Ace (Knights Corruption MC Series-Next Generation Book 3)

by S. Nelson

  “Fuck, man,” Kaden grumbled, running his hand over the top of his head, his blue eyes darkening with annoyance.

  “I didn’t know she was gonna call her,” Ace said, his odd response telling me everything I needed to know.

  “Why didn’t you tell me?” My bestie turned her attention to her man. “What is goin’ on?”

  He reached for her hand and pulled her back. “Nothin’ for you to worry about. We got it handled.” She tried to move away, but he held firm.

  “Who else knows about this? Or should I ask who else doesn’t know about this?” She finally yanked her hand free, placing it on her waist.

  “The club knows as well as your mom. She’s the one who stitched him up.”

  “Why didn’t she tell me?”

  “Because Addy’s been around long enough to know she can’t discuss club business with anyone,” he replied mechanically, like he was reciting some kind of code, which I supposed he was.

  “But I’m her daughter.” Riley’s brows almost hit her hairline in disbelief.

  “Doesn’t matter.” Whatever he silently communicated to her with his eyes worked because all she did was shake her head before turning back to look at me.

  “What did you want?”

  “What?”

  “Why did you call me back here?”

  “Oh. Yeah. Um… can you ask your mom if she can swing by the clubhouse? Ace popped two of his stitches.”

  Riley’s attention switched from me, to Ace, to the line of blood dripping down his side, to Kaden. She threw her hands in the air and backed up. “Far be it from me to get involved with club business,” she hissed. Kaden sighed, rolling his eyes because he knew he was in for a rough day where Riley was concerned. “One of you call her. I don’t wanna overstep.” Her sarcastic tone wasn’t lost on any of us.

  She disappeared from the office, and seconds later, I heard the chime above the door ring, Kaden cursing before following her. I closed the door behind him so Ace and I could be alone again.

  “Oops,” we both said, sharing a smile when we realized our response was the same.

  “She’ll get over it. She has to realize by now that she can’t be privy to stuff relating to the club.”

  “Yeah, but this isn’t just something. This can very well involve her.” Ace reached for a piece of gauze, but I snatched it from his hand, applying a squirt of saline solution before pressing the white square over his wound. He winced. “Sorry.” I kept my eyes on what I was doing and away from his ridiculously handsome face. I needed my wits about me if I was gonna finish soon. “Hold this in place.” His hand replaced mine as I reached for the bandage wrap. “You okay?”

  “Yeah.”

  I took advantage of the brief moment of silence that followed his response to continue trying to make my point. “You’re worried about someone coming after me, right?” I saw him nod from my peripheral vision. “Then don’t you think Riley’s in the same type of danger? Doesn’t she have a right to know, just like me.”

  “If it was up to me, you wouldn’t know anything either,” he stated matter-of-factly, finally pulling my eyes up to his.

  “But I just had to go and do what I did, right?” I quickly finished wrapping his waist and stepped back, tossing his stained shirt back at him. “I suppose you’re gonna blame me for popping your stitches, too.”

  He carefully pulled the material over his head, then down his chest. “They didn’t pop for no reason.” With narrowed eyes, he clucked his tongue, and he was either gonna start arguing with me or laugh. I never knew what his response would be to certain things, which I supposed kept me on my toes. Was that a good or bad thing? I had yet to decide.

  “You could’ve just sent Brick to see me. Or Kaden. Or even Linc. But you were the stubborn one who made the decision to come here even though you know you shouldn’t have.” My tone was calm, which was done on purpose because emotionally I was zapped. There was no doubt Ace and I pushed each other’s buttons. Sometimes rightfully so, and sometimes done just to get a rise out of the other. Call it our form of foreplay. The only thing that altered our typical dynamic was when he made me choose to either be with him or walk away for good.

  But everything had changed now, right? Or maybe not. Perhaps him getting shot was the shove I needed to stick to my decision not to become committed to him. Apparently, I was in danger, and I wasn’t even his girlfriend. What would happen if people knew we were in an actual relationship?

  “No one can look after you like me.”

  “Then why send that guy?”

  Ace looked down at his side, then lifted his eyes back to mine. “I did just get shot.” The corner of his lip curved upward but fell flat when my unshed tears gathered once more. I was in his arms again before I could blink them away.

  “Don’t be upset. Everything will be okay.” His words were empty because I was smart enough to realize he didn’t even believe them, even though he might’ve wanted to. Much like me.

  “I should get back to work,” I mumbled against his chest, breathing him in one last time. “I have a few things to do before my next client gets here.” He allowed me enough room to pull back so he could see my face.

  “Come over tonight.” It wasn’t a question but not quite a demand either, although it leaned more toward the latter.

  “That’s not a good idea.”

  “Why?” His tongue peeked out and wet his lips. Lost to the sight of his mouth and remembering all the things he’d done to my body with those very lips, I didn’t answer. I was fully content wrapped up in my memories. “Chels.” His voice was stern yet held a hint of amusement. I shook my head but still didn’t utter a word. “You gonna answer me?”

  Mentally rewinding the past several seconds, I remembered what I’d said and what he asked me. “Because our situation hasn’t changed. You want a commitment and I don’t.” I wanted to kick myself for telling the lie, but I played to the façade regardless.

  “I don’t believe you,” he argued, his nostrils flaring slightly after speaking. His forefinger lifted my head while his lowered. Our lips were so close if either of us inhaled, we’d end up kissing. “I think you want to say yes to me, but you’re scared. I won’t hurt you. I promise.”

  My lids drifted closed. “Now you’re the one who’s lying.” My words took flight on the tip of a whisper, but he heard them.

  “I’m not.” His warm breath tickled my lips, my skin pebbling in excitement. “Want me to prove it?”

  I nodded, his finger still positioned beneath my chin.

  His palm cupped the side of my face, trailing his thumb up and down my throat, his touch eliciting a burning desire to ravage his mouth, but I kept still… barely.

  “I would never hurt someone I love,” he finally said, and even though my brain was in the middle of processing his words, my lids flew open and my eyes landed directly on his. I sucked in a breath but couldn’t speak. “And I do love you. I have for some time.” His half smile fell when my eyes widened. I was freakin’ out and he knew it.

  I tried to shove him back, careful not to be too aggressive because of his condition, but he refused to budge. Instead of butterflies taking flight at hearing him tell me he loved me, I plucked off every one of their wings and flicked them aside. I didn’t know what his game was, but I didn’t believe him, even though I desperately wanted to.

  “I don’t trust you,” I spat, any cracks in the fortress around my heart sealing up with anger.

  Ace finally took a step back all while continuing to hold on to me. “It’s not me you don’t trust. It’s yourself. You don’t believe you deserve happiness, someone to love you.”

  “Oh, and that someone is you?”

  “It is. I thought I just told you I did.” His eyes sparkled, drawing me in further even though I did everything in my power to resist. I tried to pull my gaze away from his but failed.

  Did he genuinely love me or was this some ploy to get back with me? Did he believe if he uttered those wor
ds I’d agree to be with him exclusively from here on out? Or did he fear his lack of future and wanted to make the most of his time on this earth count?

  I wanted to wrap my arms around him and kiss him senseless.

  I wanted to kick him out and never lay eyes on him again.

  I wanted to tell him I felt the same for him.

  I wanted to rant and rave and demand he tell me why he was messing with me.

  One moment, I couldn’t picture my life without him. The next, I wanted to delete his number and forget he ever existed.

  The collision of emotions bombarding me confused me the more I gave them life, and it was all I could do not to crumple to the floor in exhaustion.

  “Do you have anything you wanna say to me?” he asked, craning his neck as if preparing to deflect the grenades that I was sure to fire at him.

  After running through different responses and the possible consequences of each, I settled on one simple word.

  “No.”

  Ace backed me against the nearest wall and pinned my body in place with his, the heat of his chest tearing through my clothes and warming me.

  “I’d be disappointed with any other answer.”

  The force of his kiss surprised me, and while I wanted to dissect his response, I couldn’t concentrate on anything other than the taste of him.

  Forceful.

  Unyielding.

  Carnal.

  Quick.

  His lips left mine too soon, and without meaning to, I groaned my displeasure at the severed connection. He, of course, grinned like a fool.

  “Come by my house after work or I’ll come looking for you.” His hand covered his side. “And you’ve seen what happens to me when I get upset while trying to heal.”

  “Fine.” His brow arrowed upward. “I said fine.”

  No more words were dispersed in the air between us before he gave me his back and left the office, leaving me standing there in a puddle of lust, confusion, anger, and trepidation.

  22

  “I can’t believe I told her I loved her.” I ran my hand over my face, my disbelief warming my skin. “Fuck! What was I thinkin’?”

  “Were you lyin’?” Kaden asked, still pissy at me for Riley inadvertently finding out about the shooting.

  “No,” I answered without hesitation.

  “Then what’s the big deal?” Brick asked, all too happy to chime in.

  “You do know Chelsea, right? You’ve seen us together? What did I think I’d accomplish by pouring my heart out to her? If anything, she’ll try and back off even more now.”

  “Or maybe she won’t. Maybe after seeing how close she came to losing you, then hearing that you love her, will make her stop fighting whatever it is between you.” Brick smiled, then scrunched his face. “Or maybe you just fucked it all up.”

  “Nice.” Kaden scoffed at the big guy, then glanced in the rearview at me. “Listen, man. Take it from someone who wasted too many years being stupid. Don’t waste time that’s not guaranteed to you. You love Chelsea. You told her. It’s out there now. At least you won’t have any regrets.”

  “Unless she tells me to fuck off and never call her again,” I responded, disheartened.

  “Would you listen even if she did?” His attention bounced between me and the road ahead.

  “Probably not.”

  “Exactly. So don’t worry about it. Everything will fall into place. If it did for me and Riley, it will for you two as well.”

  “I’m fuckin’ around with Zoe,” Brick blurted, catching us both by surprise with the outburst

  “Anything serious or just messin’ around?” I was thankful for the brief distraction from my own self-induced dilemma.

  Brick didn’t answer at first even though he’d been the one to toss out the information. I slapped him on the shoulder when he remained quiet.

  “I’d be okay if it turned into somethin’, but she’s got her hang-ups.”

  “About what?” Kaden asked, turning to look at him briefly.

  “About how I fit in to her ‘plan,’” he uttered, motioning air quotes with his fingers, his tone hinting at anger. “About her future with her company and how they can move her whenever they want. And let’s not forget about Ryder. I’m sure he’d have a problem with me and Zoe being together.”

  “So?” I voiced the question.

  “Yeah, so what? Stone wanting to rip my head off didn’t deter me from chasing Riley.” He flicked on the blinker and we turned off the highway. “When does she go back to London?”

  “She’s not. Just found out last week they’re transferring her here. One of the designers she works with is setting up shop about forty minutes away.” Brick turned to look out the window, releasing a slow breath before continuing. “We ran into a friend of hers a few days ago and to say I don’t fit in with her world is an understatement. Here I am, a biker with tattoos, in a club whose actions are becoming questionable each day, and she’s all posh and fancy and shit.”

  “Do you like her?” I hit the back of his seat.

  “More than I want to.”

  “Does she like you?”

  “She says she does.”

  “How’s the sex?” Every question flew out of my mouth without much thought.

  “Best I’ve ever had.”

  “I’m surprised she still has a uterus after fuckin’ you,” Kaden laughed.

  “She takes me like a champ.”

  “I’m sure she does.”

  “Hey, watch it,” he barked, swiveling around to glare at me.

  “You’re the one who said it. I can’t agree?”

  “No. And this convo ends now ’cause I know I’m gonna regret tellin’ you fuckers about our sex life.” His stern expression softened slightly.

  “Hey, I gotta live through someone since I doubt Chelsea will give me some anytime soon.” I nestled into the back seat, careful not to move too much and cause more damage. “Did either of you call Addy to meet us at the clubhouse? I know she’s gonna yell at me for gettin’ out of bed, but I need her to stitch me back up.”

  “I called her,” Kaden answered. “Right after I settled Riley down.” He pressed the opener to the enormous metal gate. “I swear she keeps me on my toes.” He smiled as he pulled into the lot. “Brick, you wanna follow me to his house?” He pointed his thumb back at me. “Then drive me back here to get my bike?”

  “I can drive myself home.”

  “No way. After Addy fixes you up, I don’t wanna hear her mouth when she sees you try and get in the driver side. Nope,” he said again.

  “Fine.”

  Fine seemed to be the go-to word.

  Pulling the curtain to the side, I scoured the area outside my house, and sure enough, Chelsea wasn’t anywhere to be found. She promised she’d come over after work, so where was she? I called her twice, and both went to voice mail. Her phone was either shut off or dead, and for her sake, it better be the latter. I even called Transform, but there was no answer there either.

  What else needed to happen for her to get that things weren’t safe right now, not for the club, not for me, and not for her?

  Snatching my cell from the kitchen table, I angrily hit her name in my recent call list and selected the green phone icon, cursing when there was still no connection for the third time.

  Trying for some semblance of calm, I scrolled down and clicked on Kaden’s number. He answered on the second ring.

  “Yo. You with Riley?”

  “Yeah.”

  “Ask her if she knows where Chelsea is.”

  “Hold on.” I heard him shout, his voice muffled from turning his cell away from his mouth. “She said she had a last-minute customer. She should’ve just left.”

  “Thanks.”

  “Everything okay?”

  “It will be,” I huffed before ending the call, irritated at myself for even getting upset in the first place. But everything was turned upside down now and I needed to make sure Chelsea was safe at all times
.

  How the hell was I gonna accomplish this? We lived in two separate places, twenty minutes apart depending on traffic. What happened if someone broke into her place and I wasn’t around? A lot could happen during the time it could take me to reach her.

  I’d been fortunate enough to rent my place off an elderly man two years ago. Ed Colton kept to himself and never bothered me. He even gave me a discount on the price for taking care of mowing the lawn and fixing things myself, which worked out perfectly because although I’d won a huge underground poker game a few years ago, living up to my nickname, I liked to save as much of my money as I could. The club paid me a small percentage of what they’d have to give someone else who oversaw everything I was responsible for, and that money paid for my monthly living expenses. My winnings were set aside, half of the amount invested so that I didn’t have to worry about my financial future.

  The thing that sealed the deal with getting my landlord to choose me as his tenant was when I showed up on my bike to look at the place, which was when he told me he used to ride all the time before arthritis crippled his hands. We talked about Harleys more than the house. Then as soon as I moved in, I had a top-of-the-line security system installed, and even though there was no threat toward any of us then, every member had their homes decked out with all the high-tech gadgets for keeping their places safe and secure.

  “Fuck,” I grumbled, pacing, and doing a hell of a job of keeping my blood pressure raised. “She’ll be here soon. She’s fine.” Talking to myself occupied some of my time, but when fifteen minutes passed and she still hadn’t arrived, I found my breathing had increased and my irritation had hit an all-time high. “Maybe if she kept her goddamn phone charged, I wouldn’t be in this state.” As I opened my mouth to gripe some more, I heard a car pull into the driveaway. Whipping open the door, I stepped onto the small porch and saw her leaning over to the passenger side, then disappearing altogether. Seconds later, she popped back up, then vacated her side, fiddling with her phone before dropping it in her purse.