Brand_A Steel Paragons MC Novel

by Eve R. Hart

  “Sketch take Cami to Brand’s room since we don’t have an open one right now. Mouse, B-ry, …” Iron paused and scanned the area, his jaw ticking with aggravation. “The fuck is Knight?”

  “Here,” said a guy walking into the kitchen with lightning steps. “Just had to call Gwen. Office?”

  “Yeah,” Iron said in a gruff grunt. “Cami, I’m sorry, dear, I need you to stay put, alright? If you need anything, send Sketch a text.”

  “Okay, yeah,” I didn’t know what else to say and I didn’t want to keep him a second longer.

  Whatever was going on was clearly a pressing matter. Part of me hoped it had something to do with what happened tonight, that this guy could somehow help out with Brand. But then the smarter part of me knew better than to sit there like this world was made of magic. I’d clearly fully crossed the line to the other side. I was no longer the rich girl that hung around criminals in the dark underbelly of the world. No, I had willingly thrown myself right down that rabbit hole.

  And it was all because of a guy.

  A guy with the most amazing lips and electric touch.

  The very same guy that was probably sitting in a jail cell right now for something he didn’t have any part of.

  “Cami?”

  “Yes, sir?” I said as I spun around and looked at Iron again.

  “Don’t do anything.” The look on his face told me he knew who I was. “Let us handle this. You hear me?” His words were soft but the look on his face was stern.

  I nodded as I swallowed down the lump in my throat.

  I understood his unsaid words loud and clear.

  Don’t go running to mommy and daddy.

  He didn’t want my money. He didn’t want my parents’ fancy lawyers. I appreciated it, but at the same time, it made me uneasy. He had a plan. One I was sure I didn’t want to know about.

  Not that the thought of calling my dad hadn’t crossed my mind. But I was smart enough not to do anything rash. I had a huge feeling that it would only do more harm than good. I’d heard my dad’s words. I knew how he felt about the Steel Paragons Motorcycle Club.

  The thing was, I knew long ago that my family couldn’t fix everything. Not with their way of loving and not with their endless amount of money and connections.

  CHAPTER FOURTEEN

  Iron

  What a fuck of a night.

  And you’d better fucking believe that was putting it mildly.

  Whoever said that being the headman was easy was a dumb motherfucker.

  President.

  It meant that everything sat heavy on my shoulders. That I was the one that handled all the shit. From a fucking problem with incoming shipments to the businesses the club owned, and all the little shit in between. And I worried about each and every single one of these guys like they were my own son. The last part wasn’t a requirement, but that was just who I was. These people were my fucking family. Every move they made not only reflected on me, but impacted me in some way.

  I had a brother attacked, an innocent woman caught in the crossfire, and a business fucked up. And that said brother was now sitting in jail for something I knew damn well he shouldn’t be there for.

  Yeah, something was going on. The air smelled like shit but I couldn’t find out which direction it was coming from.

  Now, fucking Connor O’Shay was sitting in my clubhouse, looking like he’d spent the last twelve hours in hell. Connor was a cop, but first and foremost, he was part of the Irish mob. The same mob that we had a deal with. The very same one that took the high powered artillery off of our hands.

  The same fucking kind of guns that shot up the shop.

  I was doing my best to put a lid on my anger but I had to be honest, I was hanging on by a thread. I wouldn’t have said I trusted the Irish one hundred percent, but I trusted them more than most. If I even so much as got a whiff that they had anything to do with this, even if they unknowingly supplied the guns, I was going to shut them out. Without a second thought. And they would be lucky if that would be the only thing I’d fucking do.

  You didn’t fuck with my men.

  You didn’t fuck with my club.

  If you did, that meant you fucked with me.

  And let me tell you, I was not a man you wanted to fuck with.

  “The fuck is going on?” I barked at Connor, not wanting to pussy-foot around.

  “There’s a lot. Stay with me and I’ll tell you everything.”

  I took in a slow, deep breath through my nose. After counting to ten, I let it out just as slowly.

  “Go on then,” I said in a calm tone as I crossed my arms over my chest. I didn’t take my seat. This wasn’t a goddamn social call. I was up, on guard, and ready to draw at the drop of a hat.

  “There is a shift happening on the streets. Should have nothing to do with us, we don’t associate with the D13 gang, but it seems that someone is making a move to take over, and in doing that, they are making their presence known. Up until tonight, it’s been little things, and nothing that has crossed the line for you, Russians, Italians, or us to worry with. They’ve been keeping it in their own neighborhood. But looks like something bigger has been started. I’ve been keeping an eye out, but I was blindsided by this.”

  He shook his head, his eyes turning even darker as his jaw clenched tight. I could see the anger and apology there, but I didn’t drop my guard.

  “I’ve got it coming from all ends as of late. Detective Mullins got a promotion and now he’s been watching me extra hard. I can’t seem to make a damn move without him knowing. I’ve been too feckin’ busy trying to keep him off my back that I didn’t know what was going on. But he did. He’s got someone in the gang, but I have no idea if it’s an undercover or just an informant. I overheard him saying he knew they were going to shoot up yer place tonight. He wasn’t going to stop it. Instead, he planned to use it to his advantage. I don’t know what he has…or had, rather, planned. But if the look on yer face is any indication, it’s pretty damning.”

  “Nothing we can’t handle. Got one in jail right now.” I paused looking for any sign that he might know more than he was letting onto. I didn’t trust anyone outside of a patched vest right now. “On cocaine charges.”

  “Shite! No…” He ran his hands through his already fucking messy hair. It looked like he needed a strong drink and a hot shower, but there wasn’t time for that. I needed some goddamn answers. Connor knew damn well those drugs weren’t ours and it showed on his face. “He used the shooting…he planted it. You got any proof?”

  His head snapped up to look at me, his eyes hopeful that we had something. It was no secret that we liked our security and that we had cameras every-fucking-where.

  “Got my own going over footage from the shop. Shouldn’t be long now. Let’s just hope he’s not smart enough to know as much as you.”

  “He knew what he was doing. When he caught me eavesdropping, he went after me. Only he used his words and kept his calm. The cameras at the station only caught me, my actions. And I took a swing at that smug fecker. They took me down and I’ve been in a holding cell the last ten hours. When they let me out they put me on unpaid leave, informing me that they were opening an investigation on me. I came here as soon as they released me, but I’m guessing that was after they arrested yer guy.”

  “So we’ve got shit coming from both ends, huh? This isn’t going to go away by tomorrow?” I asked but didn’t really expect an answer. I already knew.

  I knew shit was just getting started. The thing that I couldn’t figure out right then was if we were going to band together or be pushed further apart. I could only hope that Connor coming to me meant that he was proving some sort of loyalty to us, that the Irish would back him with this move.

  This could go badly for him if they disapproved.

  Another thing that was stacked on my shoulders.

  Not that I fucking needed it.

  CHAPTER FIFTEEN

  Cami

  The room was clos
ing in on me. There was a huge TV but I couldn’t take the noise. I tried to leave it on with the volume on mute, but the flickering lights bouncing off the walls only made me flashback to earlier. So I sat there with the small lamp next to the bed as the only source of light. My back was pressed so hard against the wooden headboard, that the skin along my spine started to sting.

  Sketch tucked me away in this room. He left only telling me that I should wash up. And that he was sure Brand wouldn’t mind if I borrowed something to wear. So, I’d taken a shower. I was desperate to wash this day away, only it didn’t really work like I’d hoped. I contemplated putting my clothes back on. It took me a good long few minutes of going back and forth with myself before I gave in and gingerly rummaged through Brand’s dresser. I gave in not only because I wanted to get rid of anything that reminded me of what had happened the last few hours, but also because I just needed his scent around me. As crazy as it might have seemed, it comforted me and gave me some small amount of relief from the anger and fear that gripped me.

  Then I crashed. Not as in I slept. No, I mean the adrenaline wore off and everything hit me hard. The tears were there, filling up my eyes, but I was too much in shock to let them fall. I’d been shot at. Brand had been taken away. I had hidden possible evidence. I mean, I didn’t know for sure, but come on, why else would he have tucked the gun away. I didn’t want to think about that. What was done, was done.

  Oh, God!

  Brand had been shot. Even if he hadn’t seemed like it was a big deal, I thought it was. I was worried sick about him. The seconds ticked on, taunting me, laughing at me, for what a fool I’d been. Foolish at first to think that what I had felt between Brand and me was nothing more than my desperate brain. Foolish that I thought he was gay and those little moments when I’d caught him staring at me in a daze meant nothing. And stupidly, completely foolish to think that I could go back to anything else after that kiss. It was just one kiss. One dumb lock of the lips. It hadn’t lasted nearly as long as I wished it had. But oh, sweet baby Jesus, did it imprint itself on my soul.

  In that moment, nothing else about about him mattered. Not the fact that he was in a motorcycle club. That he was possibly on the wrong side of the law, because at the moment when he kissed me I didn’t know for sure. And honestly, I didn’t really know now, but I was a smart enough girl to catch onto the signs and read between the lines that hadn’t even been said.

  Then it was over, and I found myself caring about those things far too much. And not in the way a normal person would. All I wanted to do was protect him and his club. I wanted to do anything and everything to find the answers to the things I felt in my gut were wrong. I wanted to save him.

  I needed him. I didn’t know it before and it all seemed to be happening so fast, but I needed him. Maybe it had been there all along and the circumstances of the things I’d led myself to believe held me back. Kept me from realizing how I felt.

  None of that mattered now.

  The door opened unexpectedly and my eyes snapped in that direction. His beautiful eyes landed on mine and instantly his face softened. I didn’t think. I didn’t hold back. I didn’t care if I looked like a desperate fool.

  My legs unfolded from my chest and in a blink, I crashed into his hard body.

  “Shhh,” he whispered as his arms circled around me and held me tightly. “It’s okay.”

  That was when the stupid tears fell. I couldn’t help it. I tried to speak but the words fell out of my mouth in a jumbled language.

  “Cami.” His tone had a chuckle to it and I wanted to hit him for thinking anything about this was funny. His big, rough hands framed my face and tilted it until I was looking into his beautiful chocolate eyes. With one hand he swiped the hair away from my face and gently tucked it behind my ear. “I’m fine. But I won’t lie, I kind of like the idea that you were worried about me.” His lips twitched as if he was holding back a smile.

  “It’s stupid, I know. I can’t explain…” My words trailed off and for once I was glad my brain had cut my mouth off from the crashing runaway train of word vomit. I blew out a hard breath, just happy that he was here. “Your shoulder. Shit. And they took you away…I-I hated that.”

  “And I hated that you had to see all that.” His eyes turned sad for a moment. “I’m sorry I put you in danger. I’ll never forgive myself for that. Cami…”

  “Don’t,” I all but screamed. I’d had hours to think and I’m sure he’d had the same. And I thought about a lot during that time. At the end of it all, I knew with full certainty that I didn’t want him to push me away, and so I wasn’t even going to let him try. “I get it. You and I are from completely different worlds. But I…I can’t help but feel that there is something here. I don’t want you to let me go.”

  “My world can be messy. You deserve better.”

  “I like messy. I like life full of color. If I wanted bland and boring, I wouldn’t have ever walked into your shop. I wouldn’t have ever stood there and all but begged for you to teach me. I sure as fuck wouldn’t have offered to scrub toilets for you.”

  “You just said ‘fuck.’” He sounded way too amused to be taking what I was saying seriously.

  “Yeah, well,” I said as I ran my fingers through my tangled hair. “I guess getting shot at will do that to me.”

  “Not going to lie, I think your cuss word filter is cute as hell.” There was that stupid twinkle in his eyes.

  I only had a second to get lost in it before his lips descended onto mine. I welcomed the kiss. I wanted it. I needed it more than anything right then, or maybe ever. My hand fisted his shirt as I pushed up onto my toes.

  “I knew there was something about you that day you walked into my shop. I didn’t know why you kept clinging to my thoughts, but I didn’t mind it one bit,” he said as his lips grazed the tender flesh of my neck. I wanted to tell him that it had been the same for me but my brain had gone into shutdown mode. “You were all I could think about while I was sitting in that holding cell. That kiss…I repeated it over and over again in my mind.”

  His fingers slipped inside the neck of the shirt I was wearing. His shirt. Slowly he inched the fabric away, exposing my shoulder, his lips trailing right behind.

  There was nothing outside of this room. No danger. No club. There wasn’t even the concept of time right then. Everything stood still for us in that room, and I wanted all that he had to offer.

  “You smell like me,” he breathed against my skin.

  “I, um, used your shower and your soap.” Could I be any more awkward?

  “I like it. Way too much.”

  “I stole your shirt too,” I said as my fingers fisted his hair with one hand. The silky strands felt amazing trapped between my fingers.

  “I see that,” he said low and raw as he kissed along my jaw. “Hottest fucking thing I’ve seen you in.”

  Then he was taking my lips again. I opened for him and his tongue swiped along mine. Then, in a strange mix of soft and passionate, our tongues danced as our lips molded together.

  A whimper escaped me as he pulled away. He rested his forehead against mine and stared deeply into my eyes. Our breaths mingled as I tried to slow down my crazy, racing heart.

  “We have to stop now or I won’t be able to,” he said as his body continued to heave with each breath.

  “That’s fine. I don’t want you to stop.” I attempted to kiss him again but he halted me with a firm grip as his hands framed my jaw again. A wave of embarrassment overtook my thoughts and my face. I could feel the heat creeping its way up my neck and across my cheeks. I opened my mouth and I felt foolish for it.

  “Make no mistake, Cami, I want you. I want all of you. But I won’t take you when I’m covered with dirt and blood and have been sitting on a bench in a room that smells like a drunk homeless man.” I bit my lip and gave him a little nod. “You deserve better than that and I want to give you more than just a fuck fueled by the shaky feelings brought on by the circumstances of tonig
ht.”

  Um, well, okay. There was no arguing against that even if I wanted to. It was actually really sweet and I couldn’t stop the smile that toyed with my lips.

  He placed light, sweet kisses all over my face as he backed me up toward the bed. Once the back of my legs hit the edge of the mattress, he stopped.

  “It’s been a long day. I’m going to go shower and you should try to get some sleep.” He smiled, that sexy, brilliant smile that put his dimples on full display. Those ridiculously sexy dimples. “I will warn you though, I’m going to get in that bed when I’m done and I like to cuddle. Be prepared.”

  He left me with his adorably charming threat. I loved how he was able to take the edge off of this whole night. A smile and a few flirty words and I found myself never wanting to leave this room.

  The door to the bathroom closed behind him and I tried my best to move my thoughts away from what he was doing in there. The fact that he was going to be naked and wet in the matter of a minute had me nearly panting.

  I crawled up the bed and tucked myself beneath the soft, cool sheets. I buried my nose in the pillow and inhaled his scent deeply. Then I couldn’t help but to wonder what side he slept on.

  Stupid things like that always made me over think everything. I didn’t know if I should try and figure it out further, the last thing I wanted to do was take his spot. Some people were insane about things as simple as that. I mean, I was all over the place when I slept, so for the most part, it didn’t matter which side I went to sleep on. I would always wake up on the opposite side and sometimes sideways. Yeah, I was a crazy sleeper.

  Then I got to thinking about that. I’d never slept in a bed with someone and I couldn’t imagine I’d be a good bed buddy. Would Brand hate it? Would I get on his nerves and keep him from getting the rest that he desperately needed?

  See what I meant by my thoughts tended to run wild.

  I knew it was completely insane, but I couldn’t help it. I’d always had to question everything my entire life. I had this image I was supposed to fit into and I always wondered if every action I did was within the confines of that box.