Chapter 7 SIX

Rhian had been shaken by something Grim couldn't put his finger on. But she clammed up soon after the little sit-down began and would only respond in a monosyllabic monotone from then on.

Her hand remained on his leg, stroking it. It was close to his cock, and he couldn't focus on what Blade was saying.

A difficult time... That was a significant understatement. This lovely lady was close to him, pressing on him, and his cock strained beneath the table, pushing against his pants, longing for the soft tips of her fingers.

Grim needed her, there was no doubt about it. Half of his mind was preoccupied with figuring out how to get back into the club's good graces-preferably by putting Beretta in the ground in a public way-but the other half was consumed entirely with the best way to bed this hot new babe.

Grim remained at the table with Rhian, his arm still tight and possessive around her shoulders, as his brothers filed out. His father had left him with a warning: the election was coming up in a week, so don't get too comfortable.

Then Mitch winked at him, indicating that the two of them would talk later. Mitch would support his little lie for as long as it didn't endanger any of his brothers.

"What was the point of that?" he inquired. "Why are you clamming up?"

"What was the point of that?" Are you serious? What was the point of that? You entice me and ask me to be your girl, your old lady, and you're in the fucking Beat Machines? "

Grim shook his head. "I assumed you were aware."

"How could I possibly know that? Who is aware of this? It's a ridiculous thing to be aware of! " Rhian huffed as she stood up and gathered her purse. "Look, just...don't involve me in your business anymore, okay? It's bad enough that you'll have to tell them we're no longer together, or something. I don't want any repercussions from them as a result of this, okay? "

She walked out of the diner, clearly not interested in hearing a response. He followed her out just as she began to return.

"I'm going to need their phone," she explained. "I misplaced mine. Do you have any objections? "

Grim obstructed the door.

He realized she was done with him. That wasn't good for him. He required her assistance. Blade and the others may have been tough as nails, but they were all aware of women's shifting power over men.

A Grim who had calmed down was a Grim they could live with. While she was at the table, he noticed their moods shift and the gears in their heads turn.

Grim was Blade's son. Grim had put the Machines through more ordeals than they deserved. And, while he had caused a lot of trouble for the Beat Machines, he had also caused a lot of trouble for them. And he knew that once they thought about it, they'd realize that if it weren't for him, they wouldn't have half the territory or business that they did now.

And he required them. He'd never get close enough to Beretta without the Beat Machines chasing him down. He needed their help to get what he wanted.

And it was Rhian who had persuaded them to change their minds. Rhian, looking like a good girl. Rhian, with her lovely angel face and sweet edges. By simply being near Grim, she softened his image.

Grim desperately needed her to keep him in the brotherhood. The brotherhood was all he had. He tried everything he could think of to exact his vengeance.

It didn't hurt that she was the sweetest, most beautiful girl he'd ever seen this side of the Laguna.

"I'll fix your car," he assured her.

"What?" She scowled. "No. You've done more than enough. "Please step aside."

"I'll fix your car, and I'll give you a ride home," he said again, doubling his bulk in the doorway. Back in Binan, I've got a tow rig and everything in the bed of my truck. I'll stop by later today and pull it all the way to my shop."

"Do you own an auto shop?"

"Yeah," he said, shrugging. "Or, you know, that Rude guy? One is owned by his son. So I'm pretty sure I own it. I can put whatever I want there for as long as I need it. It isn't a big deal. So let me handle it for you. Allow me to look after you."

She crossed her arms and pondered. Without saying anything, the two of them returned to the scorched husk of her car.

"Do you know anything about automobiles?" "

"Not really," she confessed.

"Okay. You're going to need a new radiator. When replacing the radiator in a vehicle like this, you must... How many miles have you put on it? "

"Slightly less than two hundred thousand."

"Wait a minute, girl. Okay, fair enough. You'll need to replace a few gaskets and valves, for example. Every piece of tubing. It appears that the fire may have also caused damage to other items. The carburetor shouldn't be that color, and your engine's side looks like hell. When was the last time you had it examined?"

"For example, an oil change?"

"In any case."

"I'm not sure. I purchased it two years ago. As a result..." she shrugged. "It was two years ago."

"Christ," he said, smiling as he shook his head. "You're doing yourself a favor by allowing me to do this for free. Unless you have a spare P75,000 lying around."

She appeared perplexed. "Seventy-five thousand pesos?" "

"Or something like that."

"That's the cost of a new car!" " She stutters. "O-or a brand-new used car." You understand what I mean."

Grim cracked a grin. When she was surprised, she was hot, her lips parting just so, her cheeks flushed red. She was probably hot when she was everything. He wanted to feel her pressing against his body again, to pull her ass against his heavy cock and let her experience what a real man could offer her.

"Do you have 75,000 for another car?"

"I don't have 75,000 to save my life."

"Well," he said, spreading his hands. "There's one way you're not going to need it."

She kicked her car's bumper, but her heart wasn't in it. He could see acquiescence on her face as what he was saying made too much sense to her.

"But," he insisted, "you must do one thing for me."

As she realized what he was up to, tears welled up in her eyes.

"You want me to keep acting like your old lady?"

She's a wise girl.