24

"That'll be a hundred each for entry."

Was he serious? Bloom never mentioned anything about having to pay to join them tonight.

"Why are we stuck in the hall?" Bloom came up behind me. "Bay, what the hell are you doing?"

"Trying to stiff me out of two hundred bucks," I said.

Bloom gave him a shove that made the other man laugh. "You run the fucking casino. You don't need money. Leave him alone."

"All right, all right." He held out his hand for a handshake. That I could do. "How's it been, Doc? I see the brat must be really into you because you're still breathing."

"I'm rather fond of him too." I smiled at Bloom, whose scowl turned mellow.

"Damn, you're good for him. Around you, the pittie turns into a poodle."

"Who are you calling a poodle?" Bloom took a step, but I caught the back of his shirt and reeled him back in.

"Be good."

The fight went out of him. Bay shook his head. "Wow. I need your phone number before you leave, Doc. I need you on speed dial for when he gets out of hand."

"But I may not do anything if you're the one provoking him."

Bay held up his hands. "Point taken. Come on in. Most of us are here already."

He brought us to the mess hall, where I'd met a few bikers before. More people were here tonight. For a party, everything was pretty tame. No one was drinking alcohol, and no music was playing. Odd. Until I saw the kids in the room. One was a boy around fifteen or sixteen. A little girl around eight years old sat on a blanket on the floor next to a baby chewing on a toy. Hovering over them was Wentworth, so I figured the baby was his.

"Hey, everyone, look who's here!"

They hollered and waved, and one man walked over to us. He checked over Bloom, nodding as though satisfied. I figured if he found a hair out of place, my face would get acquainted with his fist. How could I feel mad about that when I was just as protective over Bloom?

"Well, damn, Doc. You let this boy willfully play with your neck like that? Don't you know how dangerous he is?"

I shrugged. "There are worse ways to die." I'd already mentally prepared myself for the comments when I saw the bruises this morning's lovemaking had left on me. It'd felt too good to care about how it would look to others. Hopefully, they faded before I had to work tomorrow. The rumor mill at the hospital was already working overtime about my relationship with Bloom.

"Bloom, go get your man a drink," Crowe said. "I'll show him around."

Crowe introduced me to everyone. I wouldn't remember them all, but I made mental notes as much as possible. They were all rowdy, and in no time, they roped me into a poker game—no gambling per Crowe's rules. Tonight was a family-friendly affair, with the kids in attendance.

Bloom stayed by my side for a few until the kids and a blond boy—Chris—fetched him. Chris looked barely out of his teens, but he wore a motorcycle jacket just like the others and a prospect patch. Seeing Bloom play with the kids warmed me from the inside out, so I relaxed and gave his friends a chance. If they were willing to give up, even temporarily, the booze and the smoking, maybe they weren't so bad. They even had a swear jar, which was overflowing, but they tried. The money would go to the pediatric unit of the hospital, they said.

Last Christmas, when they ran the donation drive for the hospital and made those children's day, I'd thought it was a PR stunt orchestrated by Jamie to give them a good name in the town, but they seemed to genuinely care for their children.

The ex-mayor seemed happy. The rough men didn't faze him at all, and his biker treated him like a prince. They were always touching, kissing, and exchanging heated looks. Perhaps I'd overestimated their evilness. Those I'd been associated with didn't spare children or women. They showed no remorse to whatever innocent victim got caught in the crossfire.

"I think the doc's cheating," one guy called me out after I beat them again. He hadn't stopped talking since he sat at the table, but from the way the others ignored him, I figured it was a normal occurrence.

"Prove it," I challenged, calmly shuffling the deck.

"I don't know how you did it, but I'll find out."

I shrugged and dealt, my eyes flicking to Bloom. He was still with the children, a look of pure joy etched on his face as he joined in their games. A rush of affection flowed through me at seeing him so happy.

Why did this feel normal?

"So you fucking crazy over there?" The same man grinned, nodding in Bloom's direction.

He was trying to get a rise out of me, and he succeeded.

"Shut the fuck up, Tango," Saint growled. "Keep Bloom's name out of your mouth."

"I didn't call no name." But Tango fell quiet, though the way he glared at me was full of resentment. The other bikers were cool, but for some reason, he didn't like me. Or Bloom.

When he left the table, everybody let out a sigh of relief. Grimm and James appeared with their entourage behind them. Grinning, he headed straight for the table and took the place Tango had vacated.

"Dr. Collier, or maybe I should call you Logan now that you're a part of the family."

I dealt James in. "Dr. Collier will do."

"Oh, come on. I'm sure that's not what Bloom calls you."

"Bloom's different."

His grin grew wider, but he didn't push. As if hearing his name, Bloom walked over with a glass he set in front of me.

"Thanks." I smiled at him.

"You're welcome."

James let out a repressed squeal. I rolled my eyes, rubbing Bloom's thigh. At some point, Gerald and Bay said good night and took the kids with them. They were barely gone when the music came on, the liquor flowed, and a few bikers lit up a cigarette, proving my theory they'd P-G'd everything earlier for the kids' sake.

"Do you want to go?" Bloom whispered in my ear. "I know this isn't your kind of thing."

It wasn't, but one night of clubbing hadn't done any harm, so one night among these leather-clad men wouldn"t either.

"Not yet. Maybe in an hour?"

"All right."

He wasn't interested in poker, so I thought he would leave, but he plopped his ass onto my lap. My losing streak began. I couldn't get up from the table either because I was rock hard from Bloom's ass rubbing against me.

"I'm making you lose," Bloom said. "I've never been good luck for anyone."

"That's not the reason I'm losing," I whispered. I tilted my hips so he could feel the bulge. His miserable look converted into a grin.

"What's that, Doc?" Gunner took a card from the deck. "You can't win a game anymore? Whatever you're doing over there, Bloom, keep doing it."

"Me? I ain't doing anything." Yet he bounced on my lap. Everyone laughed while I sweated.

"I'm going to make you regret that tonight."

"Hey, what happened to Winter?" Grimm asked around the fat cigar in his mouth. "Haven't seen him around in a while. He back in Riverton?"

The room fell silent. Bloom went rigid against me, and not the way I liked. Bikers shifted uncomfortably in their seats while some looked away.

"What?" Grimm looked bewildered.

"Win's in rehab," Crowe replied, but from his clipped tone, there was a lot more to it, and he didn't want to get into it.

"Well, that's good, isn't it?" James asked. "I hope he makes a quick recovery."

"Heard he sold his ass for some coke." Tango laughed. "Got a lot more than he—"

Bloom was off my lap before I could blink. His fist connected with Tango's face with a resounding smack that sent the man sprawling to the floor. "You—"

Bloom didn't give him a chance to talk but straddled Tango, hammering his fists into him. Smack. Smack. Every punch landed like a thunderclap until blood splattered the floor, Bloom's knuckles, and Tango's battered face.

Wasn't anyone going to intervene?

As if he heard me, Grimm took a step toward them.

"Leave him," Crowe barked.

Grimm halted, glancing back toward Crowe, who was glaring at the scene. Grimm didn't push further, but he didn't look pleased.

Bloom continued to lay into Tango, his swings growing wilder and less precise as fury took over. Tango could do nothing to defend himself, his cries and grunts of pain filling the room. He gasped for air under the relentless blows, a thin wheeze escaping as Bloom"s fist slammed once again into his stomach.

Bloom pulled a long knife out of his boot. I catapulted out of my chair. Tango moved his head, and the tip of the knife plunged into the floor.

"This is bullshit, Crowe!" Grimm cried. "You're just going to let him kill him right here in front of everyone."

"If he doesn't, I will."

When Bloom raised his arm, I grabbed it. "Then you fucking do it, but don't put this on him."

"Did anyone hear me tell him to attack Tango?" Crowe snarled, jumping to his feet. "I'll crush his goddamn fucking skull anyway for that bullshit he just said."

Bloom was shaking, his breathing ragged and his eyes glowing with a savage light. His grip on the knife was tight, and his arm was coiled like a spring about to snap. Only my hold on him prevented him from going after Tango's neck a second time, and something told me he wouldn't miss.

"Bloom," I said softly. "Listen to me. It's not worth it."

He opened his mouth as if wanting to speak, but nothing but a grunt came out. His face had gone red, and sweat trickled down his temples.

With all my strength, I hauled Bloom off Tango, even as he fought me to finish the job. It took every ounce of energy I had. Normally, he was easy to lift, but his anger made him a force of nature.

Thrashing and kicking, he tried to wriggle from my grasp, whimpering and babbling inaudibly. "Shh. It's okay. I got you."

A gun went off, and I jerked. I stared in disbelief at the man whose bruised and bloodied body relaxed into death. Crowe stood over him, his face set in a hard line, jaw clenched, and shoulders rigid.

"There's a certain line you don't fucking cross," he said. "And this motherfucker has crossed way too many. In case it's not clear, you don't fuck with my men. I don't care who you are."

Bloom crumpled against me, his body going slack. The knife fell from his grip.

"You going to take care of him, or do I need to do it?" Crowe asked.

I tightened my hold on Bloom. He could pry the boy from me over my lifeless body. "I'll take care of him."

"Then go. Take him home. I'll check up on him tomorrow."