With that promise—or is it a threat?—he stamps across the floor and yanks open the door with more force than necessary. “Bella.”
It’s the woman I spoke to on Friday. Instead of sobering my mood, I have the crazy urge to laugh again. Do I look like I nearly ravished her boss on his desk?
…
Ty
I wait until Jas crosses the street to her car before I go back inside the club and into my office. My hard-on isn’t helping the thinking process, especially when my head is filled with the graphic ways she’s going to make good on my promise to her tonight, but I need to make some calls.
Tonight, Jas is going to learn just how much has changed since she ran out on me.
…
Although Tuesday nights aren’t the busiest, the club’s already half full as I prowl the foyer. For the tenth time in as many minutes I glance at my watch. It’s only just gone nine. She’s not late.
I should’ve brought her here on my bike. Except she laughed as if she thought I was joking when I offered, and I sure as hell wasn’t going to argue. Not when I want her to see how different things are now.
What the fuck am I trying to prove?
I swallow a groan. I know exactly what I’m trying to show her. That the dynamics in the Bastards have changed, and my position as VP is more than just a courtesy title. My generation now holds the balance of power in the MC, and—maybe most importantly for Jas—none of us were full members ten years ago when Kelly was still in demand.
Why the hell does it matter?
It thuds through my head, unanswered. Because I don’t fucking know.
“Ty.” Zach gives me the nod as he strolls into the club, one arm wrapped around Grace. “You okay?”
It’s unsubtle code for Is Jas here yet? If she were, we both know I wouldn’t be standing here alone like a jerk.
“I’m good.” I turn on my smile for Grace. “Hey.”
“Hey, Ty.” Grace says something about how much she loves the gothic mirror on the wall, but her words fade into white noise as Jas walks into the foyer.
She’s wearing a black sweater dress that ends halfway down her thighs, and her hair is twisted on top of her head, with long curls framing her face. She looks untouchable, classy, without any in-your-face, look-at-me cleavage or ass on display, but everyone turns and stares at her anyway.
A strange, hot pain fills my chest, and I can’t drag my gaze away as she smiles and makes her way across the floor. Whenever she walked in a room she always put other chicks in the shade, and it wasn’t until she’d gone I realized how much of me she’d taken with her.
Even after all this time, and all the nameless, faceless girls I’ve had, she’s still the only one that’s ever meant anything.
I don’t crush that feeling. What’s the point? Instead I take her hand. My woman. “Hey, babe.”
“Hey, yourself.” She gives me a fleeting kiss on the cheek, as though she’s not sure how I want to handle tonight. Old friends? Fuck buddies? Screw that.
“You remember Zach, don’t you?” I tug her closer, so there’s no space between us, a silent claim of rights.
“Yes.” She smiles at him, but it’s like she’s greeting a stranger, not a guy she hung out with countless times when we were dating.
“Jas. It’s good to see you again. You’re looking great.” Zach doesn’t seem to notice her reserve, and he smiles at her the way he does Savannah. “This is Grace, my old lady.”
“I’m so pleased to meet you.” Grace beams at Jas, and it’s obvious Zach’s told her about the history Jas and I share. And then Grace looks stricken. “Oh, I’m so sorry about your mom passing. It must be an awful time for you.”
“It’s helped having Ty here.” She doesn’t glance up at me, but she squeezes my fingers, and I don’t fight the urge to press my lips against the top of her head.
Grace says all the right things, without any underlying double meaning, and the tension slowly drains from Jas. I glance at Zach, but he only has eyes for Grace, and for once I don’t feel the need to mock him.
Why the hell would I? His old lady is doing exactly what I knew she would—showing my girl the respect she’s entitled to.
Zach never mocked me, even when we were sixteen and I first fell for Jas.
We go down the stairs to the club, and Jas glances around. I lean in close so the others can’t hear, although that’s not likely over the thud of the live band. “Like it?”
“Impressive. I love the whole gothic atmosphere. You’d never guess it was like this from the outside.”
I grin. “Yeah, it’s ugly as fuck. But it’s the inside that counts.”
She gives me the strangest look. “You’re right,” she says softly, and I get the feeling she’s not talking about the club at all.
Gage and Amelia join us, and after reminding Jas who he is, the chicks chat about God knows what. It washes over my head, and judging from the expressions on Zach’s and Gage’s faces, I’m not alone. We catch each other’s eyes, and it’s like an unspoken message flashes between us.
When did we get so fucking pussy whipped?
I grin—can’t help myself. In the past, we’ve often had chicks hanging off our arms while at a bar or club. But they were disposable, only wanting us for our colors and connections, and they sure as hell never dominated the conversation.
Jas is maybe the only girl I’ve had who didn’t want me just so she could get closer to the Bastards. Not ten years ago and definitely not now. After we broke up, I never cared about a chick’s motives for screwing me. Didn’t matter why, just that she did.
After a few years, even that got old.
Jas strokes her thumb over mine, almost as though she can read my mind, which is so crazy I grin again. If my brothers didn’t know that this was serious after I called and asked them to turn up here tonight, they would now.
We make our way to the bar, and Jas gives the dancers a quick glance as we pass by them. She doesn’t say anything, though, so I guess she doesn’t have a problem with their costume or routine.
Cade and Hawk watch our approach without any mocking smirks on their faces. I give them the nod and tug Jas close.
My brothers know the score.
…
Jasmine
Did Ty arrange this? It’s ridiculous to think he’d go to that much trouble, but how likely is it that four of the guys we’d once hung out with—who’re now all Bastards—would be here tonight?
Cade hasn’t changed that much, but whoa—just like with Gage, I take a second look when Ty introduces me to Hawk. There’s nothing of the gangly boy I remember. But although he’s now all muscle and wears the colors well, he sure doesn’t give off a sinister enforcer vibe the way Viper did.
“Hey, Jas.” He tips his head at me in acknowledgment. Just like with the others, there’s no hint of a sneer in the words, or any slow appraisal of my body. Well, Zach and Cade never treated me like that anyway, but still…
None of them were Bastards back then, either.
I tug on Ty’s hand, and without even asking what I want, he lowers his head toward me. Like he used to.
“Is this a coincidence, or do the guys always hang out here on a Tuesday night?”
He flashes me a grin, and for a moment looks eighteen again. He’ll always be eighteen to me. “Don’t know what you mean.”
“It’s almost like you’re showing me off or something.”
“What if I am?”
I’d expected him to laugh, not virtually agree with me, especially when I was only half serious. And I can’t afford to wallow in the frisson of pleasure his comment evokes, because I’m leaving him in three days.
I’m leaving L.A. Not him. Because Ty wasn’t the reason I came back here.
I could ask him why, but I’m not sure I want to know the answer.
It doesn’t necessarily mean anything. I cling to that, even if I don’t fully believe it. “Hawk doesn’t strike me as a tough mofo, by the way. He does
n’t have an evil aura.”
Ty’s eyes narrow as though my answer isn’t what he expected, but relief spills through me when he doesn’t call bullshit. “Why would he have an evil aura?”
“I thought it was a job requirement.” I need to get off the subject of Hawk and his enforcer status, because it’s triggering too many memories. “Anyway, I’ll always remember him as the quiet one in the corner.”
“He’s still the quiet one in the corner.” Ty sounds like he’s trying not to laugh. “Don’t let that fool you.”
No chance of that. I keep my mouth shut, though, because despite all the denials pounding through my head, I know what Ty’s doing tonight. I’m just not sure why. We both know this is going nowhere. Maybe he just wants me to leave town knowing how things could’ve been.
It should make me happy that we’ve both matured enough over the last ten years that we can do this, but somehow…it doesn’t.
Chapter Twelve
Jasmine
We hang out by the bar, three couples having a night out, and it’s both bizarre and heartbreaking. It’s all I wanted once, but it’s too late now.
“So, how’s the shop coming along then, Grace?” Amelia turns to me. “She’s opening a cupcake shop, did you know? Must be Destiny.”
It takes me a second to realize that’s the name of the shop, and not a comment on why Grace is opening one in the first place.
“I’m getting there.” For some reason she blushes, as though she’s embarrassed Amelia brought the subject up in front of me. “Although, I don’t know what I was thinking to start my own business and plan my wedding for the same year.”
“You’ll be fine.” Amelia smiles at her like they’re good friends, and I take a sip of my soda to drown the small stab of regret that I’m the outsider. I was always the outsider. This isn’t my life anymore. And even if I could stay and start over, I wouldn’t.
Without much encouragement from Amelia, Grace talks about her wedding plans and I steal a sideways glance at Ty. He and the other guys are a little way along the bar, as though they’re deliberately giving us space to get to know each other, and unease slides through me. What does it matter if I get to know them or not?
Overreacting, much? It’s probably a lot more to do with the fact they don’t want to listen to wedding gossip. It’s not like the whole world revolves around me. Get over yourself, honey.
I take another sip of soda to hide my choke of laughter. Just because I’m not staying doesn’t mean I want Grace and Amelia to think I’m weird. Anyway, it’s fun, not least because both girls are nothing like the chicks Zach used to hook up with. Nothing like the old ladies of the Bastards, either, who took their cue from Angie and treated me like something stuck to the bottom of their shoe.
From the corner of my eye, I notice three guys lounging against the bar, and they’re not being subtle in the way they’re ogling Grace and Amelia, who appear oblivious.
Do those guys have a death wish? Can’t they see the bunch of Bastards beside us?
One sidles along the bar and offers me a lecherous grin. Wait. Me? “Hey, sugar. What’re you drinking?”
I give him my best court attorney smile, which reportedly has the power to freeze a perp’s balls at a hundred paces. “I’m not interested. But thanks.”
“It’s just a drink.” He shrugs, clearly thinking I’m playing hard to get. No balls, huh? “No strings.”
His two friends join him, zeroing in on Grace and Amelia, and I smother a sigh as Ty and the others prowl toward us like we’re their property and need protecting from predators.
That’s exactly what they think. I know that. Always have.
Yes, but it’s been a long time, and I no longer need anyone to look out for me. Especially since I know exactly the way the Bastards deal with anyone stupid enough to hit on their women.
Ty slings his arm around my shoulders and I tense, not fooled by his outward calm. It doesn’t matter how casual we are. This week, I’m his. And he’s never shared.
“Take a walk.” His voice is deadly, but the idiots don’t beat a retreat while they still can. Jesus, how drunk are they? Don’t they have any idea who owns the Hammer?
“Fuck you, asshole.” The one who tried to chat me up curls his lip at Ty, and no Bastard ever takes that kind of attitude without causing bloodshed. My grip tightens on my glass, and nerves spike through my chest.
Is this the way it’ll always be?
…
Ty
Jas goes rigid, and fury pumps through me. Tonight was going great until these douches showed up. I don’t recognize them, but even if I did, it wouldn’t make any difference. Their fate was sealed the second they made a move.
I release Jas and step forward, shielding her with my body. Adrenaline pumps through me, and I flex my fists in anticipation as Zach and Gage take up position by my side. Yeah, I’m all for a fair fight. It won’t take five of us to show them no one messes with a Bastard’s old lady.
They’re trapped with their backs against the bar, and for the first time, real fear flashes across their faces. I stare right in the eyes of the one who dissed me. “Something you want to say to me?”
He doesn’t answer, but his bottle of beer slips through his fingers and smashes on the floor. It won’t take more than a couple of punches to teach these shitheads a lesson. I glance over my shoulder, shooting Jas a cocky grin to let her know this’ll all be over in under a minute.
There’s a sad, resigned look in her eyes. She doesn’t say anything, but she doesn’t need to. Fighting doesn’t solve everything. Her words from the other day when I turned up after the midnight run rattle through my mind. She’d bitten her lip, and her eyes were suspiciously glassy, and like a dick I reveled in the knowledge she still cared enough to get upset because I was hurt.
Sometimes you just need to let things go. I’d laughed and told her I never let things go. Hell, I have a rep, and it’s everything. But looking at her now, doubt crawls in.
Unlike the other night, these pricks aren’t worth it. I know that. They’re probably shitting themselves right now, and giving them a few bruised bones isn’t going to change anything.
They’ll never come back to the Hammer.
I turn back to them, shoulder to shoulder with Zach and Gage. Am I really going to do this?
“Get out of here.” I don’t raise my voice, but it’s like the entire club falls silent, even though the band’s still playing and only the six of us can hear me. I step back, and after a second’s hesitation Zach and Gage mirror my actions. They might not agree with what I’m doing, but they’d never question me in public.
The three of them scuttle away like cockroaches, and I let out a long breath before catching Zach’s keen gaze. “You got a problem?”
“No, bro.” He slaps my shoulder and strolls off to wrap Grace in his arms. I catch Gage’s smirk, but he doesn’t say anything before pulling his girl toward him.
I face Jas. She’s staring at me as though she’s never seen me before. “You let them walk.”
I shrug. “Didn’t want to spoil your night.”
She traces her finger along my jaw. “Wow.” Her voice is soft. “You really have grown up, haven’t you?”
I loop my arms around her. “I told you a lot of things have changed since you left.” Sure, I hadn’t been talking about myself at the time, but I have. We both have. “I don’t need to show you how tough I am just to impress you anymore.” I grin because I never really needed to do that, but I want to see her smile again.
She doesn’t smile, but she threads her fingers through mine and pulls me toward the stairs. I tug her around to face me. “You want to go home already?”
“No. There’s something I need in your office.”
“You left something in there earlier?” She only had her purse, and she didn’t leave that behind.
“I didn’t say that.” This time I don’t resist, and she leads me up the stairs until we’re outside my office door
.
She gives me a sideways glance and holds out her other hand. “Key.”
I drop it into her palm. “The plan was for me to drag you in here later tonight.”
“Well, plans change.” She pushes open the door and flicks on the light. I follow her inside, not bothering to hide my lecherous grin. “I think you’ll enjoy what I have in mind.”
“I’ll bet.” Images of her spread eagled on my desk fill my head as she locks the door behind us. “Lucky for you I’ve a couple of rubbers in my pocket.”
“Lucky for you I’ve a whole pack in my purse.”
I laugh and pull her close. “Long night ahead, huh.”
“That’s right.” She eases back, slides my cut over my shoulders and carefully places it on a chair. “I hope you have plenty of stamina.”
“For you, I’ll keep going all night.”
She pauses halfway through unbuttoning my shirt. “Only for me?” It’s obvious she thinks I’m spinning her a line. With anyone else, I would be.
I shrug out of my shirt, and she tosses it onto the floor. “Only for you,” I confirm, not sure why I need her to believe I’m not fooling around. “I don’t care about anyone else.”
A warning thuds in the back of my mind, but I ignore it. They’re only words. They don’t mean shit. Except I never sweet-talk chicks like this.
Only Jas.
I exhale a harsh breath, relieved she isn’t calling me out on it. But the strange, sad smile she gives me, as though she still doesn’t believe a word, is worse in a way.
Forget it. I push the unease to the back of my mind and grab the hem of her dress. “Your turn.”
She grips my wrist. “Not yet.”
I growl, and let her push my hand away. “Thought there was something in here you needed. You want me to get you off while you’re still dressed?” Now it’s crossed my mind, I like the idea a lot.
“Maybe later. Right now, I want to do something for you.”
This is sounding better by the second. “I like the way your plan’s shaping up, babe.”
“I thought you would.” She traces my lion tat with the tip of her finger, as though she’s relearning every line of the ink. Then she does the same to the sheltering crab, and something hot and hard fills my chest.
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