"I'm Mac," he says to me.
Desperately wanting to laugh, I nearly break a rib keeping myself quiet.
"He's Mac," Colbie says, suddenly behind me. "Jace, ask him how he got his scar, and he'll cream his jeans for you."
"Shut up," Mac grumbles without any real effort behind his words. He likely knows the twins don't take orders well. "I'm the VP of the Deadly Dogs Motorcycle Club."
"They call him Macaroni," Colbie shares, clearly trying to start trouble.
"Cunt," Macaroni's blonde woman growls at Colbie. "I'll cut you."
"You'll try."
"I'll tear that pretty face right off you."
"Stop coming on to me. You know I ruled out lesbianism last summer."
The woman grins, and I realize these two are friends. Apparently, this is the way the twins bond with people. I suddenly feel lucky they've only passively threatened me.
The women suddenly stare at me, still looking to cause trouble.
"No offense," I say to the blonde, "but I've spent the day trying to keep up with Snap, Crackle, and Pop over here. I'm not in the mood for a fourth chick busting my balls."
"You're weak," she says softly. "It's okay. Most men are."
The women walk away and leave me with Macaroni and his two goons. One is short and thick. His tatted head looks like a kid went crazy with a crayon. The other guy is big and leaner. He watches me like a lazy cat faking out its prey.
"Macaroni, huh?" I ask, squirting ketchup on my fries the pretty blonde brings.
"A nickname I got as a kid. Did me good too. You know the song A Boy Called Sue? Well, having that name made me tough. People just call me Mac now."
Sawyer returns, finding a spot in a back booth. She's ignoring me. Bodie though walks straight towards us.
"Hey, Macaroni, Snickers, and Caveman. This has been fun. Now, get out of my bar."
"Funny, Bo," the little guy says. "I think you'd be cuter bent over that table."
Showing off all her white teeth, Bodie smiles brightly, so I know to be afraid. "I'm going to kill you one day, Snickers. Chop you up and feed you to my wood chipper. Oh, how it'll purr when devouring you."
Mac sighs. "Every fucking time."
"Tell him to stop talking to me," Bodie mutters. "I have no reason to be nice to your ugly friend. I'm nice to Caveman, aren't I?"
The big guy doesn't even look at her, but she's not looking at him either. She's too busy challenging Snickers who looks a little suicidal. I wonder if I'll see him in wood chips soon.
"What's your name?" Mac says to me, ignoring Bodie at the bar and Snickers watching her ass.
"Jace Todds."
"Whatcha doing here?"
"I already told you," Bodie says, glancing over her shoulder at us.
"I know," Mac barks, and I sense these two go way back. Bet they were little kids together. I can imagine them fighting over stupid shit, and Mac stomping his feet, and Bodie making her wood chipper threats. Yeah, they were probably frigging adorable, but now I wonder what they want with me.
"Look," he says to me again, "you can't come into Deadly Dogs' territory without making a fucking gesture of peace. How do I know you aren't here scoping out my area for your boss?"
"What kind of gesture of peace?"
"You could have had your boss call, but it's a little late."
"I'm here to keep an eye on my boss's sister. That's it. Would he really send one fucking guy into hostile territory?"
Mac shifts in his chair and narrows his eyes at me. "So we're hostile now?"
"Coming in here with your two muscle buddies and claiming I'm a spy. Yeah, that feels hostile."
Bodie remains a few feet away at the bar, watching us. I can tell nothing from her gaze, but I sense she wants to laugh.
"How long will you be in the area?" Mac asks.
Since he now wants to play nice, I decide to be a dick. Giving him a shrug, I say nothing.
"What do you do for the Reapers?" Mac asks, crossing his arms in the universal sign of tension.
"Whatever Cooper Johansson wants."
"Look at you getting all secretive. Makes me think I should worry."
"Then worry."
Mac glances at Bodie who gives him a death stare. He rolls his eyes, proving they're old friends. Any normal man would piss himself under that evil glare.
"Did she give you that scar?" I ask, mouth full of fries.
"Bodie? No, she's a pussy cat."
"If you weren't married to one of my favorite people, I'd shoved Snickers down your throat and make you choke on him."
Mac grins at me. "She's a doll, ain't she?"
I don't even glance at Bodie. "Are we square here? I'm thinking about heading back to my hotel unless you want to chat longer."
Mac stops eyeing Bodie who has focused all her crazy bitch glare onto Snickers. If he doesn't crap himself soon, I'll be shocked.
"We have a lot of problems in this area," Mac says. "A lot of overlapping loyalties and territorial issues. I need to make sure you and your boss aren't the beginning of a new problem. We're already bringing in Lawman to settle an issue. I don't wanna ask him to handle the Reapers' move into this area."