Page 2 of Tracked By Sasquatch

“I trust him implicitly, so no, never. However.” Her voice took on an air of concern. “If you mean the tension between them, then yes. That certainly bothers me.” She laid her cue down. “Forfeit,” she said before she strode their way, taking Devin’s hand in hers, not her ol’ man’s.

It irritated and soothed Sasquatch at the same time. Devin only came to stay in Utah after something she wouldn’t talk about happened in Nebraska and the Bastards there extracted her. Since then, she’d pulled away from her brother, who wasn’t taking it well since they’d been close.

That’s what happens when you have a shit-for-nothing alcoholic mother and you end up raising each other, Squatch assumed. He didn’t know shit about siblings. He was an only child raised for the most part, by his underage aunt.

What he did know was that Croon and Devin had always leaned on each other and that was why it was driving Croon insane that he didn’t know exactly what had happened to her. She wouldn’t lean on him, but she’d found a friend in Hook. Everyone supported it because those two seemed to understand each other on a level no one else did. And if Hook’s ol’ lady could handle it, who were they to rock the boat.

His gaze slipped over toward the bar where Croon had downed a shot, before he met Squatch’s and a look passed between them. One that said the sight of Hook and Devin fighting disturbed him more than her not having anyone. Croon’s eyes went back and forth between Squatch and Devin, and he got the message, be there for her if her relationship with Hook goes south, since it can’t be me.

When Squatch gave him a curt nod, placed his cue on the table and took a step toward them, Croon mouthed a thanks and headed out to work.

His phone pinged a few seconds later, and he pulled it from his pants pocket.

CROON: Take care of her.

SQUATCH: I’ve got you, brother.

He tapped out the reply before repocketing his phone.

Croon was grumpy as fuck. He was definitely going to be the shittiest karaoke host tonight. Not his usual sing and charm the pants off any red-blooded woman within the walls of the bar with his soulful rendition of “Love Me Forever” by Motorhead. Which was ironic because for Croon, forever was a max of one night or three orgasms. Whichever came first… his words.

By the time Squatch made it to the group, there were no more raised voices, just a silent standoff before Devin gritted out, “Fine.”

She turned her gaze to Nova and gave her a hug before delivering a jab at Hook. “You could do so much better than him.”

It was said with an odd combination of venom and jest. “Not true, sweetie, and you know it. You’ll get over it, but not until you make him suffer a little first.” Nova soothed her. “How about I make him sleep here tonight? Will that help you feel better?”

Devin smiled through her tears. “It sure would.”

She turned back to Hook. “Deep down, I know you’re right, but on the surface, I hope your dick falls off.”

“Hey, hey, hey. I’m on your side, remember,” Nova chided. “Why curse me, sister?”

“Fine,” Devin conceded. “I hope your sled doesn’t start and you have to ride a moped on the next club run.”

Devin spun Squatch’s way and their eyes collided. For a moment, he was lost in her olive-green eyes swirling with pain and fear and something else he couldn’t understand. What he did understand was he needed to erase that look for her. It was as if his soul begged him to.

Few things cleared his mind when it was a cyclone of emotions. Fighting, fucking, and flying down the road. The first two were not what her brother had in mind when he’d ask Squatch to take care of her, so the third it was.

“Hey, Devin, wanna go for a ride? Just let it all go for a while?”

She gave him a watery smile that kicked his heart up a beat. “That sounds like exactly what I need.” When she slipped her arm in his, he relished the feel of her skin against his.

As they headed out, Hook spoke from behind them in a voice laced with emotion. “Sorry, Devin, I love you like my own sister, but…” His words trailed off and Devin spoke without turning back.

“I know, brotherhood comes first.”

Lower, she whispered, mostly to herself, “Never me.”

Those two words almost broke him. No woman should ever feel like they didn’t come first.

But she was wrong, she came first to her brother. The ol’ ladies came first to their men too. They’d hardly admit it out loud, but it was true. The brotherhood of the club was first, until they had family. Then they were also part of the club, so they were on equal footing. At least that’s how it’d seemed to him since three of his brothers had gotten ol’ ladies and kids. That would definitely be the way for Squatch.

His club was everything, but he’d never put them above his ol’ lady and kids… right?

Even though settling down wasn’t at the top of his to-do list, it had entered his mind more often than not lately.

Mostly because of Devin.