Tattooed Love

by Simone Elise

  I was out of the car and up against the bonnet, with a policeman handcuffing me when the boys finally passed. The cop’s hadn’t even asked me for my license, arresting me straight off. The boys were looking in my direction as they slowed slightly.

  I was pulled back to the cop car and pushed into the back seat. I watched the boys keep moving, and I hoped someone would pay bail to get me out.

  Well if they didn’t, the deal would be dead in the water. Looks like I would be making a phone call to dad, after all, he was the only man I could rely on.

  Chapter 31

  Jax

  “Fucking jail,” I muttered under my breath and hurled a shot glass across the bar, watching it shatter into pieces. The bar was crawling with people when we showed up, but the locals took the hint and pissed off. The bartender had also disappeared and we were just servicing ourselves; but that wasn’t my main concern. “FUCKING JAIL!” I roared.

  “How high is bail?” Cole yelled at Troy who was on the phone trying to find out where the hell they had taken Amber.

  I gritted my teeth and waited for Troy’s answer. Anger and guilt roared through my veins; it was my fault Amber had taken the fall.

  Troy cursed when he closed the phone. “They won’t tell me.”

  “What?” I snarled at him, “Why won’t they tell you where she is?”

  “She’s locked up. They won’t tell me where though.”

  “Let me guess, your record?” Adam spoke up with a deep roll of disgust in his voice. “Fucking pigs.”

  I stormed across the room and shouldered the bar door, swinging it open. I lit up a cigarette, getting ready to storm every police station looking for her.

  “Whatever you’re thinking, I suggest you stop,” Cole stood behind me, arms crossed. “We’ll fix it.”

  “Fuck up Cole.”

  It was taking all my self-control not to throw him out into oncoming traffic.

  “Just reminding you of the other night, in case you’ve forgotten.” Cole shrugged his shoulders.

  “Threatning me again?”

  “Stay away from her.”

  “We’re over.”

  “And that’s the way it will stay.” Cole moved forward, his eyes deadly. “Got it?”

  “Back down,” I ordered. I was taking his shit for Amber, but, if he crossed the line one more time, I would punch him back into his place.

  “Amber deserves better than you and I just don’t want you forgetting that.” Cole’s voice was a low hiss and I would kill a bloke for talking to me like this.

  “Cole?” Troy stepped outside.

  “Just reminding Jax to stay the fuck away from Amber,” Cole spat, still having the guts to stare me down.

  “You know what pisses me off?” Tyler said, now stepping out too. Clearly, everyone knew what was going on, and that pissed me off.

  When no-one answered, Tyler just decided to tell us anyway.

  “You’re not asking Amber what she wants. She would kill you if she knew you threatened Jax to break it off with her.”

  Cole grunted and leaned against the brick wall, smoking.

  “I’m serious, you should have seen her face last night.” Tyler looked carefully in my direction. “She was heartbroken.”

  “Heartbroken?” Cole looked at his brother, “Grow a pair, would you.”

  “She looked cut this morning,” Troy carried on.

  It was cutting me up hearing this shit. I felt gutted hurting Amber like that. Her face when I told her; I grimaced just remembering her hurt face.

  “We need to find her.” Adam had now stepped out too, swiping the cigarette from Cole. “The deal won’t work without her, and plus I’m telling her what you did Cole.”

  Cole had Adam by the collar and against the wall within a second.

  “You can punch me if you want, but Amber doesn’t deserve to be lied to.” Adam glared at Cole, not even bothering to fight. “It’s rubbish making Jax break it off with her.” Adam looked over Cole’s shoulder, looking me in the eye, adding, “Surprised you fucking let him.”

  “I didn’t really have a choice,” I grunted. All the boys looked in my direction apart from Cole, wanting an explanation. “Cole has an old pic of El and me. He was going to show Amber.”

  “Did you cheat on her?” Tyler crossed his arms, fuming.

  “NO!” I spat, and glared into the back of Cole’s head. “Amber and I weren’t even together when he took that pic but like Amber wouldn’t believe me over him.”

  “You’re still no good for her,” Troy said calmly to me. “We didn’t want her messed up with this crap.”

  “She was always a part of it,” I challenged him. “You were just to blind to see it.”

  “So, you want her for her connections?” Cole spat over his shoulder at me.

  “Mind your own business.”

  “Get off me!” Adam pushed Cole off him finally. “We have to find Am.”

  “She’s safer in prison,” Cole huffed as Adam sent an elbow to his stomach. “Away from him.”

  That was it.

  I pulled my fist back and sent it flying into Cole’s face. He cursed continually as his hand went to cradle his jaw. His eyes were fierce when he looked up at me; I wanted him to come at me.

  But he didn’t. Instead, he straightened up and glared at me.

  “Remember who you’re fucking talking to,” I said as I walked to my bike and straddled it. “Let’s go bail your sister out.”

  ***

  “What do you mean she’s gone?” I glared at the pig behind the counter, who was glaring right back at me.

  “She was released hours ago.”

  “How?” Troy was standing next to me, mirroring my pure hatred towards the officer in front of us.

  “She made bail,” he said, examining Troy’s patch, his eyes hovering over the ‘President.’

  “Who bailed her out?” Troy shot at him, and eyed the officer who had now joined the other pig behind the desk.

  The officer glanced down at the paper work, but then with a glint of smugness, he looked back up at us. “We can’t release that information.”

  I wasn’t taking this fucking crap. I leaned across, swiping the piece of paper from his fingers. A whole lot of yelling and threats came flying at me, but I had already tossed the piece of paper back before the pigs could move.

  “Let’s leave.” I shot at Troy and we both walked to the door. The pigs didn’t even bother stopping us, because we all knew they just wanted us to leave. After all, we just cause them more paperwork.

  “Where’s Amber?” the boys asked as soon as we walked out of the cop shop.

  “Been bailed out,” Troy answered.

  “By?” Tyler frowned.

  “Your father.” I announced.

  I straddled my bike. “Better give him a call, find out where they are.”

  All the boys cursed under their breath because they knew that they would be in shit for this. Their dad would have had to have flown in for this, although he would most likely do anything for his little girl.

  “Dad’s gonna be pissed,” Tyler grimaced, and just like taking a bullet, he pulled out his phone and called the only other man the Shield boys were actually scared of - their dad.

  Chapter 32

  Amber

  “You boys have some explaining to do!” I heard dad tell whoever was on the other side of the door. “She was in jail. JAIL!”

  I jumped slightly in surprise when I heard the hotel door slam shut. The bedroom door was ajar, so I was able to hear all that was going on out in the lounge room and I didn’t think that was a good thing. I wonder how the boys had found out that dad picked me up?

  Well, it wasn’t like I could call anyone else. I knew dad would bail me out, and I knew he would actually come to get me although I was sure flying in in our private jet to bail me out hadn’t been on his agenda for that night.

  Surprisingly, he wasn’t angry with me; he was just concerned about me, making sure I was
ok, which I was.

  “Is she with you?” Troy’s voice broke the silence.

  “She’s sleeping.” Dad’s voice was stern, “You boys want to explain why Amber was in jail?”

  “We didn’t make her speed,” Cole’s voice was short and snappy. “I need to talk to her, she in there?”

  “Don’t disturb her!”

  “Why? It’s Amber, I’m sure she is awake,” Cole snapped back at Dad. I had never heard him disrespect dad before.

  “I brought you boys here to help Amber. Not drag her deeper in!”

  “What are you talking about dad? We aren’t dragging her into anything,” Troy scoffed, “Amber was in trouble when we got here. We aren’t miracle workers.”

  “I’m not stupid. I know what you boys are, and I know what Amber was involved in,” Dad roared. “But you boys were meant to pull her out of it! You boys were meant to pull her from the gangs and maybe give her some small role in your club, but not this. She wasn’t meant to get more involved.”

  The boys went silent. I think we all did believe that dad knew nothing about what we really did and I was sure the boys had no idea dad knew about their club. I was stunned.

  “Can I talk to Amber?”

  My eyes widened when I heard Jax’s voice. Jax was here?

  “No. I think it best you all leave. Amber will be coming home with me.” Dad’s voice was hard and I knew the boys wouldn’t argue with him. “Leave now.”

  “I need to talk to Amber first,” Cole stood up to dad, and I didn’t know where he was getting the guts right now, especially after knowing that dad knew more than he let on. “It’s important, and then we will leave.”

  The silence in the air was deadly; I could hear dad steaming from here. “Fine, she is in there.” Dad’s tone sounded as if he was breathing fire.

  I quickly lay down in bed and pulled the blankets up, pretending I wasn’t listening. Well, we all knew I was, but I didn’t need to have my ears glued to the door.

  The door cracked open. “Amber?” Cole’s voice was slightly softer, and I was surprised to hear the tender tone.

  “Cole?” I pulled myself up in bed, and crossed my arms. He flicked the light on, and the room bounced with light.

  Cole was standing with his arms crossed. “I thought you would be up.” He closed the door behind him and walked further into the room, before sitting on the edge of the bed. “I need to tell you something.”

  “Must be important then,” I arched an eyebrow; let’s face it, Cole wasn’t much of a talker. “Well spill! What is it?” I pushed.

  “I told Jax to dump you. He didn’t get a choice in the matter. There. I told you. Now everyone can get off my back.” Cole got up from the bed, “Don’t rant at me about it, I’m not in the mood,” he added.

  He seriously thought he could just drop a bomb like that and leave? I knew he would be expecting me to rant, yell, curse and maybe inflict harm on him but if there was one thing I’d learned from them, it was that it didn’t work. Silence and disappointment hit them harder, so that was what I was going to do.

  “Ok, night.”

  Cole turned around, startled by my reaction. “Seriously, you aren’t going to rant? Or threaten me?

  “Good night Cole.”

  I slid back down into the covers and got comfortable. I wanted to kill Cole but if I’d reacted, Jax would hear about it and, after how he’d treated me, the last thing I wanted was him knowing he’d hurt me. Also, Cole didn’t deserve a reaction; my plan would work out better in the long run. No one likes a cold shoulder.

  “Right, umm night.”

  I closed my eyes and waited until I heard the door close. Why would Jax listen to Cole? No, wipe that. Even if he was blackmailed into dumping me, why did he do it the way he did? Not to mention, how could he be so cold towards me.

  Jax dumped me because Cole wanted him to? Here I was, thinking Jax was a fearless biker. How wrong was I?

  ***

  “Dad, I can’t come home. The boys need me.” I said, and looked up from the cereal bowl in front of me. I sat across from my dad, who was reading the morning paper. “They need me to do something.”

  “I know,” Dad placed his morning paper down, frowning at me. “You shouldn’t be getting involved with them.”

  “They’re my brothers,” I pointed out, pushing my bowl away from me. “I don’t really have a choice.”

  “You always have a choice!” Dad gave me a warm smile. “But I know you want to do this. I just hope last night serves as some sort of warning to you Amber.”

  I nodded my head, knowing that jail was where I would go if I kept doing what I was doing. Jail time would look good for the boys, but for me, it would break me.

  “Did they say where they were staying?” I asked dad, getting to my feet.

  “They haven’t left. Last time I checked, they were across the road at a bar.”

  “Of course they are.” I rolled my eyes. Really, where else should I have expected them to be?

  Chapter 33

  “Hey.” I slipped onto the stool next to Tyler. He was looking at me like he was seeing a ghost. “So, is the deal still on?” I asked.

  Tyler gulped his drink, coughing and patting his chest, splattering beer everywhere “You mean to say you are still in?”

  “I didn’t say I wasn’t.”

  “We assumed you were out.” Jackson piped in, pulling a stool up next to me, and the hairs on the back of my neck stood. This was awkward.

  “Well I’m not.” I stated, and chewed my bottom lip. Did Jax know that I now knew? I wonder if Cole told Jax that he had told me.

  “If you’re in then, we’d better leave. We’re running late,” Jax gulped down the liquid in a small shot glass.

  “Troy, Cole, Adam, we’re leaving,” Jax shot over his shoulder, and when he turned back, I finally got a look at him.

  Dark shadows were under his eyes, and his face was white. If I knew Jax, he was actually broken up about breaking up with me, or something was playing heavily on his mind, keeping sleep at bay for sure.

  “Did you want to ride with me Amber? Your car has been impounded,” Jax said as he pulled his leather vest on; he wouldn’t meet my eye.

  The boys politely walked out of the quiet bar, although Adam shot me a small smile. Troy, however, wouldn’t look in my direction; neither would Cole. Most likely they were embarrassed that their little sister had helped them out by taking the fall. That, and they got told off by dad.

  Looking back at Jax, I saw he was staring at the ground, pretending like he wasn’t waiting for my answer.

  “I’ll get on with one of my brothers. I don’t want to cause you any more trouble.”

  “Amber, look…” Jax gripped my upper arm, and leaned in.

  “We should just focus on this deal Jax, and get it done,” I said as I glanced at his hand, and then looked him in the eye. I was strong-willed and I knew I couldn’t just go back to him after he dumped me. Not just yet. He had to work for it.

  “You’re right,” he said. He let go of my arm. “Let’s go.” He walked past me, his arm brushing against mine.

  I slowly exhaled, and then turned to follow him out.

  I had a feeling this was going to be more difficult than I thought.

  Jax

  The deal went smoothly; Amber seemed to have everything under control. Watching her take control like that… I had never seen her so mature and switched on. She knew how to handle them. It was perhaps the only deal that I had ever attended that guns weren’t drawn and arguments didn’t break out.

  No. They seemed to have an understanding and respect for Amber, and it worked in our favor. The deal took not even an hour, and we were back on our bikes with bags of cash. I glanced in my side mirror; Amber was still clinging to Troy.

  She wouldn’t ride with me. I thought that maybe she would ride back home with me, but she wouldn’t; stubborn woman that she was.

  Slowing down, we rolled through town. There were fa
miliar looks and glances in our direction. The deal was done, and now we had a few good weeks off. Only local businesses, until the next shipment came in.

  I signaled the boys to follow me to the clubhouse. We were all running on nothing, and falling into bed was second on the list, after I dished out the cash.

  The big iron gates were open; club members were hovering around. Troy backed his bike in next to mine. Amber wouldn’t look at me, her head turned to face the other way.

  “I need sleep,” Troy said as he switched off his bike, and helped Amber off.

  “Yeah.” I muttered, still looking at Amber. What the heck would I have to do to get her back?

  I unzipped my leather jacket, and placed my helmet on the handle bar.

  “I’m going to head home,” Amber said, her hands stuffed in her jacket, staring at the ground.

  “I’ll take ya,” I chimed in. “Boys, get the bags inside, start splitting the cash.”

  “No, Troy can take me.” Amber’s head shot up, and looked at her brother.

  “They can’t,” I said; my voice was firm. I was not letting her get out of this. I grabbed my helmet and held it out for her. I noticed the draggers she shot in Troy’s direction but he was not going to help her. Shrugging his shoulders at her, he followed the rest of boys into the clubhouse with the bags.

  “So?” I nudged the helmet out to her. Stubbornly, she pressed her lips together firmly, not liking the idea but she didn’t have a choice.

  She snatched the helmet from my hand and put it on. With a small smirk on my face, I straddled the bike and kicked the engine to life. Amber placed a hand on my shoulder, and slid on the back seat behind me.

  She loosely placed her hands around me, trying her best to avoid touching me.

  I took off quickly, and braked suddenly, sending Amber sliding firmly into my back forcing her to wrap her arms around me tightly.

  “You’d better hold on,” I shot over my shoulder to her. I smiled smugly, taking off again. Amber didn’t let go of me, or push away from me. She was holding on tightly, just the way I liked it.