Alanna: It’s a secret.
Me: Seriously?
Alanna: No one and I mean no one can know. Promise me B.
Me: Who the hell would I tell?
Alanna: Your brother or one of his men.
Me: Yeah nope.
Alanna: He has you followed remember?
Me: And I’m really good at evading. ??
Alanna: I’ve missed you. ??
Me: You have no idea how much I’ve missed you!
Alanna: I’m near Riverton by Portland Maine. In a small little complex. There is a white house with blue shutters and a big blue door with oval glass in the center.
Me: Alone?
Alanna: Yeah, I rented it from an old couple who moved to Florida. They said they needed to get away from the snow, lol.
Me: Give me two weeks. I need to plan a trip like this without the watchful eyes of the Grimm Brothers.
Alanna: How’s Reyes?
It was almost nervous. I could read the concern in Alanna’s voice.
Me: He’s been on edge.
Alanna: Oh.
Me: You okay?
Alanna: Yeah…
Me: Don’t sound so convincing.
Alanna: Everything will be fine when you get here!
Me: Naturally!
Alanna: I’ll see you soon.
Me: Keep your eyes wide open, or you’ll miss me! ??
Alanna: Funny! I Love you B.
Me: Love you too.
Chapter 12
Bianca
Four Months Ago.
I was staring at her while she fidgeted. Alanna’s fingers twisted together as she looked at me from the chair she was sitting in. She waited for me to process the large bomb that she just dropped on me. I swear I could see the mushroom cloud.
Alanna was pregnant, and my brother was the father. How did I not see this coming? He’s been watching her for years, something I didn’t notice. I knew she was watching him, not that she knew that.
She looked so miserable and heartbroken. It was honestly a relief that she finally told me what had her running and hiding. I wanted to smack her for keeping this from me for so long.
“How are things with Ryan?” Alanna asked, trying to turn this conversation away from her and back to me.
“It isn’t, but nice try,” I tell her with a wink and a smile that I wasn’t feeling.
What was wrong with me? How could he not see me? I threw myself at him over and over. There was this one day I literally climbed into his lap and was all but licking his ear. I felt his cock harden underneath me and thought he felt what I felt.
One look to his left had him picking me up and placing me in his now-vacated seat. I watched with frustration and wounded pride as he walked away without another look.
“He’ll come around B,” she tells me.
Her voice held a hint of doubt. If she doubted it then what chance did I really have? Have I been deluding myself for the last two years?
“I think maybe it’s time I get over it,” I tell her with a forced smile.
I wouldn’t ever get over him. What I felt for Ryan was almost criminal. He consumed every fiber of my being. I remember asking myself what sixteen-year-old finds her one and only and the answer to that was me. How unlucky was I?
“Don’t say that,” she gasps.
My eyes scanned her body. Maybe I wasn’t so unlucky. She got what she wanted and was cursed with the results. My brother finally gave her the time of day, and he then left her in pieces. It was kind of like Ryan. I fought the urge to press my hand over my stomach. We were in the same boat it seemed.
“We should go out tonight,” I tell her on a whim of inspiration.
“Have you forgotten one little important detail?” She asked. Alanna’s tone was filled with sarcasm that I saw written all over her face.
So, I gave her a blank stare. What the fuck was she talking about?
“I’m pregnant!” She snapped.
“Oh, I didn’t mean that kind of go out,” I tell her with a shrug.
It’s not like we were old enough to get into a regular bar. That shit was only something we got away with at the clubhouse. Not to mention we were both pregnant. I should tell her, but I was terrified. If I said it out loud, then it was real, and Ryan really left me that night.
“Really? And what kind of going out did you mean?” she asked.
“The kind where we get food and check out the hot guys,” I tell her with a smirk.
“Oh,” she deflated a little.
I may have been lost in myself, but I wasn’t that far gone. And tonight, I was going to prove to myself that I was wanted. Who knew wanting Ryan would make this all so hard?
Chapter 13
Ryan
Four Months Ago.
Bianca was making shit difficult. Once again, she slipped away. I stared at Reyes as he threw his beer at the wall. He was pissed, and he’s been on edge since Alanna took off.
When I get my hands on her, I was going to spank her damn ass until it was nice and red. My dick hardened and strained against my jeans.
“Where the fuck did she go?” Reyes growled.
“Bianca always does shit like this,” I reminded him.
“Fuck!” He shouted as another beer slammed into the wall narrowly missing the prospect trying to clean up the previous beer.
“Probably just wanted to piss you off,” I tell him.
“She better not be meeting up with someone,” he snarled.
Fuck, I was in total agreement there. If Bianca was meeting some guy, I was going to gut the fucker slowly.
“She’s probably meeting Alanna,” I said.
The moment the words slipped out, I regretted them. Reyes’s dark eyes swung in my direction. They narrowed slightly as he stared me down.
“Do you know where the fuck Alanna is?” His voice was dark and low.
“Fuck man, if I did, I would have told you that shit by now,” I tell him with a low laugh. I wasn’t stupid.
“We’re supposed to meet up with the Bloody Saints,” Gunner announced.
“Call that fucker Shane and tell him we won’t be making it today,” Reyes replied coldly.
This meeting was important. We were trying to make an alliance with this club.
“Fuck!” Gunner sighed as he walked away.
Bianca better be ready for the shit storm she just opened up. Her little disappearing act could cost this club.
“If this shit blows up in our face, we’ll need someone to go spend some time in their clubhouse,” Reyes tells me.
“I’ll go,” I tell him.
Anything to get me out of here and away from temptation even if for only a little while.
Chapter 14
Bianca
Four Months Ago.
The suction of the door caused the wind to blow my hair around my face when we pulled open the restaurant’s bar door. The place should give us some delicious food options and some possibly incredible eye candy.
Alanna was reluctant to even step foot into the establishment. Her shoulders were slightly slumped as if the world was resting on her and she couldn’t hold the weight anymore.
“We don’t have to do this,” I heard myself say as we stood in the threshold of the doorway.
“No, I’ve got this,” she told me with a laugh.
“You sure?” I asked her. My eyes darted to her hands that were clenched and looked like they were strangling each other.
“Yes,” she laughed.
Giving her another ‘are you sure’ look, I waited for her to change her mind. Instead, she pushed past me and headed into the building.
As we made our way towards the bar, which was situated past a few tables near the rear of the restaurant. I sighed hard. I should tell her about my baby. She confessed about hers, and I should tell her about mine.
My eyes darted down to her slightly rounded tummy, and they closed briefly. How long before I looked like that?
“Something else is bot
hering you,” Alanna whispered as we pulled ourselves up and on the bar stools.
Swallowing I fought the urge to flee. What do I say? I wasn’t ready to confess anything at all.
“Ladies,” a deep male voice broke through the panic induced haze.
Lifting my eyes, I looked into a pair of deep green eyes.
“What can I get for you?” he asked.
“Coke,” I tell him.
That wasn’t bad for the baby, right? Shit, I had no idea what I was doing.
“Sprite with some cherries please,” Alanna told him.
I should change my order. Then I looked at Alanna and realized I would definitely be giving it away if I did that. Just take small sips, and all will be well, I coached myself.
“Be right back,” the man said while drumming his fingers on the counter.
Reaching for the menu, I opened it and stared at all the choices. What would be healthy?
“What are you getting?” Alanna asks.
“Not sure, I’m thinking about the sirloin,” I tell her.
That had iron in it, and I was sure it would be good for the baby.
“Mmmm sounds yummy,” Alanna said while she licked her lips.
I laughed and asked, “Guess you’re getting it too?”
“Yes,” she sighed.
So, I made the right choice. Score three points for me, then minus two for the drink. I guess I’m just getting by.
I was just about to open my mouth to ask if Alanna wanted to share a cookie when our food was gone. She then stood up and darted out of the main room.
Then, another person sat down in her seat.
“This seat is taken,” I tell the person before even really looking at them.
“I won’t be here long,” the man tells me.
“There are plenty of empty seats,” I tell him harshly.
“The best way to get the bartenders attention is to sit next to the hottest woman in the place,” he replied nonchalantly.
I laughed hard, I couldn’t help it. Finally letting my eyes meet his I was caught off guard by the deep blue that was staring back at me.
“I’m Thomas,” he tells me while holding out his hand.
“Bianca,” I tell him as I placed my smaller hand in his much larger one. I watched in amazement as his hand looked like it swallowed mine whole.
His smile widened showing off a little dimple on his right cheek. I should have felt something, maybe a stirring of desire, but it was like I was looking at a cold fish. There was nothing, nada, zip. It was a little depressing really.
His eyes sparkled as he stared at me, and I felt a fake smile splitting across my face. This was what I wanted. A man to stare at. Maybe make me forget. A slight pang hit me. Ryan had burrowed so deep inside of me that I wasn’t so sure I was ever going to forget him or be able to move on from him.
“You from around here?” His voice was smooth and husky.
He wanted me, and as much as it was flattering, it wasn’t even a blip on my radar.
“No,” I replied with a smile.
“Boyfriend?” He asks.
Was he for real?
“Getting a little ahead of yourself, aren’t you?” I asked him while cocking an eyebrow.
I watched as his eyes widened.
“Can’t blame a guy for trying,” he said with a laugh while holding up his hands in surrender.
“Has anyone ever told you that?” I asked him.
His smile was warm and all too sure.
“Maybe,” he replied with a shrug.
“Apparently not enough,” I mumbled.
“Very true,” he said with a laugh.
I watched as a lock of dark brown hair fell over his forehead. He was a very attractive man, but he did nothing for me. Not even a twinge of awareness.
“Who are you here with?” he asked.
“My friend,” I told him.
Would he just leave? Damn, I thought I wanted this, and now that I had it, I wanted nothing more than for him to just leave.
Alanna chose that moment to reappear. Her teeth sunk deep into her lower lip, and I winced in sympathy. I could tell she wasn’t sure what to do and honestly neither did I.
“Alanna,” she tells him when he finally took his eyes off me and looked to her.
I felt nothing but relief when his eyes left my face. It wasn’t that I was afraid, he just wasn’t who I wanted.
Will you ever really have who you want? A little voice whispered.
No. No, I won’t. Closing my eyes, I tried to center myself. Thomas seemed like a good guy and relationships have started with less.
“B,” Alanna’s voice pulled me from my thoughts.
“Yeah?” I asked her, my voice was surprisingly steady.
“We should go,” she tells me.
I could all but feel her need to flee.
“Yeah,” I agreed.
My eyes darted back to Thomas who still had an easy-going smile plastered to his face.
“At least let me get your number. Maybe we can meet again sometime,” Thomas said, his smile genuine.
Taking a deep breath, I tried to decide what to do. If I gave him my number, I would be finally coming to terms with the fact that what I wanted was gone.
Digging into my purse, I pulled out a pen and turned the napkin that was sitting on the smooth, glossy wood surface around. I pressed down gently with the pen and wrote my numbers onto the rough surface.
Don’t think, I reminded myself as I pushed the now doodled on napkin in his direction. Without another word, I climbed off the stool and walked away. Alanna was right beside me.
Chapter 15
Ryan
Three Months Ago.
Bianca’s being evasive. Reyes was ready to lock her up and throw away the key. Fuck, I was ready to help him. She kept disappearing.
Bianca stared us down as we loomed over her like the assholes we were.
“Where the fuck is Alanna?” Reyes growled.
“Neverland,” she hissed between clenched teeth.
“I know you’ve been sneaking off to see her,” he snapped at her.
“Maybe I was meeting up with Thomas,” she snapped back.
Back the fuck up, who the hell is Thomas?
“I seriously fucking doubt that shit,” Reyes barked.
“Just because you haven’t met him doesn’t mean he isn’t real!” she shouted.
I was still stuck on who the fuck was Thomas and why am I just now hearing about him. Was he touching what’s mine?
“Bianca,” I interjected.
“Fuck off, Ryan,” she hissed.
My dick went for zero to sixty. I was so fucking goddamn hard it felt like it was going to tear through my zipper.
“Who the fuck is Thomas,” I growled only to have Reyes shout over me.
“Where the fuck is she!” he roared.
“Fuck off, that’s where she is!” Bianca screamed back.
Bianca’s phone started to ring. Her cheeks were red from anger which then turned a darker shade as she pulled it from the back pocket of her tight as fuck jeans.
“Don’t you fucking dare,” Reyes shouted.
I watched in amazement as she pressed it to her ear completely ignoring her brother.
“Thomas,” she said into the phone with a little breathy sigh.
Anger and jealousy roar over me. My hands clench into fists as I fought the urge to pull her into my arms and drag her off somewhere like a fucking caveman.
“It’s nice to hear your voice,” she replied to whatever the dickwad said with a little giggle.
“I still haven’t met the fucker and that better be rectified quickly,” Reyes snapped.
My chest was heaving hard as I fought the need to take her phone and find this fucker. I would then bury Thomas in a shallow grave off route one.
“Thomas this isn’t a good time,” she tells him.
I watched as her eyes closed and a small smile spread over her face. It wasn’t until then
that I realized I hadn’t seen her smile in a while.
“Dinner? Yeah, um, my brother wants to meet you,” she tells him. “So maybe tomorrow night you come and get me? Then you can meet my brother?” Bianca said in a low voice.
She paused and kept her eyes on me as she listened to whatever the dead motherfucker said.
“See you tomorrow,” she said sweetly.
I watched as she lowered the phone and slipped it back into her pocket.
“That fucker better not have touched you,” Reyes growled.
“Shut up, Reyes! He’s been amazing, more then I can say for some people in this room,” she spat.
How long has this been going on?
“We have club business,” Reyes says to me. His eyes were dark, and anger coated his words.
“I want to know where she is, Bianca,” he tells her as he walked out of the room.
I watched Bianca as she watched him leave the room.
“Not going to tell you either,” she said coldly.
“Didn’t think you would,” I tell her honestly.
Something dark had slithered inside of me as thoughts of Thomas and her filled my head.
“Did he touch you?” the words slipped out before I could bite them back.
“Not your business,” she tells me darkly.
“Everything that has to do with you is my business,” I growled.
“You need to leave,” she tells me looking anywhere but at me.
“This shit isn’t over Bianca,” I tell her.
“Maybe not, but for tonight it is,” she said as she walked away.
It was the first fucking time she walked away from me. Normally I was the one doing the walking. I didn’t like it, not one fucking bit.
Chapter 16
Bianca
Three Months Ago.
Thomas: I’ll be there in a few minutes.
Me: I’m ready.
Thomas: Your brother there?
Me: Waiting by the door. I just want to say that I’m sorry in advance.
I held my breath as I waited for his reply. What if he changed his mind?
Thomas: Can’t be that bad.
Me: You have no idea.
Thomas: Everything will be fine.
He had no idea what he was getting into. No matter how many times I tried to explain my brother to Thomas, he just kept waving me off.
Over the last month that we started talking, I learned a lot about who he was.
Wanting Ryan (The Grimm Brothers MC Book 3) Page 3
