by Nicole James
Jealousy flares through my body, and I know I have to find out what he’s up to.
I put the truck in reverse and back out onto the road, then pull in behind his bike, and climb out. I go up to the door, and try to peek in the window, but can’t see much.
I knock, and a big guy answers the door.
“Yeah?”
“Is Saint here?”
“Who’s askin’?”
I’m pissed and hold up my hand, flashing my wedding ring. “His wife.”
The guy busts out laughing. “Yeah, okay, baby-doll. Top of the stairs, second door.”
I overhear someone talking as I get to the upstairs hall.
“You pulled in one hell of a female demographic on it, judging from the comments they’re leaving. They’re begging for more.”
My brows arch. He made a porn video? What the hell?
“And Asia was a big hit with the male demographic. Two of you together, off the charts man.”
“I heard. Glad you got here ahead of me and got those two under control.”
“Yeah, Bambi really stood her ground. I had my money on Asia, since she’s taller, but Little Bit there tore into her.”
“She started it,” I hear a woman spit out.
“You liar!”
“Girls, knock it off. Thought you were supposed to be professionals.” The other man’s voice sounds fed up.
“Come here, Saint. Do this scene with me, pretty please?” one of the girls whines.
A strange man walks out the door and spots me. “Oh, hey. You the new girl?” His eyes sweep down me. “Nice tits. This scene is going to be fantastic. You don’t have anything against doing a girl-on-girl threesome, do you?”
My eyes pop open. “What?”
Saint and Mako lean their heads out the door, and I see a naked Asia sliding her hands up my man’s chest, and then peering at me.
“Oh, it’s your sister.”
Devastation surges through my body with a flash of heat. I want to scratch her eyes out, but I also wish the floor would open up and swallow me whole.
What a fool I’ve been. I turn and dash back down the stairs and out the door. I hear Saint yell for me, then his boots on the steps, chasing after me.
The vile little man who thought I was one of his new starlets, follows too.
“Honey, come back. I’ll give you double rate!”
I make it to the lawn before Saint catches up with me. He grabs my arm, but I shove him away, shouting out my rage, and pointing back at the house. “Porn? You made a porn video with that girl? That’s the one called Asia, right? Did you fuck her?” I already know the answer. I recognized her from the clubhouse the night of the party. Guess now I know what business they’re in.
“Babe, calm down. It wasn’t like that. She’s nothing to me. Just some chick they hired.”
“She wants to land a patch. That’s what one of the girls told me last week. Well, she can’t have mine. But then, from what I just overheard, she’s already had you.”
“Babe. Asia, and me that was before you and me got together. She means nothing to me. She doesn’t matter.”
I jam my thumb at my chest. “Well, this matters to me. You’re mine, Saint.” I hold up my hand. “I’ve got the jewelry to prove it.”
He grabs my wrist and yanks it down. “Quit.”
“What are you so afraid of? That your slut will find out your married.”
“Hush.”
I yank from his grasp, and move to walk past him.
He grabs my arm and pulls me around, backing me up against the truck. “What are you doing here? You followin’ me now?”
“Let me go.”
“Where are you gonna go?”
“Away from you.”
“No.”
I make a defensive move I learned in all my years of Karate, and it throws him to his back on the ground. He grits his teeth and puts a hand over his healing wound. I don’t even flinch; that’s how much I don’t give a damn right now as I stand over him.
The fool dares to grimace up at me and say through clenched teeth, “Kitten found her claws.”
“Go to hell. I may not be the girl that everyone wants like your porn slut, but at least I’m not the girl that everyone’s had.”
“Babe, stop.”
“No. Once you’ve destroyed my trust, it can never be the same again, Saint.” I stomp away as he rubs his side and watches me, letting me go this time. I jump in the truck, my eyes filling with tears and it makes it hard to see as I drive away.
***
Saint—
Mako comes to stand next to me. “Thought you said that was your sister? Who the fuck is she really?”
“My wife.”
“No shit? When the hell did that happen?”
I don’t bother to answer him, because the director rushes up.
“Who was that girl? We need a third for the threesome. Did you see her tits? Can you get her back?”
Mako extends his hand, and pulls me to my feet. Pain shoots through my side, and I take it out on the slimy director.
I punch him in the mouth, laying him out on the ground, and then move to stand over him, pointing my finger at the asshole. “You so much as fuckin’ go near her, I’ll put a bullet in your head and dump you in the river, understand?”
Mako shoves me back. “What the fuck, Saint? We got a scene to film. He may be a shit director, but he’s the only one we got at the moment.”
Bambi comes out in a robe and stares down at the director out cold on the ground. “Life never stops teaching.”
I shake out my hand and flex it, staring after the fading taillights of my pickup. “What the fuck just happened?”
Bambi looks over at me, clicking her tongue. “Piece of advice, Saint. Never lie to a girl, because she already knows the answer before she asks.”
CHAPTER THIRTY-TWO
Saint—
By the time I get home, Kami, her suitcase, and my truck are gone. There’s a note on the kitchen table with her ring sitting on top. I pick up the ring, blow out a long breath, and read her pretty swirling handwriting.
To my Husband—
You know, Saint, this was the first serious relationship of my life, and I really loved you so much. I guess I never thought you would break my heart.
It tears me apart to see how little I mean to you.
I guess I shouldn’t blame you, because you tried to tell me over and over, I just wasn’t listening.
I never thought I would say these things to you, but I can’t keep lying to myself and ignoring what’s right before my eyes.
Life will be difficult without you. In such a short time, you have become such an important part of my life. Thanks for all you did for me and for all the good times. I’m going to miss you.
I hope someday you find a girl who makes you happy. I wish only happiness for you.
—Kami
P.S. I’ll return your truck when I get settled, and I’ll have the marriage annulled so you’ll have nothing more to worry about.
I slump back in a chair, feeling my chest squeeze painfully. What the fuck? She hopes someday I find a girl who makes me happy? There’ll never be another girl for me. If I didn’t already know that, it hits me now like a ton of bricks. She’s it for me.
I picture her on our way to Birmingham, with her feet up on the dash, humming along to a song, and I know I don’t ever want another woman riding shotgun in that seat.
I picture her on the back of my bike, her arms wrapped around me, a big smile on her face when I peer back at her, and I know I never want another woman riding on that bike with me.
I picture her under me, her eyes wide with wonder and love as I sink into her, and I know I never want another woman under me again.
She’s it for me.
I drop my head in my hands, my elbows on my knees and rock. She’s better off without me, right? I’ve told myself those words over and over. But what about me? Will I be better off without her? W
hat the fuck am I going to do without her?
I can feel her even when I’m alone. She’s here in every inch of this house, now.
My phone goes off, and I scramble to yank it out of my pocket, hoping its Kami. But the readout says Sly. I put it to my ear. “Yeah?”
“Just wanted to let you know we’ve been makin’ good time, so we’ll be pulling in tonight rather than tomorrow morning. Should hit town in the next hour or two. Meet me at the clubhouse. We need to talk.”
My throat goes dry. “Sure. I’ll be there.”
He disconnects and I drop my hand, staring at the linoleum floor. I lift my eyes to the room, scanning all the changes Kami has made, all the life she’s brought into this house.
Mere months ago, it was just a cheap rundown rental, but now it feels like it has life inside it. Now it feels like home.
Kami did that. She made this place a home—our home.
I know only one thing for certain. I need to find her and bring her home.
***
I pace in Sly’s office. He’s behind the desk looking worn out from the long ride back. I barely glance at him, too caught up in the shit in my head. “Look if Kami is gonna keep me from getting my patch,” I shake my head, “I may have to rethink all of this—”
Sly stops me with a growl. “Sit down.”
“I’m not gonna be able to do any fill in spots with the porn thing.”
He nods. “Told you that was your decision.”
I scoff and drop into a chair. “Sometimes nothin’ around here feels like my decision.”
Sly slumps back in his chair and nods to my cut. “That how you feel about getting that patch?”
I rub my hand across my chest, just over my heart, and then close my fist over the leather lapel. “Been wantin’ this for a long fuckin’ time. Been my sole focus for the last year.” I meet Sly’s eyes. “Bein’ a King is everything I’ve wanted.”
“And now?”
“Now I know there’s something else. I’m hoping the two aren’t mutually exclusive.”
“How’d things go this weekend?”
“I had some problems, but I took care of it.” It’s not a lie.
“Tell me.”
So I tell him the truth—all of it. I know better than to hold anything back this time. When I’m done, it’s kind of a relief to have it off my shoulders. I’ve made peace with the fact that the man’s gonna do what he’s gonna do. I’m either in or out. And if I’m not good enough, then I’ll have to be satisfied that I gave it my all and did everything I could to prove myself.
Sly hears everything I did to take care of making sure that money made it to the club. How I was shot. How Kami was battered. And how a traitorous stripper needed to be dealt with.
He’s quiet a long moment, then rocks forward in his chair. “I appreciate your honesty. You didn’t have to tell me any of that. Some men wouldn’t have had the guts to come clean. Fact that you did proves I can trust you.” He leans forward and steeples his hands, elbows on the desk. “I like the fact that you took care of business, got the club’s money back and took care of the ones who dared to cross us. I know your patch was on the line, so you did what you did. But next time you bring that shit to the club first. Understand?”
I nod, my brain still hung up on the words next time. There’s going to be a next time. “Yes, sir.”
“And your sister?”
“We both know she’s not my sister. Now she’s gone.”
“And that’s a problem for you, I take it.”
“It was also supposed to be temporary, her and me.”
“Now you want more.”
I look up and meet his eyes. “Yeah. Now I want more. She changed everything.”
“Hopefully, not everything.”
“I don’t know… Hell, she’s got me so fucking in knots.”
“Sorry to hear that. Saint, are you under the impression you can’t have an ol’ lady?”
I shrug. “Kind of hard to find the time for that, right?”
“True. But that’s up to you.”
“Thanks. You gonna need me for the next day or two?”
“You goin’ after her?”
I shrug again.
“Be a fool if you didn’t. Heard tell that girl’s something special. Heard tell she’s also head over heels for you.”
I nod because I know it’s true.
“No, I’m not gonna need you for the next few days. You need help trackin’ her down, take one of the boys with you, understand?”
“Sure. Thanks.”
“Get out of here.”
I walk outside and sit on my bike. I stare at the full moon hanging low on the horizon. I need to find my girl.
And once I find her, I just have to figure out a way to convince her that she’s everything to me, and that I deserve another chance.
CHAPTER THIRTY-THREE
Saint—
I sit at the long cafeteria table in the prison visiting room, my knee bouncing as I wait. I’ve tried calling Kami a million times, left countless messages, but she’s ignoring me, already beginning to cut me out of her life. I think she’s now gone so far as to turn her phone off. I curse the fact that I didn’t track her phone. I know I could report the truck stolen and get its GPS tracked, but for numerous reasons that’s out of the question. One—Kings don’t call the cops for anything. Two—she’s legally my wife, so the truck’s not stolen.
I could also have one of the guys in the club use there skills to track it, but last thing I want to do is involve any of them in this. So I drove to see Barb, to see if she has any idea where Kami would go, and also because I have something to tell her.
I finally see her and a line of other inmates come in the room. She scans the tables, I’m sure expecting her daughter, but finding me instead. She quick walks to me, and I can tell immediately something’s wrong.
“Where’s Kami?” she asks, her voice frantic.
“I don’t know. We had an argument and she took off. I need to find her. I came to ask if you knew where she might have gone.”
“Oh my God.”
“Barb, what’s wrong?”
“My attorney was here this morning. She told me Drake escaped.”
“What?”
“Was it in the news? Did Kami see?”
“I don’t think so. Neither of us have watched the news lately.”
“Kami won’t answer her phone. I have to call collect from in here and without her to take the call, I can’t leave a message.”
“Where would she go?”
“I don’t know.” She goes to reach for me, but remembers we can’t touch, and pulls her hand back. “You have to find her. She’s in danger. Drake swore he’d get his revenge on me for cutting that deal and testifying against him. He’ll use Kami to do that. I know it.”
“Shit. Where does that friend of hers live? Mary Elizabeth.”
Barb shakes her head. “She hasn’t talked to Mary Elizabeth in years. She wouldn’t go there.”
“Actually, Kami has been spending time with her. They reconciled.”
“Really? That’s a good thing. Yes, maybe she would go there. Her family lives in the modern place at the end of our street.”
“Callaway Lane?”
“Yes.”
“Anywhere else? Your old place?”
She shakes her head. “They’ve probably padlocked the place, and there’s an alarm system.”
“IRS is probably not paying the service on that.”
“I don’t know. Maybe she’d try to get in our old house. I’m sure its sitting empty.” Her eyes are glassy with tears. “Please, Santos, you have to find her.”
“I will. I promise you.”
“What did you fight about?”
“Look, there’s another reason I came here. There are some things I need to tell you—some things I need to come clean with you about.”
She pulls back. “What?”
“I’m in love with Kami.”
“There’s more. I’ve been prospecting with an MC—The Kings of Carnage, and I’m about to be patched in. Kami knows all that, and she wanted me anyway. I tried to tell her I was no good for her, that we come from two different worlds, but none of that mattered to her. She made me believe I am good enough. I love her. I need her, so I’m goin’ after her, and I’m gonna do everything I can to get her to give me another chance, because I can’t comprehend a life without her. I want you to know I’ll take care of her, and I’ll do everything in my power to make her happy. And believe it or not, she’s been happy with me. I know this all must sound crazy to you…”
“No. Not at all. I told Kami to find a man who’d stand with her through the bad times, not just the good. Who’d be there to face it all with her.” She nods her head. “You’re that man, Santos. Just you being here now proves that. Now, go find her. I’m terrified Drake will go looking for her.”
“I’ll find her. I swear to you.”
Five hours later, I pull onto Skidaway Island. Night has fallen, and it’s after 9 p.m. I can’t get in the gated community through the gate, so I park a distance away and go around it on foot in a remote wooded area. I come through a yard to the street and find the modern home at the end of Callaway Lane.
I go up and ring the bell.
Mary Elizabeth’s brother answers. He’s surprised to see me, but grins big, and shakes my hand. “Saint. How are you, man? What brings you here?”
“Hey, Joe. I’m looking for Kami. We had an argument, and she took off yesterday. I was hoping maybe she came here, or maybe Mary Elizabeth has heard from her.”
“Come on in. I’ll get my sister.”
I wait in a study, pacing, while he goes to fetch her. I check my phone for the millionth time, but there’s no message from Kami, and her phone is still off.
