by Franca Storm
"The way I hear it, she belongs to nobody. She likes the quiet and freedom of not answering to anyone else." He thumbed my nightclub behind us. "She's been too busy to let anybody get in the way."
Hearing that I wasn't seeing anyone had an almost sedative like impact on Eddie and, surprising me, he also stepped back. Nodding, he said, the relief clear in his voice, "Good, yeah. My bad. Didn't mean to come down so aggressive on you. Respect your rep and all that."
"You let her head on home right now and I'll let it slide," D told him.
"Yeah," Eddie murmured to himself. "Yeah, it's okay. She's single. It's all okay now."
I watched in astonishment as he gave us a chin lift, then walked away to his bike parked in a dark area of the lot, then took off.
"You all right?"
I jolted at D's voice.
Was I all right?
No. The truth was that I wasn't. The whole encounter had been a disturbingly creepy experience.
"Yeah, fine," I lied. I couldn't show weakness and vulnerability in front of anyone. Not even him. Especially not after the statement he'd just made to Eddie and the way he'd treated me tonight.
Worry bled from him as he asked, "How long has he been coming around?"
My eyes narrowed. What was he playing at? Why was he messing with my head? Pretending to care one minute, then dismissing me like I was nothing to him in the next? I'd had enough and I ended up snapping, "What's it to you?"
He seemed surprised at my tone. "I'm worried about you."
"Are you?"
"Yeah, of course. I—" He stopped mid-sentence, grunted, then tapped his earpiece. "What?" he barked. He listened for a moment, nodded to himself and answered, "Yeah? He's clear of the area? Good. I'm gonna stay with her tonight, just to be safe until we know what the deal is with him."
I cut into his conversation, a conversation about me that I was being excluded from and given no say in. "I don't want you staying."
"One second," he spoke into his earpiece, then tapped it off. He eyed me incredulously. "I'm not gonna leave you unprotected. That maniac isn't stable."
"Fine, then put a prospect on me if you're so worried about your club's investment being in danger."
"What? No, that's not what this is about."
"D!" I snapped. "I've had enough. I'm tired and I want to go home. Alone. If you really need to put protection outside my place, then do what you need to do."
I turned from him and walked to my car. I heard him cursing, then organizing things with his club. I blocked the rest of it out, wanting nothing more than to forget all the bullshit of the men in my life and crawl into my bed and get some much-needed shut eye.
I unlocked my car, but before I could even open the door, D rounded it, coming up on the passenger side. He grabbed the door and hauled it open.
"What do you think you're doing?"
"Making sure you get home safe."
"No, you don't need—"
"Sky," he said firmly. "I'm the only one here right now. I've got two prospects on their way down, but they aren't gonna make it here at the speed of fucking light. You know Landon's a forty-five-minute ride from the clubhouse."
"Fine, then forget it. I don't need protection. He's gone now."
"I'm not leaving until our guys show up. So, we can stand here arguing about it until then if you want, or you can take the attitude down a notch and accept my protection."
"Why are you acting the part of the white knight? Earlier you just took off out of my office without a word and I didn't see you for the rest of the night."
"Because I wasn't there."
"What?"
"I had to leave Excite to make a bunch of calls. For you."
"What are you talking about? What calls?"
"About Haywire. We spotted him lurking around the club. I couldn't hear for shit inside the place, so I left for a while."
Oh. Well, I hadn't expected that. "So, you know then?" I forced myself to ask.
"Yeah and it's a good thing I do, because it's why I stayed back here. If I hadn't, he would've—"
"He wouldn't have done anything, Luke!" I snapped, my anger making me use his real name. "I'm not a helpless damsel in distress. I had it handled."
He ran his fingers through his hair, getting agitated. Good. Now he knew how I felt. "Just get in the car." Not giving me the option of arguing further, he opened my passenger door and ducked inside, waiting on me to do the same.
Argh! I threw open my door with more force than was necessary and got in the car.
"Bossy, infuriating dick," I muttered as I started the car.
He just smirked and put his seatbelt on.
Cocky ass!
3
~Deviant~
WHAT A CLUSTERFUCK.
To say last night hadn't gone to plan was being really generous.
I ran my fingers through my hair, still damp from the shower, and I found myself gritting my teeth as Spartan's words to me from our call last night played on my mind again. Words that were making me sick to my stomach. Disturbing intel about Sky and Eddie "Haywire" Griffith.
I couldn't believe she was in that psycho's cross-hairs. She had a history with him. Hell, history was a real nice and mild way of putting it, considering everything Spartan had relayed to me last night.
I knew I needed to table all the personal shit and how much it fucking bothered me and focus on the situation itself, the security issue it had become. But it was easier said than done.
With a pissed growl, I snatched up my gray tank and a fresh pair of leather pants that I'd laid out on the bed earlier.
I was just pulling my pants on when the door to my room flew open and Wrecker barged on in.
The first thing that hit me was the vibrant Poison t-shirt he was sporting beneath his leather cut. Every day he had a different band t-shirt on, seemingly having an endless supply, a mix of hard rock and classic rock. He was a big music fan. Whatever he was doing, he was listening to it. It was as vital to him as breathing in air. And, although he kept it on the downlow, he especially loved those big, dramatic love ballads. It was part of his whole closeted romantic side.
Urgency played on his face, his movements displaying anxious energy. The guy really lived up to his road name, going in like a wrecking ball when he was riled up in classic bull-in-a-china-shop fashion. He had calmed down a lot in the last few years, but when it was called for, he could flip some kind of switch inside himself, lose any sense of fear, and jump into a situation hard and fast, fists and destructiveness unleashed. Honestly, that had come in handy many times, clearing a path for the rest of us when we'd gone into battle. I'd recognized the asset that he was back when he'd worked as a bouncer for Ginny's, one of our dive bars that had suffered through some security issues when we'd first opened it, attracting a bad crowd. A bunch of us had shared drinks with him after closing many times and I'd really gotten to know him. I'd ended up bringing him into the club and sponsoring him until he'd become a fully-patched member a couple of years later.
"Is she all right?" he asked, as I slipped my shirt on over my head. "Sorry I didn't come by sooner. Figured all was well, the way we left it for the night, so I crashed when I got back here. Then I was in the mess hall eating breakfast not ten minutes ago and I heard all this shit about Sky and Haywire."
"Yeah, they have a history," I told him. "She's all right and we've got protection on her right now. She's just a bit shaken up."
"Fuck," he muttered, scratching his thick, black beard, a clear sign he was distressed by the news. His reaction wasn't just out of loyalty to me. He had an affinity for Sky and cared about her beyond just respect for her being my woman.
My woman. That wasn't technically true. I hadn't made an official claim. She didn't even know that I wanted that, that I fucking well needed her to be mine through and through.
I'd screwed up. I should've just told her the whole deal the second I'd walked into her office. Instead, I'd let my dick rule my head. Now she was
pissed at me. She'd refused to let me into her condo, so I'd had to chill outside until a couple of our prospects had made it down there to keep watch over her.
"You could've stayed down there with her," Wrecker said. "I know you're Acting Prez right now with Spartan off taking a vacation with Dani, but we woulda been good here. Your woman comes first, brother."
"Appreciate that, Wreck, but it's all good. She wanted to be alone anyway." I tried to play it off casually, adding, "It was a long day for her with the anniversary blowout and all that."
"You didn't tell her," he accused.
I shrugged. "Not yet, no."
He stared at me in disbelief. It was obvious he had more to say. But years of respect for me had him backing down quick and just saying, "All right, brother."
I knew I should just let it go and head out, but I couldn't. Something was nagging at me and I hated unsaid shit hanging between me and my brothers. Even the smallest thing like that could build up bad blood if it went on ignored. That was even more of an issue now with me as Acting Prez.
Leaning against the door, I folded my arms across my chest and told him, "She's not mine yet. You know I'm not used to going that route with anybody."
"Yeah, I know. Your whole run free bullshit."
So, he was pissed then. Good thing I hadn't let it go. I reasoned that he couldn't understand the way I'd been used to operating, because he was the direct opposite at heart. He'd had a steady woman who he'd been ridiculously in love with. She'd blindsided him though, breaking it off when he'd joined the club, not wanting to be pulled into the life. And it'd shattered him.
Stuff like that was why I'd never let myself get too close or allowed anybody into my head to mess with my thoughts, decisions, and actions.
Until I'd realized that Sky didn't fit that mold. I wanted her close. I wanted her with me, to be a real part of my life.
Clapping his shoulder, I grinned at him as I revealed, "I'm gonna do it today. Chill."
"Really?"
"Yeah, really, brother."
"Good. It's been a long time coming and, fuck, she's your other half, no question."
I chuckled. "Yeah. Yeah, she is."
"Get to it and don't screw it up. We all love her to bits."
Yeah, I knew they did. She'd been a hit with the boys right off the bat, since the first time I'd brought her here, back when I'd thought I'd never move beyond casual with anybody.
Life was full of weird-ass surprises.
I snatched my cut off the back of my armchair and shrugged it on, smiling to myself. There was nothing else like the comradery and support of the club family. Knowing they were all rooting for me lightened the load and took away even the slightest doubts remaining.
Anticipation thrummed through me. Everything was about to change.
"I've got some business to deal with this morning, then I'll be off-territory for the rest of the day. Wraith will be the go-to."
"Sounds good."
I held the door open and Wrecker walked out with me. We parted ways at the bottom of the stairs once we reached the main floor and I made my way to Spartan's office.
I stopped outside the door and took in the CLUB PRESIDENT sign.
Acting President. It was surreal. Spartan never took time away from the club, but since he'd hooked up with Dani, that'd changed. It was the first time I'd actually been able to experience the full breadth of Vice President duties. He was finally dropping his whole micromanaging approach and putting his full trust in me.
A lot was changing.
And I was ready to welcome it all.
***
I rolled my eyes.
How clueless were these guys? What kind of club were they fucking well running?
"Yeah, Eddie "Haywire" Griffith," I repeated to Bow, one of the enforcers for the Lone Outlaws MC.
He'd sounded distracted from the moment he'd picked up my call. The longer it'd gone on, the more his disinterest had grown.
Spartan had taught me and pushed me to never take something right at face-value, to read between the lines, delve a little deeper. With that in mind, I couldn't help wondering if it was more than just distraction and disinterest on Bow's part. Avoidance, perhaps? The guy didn't want to hear my report, to take in what I was saying about his club brother. He didn't want to believe it, or deal with it.
I got it. I'd been with the club for twelve years, more than long enough to understand the instinctual need to defend your brothers, to protect them at all costs. But there was a line. And that fucker, Haywire, had crossed it. Stalking, threatening and terrifying an innocent. Hurting her. I didn't care how deep the loyalty ran between this fucker I was talking to and his club brother. Action needed to be taken here. Either Lone Outlaws got their shit together and took care of it themselves, or Iron Kings was going to.
"So, he's got his eye on some chick. Who doesn't?"
"It's more than that. He's fixated, obsessed. Dangerous."
A heavy sigh came from him. "We'll have a word when he gets back."
"That's not gonna cut it. You need to bring him in now and take immediate action."
"Is this your woman we're talking about?"
I flinched involuntarily. Fortunately, he couldn't see that over the phone. This was business. I couldn't afford to show weakness to this shithead by revealing it was also personal so he could use it as an excuse to claim an overreaction on my end. Overreacting would've been me beating the shit out of Haywire last night, then using the resources now at my disposal as Acting Prez to go after his whole goddamn club. So, I swallowed it down, telling him, "She's an important business partner to the club, to Spartan."
There was a brief pause on his end. I had little doubt it was my mention of Spartan. The guy's name carried a lot of weight. It came in handy in many different situations. I hadn't planned on going there, though. I was the one taking the reins right now. Relying on him even through name-dropping was a shot at my ability to do the job he'd tasked me with, the job he'd trusted me with of leading the club in his absence.
The role of Acting Club President was a load of pressure to begin with. Iron Kings MC was really well known. It had an infamous rep, one that Spartan had spent years of blood and sweat building. A lot of the newer MCs looked to us on how to conduct themselves, how to go about doing things, how to prosper. Scott "Spartan" Tate was a hell of a legacy to live up to. I knew I was being measured against him right now by all the brothers. Some of them, mostly the old-timers, were expecting me to fall flat on my face and fuck up all over the place. Then again, those shits didn't like change of any kind, so that had a load to do with it. You had to take people's opinions with a grain of salt. Hell, if you didn't, you'd do nothing in life, because there were naysayers and haters everywhere. Survival meant having a thick skin. And some major balls. I'd acquired both the day I'd turned my back on my overbearing, entitled family when I was a teenager. Besides, people judging you and wanting you to fail was a prerequisite to tasting power. It invited jealousy and bitterness. It was just human nature. And, as the cliché went, the best way to handle asshole-like behavior was to prove them all wrong and fly in the face of everything they believed about you.
"You hearing me?" I pressed when Bow still didn't answer.
"Fuck," he muttered under his breath. "He really went after this club asset of yours?"
"Yeah."
"Hold on. Gonna put you through to Python. He'll want all the details right from you. He doesn't like secondhand reports in case intel gets left out."
"Appreciate it."
"Yeah, man."
Good, now I could get this sorted properly with the President of Lone Outlaws himself and be done with it. I could rest easy knowing that sick fuck had been put on a leash, so Sky would be safe once again.
We could move forward without anything holding us to our pasts.
4
~Deviant~
UN-FUCKING-BELIEVABLE
Where the hell were those motherfuckers?
&
nbsp; There was supposed to be a prospect stationed outside Sky's condo building and another by her front door. But not only had there been nobody outside, now I was approaching her door, it was clear there was nobody there either.
Wraith was gonna hear about this. After the attack on Sky last night, he'd assured me that she'd be kept safe, that our security would be watching her back.
I rapped on the door and heard soft footsteps hurrying along a moment later. As I waited for her to open it, I scrubbed my hand over my face, trying to reel in my anger so that Sky didn't get the brunt of it.
The second it opened, and she came into view, most of it melted away.
She was wearing silky pink pajamas, a strappy top and shorts. Her hair was pulled up into a high ponytail. She had no makeup on, that smoky eye look I was used to gone. I looked down and saw a pair of pink bunny slippers on her feet. Somehow, she managed to pull off sexy and cute at the same time. Jesus. Only Sky.
I was so surprised at seeing her dressed down that I missed the fact that she was giving me the evil eye, until she snapped at me and my gaze shot to hers.
"What are you doing here?"
Okay, so she was still pissed at me then.
Before I could respond, heavy booted footsteps reached my ear. Instinctively, I lifted the side of my cut to draw my gun. Just as my fingers brushed the butt, two familiar faces came into view, striding around the corner of her apartment to the foyer where we were at.
Alex and Gavin, the two prospects Wraith had put on Sky. I noted that one of them had a strip of bacon in hand and was munching away on it without a care in the world.
"What the fuck are you two doing?" I demanded. "Why weren't you at your posts?"
Sky grabbed my arm and hissed, "Get inside. You can't yell and swear on my doorstep like that. This is a sophisticated and respectable building, not the Iron Kings clubhouse, you Neanderthal!"
I let her pull me inside. As she shut and locked the door, I stormed up to the prospects. "Well?" I barked.
"I asked them in, okay? I made breakfast. They were standing on guard all night long. It's the least I could do."