Fucking hell. I said that to her? I don’t do that. Don’t talk to women that way, not even club whores and especially not a woman as good and as classy as Halle. I feel sick to my stomach.
“What?” Ax asks.
Must have a look on my face.
I scrub my hand over my shaved head. “Treated her like shit.”
“She know you were smashed?”
“Don’t matter. What I said to her ain’t acceptable under no circumstances. Plus, Halle’s a proud woman. Don’t let nobody walk over her.
“What the fuck you say that coulda been that bad?”
“Told her she’s just pussy to me.”
He blows out a breath and leans back against the couch. “Jesus. That’s harsh.”
“I know. Fuck.”
“Is she?”
“What?”
“She just pussy to you?”
“No. No, she ain’t.” And there it is. The first time I’ve admitted the truth of it.
“Why’d you lie to her then?”
“Jesus, Ax. Why do any of us lie to our women? To get ˈem off our fucking backs.”
“Well, if that’s what you wanted, seems you got it. Why you regretting it now?”
I glare at him, knowing what he’s doing. He’s tryinˈ to get me to admit that I gotta step up with her and finally take a path, instead of just staying put and frozen, like I have been for months.
Thing is, I ain’t ready. Sounds fucking stupid, cuz we been fooling ˈround for so long. Don’t even get it myself. I’m the club’s enforcer. Fear ain’t a part of my job description. But, in my personal life, with this woman, it’s the opposite. Can’t seem to make a move. I’m just stuck.
Guess I thought something would just click for me. Thought I’d just get over it, get over the past.
But that ain’t happened.
And now I’m lashing out at her? Treating her like a whore? She don’t deserve that. I ain’t that kinda man. Treat all the women in my life with respect.
Yeah, Halle set me off, bringing up my past. She don’t even know what happened. I guess it was just obvious I got a massive hang-up and didn’t take much for her to put together that I been hurt in the past. But, it wasn’t just some stupid breakup. The woman I loved died. Died.
Still, that ain’t Hal’s problem. I shoulda never talked to her that way.
Fuck, since she started getting more attached to me, all I been doing is hurting her. I been slipping up, too. She was right ˈ'bout me getting possessive and protective of her. I lied ˈbout it, but she was right on the money. And that’s boyfriend territory. Woman’s drawing me in. Without realizing it, I keep taking a step towards something more with her. But, then I’m stepping back again, pulling away. Means I’m screwing with her, hurting her.
It was stupid thinking I was ever gonna be ready. I just ain’t. So, I gotta let go of her.
“Told me once she was yours, Smiter.”
“She ain’t.”
“You sure?”
“I was wrong.” I get to my feet. “I gotta apologize.” And cut her loose.
Ax stands up too, shaking his head at me. “Don’t want you going nowhere.”
“What?”
“Sit back down. Drink that coffee. We gotta talk.”
“We ain’t already talked enough?”
“ˈBout business, Smiter.”
I sit back down.
Ax don’t. He starts pacing up and down between the couches. He’s real worked up. That can only mean one thing.
“It’s Frankie, ain’t it?”
“Yeah,” he admits. “He’s the one tryinˈ to set up shop here.”
“How’d you get confirmation?”
“You know what it’s like tracking with Runner. Don’t take long to get a good lead.”
“Nah, it don’t. He’s the best.” I sit forward. “What’s our next move?”
“I’m gonna arrange a meet.”
“Where you want me?”
“Back at the clubhouse.”
“What?”
“You heard me.”
I get to my feet and bark, “Ain’t no fucking way I’m—”
He’s in my face in a second, cutting me off and growling, “Finish that sentence. I fucking dare you.”
He’s real pissed, more than usual. I know it ain’t just ˈbout me taking this latest bullshit personally and my history with Frankie. It’s cuz he’s tired of this, tired of Brockford always being an issue. It’s always one thing after the other with this city.
I keep my mouth shut. He’s Prez. Can’t go against him. I know he’s just tryinˈ to protect me here. It’s just frustrating beyond belief. He’s putting up barriers between me and my vengeance on Frankie. But I gotta do as he says, or he won’t never let me in on it. I gotta show him that he can trust me here, cuz I already fucked up by getting pissed drunk earlier.
“All right. You got it. But he might want me there.”
“He asks for you, I’ll bring you in on it. He don’t, you stay out.”
“Got it.”
“Good.” He shifts his weight. “When you get back to Reirdon Falls, you mind going ˈround to my place and checking on Rox and Ava?”
“ˈCourse.”
He slaps my shoulder. “Thanks.”
“Where’s Runner?”
“Headed back to his wife and kid.”
“Already?”
“He don’t like being away right now. He’s real obsessed with his family,” Ax tells me, smiling and clearly happy ˈbout that.
Guess the two of ˈem talk ˈbout all that then, cuz this is the first I’ve heard ˈbout Runner not wanting to be away from Sarah and Carter to this extreme. They probably figure I ain’t the guy to go to, or to talk ˈbout that stuff with. I ain’t even got a woman of my own, let alone, an actual family.
A sliver of regret creeps up on me.
What the hell?
I push it down and say goodbye to Ax, then make my way outta the house.
Back to the clubhouse.
For now.
Chapter 6
~Halle~
“Halle, huh? Pretty name for a pretty lady.”
I take a sip from my martini and eye Mister Smooth-Talker over the rim. “And you?”
“Billy,” he answers.
His gaze rakes over me sitting up at the bar in a low-cut black dress. A pair of black, thigh-high boots completes my look.
“How long have you been with the club?” I ask him, as I check him out.
White t-shirt, leather cut and leather pants. Holy hell, they’re a snug fit. He’s a pretty big guy, like a lot of the bikers here. Just over six-foot and all muscle. His brown hair is almost longer than mine, falling down way past his shoulders. He has piercing hazel eyes and a handsome young face. He can’t be older than his mid-twenties.
“I got patched in a few months ago.”
I nod my head and take another sip from my glass.
He orders a beer and then turns back to me and asks, “What’d you do?” He grins at me. “Let me guess. Model?”
“Model, huh?” Smooth bastard. Young and naïve, too, but cute about it. “I own a high-class strip club in Brockford.”
His eyes light up. “Temptress?”
“You know it, huh?”
“I’ve been there a few times. It’s nice.”
Nice? Aww. He’s adorable. He’s not a player, like most guys I come into contact with.
A hand on my shoulder startles me. I turn to see Rox standing behind me.
I bring her in a for a hug. “Happy Birthday!”
“Thanks.” She gives me a kiss on the cheek. “How are you doing? Are the boys treating you well?”
“Yep. It’s all good.”
“Thanks for coming.”
“Of course.”
“Babe!” a voice calls through the crowded, noisy clubhouse. Ax comes bounding over. Rox shrieks in surprise as he grabs her hips and lifts her off her feet.
“Neil! Put me down!
”
She squirms in his arms and gives his chest a playful slap.
“Mmm. Yeah, babe. Keep up the fight. It’s getting me hard.”
“Shh, baby! Everyone can hear you.”
He laughs and eyes me. “Halle. Nice seeing you.”
“You too. I see you’re making sure your wife is having a great birthday.” I can’t actually believe what I’m seeing all around me. The hard-core masculine space is decked out to the nines, covered in extravagant birthday decorations. He’s really gone all out for Rox. It’s the sweetest, most endearing thing.
“Hell, yeah.”
“Did you see my cake?” Rox asks me, so excitable. “The boys tried to sneak it past me, but I saw it. It’s three tiers. I love fondant and Neil had it specially made.”
Yes, I saw it. It’s magnificent. “It’s basically a wedding cake.”
Her eyes sparkle. “I know.”
“Glad you like it, beautiful girl,” Ax says, nuzzling her neck.
Rox giggles, then turns to me. “We have a night off from Ava. My dad’s babysitting.” She winks slyly. “All night.”
“Sweet.”
“You can catch up more later,” Ax says. “I got another present to give to you right now, Rox.” The suggestive look in his eyes makes it clear it’s an innuendo. “Gotta unwrap it in my office.”
Her cheeks redden, making Ax chuckle. Then, he carries her off to have his way with her, tickling her as they go, making her squeal.
I smile to myself. She looks so happy. Both of them do.
Looking out at the crowded room, I spot Sarah and Runner sitting over in the corner. Runner has baby Carter in his arms with Sarah draped over his shoulder. They look so cute together.
“Halle? You hear what I said?”
I turn back to Billy. “Sorry, no. What’s up?”
“Asked if you smoke?”
I shake my head. “No.”
He slides off his stool. “I’m going out for one. You gonna be here when I get back?”
I shrug casually. “If these martinis are still working for me.”
“Cool. See you in a bit.”
I watch him disappear into the crowds and then I turn back to relaxing and drinking my martini.
“No more flirting.”
Holy shit!
I jump at the whispered warning that’s come out of nowhere. It has me spilling what’s left of my drink all over the bar top.
“You got me?”
That’s it!
I slam down my glass and twist on my stool.
And there Smiter is, glaring hard at me.
“How dare you!”
He steps closer. “How dare you!”
“What?”
“You’re in my club, all over one of my brothers.” He leans in. “Ain’t happening, Hal.”
I slide off my stool. He hasn’t given me much room, so my body brushes his. I see him react when we touch and he steps back a little.
“First off, if I was all over one of your brothers, you’d know it. I don’t flirt subtly. Secondly, you have no claim on me. We’re done.”
“Done? Don’t remember agreeing to that.”
My eyes narrow. “Are you serious? After what you said to me the last time I saw you, do you really think we’d be anything other than done?”
“Look, I weren’t myself. I was drunk. What I said was real bad and I’m sorry. All right?”
I scoff. “Too little, too late, Smiter.”
“Hal—”
“No! You called me pussy!” I slam my hands into his chest. He grunts, but doesn’t move a muscle from the impact. “You told me you didn’t care about me!”
He scrubs his hand over his face. “Didn’t mean it.”
I rest my hands on my hips. “Didn’t you?”
He just stares at me.
“So, you do care about me then?”
He remains silent.
I shake my head to myself. “Yeah, I thought so. We’re done.”
I move to walk away, but his hand shoots out, grabbing my upper arm. “I don’t want you fucking no member of Thorns.”
“Let’s get one thing straight here, Smiter. No man orders me around. Ever. We played that way in the bedroom, but that’s all. I do what I want. I do who I want.” I pull my arm from his hold. “Stay away from me. You treated me like shit and I don’t want to spend another fucking second talking to you.”
I make a move to brush past him, but he steps into my path.
“Seriously, Smiter?”
“Yeah,” he growls.
“We’re grown adults in our thirties, not children. Now move.”
“None of ˈem are gonna touch you, Hal, so don’t even think ˈbout it. Just stay ˈround your girls and keep away from all my brothers.”
“You idiot. You never claimed me. Only Ax and Runner know about us.”
I see him flinch at that. He knows I’m right.
“I’m warning you.”
“Yeah? I don’t give a fuck. Let’s see if any of your brothers care about sloppy seconds.”
He glares hard at me for a while.
And then he suddenly steps aside.
I move past him.
As I do, he leans into my ear and whispers, “Nobody’s gonna fuck you as good as I do.”
Unbelievable.
I look up at him and bite back, “You’re not the best I’ve ever had, Smiter.”
I yank my wrist free and storm past him, heading outside.
Swallow that bitter pill, asshole.
Chapter 7
~Smiter~
I burst into the bathroom.
Good. He’s in here.
“Runner!”
He jolts, shooting a glance over his shoulder at me.
“Jesus fuck, Smiter,” he grumbles, turning back to what he was doing. Taking a leak. He zips himself up, then walks over to the sinks.
“You know where Billy’s at?” I bark.
He starts washing his hands.
“Runner?” I press. “You know where he’s at, or not?”
He looks at me like I’m crazy. Wiping his wet hands on his jeans, he tells me, “You gotta calm the fuck down, brother.”
“Can’t.”
“Give it a try.”
I slam my fist into the wall. “Answer me!”
Instead of freaking out at my crazed outburst, he reacts how only Runner can. He leans against the wall and folds his arms across his chest, eyeing me calmly, like I ain’t just lost my temper on him. Fucking guy’s so laid back. I gotta get myself some of that.
“He ain’t with her,” he tells me.
“What? Who ain’t with her?”
He rolls his eyes. “Come on, brother. Billy? That’s why you’re looking for him, ain’t it? Thought he was off with Halle.”
“He ain’t? You sure?”
“Real sure. He hooked up with some other girl. Brunette. When I were heading in here, I saw him taking her upstairs to his room. Probably fucking her right now.”
Oh. Well… good.
Runner smirks. “Guess he weren’t her type.”
“Her type? Her type’s bikers.”
“I know,” he says, eyeing me pointedly.
“What you getting at, Runner? Just spit it out. Ain’t in the mood for twenty questions.”
“Jesus, Smiter. Think ˈbout it for a second. If you weren’t so worked up, you woulda already. This place were full of guys her type. Bikers. But she ain’t hooked up with none of ˈem. Believe me, they’d be more than willing. She’s a goddamn knockout, ain’t she?” He steps forward and slaps my shoulder. “Only one reason I can think of for it. She’s hung up on you, brother.”
He laughs as I just stand there with my eyes wide and my mouth open, tryinˈ to absorb what he’s saying. He opens the door and looks back at me. “Looks like that’s taken the edge off the crazy.” He smiles at me then walks out.
Fuck. If Runner think’s I’m acting crazy, I really fucking am.
I blow
out a breath and head on outta the bathroom, back down the hall, making my way back to the bar. I need a drink real bad.
As I pass by Ax’s office, I hear crashing and hefty thuds. It puts me on high alert instantly. My job’s security for the club, so it comes with the territory.
I’m ˈbout to smash my way in there when I hear what’s really going on, hear Ax and Rox’s voices.
“Thought you liked the cuffs?”
“I do.”
“Then, show me your pretty pussy.”
“Neil, what about my party and—”
I hear a blunt smack. She yelps. It sounds a couple more times. He’s spanking her. With a ruler? He ain’t got much in there, except office supplies.
“Keep your legs open, naughty girl.” He’s spanking her pussy then.
“Oh, God, Neil!”
I hear an object clatter to the floor, then the desk creaks.
“We’ll head back to the party when this sweet little pussy’s all worn out, when you can’t take another fucking second of the pleasure I’m gonna give you.”
“That’s quite the promise, baby.”
“Good thing I always deliver then, ain’t it?”
“Mmm. Do your worst.”
“That spanking was nothing, babe. Careful what you ask for.”
“Bring it.”
“Get ready, birthday girl. You ain’t gonna be walking too good after this.”
“Promises, promises.”
I hear her squeal. Holy hell. I pick up my pace, getting away as quick as I can, before it gets me worked up. With the two of ˈem married now and having a kid, I forget how kinky they are together.
Great. Now I need a drink to calm down from that, too. What the fuck is happening? Is it work-Smiter-up-night, or something?
I reach the main lounge area and make my way through the crowds to the bar at the far end of the room. The clubhouse is real busy and crazed tonight. A load of people turned up for Rox’s birthday party. Been a bitch monitoring security for it. Now everybody’s inside, it ain’t so bad. It was worse when they all started arriving. I closed off a bunch of areas to keep unauthorized people out. Billy’s gonna get some shit from me the second I see him. Ain’t supposed to be taking people up to members’ rooms. I’m more pissed off that he managed to slip past me, than what he actually did. I’m off my fucking game.
It’s all Halle’s fault.
I knew she was coming, but I’d figured I could keep her at a distance, that I’d be caught up in security the whole time. All that went to hell the second I saw her talking up at the bar with one of my brothers. I hung back for a bit, tryinˈ to let it go, but then she’d started responding to his fucking flirting. When he’d taken off outside, I was gonna leave her to it up at the bar, ˈtil it hit me that he was only gonna be the first. There weren’t no way I was gonna put up with no more of the boys hitting on her, so I’d tried to warn her off ˈem. But Halle’s a real stubborn woman. She don’t take no orders.
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