Chapter 11

CHAPTER

ELEVEN

DILLION

Humble leaves me alone in my living room, breathless. He kisses me, his fingers working between my thighs as he makes me come, and then he’s gone. His bike roars in the driveway, and I’m struck with déjà vu. My secret lover rides a bike. I walk to the window and watch him as he backs his bike out of the driveway and then rides away.

My breath hitches.

Could he be?

Could Humble be my secret lover?

Shaking my head, I decide I’m just making things up. Maybe I’m wishing it into existence. It would be easier if that were the case. If I weren't half in love with two men I don’t know.

It would make me feel better, so of course, that’s what I want to be the truth. I suck in a breath and hold it as he rides away. Then I turn around and make my way into the kitchen. I’m starving, and I have to work tonight.

Chewing on the corner of my bottom lip, I open the fridge and check the contents. There isn’t much in there. I ran out of actual food a few days ago. I don’t know why I’m even looking. Closing the door, I walk over to the pantry. There are some crackers and cookies that stare back at me.

I don’t want them.

I walk out of the kitchen and head into my bedroom. I should be taking a shower, but instead, I set my alarm, climb into the bed between the sheets, and close my eyes.

I’m as exhausted as I am satisfied.

Falling asleep, I dream of Humble. He consumes my thoughts, my body, and my soul. When my alarm sounds, I sit straight up, my breathing coming out in heavy pants. It’s starting to grow dark outside, but I feel much better than I did earlier.

When my stomach growls, I place my hand against my belly. The pangs fill me, but there isn’t much I can do about them right now. I need money for groceries. I need food.

I’ve had orgasms, I’ve had rest, and now it’s time for me to make money for food.

Glancing down at my phone, I hopefully search the screen and notifications for anything from Humble. There is nothing. I shouldn’t be surprised or upset, but that doesn’t mean I’m not because I very much am.

Tossing my device onto the bed, I make my way to the bathroom to shower and change for work. I stand in front of my mirror as I wrap my fingers around the hem of Humble’s soft cotton T-shirt but pause at the sight of my reflection.

I don’t hate what I see. I’m satisfied and happy—hopeful even. But there is something else lurking behind my gaze. And as I finger the hem of this shirt, I know it has to do with this.

Humble wanted me covered.

I should probably be angry about that, but it didn’t bother me too much. Now that I’m looking at myself and I’m alone, I wonder if I should have been upset and bothered. It was borderline controlling but not completely unreasonable. I can’t help but wonder how he’s going to feel about my job, though.

Then I decide I don’t care what he thinks about my job. There isn’t anything else I’m qualified for. I haven’t really led the kind of life where I learned a trade. My life was going to be marrying one of the men in my family’s organization and having their babies.

When I left home, it was with nothing, and I’ve been surviving. Never thriving. Now that I have this opportunity with a free place to live, I should be working on the thriving part of life, but I’m not there yet, and I’m not sure I will ever be.

Even if this house sells, I’ll have some money, but it won’t be enough to live off for long. It would be enough to get me to another state, maybe pay a down payment on an apartment and float me for a few months, but it wouldn’t last forever, and then I would be right back where I am right now.

Hungry and hopeless, but even worse than I am now, I would be alone, too. Humble is special. I know he is. This feels so much bigger than just a one-night stand. I can’t describe it because I’m not exactly sure what I’m feeling, but I know it’s big.

Pulling off the shirt, I decide to ignore my worries. There is nothing I can do about it right now. If whatever this is with Humble is just an infatuation, I can sell the house and move on with my life.

I snort as the warm water from the shower washes over my body. Closing my eyes, I let out a heavy sigh. Move on with my life. What an absolute joke. What life? Working in some bar, in retail, as a secretary? I feel as if I’ve done it all, and none of it is anything I can make a living for myself.

It’s all minimum wage.

Finishing my shower, I put on the little black dress the owner of the bar asked me to, and I head to work. It doesn’t take me long to get there. When I drive by the bakery, I pull into the spot across the street and look at the glass windows.

I find Spencer right away. She’s got her head tipped back as she laughs at something Shawn and Ryan have said. I envy them. They look so happy. There is a knock on my car window, and my entire body jumps as I look at the person who tapped.

It’s one of the girls I have hung out with a few times at the café. Rolling down my window, I look up at her. Ariya. I open my mouth to ask her if everything is okay, but she doesn’t give me the opportunity.

Instead, she starts to speak immediately.

“I heard you were hooking up with a Dark Horse,” she states, then she jerks her chin toward the bakery. “They’re part of them.”

I stare at her, unsure of what to say in response, but she doesn’t notice my confusion because she keeps talking. “Those men are dangerous. You seem like a girl who could be taken advantage of pretty easily. I thought I should let you know.”

Her words are seemingly full of concern, but I know that tone. She’s jealous. She’s not warning me off for me. She’s warning me off for her.

“I’m a big girl, Ariya. I can handle myself.”

She narrows her eyes on me. Then she presses her lips together as she shakes her head once. “Well, since you know everything, I hope you know that they fuck who they want, when they want, how they want, and leave their old ladies at home while they do it. Have fun being cheated on.”

I watch as she spins around and walks into the café. I shake off her words, but I can’t deny that they seep into my brain anyway. There’s no way that someone says something like that and you can just let it roll off your back.

Seeds are planted with those words.

Shifting my car into Reverse , I back out of the parking spot, the girls at the bakery forgotten, and head into work. I try to shake off Ariya’s words so I can focus on my new job. I can’t think about what she said to me. I can’t think about anything. I need to forget it all and concentrate on my brand-new job.

So that’s what I do.

I park in the parking lot and unfold from the seat. Smoothing down my tight black dress, I suck in a deep breath and head for the front door. This is it. This is my chance to have something. A career. A job. Something to put food in my fridge.

CLINK

Straddling my bike, I look up to see the rest of the brothers doing the same. There is a small crew we’re leaving behind in case the old ladies need them while we’re gone, but this is going to be a short run.

Before I can ride off into the wind, Spencer appears at my side. My eyes widen at the sight of her. I still have a hard time believing she’s here, that she’s engaged to one of my brothers, and that she’s staying in Pineville forever.

I reach out and grab hold of her hand, giving her a squeeze. Her eyes widen, then soften almost immediately. “Please be careful,” she whispers. “I just got you back.”

I give her a grin. “Spence, I got a lot to come back to. I ain’t going down for a goddamn thing again, I guarantee that shit.”

She leans over and surprises me when she touches her lips to my cheek in a kiss. But before she backs away, I hear her say just loud enough for me to hear.

“I like her for you. Dillion is good.”

Then she straightens, releases me, and walks back into the clubhouse. I watch her go, wondering how on fucking earth my sister ended up here and part of this club when she always detested it. I guess love makes you do crazy shit…

But then my shoulder jerks and I think about the task at hand again. This is us getting Vixen back.

She’s our property, and there is no way in fuck that the Demon Guns have any fucking sense keeping her, except they want war. And war is exactly what they’re going to get. Because we are fucking done.

Atomic is completely over this shit, and I don’t blame him. I feel the same way, except for the first time in my life, I want to stay home. I don’t want to be part of the adventure. I want to be with Dillion.

But being home and staying with my woman isn’t really an option. As the road captain, Brew leads the pack, and we follow behind him two by two, Piston being my side partner.

The sun sets and the moon shines as we continue riding toward Knoxville. A few hours pass before I get the signal that it’s time to peel off for fuel. I need to take a leak and get an energy drink anyway, so it’s a good time for a break.

I hold my breath for a moment, then let it out slowly as we take the exit, our group moving as one well-oiled machine. The gas station isn’t far off from the exit. We’re right past Little Rock, Arkansas. We aren’t even halfway to our destination yet.

This is going to be a long fucking ride.

Riding up to the gas pump, I grunt as I disengage from my bike. We all pump at the open pumps or wait for our turn. When I’m done getting gas, I leave my bike parked to the side and head into the convenience store.

After using the head, I make my way toward the drinks and look for an energy one I can stomach. I don’t usually drink that shit. I like coffee, and that’s about all, but I don’t think we plan on stopping much during this trip, and I need to stay awake.

Besides, I didn’t get as much sleep as I should have. Fucking into the wee hours of the morning is a young man’s game, and I’m only a few years shy of forty. Definitely not in young man territory any longer.

“You good?” King asks from beside me.

I don’t even look at him. Reaching for the handle of the refrigerator door, I tug it open and grab a Prime Ice Pop drink before I close the door and decide to answer him. “I’m good,” I lie.

I’m not.

I’m pissed off that I didn’t help Vixen immediately when she asked me to. I’m angry that her sister is going to be used, likely abused, and there’s nothing I can do about it. I’m worried about Dillion even though I know she’s safe in Pineville. I want all this shit done and over with so I can be home with my woman.

The conflicted sensation flows through me, and it’s causing me to waver. Not in my club, not in Dillion, but in following Atomic’s instructions. Following his instructions and keeping the peace has already gotten us into this fucking mess.

Had I never told him and just extracted Vixen’s sister, we would be in a different situation. We might be on the opposite end of a war, but at least Vixen would have been safe, and her sister would have been under our protection.

As of now, we’re out here with our dicks swinging, hoping the Demon Guns don’t see us coming before we attack. Because we will attack. Fast and hard. Just like we fuck.

“You’re not,” he announces.

“Yeah,” I grunt. “I’m not.”

“You pissed at the way Atomic is running the club,” he states.

I shrug a shoulder, not sure what to say to that. King is the vice president, and I can’t help but wonder if he doesn’t agree with Atomic either on some things, like this one. I rock back on my heels, lifting my gaze to meet his.

“Being locked away for three years puts shit into perspective,” I state.

He arches a brow. “Yeah, like playing games with the woman who was given, watched, and protected for you?”

My heart slams against my chest, and I ball my fist at my side, ready to throw down right fucking here and now. I take a step toward him but stop before I get too close. As much as I want to hit him right now, I can’t do that. Not only because he’s my VP but also because he’s not wrong, and I respect him too much anyway.

“I was playing. It was fun, but yeah, that shit is done. Dillion is claimed. But that’s not what I’m pissed about.”

He arches a brow then lifts his arms and crosses them over his chest. He tilts his head to the side, his gaze focused on mine. “What is it, then? We can all feel the tension.”

“I should have just got Vixen’s sister when she asked. I’m pissed at myself.”

“You’re pissed for bringing it to your president and allowing him to make the decision?”

“Basically. My gut instinct was to just do it. Vixen was clearly distressed, and she’s not someone who gets up in arms about nothing. She was worried about her sister, and I know she’s with the Demon Guns now, but none of this would have happened if I had just done what I thought was right and dealt with the repercussions later.”

King snorts. “Yeah, but you ain’t that man.”

“I’m not.”

I don’t say it, but I regret not being that man. At least I do right now. I fucking regret that shit. Just because it was the right chain of command, the right thing to do according to the rules of the club, that doesn’t mean it was what I should have done.