She rolls her chair closer to me and levels me with a serious look. “Okay, here’s the deal. I don’t know what you got going on for work, but there must have been a reason Toby said you quit your job last night, but you say you didn’t so I’m guessing he doesn’t approve of the place.” She pauses only for a second, just long enough to see if I’ll add to her statement, which I don’t. “As you know, I’m in need of someone to run the desk for me. I don’t know how long Harlow will be gone, but I can promise you that if or when she gets back, you won’t be out of a job. I will be able to schedule you and Harlow to share the schedule and as my pregnancy progresses, there will be more I’ll need help with. You with me on this so far?” I just nod my head because honestly, I would do anything to not have to work at the strip club.
“Now, on to your living arrangements. Again, there must have been a reason Toby wanted to move you in with him too, but I have another option for you if you’re interested.” I don’t even have to think about that either. I know I need to get out of the hotel room I’ve been staying in, but I won’t allow Toby to stronghold me into moving in with him so he can control me that way either.
“I moved here about a month ago from New York. I don’t want to go into specifics, but I left there in a hurry and was only able to bring enough money for gas to get here and some of my clothes. I’ve been staying in at a hotel and working at a strip club in town, trying to save up money to get my own place. So, I would accept any position you would offer me and I’d like to hear about this living arrangement, if that’s okay with you?” I end on a question because I don’t want her to think I’m being pushy or demanding. Honestly, offering me a job is good enough.
Dani gives me a genuine smile, then reaches out for my hand. “You and I have a lot in common. When I moved here four years ago, I left in a hurry and stayed in a hotel too.” Knowing that we have that in common makes me feel a little bit better, though I doubt her situation was anything like mine is now.
She continues on, “I saw a sign in this shop window saying they had an apartment for rent, so I came in and met Mack. He’s the President of the same MC Toby is a part of. Anyway, he offered me the apartment, and a job, and the rest is history. These guys became my family and helped me get back on my feet. I’d like to offer you the same.” I don’t move or say anything, afraid this is too good to be true. I also don’t want to assume anything either and make an ass out of myself, so I just wait for her to continue.
“The apartment upstairs is open, though I still have some stuff up there for when I was here late and didn’t want to drive home. Now that Zane and I are together, he doesn’t like me staying here anymore, so if you’d be interested, you can move in upstairs as soon as today and stay as long as you need to.” I feel a tear slip down my cheek, but make no move to wipe it away. I can’t believe she’s offering me not only a job, but a place to live too.
Dani is patient enough to wait for me to calm down so I can speak. “I would love that, Dani. You have no idea what this means to me. Whatever you need me to do in the shop, I’ll get it done. If I don’t know how to do it, I promise I’ll learn. And I have some money saved up from bartending at the strip club, so I can give you some of the first month’s rent now and the rest when I get paid, if that’s okay?” God, I hope she’s okay with that. I really want this to work out. I don’t even know what the apartment looks like, but I don’t care. It’s better than what I currently have, I’m sure, so I’ll take it no matter what condition it’s in.
Squeezing my hand, she says, “Actually, the rent is free. As long as you help out around the shop, the apartment is yours.” My mouth pops open and I’m speechless. Free? I open my mouth to argue, but she holds her hand up to stop me. “Listen, I don’t know your story or why you left New York, but I want to help. I was offered the same deal when I walked into this shop all those years ago, now I’m doing the same for you. Now, let’s go upstairs so I can show you your new place.” Without waiting for my reply, she gets up and heads out the door.
I follow in a haze, still not really believing this is happening. We walk outside from the back of the shop and up a set of stairs. By the time I make it to the top, I’ve come to terms with what I’ve been offered and I couldn’t wipe the smile off my face if my life depended on it.
When I’m standing beside Dani, she opens the door and lets me walk into the apartment first. My only thought is that I love it. It’s one hundred percent perfect. “Am I dreaming?” I whisper to myself. Dani laughs and comes up behind me.
“No, babe, you are most definitely not dreaming.” Looking around, I start to picture what I want to buy or imagine myself relaxing on the couch, reading a book.
By the time I do a full circle inside, I’m facing Dani again and she has a serious look on her face. My smile drops, along with my heart. I knew this was too good to be true. She probably just realized what she offered me, a complete stranger, and wants to take it back. I go to tell her it’s okay, but she speaks before I can get anything out.
“You don’t have to tell me anything specific, but I need to know one thing. Are you in any sort of trouble, Sara?” I stare at her with what I hope is a blank expression, not wanting to go into the details of my past, especially now. “Look, I can’t help you if I don’t know what you’re up against. I meant what I said, you don’t have to tell me specifics, at least not yet, but I hope you’ll tell me if we need to be looking out for anyone. You can trust us. You’re one of us now and we protect our own.” The tears are back, and even though I know I won’t be able to get the words out, she deserves an answer. I nod my head once before dropping to the floor on a sob. Dani follows me down and takes me into her arms. “It’s okay, Sara. I’ve got you. I won’t let anything happen to you, I promise. I’ve got you.”
CHAPTER 5
Toby
Dani and Sara have been upstairs for almost an hour now and I’m starting to get twitchy. I still can’t believe that I offered for her to come and stay with me at my house. I barely know her, but ever since she walked into the gym that day, I haven’t been able to get her off my mind. There is just something about her, something that draws me in, that I can’t explain. Whenever I’m around her, I lose my shit in every sense of the word.
Not able to sit still any longer, I stand up and start pacing. I don’t know what’s taking the girls this long to talk, but not having her close to me, or being able to see that she’s alright, is driving me nuts. I hate feeling like this; like I want to tear this place apart until I have her in my arms, but wanting to beat my own ass at the same time because it’s insane of me to be thinking like this.
Finally having enough, I head towards the back to find out what’s taking them so long when Louie walks into the room. “You good, brother?” he asks while looking at me like I’ve grown two heads. Not wanting to think too hard about why he’s looking at me like that, I just push past him when Dani comes walking through the door, alone.
“Where the hell is Sara?” My voice booms louder than I intend for it to, but I don’t care.
Louie looks at me like I’ve lost my mind, speaking like that to her and Dani looks about ready to deck me. “She’s upstairs in her new apartment, asshole.” Her new apartment? What the fuck? Before I can say anything about it though, Dani turns toward Louie. “I need you to watch the shop for a couple hours. I’m going to take Sara to get her stuff and then I’m going to take her shopping for things she’ll need for the apartment. Text me if you need anything.” Without even waiting to see if I’m going to comment on what she just said, she turns around and walks back outside.
I want to march up those stairs and drag Sara out and lock her away at my house, but I know this is the best thing for her, the most logical thing for her. I need to get my shit together and stop thinking of her as mine. I mean, this can’t be normal, the shit I’m feeling for her. I just met her for fucks sake. Why do I feel this connection, this pull, towards her?
All I know is that it’s not right.
I need to put some distance between her and I until I can figure out what I really feel. Is it a real interest in her or something else, ‘cause right now it feels a lot like an obsession.
At least there’s one good thing about her working here at the shop―I’ll know she’s safe, and I’ll be able to stop by to check on her whenever I need or want to.
It’s been three weeks since Sara moved out of that hotel and into the apartment above Sinners Ink. I haven’t spoken to her since she went into the back room with Dani that day to discuss the job and apartment, but I’ve spoken with Dani to see how things are working out and she seems to be adjusting well.
I told Dani to let her know that her resignation was already put in at the strip club the day I brought her to the shop and that she didn’t need to worry about going back to pick up her check. From what I heard, she wasn’t happy about it, but she didn’t put up a fight, either.
I’ve driven by the shop more times than I’d like to admit, but never got the balls to actually go in and talk to her. I still can’t get her out of my head and every time I think about her and that day, my cock gets so hard that I think it will bust through my jeans.
Things at the club have been quiet. Ever since shit went down with Dani and Blaze a couple months ago, we’ve been keeping our eyes out for trouble, but since there has been no sign of things going to shit, Mack pulled everyone back last week.
I’ve been spending a lot of time at the gym, either when I’m not on watch for the club or during my free time. It’s fucked up, but I think a part of me keeps hoping that Sara will come back for another self-defense class, but she hasn’t.
I don’t have any fights scheduled, but sometimes I’ll take them last minute. Depending on what’s going on with the club, I can’t do scheduled fights, so I’ve just gotten used to taking matches that fighters have backed out of, or whatever the case may be. It used to bother me that I wasn’t able to fight as much as I wanted, but now I’m fine with it. The club always comes first.
I’ve still been training hard, but I’ve been distracted over Sara. One minute I feel like my obsession with her is going to drive me crazy, and the next I’m picking up my phone to call Dani to see how she is.
I’m forcing myself to find things to concentrate on, so I’ve been putting my name out there for upcoming fights. I’ve always thrived from the release it offers me and the power I feel inside the cage. However, since Sara came into my life, nothing feels the same anymore and I can’t help but feel like there’s something missing.
When I’m at the club, I usually party with my brothers. I used to love the free pussy, but for the past couple of months, it hasn’t been the same. Now, when I see Blaze and Dani together, I picture me with Sara like that. Since I held her in my arms and had that feeling of peace wash over me, I’ve been longing for that feeling again, but nothing works. She’s turned my world upside down and I fucking hate it.
It might be time to stop fighting and just work at the gym, training new fighters. I wasn’t planning on doing that for at least a couple of years, but maybe now’s the time. I’m just not as focused on it anymore.
Grabbing my gym bag from my room, I head out to my bike. I’m doing a training session this morning before I need to head to the club, and I’m hoping it will be enough to get my mind off of Sara.
Just as I’m mounting my bike, my phone vibrates in my pocket. Without even looking at the screen to see who it is, I answer. “Yeah?” There’s so much noise on the other end, I can barely make out that it’s Blaze. “Where the fuck you at, brother? I can barely fucking hear you.” I hear a curse and then shuffling noises. He must be walking outside or into another room.
“I need you to stop by the shop and pick Dani up for me. I was supposed to be done with this job Mack put me on, but it’s taking longer than I thought. I don’t want her driving in her condition.”
I laugh into the phone. “What the fuck, man? You talk like that in front of your old lady? She’s pregnant, not fucking handicap, brother.” Just thinking about what Dani would do if she heard Blaze say that shit puts a rare smile on my face. Yeah, I’d pay to see that shit. Pregnant or not, she’d kick his ass.
Blaze growls into the phone, which only has me laughing louder. “Can you do it or not, asshole?” I should push his buttons and make him sweat a little bit, but he knows I’d do anything for that woman, so there’s no point.
“Yeah, man, I’ll make sure she gets to the club safe. But I’m telling you now, when you get back, you’re going to have a fight on your hands―sending someone to pick her up like she’s an invalid.” Blaze lets out a long sigh full of relief, and mixed with defeat. Yeah, he knows he’s fucked.
“Yeah, man, I know. Thanks, brother.” I hang up and start my bike, revving the engine and loving the growl of my bike.
After a grueling eight hours of training at the gym, I’m just ready for this day to be over. Knowing that I was going to see Sara today made concentrating on what I was doing extremely difficult. I got knocked on my ass more times than not while I was sparring with Connor. My rhythm was fucked up on the speed bag, and I almost broke my hand while working the heavy bag. I need to get my shit together and fast.
I take a quick shower in the locker room and head out to my bike. I’ve decided that I just need to talk to her. Maybe if we sit down and talk about what went on between us, I’ll be able to focus better. At least then, no matter what the outcome may be, I’ll know where we stand.
Speeding through all the yellow lights and taking short cuts through the alleys, I make it to Sinners Ink in record time. I park in the back, thinking this way I’ll have an excuse to walk Sara to her door and head inside. “Dani girl, where are you?” I yell as soon as I walk in the door. Besides seeing Sara, I’m actually looking forward to seeing how Dani reacts to why I’m here.
“Be out in a bit. Just let me finish this design real quick,” she yells from her workroom.
Walking into the front of the shop, I’m disappointed that Sara isn’t in here, but I know she’s here somewhere. Blaze made sure that Dani had her working every day the shop was open. When he first told me that, I was going to beat his ass for demanding she work every day with no time off, but Dani assured me that she wasn’t going to be here from open to close every day, and that Sara was happy to help out. From what Dani says, Sara really enjoys the work, so I didn’t say anything.
Taking a seat on the couch, I pull my phone out to text Blaze, just to let him know that I’m at the shop and that Dani should be at the club soon. Of course, this is assuming she won’t put up too much of a fight. She doesn’t make it a habit to kill the messenger, but you can bet money that as soon as Blaze gets back, there will be a fight and I hope I’m there to see it. I never tire of watching her go at a man twice her size, as long as it’s not me on the receiving end of her wrath.
Five minutes later and neither Dani, nor Sara, have come into the front room. Tired of just sitting around and waiting, I walk into the office to see what’s taking so long.
Opening the door, Dani looks up at me as she’s putting her sketch pad away. “Can I help you?” she asks in a fake, sweet voice. It’s just like her to be sarcastic and bitchy to anyone who crosses her path, though it’s rarely ever thrown my way. I think this pregnancy has made her lash out at everyone.
“Yeah, you can, actually. You can stop being a brat and come give me a hug.”
Not one to disappoint, she seems to almost deflate completely and walks up and wraps her arms around me. “I’m sorry, Toby. It’s just been a long couple of days.” I hold her a little tighter ‘cause I know she’s having a hard time. I know this pregnancy was a surprise and she wasn’t exactly over the moon about it because she wasn’t sure if she’d make a good mother. On top of that, she has Blaze acting extra protective, which doesn’t help her mood, either. Since she arrived here four years ago, she’s made it her mission in life to never ask for help and to never rely on someone else, so having Blaze go the extra ten miles
to make sure her and the baby are safe must be hard for her. But she’s gonna have to get used to it, ‘cause I don’t see that changing anytime soon. Fuck, if anything, it’s only gonna get worse.
“You don’t have to apologize to me, babe. If I had to live with Blaze, I’d be a raging bitch to everyone too,” I say with a laugh, trying to lighten the mood a little. She always likes it when I bash on Blaze and Louie.
“So I’m a raging bitch now, huh? If I wasn’t pregnant, I’d kick your ass and you know it, so quit being a jackass and help me close up shop, will ya?” I follow her towards the front room.
“Where’s Sara? Shouldn’t she be here to help you close?” I ask nonchalantly, hoping she doesn’t catch the curiosity in my voice, but of course, she knows the game I’m playing and smiles her evil little smile.
“Wouldn’t you like to know.”
Figuring I should leave it at that, I bring up the reason I’m here. “Well, considering Blaze said you’re not to be here by yourself to close in “your condition,” I’d like to know where she is, or at least why that fuck Louie isn’t here helping you out when Sara isn’t. Oh, and speaking of your old man, he wanted me to take you to the club. He said he wasn’t going to be back in time to pick you up.”
“You have got to be fucking kidding me. My condition? That ass wipe is lucky he isn’t here because I would shove my size seven and a half boot so far up his ass that he’d be tasting leather for a month. Just fucking wait till I see him. My condition! Who the fuck does he think he’s talking about like that, huh?” It’s a rhetorical question so I don’t even bother answering. I just watch her storm around the shop, throwing magazines down on tables and kicking trash cans. I’ll just let her calm down before I bring Sara back up again.
It takes her half an hour to calm down before I stop fearing for my life for just opening my mouth. Dani’s sitting at the front desk, going through tomorrow’s appointments, I assume, when she looks up at me, tapping my finger on the desk. “Do you mind?” she asks, but the edge isn’t present in her voice anymore, so I know she isn’t that annoyed.
Fighting Destiny (Forsaken Sinners MC; Book 2) (Forsaken Sinners MC Series) Page 5
