Page 74 of Ruled By Wizard

Moving past him, she unlocked her van with her key fob. Letting Wizard open the door without comment, she got inside.

“I’ll see you tonight.”

She shut the door without responding and started the engine. Looking in her side mirror as she drove away, she saw Wizard already heading back inside the club.

She had made one mistake after another with Wizard. The main one had been underestimating him and overestimating her willpower to keep her attraction to him in check.

Even if she had to buy a vibrator to keep her body satisfied, she wasn’t going near his bed again. Wizard could easily become an addiction that could destroy the life she had tried so hard to build. She had to nip it in the bud before he became an addiction she couldn’t live without.

CHAPTER 30

BITE YOUR TONGUE

Natalia entered the restaurant’s kitchen to silence. The greetings she normally experienced were missing. All of her workers were pretending to be focused on filling or preparing orders.

Taking a deep, steadying breath, she cleared her throat, drawing everyone’s attention. “I’m sure you have heard or seen by now the video circulating online about me being at The Last Riders’ clubhouse. I’m not going to deny being there. To my knowledge the, minors had been escorted out when their presence was discovered, nor did I or any of the Last Riders serve them any alcohol.”

As she talked, Arden came in from the serving area.

Natalia continued. “Arden was working, as was another woman. I have every confidence that Arden would never have served a minor a drink. While I was there, the police came, and The Last Riders explained that the minors had been escorted out of the club and that surveillance showed no drinks had been served to them. The police left without filing charges. I know the video makes me look bad, and I’m currently seeking a way to correct the situation. If they try to drag Arden into this because she was working the bar, I will pay all her legal fees to clear her name.”

She took another breath. “I want you to ignore what’s going on online. Give our guests the five-star dining experience they have come to expect, and let me worry about the rest. Can you all do that?”

After receiving several yeses and nods, she dismissed them to get back to work.

“You doing okay?” Arden asked softly, coming to her side.

“I’ve been better,” she admitted. “Let’s go to my office.”

She was conscious of the workers’ subdued voices as they left the kitchen.

Closing her office door, Natalia dropped into her chair.

“Did anyone mention there have been several cancellations?”

She wasn’t surprised. “No, but I expected that to happen.”

Arden sank into the chair in front of her desk. “This is a mess. What are you planning to do?”

“I’m letting Wizard take care of it.”

“Good idea,” Arden agreed.

Having expected Arden to disagree with her, Natalia gave her a questioning glance. “I thought you would say I’ve lost my mind.”

Arden shook her head. “No, The Last Riders have connections we don’t have. Wizard will pull in his resources and figure out how to stop the online harassment. Doom would have done the same, but he would have to get permission from Wizard and Viper.”

“Viper?”

“The main president of The Last Riders.”

“Wizard won’t have to ask permission from him?”

“Wizard does what he wants to do.”

Natalia believed that.

“Have you met Viper?” Natalia asked.