Loving the Devil Dog

Chapter Four: The Safe House

SABRINA

"I said she's coming with us," Maddox speaks up, a little louder in a tone that makes it very clear that he is not to be argued with.

Nervous murmurs spread through the whole club, but no one dares speak against him, not even the bitchy one who seems like she has it out for me.

It's so strange to me, watching the way they interact—it's like they have the utmost respect for Maddox even when they clearly disagree with him. He's so obviously in charge in a way I've never seen before.

I've never seen a man so dominant that I didn't immediately think he was just a dick with a control problem, but that doesn't seem to be the case here.

While I'm busy staring at Maddox, lost in my own head, I suddenly realize that I'm not the only one staring.

Maddox's eyes flicker with something I'd think to be interest, if he hadn't rejected me so totally earlier.

I guess people can change their minds, or maybe he wants me, but not in the way that I had offered—no damsel in distress implications.

Maybe he wants to have his cake and eat it too.

Maybe I'm totally misreading the low-lidded look of desire on his face and the way he coughs and flicks his eyes away when it's obvious that I notice the way he's looking at me. Maybe it's all complete coincidences.

Either way, I'm game to see how this plays out between him and I—the longer I can entangle myself with the Devil Dogs, the more likely I am to have time to figure out just why exactly his friend has my brother's keychain.

"You'll come back to the eastern safe house with us," Maddox orders, more so than offers.

I wonder if these guys are military veterans from the way they seem to be accustomed to giving and following orders. I know that a lot of biker gangs are veteran operated, but it's hard to say.

"Thank you," I force out, feeling like I should probably say something, anything, so I don't look like I'm doing so much plotting and scheming.

Maddox nods and looks over toward the guy who has my brother's keychain. "Jay, I need your bandanna." He mimes the act of covering his eyes, and my eyebrows go up in shock.

"You're going to blindfold me?" I ask, taking one step back from them.

"Oh, what?" the woman scoffs. "Maddox offers help and you're too good to take it?"

"All I want is to understand what's going on." I hold my ground, staring her dead in the eyes. "I don't usually end up blindfolded in my everyday life."

"Maybe your life is just boring," she huffs, shrugging her shoulders.

I cross my arms, the ghost of a grin on my face. "Oh honey, anything but." I know damn well that this bitch doesn't like me, but at least she's entertaining...just as long as she keeps the sparring verbal.

I don't want to get physical when my survival relies on them.

Maddox clears his throat in an effort to rein us in. "It's called a safe house for a reason," he explains. "Can't have outsiders knowing exactly where it is, hence the blindfold."

I nod. "Seems reasonable."

Seems sketchy.

"Hold still, I'll tie it on for you."

It's another order, but this time his voice is softer—I get the sense that while he's obviously used to being in charge, being in charge doesn't mean sitting at the top and bossing everyone around all day.