped walking. “You did?”

  “Yeah.” She gestured toward the kitchen behind us. “Let’s talk in the kitchen.”

  We were barely in the kitchen before I spun and faced Lucy so we could talk face-to-face. “When did you meet?”

  “Yesterday. Well, last night, actually.” She flipped her hair over her shoulder. “I took the chance I’d catch him after I got off work, and I did, right outside of his foster home.”

  “And…?”

  “And I told him I was concerned about him. He said he’d agreed to meet with you once a week. I didn’t tell him I already knew that.”

  “I bet he figured that out.”

  She grinned. “I think he did. He’s a smart kid, and he has to be curious as to why we’re both trying to meet with him suddenly.” She lowered her voice and looked around the kitchen before continuing. “Have you followed him recently?”

  “No, but I don’t think I have to worry about that anymore.”

  She tilted her head to the side. “Why not?”

  “I didn’t want to get into everything when I sent you the text about him agreeing to meet weekly, but when we met, he told me he found a job working in a garage, and he’s starting soon. I asked him if he had another job, and he said he did, but he was quitting.”

  “That’s great news and such a relief.” She smiled.

  “I know,” I agreed. “I was so relieved to hear that, but it’s one step at a time with Dominic. Hopefully, the more we meet, the more he’ll open up.”

  “I’m starting to think he might,” Lucy shared. “You made a real difference with him this summer, although I do wish there was more we could do to help him navigate this year and his situation at home.”

  “I know,” I admitted. “But I think we’re going to have to wait for him to come to us.”

  “Ladies.”

  We both turned quickly and watched Ritz walk by us and then farther into the kitchen. I’d met Ritz last weekend when Maggie and I were planning this shower, and he offered to make food for it. I’d had no idea at the time what a fantastic chef he was or that he worked in a restaurant, but it only took a few samples of his food before I was hooked. Maggie told me the guys gave him the road name Ritz because of the fancy food he made, and I understood why.

  “We’ll talk later,” I suggested, and Lucy nodded.

  We followed Ritz to where he was pulling trays of food from the large stainless-steel refrigerators. He glanced over his shoulder while he continued to load the wide counters with the food. “Figured you’d be ready for these.”

  “We are.”

  “Wow.” Lucy marveled while she stood over the trays. “This looks amazing.”

  “Course it does,” Ritz replied with a wink.

  We both rolled our eyes, but with his help, we carried the trays out and laid them along the length of the bar. After uncovering everything, Ritz disappeared, and I called out for everyone to come try his fantastic food. In one quick glance around the room, I saw Bear had also disappeared.

  And I refused to admit, even to myself, that I’d hoped to see him.

  It didn’t take long before we’d eaten and opened the enormous pile of gifts sitting at Becs’s feet. When all the gifts were unwrapped, the partygoers formed small groups and continued to chat. Becs found me standing beside the bar and gave me a hug before pulling away. “Thank you for this.”

  “You’re welcome.”

  “Not to complain.” She rolled her eyes and gestured behind her. “But who the hell invited Candy?”

  I shook my head. “According to Maggie, we had to, considering she’s dating Dozer.”

  “Ugh.” She made a face, and I laughed. “Poor Dozer.”

  “I think he’s old enough to know what he’s getting himself into.” I thought about that for a moment before amending my sentence. “Or at least I hope he is.”

  “Me too.”

  “Hey, Becs, I need to get going.” I took a step back while Becs hugged quite a few people, thanking them for the gifts and promising to keep them updated on Wyatt.

  Before too long, only a handful of us remained, including Sydney, Lucy, and Kate. We were chatting when I heard the sound of heavy boots on the wooden floors and looked up. Bull, Bear, and Gunner came into the room from the side door and walked straight to where we stood.

  When Bull put his arm around my shoulders, I avoided Bear’s eyes. We had a part to play for all who remained, and I was Bull’s girlfriend, so it made sense he would come straight to me the same way Gunner had gone straight to Maggie.

  Before anyone could say more, the front door opened, and Race walked in. His eyes scanned the room before landing on Becs and heading toward us.

  He gestured toward the pile of open presents. “Looks like you got everything.”

  Bear grunted. “If she didn’t, the rest won’t fit in my place.”

  Becs laughed. “I think I should be good.”

  “Who needs a drink?” Gunner asked.

  Everyone turned to face the bar and found a stool. Bull settled his large frame on the stool beside me, and his shoulder brushed mine. Bear walked around the bar and began to pull out bottles of liquor as well as mugs for beer. He took orders and, with a smile, began handing out drinks.

  Bear slid a beer toward the other end of the bar where Dozer stood with his arm around Candy. “Who’s on the door?”

  “Blaze,” he responded.

  “I talked to Luke.” Kate spoke up. “He should be here in about ten minutes.”

  Bear winked. “Enough time to get you drunk.” />
  “I don’t think that’s enough time.” She laughed.

  I was surprised Bear was okay with Luke stopping at the clubhouse today. He always seemed to keep that part of his life separate from the club, but Becs was friends with these girls, and I had a feeling he knew she’d needed this.

  “Sure, it is,” Gunner said. “Just depends on what you’re drinking.”

  “No way.” Lucy laughed.

  “That a challenge?” Bull spoke up from beside me.

  “With you?” Lucy asked, but when Bull nodded, she shook her head. “No way.”

  “Afraid?” he taunted.

  “Yes, definitely.” She laughed. “You may want to challenge someone who stands a chance at beating you.”

  “Like who?” He snorted arrogantly. “Josie?”

  At the mention of my name, I sat up taller. “You’re challenging me to a drinking contest?”

  “Yeah.” Bull glanced over his shoulder and met my stare. “You up for it?”

  I shrugged. “Sure.”

  Bull jerked back, and I loved that I’d shocked him. I wasn’t afraid of a drinking challenge.

  I faced the bar when I heard Bear’s voice and immediately saw the scowl on his face. “You don’t drink.”

  “I do drink,” I admitted. “When I feel like it.”

  Bull smirked. “You feel like it today?”

  I smiled up at Bull. “I think I might.”

  He snorted out a laugh. “You have any idea what you’re agreein’ to?”

  I lifted my eyebrows. “Do you?”

  “Woohoo!” Becs called out, and Race grinned from where he stood at the end of the bar closest to where she sat. “Looks like we got a fun night ahead of us.”

  “Not a good idea,” Bear growled.

  Ignoring him, I glanced down the bar. “We’ll need a ride home.”

  “I’ll make sure you get home,” Becs promised.

  “I drove you here,” I reminded her.

  “Oh, yeah.” Becs frowned, and Maggie laughed beside her. “I forgot.”

  Bull snorted. “If you’re hell-bent on doin’ this, let’s get goin’.”

  Bear leaned down on his forearms and put his face close to mine. “You’re not doing this.”

  I studied him for a moment before lifting my gaze to Bull. “Who’s pouring?”

  Bear growled and lowered his voice while conversations around us resumed. “Don’t push me, Josie.”

  “You afraid?” I lifted an eyebrow.

  “Afraid of what?”

  “That you may be wrong about me.”

  He snorted. “I’m never wrong, sweetheart.”

  I grinned. “Guess we’ll see about that.”

  Bear stood slowly, and I think we all held our breath. He was pissed, that was easy to see, but I had no idea why. I felt comfortable drinking with these men, more comfortable than I’d ever felt at parties. I knew they wouldn’t let it get out of control, but for some reason, I didn’t think it was about drinking. It seemed it was something between Bull and Bear and not something I wanted to be involved in.

  Bear pulled two shot glasses from behind the bar and dropped them in front of us. “What’ll it be?”

  Bull grinned down at me. “Wanna start slow?”

  I smiled at him but then faced Bear. “Whiskey.”

  A few catcalls and whistles sounded around us, and I laughed. I knew I didn’t look like it, but I had a crazy high tolerance for alcohol, a little something I figured out while in college. It didn’t make much sense, but I’d been able to outdrink a lot of the guys I’d had classes with and didn’t usually wake up with much of a hangover.

  He poured the first one, and I tapped my glass against Bull’s before I lifted it to my lips, tilted my head back, and slammed my first shot. The burn down my throat made my eyes water, but I set my glass down and signaled for another.

  We did three shots pretty quickly before Bull signaled for a change. “How about a beer?”

  “Honestly, I hate beer.” I shifted my attention to Bear. “I’ll have a vodka and cranberry.”

  Bear cursed under his breath but grabbed a beer for Bull before making my drink. I heard the door open and voices behind us, but I kept my eyes locked on Bear while he worked, enjoying the warmth spreading through me. I could feel my inhibitions lowering, especially when flashes of being with him played over and over again in my mind. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw a few people from the other end of the bar with their eyes on Bull and me, so I leaned my shoulder against his, smiling when he looked down at me.

  “What did we miss?”

  Looking around Bull, I saw the man who spoke standing behind Lucy. She smiled at me and gestured behind her. “Josie, this is Christian.”

  I smiled. “The fiancé.”

  She returned my smile and nodded. Then I lifted my hand to wave at Cam and Luke, who were watching me with nothing but curiosity in their gazes.

  “You stickin’ around?” Gunner asked just as Bear slid the drink I’d ordered in front of me. Lifting it, I took a long sip and waited for Luke to respond.

  “Wasn’t planning on it.” Luke shifted his attention to Bear.

  Bear nodded while Kate stood, along with the rest of the Dimarcos. We all called out our good-byes, but Lucy stopped behind my stool. “Text me tomorrow. I want to know how this turns out.”

  I giggled. “You got it.”

  I watched them leave before facing Bull again and finishing my drink in one long swallow. He grinned while he watched me. “Never woulda guessed this.”

  I returned his grin but shifted my eyes to the side and met Bear’s before giving him the words he’d given me not all that long ago. “Guess you shouldn’t have made so many assumptions.”

  CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN

  BEAR

  Fuck, this girl could drink. Not many could hold their own against Bull, but she was sure making a statement with what she could do. She’d also just thrown my words back in my face, which only impressed me when it should have irritated me. I watched for a while longer, becoming more and more pissed as she leaned her shoulder into Bull’s and laughed.

  Jealousy was a bitch.

  When she shifted her attention down the bar, my eyes followed her line of sight only to see Candy and Dozer fucking around at the end of the bar. He already had her shirt off, and it didn’t look to me like it would be long before the rest would be gone. I’d seen Candy do this with more prospects than I could count, so I wasn’t surprised.

  Josie’s attention shifted slowly back to me, and her eyes flicked back and forth between mine. “Have you been with her?”

  “Candy?” She didn’t answer, only tilted her head, so I smirked. “Jealous?”

  She lifted her eyebrows. “Of Candy? No.”

  I leaned onto my forearms. “Then why do you care?”

  “Don’t care,” she replied. “Just hope you’d be smarter than that.”

  I narrowed my eyes. “How drunk are you?”

  “Not drunk yet,” she replied, and I believed her, considering her eyes were clear and speech wasn’t even a little slurred.

  “She’s been around for over a year now. She’s harmless, just wants a place to belong,” I explained.

  She shrugged. “I think you’re blinded by her looks, but obviously, most men are.” She pointed at me. “When you admit I’m right and apologize, I’ll try not to smile.”

  I grinned at her sarcasm, enjoying her attitude way too much. “I never apologize.”

  She glanced down the length of the bar again before shifting away from me and leaning her head against Bull’s arm. “Never say never.”

  Glancing down the bar, I saw too many eyes were on us, so it made sense that she’d seen that and leaned into Bull. She had a part to play and had been playing it well. But I hated that our moment was over. It didn’t matter that we’d been talking about Candy, I’d had her attention on me, and that was where I wanted it.

  My eyes flicked back and forth between them,
and I cursed before throwing my towel down onto the bar. “This is over.”

  Bull had been talking to Gunner, but he’d obviously heard me and shifted so he could see Josie again. “You done?”

  “I never said I was done.”

  “I said she is,” Bear stated quietly, his eyes locked on Bull’s as if daring him to contradict him.

  We all looked down the bar again when Candy giggled. Dozer threw her over his shoulder and headed for the stairs. Looking around the room, I noticed most everyone was wrapped up in the person they were with and had lost interest in us, so I did what I’d been wanting to do all night.

  “I’m taking you home.”

  Josie’s eyes widened, but it was Bull who spoke up. “I need to follow?”

  “Nope,” I replied. “You’re off duty tonight.”

  Bull grinned and looked at Josie. “I’ll see you tomorrow night, sweetheart. I’m goin’ to bed.” He shifted off the stool and laid his hand against her back. “You did good, better than most.”

  “I’m calling it a tie, considering Bear is the reason we don’t have a winner.” She pointed at me but kept her eyes on Bull.

  He chuckled. “Sounds right to me.”

  Her eyes shifted away from him and back to me when I spoke. “You okay to ride on my bike?”

  She shrugged. “I guess so. I’ve never been on one, though.”

  I already knew that, and I wanted her first time on a bike to be on mine. “I’ll get my keys.”

  Walking quickly, I went to the office and grabbed my leather jacket and keys. She didn’t have a jacket, and it was gonna be cold for her on the back of the bike wearing only a thin shirt. I made my way back to the bar and saw she was the only one left.

  “Ready?” I asked.

  “Yep.” She jumped off the stool, and I held up the jacket.

  She didn’t even ask; she just turned and shoved her arms into the sleeves before grabbing her purse. I liked Josie when she’d been drinking because she was agreeable but not nearly as much as I liked it when she threw attitude at me.

  Reaching down, I wrapped my hand around hers and began walking toward the doors. When we were outside, and the doors slammed closed behind us, I turned and locked them before we headed to my bike. She stopped beside my bike and faced me, waiting while I pulled the helmet off the handlebar.