by Nina Levine
Shit, it smells like her in here too.
It’s as if she’s a witch who has cast some sort of love spell on me and my dick. I have never been as spellbound with a woman as I am with her. Maybe because I knew I could never really have a woman like Sofia.
I came home last night from dinner with the guys to an empty house. She’d gone. Taken all her things and vanished. I mean, I know she wasn't going to slum it with me forever, but I thought she would at least say goodbye.
I still have no idea who she is, having refrained from Googling her.
I turn my computer on, deciding to get some admin done that I've neglected the last couple of days. I really need to hire someone to do this for me; it’s fucking boring. Exactly the distraction I need for a few hours.
There’s a knock on the door, so I look up to see Ryder poking his head into the room. “Is it safe to come in?”
I grin and nod to the chair across from me. I sit back, resting my interlaced hands on my stomach, and wait for him to sit.
“You wanna talk about what's up your ass? You've been a hell of a lot snappier to the guys today.”
“Nope.”
This time he grins at me. “Does it have anything to do with a pretty blonde not being here today?”
I glare at him, not wanting to talk about this. I’m still struggling with thoughts of wanting to pursue a relationship with a woman like Sofia.
“All right, boss, I can see you don’t want to talk about it. The others have left for the day, and I wanted to see if you need anything before I go too,” he says, standing up.
I pick up my phone and look at the time, ten after six.
Well, shit. “Sorry, I didn't notice the time. I’m all good. If you lock the roller door, I can lock up here when I finish up.”
“I’ll see you tomorrow.” He nods and walks out.
I lean forward on my desk and rub my hands over my face. “Fuck.”
I need to get out of here. I lock up, run upstairs to change, and grab my gym bag. Punching out my frustrations at the gym may help my obsession with her.
It’s been a week of grueling late nights, working and spending hours at the gym before drowning myself with beer either at home or at Roxie’s. Tonight, I find myself working late, paying suppliers and sending out customer quotes. But my eyes keep straying to the open tab where I pulled up Google. I’ve been trying to stay away from the computer with the temptation to do a Google search on Sofia. I need to see her again, see what she’s been up to since she took off, and this may be the only way I can.
Fuck.
I scrub my hand over my face and lean back in my chair. I have not had a woman plague my thoughts like this in fuck knows how long, if ever. What is it about her, that after a few days she has burrowed her way into me? What is it that makes her so special? When she took off, she left no note, no way of contacting her. I’m not stupid; it’s normally me leaving a woman’s bed and not leaving anything behind. I know she doesn't want me finding her, but I can't stop my mind from wanting to learn more about the beautiful woman I can't get out of my mind.
“Ah, fuck it.” Leaning over the keyboard, I open the tab and type in Sofia Winters to see what shows.
Thousands and thousands of articles pop up, including images of my Sofia, daughter to the Winters Hotel chain king, Oliver Winters.
Well, shit. I mean, she told me who she was, but I didn’t think there would be this much online about her.
Hotel heiress gets cold feet. But all is forgiven as she is spotted back with fiancé, Thomas Collins.
I’m tempted to click that link but don’t
So is this what it feels like for the women whose beds I abandoned? That makes me a pretty shitty guy.
I click on images instead of reading all this tabloid bullshit. I know half of it is fabricated to make money. So many pictures of her are labelled LA’s socialite. Pictures of her at galas, the occasional red carpet, there’s even photographs of her with the who’s who of Tinseltown.
Totally out of my league. I felt that when I was with her, but especially now that I can see exactly who she really is.
Damn.
I reach out and touch her lips on the screen with the tips of my fingers; lips that were so soft and…
Fuck. I slam the laptop shut and stand, needing to get out of here and stop feeling sorry for myself. I’ve turned into a goddamn pussy.
Picking my keys up off the desk, I switch off the light and lock up before lifting my leg over my bike. After turning it on, I peel away from the garage and mindlessly drive around.
I don’t know how long I've been cruising, but my stomach is telling me it needs food. I head toward Roxie’s and park next to Declan’s bike, my mouth curling up into a grin. If he’s here, it’s going to be a long night. When he's out drinking, he makes sure we all are. I open the front door, noticing that most of his club is here too.
“Jett,” Declan screams out.
I chuckle as I make my way toward him and slide onto the empty bar stool next to his. I nod at the barman, and I have a beer in my hand before I know it.
“Declan.” I turn to face him as I take a drink of my beer. “What’s with the whole crew being here tonight, something to celebrate?”
He drinks the shot sitting in front of him, then turns his head my way. “You could say that.”
“Why doesn’t that sound like a good thing?”
“Eh… depends on how you look at it.” He spins around, facing away from the bar, and I mimic his position, beer in hand.
“Declan,” I growl.
“I was chatting to the Pres of The Kings MC, and they are looking for a new garage to keep their bikes in shape.”
“Uh huh,” I respond, not liking where this is headed. When Declan first became a prospect with the Black Hawks, I told him I wanted nothing to do with them. While I have no issue with him and his choice, I didn’t want to be a part of that life.
“Nothing illegal. I told you we don’t do that anymore.”
I lock eyes with him. In the past, as well as security, they sold drugs and girls.
“Honestly, Jett. You’ve been talking about expanding, maybe with another location, and I may have just the spot for you.”
“Why do I hear a but coming on?”
“No buts. We just need to move quickly. I thought you and Ryder could go check it out. I need to do something on my bike, so I can look after the shop for you while you do.”
I raise an eyebrow. “Why the need to move so fast?”
He spins back to the bar as two shots are laid in front of us.
“Can I get some wings and fries, please?” If I don't get food in me soon, I’ll be shit-faced in no time.
When the barman walks away, Declan continues. “There’s a new crew in town. They’re bad news, and they want to take over the territory where the garage is. Kings and I don’t want that; we keep our streets clean.”
I raise an eyebrow, and he chuckles. “Cleaner than some wannabe gang bangers who like beating on people and selling hardcore drugs that kill?”
His grin disappears. “It would be a hundred percent your business, and your clientele would be like Torque Octane. Majority would be MC club members and family, just not mine.”
“Declan, I don’t want any trouble.”
He slaps my back. “Jett, I have never brought any ugly club business your way. Not going to start now. This garage is located between our turfs and we want it to stay neutral between the two clubs. We don’t want any trouble moving in around our families.”
Family. It’s only my brother and me and has been for a while now. When my dad died, my mother moved to Florida. She’s since remarried and seems happy. The club has always been part of our family. My dad and the then president, Knox, were best friends growing up, so they were always around us. By the time we grew up, though, Declan felt that being a club member was all he wanted, whereas I knew that life wasn't for me. I always enjoyed tinkering around in the shop with Dad.
“Thanks, bro.”
“Uh huh.” I point at him. “I know that look. Don’t get too excited. I said I’d check it out, not that it’s a done deal.”
He swipes a fry from the plates the barman just placed in front of us.
“Why, hello there,” a sultry voice says from beside me, large tits pressed into my arm. “Ooh, there's two of you. This is looking like a great night. Two for the price of one.” She giggles, and instead of turning me on, she makes my stomach churn.
“Sorry, not interested,” I say, unhooking her hands that are latched around my arm.
Declan stands up, taking the shocked woman in his arms. “Speak for yourself, Jett. I’m the better brother anyway.” He winks at me again as he walks away
9
Sofia Winters
“You promised,” Thomas hisses at me as I smile at the Conners walking past us.
I turn to face him, fighting to keep my face straight when I’m fuming inside. It’s been a week since I came back from staying with Jett. And I hate it. I hate keeping up a facade while in front of company, while fighting with him behind closed doors. He doesn't understand why I would want to ruin what he claims is a good thing for us both.
“I agreed to be by your side. I never agreed to have you stick your tongue down my throat. Plus, you blackmailed me. I’m not here because I love your ass.” I chug the half-glass of champagne, then place it down on a passing waiter’s tray before picking up another.
He grabs my wrist as I raise the glass to my lips and lowers his face to mine. “Control yourself, Sofia. Do not get drunk.”
I yank my hand away from his grip and drink the whole glass. “I think I see my mother.” I storm away, leaving him with a scowl on his face. I may have agreed to this, for appearance’s sake, but I will not have him maul me as if we are lovers. Before today's kiss, it has been months since he touched me. I see my mother and father talking to the Coopers and decide to veer toward the double doors on my right, needing to get some fresh air.
I open them and slip outside when nobody is watching and walk over to the railing to look out over the golf course. The sky is twinkling with stars, and I take in some much-needed breaths. Things have been hectic since I came back. I had to sit through a long lecture from my dad at my appalling behavior, with my mother sitting across from me with wine in her hand, shooting pitiful looks my way. Then Thomas tried it, too, but I wouldn't have it. I may have had no other choice but to return, but there was no way he had any right to berate me after blackmailing me with the worst decision I have ever made. I was young, stupid, but in love with the man I thought Thomas was. Things had started to be strained in our relationship, and when he suggested we make a tape, I thought, why not, it can only help our sex life and our relationship. Spice it up, you know? And it did. It worked for a month or so—I had all of his attention.
“Goodness me, how did my life ever get this way?” A stray tear escapes my eye as the music behind me grows louder before it’s muffled again. I wipe the tear away and take in a big breath, willing them to stop, knowing I am no longer alone. I grip the railing tighter, hoping whoever opened the door didn’t choose to come out.
“Hey, there you are, what are you doing out here?” Maya says, her hand touching my back. I turn to face her.
She frowns and wipes away another tear, then pulls me into her arms. “Oh, honey, I saw you sneak out here. What’s wrong?” She strokes my hair.
I pull back, and Maya links her arm through mine, spinning me to face the golf course.
“Talk to me, honey. I haven’t heard much from you since I saw you at Jett’s place. What’s going on in that pretty head of yours?”
I lean my head against hers. “Do you ever wish you could go back in time and undo some of the things we did when we were younger?”
“Hell no, we had some great fun growing up. Plus, it made us who we are today.”
We did have some great times. All my favorite memories involve Maya and me getting up to some sort of mischief.
“What about for a guy? Have you ever done anything stupid, something you wish you hadn’t?”
“Sofia, you’re scaring me. I thought we told each other everything. What’s this all about?”
“I made a sex tape,” I mutter ever so softly, my shoulders starting to tremble.
I tilt my head back to look at the twinkling sky and close my eyes when I feel a tear start to drop.
“Get out. With Jett?”
I break apart, so I’m facing her. “What do you mean with Jett? What kind of girl do you take me for?” I groan. “No, with Thomas.” I cover my face with my hands. “This is so embarrassing to say out loud. It was just after our first anniversary. He talked me into it, saying it would ‘spice things up’. I believed him. But now…”
“Now what?” she says, teeth gritted. Maya stares at me, eyes unblinking, nostrils flaring.
I turn away, not wanting to see her face when I tell her the rest of this horrible nightmare that is my life.
“He’s blackmailing me into staying with him or he’ll leak it to the press.”
“That no good, cock-sucking asshole.”
I laugh because that is the perfect name for him. God, I feel like the world’s biggest idiot.
“Now do you understand why I have to pretend things are normal between us? I can’t… shit, if my dad…”
She punches me.
“Ow, what the hell was that for?” I rub my arm.
“Did you forget what Brad does for a living? He can help you.”
“Yes, so what?” Maya’s husband is a PI, a good one from what I’ve heard, but I have no idea where she is going with this.
She squeezes my arms. “Sofia, what is he normally doing whenever you come over?”
I raise an eyebrow. “Um… I don’t know. He normally has his nose in a laptop.”
“Exactly. He’s a tech geek, and if anyone can locate the recording, it’s him.”
My eyes widen, my heart beating faster. “What are you saying, exactly?”
“Brad can find it and destroy it, so Thomas can’t blackmail you anymore. He wouldn't even need to break and enter; he can do it remotely.”
I just nod, my mind racing with a million thoughts. Could this happen? Could it be as simple as Brad finding the video and deleting it? It can’t be. That’s one of the first things I did when I went home. I went to his house and checked the digital camera he used for the SD card. I came up empty-handed. Shit. What if Brad saw what was on the video? Oh God. My stomach drops.
“Honey, breathe. Brad is a professional and a friend of yours. No way will he watch it.”
I close my eyes as a few tears escape.
“Maya,” I whisper.
“Sofia,” she replies.
“There you are. I need you inside. Now.”
We both turn our heads at Thomas, and I can’t help but giggle when I hear Maya growl beside me.
She takes my hand in hers. “I’ll be in touch,” she says as she walks past Thomas, but not before punching him in the stomach.
Caught off guard, he stumbles, crying out. “What was that for?” He frowns, and if I’m not mistaken, I think she punched him hard enough that I can see him close to crying.
I walk past him, smiling, and open the door, holding it for him. “Well, come along, Thomas. I believe you said we were needed inside?” Feeling happy for the first time tonight, I can’t stop the grin forming on my lips.
As he approaches me, he grabs my arm, tightly, then leans down to talk in my ear. “What was that all about?” he hisses.
Tilting my head, I smirk. “You have your secrets, and now I have mine.” I pull out of his hold and walk inside.
I head straight for the bar, needing another wine, but I’m intercepted by my dad. He looks over my shoulder, no doubt at a scowling Thomas.
“Everything okay, swee
theart?”
My breath hitches at him calling me that; he hasn't called me that in a very long time.
His mouth tilts up, his thumb rubbing my wrist. “Come on, let’s go dance.” He pulls me to the dance floor before I can gather my thoughts.
What the hell is going on?
He twirls me around the floor for a while in silence before he begins. “I’m sorry, Sofia.”
I stumble over my feet, but he catches me and continues dancing. “I’ve been so caught up in work I have allowed a distance to grow between us. There was a time where you and I were always together. Why, you would come in to work with me too.”
I smile at him. Some of my favorite moments growing up were going into work with him. “Yes, I remember that.”
“And maybe that’s why I haven’t noticed before now, how your smile doesn't quite reach your eyes like it used to. You used to have a twinkle in your eye when you smiled. What’s going on with you and Thomas?” He nods at him from the bar where he is glaring at me, a glass of whiskey in his hand.
I look from Thomas, back to my father. “I don’t know,” I say quietly. I wish I did. I mean, if Brad can do what Maya said, then maybe I have a chance of getting out of this entanglement I find myself in with Thomas. If not, then I’m bound to live out my life as my mother always hoped, with the added benefit of a husband who cheats in a loveless marriage. How can I tell my father what I’ve done? I’d be so ashamed if he found out. The last thing I would ever want to do is disappoint him.
“Sweetheart...”
Tears fill my eyes as an arm circles around my waist. Dad frowns as he looks up at Thomas.
“May I have this dance, darling?” His fingers dig into my hip.
“Of course, Thomas. Sofia—” He leans forward, kisses my forehead, and whispers in my ear, “we’ll finish this later.”
Dad releases me, and Thomas leads me around the floor, his scowl permanently etched on his face.