Brand_A Steel Paragons MC Novel

by Eve R. Hart

  I pressed my lips together and dug into my purse. Phone and keys gathered in one hand, I moved closer to my father’s desk. I placed them down in front of my father, pinning him with a stare. He didn’t look up at me, his eyes remained locked on the edge of his desk.

  It didn’t surprise me. My mother had the backbone of the family. Couldn’t blame her though, she had the most to lose, if you will. She had to hold onto the family name because it wasn’t originally hers. Though she was born with a silver spoon in her mouth, her family name didn’t quite have the prestigious ring that the Benson name held. And that was not me being a snotty bitch, it was how my mother truly thought about it.

  “And Camille,” my mother said just as I had turned my back to walk away. I stopped, but didn’t turn to face her. “I recommend that you keep away from those criminals if you don’t want anything to happen to them or their club. I should not have to remind you how much money we donate to the police department, among other things.”

  My blood ran like ice through my veins. She couldn’t get her way but she was hellbent on pulling every string to come out on top. It wasn’t an empty threat and I knew that. I held the tears back as I walked out of that room, trying my hardest not to let my posture fall. I didn’t want to let her know she’d gotten to me, even a little. I had no doubt that she’d do her best to bring them down, any way that she could, all the while, keeping her hands completely clean from the whole thing.

  I had to admit that I was a bit in shock. I mean the last twelve hours had been a whirlwind of intense events. It shouldn’t have been a surprise that this is what I’d come home to. The reality was it was just a matter of time before everything blew up. And sure, if you wanted to get technical about it, this whole thing was my fault. If I hadn’t of stepped foot into Branded In Ink then I wouldn’t be in this position. I wouldn’t be to blame for whatever my mother had planned for the club.

  And as I dragged my carry-on suitcase out of my closet, I felt numb.

  I packed. Tossing in random things that I didn’t even bother looking at. For a moment I thought that this might be a passing threat or punishment, but as I remembered who my mother was, I knew it wasn’t. My father hadn’t said a single thing, which told me that he might not agree with my mother but he wasn’t going to voice his opinion.

  I decided that once I stepped out the front door I wasn’t going to let this get me down. Sure, I had nothing. No car. No phone. No home. Yep, I had no place to live. I wasn’t worried about that though because I was sure my sister would take me in. Like seventy-eight percent sure. I mean, she still did basically everything our mother wanted of her, but we had some kind of closeness.

  With a huge sigh, I climbed into Doug’s waiting Jeep. He gave me a sympathetic look as he moved the gearshift into drive.

  “Laurel’s?” he asked like he knew me and this family so well.

  I had maybe spent a few afternoons here and there talking to Doug throughout the years. Sometimes I liked to get my hands dirty and he would always let me indulge such desires along the back corner of the property. The corner that my parents couldn’t see from the house.

  And now, I realized that sounded kinda icky. No, nothing creepy happened at all. Doug was a good ten years older than me at least and he never made any sort of weird move on me.

  During those times where we would work side by side planting and trimming whatever needed it at the time, I would always talk about what was going on in that dreaded house. He listened but usually offered no advice. A few times, he simply told me ‘you are your own person. Don’t let them tramp that part of you down.’ And that was it, really. I hadn’t taken those words to heart ever. Not until now, when I was sitting in his Jeep, heading down the long driveway, leaving it all behind.

  I needed to let Brand know, but my mother’s words rang out in the back of my mind. Maybe it was a bit naïve, but I believed without a doubt that she would follow through with her threat. Suddenly it didn’t matter that I had stood up to her, it didn’t matter that I wasn’t on my way to the stupid farm to live with my aunt. It didn’t matter even a little, that I’d finally cut myself free.

  “It will all be alright, Cami,” Doug said as he pulled to a stop in front of Laurel’s luxury apartment building. With a sigh, I gave a sad nod.

  “Thanks, Doug. You’ve been a true friend,” I said as I made my way out of the Jeep and pulled my suitcase out of the back.

  I didn’t look back as I pushed open the huge, heavy glass door and headed to the elevator. The eleven floors passed too slowly for my liking. I was sad. I felt pathetic and stupid. And though I was free of my parents, I still felt trapped.

  I lifted my hand to knock, praying that she’d take me in and at least be a little bit on my side. The dread that I had no idea whose side she’d be on had tears stinging my eyes.

  I heard her heels clicking on the marble floor, growing louder with every click, and I held my breath as the door slowly opened.

  CHAPTER NINETEEN

  Brand

  I headed over to the shop to meet Blade and deal with the big headache that had fucked up my week.

  I kept busy cleaning the place up and calling around to find someone that could fix the front glass as soon as possible. Lucky for me, I found a company that could come the next day. So, if we could get the holes patched up in the walls, the shop might only be closed down for two days. Not totally awesome, but not as bad as it could have been. We’d be opened by the weekend and maybe, just maybe, not that many people would know about what had happened.

  “You’re quiet today,” Blade said from the other side of the room. “Cami’s really okay?”

  There was no mistaking the genuine concern in his voice. That wasn’t something I’d heard from him before and it threw me a little. But then again, it was adorable, sweet Cami he was worried about.

  I imagined that any person that was lucky enough to so much as have her breeze through their life would be affected by her, would hold the same tenderness and concern for her. She was special, and I wasn’t just saying that because of how I felt about her. It was clear that she drilled a little spot into Blade’s hardened heart. And then there was Sketch. Sure he kept his same level of crass and…well, “Sketchiness,” but it was clear that he really cared for Cami. It was almost like she was the sister he never had, or something.

  And of course, Chris liked her. I mean, first off, the guy got along with pretty much anyone, he was just really fucking cool that way. I suspected that he liked Cami more because of me, if that made any sense. Chris was forever looking out for me. No, that wasn’t something that was missed by me, and I sure as shit didn’t take it for granted. There had been no hiding how I felt about Cami and in fact, I think he saw it long before I had figured it out.

  “Yeah,” I said answering Blade after a pause that had lingered on for too long. “I mean, she wasn’t hurt. She seemed a little shaken when I got back last night, but this morning…she was good.” Or so I had thought.

  “This place is a disaster,” Chris said after he walked in through the back and took in the mess that hadn’t been fixed yet. “You good?”

  “Yeah, I’m fine.” I waved him off just as Lake walked in right behind Chris holding two pizza boxes in his hands. “What’s up, brother?”

  “I called him,” Lake said talking about Chris.

  I cringed then shot Chris a sympathetic look. I wouldn’t have said I forgot about him, but I maybe hadn’t had a chance to call him and explain to him about everything that had gone down. In all fairness, I’d been locked up and then, well, I had been really distracted.

  A smile pulled at my lips at the thought of my time with Cami. That was something I never wanted to forget. And I wasn’t talking about the moment we were ducking bullets.

  “Cami?” Chris asked not even attempting to make me feel bad at all.

  “I think she’s good.” I blew out a harsh breath and lifted my ball cap to run my fingers through my hair.

  “Sh
e left outta your room pretty early,” Lake said, his left brow going up in question. “I wasn’t being all creepy, I just heard her car start up and drive away.”

  It didn’t surprise me that he was up at that hour to take notice of her leaving. In all the years I’d been around him, I’d never known that guy to sleep through the night. Even back at Moon Hill he was like that. I had no clue why and he wasn’t one for going into details about it.

  I had a feeling it was about to get real chick flick up in here. So, I slid the bill over my hair and made sure it was tucked in back just right, grabbed a box of pizza, and made my way over to the couch between the rooms. I wasn’t shocked at all when all three of them followed behind in a line like baby ducklings.

  “So when I got back last night—or the wee hours of this morning, rather—she was there in my room. I could tell that what had happened was hitting her but I didn’t know what to do. I mean, I’m used to it by now, but someone like her, she shouldn’t be familiar with shit like this.” I flung my hand in the direction of the front of the shop. “She shouldn’t even know what it’s like to be in a situation like what happened last night. Fuck! I wanted to talk to her but then…”

  Well, then she became a distraction and I willingly had let her. I think we both needed it right then.

  “You slept with her?” Chris said and I couldn’t tell if the twinge of shock was meant as a joke or not.

  I shot him a look. Sure I’d opened the door, but I wasn’t going to disrespect her and talk about it. It was private and maybe some of my thoughts that I’d had while I was buried inside of her were just the opposite of that, but right now I wasn’t going to turn her into some locker room conquest talk.

  “Ky said he heard you two, thin walls and everything. And he wanted to know whose car that was sitting out front.” Lake shrugged it off like he knew not to say too much but at the same time, wanted to make me aware that what had happened in my room was pretty much common knowledge at this point.

  “I’m not talking about it. My point is, this morning she seemed fine. She said she was heading back to her place to get a shower and stuff. Then she mentioned that she wanted to help clean up the shop but I told her to stay away until she heard from me because I needed to make sure it was safe. I still don’t know what’s going on.”

  “How’d she sound when you talked to her?” Blade asked and there was that tone again, the one that said he needed to know she was alright.

  “Don’t know,” I said with a half-shrug. “She didn’t answer when I called. Haven’t heard anything from her all day.” I tried my best to brush it off and not reach for my phone at the same time. I knew checking it would only leave me with the same disappointment I’d gotten all day every time I’d given in and looked. Nothing. Not even a simple text.

  “Eh, just give her some time. She’s probably trying to process it all. I mean, come on, it’s not like it something that’s all that easy to come to grips with. And seeing you hurt, well, I know that feeling all too well,” Chris said and I could see him going back to the night that my bike, as well as my body, had gotten fucked up. “But seriously, I need to know more. Leave out the details, because I know you, but how did this even happen? Last I’d seen, she was like one of those little frightened hairless dogs around you.”

  I laughed despite the blue mood I was in.

  “Chinese Crested,” Blade mumbled around a bite of pizza.

  “The hell you talking about?” Lake said shooting him a look like he was crazy.

  “Hairless dog, they’re called Chinese Crested,” Blade clarified.

  “Anyway,” Chris said, pulling the word right out of my head.

  “You’ll never believe this. And I am going to nut slap Sketch the next time I see him. Remind me of that,” I said trying to hold back my laughter and looking directly at Chris. “She thought we were together.”

  I was failing horribly at holding in the humor of it all, and as Lake barked out a laugh, I let go and joined in.

  “Like...together, together?” Chris asked as an amused smile graced his face. He could see it too. I mean, we were pretty close and had a connection that we didn’t even care to hide. Like BFFs for life.

  “I could see where she’d get that,” Blade said nodding his head a bit.

  “That’s what I said!” I chuckled. “I corrected her. She did this cute as hell freak out, then I kissed her. And if it wasn’t for the bullets that flew at us, I would have done it again.”

  “How romantic…” Lake mumbled and I couldn’t tell if he was being sarcastic or not. “Think Chris is right, give her a day or two. I’m sure she’ll be alright, it’s just a lot to take in. She handled herself really well from what I’d seen, almost like she was made for this life.”

  Now that was funny to me. Because in my mind, she was so far removed from this lifestyle. She didn’t deserve it and she sure as shit shouldn’t be able to handle it.

  We polished off both pies then got to work. It didn’t take long to get everything patched up.

  About ready to call it a day, I dug around in the back storage room and pulled out the paint cans that had the leftover shop colors. As I shook one of them next to my ear, I hoped there was enough left to cover the patched holes, and that it wasn’t too old and dried out. That would have been just be my luck. I really should have popped them open, given them a good stir, and answered those wonders right then, but I didn’t. I was over it, and I knew Iron needed me back at the compound soon anyway. If I left now, I’d have enough time to shower and try to call Cami…again.

  She hadn’t called me or so much as sent a text all day. It irked me. I thought for sure there was something there between us.

  Maybe in my absence, she had figured out what I had known all along. That she was too good for a guy like me.

  After a long, hot shower, I sat on the edge of my bed and toyed with my phone. This would be it. I didn’t want to seem like a desperate man, after all. If she didn’t answer…well, I’d either get the hint or freak out that something had happened. Let me be real, I’d definitely jump to the latter first.

  It rang.

  And rang and rang and rang.

  Voicemail, again.

  I opted to leave a message this time.

  “Cami.” I cleared my throat. “I don’t know what’s going on, but I really need to hear your voice. Please call me. Even if it’s to tell me it will never work out. I…I need to know that you’re alright. Word of warning, if I don’t hear from you, I will come looking.”

  I left it at that, hoping that everything was alright and that she’d find a bit of humor in my message. That we’d be able to laugh it off later and everything would be right again.

  Then my phone chimed with a text. One that crushed everything inside of me.

  It is not going to work out. I would appreciate it if you did not call this number again.

  CHAPTER TWENTY

  Cami

  “Here,” Laurel said as she pushed a huge wineglass full of deep berry red goodness in my direction. “You need this.”

  And if that wasn’t the darn truth. I tilted the glass back and chugged down what I was sure was an unhealthy amount. I didn’t care. I was a mess, and that was putting it lightly.

  Lucky for me, Laurel took one look at my face and pulled me into her arms. She didn’t ask what had happened and I had a feeling that she’d already gotten a call from our mother. She had to have known something by now. But she didn’t know my side and I was so desperate to talk that the words started pouring out of my mouth almost as fast as I was pouring wine down my throat.

  “I think I’ve screwed up,” I blubbered then thought about those exact words. “No, I mean. I haven’t. I don’t believe that, at least before today, I hadn’t thought that. I couldn’t take that stupid job at the museum, it wouldn’t have made me happy. So, I’m not sure if you know or not, but I’ve been working at a tattoo shop. Kind of like a shop girl, but Brand, the guy who owns it—I think—has slowly been
teaching me all about tattooing.”

  I took in a shaky breath and emptied the rest of the wine into my mouth. She didn’t hesitate to grab the bottle and fill my glass back up.

  “I don’t know, I can’t explain it, but I really want to be a tattoo artist. Brand, he was going to teach me. He’s so amazing…”

  “Brand?”

  “Yes,” I could feel my head nodding frantically. The wine was hitting me pretty quickly. “I think I’m in love with him.” The words threw themselves out of my mouth. Though I maybe hadn’t meant to say them, it didn’t mean they weren’t true.

  “Awww, honey.” She leaned in and hugged me, her hand rubbing up and down my back in a comforting way.

  Right then, she was the sister I’d always wanted and needed. I hadn’t realized how starved for it I was until that second. And she didn’t let me down. I swatted the tears away with fast hands.

  “I do. I love him. He sees me. He likes that girl that I’ve tried so hard to hide all my life. I just…”

  “Then what are you doing here? I mean, not that I mind one bit, but if you feel so strongly for this guy, Brand, then why didn’t you go to him?”

  “Because,” I took in a deep, shaky breath before I continued, “because, she threatened him and his club. Oh, yeah, he’s part of a motorcycle club. I’ve met some of them, they seem like nice guys. I mean, for rough-n-gruff men that wear leather and ride a bike and all.” A fit of giggles slipped out of me at how ridiculous I sounded.

  “Bikers?” Her eyebrows went to meet her hairline. “Really? Is that…safe?”