Tattered on My Sleeve

by Autumn Jones Lake

  Oh yeah. Forgot I was running around without a shirt there for a second.

  Where the fuck did it land?

  Oh.

  Wrath’s glaring at us. Well, me.

  For fucks sake, can’t I talk to any of the brothers without him going Fred Flinstone on me? After that bullshit with Cherry, he has a lot of nerve. Besides, Dex and I have never been anything more than friends. He helped save me the night Jug showed up. I’ll always be grateful to him for that.

  Inga and Peach have given up the pretense of a strip show and are just making out on Z’s lap now.

  I walk over to Wrath and grab my tank top, slipping it over my head.

  He won’t look at me, but he does snap his fingers at Inga.

  “Are you fucking kidding?” I snarl at him. After I just told him how much I hate that bitch?

  “Hey, Wrath,” she coos. Not so subtly bumping me out of the way.

  Fuck both of them.

  I’m not sure why I head back to the party instead of my room, but I do. Pissed off must be written all over my face, because Rock motions me to join him right away.

  “Where’s Wrath?”

  Oh the usual, being a jackass. “Trying to fuck Inga or Peach.”

  He lifts an eyebrow.

  Whatever.

  “Wrath! Get over here,” Rock shouts.

  I feel him next to me, but refuse to acknowledge the big jerk.

  Rock’s clearly pissed. Whether it’s because Wrath was trying to hook up with his ex or because of me, I don’t know.

  I do think it’s funny as fuck when he tells Wrath to ride down to Crystal Ball.

  Prez asks me to stay with Hope while he has a word with Wrath. I imagine it will be more than one word. I’m more than happy to say yes.

  Waving my hand at the degenerate crowd in front of us, I ask, “You doing okay with all this?”

  “Yeah.”

  “I don’t know what the guys were thinking bringing Inga here. I swear we don’t have porn star entertainment every weekend.”

  Hope laughs. “Yes, I got that it was a special occasion,” she says with a wry smile.

  Yeah, she was planning to fuck your man. But I think Hope knows that, no need to point it out to her.

  “Listen, don’t let Inga or any of these muffler bunnies give you shit.” I wave a hand at the room.

  Hope looks over the crowd. “A few of the girls have definitely had interesting…stories for me.”

  Yeah, I bet they have.

  She gives me a curious look and I have the urge to clear the air with her. “I’ve never slept with Rock, if you’re wondering.”

  Yup. That did the trick, she relaxes a little and gives me a warm smile.

  “I can only imagine what you’ve heard.”

  “What’s your role here?” Her tone is neutral and I figure it’s best to get this out of the way now.

  “Well, club took me in about eight years ago. I have a room here. Club pays my expenses. I kind of take care of the place, clean up after these pigs. And I make myself available to the guys on an as-needed basis.”

  It’s obvious she doesn’t know what to make of that. “Why?”

  Christ, as if I could ever put it into words. But I try anyway. “I dunno. I grew up around MCs, so I guess I just feel safer around one.” As the words come out of my mouth I realize how fucked up that is.

  “Safe?” She’s not being judgmental. I sense she’s honestly curious.

  I think about a way to explain it that makes sense. “Have you seen these guys?” I point at Wrath who’s storming over with a fierce expression. “Wrath is a dick, sure, but he’d never let anyone hurt me.” Well, at least physically. Emotionally he’s ripped my heart out too many fucking times to count, but Hope and I are not at the girl-talk stage of our relationship yet.

  “I wouldn’t let anyone mess with you either, mama,” Teller remarks. Jesus. He’d been so fixated on his phone, I forgot he was sitting next to us. I punch him in the arm and he smiles.

  Hope wants to get into details about the club that I can’t help her with. But I tell her as much as I can. She seems confused but satisfied with my answers.

  Wrath, impatient as ever, weasels in between me and Teller, yanking me into his lap.

  “How did you find these guys?” Hope asks.

  How to answer that one? I wave my hand in the air and then automatically rest it against Wrath’s arms, which are somehow wrapped around my waist. “Club girls know how to find bikers.”

  “Fuck yeah, baby,” Wrath says in a low, rumbling tone that sends a quiver of desire through me.

  Bastard.

  As if that’s not bad enough, he nips my ear and flicks his tongue over it.

  Oh dear God, why is he doing this to me now? Is this his way of embarrassing me in front of Rock’s girl again? I slam my elbow into his chest until he stops fucking around.

  “But honestly, I was tending bar downtown with this girl.” I twist so I can see Wrath and I hope he reads the Don’t fucking do that again, in my expression. “You remember Stormy?”

  He smirks in response. “Yup. Poser skank.”

  Yeah, that about covers it.

  Even though I’m sitting next to what has to be the most clueless woman I’ve ever met, I’ve got a fucking boner.

  From having Trinity in my lap, not from listening to Hope.

  I gotta move my legs to get some of the pressure off. As I stretch, she rolls and struggles to stay upright.

  Nope. Trinity wriggling against my dick just made the situation in my pants worse.

  “Watch it, woman,” I growl in her ear.

  I really want to take Trinity upstairs and pay her back for the way she’s been tormenting me all night. Fucking dancing around in that sorry excuse for a bra, dancing for Dex, when she’s never—

  “Thug life,” Teller says, jerking me back into the stupid conversation he’s having with Hope.

  She smiles like it’s a joke. “You’re not thugs.” She glances at me and teasingly says. “Well, you probably are.”

  Is she fucking serious?

  “I definitely am,” I say, staring her down.

  “Anyway,” Teller continues, because I think he senses I’m about to lose my temper with this chick. “Stormy-girl found herself a nice citizen husband.”

  She has no idea what that is. Now since Rock just took me in the war room and explained that not only is he planning for this broad to be his ol’ lady, but he also wants to marry her and I risked a throat punch by telling him she would be better off as a citizen wife, I find that funny.

  “She was one of those good girl types, lookin’ to take a walk on the wild side. You know, spice up her dull, sheltered life? Attaching herself to outlaws made her feel special,” I explain to her slowly, so maybe this time the message sticks.

  Trinity knows me well enough to sense I’m not done mouthin’ off.

  “That’s not entirely true,” she says with a shake of her head. “She got tired of being passed around. No one was gonna claim her back then, and she really wanted to get married and start a family.”

  Oh please, the idea of that lazy cow having children with some miserable bastard is a joke. “No one was claiming club ass. Back then.”

  Shit. I realize how that must have sounded to Trinity.

  She leans as far forward as I’ll allow, which ain’t much. “From what I hear, Rock hasn’t been with any of the club girls in like a year or something,” she tells Hope in a conspirator voice. I almost snort. What the fuck—is where Rock sticks his damn dick national news for these chicks?

  “All the girls gossip about the guys,” Trinity says with a snicker.

  Of course.

  Welterweight chuckles. “Boys compare notes too.”

  Teller can fuck right off. His comparing notes about Trinity days are over.

  “Anyway, I just wanted you to know. Me and Rock. Never.” Trinity slashes her hand through the air.

  Holy fuck.

  “He
’s more like a big brother or father figure—”

  “Fuck, Trinny. I am not old enough to be your dad,” Rock grumbles, having overheard the last part of that conversation. I choke back a laugh.

  He shares a moment with Hope, and I’ll admit the adoring way she stares up at him makes me feel shitty. She may not have wanted to admit it to a scary thug like me earlier, but she’s clearly in love with my brother.

  All right, I better get this over with. “Uh…Hope, I’m sorry about Inga coming here tonight. I gave the okay for it. I didn’t think Rock would actually bring you to a club party.”

  Trinity’s jaw drops and I’m mildly insulted.

  She presses the back of her hand against my forehead and I fight the urge to lean into her touch. “You feeling okay, Wyatt?”

  She’s teasing me, but God dammit for a second I can’t even breathe when she says my name.

  Because of Rock’s meddling, Teller asks Hope for some legal advice. She’s clearly stressed about involving herself in Teller’s case and I wonder about Rock for sticking his nose in her business. I figure a lawyer woman will go ballistic over something like that, so I sit back and wait for the fireworks.

  But they don’t come. Her jaw locks and she keeps her mouth shut.

  Interesting.

  Murphy ambles over looking like shit warmed over. I’m about to say so, when Teller introduces him to Hope.

  “Hi, first lady,” he says to Hope with a chuckle.

  For fuck’s sake.

  Of course Rock thinks that’s hilarious. “First Lady—I like it.”

  Trinity shifts again and my dick’s begging for mercy.

  “Geez, why don’t you just piss on his leg, girl. Damn. You been in his lap all night. We get it.”

  Cookie. Been waitin’ for this scene to go down all night. Bitch has been obvious about how much she dislikes Princess Clueless.

  Hope’s nose wrinkles, but she tries hard to act normal. “Uh, hi. I’m Hope.”

  “Uh, hi. I’m Cookie. I’m you two years ago,” Cookie snarks back.

  That’s too ridiculous to ignore. “Hardly.”

  Cookie glares at me. Watch it sweetheart. She keeps mouthing off like this, ain’t nothing I can do to save her fuckin’ ass. Bitch has been in the life long enough that she should know better.

  “Cookie,” Rock warns. “You’re being rude to my woman.”

  That’s one.

  She finally backs down, but not long enough.

  “Well, she ain’t gotta be so uppity. Bragging about being a lawyer and shit. I saw her leave the champagne room before. Thinks she’s too good to hang with us?”

  While I still don’t think Cinderella has any business hanging out here, she hasn’t once thrown attitude or acted better than anyone else. This is chick shit though, so I keep my mouth shut.

  Trin sits up straighter—again making my dick freak out.

  “Are you fucking stupid?” she snaps. “Rock carried his woman outta there. We all saw it. Bitch, go sit down,” she finishes flicking her hand at Cookie.

  I lean down, pressing my forehead up against Trinity—mistake, she smells fucking awesome—and laugh.

  “You ain’t got nothing to say?” Cookie snaps at Hope. I can’t believe she’s not letting this go. Has every bitch here lost their mind tonight? Hope stays silent, which only seems to piss Cookie off more. “See? Uppity.”

  “Maybe she’s freaked out that you’re acting like a psycho-bitch?” Teller offers.

  “Cookie, simmer the fuck down,” Rock warns, in a low voice that should be scaring the piss out of Cookie.

  That’s two.

  She’s done. Just waitin’ for Rock to give the signal.

  “Fuck you too, Trinity. You wanna suck up to this uppity cunt, go ahead, but don’t forget you’re a whore like the rest of us.”

  If Rock doesn’t throw her ass out, I will. No fucking way is she is gettin’ away with calling Trinity a whore. I fuckin’ hate when Trinity calls herself a whore, but this bitch saying it? No.

  I glance up at Hope who seems shocked. Doubt she’s ever been called a cunt before. And while she annoys the shit out of me, she’s been nothing but nice to everyone all night long.

  Rock all but throws Hope into the couch, he’s up so fast. He gets right in Cookie’s face. “You’re done.”

  Finally, asshole.

  I loosen my hold on Trinity, because my help is definitely needed to end this situation.

  “Rock. I been with the club almost five years. You really gonna pick her over me?” she whines.

  Exactly, you’ve been here long enough to know how this shit works.

  “Cookie, you were warned multiple times.” He reaches back and flicks his hand. “Wrath.”

  “On it.” I pat Trinity’s ass, and she slides off my lap onto the couch, next to Hope.

  I stand and roll my shoulders. “Let’s go.” I grab her arm.

  She starts sobbing. “I’m sorry, Rock.”

  Too late.

  I keep moving to the door, Rock following behind. “You’re banned, Cookie. You can see if one of the other charters will take you in, but you ever show your face back here, I’ll end you.”

  She stumbles as I tug her outside and then the waterworks flow. “Wrath, don’t let him do this. Talk to him.”

  I hate being around crying females. I snap my fingers at Hoot. He and Birch hustle over, probably thrilled to have something to do besides stand guard over our bikes.

  Placing both hands on her shoulders, I look down into her tear-streaked face. “Cookie, come on. You know that kind of disrespect won’t stand.”

  “But what’s he doing with someone like her? I don’t…I don’t get it.”

  Neither do I. “Yeah, but it ain’t your call, darlin’. You been around long enough to know better. Mouthin’ off to Trinity like that didn’t help your cause either.”

  She finally shows a hint of genuine remorse, then shakes it off. “Yeah, but why’s she gettin’ all cozy with that bitch? She always acts like she’s better than us and now—”

  “False. Trin takes her responsibilities seriously up here. She doesn’t stop by to party and fuck. She works her ass off to keep this place running. And Rock asked her to spend time with Hope, so she was doing what her Prez told her.” I emphasize that last point, so she understands. Had she listened to Rock’s multiple warnings we wouldn’t be doing this right now.

  “Shit.” She looks down at the ground. “What do I do now?”

  “Leave.”

  Her eyes tear up again.

  “Go down to Sway’s compound. Those guys like you.”

  Defeat’s written all over her face. “Yeah, okay.”

  I motion Hoot and Birch over. “Drive her home.”

  Hoot ushers her to the van and I wait until they drive off before turning around.

  Rock’s waitin’ in the doorway. “You make it clear?”

  “Yeah, she knows.”

  Rock shakes his head. “Fuck. I shoulda given Hope more warning shit like that might happen.”

  Ya think?

  “She did okay.” We both glance over to where Trinity and Teller are clearly trying to cheer Hope up. He snorts. “Thank fuck for Trinny. Don’t know what we’d do without her,” he turns and glares at me.

  “Yeah, she’s been talking you up all night too.”

  Rock raises an eyebrow, silently asking me to continue. “You know, the usual, letting Hope know you’re only parking your dick in her garage. Shit like that.”

  Rock snorts. “Fantastic.”

  I drill him with a stare. “She also made a point of telling Hope she’s never fucked you.”

  Rock’s expression doesn’t change. “Good.”

  I run down to check on the champagne room and duck into the kitchen. No fights. No one drowning in puke or anything else unsavory.

  Finding Trin and Teller cozy together when I return is the definition of unsavory.

  I’m not gonna play games or compete with anyo
ne for her attention. I kick Teller’s foot. “Swan’s looking for you.”

  I’m not above lying though.

  Trin gives me a look. She sees right through my bullshit. I sit next to her and casually drape my arm over the back of the couch.

  “We were just talking,” she says.

  When I don’t respond, she falls back against the couch and closes her eyes. “What are we doing?”

  Good fucking question. A hundred different answers run through my head. I want her to be my girl and I’m tryin’ hard to figure out how to make that happen, short of kidnapping her and having “property of Wrath” tattooed on her forehead.

  “Takin’ the weekend off from training,” I answer.

  She smirks, turns and opens her eyes. Even with all the black shit smeared around them, her honey eyes are the sweetest things I’ve seen all night.

  “What’s with all the eye shit tonight?” I ask, pointing at her face.

  Her mouth turns down. Fuck, I didn’t mean to hurt her feelings.

  “I thought you liked the plastic slut look? Peach set her make-up shotgun on whore tonight and you couldn’t wait to get on her.”

  Fuck it. I’m gonna lay it out for her. “I didn’t want Peach.”

  She rolls her eyes.

  “I was pissed seeing you dancing for Dex like that.” You should be doing that shit for me.

  “Dex and I are just friends. For some stupid reason, he seems to have a thing for skank-a-rella.”

  I snort at that. “What’s your deal with Inga? I didn’t realize you guys even knew each other.”

  Trin sits up, turns to face me and tucks one leg under her. “Sure, I’ve run into her from time to time down at CB. She made it clear that she wasn’t a whore like me.” Trin twirls her hair and makes an airhead face. “She’s an adult film actress,” she says with a phony voice and snotty attitude I can definitely picture Inga using.

  “You tell Rock?”

  “No. She’s a good stripper. What’s he going to do, fire her because she’s a bitch to me?”

  She’s right, but it still pisses me off.

  “She fucks on film for money. I fuck to keep a roof over my head. No different in my book.”

  “Jesus fucking Christ, would you stop with that shit? You’re a part of this family, Trin. Doesn’t matter who you do or don’t fuck.”