Page 83 of Stag

I nodded slowly, wondering if I could get the fuck out of here now.

“Are we done?”

Seb moved around the kitchen island to head for the door, then paused as he reached it.

“Oh, one last thing. The ladies are ready to start planning their hen night, and we want it somewhere they’re safe, and your people can watch over them, while we’re on standby. They’re very pissy about us being in the same bloody room for this. You gonna hook us up?”

Hook them up with what? Oh. Fuck.

“You mean Grimm’s? I have no control over him or his club!”

Seb smirked as he pulled the door open. “You’ll make it happen, bruv. I believe in you. Nige will text you with potential dates. Off you go then.”

I stepped outside, relieved as fuck to get out, even while my brain was already turning over the whole fucking Grimm thing. How the fuck was I supposed to get him to do me a favour? I was barely on speaking terms with him, on probation with his club, and likely to piss him off again at some point. It’s my way.

“Oh, Stag?”

I froze and turned to look back at Seb, who offered me a half grin.

“Welcome to the family.”

Claudia

By the time Stag returned from his meetings, or whatever he’d been doing, he was agitated and a little distracted. He hugged me, kissed my head, and paced the hallway until he lunged for the door and pulled it open again. Micro and Harley stepped inside, both waving to me as they joined him, both frowning at Stag’s state, just like I’d been doing.

“Should I make drinks?”

Stag shook his head, and led them into the kitchen, reappearing to flag me over to join them.

“I’m not hiding things from you, so what has to be said is going to be said where you can see it. I don’t lie to you, that’s our deal, right?”

That sounded serious, terrifyingly so. I nodded, and switched the kettle on, moving to join them at the dining table.

“What’s going on?” I asked, as they all looked stressed and frustrated.

“The Bennetts,” Micro said, gesturing to Stag for him to speak, so I turned to watch him.

“I’m fully on board with them now, and what the fuck does ‘welcome to the family’ mean anyway? I’m theirs now? They knew I got laid off today. They know… all kinds of things.”

“Like?” I asked, but he just reached for my hand and squeezed it.

“Not important, but the facts are these. I’m on surveillance for them for the next two days, and don’t ask for details, just like I said to them, I’m not a fucking snitch and I’m not telling you guys shit, just like I won’t tell them.”

I glanced at Micro to see grudging respect on his face as he nodded.

“I’ll allow that unless you’re in too deep and in danger, hear me?”

I checked Stag to make sure he was being smart and agreeing, and he was nodding.

“How soon can we get moved into the clubhouse? I don’t want to leave Claudia alone for fucking hours in this house that isn’t ours.”

I opened my mouth to argue, and he squeezed my fingers again, a quick sign that he needed to continue, so I figured I’d argue after.

“They want Grimm’s.” Did he just say that? They want it? Like they want to take his club from him? The bastards!

The others must have said something, because Stag shook his head.

“No, not like that. They want it for that hen night we’re supposed to help with. They want their women safe, and they want me to make sure we get Grimm’s for the night. Jesus, he’s not gonna do this for me. He hates me!”