The cab doesn’t wait to find out and squeals off down the track and I turn to see Sebastian leaning against his hood watching me with cold, calculating eyes. Before I can even warn him to leave, the cabin door flies open and I almost weep with relief. “Who the fuck is that, Angel?”
I watch as the blood drains from Sebastian’s face as he sees the beast before him. Filling up the doorway is the man who sits on the right hand of Satan himself. His cold, deadly eyes, pierce through the darkness and the light from the cabin reveals the monster within. His head is shaven and a huge tattoo of a cobra wraps around his arm to his neck, drawing attention to the huge biceps they decorate. This man takes no shit and could kill us both within seconds and I have never been so pleased to see him in my life.
He prowls down the steps menacingly and stares at Sebastian with the cold hard look of a killer before saying roughly, “You have two seconds to get back in your car and leave. Nobody comes here but the invited and you are not one of them, so leave while you still can.”
I hold my breath as Sebastian stares at him with an angry expression and I see the fire in his eyes weighing up the situation. Then his better judgment kicks in and without a word gets back into his car and leaves without a backward glance.
As his taillights disappear down the track, I turn to the man who scared him off and run into his arms, sobbing with relief. As those arms of steel wrap around me, I feel everything slot back into place. I’m home.
By the time we get inside, I’ve composed myself and feel a little foolish. Snake turns to me and I see the concern in his eyes as he nods toward the couch. “Sit.”
My legs fold under me as I sink into the comfort of the couch and it sags as he sits beside me and places his arm around my shoulders, pulling me into his side where I have sat a thousand times before.
“It’s good to see you, Snake.”
“You too, darlin’. How did it go?”
“As expected.”
“What’s that supposed to mean?” I hear the impatience in his voice and laugh softly. “You always were impatient, Snake.”
He laughs. “That guy outside, is that him?”
“Yes.” My heart plummets as I think about Sebastian and Snake growls, “I should have fucking wasted him - prick.”
“He’s not worth it.”
Spinning around, I raise my eyes. “I’m surprised they sent you, things must be quiet back home.”
“I suppose they are but I would have come, anyway.”
“Why?”
“Because we care about you, darlin’. You wouldn’t let anyone come and we know how hard this is for you. Ryder wanted me to check you’re ok and bring your stuff.”
He nods toward the pile of cases in the corner.
“You got those on your bike?”
Laughing, he shakes his head. “No, I brought the truck. It’s parked out back and I loaded my bike on board. You need a car, so you can keep that.”
“Great, that’ll go down well when I rock up to the house on Monday in a pickup. My mom will have a seizure.”
“It’s a win win then.”
We grin at each other and I lean back and stretch out. “How’s Bonnie?”
I watch as Snake’s expression softens at the mention of his old lady and he smiles sweetly. “Studying. She’s got her final exams next week and my life is hell.”
“I doubt that.”
He laughs as I shove him hard. “Just because she’s paying you no attention you’re pissed. You guys are all the same. You think the whole world revolves you but newsflash, it doesn’t.”
“You sound like Bonnie.”
“I’ve lived with her long enough, it must have rubbed off.”
He settles back beside me and says gently, “So, what did you learn?”
His words bring back the horror of my day and I say sadly, “That my old ghosts weren’t buried with my father. I saw my mom and felt nothing. Does that make me a bad person?”
“No.”
“My sister too; I hate the evil bitch and I feel as if I let myself down when I spoke to her.”
“How?”
“Because there was so much I wanted to say and yet I resorted to childish digs. You know, Snake, I wanted to walk in there and prove I was some sophisticated lady who no longer cared what happened in the past. I had images of myself tossing my hair back and being quick witted and cool. I wanted them to see that they hadn’t broken me and none of it mattered anymore.”
“But it does.”
The tears almost blind me as I nod. “Yes, it matters a lot.”
“What about the guy, how did you feel when you saw him?”
The pain hits me once again and my voice shakes. “The same.”
He pulls me against him and rubs my shoulder. “I’m sorry, darlin’, what you gonna do about it?”
“I don’t know.” I sigh heavily. “I must stay and listen to my father’s will read on Monday. Apparently, I’m named in it. God only knows what horrors he’s dreamed up for me and I wish it didn’t matter and I could just walk away but it does.”
Snake nods. “You know, darlin’, you need to see this through if you stand any chance of healing. When we found you in Stoker’s MC and brought you to the compound, you were so brave. We saw the strength in you because after what you went through you still had fire in your eyes. Over the years I’ve seen that bravery first hand and know that you can conquer anything, if you want to that is. I’m guessin’ there’s unfinished business you need to resolve and you can only make a decision when you have the answers you need.”
“But what if I make the wrong one?”
“You won’t. You know, Angel, if your path ends here in this town, I’ll be happy for you. If it brings you back to The Reapers, I’ll be just as happy. We live a fucked-up life that nobody who hasn’t lived it can possibly understand. Some of us will never leave and thrive on it. Some leave and find their lives outside the steel walls we live inside. They are still family though, so whatever you choose know you’ll always have a home with us. We’re your protection, your backup and your bolt hole. We are always there for you night and day and you only have to call and we’ll be there. Do what you have to because the only important thing is to make Angel happy, it always was.”
As the tears fall, he takes my hand in his and I squeeze it hard. “Thanks, Snake. I owe everything to you and the Reapers. I’m going to take the next few days to work out where I go from here. The answer may be written on the pages of my daddy’s will but whatever those words say, I know they won’t be easy to hear. It’s why I wanted to come here alone, because I need a clear mind. When I left all those years ago, I was running. I ran straight into trouble and then I found Stokers MC. It was perfect because I knew my folks would disapprove, hell they would hate knowing their princess was a biker whore and that’s why I went there. I also knew they would protect me from the people I hated and yet I didn’t know what I was getting into. We both know the club was corrupt and you and Ryder took them down as they always knew you would. When you took me to live with the Reapers, I discovered what family really means. So, thank you, Snake, I can’t repay what you and the guys gave me but I need to find out who Angel will be in the future. Maybe living as a Twisted Reaper is what was always meant to be but I need to bury the past before I can deal with the future.”
Snake nods and I know he understands. Every single member of the Twisted Reaper MC is there for a reason and most of them bad. Ex-Navy Seals and military, all running from their past. Now paid government assassins doing the establishment’s dirty work underneath the radar. Feared and respected in equal measures, they carry out their duties in a blaze of machine gunfire and hard expressions. Nobody messes with the Reapers and they have taught me well.
Turning to Snake, I say in a stronger voice. “You know, I’m glad to see you, honey. You’ve reminded me of who Angel is. For a moment back there, I lost her but when I attend that meeting on Monday, I will walk in there with her firmly in charge
. I know what to expect and will hear the will and then make my decision.”
Standing, Snake laughs softly. “Then I can see I am no longer needed. Stay strong, darlin’ and call if you need us.”
He heads to the door and I call out, “Tell Bonnie and the rest of them I miss them.”
“You can tell them yourself when you come to visit.”
“Just visit?”
He winks. “It will be interesting to find out.”
His laughter follows him through the door and I grin. Yes, they know me so well and even I know I’ve made my mind up already. Even if I do decide to stay, they will always be my family and yes, I will most definitely go back. However, it won’t be as a resident, it will be as a visitor because I can’t hide forever. I need to stand up and make something of my life wherever that ends up to be.
Chapter 8
Sebastian
Five long years, two months, twenty-three days and six hours since she left and seeing her again proved it’s still there. I knew she would come back for her father’s funeral. I was counting on it because if I didn’t know already, Angelica took my heart with her that day and still owns it now.
As I reach the highway, I feel a pain so sharp it physically hurts - she’s moved on.
That man is proof of that and her ice-cold attitude. I feel sick thinking of her with that… I don’t even know what he is because all I saw was a shed load of trouble that looks to belong in an MC club. Just thinking of her in that world makes me want to hurl. Not her. She doesn’t belong there. Angelica is and always was a princess. Beautiful long blonde hair, stunning blue eyes the color of crystal waters, a creamy pale complexion like pure porcelain and an innocence that made everyone who crossed her path fall in love with her, me included. Especially me because growing up alongside her made me fall in love with her more and more every day. Until that day. The day I was given no other choice—marry her sister or face the consequences.
Leaving her back there was a choice that wasn’t mine to make. It tore me up to drive away and just thinking of her now with that beast is too much. Then the anger takes over and self-preservation kicks in. She ran, and she didn’t even bother to hear why. I thought we were better than that. I thought she would understand but she never gave me that option. Well, now she’s moved on and so must I. Harvey Johnson is dead and I wish it had come sooner. Just thinking about that man leaves a bitter taste in my mouth and encases my heart in ice. He ruined men for fun and we were no exception. It’s why I did what I had to do and now it’s time to get my revenge.
I hoped I’d see Angelica today and now I wish she had never returned because far from saving me; she has signed my life sentence. I had hoped that love would conquer all, how naïve I was. Angelica never loved me; it was just childhood infatuation. Now she has proved that we never meant anything at all and I suppose, if anything, it will make this easier.
Rather than drive back to the funeral, I head home instead. I can’t face that family tonight; I need to distract myself from what I just saw. Turning the car in the opposite direction, I head to a place I can be the monster I became. Blacks.
As I park the car, I try to ignore the pain that Angelica’s return has brought. I’ve thought of this meeting every day since she left and never imagined it like this. She was so cold, so cool and so sexy it made my head spin. When I saw her enter the church, it took all my self-control not to jump up and drag her next to me where she belongs. Instead, I had to sit through the service, honoring a man we both despised while thinking of her sat a few feet away.
The past five years have counted because during them I paved the way for our future, or so I thought. When I saw what her future looked like, it brought with it a crashing realization that during that time I had lost her.
Pushing away the thought of what that now means for my own life, I push the door open to the only place I can fully relax and feel the calm settle over me as I breathe in the familiar scent of oblivion.
Nodding coolly at the receptionist, I sign in and she smiles. “Good afternoon, sir.”
“Nodding, I move past and don’t even care that I’m being rude. I have no time for polite chit chat. I never did, and that’s why this place has become so important to me. It requires none.
As soon as I walk into the bar, I see it’s quiet. Maybe it’s because it’s earlier than normal but there are only a few couples milling around and I feel irritated. Heading toward the bar, I nod at the bartender. “Double scotch on the rocks.”
He nods and sets about fixing me the drink that I hope will dull the pain inside, along with the girl sitting on the barstool looking at me hopefully. As I look at her, she lowers her eyes and I feel my heart settle a little. Yes, she’ll do.
Moving across to her, I say forcefully, “Name?”
“Kitten, master.”
I note the tight corset she wears, causing her breasts to spill over the top and take in the fact she wears nothing else but a lace thong. She is pretty enough with long red hair and bewitching green eyes. Her body is enticing and her manner a complete turn on but today even the thought of indulging in a scene with a random sub doesn’t interest me because she’s back.
Fighting my irritation, I try again.
Reaching down, I lift her face to look at mine and see the excitement in her eyes as she licks her lips with either nerves or suggestion. Running my thumb over her lips, I watch her breathing change as her chest falls rapidly causing her breasts to swell even more. I search for my own feelings as I feel the soft skin of a woman who, like me, wants to lose herself in the pleasures of the flesh but the desire I once felt for this kind of activity appears to have deserted me today. Thinking of what I could do to this woman doesn’t excite me as it should and if I feel anything, it’s anger at my own weakness. Almost apologetically, I pat her head and say softly, “I’m sorry, I’m not staying.”
Her lower lip trembles and I feel like a bastard because she probably thinks it’s her and I shake my head. “Maybe next time.”
Grabbing my drink, I toss the contents of the glass down in one and head across to a secluded booth. Great, fucking idiot, now what? I can’t go home because I’m not one to drink and drive and I could call a cab but why return to an empty apartment where the emptiness will just highlight my loneliness? I certainly won’t return to Angelica’s home because the thought of what lies in wait leaves me cold. Anastasia.
Sighing, I settle back against the leather seat and think about the woman I’m engaged to marry. Angelica’s sister. Whenever I think of her, I feel the rage twist inside my gut and cause my temper to flare. Why was I so weak?
I should have said no and I should have fought for the woman I was always meant to marry. Instead, I allowed myself to be corralled into doing what Harvey Johnson wanted because of the good son I was. Now that’s got me in a situation I can see no way out of because when I saw that beast waiting for my perfect Angel I wanted to hurl on the spot. I feel so responsible because it appears I drove her away to a life that no decent girl should live. My perfect Angel is a biker whore and I almost can’t breathe as I think of what that means for her.
A man slides into the booth opposite and I look up and nod. “Logan.”
He smiles and holds out his hand. “Sebastian, it’s been a while.”
He slides another glass of whiskey across to me and raises his glass to mine. “To old friends.”
We tap glasses and as the liquid hits the back of my throat, I relish the burn as it dulls the hurt inside me.
“It’s unusual to see you here, Logan.”
He nods. “Just checking up on my investment.”
He looks at me with interest and I can tell he misses nothing. “What’s up?”
Setting my glass down, I sigh heavily. “Life.”
He leans back in his seat. “Do you wanna talk about it?”
“Not really, I thought coming here would help but it’s just made me realize just how fucked up my life is. I can’t even get my shit toget
her for a scene with a willing submissive.”
“It happens.”
“Not to me.”
For a moment we sit in silence and then I raise my eyes to his concerned ones and say darkly, “Angelica’s home.”
“I thought so.”
Sighing, I caress the cool crystal of the glass and sigh. “She showed up at the funeral and I thought I was ready. I thought we would have a conversation, and an explanation was all that would be necessary.”
“But it wasn’t?”
“No. She’s moved on, Logan.”
“I’m sorry man.”
Sighing, I feel the weariness wash over me and as I stare into my future, it’s a bleak one without her in it. Leaning forward, I say huskily, “I followed her to a cabin out in the woods. When I got there, she wasn’t alone. Some fucking brute of a biker was waiting for her and made it clear I wasn’t welcome. I had no other choice but to leave her behind because one look in his eyes told me he was above the law and not afraid to protect what was so obviously his.”
Logan looks thoughtful. “Did you see what club he was from?”
“How the fuck do I know, I avoid those bastards like the plague? He had a monster tattoo of a snake covering him and a shaven head if he wasn’t frightening enough just from his biceps alone.”
Logan begins to laugh and I feel the anger returning. “What’s so funny?”
Shaking his head, Logan grins. “Sounds like you described a person I know and love.”
“Are you fucking mad? That man was a beast.”
“You’re right there, he is, and you did well to leave. It appears that your lady got herself the best protection there is and you’re right it is an MC club. However, not like any we have ever known and if I’m not mistaken brother, she’s run straight into the arms of the Twisted Reaper MC and far from feeling angry, you should feel relieved.”
Completing Beauty: Books 1-3 Page 4