“You know what?” she mutters. “I’m happy to know you’re alive so I can stop wasting my tears on you. This is where I leave.”
She reaches the door but I’m quick on my feet and push it shut and crowd her against the wood with my body.
“Ford,” she whimpers. “Don’t do this.”
“Before you go anywhere, I wanna know why you came to a biker club party? And don’t say it was all Kristia. You don’t go places with her sometimes cause they’re shady as shit.”
“I’ve been coming here for a few months. Not often but a few times. I like the atmosphere.”
I snort. “You like the atmosphere?” It’s hard to believe. In fact, it’s impossible to believe.
“Tell me the truth.”
Her shoulders sag with a heavy exhale. “Since you died… or I thought you died, coming here was an escape. Fucking ironic, huh, considering you’re one of them.”
“Have you fucked anyone here?”
“Ford! Don’t talk like that to me!”
“Answer me. Have you?”
“No!” she snaps. “Kristia likes one of them, the one called King.”
I couldn’t give a shit about who Kristia goes with.
“You let Warren hold your hand,” I point out.
She swivels around in the small space between us and pointed glares up at me.
“I’ve flirted and I’ve had a laugh with the guys, but I haven’t been with any of them, not in that way. You can believe me or not, frankly, I don’t give a shit. Now, let me leave.”
My stomach drops. “Stay. Please.”
She snorts. “Why would I stay? We were over a long time ago. Just because you’ve risen from the dead doesn’t mean anything will change.”
I push away from her and give her the space to leave.
Just before she’s out of my sight, I warn her, “This isn’t over. I’ll be seeing you soon.”
It takes a few beats before I head back down to the bar and by the time I join my brothers, she’s gone.
“Do I need to know?” Luca inquires.
He’s asking if she’s going to be trouble for the club.
“No.”
Princess plods over and drops his head on my thigh. I stroke behind his ears and for the first time ever, the fucking beast helps me relax, that and a plan forming to get Phoebe back in my life.
9
Luca
The brief flickers of emptiness have disappeared from Ford. The emptiness has been replaced with focus. The girl from last night has ignited something in him and I’m keeping a close watch to see if it’s a bad or a good thing. Angel pulls out the chair opposite mine and tells me, “Ford’s mom so far seems to be keeping her mouth closed. I’ll keep watching her.”
I nod, catching Warren scowling in Ford’s direction.
“What the fuck is Warren’s problem with Ford?” I keep my voice low as I ask Angel.
