We spent a couple of days here helping Ice prepare for his upcoming incarceration, and tomorrow was moving day. It didn’t take long to load up Ember’s belongings. Viking’s wife, Meredith, managed to work her magic and find a furnished place that would be ready in just a few days, so Ember didn’t need to bring a ton of stuff with her.
It was easy to ignore her while we were all busy earlier, but now we were sitting down for dinner, and I couldn’t help but glance her way a few times. It didn’t escape my attention that she appeared more subdued tonight than she was when we first arrived. I knew the situation with her brother was wearing on her, but it seemed odd she was sitting in silence, staring at the plate she hadn’t touched. Maybe the thought of leaving Torch was affecting her.
The person she was right now was in stark contrast to the vibrant young woman I knew all those years ago. There was a small part of me that wanted to help her find that spark again, but the other part of me thought she created this life for herself by hooking up with a man who wasn’t free to be with her.
For once, Torch wasn’t all over her, but seeing them together and what they represented touched a nerve. One from when I was a boy, and one only recently. As much as I disliked Ember’s role as a side piece, Torch was just as guilty. Probably even more so. If he didn’t want to be married, instead of cheating and disrespecting his family, he should just end it. Ember didn’t seem to get that he also disrespected her on every level, and her behavior made it appear as though she was fine with it.
I’d always liked Ice, but he was either too distracted with running the club to cut the shit his sister was involved in, or Ember fought to get her way; either way, it didn’t sit well with me.
“I appreciate you guys finding a place for Ember so quickly,” Ice said, bringing my attention back to him.
“That was all Meredith,” Viking said proudly. “She got on it as soon as I called her.”
The initial plan was to have Ember stay at our clubhouse where we could keep a better eye on her, but Torch nixed that idea. He made it clear he wouldn’t have her staying with a bunch of guys. That was a red flag for me since I knew she stayed at this clubhouse quite often.
Although, judging by the way Fitz couldn’t tear his eyes from Ember, maybe Torch did have something to worry about. Poor bastard would be dumb to get himself caught up in that mess, but he could make his own decisions about Ember.
“What time are you heading out tomorrow?” Ice asked.
“The plan is to leave as soon as the sun comes up.”
A few grumbles went around the table at Viking’s declaration. He’d always been a morning person while the rest of us were night owls. That was likely due to us staying up all night to party while Viking would leave early to spend time with his family. We sometimes gave him shit about it, but it was the quality I most admired about the man I’d known since I was in high school.
“We’ll be ready,” Torch responded.
Of course, he was coming with us. We would all be on our bikes while Ember followed us in the small moving van we rented since her car was too small. It would be a long day, but we all had things we needed to get back to in Vegas. I knew I was anxious to get home.
“I better get to bed then.” Ember spoke for the first time tonight as she stood up and started to walk away from the table.
“I’ll walk you up.” Torch got up from his seat to escort her to their room.
That pretty much signaled to everyone else to get up and leave, which left Fitz and me.
“I don’t like him,” Fitz mumbled loudly.
“Ember seems to like him just fine,” I said, not hiding my disdain.
“Then you haven’t been watching her as close as I thought you were.”
“Figured you were watching her enough for the two of us,” I shot back, not appreciating his comment.
“Jealous much?” he asked, almost to himself since he continued without waiting for a response from me. “She seems on edge around him. When he’s not in the room, she’s relaxed, but as soon as he shows up, she’s on the defensive.”
I narrowed my gaze at him. “Meaning, what?”
“He’s a controlling bastard. I mean, we all are in our own ways, but...” he said, trailing off. “She’s afraid of him. I don’t know why, but my gut says it’s nothing good by the way she acts around him.”
I frowned, considering his words, but I didn’t see it. If what Fitz was insinuating was true, Viking would never stand for it. We may not have the best reputation, but we didn’t tolerate anyone treating our women poorly. However, we also didn’t make it a habit to throw our brothers under the bus without proof.
“That’s some serious accusations you’re throwing around about a brother. Has she said anything to you?” I asked.
“She hasn’t said a word, but I think this move to Las Vegas may be the best thing for her. I miss the old Ember, and I don’t want her in danger.”
Despite my conflicted feelings about her, I couldn’t agree more, but I would never admit it out loud how much I missed that same girl.
7
Ember
Torch and I pulled up behind Fitz in front of the house Meredith secured for me. It was a cute little place with white stucco siding and a red tile roof, which gave it a slight Spanish flair. I looked around the front yard; it was small just like the place behind it, but a small yard meant less upkeep, which was perfect. Under the front window were some exotic flowers and native plants mixed together. There was a sitting area made up of wrought iron furniture on the porch. I could imagine myself sitting out here, enjoying what appeared to be a peaceful space. Meredith had done a great job finding this place.
I noticed the house was in a quiet neighborhood, a bit away from the main road. Safety was always a concern for the club, and since I would be living alone, there was no way they would leave me vulnerable. Warmth filled my heart knowing that Viking was making sure I was treated the same way as if it were my father or brother picking this place out for me.
“Here’s your key.” Fitz handed it over as he followed Torch and me to the door.
I stepped inside and was just as pleased with the interior as I was with the outside. There was a small living area, just big enough for the loveseat and chair already arranged. The kitchen was off to the left with a window overlooking the walkway outside. At the far end of the living room was a sliding glass door that led to a small patio.
“Down this hallway is your bedroom and bathroom,” Fitz explained as I continued to explore my new place.
The bedroom was exactly what I would have picked for myself. Not too big but not too small either. There was already a queen-sized bed in the center with enough walking room around it, along with two small, white nightstands and a matching dresser. The light purple bedding set put a smile on my face.
“Meredith picked out the bedroom set. She wanted me to tell you if you don’t like it she’ll use it for their guest room and take you shopping for something different.”
“This is great! Thank you so much.” I wrapped my arms around Fitz’s neck, but someone clearing their throat behind me ended the hug just as fast as it began. I ignored Torch’s glare as I continued to check out my new place.
When I walked back to the kitchen, I heard a few more bikes pull up, followed by the van carrying my possessions. As I looked over the group, I saw Viper and Mac amongst them, but it didn’t escape my attention that Colt wasn’t with them. He’d managed to avoid me the entire time he was in Reno, and I didn’t see him again last night after we rolled into Vegas.
Viking led the group of guys up to my front door where he knocked instead of walking in. The gesture was a kind one, allowing me some semblance of privacy even though one of the clubs was paying for this place.
I opened the door and was immediately wrapped up in another hug—one Torch couldn’t say anything about. “How do you like the place?” Viking asked as he moved back and let the other guys pass to bring in my boxes.
“It’s wonderful!” I said, truly grateful. “Please thank Meredith for me. I’m sure this was a lot of work getting everything set up.”
“You can thank her tonight. She’ll be at the clubhouse.”
My smile faltered. I had no desire to be Torch’s arm candy for another party. “I didn’t know anything was going on tonight.”
“It’s not a full-blown party, just a hang-out after church.”
Obviously, Torch needed to be there, but I’d wanted to settle in. He loved throwing me off kilter like this, but I had no choice in this matter, regardless of whether he’d told me about the party or not.
It didn’t take long to get my stuff moved in. As a ‘thank you’ for all the help, I ordered a couple of pizzas for lunch and we ate in the living room.
“So, what are your plans while you’re here?” Fitz asked around a massive bite of pepperoni pizza.
“Well, the first thing is finding a job. I know I’m only going to be here for a few months, but I need to find something.”
“What did you do back home?” Viper asked.
“I’ve been working in medical billing since graduating from TMCC.”
“Kate’s friend Evelyn just started working at the hospital downtown. Maybe she can check to see if they’re hiring,” Mac offered.
I smiled. “I would appreciate that, thank you.”
Mac smiled back at me, and I could feel Torch stiffen next to me. I hated that every single interaction with another guy caused him to react with such anger. While it’d be a relief to not have to deal with this on a daily basis, the cost of my freedom would be helping him with his scheme while I was here. James’ comment about something happening in the background with the Phantoms also worried me. Would I really be safer here?
No longer hungry, I pushed my pizza away. There were so many things pushing and pulling at me: Keeping Phoebe and James safe, not feeling like I had anybody to really talk to, Colt’s dark energy and his disapproval of me, and on top of that, Torch wanting me to betray the club was all making me sick to my stomach.
Once the guys finished lunch and left, I kept myself busy unpacking and organizing my new kitchen, all to avoid having to deal with Torch. I noticed while I worked, he was sitting on the couch in the living room, typing away on his phone. That was normal for him, and I often wondered if it was his wife on the other end of those messages. We didn’t see her around the clubhouse very much, and I questioned if she knew the kind of monster she was married to.
Around eight later that night, I decided to head back to my room to change. I picked out a pair of skinny black jeans, paired them with an olive green tank top that dipped low in the back and had a deep V in the front. I went a little darker with my makeup and added some large curls to my hair. I grabbed my favorite pair of black leather boots and put them on just before walking out of my room.
“You ready?” Torch asked from where he was still sitting in the living room.
“I am,” I answered as I rounded the corner from my bedroom.
Once I was in view, Torch’s menacing eyes raked over me from head to toe.
“You look like a slut. You better not be trying to get the attention of any of the guys tonight. Don’t forget who you belong to,” Torch barked as we headed toward the door.
“Last time I checked, your property patch is worn by your wife—”
Before I knew it, I was spun around and pushed up against the wall by the door. “What the fuck did you just say to me?”
I didn’t know what made me brave enough to talk back. I might be moving four hundred miles away from him, but he still held all the power. “I’m sorry, I shouldn’t have said that.” I wasn’t sorry, but I was fearful.
“Don’t let it happen again. Don’t forget what I’m capable of,” he growled in my face.
He didn’t need to worry. I was well aware of the evil lurking inside of him.
8
Colt
I noticed the moment Ember walked into the room. I always knew where she was. The harder I tried to ignore her, the more aware I became of her. As annoyed as I was at myself, my eyes were drawn to her, and I took a moment to appreciate just how beautiful she was. But like always, Torch wasn’t far behind. The asshole seemed to enjoy parading her around.
You would too if she was yours.
If she were mine, there would be no one else.
Ever.
I quickly shook that idea out of my head because that possibility died a long time ago. I would never claim a woman, at least not again. It cost me too much the first time around, and I wasn’t eager to put myself through that a second time. I watched the two of them closely, trying to see what Fitz had seen at dinner the other night, but all I saw was a guy being ultra possessive of his woman. I shrugged it off, assuming Fitz wanted something to be off about Torch so he could swoop in.
“Man, you sure you don’t want to revisit that?” Fitz asked from beside me. “You can’t take your eyes off her.”
Fitz may have been one of my closest friends, but he was starting to annoy the shit out of me with his running commentary about Ember. And because he was right and knew it.
“Trust me when I say, I want nothing to do with her. She had trouble written all over her back in the day, and clearly, not much has changed.”
“That’s the kind of trouble I wouldn’t mind getting into,” he mumbled under his breath, but I heard it.
“Have at it. But I don’t think you’ll get very far with that dick sticking to her like glue.”
“I’m not too worried; he leaves tomorrow. Then all I have to do is give her some of that Fitzy charm.”
“Jesus Christ.” I shook my head. “You’re an idiot.”
As much as I liked to give him shit, he wasn’t lying. For some reason, women practically fell at Fitz’s feet. They seemed to like his “boy-next-door” look because they could introduce him to family members without worry, but they also enjoyed the fact he was part of an MC. It fulfilled that dangerous guy fantasy some women seemed to have.
Fitz tried to play his comment off as a joke, but I was beginning to think he was serious about pursuing Ember. Their connection was based on a friendship that started when they were kids, which was more than what she and I had. A night of fucking—however memorable and satisfying—was not solid ground for something more. Besides, she hadn’t given me a second thought, that much was evident, but I’d always wondered if things would have been different if Joker hadn’t found me outside her room. What we had between us had always felt unfinished.
I shouldn’t have been thinking like that anyway. I wanted nothing to do with her, for a number of good reasons. I had responsibilities that didn’t include a train wreck. I was already indirectly stuck with one. And I would continue to tell myself that I didn’t want Ember until I believed it.
It didn’t take long for the hangout to become a full-fledged party, and it was packed. Sunday nights were quiet at the strip club we owned, so some of the girls decided to bring the show to the clubhouse. There was a group of guys off in the corner watching someone work the stripper pole we installed a while back. I wasn’t feeling it, so instead, I joined Viking, Wolf, and Mac, who were sitting on the opposite side of the room.
“Hey, man. What’s up?” Mac greeted me as I sat on the couch across from him.
“Not much, brother.” I took a healthy sip of the beer I’d grabbed earlier.
“Amy was just looking for you,” he added with a sly grin.
I perked up at that. A hookup normally pulled me out of whatever funk I found myself in. Maybe it would work tonight.
I scanned the room, looking for the hot blonde. I spotted her over by the bar with another sexy woman. This one with hair so dark it was almost black. Amy liked fucking women almost as much as she did men and was always game for a threesome. My night was definitely looking up.
I winked at her, so she grabbed her friend’s hand and started making her way over to me. I heard both Wolf and Mac laugh behind me.
“Hi, Colt,” Amy purred as she sat down beside me and pressed her fake but nice tits against my arm. “This is my friend Naomi. She just started working at The Red Door, and I was telling her all about you.”
Naomi took a seat on the other side of me, shooting a coy grin in my direction. Yeah, this was exactly what I needed. I settled back in my seat, planning to finish my drink before hauling the two of them back to my room. Mac just shook his head and went back to talking to the other guys sitting around.
“Look who I found,” Fitz announced from behind me.
“Hey, baby. Where have you been?” Mac asked, looking over my shoulder.
I turned around, expecting to see Kate but was surprised to see Ember standing next to her. Fitz looked at me, and I could tell he was up to no good.
“I was talking to Ember,” Kate told Mac as she took a seat on his lap.
“These two were chatting it up like long lost friends. If you hang with this one, you’ll be all right,” Fitz told Ember while pointing at Kate.
Viking stood up and offered his seat to Ember. “I’m going to take off.”
“Goodnight, Dad,” Kate said as he leaned down to kiss the top of her head.
He moved over to Ember and repeated the gesture.
“See you boys later.”
I felt a hand crawl up my thigh, and I flinched in surprise. It seemed I forgot all about Amy and Naomi the moment Ember appeared. That wasn’t going to work for me, so I stretched out and put an arm around each of them.
I caught Ember staring between both women with a look of disapproval on her face, which I found rich considering her situation. But the way her eyes roved over me, I found myself staring at her, and wishing it was her in my arms. When she lifted her eyes to meet mine, it was like she was the only woman in this whole damn place. I forced my gaze away, a little spooked by the intensity of that brief moment. She had a quiet presence about her now that intrigued me, even as I fought that interest.
Colt (Desert Sinners MC Book 2) Page 5
