13. Dart

13

DART

S hortly after Trap left the room with Meredith, Grizzly kicks me out. I figure he's going to end up down there with her at some point, or maybe going to find Harlow himself to talk to her first.

I go back to my own room, feeling antsy about the idea that I was leaving Trap alone with Meredith. I don't think she's in danger or some shit like that, but the fact is—I'm not stupid.

He has it bad for her. Trap made it clear to me with his behavior this morning, wanting to do the exact same thing as me—coming to check on her and see what the hell happened with Grizzly last night.

Watching the dynamic between Grizzly and Meredith fucking sucked. There is definitely something going on there, some kind of electricity between them that I can't put my finger on. But I'm pretty sure he hasn't fucked her.

He's a better man than I am. I'm sure he was a perfect gentleman last night, considering what she'd been through. But it takes a lot of willpower for a man to look at someone who looks as good as Meredith and not take advantage.

But maybe it's my history with her, the fact that I saw her first. At least, in that way.

Before, it never seemed like a possibility that we would be anything but a flirtation. Two people just looking each other up and down and playing a game.

Going after the president's daughter's best friend is not exactly a good look for me, especially considering my status in the MC. I don't have the same clout as others.

Honestly, when his officers started fucking Grizzly's daughter, I thought for sure even they would be out the door. The only reason they're not is because he's known them most of his life.

I'm an outsider, plain and simple. And it's only because of Trap that I was even there for this whole thing to go down.

I pick up my cell phone and look for any missed messages. Not that I have a whole lot of family out there, but my brother checks in every once in a while. I was glad to find out a month ago he got out of prison. Seems to want to stay out for good this time, but doesn't want anything to do with the MC, for obvious reasons. He's too scared of his record.

As I make my way through the clubhouse toward the door, thinking about going on a ride to clear my head about all this Meredith shit, I spot her.

Her beautiful hair is being blown by the wind, and I notice that her head is tipped up toward someone. As I get closer, I can see that Trap is basically sucking her fucking face off.

Without a second thought, I barge through the doors, almost pulling one off the hinges. I take the steps going down to the parking lot two at a time and, despite my smaller stature compared to Trap, I reach up from behind and yank on Trap's collar. I use all my strength to pull him off of her.

I grit my teeth and nod to Meredith, who looks stunned, trying to figure out what the hell just happened. "Sorry about this, sweetheart. Me and this one have some things to talk about. I'll send Rap out here to get you out. Get you where you need to go, if that's what you're doing."

She nods, still a deer in headlights.

Trap looks at me like he could kill.

"You're coming with me, and we're working this out now," I say. I don't think I've ever sounded so convincing, especially to someone above my status here. Trap may not be an officer, but if there was another position, he'd have it.

Trap looks at me like a wild animal, but comes along well enough that all I have to do is keep my hand at his collar, not really tugging on it.

We easily find Rap at the pool table. He's always been an early riser, and he takes early afternoon watch and then takes a nap. Trap's the one who gives the order to take Meredith and keep her safe, and then he puts a detail on her.

I assume that by now Grizzly's in his office, so that's the direction I turn.

A few steps down the hall, and there it is. I bang on the door as a warning before I enter, in case he's letting out all of that lust for Meredith with some club whore. It wouldn't be the first time any of us walked in on him getting blown.

The thing is, we all need to talk, and we need to do it now.

I open the door after giving the warning and find he's alone at his desk, twiddling his thumbs while he looks at some paperwork. I practically throw Trap toward the seat in front of the desk. I take the one to right.

"Now, what the hell is this all about?" Trap says, practically spitting on me.

"Have you forgotten this is my damn office? You two assholes get out or spit it out."

Grizzly's in the worst mood I've ever seen.

Jealousy.

"We need to talk about what the hell to do about the fact that all three of us want Meredith." I leave everything on the table, nothing left to lose. "Don't anybody fucking deny it. We all know it. So, let's get to the bottom of this. Are we going to let Grizzly win just because he's the Prez, or how do we handle this dispute? Because it could get fucking ugly if we don't do anything, especially considering I just caught this monkey kissing her."

I point to Trap, and something flashes across Grizzly's face. The kind of look he tends to give to enemies right before he murders them.

But then Grizzly leans back in his chair, putting his feet up next to the paperwork on his desk. He tries to play it cool, but I know just like me, there's a war raging under the surface as he tries to figure out how he's going to win this incredible woman.

How he's going to get her into his bed again.

"It doesn't even matter. She's my daughter's best friend. After everything I said to her and the officers when she wanted to be with them…" Grizzly shakes his head, not needing to say anything further for us to understand.

He continues, "I'll never actually get to be with her. And I don't even know if she's actually attracted to me anyway. Kinda goes both ways, doesn't it?"

Grizzly looks away as if there might be something mighty interesting in the corner of the room.

I scoff, but it's Trap who speaks up. "That's a load of bullshit, and you know it. I've seen the way you look at her. And the way you acted last night, the way you wouldn't let anyone else touch her first. So, why don't you claim her and get it over with?"

Grizzly pops up out of his chair, about to make a move like an angry bear. It's the stance that got him his name, given to him by his father who held the position before him. We've all heard the stories.

"Hold on a damn minute. This isn't about some boxing match or some show of testosterone. This is literally about her." I put my hands up when I say it, emphasizing that they need to cut their shit. Normally, no one has the audacity to act like this to Grizzly, but I'm trying to protect them as much as I am trying to make sure we all get what we want and so does Meredith.

"Fine." Grizzly sits down, pulling a pocketknife out and stabbing it into his table angrily. "We do need to fucking figure this out. Before it kills us all. But I want to leave it up to Meredith. It should be up to her to decide."

We all sit silent. Of course, I knew this was a possibility. Just let her choose. I want to think that if she does, I'll have the advantage. But it's the twenty-first century, and women can make a whole hell of a lot of choices. Hell, she could choose none of us, for that matter. Especially if she realizes we're fighting like this.

"Fine. I have an idea. Trap, what is she doing right now? You're the one who was giving her the big send-off."

The side of Trap's mouth quirks up in a smirk.

"She got an email from her dad. Went to meet him and see what she could get as far as information. But she mentioned maybe needing a couple things from her house or her dorm. I don't know. Maybe we can get a hold of Rap and find out." He shrugs.

Grizzly lets out a grunt. "What's going on in that head of yours, Dart?"

"You mean other than the fact that we need a bottle of whiskey?" I ask, causing all of us to chuckle. It only serves to break the tension for a millisecond. "I'm thinking of getting ahold of her and inviting her somewhere. Somewhere completely neutral and private, where we can lay all the cards on the table and leave it in her hands."

Grizzly nods. "You're probably right. But don't let it go to your head." He slides his cell phone out to the middle of the table. "Her phone number and email should be in there. I have it in case of emergencies with Harlow, but I've never actually used it. I've already got her a new phone, was able to transfer her old number, and I sent one of the prospects to drop it off at her dorm. Go ahead and get a hold of her. Invite her to one of your rentals. Don't you have one free right now?" He looks up at me for confirmation.

I cross my arms over my chest, feeling smug. "As a matter of fact, there is one vacant right now. I'm in between occupants. And it has staged furniture. I can invite her to come over there when she's done with her dad."

The agreement between us is unspoken. I know everyone feels the same way with their nods and intense looks.

Now, all I have to do is pick up the phone and do what Grizzly said. Then, we'll all know our fate with her—which one of us would be the lucky asshole to take Meredith's virginity one day.