by Bella Jewel
“Like to say no, sweetheart, but I can’t be sure. Treyton is clever, and he’s evil as fuck. He has a plan, don’t know what that plan is, and until I do, best to stay as safe as possible. Got my men watching Scarlett and you and the studio, but you know you gotta be extra careful still, don’t you?”
She nods. “Yeah, I try not to spend too much time alone in public places, or here.”
“Good idea. You can spend a few nights at my place, if you’re ever feeling unsafe.”
Never taken a woman back to my place before. Partly because I am rarely there, but mostly because I’ve never respected anyone enough to take them into my personal space. If I want to fuck, I do it at the club, otherwise I don’t do it at all. It’s that simple.
“You want me to go to your place?” she says in her tiny, mousy voice, a small smile playing at the edges of her lips.
“You’re mine, Amalie. So that would be a yes.”
Her smile gets bigger, and I know those words please the fuck out of her.
Good, because they make me damned happy too.
“We have the fair on the weekend, and we’re playing there, are we safe?”
“That I’m not totally confident about, it’s the ultimate place for Treyton to make a move on any one of us if that’s what he decides to do. Because of that, I’ll be setting up extra protection, but I need you to promise me you won’t enter or leave that stage unless you know one of us has eyes on you.”
She nods. “I promise. I don’t want him anywhere near me, ever again.”
Poor girl.
Everyone saw the mess he left her in.
“Never goin’ to let him put a filthy fuckin’ finger on you again if I have any say in the matter. Gotta know, darlin’, and you don’t have to tell me, but he didn’t … he didn’t hurt you in any other way that wasn’t just physical, did he?”
She shakes her head. “No, he didn’t. He just got hold of me, and then” —she looks away for a second, taking a deep breath— “then he hurt me and sent me back.”
I move closer to her, taking her delicate face in my hand and bringing her close so she can see how fucking serious I am when my next words leave my lips, “You can rest assured that when I get my hands on him, he’ll regret the day he ever laid a hand on you, Amalie. I’ll make him wish he was never born.”
“Are you going to kill him, Malakai?”
I nod, without hesitation. “With my bare fuckin’ hands.”
“Will … will you get into trouble?”
“No. Because I’m smart, and my club is smart, you don’t have to worry about that.”
“But, it’s still illegal and ….”
I let her go and lean back so she has a better view of me. “You don’t need to worry about it.”
My words are firm. Not mean, but enough to tell her that we’re not discussing this further. She pouts a little, which is fucking cute, but she nods and doesn’t ask any more about it.
“Was that redhead girl helping you?”
Charlie.
The girl who still hasn’t come home.
The girl who is, at best, in the hands of Trey and still alive.
And, at worst, dead.
Because of us.
“She’s helpin’ us, and that’s all you need to know.”
“Do you like her?” she asks, in a small voice.
I grin at her, and her cheeks go that gorgeous shade of red I love so much. “You jealous, baby?”
Her cheeks get redder.
Fucking sweet.
“No, I just …”
“You’re jealous.”
“No, Malakai, it’s …”
“Jealous.”
She can’t help it, she laughs.
And it’s a sound I’ve been waiting so fucking long to hear again. I’ll never tire of hearing that sweet sound escape her lips. Every time it does, a little piece of her darkness turns to light and leaves, and slowly she becomes the beauty I see inside her eyes every time I look at her. It changes her face. It changes everything about her.
She’s utterly fucking perfect.
“I told you once, and I’ll tell you again,” I say to her. “I am going to spend the rest of my life hearing that laugh, and that starts today. You clear with me, Amalie? There is no room for anyone else.”
Her lips part, and then she smiles.
Fucking big.
Fucking beautiful.
And that’s all the answer I need.
~*~*~*~
AMALIE – NOW
“I’m so nervous,” I tell Scarlett as the band and us set up the stage for the fair that starts tomorrow.
“Don’t be,” she says to me, smiling. “It’ll be fun, and the distraction we all need.”
“I know, but I’ve never sung in front of a crowd before.”
“You’re not singing much. Don’t panic. You’re amazing, Amalie. Seriously. Don’t sweat it. Just focus on your piano, and me, and don’t worry about the rest of them.”
I nod, but the butterflies are already swirling around in my stomach. I’m full of anxiety for the shows over the next few nights, but I’m also really excited. I’ve missed playing since we came home from being on tour. Scarlett enjoys her time out, because she doesn’t get bombarded twenty-four hours a day, she just gets to live her normal life, but I miss the excitement of being on the road, playing for massive crowds of people.
I take hold of the piano and start running all the wires across the ground. I bump into Isaac at the back and flush, muttering a sorry. He straightens and smiles at me. “It’s okay, no problem. How are you feeling about the show?”
“Nervous,” I admit.
“You’ll do great, I’ve been watching you play in the studio. You have a gift most of us don’t possess.”
I smile at him. He’s such a nice guy. “Thank you.”
“Listen,” he says, reaching up and rubbing the back of his neck, like he’s suddenly nervous. “I’m not sure where you’re at, or if you’re seeing that biker or not, but I was wondering if you maybe wanted to go to the movies with me?”
Oh, no.
Scarlett was right. He likes me.
And I have to tell him I’m in love with that biker he just mentioned, and I already feel terrible for having to do that. He’s a good guy, great looking, and would make any woman feel like she’s incredibly lucky, but unfortunately that woman isn’t me. Still, one thing I hate the absolute worst in the world is letting people down. I hate the look of disappointment, or embarrassment on their faces.
It takes a lot of courage to ask someone out.
How do I let him down gently?
“Isaac,” I say carefully, kindly. “I’d love to go to the movies with you, but it can only be as friends. I am seeing Malakai now, and I’m really happy. I’m so sorry. I’d love to be friends, though, if you’re interested?”
He stares at me, then smiles. He’s a really good guy. “Yeah, I could use a friend. And I’m happy for you, Amalie. You deserve to be smiling all the time. If he makes you happy then I’m thrilled for you.”
My smile gets bigger. “Well, I’m glad, because I could use a friend too.”
He winks at me. “Friends it is.”
“Friends.”
He gives me a thumbs up and walks off, and I exhale, fingers shaking as I continue running the wires. A tap on my shoulder has me spinning around, to see Scarlett looking down at me, grinning like a Cheshire cat. She doesn’t miss a trick. I give her a stern look. “Do not even, Scarlett Belle.”
“So many men after little Amalie’s heart ….”
I laugh. “You’re terrible. He’s a really nice guy.”
“I agree, he’s a super guy. Did you let him down gently?”
I roll my eyes and stare at her. “We both know that you heard the whole conversation, big ears, so don’t act like you didn’t.”
She grins, and it makes her so breathtakingly beautiful. “Friends, hey? That’ll go down well with Malakai.”
; I frown. “Malakai won’t care if I have friends.”
“He’ll care if those friends have penises.”
I gape at her, and she laughs, throwing her head back, blond curls bouncing around her shoulders. When she looks back at me, her eyes are dancing. “You haven’t figured out the bikers yet, have you?”
“I’m starting to think that’s a no,” I mutter.
“They’re possessive. It’s sexy. Scary. But nice. Malakai, by the looks, isn’t any different.”
Awesome.
A possessive, scary biker.
“Don’t worry.” She smiles at me. “It’s a really good feeling to know you’re so deeply loved.”
She’s right about that.
Another tap on my shoulder has me turning back around to see Isaac behind me again. “There’s a girl here, and she asked if she could talk with you. Her name is Penelope.”
Penny?
I nod, smiling at Scarlett. “I’ll be back soon.”
Then I look to Isaac. “Where is she?”
“By the side steps.”
I nod and walk out of the stage area and down to the side steps where Penny is standing, her eyes on the group of bikers in a circle on the grass below the stage, talking about something. Malakai’s eyes swing over the moment he sees me, and then they move to Penny. I nod at him, letting him know it’s fine. He gives me an intense, sexy look, and then turns back to the conversation.
“Penny,” I say, stopping in front of her. “What are you doing here?”
“Would you mind if we had a chat?”
I shake my head. “Of course not. Is everything okay? Is it Caiden?”
“He’s okay,” she tells me. “It’s about him, but nothing has happened, so you know.”
I nod, and we both sit on the steps. I face her, so I can see her clearly. She looks nervous. She’s quiet, but not so much shy. She is a girl of very few words, but you can tell from the moment you meet her, that she has a big heart. A soft heart. She’s sweet. I like her a lot, even after the few small interactions I’ve had.
“I just wanted to let you know that I no longer work for Caiden.”
“You don’t?” I ask her, eyes wide. “Did he do something? Are you okay?”
She smiles, and it lights up her whole face. She’s beautiful. In the girl next door kind of way. “I guess you could say that. I have overheard a few of your conversations now, and a few of his, and after I saw that article he let out to the public about you, I knew I just couldn’t allow it to continue. It was unfair and cruel. He lied, and one thing I can’t stand is a liar.”
I take it back, Penny has more backbone then I first thought.
“So, I sat down with him one day, and I had my phone on record. I confronted him about it, and asked why he’d ever lie like that about you. It took a while, but he finally snapped and told me he didn’t like that you could move on with your life and he couldn’t. He was nasty about it. When he was done, I stood up and played the recording back. Then I told him if he doesn’t put a story out saying he lied and why he lied, then I would send this to every single journalist I could find and ensure it was published.”
Oh, my god.
Penny. Beautiful Penny.
“You did that for me?” I whisper, my heart clenched with such awe, and such gratitude.
“You came over every day, even when he abused you, even when his family abused you. He had no right to drag your name down like that. Nobody should ever have to put up with something like that. You didn’t deserve it. I really liked you, and I knew I had to do something.”
My heart feels like it’s going to explode.
Just launch out of my chest and shatter at her beauty.
“Penny,” I whisper. “I honestly don’t know what to say.”
“He’s going to retract what he said. The article should be out in the next few days.”
Oh, God.
My eyes well up with tears.
“I owe you so much, thank you, Penny.”
“You don’t owe me anything.” She smiles. “But, I do hope maybe we can be friends?”
I lunge forward and hug her, laughing. “Of course we can!”
She hugs me back and I pull away, smiling. “Thank you, honestly, that article hurt me so badly.”
She beams. “You’re welcome.”
I see Malakai approaching us with Maverick and Boston. They stop when they reach us, and Malakai looks to Penny. “I just heard what you did for my girl,” he tells her and extends his hand. She stares at it for a moment, her eyes wide, and then she flushes a deep shade of pink and puts her hand in his. “Thank you,” he says.
She looks to me nervously, then back to him. “That’s okay.”
“What’s your name, darlin’?” he asks her, still holding her hand.
She looks like she’s about to combust. I can’t say I blame her. I remember the first time I met the bikers, too. There is an intensity about them that makes your heart screech to a stop. They’re terrifying, like an endangered animal you’re seeing for the first time. Mysterious, a little scary, a whole lot dangerous.
“Penelope.”
“Well, Penelope, you’re welcome around any time you want.”
She smiles, and glances at Maverick and Boston, then she looks back to Malakai. “Thank you.”
He releases her hand, and looks at me. “All good, baby?”
Baby.
God.
That makes me heart feel like it’s going to explode out of my chest.
“All good.” I smile shyly.
“Penelope,” Malakai says, “these are my boys, Maverick and Boston. You see any of us around, don’t be scared say hi.”
Penny waves at the two men, and her eyes lock with Boston’s. He stares at her, face expressionless, but his eyes are locked on hers and don’t look like they’re going anywhere anytime soon. I smile, because that was exactly how Malakai looked at me the first time we met. Boston is a dark horse, a mysterious man with a past that he keeps tightly locked up. He could probably use a woman like Penny.
Blushing, Penny looks back at me. “I should get going, I have to go out and find another job now.”
“Oh, no,” I say, losing my smile. “You lost your job because of me.”
“It was worth it.” She smiles, squeezing my hand.
“What do you do?” Malakai asks her.
“I’m a carer.”
“Might have something for you,” Boston says, and I only caught it because I was glancing at him, loving the way he is looking at her. “Got a sister that just lost a carer. Lookin’ for another one. You interested?”
I look to Penny, and she’s staring at Boston, cheeks still red. “Ah, yes, I would be.”
“Give you my number, you can send me all your qualifications. Need someone ASAP, if you check out, happy to give you a job.”
Penny looks like she’s about to explode, with what I don’t know. Nerves, happiness, horror? Either way, she slowly nods and with shaky fingers, pulls out her phone. Maverick is grinning at the exchange, and quickly steps past us and walks up the stairs to find Scarlett. I step next to Malakai and he hooks an arm around my waist, pulling me close to him. I snuggle in, loving how incredible it feels to tuck myself against him.
Amazing.
Once Penny has given Boston her number, he tells her he’ll text through what he needs, and then he’s gone. Like the dark horse he is, he just disappears into the crowd, leaving Penny watching him go, her face red, her phone still in her hand, just resting there. She finally turns and looks to Malakai and me. “I better get going.”
“Here,” I say, detaching myself from Malakai and pulling out my phone, “let’s swap numbers so we can keep in touch.”
Penny smiles, and reads me her number. I save it in my phone and then send her a text. Once we’re done, she tucks her phone away. “I’ll chat later?”
“Sounds great. Bye, Penny.”
“Later,” Malakai murmurs.
“Bye.” She smi
les, waving at us both.
Yeah.
I just made a new friend.
-15-
MALAKAI
“Any word?” I ask Koda as we weave through the crowd to get to the back gates of the fair where the portable dressing rooms for Scarlett and Amalie are.
We’re cleared by security all around the fair, much to the event creator’s dismay. They didn’t want us anywhere near it, thinking we’d scare everyone off with our presence. Susan threatened them and told them if we couldn’t be there then she’d pull Scarlett and they’d have to explain to everyone coming why they couldn’t see her.
Because let’s face it, half the reason people are here is to see Scarlett. They tripled their ticket sales overnight when they announced the surprise act.
Yeah, they aren’t getting rid of us any time soon.
“Nothin’,” Koda tells me as we enter the quieter back area.
I glare at a few of the carnies, setting up rides, and they glare right back. I don’t like Amalie and Scarlett being anywhere near those sketchy fuckers but I don’t get much choice. Better here, then out there. Especially with Trey on the loose. And he is out there, watching, waiting. Chances are he’ll probably have eyes all around this fair, hence why he need to keep our eyes peeled.
“Think she’s still alive?” I ask him, stopping and facing him.
“Fuckin’ hope so. Girl doesn’t deserve to die for us, man.”
“No, she doesn’t. You think if Trey took her, he’d have let us know by now.”
Koda shakes his head. “Not necessarily, he might be waitin’ for a good time, or he might be enjoyin’ watchin’ us sweat knowin’ someone has got her, and not knowin’ who that someone is. He’s playin’ with fire, and he’s aimin’ that shit right at us.”
“We’ll find him, he’ll slip up. The fucker can’t be smart forever.”
“Wherever Scarlett found this prick, wish she had left him there,” Koda mutters then pulls out his phone. “Waitin’ for a call, trackin’ information on Charlie. Tryin’ to find out who she’s hidin’ from, who is after her. Might give us another lead if it isn’t Trey who has her. Offered her our protection, I’m goin’ to make sure we follow through with that.”
