by Simone Elise
“I don’t have any money.” Bell is quick to say. “And I can’t pay you back.”
“Money…pfft.” Elle brushes it off. “Please I tipped the cab driver three hundred last night because I didn’t want to carry around the cash.” And Elle wasn’t even joking she was serious.
45
Kace
Storming the clubhouse, I scanned the members, drinking their afternoon away. Then my eyes landed on Prince.
“Oi cunt!” I shout at him, and he looks up—clearly panicked. “You and I have a mother fucking problem.” I walk towards him and other members know not to get involved when I’m in a ticking time bomb mood. When someone has pissed me, there is no calming down, till I’ve dealt the punishment.
I grip him by his shirt, ripping him from the stool. “You looking to check out or something?” I yell at him. Because him and I both know he must have a death wish for doing that stunt with Ivory.
He grips my shirt, trying to shove me off, but my grip is like a death grip. “You fucking think you can pull that shit with my woman!?”
“She isn’t yours!” He shouts, and tries to get away from me again. “She ain’t got your name. She ain’t even your property. She’s nothing to you.”
Hearing that, just throws gasoline on the fire called my rage.
“Boys!” Prez shouts, but he knows, and I know—I’m too worked up to calm down.
“You show anyone that footage Prince?” I growled and his answer would depend on whether he kept breathing or not.
It wasn’t his answer, the members around me answered for me. They all went tense.
I sneer in his face. What a low bastard. “You fucking did, didn’t you?”
And everyone in the room knows now. Prince is going to pay the price for watching my sex life. Let alone showing others the footage. I know these men. They would have masturbated over Ivory. I take one hand off him and grab a beer bottle, smashing it down on the bar, breaking it.
He had shown other members. Other men had seen the way Ivory had come undone that night. And I see red—and think Prince doesn’t deserve to see at all.
Sitting in Elle’s guest bed, with a cigarette burning between my fingers. I’m just staring across the room. Chopper ended up ripping me off Prince. Because I had lost control over my limited temper. I had let the monster inside me come out. The one I normally kept controlled.
I had accepted what I had done to Prince. I just put it down to the fact, that a man with a tattoo saying qui furabatur vitae which is Latin on my skin or as it translates in English to Life Stealer. I did just that, take from the world of lives.
But Prince was still breathing. However his quality of life will never be the same. And most people wouldn’t be able to live knowing that had impacted someone’s life in the ways I had impacted Prince’s.
I don’t even hear my door open, I just see movement out of the corner of my eye. Seeing Ivory. She needed to leave.
“I’m sorry.” She whispers, and I hear her tone. But I can’t look at her right now. If she found out what I had done, fuck half the shit I do—she wouldn’t be ‘sorry’ for doubting me.
“Kace?”
“You should leave Ivory.” I kept my eyes on the television, but it isn’t on. My thoughts are twisting and keeping me distracted more than a television would.
“I said I was sorry.”
My eyes go from the blank television to her. I know that my soul isn’t capable of coming out of my life alive or in any form that would result in me having a woman like Ivory. I move to the edge of the bed, putting my feet on the ground.
Ivory’s eyes go off me and onto my packed bags.
“Kace. Just tell me what I need to do to fix this.” She says, and stands in front of me, placing her hands on my shoulders.
I take her hands off me, and kiss her knuckles and then look into her eyes. “Ivory some people are born to do good, others are born to do bad and then there is the bad fuckers, that don’t care what they do, or how dark they go.” I stared into her eyes. “I’d do anything for you, and that should scare you.”
She swallows sharply.
“You should go find a man that is good, Christian, maybe a billionaire.” I shake my head. “Should have never pulled you from that date with that billionaire.”
It was like my words are whips across her heart, the way she looks at me. “So you regret us?”
“I just know I’m going to do more damage than good.” I’m honest with her. And she has to see that. “Like I said Ivory, I’d do anything for you. Including walking from your life.”
I go to stand up, but her hands back on my shoulders, force me to stay seated. “And what makes you think, I would let you walk from my life?” She tilts her head to the side. “You can’t leave me.” And her hand ran over my shoulder, across my chest, pausing in the centre of my chest. “Because I’m in your heart, and you can run from me, but I’ll still be there.” She clenches my shirt, and her words scare me because she is speaking the truth. Her eyes are locked with mine. “Just like you are in mine,” she leans down, her lips parting, “I’m Yours Kace.”
I had never wanted to hear those three little words off a woman’s mouth. Didn’t want the responsibility that came with them. I can’t stop myself from touching her, my hands gripping her ass, and forcing her to straddle me.
My eyes are still locked on hers. “You prepared to get that tattooed one day?” I’m testing her. Still not believing I’ve got her.
Her lips twitch up. “Biker’s and property.” She then wraps her arms around my neck, bringing her face to mine. “Do you pick the spot, or do I?”
“A gentleman lets the woman pick. But..”
“You’re no gentleman.” She says smirking. “Where abouts on my body would you want me to get it.”
Ivory has tattoos decorating her arms. But picking one place on her body that would carry my mark.
“A part of me wants to take your whole back with my mark. Another part of me wants to make sure I put it somewhere everyone is going to see it.”
She just smiles at me. “I wear a bikini most of summer, if that influences your choice?” her mouth goes to my ear. “Including at the track.”
My hands are still on her ass, gripping it and standing up, holding her weight, even with my bad shoulder, I flip her on to her back, her body sinking into the mattress.
Standing in between her legs, “Darling when you are serious about it, we’ll decide together.” Her top had ridden up, and I kiss her flat stomach. And a thought goes through my head. I can’t wait till it is round, with my child. And that thought stuns me because it is the first time ever I had even thought about my own children.
“You okay babe?” Ivory says, going up on her elbows, looking at me. She frowns for a second, as I just stare at her, after shocking myself with my own thoughts. “More importantly, are we okay? I know I fucked up doubting you.”
I just blink and shake my head. “I made you have that doubt darling.”
“Still, I should have known you would handle it.” She doesn’t drop the subject. “But we can move past it right?” She adds.
“Depends. Is this friends with benefits shit over?”
She smirks. “I thought I made that clear when I said I’m yours.”
She says it but I don’t believe her because I know I’ll fuck us up, like I did last time. If there is one thing I can count on, it is fucking things up. But then the thought of her with my child goes through my head again and I begin to think—what if I didn’t fuck us up. What if I got us right? What if I didn’t let her go this time.
The lengths I’ll go to keep her runs through my head. And I realized now. I wouldn’t let her go, even if it was in her best interest—I’m a selfish bastard and that would be her downfall. Because when I love, I choke things whether that be people or anything I love I choke it to death—never knowing the balance of love and space.
And I know one thing, as Ivory lays in front of me. I’m not letti
ng her go.
46
Ivory
Kace’s hand run down my bare back, and I’m curled into his side, under the blankets. My leg linked over his legs. He has one arm under his head, and every time I glance at him, I see him staring at me. I just grin, when I catch him. It’s like he is expecting me to disappear. A part from I’m in his arm, glued to his side and have no plans on moving for the rest of the night.
“How long are you planning on staying here?” I ask, my fingers tracing his chest tattoo. I always found myself tracing the space in his chest piece. I glance at him, seeing a frown.
“How long are you?”
“I need to get a new place. I can’t go back to my apartment block. They sold my unit.”
“Yeah well I was crashing with Nash before Gabe came looking for me.”
I sighed. “I really need to apartment hunt. I can’t keep crashing here and now I have Bell.”
“I’m organizing a place for Bell.” Kace says so casually. And for some reason I’m not jealous of Kace and Bell’s relationship because I saw what Kace saw. A young woman that was used and abused.
“I was thinking of one of Gabe’s units. He had bought a stack of them after his win.” I’m still tracing Kace’s chest but feel him go tight. I glance up at him. Seeing a tight expression.
“I don’t want her owing your brother.”
I frown at that. “Okay?”
“Like I said, I’ll handle it.” Kace’s fingers stop on my back. “Ivory?”
“Mm?” I’m still thinking of Kace buying a place for Bell.
“Is it too soon for us to move in together.” And now it is my turn for my hand to freeze on his chest.
My expression drops and I’m hoping he didn’t see it.
“Too soon?” He questions.
I sighed and pulled away from him, sitting up. Gripping the sheet to my bare chest. “Kace. moving in is a big deal. We have only been back together for a few hours.”
Kace sits up, his arm still around my back. “Come on Ivory, we both need somewhere to stay. Can’t keep crashing with your sister.”
“Okay then, if we bought a house, who would pay for it? I’m not broke poor anymore.”
“I would. The man provides for the woman.”
I scoff. “What are we in? The stone age. We go halves on the house.”
Kace’s eyes light up. “So you are thinking about getting a house together?” The excitement in his voice was loud and clear.
“No.” I frown. “Yes. But….” I pause. “Stop looking at me like that.” I whack his arm. While he laughs.
“Come on darlin, you and me and property. Could be the best thing we do together.” His carefree grin surprises me, considering when I walked in here earlier this night—I could see he was going to push me away. Thinking he was doing the right thing for me.
I roll my eyes. “Next thing you’ll be telling me you want kids.” I’m smiling as I look at him, but his expression drops, completely. “Kace?” I say speechless and whack his arm. “You have not thought about us having kids, have you!”
Kace sits up fully, his hand going to my cheek. “Having a little girl, just like her mom, damn straight I’ve thought of it.” His words are soft, and sweet and everything Kace’s appearance tells me he isn’t.
I inhale sharply and have no words to say back, and that makes him smirk.
“So about the house. I’ll buy one, you’ll move in.” Kace says taking advantage of me not speaking. He moves towards me, leaning in and kissing me. Before he slowly pushes me back down on the bed, and moves over me. I’m still naked and I realize he is up for another round and I kiss him back encouraging him.
My hands linking behind his neck, as he slowly kisses me.
His knees force my legs to spread and excitement rushes through my body. God, Kace Striking hadn’t just got into my heart, he had gotten into my brain, making me want more of him.
47
Ivory
My phone rang and it was three in the morning! I groan and roll in Kace’s arm to answer it. “Hello?”
“Ivory I can’t get in the house.” It’s Elle. “There are people everywhere!”
I frowned, and climb out of bed, Kace’s eyes opening when I move from his arms. Going to the curtains I pull them back seeing people surrounding the property.
“What the hell is going on!” I say into the phone. “Why the hell are there so many people on the property?”
“They got past the gate.” Elle sighs. “I’m so over people invading my personal space.” And I jump feeling Kace’s hand on my hip, he’s up.
“Elle’s stuck in the car, her fans have invaded the place.” I explain.
Kace grabs a top. “I’ll wake Gabe up, tell her we will be there in a minute.”
I tell Elle that the boys are coming. And put on clothes myself. Just as I walk out I see Gabe coming out of Bell’s room, and Kace has an expression on his face—clearly pissed off about finding my brother in his friends room.
I don’t say anything.
ELLE
I’m panicked and scared, and have the car doors locked when I see Kace at the door. I automatically unlock them, and he opens the door. I’m thankful that my sister has fallen in love with a biker and not a postman because Kace is big, his shoulders are broad, he’s muscular and keeps people back.
He sees the fear in my eyes and he leans into the car, still keeping them out.
“I’m not going to let you get hurt.” He vows it like there is a law against it and he won’t let it happen. He then grabs my hand and pulls me from the car. I’m immediately engulfed by people and Kace keeps his word and keeps hands off me.
I then spot Gabe, who is keeping people back from the entrance of the house.
A man grabs my arm, and I panic, and one second I’m being pulled towards him and the next his grip on me is gone and I see Kace pulling his fist back, after just hitting the man in the jaw.
Kace is shouting for people to move, and I got pushed into the house right before Gabe closes the door and locks it.
“I’m calling the police. They are on private property.” Gabe growls and I don’t know whether he is pissed off because he is out of bed, or what.
“You need a bodyguard.” Kace looks at me, and I sighed.
“I’ve tried them. They all back out.” I watch as Kace opens his arm for Ivory, who walks to him. I wished I had someone that loved me like Kace clearly loves Ivory.
“Elle’s gone through more security then you know. They are always scared to get their hands dirty.” Ivory explains my point. “Or leave her high and dry at an event.”
I nod my head. Keeping a security team was a nightmare.
Gabe grumbles that he is going back to bed, and leaves. Kace and Ivory are giving each other fuck me eyes again, and I roll my eyes walking into the kitchen. After that I need a drink. Then I frown. It is three in the morning. Oh. Fuck it.
“Elle?”
I look up seeing Kace. His steady eyes on me. “I know a guy that isn’t afraid to get his hands dirty. He did security for a bit.”
“Kace—”
“He needs the cash, his woman just divorced him. Took him for everything. So he wouldn’t be too expensive.”
I shake my head. It’s never been about money. It’s been about getting someone I trust and that sticks around.
Kace grabs a pen and scribbles a number on a piece of paper. “I’ll give him a heads up you might call. At least meet with him Elle, I think he would work well for you.” And then Kace turns and leaves. Leaving me with a decision, do I meet with this guy that Kace recommends or not? Then again I can’t keep going the way I am.
48
Kace
“Ivory!” I shout through our house. She had one bloody job! “Ivory!”
I hear her small footsteps rushing down the stairs. “I’m sorry babe. I’m sorry!” She quickly rushes past me. Then flings back around, grabbing the car keys from my hand. “Keys might help.” She g
rins at me, and I’m a sucker for that girl smiling so I bit my damn tongue.
I pinch my eyes shut for a minute. She knew how to test my patience.
I then hear the sound of metal bending and it isn’t healthy. Or nice to hear. I rush out the front door. My eyes widening. My mouth just dropped open. Ivory’s out of the car, but I’m just staring at my bike on the ground.
I see Ivory step into view. “Kace…..” She says my name, and I just can’t. I can’t. She ran over my bike. In the same car that I told her to move before I got here. “I’m….” I raise a hand to stop her.
I slowly walk towards my bike, and go to pick it up. I’m not lacking in muscles but picking up this beast by myself isn’t possible. Ivory goes to touch it and I scorch her with my eyes.
I just step back from the scene. The paint is ruined, the tank is damaged, the mirror is broken. And I think it can’t get worse till I see the fender. I run my hand over my head.
I pull my phone out and call the only brother from the club that would come and not judge me for having my misses run over my bike.
Chopper and I lift the bike up and he is seeing the damage to the side, as much as I am. But it’s physically killing me seeing my bike like this.
Chopper shakes his head and whacks me on the back. “She worth it mate?”
I take my eyes off the bike and look at the window. Seeing Ivory standing behind the curtains looking nervous as fuck.
I just nod my head. But it honestly feels like she had taken a sledge hammer to my balls. “How’s Elle going?” I look back at Chopper, changing the subject. I see his expression and crack a smirk. “That good eh?”
“She’s…” he pauses and shakes his head. “Doesn’t matter.” He looks at Ivory in the window. “So how are you going to handle the damaged bike? Want me to organise for the boys to pick it up, take it back to the garage to get fixed?”
