Cuffed: Pharaohs MC

by Brook Wilder

  “Well, go ahead, Carla. Tell us the rest. Don’t leave us in suspense,” Joel said softly, nudging her with an elbow and Honey finally drew his attention away from Elle, glancing at her with a soft smile and an arched brow at their mostly concealed hands.

  “Yes, please,” he drawled, “don’t leave us in suspense.”

  Carla sighed in his direction but finally continued to lay out her plan, “Like I was saying, we need proof before we can do anything else. I recently learned….I learned that Maurice has been using my phone to track me. He installed a hidden app to access my phone’s GPS.”

  “Well, that’s…pretty fucked up, actually,” Honey said, his expression surprised and concerned. Elle looked at him oddly as she watched the emotions flitter across his face, but Joel prompted her to go on.

  “Right, so the idea is that you, Sparkplug, will take my phone and ride towards the Utah border. You know that route better than anyone, so if you need to make a quick getaway, you can.”

  “Yeah, no problem,” the tattooed biker finally said, “but how is all that going to help you get proof?”

  “While you are driving with the phone on and the GPS tracking, Elle is going to make a call to Maurice–” Honey growled low and menacing and took a protective step towards Elle, interrupting Carla’s words for a moment.

  “Sorry,” he said quickly, as if he hadn’t even been aware of his reaction at first and a bright blush spread across Elle’s face.

  “I’m– I’m still not sure about this, Carla, I mean…” Elle shrugged helplessly but Carla gave her a firm look.

  “Listen Elle, you were the one who discovered something weird going on in the first place, you were the one who made the connection.”

  “Well, it was both of us, really,” she tried to defer, but Carla wouldn’t let her.

  “No, Elle. It’s because of you that we even have a shot at this at all, that we even have a plan to begin with. But don’t worry, you won’t be in any danger,” She added, more for Honey’s benefit than Elle’s. “You’ll make the call to Maurice once Sparkplug is on his way towards the border and you will tell him that I’m missing.”

  Elle nodded, still looking unsure, but Carla knew that her friend would never let her down, even if she was wary of working with criminals.

  “Okay, but still, how is that getting you the evidence you need?” Sparkplug spoke up again, his brows furrowed as he weighed her words.

  She took a deep breath, “This is where it gets a little hairy. While Maurice is gone, following after you, who he thinks is me trying to escape, Joel and I will break into Maurice’s office and search for any incriminating evidence.”

  “And how do you know this is going to work?” Sparkplug shot out as he shoved the chair back and rose to his feet, his entire body screaming confrontation. “How do you know there will be any evidence there at all?”

  Carla opened her mouth to speak, but Joel was already there, standing himself and leaning across the table until his face was close to Sparkplug’s. The angry tension between the two men crackled like electricity in the air of the otherwise empty clubhouse and Carla wondered briefly if she should speak up, but then Joel was opening his mouth.

  “Listen, man, I know you’re pissed at me–”

  “You’re fucking right I’m pissed,” Sparkplug shot back angrily, his hands clenching into fists where he had them resting on top of the worn wooden table. “You let her get arrested. You were supposed to be their leader. You were supposed to look out for them, for her! And she’s been rotting in jail as you, what, fuck your little girlfriend here and send the rest of us on a wild goose chase.”

  Carla could see the intent grow in Joel’s silver grey eyes, in the way his entire body tensed at Sparkplug’s words, but to her surprise, suddenly Elle was there, standing between them and snapping in front of Sparkplug’s face to draw his attention down to her. It seemed odd, that with her petite frame and short stature she could halt the violence brewing like a storm between the two men, but he instantly looked contrite.

  “Look, I don’t know what weird, testosterone, chest-beating, penis-measuring thing is going on here,” Elle started and Honey snorted softly at her words. She cast him an arch look and he held up his hands in a mock gesture of innocence before she continued. “But it’s a good plan. We know that Maurice is dirty. And if we can find evidence against him, it might just be enough to clear Joel and Hot Wheels. Do you have a better plan, Mr. Muscles?”

  Elle stared him down, all five feet nothing of her and Carla watched in shock as Sparkplug slowly deflated, turning back towards her with an apologetic shrug. Carla had to bite back a smile, and Honey wasn’t even trying to hide his.

  “Did you bring the stuff I asked for?” Carla asked, the question directed at Elle and her friend nodded primly before picking a tote bag incongruously crocheted with flowers and birds from the floor next to her chair and handed it across the table to her.

  Carla took it with a nod of thanks, dug out the phone and extended it to Sparkplug. He looked at it like she was holding a snake in her hand and she hastened to explain.

  “It’s turned off right now.” When he still didn’t take it, she set it on the table and slid it across to him, “Maurice won’t be able to track it until it’s powered on, and hopefully he won’t think to check until after Elle calls him.”

  Sparkplug nodded, stowing the device carefully in the inner pocket of his patch-covered leather jacket before walking towards the door. Halfway there he stopped, casting a serious glance of his shoulder.

  “I’m only doing this for Hot Wheels, you know? To help her.”

  Joel slowly nodded at the other man’s words, looking just as serious, “Yeah, I know.” With that, Sparkplug turned and walked out of the clubhouse and just like that the plan was in motion. There was no going back now.

  “Okay Elle. Now you need to wait until Sparkplug is at least forty or fifty miles away and for me and Joel to get into position so you need to wait about forty-five minutes before you make the call.”

  “Okay, well, what am I supposed to do until then?” Elle asked, her voice suddenly horrified as it dawned on her. Carla nodded slowly.

  “You’ll have to wait here, with Honey. No one else will be in the clubhouse so you’ll be safe.”

  “Safe? Alone with him? I don’t think so,” Elle said, her voice breathy and her cheeks flaming, but she refused to look behind her at the smirking Honey. Carla felt a moment of concern for her friend but she knew deep down, underneath the flirting and the charm, lay the heart of a good man.

  “You won’t let anything happen to her?” Carla asked him, meeting his warm chocolate gaze and his expression suddenly became serious as he straightened, dropping his arms to either side as he faced her, open, exposed, and revealing more to her than she thought he meant to.

  “She’ll be safe, I promise. I’ll protect her with my life,” the gleam was suddenly back in his eyes, and the regular mischievous Honey was back, “Don’t worry, Carla, nothing will happen to her that she doesn’t ask for.”

  Elle drew in a harsh breath at his words and Carla hastened to speak before she could unleash the tirade that was building behind her friend’s eyes.

  “Please, just, try and get through the next hour without killing each other, all right? This is too important.” Carla gave them both a scolding look until she got reluctant nods of acceptance. Only then did she pull Elle a little bit away.

  “Did you bring me the other stuff that I asked for?” Carla asked quietly and Elle nodded again towards the bag.

  “Yeah, it’s all there. All the clothes and everything, but…” She drew a deep breath, looking at her eye to eye, “are you sure about this? I mean, we always knew that Maurice was deranged, but this is…this is whole other level stuff.” Elle shook her head again, “I’m just worried about you, that’s all. What if he comes back? The man’s a creep, and a drug smuggler. Who knows what he’ll do if he catches you.”

  “He’s not goin
g to catch me, Elle. You have to convince him that I’m missing. You can do that, right?”

  “Of course, but–”

  “Listen, I know you won’t let me down. And besides, I’ll have Joel there with me. If anyone can keep me safe, he can. But if it makes you feel better, Joel got me a temporary phone. Here is the number,” Carla grabbed a bar napkin and scribbled the new number on it, handing it to her and Elle clenched it tight in her fist.

  “Just promise me you’ll be careful, alright?” Elle asked with a trembling smile and Carla returned it with a quick, sidelong glance towards Honey.

  “You just promise me you won’t kill Honey while we’re gone.”

  That drew a laugh from Elle and she covered her mouth with a delicate hand.

  “That might be asking too much,” she started, sighing at Carla’s look of reproof, “Alright, alright. I promise not to do any lasting damage.”

  Carla stared at her for a moment before letting out a soft chuckle herself.

  “That’s the best I’m going to get out of you, isn’t it? Look, I don’t know what’s going on between you two–”

  “Nothing. Nothing’s going on.” Elle hastily interrupted before throwing her arms around Carla in a short but fierce hug.

  “Be careful,” she whispered before pulling away. Carla nodded once before grabbing the bag that Elle had brought and sharing one last look with everyone before taking a deep breath.

  “Okay, me and Joel are going to get ready, and then it’s show time.” Joel gave her an encouraging smile but even she didn’t really believe it. Then they were turning away, walking towards the back where Joel’s apartment was and leaving Honey and Elle staring at each other as she pushed open the door to the hallway and disappeared behind it.

  Chapter 32

  Joel watched as Carla changed into the tight black pants and cotton t-shirt that Elle had brought with her and almost growled as desire and some deeper emotion swirled to the surface in an undeniable wave. It was like the one time he had been to the ocean. It had been a perfect, sunny day and the sand on the beach felt warm in between his toes.

  He hadn’t been very old and it was one of those rare moments where his mother was actually aware of him, aware of what was going on around them. But she hadn’t been well, had been distracted by something and hadn’t noticed him swim too far out. He hadn’t been afraid, not at all. He could remember that so clearly, the feeling of freedom that had washed over him but that feeling had been shredded as an eddy, powerful and hidden under the calm blue surface had tugged him under.

  He had fought with all his might against the undertow but its invisible fingers had dragged him further and further out into the true depths. He’d been so sure he was going to die. Luckily a surfer had spotted him go under and had paddled out to rescue him but what he really remembered was the inevitability. The unbreakable strength of that thing he couldn’t see, but could feel real and undeniable.

  That’s what she was like. And damn, had he fought. Against her kindness, against her softness and sweetness. Against the idea that he would ever deserve her or could be the kind of man that she needed in her life. Carla. She’d turned him upside down since the first moment they had met and even now she was still surprising him.

  He’d been wrong to accuse her of betraying him, of betraying the club, he knew that now. He knew she wouldn’t be capable of something like that and the guilt ate at him. Finally, she was dressed in the all black outfit that she had termed her ‘spy clothes’ and turned to him with a small smile drawn across her face despite the fact that they were about to break in to the lion’s den, so to speak.

  As Carla looked at him, though, and took in his serious expression, her smile slowly faded as she took a step closer. She grabbed both of his callused hands in hers and he had to shut his eyes against the sweetness of it, the sweetness of her. He didn’t deserve it. He wasn’t sure if he ever would.

  “What is it?” she asked, her voice soft and her big blue eyes full of concern, “Is something wrong?”

  “No, no,” he started, but then drew his words up sharply and let out a rattling breath, “Actually, there is something wrong.” With their entwined hands, Joel tugged her closer until she was standing just a few bare inches from him, “I need to apologize.”

  “For what?” Carla asked, looking up at him quizzically.

  “For blaming you. For thinking that you could betray us to a scumbag like Maurice. To telling you…telling you that I never wanted to see you again. I’m sorry. So sorry.”

  “No, Joel. I…” Carla broke off, looking up at him with tears staining her sapphire eyes and every one cut at him like a knife, “It was my fault. There’s nothing to apologize for. If not for me, none of this would have happened and I–”

  He stopped her words the only way he could think of, slanting his mouth over hers and drinking down her words in a scorching kiss that made them both breath hard when he finally pulled back from her.

  “Never say that again,” Joel ordered roughly, spearing his fingers through her silken hair and tilting her head up so she had no choice but to meet his gaze, to see just how serious he was. “I couldn’t figure it out. I couldn’t see how else Maurice could have kept tracking us and I assumed that you had been working with him the whole time. But I was wrong. I was so, so wrong. So just say you forgive me, damn it. Stop trying to make me feel even worse by saying it was your fault.”

  “But I’m not trying to make you feel bad, Joel. It was my f–” She didn’t even get the whole word out before he was kissing her again, trying to say with his entire body what his heart was full to the brim of.

  “Damn it, Carla,” Joel said, his words stuttered from the panting breath and she laughed, smiling up at him, breathing heavy herself.

  “You know, if you keep doing that I might just have to keep saying it,” she joked and Joel leaned his forehead against hers, staring into her eyes, so close he could see the flecks of royal purple and indigo in her gaze.

  “You’re going to kill me,” he said on a groan, but she shook her head, her expression going serious once more, their gazes locked together.

  “I forgive you, Joel,” she finally said and relief filled him at her words.

  “And…and what you said to me, in the jail cell. Did you mean it?” It was the hardest question he’d ever asked but he needed to know. He’d repeated the words over and over in his mind since that night, but he needed to know.

  Carla stared at him for so long without saying anything that he broke out into a sweat. He thought that she really might kill him if she kept him waiting any longer but finally she leaned forward just enough to place the softest, most tender kiss against his lips. It was like being touched by an angel. Heaven and hell all wrapped up together.

  “I love you, Joel Lasseter,” her words fell across him like a gift and he drank them in, soaking them in deep to heal some part of his tortured soul.

  “I love you, my blue bird,” he kissed her then, because he had to. Every emotion that she had pulled from him seemed almost overwhelming and he didn’t have the words. All he could do was press his lips to hers and prayed that she understood. From the soft look shining in her eyes when he finally pulled back, she did.

  “Come on, then, blue bird. We’ve got a mission to complete,” Joel gave her a heated glance, “and then we can come back here and finish this conversation.” He hitched his shoulders as Carla put her hand trustingly in his and followed as he led them outside. They bid a quick goodbye to Elle and Honey and a reminder to make the call in a half hour, got on his bike and drove towards the farm. The whole ride a sense sat heavy and dark in the pit of his stomach, the sense that something bad was about to happen. He prayed it was wrong.

  *

  Elle watched Carla and Joel leave the clubhouse with knots in her stomach screaming at her that she was making the wrong choice, doing the wrong thing. She smoothed down the dress she was wearing, shorter than she normally wore. After Carla had called her, telli
ng her what was going on and asking her to come to the clubhouse,she had taken a minute and changed. She hated knowing that she’d done it because of the man now sitting across the table from her. Elle refused to meet his gaze. He was completely infuriating.

  In fact, now that she thought of it, she’d never met anyone as infuriating as Honey. What kind of name of that anyways? She cast a surreptitious glance at him, whipping it away immediately when he caught her gaze.

  “You know, you don’t have to hide it if you want to look. Believe me, nothing’s stopping me from getting an eyeful,” he said, his voice low and sultry in a way that made moisture pool like warm syrup between her thighs. She shifted slightly, smoothing the dress down again, but then pulled herself up straight. She glanced down at the phone clenched in her hand and the timer that was even now counting down the seconds to when she had to make the dreaded call to Maurice.