My lip curls back over my teeth as I look into Mags’ eyes. Of all people to catch me coming out of Eva’s room, it would be her. I want to wipe that devious smile right off her face.
“Let’s get some shit straight,” I seethe. “I told you to keep her and anything about her out of your fucking mouth.”
“I told you I want to know why she’s so important,” she snaps back.
“You’ve never been this fucking dumb. Why are you testing me? Better yet, why the fuck are you here? Let’s get to the bottom of that,” I demand lethally.
“Oh, come off it. I can walk wherever I want. I just happened to be passing at the right moment,” she says smugly.
I wipe that smug smile right off her lips as I crowd her space and get in her face. She recovers quickly and tries to give me a flirtatious look. However, my words crack into that look as well.
“I’m not talking about in this hallway, Mags,” I grind out. “I’m talking about here, in my brothers’ club. What’s your endgame? What has Miguel really been searching for you for?”
Her mouth falls open and fear flashes in her eyes. She has no smart comeback this time. The truth hangs in her depths. She’s been hiding something from the time she entered my life and it’s time to unwrap that shit.
“Oh yeah, time to fess up. The reaper has come for you to pay. What the fuck did you bring to my door?”
“I don’t know what Jemma told you—”
“Jemma didn’t tell me shit.” See, I knew these two have been hiding shit together.
My head is ready to explode. I get ready to light into her. I’ve had enough of this shit. I’m ready to hit the roof when King turns the corner to find Mags and I glaring at each other.
Being the conniving bitch she is, Mags slides her ass up under my arm and plays the situation. She knows this will cause me to have some explaining to do.
My clothes are rumpled, and my hair is sex messed. It’s not the way I want to come clean to King. Mags being Mags knows this.
If I shove her ass off of me. King will have a million questions. I can see the questions in his eyes already as he looks at Eva’s bedroom door at my back.
King only confirms my suspicion of his thoughts with his words. “Is my sister up?”
“I wouldn’t know, right now I’m dealing with this.” I nod at Mags.
It isn’t a lie. I’d been out of Eva’s room for at least five minutes. She could have woken without my knowledge. It’s the closest I can skirt to the truth.
King narrows his eyes and nods. “I’m glad I found you. I need you on that situation,” King says with fire in his eyes.
“Yeah, I was heading out,” I grunt.
I know the situation he’s talking about. It was in the text that woke me. Some of my squad has run into some action. I’m on my way to ride them in. At least that was before running into Mags.
Honestly, I do want to know what the fuck she was doing outside Eva’s room in the first place. I don’t believe that just walking around bullshit. I’ll get to the bottom of all this shit with her.
“We’ll finish this later,” Mags purrs before sashaying her ass off down the hall.
“She’s a problem, brother.” King shakes his head. “Fucking snake.”
“Yeah, I plan to fix that problem sooner than later.” I look King in the eyes. “We need to talk when I get back.”
He narrows his gaze at me for the second time. “Get my sister back here safe. That’s what I need from you right now,” King says gruffly and turns his back on me.
I sigh and head to my room for a quick shower and change of clothes. The sooner I get to Sal and my squad the better.
Eva
I was extremely disappointed to wake up to find Owen gone this morning. I started to second-guess our relationship all over again, until I found my phone beside my head. I had a few text messages from him.
The first one was to tell me he loved me and had some club business he had to take care of. The next text was to warn me that something had come up and he wasn’t able to talk to King yet. The third and last one I received, was to tell me again that he loves and misses me. He also informed me he would be back tonight.
I’ll admit. I’m still a little uncertain in all of this. King still has no idea.
A part of me wants to trust Owen and understand that’s for a reason. The other part of me keeps wondering if this is all a part of Owen wanting to have his cake and eat it too. I keep trying to remind myself of Lost Souls’ code.
They don’t lie to family, but I don’t know if Brick sees me as family. Then there’s the fact that he’s technically lying to King. This probably wouldn’t be so hard if I hadn’t had to see his ex-wife smiling in my face for the last three days.
“So, what happened?” Misty huffs at me as she climbs onto my bed, looking exhausted herself.
I showered and dressed in sweats and a tank top, but I haven’t bothered to leave my room yet today. I actually haven’t been feeling well this morning. I should have known Misty would be in here soon.
After all, I did figure out she somehow was the one who gave Owen the key to my room. She and King are the only ones who have a copy.
“Nothing happened,” I murmur.
“So why do you look like someone kicked your puppy?”
“I just don’t know. I’m second-guessing everything. I mean, what if he’s telling me what he thinks I need to hear for sex,” I murmur. “Let’s face it Mist, look at me and then look at Mags.”
She rolls her eyes at me, hard. “Are you shitting me?”
She scoots back off the bed and stomps around to my side. She grabs my arm and tugs me up. My stomach rolls a little, but I swallow back the nausea and allow her to march me over to the full-length mirror on my closet door.
“I want you to really look at you,” she snaps. I go to turn away, but she holds her ground. “No Eva, look. You’re gorgeous. Look at your eyes. I know women who would kill for your lips. Your hair is so perfect for your face.
“Girl, your body has been amazing since we were like fourteen. The difference between you and Mags is she knows that she’s a beautiful woman on the outside, but she’s ugly inside.”
I shake my head. “I don’t see any of that,” I mutter.
“Oh. MY. God. Guys are always after you. How do you not see this?” she huffs.
“Maybe they’re after sex, but that doesn’t mean I’m pretty,” I say and turn to look her in the eyes.
Misty’s mouth falls open. “What would make you say that?”
“I’ve grown up my whole life watching men fuck anything on legs. Sure, the bunnies here aren’t the worst. The Lost Souls have better taste than most, but I’ve been around MCs where it didn’t much matter. A warm body was a warm body.
“Everyone thinks I’m clueless to things outside of my bubble, but I built my bubble for a reason. Before Mom met Cage, I was teased all the time. Then we came here. I’ve heard the bunnies whisper about how fat and ugly I am,” I confess.
“Fuck them,” she growls. “Eva, those bitches are just jealous. They always have been. Your mom was so gorgeous, and Cage loved her so much. He treated you all like gold.
“When we lost them, those whores all thought they had a shot at being something around here. That shit ain’t never happened and King has treated you just like his daddy did.
“It’s time for you to stop hiding under those clothes and lurking in the shadows like you don’t belong.” Misty pauses and smiles. I promise I see the light bulb go off in her head. I groan and palm my forehead. “I know exactly how to get Brick to come clean.”
“What?” I wrinkle my brows at her.
“I know you. You think he’s hiding things because he doesn’t want you. I know how I’m going to prove you wrong and force Brick to come clean at the same time. I’m going to regret this shit, but I’m not letting you fuck this up. I saw his mug when he talked about you,” she says with a big grin on her face.
“Misty, I
’m not feeling up to any of your brilliant ideas today,” I groan.
“Suck it up, sister. You’re doing just what I say. The universe is working in our favor. Brick rolls back in tonight. I can’t wait to see that bitch eat crow when that sexy beast stakes his claim on your ass,” she chimes.
I roll my eyes. I open my mouth to respond, but Misty turns almost green. “Hold that thought.” She rushes to say, taking off into my bathroom.
I run behind her, but she shuts and locks the bathroom door. I’m a little grateful she does once I hear her start to retch. My own stomach flips, causing me to back away.
I go to sit on the bed and think about Misty’s words. I did feel beautiful while I stayed with Owen. I felt confident and sure of myself. Coming here has done more than make me feel disconnected from him. It’s brought up old feelings.
Misty has always been my anchor here. Otherwise, I don’t think I would have stayed around as long as I have. Misty has always said we have every right to be here. If it weren’t for King, I don’t know if I would believe that.
The guys have always treated me with respect, but sometimes I’ve wondered if that is only out of fear. I don’t know, there are a small few who I wouldn’t intentionally find myself alone with, especially after Mom and Cage died. They’re the same ones I’ve noticed King keeps at arm’s length.
However, if I’m honest, since being with Owen I’ve felt like I finally belong. Being unsure about him has made me unsure about everything, because he has become my new anchor. I sigh at my confusing thoughts and wait for Misty to finish in my bathroom.
She needs to get out here so I can first find out what the hell is going on with her, and second, find out what she has planned. It takes about ten minutes before the door unlocks and cracks open. I watch my best friend as she fidgets in the doorway.
I should have seen all this sooner. Misty’s face is fuller. She’s in a baggy Lost Souls T-shirt, that doesn’t look like it was ever hers. She even has on a pair of sweats. These are all red flags. Misty wouldn’t be caught dead at the clubhouse looking like this.
“So, you going to tell me what’s going on?” I say when she creeps out of the bathroom.
She bites her lip. “I’m pregnant,” she whispers.
My mouth literally drops open. There’s no way I heard her right. I have millions of things floating in my head, but I settle on one. “Who’s the father? Please, not that Jeff guy.”
“No, it was never like that with him. He’s a douche. I wouldn’t drop my drawers for him if he paid me to.” She pulls a face and waves her hand. When she absentmindedly places a hand on her belly, I see it. Her little baby bump.
“Holy shit,” I gasp.
Now that I think about it, Misty has been in baggy clothes since I arrived here. I hadn’t paid attention the first time I saw her in the kitchen. I narrow my eyes at her.
“Is that why King was concerned about you eating? Did you run back here for him to help you? Why would you come to him before me? Are you in some type of trouble, Mist? What’s going on?” I rattle off.
“I’m not in trouble. You sort of have the rest right. I needed King and he came for me. I fucked up.” She shrugs. “I switched birth control and got reckless.”
I close my eyes and my world crumbles. I feel like the dumbest twenty-two-year-old in the world. I’m an A student, I can construct blueprints in my sleep. I’m a math genius, but here I sit, and it has just dawned on me I’m not on birth control. Owen and I have been fucking like bunnies.
Brick has never worn a single condom, not once. How could I be so stupid? For nearly a month I’ve been having unprotected sex. I never once thought about the possibility of getting pregnant.
Like really, Eva, really?
“Eva,” Misty whispers. “You just went pale as a sheet. What the hell? I’m pregnant not dying.”
I shake my head. “You actually just reminded me that I’m an idiot,” I answer.
Chapter 28
Trading Glances
Owen
My day has been shit since I pulled my body from under Eva’s. Finding Mags outside of Eva’s door and running into King has put me on edge from go. I thought that was my biggest worry.
Nope, I should have known this day was only going to keep turning to shit. I’ve never seen Gutter give two fucks about a woman since I’ve known him. Leave it to his big ass to start looking at the wrong fucking one.
King is going to go on a damn killing spree. I’ve been keeping him away from Gutter since we arrived back at the compound. Sal is safe, but she has been stapled to Gutter’s side, only adding fuel to the flame.
“The one motherfucker I send because he’ll keep his hands off my baby sister. Who the fuck can I trust around here?” King growls as he paces his office.
“They’re not going to remain babies forever,” I mutter, referring to both Eva and Sal.
I should come clean now, but this is my best friend. I know he isn’t in the right headspace to lose both his baby sisters in one night. King totally lost his shit when Gutter climbed off his bike and wrapped his arm around Sal. The moment Gutter tipped Sal’s face up to kiss her, I knew shit was going down.
I told the kid to let me handle this shit, but he had his own way he wanted to deal with it. I guess that makes me the pussy. Life or death, Gutter owned that shit up front.
However, Gutter doesn’t know King like I do, and Gutter isn’t nine years older than Sal. King will get over this shit with Gutter. With me, I don’t know.
I represent his guilt. That shit is going to eat at him. We’re two sides of the same coin. I pull myself from my own thoughts to put out this fire.
“King, we both know Gutter is a stand-up guy. It’s not like you watched him whore around the club. We all considered the fact he might be gay a time or two. Seeing him with Sal, I don’t think that’s the case.” I sigh.
“Stand up, stand up? That motherfucker is one step from being the most fucked-up brother here.”
I have to chuckle. “You’d be right because you and I have that on lock. Don’t we, brother,” I tease.
He tugs at his dreads and locks his eyes on me. “Shit ain’t right around here. That’s on me,” he huffs and looks up. “I… shit, I’m tired of talking about it. Let’s get out there and get some beers.”
I lift a brow. Last time we were out there he tried to get at Gutter’s throat. “I promise, I won’t kick his ass tonight. Tomorrow is a new day though,” he grumbles. “He’s lucky you’re the only motherfucker I’ll let hold me back.”
I sigh and murmur under my breath. “Yeah, cause I’m really going to have to fight your ass.”
He doesn’t hear me because he’s halfway out the door as I reach it. I spot Gutter standing tensely by a pool table with Sal tucked under his arm. Sal has a scowl on her face as she eyes King.
King shakes his head at the two, but then his body goes rigid and he stops in his tracks. I get ready to throw myself between him and Gutter, but it dawns on me that’s not where his attention is.
I pivot my head to catch what has his eye. I nearly growl as I find what has King frozen. I told you this day has been shit.
My woman stands on the other side of the pool table dressed to kill or get someone killed. Eva has on a short black leather skirt that’s showing off all of my thick brown thighs. The skirt flares out telling all my secrets about those shapely hips.
I grit my teeth when I see the red fuck-me heels on her feet. I run my eyes back up her legs and snarl. That skirt is so fucking short it’s just barely covering her ass. I feel my chest explode when I look up further and her belly button comes into view. The T-shirt she has on is tight and cutoff a few inches under her breasts.
Eva thinks she’s fat. I don’t know where that came from, but she’s anything but. Eva is a brick fucking house. Her curves are in all the right places. This outfit is not hiding an inch of the body I know for my own.
The outfit has my cock ready to burst out of my jeans, but w
hen I see her face. Those lips, my lips, they’re painted with a gloss that shows off their natural color and fullness. She has the face of a doll and has no clue how gorgeous she is.
Her looks have me weak, but she’s completely oblivious to her power. Eva bends over the pool table to take the next shot and I see red. I get ready to go and toss her over my shoulder, but King’s reaction brings me back to earth.
“The Fuck, Eva,” King bellows.
I see Misty out of the corner of my eye. She looks like she wants to jump in, but she stays put. Sal, however, places her hands on her hips.
“King, if you haven’t noticed, we’ve grown up. We became women at some point. Stop trying to embarrass us,” she growls.
“Embarrass you?” King snaps. “Come on with that shit. I’m not trying to embarrass either of you. But that.” King points to Eva. “That’s not Eva.”
And then shit goes to hell in a handbasket. I see my life slow down and play in slow motion before my eyes. This is the moment this bitch has been lurking around for.
Chapter 29
Pound of Flesh
Eva
I try to swallow down my hurt and embarrassment. I knew King was going to have a problem with the outfit Misty coaxed me into wearing, but I didn’t think he would go postal in front of everyone. King is usually gentler with me.
I flicker my eyes to Owen beside King. He looks just as pissed off as King does. I can see Owen is restraining himself as King loses his shit. I want to take off running.
Everyone who’s been trying not to stare at me all night, is now taking the opportunity to ogle. I place the pool stick in front of me as if it can shield me. I bite my lip and teeter on my heels.
I love Sal for standing up for me. She looks so happy with Gutter. I’ve never seen him like this, but it looks good on him.
Forever Page 18