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didn’t frighten you too much.”
     
    He looked so concerned that it made Lexi’s heart melt. “I can’t say it didn’t startle me. But scare me away? Not hardly.”
     
    Eli looked relieved. “I want to explain to you what happened tonight. I don’t want to get off on the wrong foot with you and have secrets.”
     
    He guided her over to a table where he explained what really happened to Krank and the bad blood with the Hell Hounds. Lexi understood that he had to follow through with the lie to ensure they found out if it was actually the Hounds behind the murder. Eli also explained how close his father and Krank had been and how he was afraid it would affect Big Daddy’s health. Lexi could tell Eli had so much on his mind and her heart ached for him.
     
    “I hate to ask this, but would you mind if Alice took you home when she gets done with DD? I’ve got to have a church meeting with the club before this escalates out of control.”
     
    “No, of course not,” Lexi replied. “I totally understand.”
     
    “I wish our evening had ended differently,” he said with a soft smile.
     
    “Me too,” Lexi said as she placed her hands on his face.
     
    He kissed her softly.
     
    “I’ll call you tomorrow. I’d like you to meet Pop. I think he’d really like you.”
     
    “Sounds good to me,” Lexi answered.
     
    She watched him walk away and felt a twinge in her stomach. She was falling hard and fast for this bad boy and his way of life. But she had no idea there was a secret that could rip Eli apart.
     
     
    ****
     
     
    The club members joined Eli in the church meeting room along with DD. Alice had cleaned DD’s wounds and bandaged his ribs. One eye was swollen shut and he held an ice pack to his puffy face.
     
    “This is bullshit,” said Laser. “Are we just going to sit here while the Hounds keep pounding us?”
     
    “You heard what they said, it wasn’t them,” Eli answered. “Besides, DD took it upon himself to shoot up their club. If one of them had done that here he’d be in a body bag.”
     
    “Oh so I’m supposed to be grateful they didn’t kill me?” DD asked. The pain had sobered him up.
     
    “Yes you are! That was a bullshit move DD. What the hell? I told everyone to stand down until we knew for sure who killed Krank.” Eli was frustrated and it showed in his voice.
     
    “Krank’s death has been hard on all of us, but we can’t let this thing get out of control. If I can’t trust my men to do as I say why am I even here?”
     
    “Eli’s right,” Blaze said. “We’ll put feelers out tomorrow. Try and see if anyone else has a beef with the club or maybe even Krank in particular.”
     
    Eli adjourned the meeting when it felt like the club had settled down. DD went back to one of the offices with a bed and crashed. Eli had the prospects close the Tavern as he made his way home. He looked in on Big Daddy who was asleep. His ratcheted breathing brought tears to Eli’s eyes. He knew it wouldn’t be long before he’d be saying goodbye to him as well. To lose two men he looked up to all of his life and so close together would be devastating. His mind immediately turned to Lexi. He felt a deep burning desire in the pit of his stomach that he’d never felt before. Was this how love felt? As he lay down in his bed, he wanted to find out.
     
    ****
     
     
     
    Lexi lay in her own bed reflecting on the day and how everything played out. It was definitely not her normal boring day of managing The Copper Door, that’s for sure. One tiny part of her was frightened by the evening’s events. She’d never been in such a situation, and the club’s illegal dealings were a far cry from her sedentary job. But there was a fire that was lit the moment she laid eyes on Eli, and she didn’t want to put that flame out, even if it meant losing everything she was use to. It’s not easy to give up a life you’ve become accustomed too, even if it’s going nowhere fast. Lexi’s