Warped (Dueling Devils Book 4) Read Free Page A

It’s
obvious why.”
    “Don’t
use that copout. This is about more than scarred flesh.”
    Monster
narrowed his eyes. “‘Cause you’d know, pretty boy?”
    “Fuck
you. I’m your twin. I know when something’s up.”
    “Well,
when you figure it out, can you clue me in?” Monster raised an eyebrow.
    “You’re
so fucking annoying,” Pan seethed.
    “Right
back at you.”
    “I’m
going to check the due dates on the bikes to see where we need to focus once we
finish this one up today.” Pan walked off.
    Monster
chuckled. Usually, the shoe was on the other foot. The shift in the tides
filled him with a feeling he hadn’t had in years…hope. As the others filled in,
the usual organized chaos began. He loved the smell of oil, the feel of the
metal in his hands, and the familiar motion of repair. Motorcycles had always
been his love. He got it honest from his father. Thoughts of Freebird, as
always were mixed with one part happiness, then one part anger and
disappointment. He’d been a great dad for most of their life, then he took a
turn down a dark path that had been the entire family’s downfall.
    “Hey
man, did you see the office manager?” Monkey asked as he strolled in twenty
minutes later.
    “Yeah,
I saw her,” Pan replied.
    Monster
paused and glanced up at the dark-haired Spaniard he swore should’ve been
nicknamed Rico Suave for his wooing skills.
    “I
bet you won’t be running this one off like you did Sarah,” Monkey said.
    “No,
she made it pretty clear my charm was lost on her,” Pan said dryly.
    Monkey
laughed. “I saw her from behind when we came in. Her body is killer, but when
she turned around—holy shit. Someone did a real number on what would’ve been a
beautiful face.”
    The
comment lit a fire. “Fuck you, Monkey. Last I checked, you were no Brad Pitt,”
Monster snarled.
    Monkey’s
jaw dropped open.
    “Be
careful, Monster has a little crush on her,” Pan quipped.
    His
brother’s wide grin pissed Monster off even more. “It’s not a crush,” he
growled. “You walk around all day having people not look you in the eyes, hold
their kids closer like you’re a fucking child molester, then you might not want
to sit by when someone tries to do the same to someone else with scars.
Everyone just keep their fucking mouths shut about it.”
    Silence
fell.
    Monster
glowered, making eye contact with everyone in the room. He felt protective of
the woman who’d recently joined them, and that mean staking his claim.
    “Dude!
Monster, chill out. Monkey didn’t mean anything by it. No one knew you had your
boxers in a bunch over her. Mum’s the word from now on,” Bandit said.
    Monster
grunted and returned to his tune up.
    Pan
hovered nearby.
    “Are
you going to say whatever it is you want to say, or just keep floating like
your namesake? Because I’m pretty sure my parents died years ago.”
    “Damn,
you really are in a mood.”
    Monster
glared up at him and narrowed his eyes.
    Pan
smirked. “It’s amusing seeing you all worked up over a girl.”
    “I’m
not worked up over her.”
    “Right?
That’s why you just stared everyone down like an alpha male pissing on a tree
to mark his territory.”
    “I
just don’t want them to give her a hard time, is that a crime?”
    “No,
but it’s the most lively I’ve seen you in God knows how long.”
    “I
thought that’s what you wanted,” Monster countered.
    “It
was—it is.”
    “So,
what’s the problem?” Monster pressed.
    “You
always try to dumb things down. We both know it’s not that simple. She makes
you react and we don’t know shit about her.”
    “Let
it be, man.” Monster shook his head.
    “You
know me better than that,” Pan said.
    “Yeah,
unfortunately, I do. You’re going to annoy, overwhelm and possibly piss her off
before she can even get her foot in the door. Just let it happen on its own, if
it’s meant to.”
    “Let
what happen?”
    “Exactly,”
Monster retorted.
    Pan
shook his head. “You