by K E Osborn
“Thank you for your business, Mr. Linn,” Ace says all business-like, and Harry winks and jumps down from the truck leaving me inside with Ace.
Inwardly, tensions rise inside me while I remember him with Mylee, he was the last one I saw with her before we left the clubhouse. The man who made me feel actual jealousy, the one to make me question everything. It’s not his fault, he doesn’t even know, but being in this close proximity with him is making my anger boil to the surface. I don’t want to deal with my demon right now, so I go to walk past him and out of the truck when he steps up to me.
“Brother, thought maybe we could have a brew later? Talk to you about—” Ace starts.
Before he finishes, I turn walking off without uttering a word, bumping into his shoulder as I walk away and jump down from the truck hearing Ace mumble some shit. My head is all kinds of fucked up. I’m normally an action first kind of guy, but I don’t want to be that guy right now. If I do that, I’ll end up punching Ace for something he isn’t even doing. So, I’m best to just walk away and say nothing right now. I hate Ace has the power to make Mylee smile, so for now Ace can cop my damn frustration. He’s a big man, he can handle it. Maybe Sensei’s Yoda mind tricks are working already, without even having a session with him, because for the first time, I was able to walk away before laying a blow. Maybe losing my shit the other night and realizing I went overboard was step one to caging my demon.
The thing is, though, he’s not caged, not yet, so I gotta go.
Not waiting for the others, I walk over to my ride, kicking back the stand as I jump on. Torque looks to me, but I shake my head letting him know I’m not dealing. He seems to read something’s up because he simply dips his head giving me the all clear to leave. I turn my bike over, swing out my back tire and high-tail it the fuck out of here. I need to get back to the club and away from this bullshit. I don’t even care what my brothers think.
CHAPTER NINE
TRAX
Walking into the clubhouse feels odd with so many of my brothers behind me on the ride back from our meet with Linn. But as I walk in, the smell of food hits me and my stomach rumbles as I walk up to the bar where Cindi and Hayley are starting to serve ready for our return.
“Hey! You guys back already? I didn’t hear the usual loud roar of bikes?” Cindi hums placing a bowl of nachos on the bar in front of me. I scoop up a chip placing it in my mouth, the hint of chili burning my tongue mixed with the cheese and salsa. Chomping down on the Mexican feast, I swallow the delicious treat with a groan.
“Nah, rode in early, but the boys will be back soon.”
“Good, ‘cause the food’s almost ready. We don’t want all our hard work to go to waste, right Hayley?” Cindi prattles on, but Hayley rolls her eyes.
Dipping another chip into the hot salsa, I glance to Hayley who looks at me with a bashful gleam. She’s always the quieter club girl—sweet, beautiful to boot, but reserved. Almost a little too timid for this place. But she’ll find her feet, club girls generally do.
I reach out to grab another chip, but Cindi slaps at my hand with a chuckle. “Save some, you’re gonna eat it all before your brothers arrive,” she chides making me chuckle.
“Then they should hurry up because I’m damn hungry!”
She lets out a small giggle as she walks out the back to the kitchen swaying her hips. Hayley sets about pouring me a drink. I grab another tortilla chip, not caring about waiting as the roar of the unmistakable Harleys echoes out the back.
Now the dinner feast can begin.
It’s Mexican night.
It tends to get messy.
Not sure why, but someone always ends up making a fool of themselves. Generally, a prospect who’s had too many tequila shots. But it’s fun, and we all have a good time.
Hayley places a beer in front of me, and I wink at her in reply. “Cheers, love.”
She smiles as I hear delicate laughing coming from the hall. I turn to see Lala and Mylee walking into the clubrooms. My damn chest squeezes instantly.
Seeing Mylee looking cheerful makes me happy. She’s wearing a pair of denim shorts and a simple white tank top. Fuck if she isn’t the most delectable thing I’ve ever seen. Her blonde hair falls down around her round face perfectly. Her curvy hips swaying as she walks. She’s fucking perfect.
Mylee looks up, her eyes lock onto mine. She stills for a brief moment, and I feel like I need to say something. Avoiding her is only hurting us both. Wracking my jaw from side to side, strength builds inside of me, and I find the energy within to make a move.
As I go to stand, Ace runs inside, jogging up to her and gaining her attention. Our eye contact is gone, so I slump on the stool as she beams at Ace. He hands her something then they turn walking off together. I don’t miss his hand on her lower back as he leads her away. My hands ball into fists as I turn my back to them facing the bar feeling my gut churn at the thought of Ace having any-fucking-thing to do with Mylee.
Hayley casually walks up to me from behind the bar, placing a small whiskey tumbler in front of me with a weak smile. “Looks like you could use this,” she murmurs.
“Thanks, beer won’t cut it right now.” The thought of having Hayley in my bed tonight is fucking tempting, the thought of scratching an itch that’s been aching since Mylee showed up is tearing at my seams. But I can’t find it in me to do that to Mylee. Even though I know we’re nothing, not even friends, I can’t fuck another woman while she’s here. I know how fucking pathetic that makes me, especially if she’s off screwing with Ace. I swear to God I will gut him if they are. My stomach knots, turning and churning just thinking about that shit.
I grab my whiskey, throw it back unrelenting, the three fingers in one fell swoop. The hit burning and leaving a woody spice flavor behind as the liquid slides down my throat. I need to eat, drink, and not think about my woman, who isn’t my damn woman, with one of my best friends because this shit’s going to mess me up even more than I already am.
Hayley walks over with another drink in her hand. Right now, I feel like I could kiss her. She tilts her head as she hands me the whiskey tumbler. I take it from her as she slides a bowl of nachos over to me too. “I’ll keep the drinks coming if you promise to eat.”
“Deal,” I murmur.
I throw the contents back as my brothers all walk inside like the rowdy bunch of fuckers they are.
The clubroom erupts in noise as everything around me blurs in motion as I sit at the bar with my bowl of nachos and never-ending tumbler of whiskey. Just how I fucking like it.
Everyone’s in full Mexican party swing. Foxy has the night off, so Torque’s distracted. Sensei is too loved up with Sass. They’re all too caught up in themselves to worry about what I’m doing, so I sit and drink.
One after the other, after the other.
My eyes begin to blur. I stop eating the nachos when my stomach begins to hate on me. My mind’s churning. I haven’t seen Mylee and Ace all night. I have no idea where they are, or what they’re doing. But my mind can only think of one thing, and it’s making me feel fucking sick. The thought Mylee is with one of my brothers makes me want to punch something, but right now I don’t even know if I can walk let alone throw a decent punch.
I glance up to look at Hayley, her beautiful face nothing but a blur. I can barely make out the concern in her features as she slides a glass of water my way. I groan pushing it aside making the glass fall over, water pooling over the bar as she quickly dabs at it with a towel.
“Shit,” she murmurs.
“I’m going to bed,” I grunt.
She lets out a small exhale like she’s actually relieved. “Do you need a hand?”
I chuckle as I stand from the stool, then proceed to slump over as the room spins. Hayley reaches out for me from behind the bar, but I right myself before I look like too much of a fucking idiot.
“I’m cool. All good. Just gonna head off to bed like nothing happened. Like she didn’t rip my fucking heart out. It’s all
fine.”
Hayley winces as I spin heading for the hall. Everything’s blurry. There are people everywhere, all laughing, drinking, and having fun. The party’s in full swing while I’m trying to make my way through everyone to get to my room. I know I’m stumbling as I bump into Tremor, who grabs my shoulders and straightens me up.
“Whoa there, VP. You good?” he asks.
“Nope. But I’m going to bed anyway,” I slur.
Tremor chuckles slapping my back. “Good idea, brother, your eyes are going in different directions.”
I snort out some kind of laugh as I push off him then continue down the hall. There are so many rooms. The doors all look the same.
Fuck.
Which fucking door is mine? I don’t fucking know, I think it’s this one.
After turning the knob, I walk in closing the door behind me. The room is dark as I stumble around, but suddenly a light flickers on. I jolt back slightly as I glance at the bed, and Ruby’s face gradually clears in my vision. She looks sleepy. I look around the room in shock, scratching the back of my head in confusion. “This isn’t my room?”
Ruby lets out a small laugh. She sits up in her bed pulling her covers back then stands, walking over to me. She still looks tired, but she’s the Ruby we’ve all come to love and adore. She shakes her head with a giggle as she steps up to me, moving in to slide my cut from my shoulders. I raise my brow wondering what she’s doing when she places it on her bedside table then begins to push me toward the bed.
I shrug, walking with her as she pushes me to sit down. So I do, just going along with whatever she’s doing as she bends down, starting to take off my boots. I flop back on her bed, letting out a long groan as she laughs grabbing my hands, yanking me, so I move into the right position on top of her bed.
“Move over, you big lug,” she scolds.
I chuckle shifting, so I’m on one side of her bed. She slides into the other beside me.
“There, that’s better. Now close your eyes,” she demands.
I shrug doing as she asks, my head hitting the pillow.
Oh, fuck! Shit! Everything spins, but after a while it's starting to feel like heaven as I sink into her soft bed relaxing.
Ruby leans over me turning off the light sending her room into darkness as she rolls onto the other side of the bed with a sigh. “Goodnight, Trax,” she whispers.
Warmth floods over me, and I close my eyes.
Mylee’s face is all I see, and contentment fills my drunken body. “Goodnight, Mylee,” I whisper before I take a deep breath and darkness overcomes me.
***
The soft movement of fingers stroking my hair sends a soothing sensation through my body, even though the rest of me feels like I either want to throw up, or I’m spinning out of control. But that one simple touch makes everything calm down a notch. It’s the only thing making me keep my eyes shut and stay exactly where I am. Everything in me hopes it’s Mylee’s gentle touch, her fingers stroking my hair as I lay on a bed that I know isn’t mine. Memories of the night before wiped from my mind, and I have no idea what I’m about to wake up to. I don’t know what I did last night, or who. But all I know is when I open my eyes, shit’s about to get real, and if this isn’t Mylee, I could be in for a world of fucking hurt that I thoroughly deserve.
Sighing, I man up opening my eyes to see Ruby smiling down at me. I weakly return her smile.
She giggles. “Morning, sunshine. How’s the head?”
I groan raising my brow as I subtly look her over to see if she’s clothed. She’s wearing a pair of very unsexy pajamas. Then I look to see I’m in my shirt and jeans lying on her comforter on top of Ruby’s bed. Inwardly, I take a deep breath relaxing knowing there’s no way we had sex. “I feel like shit… how are you?”
“I’m actually feeling okay, but I’m guessing by the smell of whiskey radiating from every pore of your body, your head is pounding like a motherfucker. You were pretty wasted when you stumbled in here last night.”
I glance up letting out a groan. “Shit! Did I make a dick of myself?”
“No, actually you pretty much passed out mumbling all night about Mylee.”
Groaning again, I throw my head back in annoyance at myself. “Great. The picture of fucking masculinity.”
Ruby snorts as she continues to play with my tousled hair. It’s actually kind of soothing me. “Way I see it, you and her are going through something. You needed a moment. A night to gather yourself. Take some time out, Trax. Stay in here as long as you need. You know I’m good to talk to.”
“I do, but I need a shower and some fucking grease to soak up this alcohol. Thank you for being there. Sorry, I crashed your first night home, I know you need rest.”
“Actually, it was nice not to be alone. I wanted not to be by myself, then you walked in, well… stumbled. But in any case, I think we were here for each other last night.”
I snort. “I don’t think I did anything but fall asleep on your bed.”
Her head bobs up and down a couple of times. “Exactly. It was just what I needed. Someone to be here with me. Just knowing you were here was all I needed. I didn’t have the strength to help you back to your room, so I let you crash even if you did think it was your own room.” She giggles.
Leaning up, I plant a chaste kiss on her cheek. Getting up from the bed, I move to grab my cut from the side table then pull on my boots. “Thanks, Rubes. And if you ever need me again, you know where I am.”
Her face lights up in a genuine look of gratitude. “Same, Trax. Always here for you.” She stands up walking with me to her door. As I open it, she leans in pressing her lips to my cheek. I turn just in time to watch Mylee walking past. She looks at us, her face falling as she takes in the sight—me leaving Ruby’s room, and her kissing me on the cheek.
I want to tell Mylee it’s not what it looks like. I want to tell her I didn’t sleep with Ruby. But we’re not a couple, so it’s none of her business, and it’s better this way. She should move on. I can’t help the slight pang of pain rippling through me at the look on Mylee’s face. I know how this looks. With how I was feeling last night at the thought of her being with Ace, she must now be feeling the same. Her bottom lip trembles as she looks at me. I stand stock still watching her watching me. Her eyes harden as she turns, scurrying away from Ruby and me. I let out a breath I didn’t know I was holding.
Ruby sighs. “You gonna go after her?”
“Nah, I need a shower and maybe some more sleep.”
Ruby winces but says nothing. She leans in giving me a supportive side hug then I turn walking out of her bedroom. Feeling like complete shit, I head toward my room to have a shower and wash away the alcohol from last night’s bender.
I know exactly how Mylee would be feeling right now.
I know exactly how me walking out of Ruby’s room would have looked.
But if Mylee is moving on, then so be it. It’s harsh, but I’m not a nice man, I’ve never claimed to be. Mylee hanging out with other men, it’s not something I’m okay with, especially when it’s one of my fucking brothers. Perhaps she’ll ease up on the friendship with Ace.
Or maybe I’ve just made everything ten times worse?
CHAPTER TEN
MYLEE
Wrapping my arms around myself, I feel like a fool for ever thinking things could be different between Trax and me. I love him, there’s no doubt, but I guess a biker doesn’t change their spots. They love to get laid, and if I’m not the one giving it to him, then he’s going to be getting it from somewhere.
Trax came out of a club girl’s bedroom.
She was kissing his cheek.
There was no mistaking what I saw. He looked all kinds of disheveled, and I can only draw one conclusion—Trax had one hell of a wild night with her.
Trying not to let that fact get to me, I walk into the clubroom to see it brimming with activity. I notice Foxy sitting with some of the other girls, so I decide to sit with them. Time to make an effort
. I walk over, they all look up at me smiling wide.
“Mylee! Sit! You have to help us plot the demise of our men,” Foxy calls out.
“Umm… is that wise talk from the queen of the old ladies?” I ask as I take a seat with a giggle.
She nods while Sass and Neala’s heads bob along with hers.
“Yes. We need to do something that’s going to make them all cringe,” Sass jests with excitement.
“Yes! I’m loving this. Making my brothers get all antsy is what I live for,” Neala calls out, and I chuckle.
“You girls are mad. The Knights would slaughter their old ladies for pulling pranks on their men,” I advise to which they all laugh.
“Oh yeah, we’ll get in trouble, but it will be more than worth the punishment if you know what I mean.” Sass beams a crooked smile then winks, which lets me know the punishment won’t be with words, more with foreplay or some sort of bedroom kink. Foxy nods seeming to approve. Neala scrunches up her face appearing not to like the idea of her brother getting kinky with Foxy. I love the chemistry between these women.
“So what do you have in mind?” I ask.
Neala’s eyes light up. “Something to do with eggs? Leave them out in the sun so they turn, then we can throw them at them when they least expect it,” Lala coos.
What the fuck! We all shake our heads dramatically.
“No way. Can you imagine rotten eggs on their cuts? There’s no way I want a part of that drama, like ever.” Foxy giggles.
Sass laughs. “Yeah, too far… too far. I’m all for shits and giggles, but even I know that’s pushing the boundaries.”
Neala groans with a pout as I sit back watching the dynamics. “Fine, spoilsports. What about water balloons then?” Neala asks.
We all burst out laughing as I feel a tap on my shoulder. I turn to see Ace smiling down at me. All the girls quickly stop laughing as he looks at us suspiciously.
“You ladies causing trouble?” he asks.
