Shit, this didn’t sound good. “What were the photos of?”
“My father’s killer. Being tortured.”
I muttered a curse under my breath.
“The first one wasn’t so bad. Just him hanging from some chains, looking bloody. But then they got more…intense after that.”
“Why didn’t you tell us, Amber? We could’ve taken care of it. Fuck, we could’ve at least made sure that you didn’t have to see that.”
Amber pushed away from me with a glare. “I wanted to see that. That’s all I’ve wanted since my dad died. I asked and asked and asked. But you all wouldn’t listen to me. You guys thought it was more important to protect your ‘club business’ and leave me and my family out of the loop. That’s why I went hunting for answers. Because you assholes wouldn’t give them to me.”
“And how did that work out for you? Did you feel better when you saw what that fucking monster did to your father’s killer?”
“Yes. Okay? Yes! I wanted to know that he felt pain. That the end wasn’t easy for him. That they made him suffer.” Her chest heaved as she gave her impassioned little speech. After a moment, the hitch came back in her breathing, and she shook her head. “Or I thought I did. I thought I could handle it. But seeing with my own eyes what they did to him…made me sick. I can’t—I can’t go to sleep. Every time I close my eyes, I see one of those ugly photos. It’s haunting me, Bam. And I can’t take it anymore.”
I couldn’t deny that I wasn’t pissed that she’d hid this from me, and yet everything inside me wanted to protect her so she wouldn’t have that soft, wounded look in her eyes ever again. Putting my arms around her shoulders, I pulled her toward me until she rested against my chest with a sigh. I also couldn’t deny that it felt so fucking good to hold her in my arms.
But then something she’d said earlier niggled at the back of mind. “Wait, you said something about a tongue.”
Amber nodded against my chest. Pulling away, she reached under the coffee table and grabbed a backpack then set it down on the coffee table with a clunk. “Yeah. This morning there was a jar on my back step with what looked like a tongue suspended in liquid inside.” Her voice got softer with every word until I had to duck my head to hear her. She buried her head in my chest again as she whispered. “And there was a note.”
I clenched my jaw as rage flashed through my bloodstream. It took everything inside me not to vent it and pound the wall again—or go looking for Ruslan—but I didn’t want to scare Amber, and I needed more intel before we went after that fucker. “What did the note say?”
“It’s in the bag. It says something about how he’s given me so many gifts, and how he’s shown me what he’s willing to do for those he loves.” She clenched her arms around my body like she had to draw from my strength as she whispered. “And that he’s getting tired of waiting.”
Fuck.
I closed my eyes and mentally said every curse word I could think of. I’d been around him enough to know that an impatient Ruslan was a scary fucking Ruslan. I couldn’t let her go anywhere until we had this shit with Ruslan locked the fuck down.
“Okay, I’m not gonna lie. That’s not good.”
Amber chuckled morosely against my chest at my lame joke. “You don’t have to tell me that. I kinda got the picture when he sent me a freaking tongue.”
“Yeah. That’ll do it.” I brushed my hand over her soft blond hair and sighed. “But I promise I’m gonna take care of it. When I’m through with that deranged fucker, he’s not gonna remember your name, let alone send you any more fucked-up gifts. I promise you he’ll be out of your life for good.”
Amber pulled back slightly until she could look up at me. Whatever she saw in my expression must’ve convinced her because she smiled slightly. “Thank you.”
I nodded tightly as I stared into her ice blue eyes. Christ, she was enchanting. Even scared out of her mind over Ruslan, she was still gorgeous. And sweet. And soft.
And too good for an SOB like me.
Even knowing all that, I didn’t resist when she swayed toward me and gave me the softest, sweetest kiss I’d had in my entire life. She kept her eyes and her mouth chastely closed as she pressed her lips against mine.
I groaned low in my throat as just the hint of promise in her kiss, in her body pressed against me, stirred the animal inside me. My hands wrapped around her arms, and I pulled her even closer to me as I took control of the kiss. My mouth commanded hers to open to me and when it did, my tongue darted out to learn and taste every part of her.
It felt like eons later when I lifted my head. Both of us were breathing ragged as I stared into her lust-darkened eyes.
I wanted her. I wanted her more than anything else in my life at that moment, or fuck, ever…Christ, why did she have to be so gorgeous? And sweet?
My phone on the end table pinged with an incoming text message. The sound alone reminded me of why I couldn’t have Amber. I owed my Brothers everything, especially Reb and Maverick. I just couldn’t betray those guys by making a move on Stitch’s daughter. True Brothers didn’t work that way.
No matter how much I wanted to.
“That was a mistake,” I gritted out, my voice hoarse. I stood, grabbed my phone off the table, and read the text. Anything to avoid looking at Amber’s wounded eyes.
Maverick: Wanna come over for Sunday dinner? The wife is cookin.
Christ, that was the knife in the belly I didn’t need right then. Maverick had been my sponsor in the club when I was a prospect and the closest thing I had to a father, ever. For the first fifteen years of my life we’d lived next door to Maverick and he’d let me hang out at his place and help him out in his garage tinkering with his truck and motorcycles. He’d been my hero for more years than I could remember. Right up until I moved to Tahoe to live with my grandma. Hell, he was the reason I went to trade school and became a welder. Maverick was a welder, too. While I was growing up, he’d been my example of what a man was.
He didn’t know it, but I was already letting him down.
I quickly typed back.
Me: Can’t. Got club business to take care of. Give Sarah my thanks tho.
“I’m just gonna go.” Amber muttered as she stood and grabbed her purse. “I can crash at my friend Sydney’s house. I doubt Ruslan knows to look for me there.”
“I know to look for you there. If you’re not at work or home or that damn coffee house, you’re at your friend’s. It’s not safe. You’re staying here.” I still didn’t look at her while I fired off another text, to Hatchet this time.
Me: Need you at my place ASAP. Shit is hitting the fan.
Despite working at the restaurant the night before, Hatchet was still awake as the three little dots beneath my text let me know he was typing a reply.
Hatchet: On my way
“Hatchet’s gonna come over and keep you company. Do you know him?” I looked up from my phone and found Amber standing next to my kitchen counter with her arms wrapped around her waist, her eyes suspiciously wet as she avoided my gaze.
I’d hurt her.
I felt lower than a snake’s belly at that moment. This beautiful, amazing woman deserved so much better than me. If I wasn’t fucking things up one way, I was screwing them up another. It seemed like I couldn’t do anything right when it came to Amber.
“Listen, kitten, I’m sorry if—”
“No, please. I really don’t want to hear your little speech about how I got the wrong idea and how I’m a great girl, blah, blah, blah. I don’t think my ego could take it right now.” She chuckled huskily as she searched through her purse. “I’d really rather go hang out with Sydney, or maybe Jessica? At least her husband’s in the club. Zag’s house would be safe, right?”
“Jessica also has a kid. I don’t want to worry her or little Harley right now. You’ll be fine here with Hat
chet.”
“But—”
“Look, I’m not debating this with you. You’re staying here, and that’s the end of it. If you don’t wanna talk about the kiss, that’s fine, too. But just know this.” I stared intently at her so she’d know I was fucking serious. “It might’ve been a mistake, but it was still the best fucking kiss of my life. And I’d do it again in a heartbeat if I wasn’t me, and you weren’t who you are.”
“I-I-I…I’m confused. What does that mean? If you liked it, why was it a mistake? I’m just a girl; I’m no one important.”
I shook my head. “That’s where you’re wrong, Amber. You’re so fucking important that you deserve much more than what someone like me can give you. But you’ll find it. And when you do he’ll be smart enough not to let you slip through his fingers.”
Amber opened her mouth, but I wasn’t sure I wanted to hear whatever she had to say to that, so I cut her off.
“Where are the pictures that Ruslan sent you?”
Amber ducked her head and crossed her arms over her chest, hugging her elbows. “I uh, hid them in my bedroom closet, so my mom wouldn’t see them.”
“I’m gonna go get dressed. Do you mind feeding Pixie for me? Her food is in the cupboard over there. Thanks.”
“No problem,” Amber said softly to my back as I walked down the hall toward my bedroom.
I couldn’t stand there one more minute and see the pain and confusion that I put in her eyes. Thank God I had Ruslan to take out all my frustrations on. That sick fuck had a world of pain coming his way. He just didn’t know it yet.
* * *
—
“Wait, wait, wait a minute. She’s been getting gifts from this fucker, and no one thought to fucking bring me in on this?” Tank’s usually calm and quiet disposition exploded as he pounded his fist on the bar. “That’s a load of bullshit, and you all know it. Stitch was my sponsor, he was my best fucking friend. If something is going on with his family, I best be in the loop from here on out. You got me?”
I’d come to the clubhouse with Amber’s horror show of a backpack in hand to fill Reb in on the situation with Amber and her stalker. He’d called Tank and Axle in, and Maverick had wandered in to lend a hand after my text exchange with him about club business. I’d already said my piece, so I tucked my hands in my back pockets and didn’t respond to Tank’s explosion. Calls like that weren’t my job, they were Reb’s, and judging by his expression, he wasn’t happy to be called out on it.
Reb rested his elbows on the bar top and leaned toward Tank. “You got a problem with how I’m running things, we can talk after. But right now, that shit is not helping. Do you wanna be part of the takedown at Howl tonight, or do you wanna run your fucking mouth?”
Wow. My eyes widened as I took in the extremely pissed-off expression on Reb’s face. I’d only been around the club for two years, and we’d had our share of rumbles with rival clubs, but I don’t think I’d ever seen Rebel as pissed off as he was today.
“I’ll be there.” Tank sat back on his bar stool and crossed his arms over his chest, clearly still pissed off.
Join the fucking club.
“I will, too,” I said, finally speaking up for the first time since I’d laid all the facts out for the guys.
Reb shook his head. “I’d rather have you with Amber, making sure she’s protected.”
“I got Hatchet watching her in my apartment and Sig in the parking lot watching my building. She’s covered. This is my job, and I’m gonna be there.”
Reb stared intently at me for a long minute, but I didn’t budge as I stared right back at him. Finally he nodded. “All right, Bam. You’re with us. I got a few calls to make while I round up a few other guys. I’ll send Jackson to pick up the fucking torture porn Amber’s hiding in her closet. We don’t need Brittany seeing that shit. You guys stick close. I won’t go hunting for you if you’re not here when we ride out.”
Reb nodded to a silent Axle and Maverick as he took off for his office. I pushed away from the wall I’d been holding up and crossed behind the bar to grab a bottle of water from the minifridge hidden underneath. “Anyone else want one?”
The guys shook their heads while Tank had moved his glare from Reb’s retreating back to my blank face. I cracked open the lid on my water, then took a good, long drink.
“Seriously? You don’t have a fucking thing to say to me?” Tank growled.
I shrugged. “I reported everything to Reb.”
“Oh, me and Reb are gonna have it out. After I straighten shit out with Ruslan.”
I slammed the water bottle on the bar and water sloshed out. Not that I gave a shit. I jabbed a finger at Tank. “I’ll be the one to straighten shit out with Ruslan. That fucker is mine.”
Tank smirked. “You’ve had fucking weeks to straighten shit out with Ruslan. You haven’t got the first clue how to handle this, kid. You need to leave the tough business to the big boys. At least until your testicles drop.”
“You don’t know the first fucking thing about the shit I’ve already handled with that fucker. He showed up to her work two weeks ago and freaked her out in the parking lot—had her fucking car towed because he wanted her to drive a goddamn Escalade that he picked out. When I kicked him out of that parking garage, she was fucking trembling in fear. She shook so hard I was afraid she wouldn’t be able to stay on the back of my bike. Now I find out he’s been sending her gory pictures for weeks? And today a fucking tongue? Along with a threat? That’s bullshit. He fucked with the wrong girl. If anyone’s giving this asshole a long-deserved beat down, it’s me.” I leaned toward Tank and thumped my chest. “He’s mine.”
If anything, my little speech just pissed off Tank even more. “That’s the way it is, huh?”
“What the hell are you talking about?”
Tank stood, his bar stool careening off behind him as he prowled toward me. “I don’t know who the fuck you think you are, but you do not fuck with club property. Brothers don’t do that shit.”
I didn’t back down when Tank stopped only inches from me. “I don’t know what got your panties in a twist, but I’m not fucking anyone.”
“Yeah.” Axle snorted somewhere behind Tank. “None of the girls will give him the time of day since he dropped Destiny on the fucking ground.”
“It was a fucking accident, Axle.” I glared at him. “Reb barked for me, and I jumped. It was a fucking reflex thing; I forgot she was on my lap for a second. Christ, you’re never gonna let that go, are you?”
Axle laughed. “Destiny’s the one who’s not gonna let it go. Neither will her friends. Hope you like your right hand, Bam, ’cause the girls aren’t gonna give you the time of day for a long fucking time.”
“I’m not talking about them,” Tank bit out. “I’m talking about Amber. If you think we’re gonna sit here and let you screw around with a Brother’s daughter, you’re about to be the one to get a well-deserved beat down.”
“Speak for yourself,” Maverick rumbled. “Personally I have no problem with Bam and Amber hooking up. They’re kids. Let ’em have their fun.”
Tank didn’t look away from me as he answered Mav. “Amber is not someone you have fun with. She’s a good girl. Too good for anyone here.”
“I think you should let Amber decide that,” Maverick retorted. “Because good girl or not, she’s an adult. Let her make her own decisions.”
“Mind your own business, old man.” Tank’s lip curled.
“Whoa! That’s bullshit and you know it.” I glared at Tank. No one, and I mean no one, ever talked to Maverick like that when I was around. “You spout all this shit about respect, but you got none of it in you. Mav has been a member here probably longer than you’ve been alive, so you show him some fucking respect. But if you need a little lesson in respect, I’d be more than happy to teach you.”
“
Anytime, anyplace, Bam,” Tank sneered.
“Ho! As much fun as this little standoff has been, boys, we’ve got bigger fish to fry today.” Axle stood up and shoved his way between me and Tank, keeping a hand on both of our chests. “I think one beat down a day is our max. Now I’m gonna need you two to shake hands and promise not to tell Daddy about our little dustup here. Reb has enough on his hands without worrying about you two knuckleheads.”
Tank grunted something I couldn’t make out, then grudgingly held out his hand. I really didn’t want to—he’d been such an ass—but after a beat, I reluctantly shook his hand. Then Tank muttered something about calling to check on Brittany, and retreated to the officer bedrooms on the other end of the clubhouse.
“Try not to take it personally, Bam.” Axle patted me on the back after Tank left. “Stitch’s death hit him hard, and I think he’s blaming himself for not noticing how Brittany fell apart afterward. It’s hard to watch the people you care about implode. No matter how many times you offer to help.” He said that last part almost to himself.
Axle was usually such a cheerful fucker that his melancholy expression was out of character. But it was gone before I could even think of saying something. He clapped me on the back one more time, then smiled. “But seriously, if you fuck around with Amber, Tank won’t be the only one who has a problem with it. Capiche?”
“Fuck me, I’m not screwing her.” I tried not to think about that hot kiss earlier in my apartment. Or how she’d looked wearing those soft black yoga pants as she stretched out on my couch just before I left. Or how she’d felt wrapped around me when I took her home last night on the back of my bike.
I might not be fucking her, but if I wasn’t careful I would be the one who was screwed.
Rough Ride Page 11