Half the Battle (Saint View Psychos, #2)

by Elle Thorpe

“And you brought all these people here. We’re way over capacity and a security guard down, so the two of you are not running off, leaving me with no staff, no security, and a roomful of bikers who are hell-bent on getting drunk. Stop thinking with your dicks. She’s a big girl and perfectly capable of looking after herself. Vincent is scary as hell when he wants to be. They’ve got this. I know you both want to be the hero who swoops in and rescues the damsel in distress, but mark my words. She. Does. Not. Need. You.”

“Jeez, fine. That was bad form. I apologize. Don’t worry about the police. Caleb won’t say anything. Or I’ll kill him. It’s really very simple math, Bliss. Now, how about some nuggies?” McNuggets, Vincent corrected.

You can’t blow my mind the way you did the last few times we’ve been together, then cut a guy off. He’ll go through Bliss withdrawals. And there’s no rehab for that, except for the one between your legs.”

“Don’t talk about your thighs like they’re anything other than my favorite thing to get between.”

“War is such a tattletale. So a guy jumps a secure fence and watches his boss get her pussy licked by a biker. Is that really such a crime?” I gaped at him. “You are such a pervert!” He raised one eyebrow. “I am? Or you are? You were the one writhing around in the dirt, begging him to pound you with his trouser snake.”

Scythe laughed, that deep, delicious sound hitting me right between the legs. I narrowed my eyes. “How exactly do I get Vincent back?” He shrugged. “He’s left the building.” “I wish you’d leave the building.” He sniggered. “Why you gotta be like that, Bliss? I just want to be besties.”

He froze on the other side of my desk. “Have you been crying?” “No.” He folded his arms across his chest. “Fine. I’ll rephrase. Has water been falling from your eyes?” The corner of my mouth flickered up. “Maybe. But I’m fine.”

“Go, little rock star,” I murmured, pride filling me at the confidence she’d managed to muster up.

“What do you want, Scythe?” “To hang out. I’m bored.” “Go read a book.” I wrinkled my nose. “That sounds like a Vincent thing.” She smiled sweetly. “Then please bring him back so Vincent can go read a book and you can stop putting your boots on my bed.”

She threw her hands up so suddenly that Little Dog skittered away from her in fright and closer to me. I took my chance and put a hand out to her, ready to stroke her fur. She bared her teeth. Geez. Was every female in this room premenstrual today? Bliss was still glaring at me.

I grinned triumphantly at her making death threats on my behalf. Sexy.

“He wants you, Bliss. Why the hell do you think he hasn’t had sex in so long? He’s looking at every woman in the bar, at the parties, on the street, and comparing every single one of them to you.” He pressed a kiss to my lips. “Not one of them does.”

“Scythe,” I groaned. “Fuck, I love hearing that name on your lips, Bliss. I’ve heard you yell War’s and Nash’s. And now mine.”

there, fighting to get back to me. I had a feeling she knew about my dad and just didn’t want to do life without him. I couldn’t even blame her. I barely knew Bliss, and yet, the thought of not seeing her for a day had me sweating.

“I’m always thinking about you, Bliss. Every fucking night when we’re together in this bar. Every day, when I’m lying in my bed alone, wishing you were with me. You haunt my fucking dreams, and then you walk into work and smile at me like you have no idea how fucking beautiful you are.”

I could fall in love with Nash Sorensen. In fact, I was pretty sure I was already halfway gone.

“Fact is, my sexuality has no bearing on whether I can lead this club. But your trust in me does. So take a vote. And let me know if I’m in or out. Because if I don’t have unanimous support, I’m as good as done anyway. I’m not going into this war doubting that any one of you have my back. That’s a real good fucking way to end up dead.”