She was supposed to stick around with me for the summer break if I got the internship. I feel bad. I’ve wondered if she left because I’ve been staying with Owen. I was so depressed about it all, I went shopping.
It would be what Misty would want to do to try to cheer me up. It never does, but it makes her happy, which does cheer me up. Only yesterday, I found myself really happy. The idea of Owen seeing me in these blue four-inch platform heels had me all types of giddy.
We are supposed to leave for NC tonight. Owen has church and he needs to return King’s bike. Work has kept us both busy this week. Owen is a workaholic and he wants things just so.
I still haven’t been to another worksite since Monday. I guess Owen trusts me here with Holden. I get the feeling that’s because rumor is that Holden is Tracks’ little, gay brother.
I’ve never seen him with anyone, but I’ve never seen him look at a woman either. I’ve never gotten too close to Holden or Tracks. Again, Squad members are next level Lost Souls. I stay far away.
I used to think Owen was Squad. I guess that was a part of my bad boy fantasies I made up in my head. Now, I just can’t see him as a part of the truly Lost Souls. Nope, not at all, I think as I feel him walk up behind me.
He places a hand on either side of me on the drafting desk. His cologne engulfs me, making me bite my lip. I turn my head up to him with my smirk still in place. He leans down and pecks my lips.
“I need to feed you soon,” he says as he searches my face. “What do you want today?”
“I don’t think you can order what I’m hungry for,” I purr up at him.
He gives me a sexy wolfish grin. When he dips his head again, he captures my lips in a searing kiss. Dropping his hand to my belly, he groans into my mouth.
My main concern about this dress had been my soft fleshy belly. Owen killed that worry when he walked up behind me in the mirror this morning. He made me feel beautiful.
He deepens the kiss as he moves his hand up from my belly to my breast. I cup a hand behind his head and lift from my seat a little to get closer. He moans and bites at my lower lip.
“Boss,” Troy’s voice fills Owen’s office.
Oh, shit, we didn’t close the office door. Owen pulls away from the kiss, allowing me to see Troy standing frozen in the doorway. His mouth is hanging open and the papers in his hand are hanging limply from his fingertips.
Owen had contained what happened in this office a few weeks ago. That whole scene with Beth and Magdalena was as good as buried. I haven’t heard so much as a whisper about it.
This, however, is not how Owen wanted our relationship to get out. We usually close the door for privacy if we know we just can’t keep our hands off each other. Troy has been making more and more unnecessary trips to this office over the last week. Including the one when he tried to ask me out on a date.
Troy pulls a face, looking as if someone has stolen his new puppy. Owen grunts, then leans over me to kiss my lips once more. I guess since the cat is out of the bag.
“Go have Holden order our lunch. Get me whatever you like,” he says as he pulls me from my chair. He pats my ass and kisses my temple.
Yeah, this is more than the cat being out of the bag. Owen has been waiting to stake his claim on me in front of Troy. He’s been annoyed with him since my interview.
I shake my head at Owen and start out of the office. I put a little extra sway in my hips as I feel his eyes on me. I smile and wave at a flabbergasted Troy on the way out.
I am still giggling when I get down the hall to the reception desk. Holden hangs up the phone as I put my elbows on the desk and peer at him. I smile and reach to ruffle his hair.
Holden blinks at me like I’m crazy. I laugh. He always has such a serious look on his face. I know he’s my age, I also know he and Tracks came around right before Mom and Dad’s accident. They didn’t get as much time with Cage as the rest of us.
Tracks is still loyal to King and the club, though. That much I know. You can’t be on the Squad and not be loyal.
“You’re trying to get my ass kicked,” Holden whispers as he looks down the hallway toward Owen’s office.
I stop laughing and tilt my head to the side. “What do you mean?”
Holden rolls his eyes and pokes out his twisted lips. “I’m not stupid. Shit, anyone paying attention can see it. You’re fucking the shit out of the boss.” He wiggles his brows at me. “I’ve seen the hickeys and claw marks on his neck.”
My mouth falls open. I lean over the desk. “How do you know they’re from me?”
“Oh, come on. Have you seen the way he looks at you? Girl please, he’s probably in there handing Troy his ass. I’ve seen it coming for days now.”
Holden props his chin on his hand as I gape at him. I lick my dry lips. “You haven’t told anyone?” I whisper.
“Not my thing, I don’t gossip. Besides, you’re good for him. Squad members need something to keep them from going into the darkness.” He shrugs.
My eyes go wide and I take a step back. “What?” I choke out.
Holden looks at me like I’m stupid and bursts into laughter. “Wow, everyone’s right. You don’t pay attention to shit around the club. How could you not know you’re fucking the Squad captain? It don’t get no darker or more fucked up than your man.”
“But… how is that possible?” I say.
“Eva, what do you know about the Squad?”
I think about that. Well, damn, nothing really. I know Tracks, Gutter, Grim, Beau, and Diggs are all Squad and there are seven more I’ve never met or at least, I never thought I knew them. There are twelve in all. Like apostles. They cover King.
Essentially, they go to hell and back for the club. Forget enforcers, the Squad rolls in when shit is about to turn apocalyptic. The ones I know of are batshit crazy. I close my eyes and groan.
“Fuck,” I whisper.
“Yup, you get it now. Have you seen his Lost Souls tat? All Squad members have a reaper with wings and a sword in his hands. It’s not the standard reaper,” Holden says as he watches my face for recognition.
I blink, he sure as hell just described the tat on Brick’s back. The wings span his shoulder blades. The sword in the reapers’ hands takes up the center of his back in the most realistic design I’ve ever seen.
When you watch his back flex, it’s like the tat comes to life. “I never knew the difference. Daddy and King have the winged version with the crown on the hood.” I shrug my shoulders as my mind races.
“Yeah, well, your dad was the prez and now King is. The prez always gets the crown.” He shrugs back. “If you’ve paid attention you noticed Brick’s sword has five stars etched in the blade.”
I frown before scratching my head. Again, he’s right. “Five-star general, Eva.” He lifts a brow. “In the Lost Souls’ world, when it comes to the Squad, Brick is second only to King. They say your daddy set things up that way. Prez never changed it. They’ve just grown since.” Holden pauses and looks at me pointedly. “Your man is the Squad.”
I move back to the desk and put my elbows on the counter. “How do you know so much about club life?” I question.
“I wanted to be a prospect. Tracks doesn’t think it’s a good idea. I get it. He’s extra protective when it comes to me. We’re all we have. Tracks thinks the brothers will be extra hard on me. You know, cause they think I’m gay,” he says the words with such a straight face, I can’t help but ask.
“Are you?”
Holden frowns and shrugs. “I don’t know. I’ve never been attracted to a guy, but I haven’t been attracted to a girl either,” he says sadly, and his eyes go distant. “Well, not in a really long time, I don’t think.”
“Really?” I wrinkle my brows.
“What? It’s because of the way I dress, isn’t it?” He chuckles. It looks good on him. Holden is actually very attractive with his dark blue eyes and mop of light brown hair. “Just because I wash my ass and iron my clothes, doesn’t make me gay.
I mean, I think you’re extremely pretty. I just don’t get… I don’t know. I’m supposed to feel something, right? Shit, I think Brick is a good-looking guy, but I don’t want to fuck him, either.”
“What happened?” I blurt out.
Holden looks at me long and hard. “I… I can’t remember. Tracks knows everything. He remembers everything. I don’t. I have this one memory of a friend I once had. It’s not a big one, just this sliver of a memory. It’s the only time I think I might have once felt something.”
“Wow.”
Holden waves his hand at me. “Your dad saved us. At least, that’s what Tracks says. Whatever happened fucked my brother up pretty bad to get him on the Squad.” Holden pauses as if he has said too much.
“Don’t worry, I won’t say anything to anyone.” I tilt my head to the other side. “I get that you don’t care what everyone thinks.” I stare at him as I read his face.
Holden snorts. “They think anyone not chasing ass around the clubhouse is gay,” Holden frowns and grumbles.
I laugh because he’s right. Rumors fly around about Gutter, but everyone’s too scared to death to say that shit to his face. Like Holden, I don’t think Gutter gives a damn and prefers it that way.
“So, the big guy wants lunch. Let’s feed my baby before he gets grumpy on us.” I laugh.
“Sure, what’s your man got a taste for today?”
“Well, he said I could pick. I think he’ll growl at both of us if I order wraps like I want.” I giggle.
Holden lifts a brow at me. “Steakhouse it is. I want to stretch my legs. I’ll go get it.”
I laugh and shake my head. “I’ll man the desk for you while you’re gone. No need to bother Adriana.”
Holden looks up the hall toward the office and wrinkles his nose. We hear Owen’s voice raise and we both jump. Holden lifts a brow at me.
“Sure, you don’t want to take a walk with me.” He smirks.
“Yeah, that sounds good.” I laugh.
Holden nods and picks up the phone to place the lunch order. He then calls Adriana to come sit at the desk for him. I don’t even bother going back for my purse. Holden gets some cash from the petty cash box.
“Come on, it’s about to get real in here.” Holden chuckles as Owen gets louder.
He’s right. It’s best to get going while the getting is good. Owen sounds beyond pissed. I bet Troy wishes he stayed his silly ass out of Owen’s office today.
Owen
I shake my head at Eva’s swaying ass as I adjust my cock. I have something for her later. I want to get my hands on her one good time before we have to go to South Carolina and pretend we’re nothing to each other until I talk to King.
I know Troy has had his ass in my office every time I step out of the building. He’s supposed to be working in HR and finance. How the fuck his ass always knows my comings and goings already has me gritting my teeth.
I sent Eva out because it’s time I make something clear to this kiss ass. Troy is the best at half of his job. It’s the reason I’ve kept him around. As long as I keep him up here on the executive floor, I usually don’t have a problem out of him.
“You know she’s young. She could sue the company for sexual harassment,” Troy has the balls to say to me after he watches Eva leave my office.
I should have closed and locked that fucking door. Troy is the least of my worries, but someone that could make this weekend hell could have walked in. I need this relationship to come from my lips to King’s ears.
When I looked up to see Troy, I was honestly happy he did walk in on us. He’s been sniffing around Eva all week. His ass doesn’t know I have eyes everywhere. Especially when it comes to Eva.
None of them would find it strange that I want to keep an eye on King’s little sister. The club princess is always priority. So, it’s been easy to keep the brothers in the office on the lookout.
I slowly turn my head in Troy’s direction and narrow my eyes, cocking my head to the side. “You want to repeat that shit?”
I’m already on edge because I have to be in church tonight and that means taking Eva back to South Carolina with me. I don’t know why that’s not sitting right with me. I had planned to before. Then King and I both agreed for me not to leave her behind.
I know King hasn’t told me something. I only get called to church for one of two things. Either King needs me to get in some bigwig’s ear or shit is about to get real.
I mean, usually my presence is optional depending on the nature of business. When King needs my squad, it becomes mandatory. It’s another reason he called me to go rescue Eva.
I stay out of shit unless needed. My mind has been turning over the fact that King requested me in church for almost a full week now. When I saw him Monday, his mind was preoccupied with something totally different. I can’t say it’s not club related, but his shit wouldn’t require my whispers or the Squad.
“I’m only saying, she’s a summer intern. We don’t need the complications. We’re doing so well in the industry these days,” Troy says, straightening his tie.
I think Troy is about to find out who the fuck I am. The real Brick Mason. I bare my teeth and close the space between us.
You see, the Lost Souls have your ordinary enforcers like any other MC. Grim and Wolf are our official club enforcers for the South Carolina, Georgia chapter. You might as well throw Reap into that equation. She’s not an official club member, more like the property of Grim, but you tell her that and see what happens.
Cage always treated Reap like one of the guys. She’s never seen herself as anything but. Reap is smaller than Eva, but you would think she was my height.
However, she’s half the height of every brother in the squad, but just as insane. It’s the reason she’s the only female Squad member. I tried to stop that shit, but she wasn’t having it.
Where you find Grim, Reap is sure to follow. They’re both crazy as fuck, but I will always want them in my corner and on my squad. I was proud the day I watched Reap get her reaper on her right thigh, wings, sword, and all. She grumbled the whole-time Property of Grim was etched into a ribbon wrapping the sword and knuckles of her winged reaper.
“Let me get this straight,” I say low. “You’ve been eye fucking my woman since her first day here. You bring your ass to my office for bullshit all day to ogle her and now you’re talking to me.” I touch my chest incredulously, trying to have a moment to reel my shit in. “About sexually harassing my woman? Are you stupid or slow?”
It’s been one of those mornings. I’ve had so much bullshit floating through my mind as I sat through call after call, watching Eva in those heels and that white dress. I couldn’t wait to get off the phone so I could get close to her. I wasn’t even thinking when I walked over to the drafting table she sat at.
“I… I… I,” he stammers.
“I… I… I,” I mock. “Shut the fuck up! What do you want? Why are you in my office this time?”
“I needed you to sign off on the Sheldon account.” Troy blinks stupidly.
I swear, I lose my half-sane mind. “Are you fucking shitting me?” My voice rises with my ire. “I told your ass to email those to Holden and he would print them off. Where is the shit I actually pay you to do? The Cooper file was a fucking shit show. The figures are a mess and I have that pitch on Monday.”
“Owen, I thought you wanted to see the numbers for the revisions they asked for,” he tries.
“Are you fucking with me? Please tell me you’re fucking with me.” My voice gets louder by the moment. “Those are the same bullshit numbers you beefed up two weeks ago. I told your ass then I wanted clean numbers and details on the shit you were piling onto those spec sheets.”
“I… I can do that,” Troy murmurs.
“It’s not a matter of you being able to do it. Why the fuck has it not been done? There’s one reason I’ve been keeping you around here in the first place and you’re fucking that up,” I growl.
“I’m sorry
,” Troy says.
I open my mouth to go completely off, but my cell vibrates. I pull it from my pocket and frown. It’s a text from Gutter.
King has activated him. I clench my jaw. If King went direct, some shit is going on.
I text Gutter back to let him know I got his message and I turn my attention back to Troy. Once again, my words are cut short by my phone. This time it’s a call from King.
“Get the fuck out,” I growl at Troy, dismissing his dumb ass.
I pick up the phone and bring it to my ear. “Prez,” I grumble.
“Get my sister home, now,” King roars into the phone.
My heart sinks into my stomach. For a moment, I think he knows. I can’t breathe for a few seconds. The thought of losing Eva steals what little bit of soul I have left.
“Is there a problem? I got a text from Gutter,” I manage to ask.
“He’s on the way to get Sal and bring her in. Her apartment was broken into and trashed. They took her bike,” King says tightly.
I think I start to see red. Nobody fucks with our girls, but I know what really sets me off is that King doesn’t feel this is isolated to Sal. If he wants Eva home, she could be in danger.
“I need all twelve ready. Get her here. I’m locking shit down until I have answers,” King snaps and hangs up.
I close my eyes as a growl vibrates through me. This shit is just not happening right now. I was hoping this trip home would be a simple one. Not the giant one my instincts have been warning me about.
My mind turns to my cousin and my ex-wife. They’ve been too quiet. I should’ve been paying them more attention over the last few weeks. My name isn’t Brick Mason if those two don’t appear soon to make this shit worse. I feel it in my bones.
“Shit.”
Chapter 20
New Friends
Eva
Holden and I stroll slowly up the street. One, because of my heels and two, because we’re not in any rush to get back to the building. Not from the sound of the bellows coming from that office.
Forever Page 13
