“You get what you give.”
“That comment makes absolutely no sense since you never really let me explain myself.” Her tone is still flat with no anger or will. Fuckin’ weird.
I flick my hand at her. “Now’s your chance.”
“My chance to what? Ace made it clear there’s no explanation or reason for me talking to a Dog prospect without your knowledge.”
“Forget what Ace said; it’s just you and me now.”
“You could’ve intervened or interrupted Ace at any time, but you didn’t. After all, you are the president of the Kings, right?” Her eyes flicker with a slight spark, then it fades away again.
“So, tell me now. Start at the beginning.”
“I don’t think so. I’m really tired, and you made yourself clear this morning in the hall talking to Ace, and then downstairs a few hours ago when you let your VP call me everything short of a whore without saying a word.”
“So, you refuse to tell your side of the story.”
She nods. “Yeah, I think we’re done here.”
“Fine.” I bolt out of the chair and glare down at her. “But you’re staying here tonight.”
“Why?”
“‘Cause I said so.”
She hops off the couch. “Please tell me you didn’t just order me to stay here.”
“I did and you will.” I pull her tight against me. “Or did you forget the missing part of this puzzle? Viper never got his flash drive, and the Kings have one of his prospects locked in our basement. Viper ain’t the type to let shit go, so, yeah, you’re staying here, in my bed.”
“Ohhhhh, no. You’ll have to kill me before I’d sleep with you again.”
“Don’t worry, wiseass, I’ll be sacked out here on the couch with one eye open.”
“You don’t care what happens to me, so why all this drama?”
Her question hits me hard. After all that’s gone down—why do I care?
“‘Cause if you’re in my clubhouse, you’re under the Kings’ protection.”
“I see.” She cocks her head. “You can’t stay awake all night.”
“Won’t be the first time.” The heat of her body surrounds me, and I push her away with more force than necessary.
I jerk my thumb to the bedroom. “Get some sleep; it’s been a long fuckin’ night.”
SAMMIE
I trudge into Deuce’s room with a mixture of emotions swirling through my brain.
Earlier, his cold stare and Ace’s vicious words had me afraid I’d die still attached to the ankle monitor. Then Deuce bringing me up to his room and keeping me here. Protecting me from Viper and the Dogs even though he claims I’m working with them. Doesn’t make sense on any level.
I eye his unmade bed. The same bed we had hot, sheet-gripping sex in. The same bed where he melted into me and gave himself to me without reservations. Vulnerable and needy with snippets of his life’s regrets.
I use the bathroom and splash cold water on my face, if for no other reason than to center me. Way too much has happened in the last few hours since I met the Dogs’ prospect. Situations I need to evaluate, plans I need to make, but right now, stripping off my jeans and crawling under the covers in my t-shirt and panties, and falling into a deep sleep is all-consuming until . . .
The smell of Deuce on his sheets surrounds me, captivates me and envelops me in a cocoon of regret and bad decisions. I so want to say I hate him for the way he allowed Ace to talk down to me and demean me. How he stood silent while I struggled for the words to make it all right. How no matter what I said or how I pleaded, he relentlessly ignored me, showing no emotion. Not one ounce of compassion.
I punch his pillows, shift and twist the blankets, but it’s no use, I can’t fall asleep no matter how hard I try.
