10. Chapter Ten

Chapter Ten

"You've got to be fucking shitting me," I growl at Hound.

He looks over his shoulder at the sight that has me seeing red and ready to kill first and ask questions later.

Ember's strutting toward Roane's RV with a travel bag as he and Jules load up with their kids.

"What the fuck is she doing here?"

Hound tries to hide his slight chuckle. "Heard Venom Ink will be in Anarchy. Maybe she's a fan or Roane is taking her along."

Roane doesn't need my permission to bring an employee with him, but considering the state of shit, I'd think he'd asked me first.

My babydoll. Fuck me, I've got to stop calling her mine, even if it's only in my inner thoughts. Ember pretends not to notice me as she continues past Roane's RV and stops at Creed's bike, where he's currently shoving some shit into one of his saddlebags.

Hound must still be watching the scene that's unfolding because he presses a hand to my chest. "Keep your cool. She may only be talking to him."

"Doesn't matter. It's none of my business. Ember's free to make her own choices."

"You sure you're good?" He stares me down, looking for a crack in my defenses.

"Fuckin' peachy."

"Hey boys. We ready to ride out?" Angel sashays toward us and Hound looks at me like must be out of my fuckin' mind.

Ember glances in our direction and I can't meet her gaze. Not after what I did. If that didn't make her hate me, this for damn sure will.

Hound snorts. "Catch up with you later." He shakes his head as he hustles over to where Prez, Viking, and Prodigy have a map spread out across the tailgate of a truck, going over our route one more time before we ride out.

"Let's get this shit over with." I grunt and take this cunt's bag to stow away. Promised to drop her off with her sister in Arkansas. She's got some family down that way. Normally, I wouldn't think twice about it. Guess her grandma is real sick and we're heading there anyway to link up with some of the Kings of Anarchy to join us for the ride to California.

I watch Creed run a finger under Ember's chin before taking her smaller bag and stowing it with his. Fucking asshole. It's my fault for handing her straight to him. Kills me to watch, but she needs to live life. Hate that I'm not the one to give her this experience. There's no going back now. I made my choice, and she's making hers.

The first leg of our trip we're not riding much further than Drag Creek. Located in Eastern Kentucky and home to the Black Rebel Riders' MC. Murder's taking a couple cases of their moonshine as a wedding gift to Hero. The VP of the KOAMC in Southern California.

We line up to ride out and Angel wraps her arms around me. Her touch feeling fifty shades of wrong. Prez, Easton, Prodigy and Viking ride ahead of me along with Holy, Link, and Banks. Sandman brings up the rear behind Navarro, Static, and me. Fucking Creed is riding behind me.

Those staying behind close the gates once we are all through the gate.

Every time I glance behind me, I catch a glimpse of Ember, and I know the next week is going to be pure hell.

Drag Creek, Kentucky

After paying our respects to the grave of Jack ‘Grim' Jones, one of the founding members of the Black Rebel Riders' MC, we settle in at the campground owned by the club. They rent out ATVs and have trails and cabins. Place is operated by a biker by the name of Solo and his Ol' Lady, Vada. The business took some time and heavy investment to get operational, but it was worth the wait. We swing by occasionally and rent some cabins. Do some riding and fishing. Camping. A little boating.

They have a nice setup.

Prez and East are shooting the shit with Rebel and Striker Black, the President and Vice President. Could be we patch over to their club if not the Kings. One thing I do know is that change is coming.

I spy Ember with Creed across the field, roasting marshmallows and wieners over one of the designated fire pits. I got shot of Angel the moment we parked. She's not my responsibility and she sure as shit isn't my fucking date.

"You stare at them any harder, they may burst into flames," Prodigy says as he drops into the chair next to mine as I nurse my beer.

"Fuck off. "

"You want to tell me what the fuck you're doing?"

"Nope."

"I told you not to hurt her."

"Coulda. Shoulda. Doesn't matter now, does it?"

"Matters to me when I gotta drag her out of bed and force her to shower. Matters to me when I've got to take time from my wife to clean up the mess you fuckin' made."

"Noted."

"So that's all you've got to say?"

"You were right. Is that what you want to hear? That I should have backed off and never picked back up where we left off. Was too soon. Cut her loose and, as you can see, she's doing what you wanted."

"Fuckin' knew you'd pull this shit."

"What's that supposed to mean?"

"You're an ass who can't handle having one woman."

"Creed isn't any better."

"Guess that remains to be seen."

"You really want your sister with someone like that guy?"

"She's too good for either of you." Now that's something we can agree on. "What I want to know is what you did besides break her heart that had her not wanting to leave bed."

"Doesn't look all that sad to me." I take a heavy pull off my beer and motion to Creed, who is feeding her a S'more .

"What would you have her do? Be back at home curled up in a ball crying and starving herself to sleep? You dumped her and told her to find a new place to live."

"Fuck if I know."

"You better figure it out and fast, or you just might lose her for good."

The flames between my babydoll and me dance higher, the heat licking my face giving me a preview of what hell will be like. I watch her as she giggles and swipes sticky goo off Creed's lips.

A week ago, I had it all and now I've got nothing but my regret. It's enough to bring a man to his knees to watch the woman you love being happy with another man.

The black ooze coating my heart seeps through my skin as my anger continues to build. I'm not even mad at her or that bastard wearing that stupid fucking smirk when he sees I'm watching the show.

Heavy rock belts from a nearby speaker, but I can't hear the words or follow the tune. All I hear is static as I watch my world crumble, with no one to blame but myself.

Prodigy takes off and I don't blame him. I'm not good company, and it's probably costing him not to put his boot in my ass for being so goddamned idiotic.

Crushing my empty can, I toss it into the firepit and grab another. Can't drink my problems away, but I sure as fuck can numb them for a while.

"I hope I didn't get you into too much trouble," Angel says as she takes up the seat Prodigy vacated.

"Don't pretend you care. I'm doing you a solid. Don't read anything more into it. Be ready to ride out in the morning."

"Where are we sleeping?"

"I've got my sleeping bag."

"Does it sleep two?"

"Nope," I grumble.

"What about me?"

"Offered you a ride. Rest is on you." I guzzle down what's left of this beer. Wiping the back of my hand over my mouth, I ponder if I'm being too much of a dick, but catching another glimpse of Ember snuggling up with Creed, I feel justified.

Without warning, a chubby fuck by the name of Dutch comes streaking past us, running for the lake naked as the day he was born other than his cut while his Ol' Lady, Darlene chases after him.

"Fucking hell," Ace mutters from a few feet away as he shields his woman, Norah, from the hairy assed sight. "Hope he can swim. I'm not going in after his dumbass."

Ember's gaze catches mine briefly and my heart stutters in my chest at the pain laced in her expression .

"Better use Dar's titties as floaties," a biker by the name of Tread bellows, cupping his hands around his mouth, breaking the tension and the spell of Ember's penetrative gaze.

Leaving Angel to make her own sleeping arrangements for the night, I soldier into the woods to take a piss. I stumble through the trees until all I'm left with is the quiet of the night and my thoughts I can't seem to escape, no matter how hard I try.

Figured the freedom of the road with nothing but stretches of highway before me for the next few days would be enough to clear my mind by the time we reach Anarchy. Didn't figure Ember making the trip into the equation. Thought I'd leave her and my troubles behind me in West Virginia. Instead, she's everywhere I look.

Haunting me in the flesh with her big blue eyes and them pouty lips I want nothing more than to taste.

I can't escape her.