“Why are we here again?” I ask Diesel as we park up in the lot of a Mexican restaurant.

“You’re having food with me before I head out.”

“Diesel—”

“Wherein, I’m going to enjoy my fajitas and beer while you promise me not to do anything stupid until Fury gets out here to watch your back.”

“What the hell does La Pena’s mean anyways?”

“Hell if I know, but apparently it’s the only Mexican place around.”

“Couldn’t we go for pizza? Or fuck, what about a good old steak?” I grumble.

“You always want pizza. What is your hate against Mexican food, Ese? It’s good shit.”

“It tastes like shit, I’ll give you that,” I say with a sigh as we walk inside and I take off my shades, tucking them into the pocket of my vest. Diesel does the same with his as we wait to be seated. They take us back to a table, but both of us shake our heads no.

“We’ll take that booth over there,” Diesel says, finding one against the wall. The waiter looks at him strange but takes us over there with a shrug. Years of our lifestyle and being nomads until we found our own spot in this life has taught us both to keep our backs to the wall and our eyes on the crowd and the doors. “Two drafts,” Diesel orders as the waiter puts down salsa and fresh baked tortilla chips.

“You going to order for me too, Baby-cakes?” I ask sarcastically.

“If you don’t quit whining like a baby, I’ll order you a hamburger off the kid’s menu. Does that count?”

“At least it’s American food.”

“They have steak you know,” Diesel laughs.

“Do you see a baked potato on the menu? Or a loaded salad that has tomatoes and onions? Shit, eggs and bacon are nice too—with those crispy croutons.”

“Jesus, you really are a baby,” Diesel says disgustedly.

“Only about food,” I tell him, trying to defend myself. Once the waiter comes back we order our food and I go with a steak fajita and figure I’ll pick and choose what I eat. “Can I skip all that rice and bean shit? Just bring me French-fries,” I tell the waiter, making Diesel laugh.

“French fries?”

“At least it’s a potato,” I tell him and flip him off when he laughs harder.

My gaze moves around the room, automatically taking stock and monitoring it—even if I don’t need to. I even peg the two exit possibilities and the door that leads to the kitchen. Hell, maybe I have been in this life too long.

“So I called this morning and Fury will be here by evening,” the bastard says once he quits laughing at me.

“I don’t need a goddamn nurse maid, Diesel. I’m a grown man. Been taking care of myself for a while now. Hell, I can even wipe my own ass after I shit.”

“Quit being a prick. You know what’s going to happen if Wolf sees you sniffing around his woman.”

I go over Diesel’s words in my head. I take a drink of my beer and still replay them again. Finally, I look up at him and lay it out.

“I’m not convinced that she’s his.”

“She’s the daughter of a man who ran the club.”

“So?” I challenge him.

“Fucker, she’s not new to this life. She knows what wearing a cut that says you’re someone’s property means. She might be lost and in a world of hurt, but he’s laid claim to her and you trying to get in her pants puts your dick in jeopardy.”

“My dick?”

“I figure that’s what he will be cutting off if he finds it anywhere near Torrent.”

“Weren’t you the asshole that encouraged me to talk to her last night?”

“Yep, that’d be me,” he admits.

“So what the fuck is your problem now?” I ask him, more than a little irritated.

“You talked to her, she made her choice and I think you need to move on.”

“We don’t know that she’s made her choice yet,” I answer right as the waiter brings our food. Both of us remain quiet as that happens, but as soon as the waiter is out of earshot, Diesel starts again.

“Looks to me like her choice is pretty much made, buddy. Not to be a dick about it, but I think you need to realize that too.”

“What do you mean?”

“She didn’t meet you today—”

“Well, no. But—”

“And she’s looking pretty tight over there in the corner with Wolf.”

His words cause me to shut down. My gaze seeks out every fucking corner in the place.

I see her across from me in the far left. There’s a darkened booth and a couple facing me. They don’t see me though and I can’t decide if that’s a good thing or a bad thing. Wolf has his arm around Torrent. She’s resting her head on his chest. And he’s feeding her a piece of chicken from his fork. She’s smiling and he’s staring at her… with eyes only for her.

Fuck me… Diesel’s right.

She looks happy. She looks like she loves him.

She sure as hell doesn’t look like she ever thinks of me…not the way I do her and that shit burns hard.

The waiter comes by and leaves two more beers and I’d give anything if it was something stronger… right now I need it.