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“He threatened Beth?” Copper asked He tried to keep his voice neutral, but couldn’t quite keep the lethal out of it

“Copper,” Shell said, raising an eyebrow “You promised”

Blood si away ready to roll into a full boil Joe had no idea the hell he’d invited into his life by going after Shell And then to be threatening Beth? He’d be damn lucky if he lived another week “I know, babe This is directly related to the club” He looked at her defeated expression, so she never wore in front of hi some coave a gentle squeeze It was a fucking ainst hisdown a mouthful of need

“Why haven’t you brought this to me, Shell?”

“Things have been rough with the club ever since I came back, Copper First with Shark, and then Lefty” She shook her head “I know my mom hates the MC and pretty ht of the Handlers asside of business outside of the club’s knowledge Let’s face it, the club was different back then My dad was leading the club in the wrong direction You know it, I know it And you guys don’t deserve to pay for his poor decisions”

If Shell was a ht then and there Loyal to a fault, she loved her fauy, so she couldn’t patch in, and call him a caveman, but he would never believe a woman should have to pick up any slack for the club business He’d tried to take care of and protect Shell from the moment her father was killed, despite her protests and insistence on independence Clearly, he’d failed miserably

“It ends tonight, Shell Joe doesn’t get another fucking penny from you You hear me?”

Owl-eyed, she started to speak

“Not finished” he held up his free hand “The club will take care of it No, I won’t give you details, you’ve been around long enough to kno this shit works If you see hi happens that doesn’t seeht, you call me, immediately Understand? I’ll take one answer, and that’s a yes”

Shell just nodded “Okay, Copper,” she said in a small voice “Thank you”

Huh? That ay too easy Shell didn’t accept help No rowled at her “That’s it? Just thank you? You’re not going to argue with me?”

A sad sht Maybe when I wake up to ht And, if you want the truth, giving hi me” A blush appeared on her cheeks “I’ll be able to breathe a little easier now”

Copper closed his eyes and counted to ten He had to assume some of her easy acquiescence was due to the fact he didn’t fly off the handle over the news, but kept his cool and spoke to her rationally So, as much as he wanted to shake her until her teeth rattled, he refrained

“Okay Then it’s done, and as long as you don’t see Joe, we don’t have to speak about it again” He pushed a stray curl behind her ear “How’s Beth?”

Shell groaned “Last night was rough We were both up pretty ht And today she was a bear, but she fell asleep before dinner, and seeht”

The wo bottom feeder like Joe Shell needed a man in her life Someone to care for and protect her, from herself if necessary

He tried to i that role in Shell’s life, and he nearly ripped one of her pillows in half

Copper rubbed his eyes as a wave of fatigue washed over hiht, and she needed to get soet ready for bed, babe I’ll lock up for you I’m pretty fuckin’ bushed myself”

“All right” They both stood Shell placed a soft hand on his arm “Thank you,” she said, then wrapped her arms around his waist and buried her head in his chest

The feel of her, soft and war to hiripped herfor you and that princess back there, you know that, right?”