Red grabs me, pulling me to my feet and wrapping her arms around me. “Congratulations,” she whispers, and I feel her smile against my shoulder.
Emotion pours from me, my tears spilling down my cheeks as I sob in her arms.
The stress from the last two years has finally come to an end. We can get back to normal.Everything is going to be perfect.
DRIFTER
I stare at my empty whiskey glass. I’m not sure how long I’ve been sitting here, but the sun has finally set and the bar is now a hive of activity. The room spins as I look around, everyone’s face becoming a blur.
“Hazel, give me another one,” I slur.
She takes my glass, pours a measure then places it back in front of me.
I’ve lost count of how many I’ve had, but it’s definitely helped numb the anger boiling inside me.
My relationship is on the brink of breakdown. The club is on lockdown waiting for the Steel fucking Delinquents to pull more shit, and Siren keeps circling me like a bad fucking nightmare I can’t seem to steer clear of.
If it’s not flirty glances sent my way, it’s subtle touches, nails dragging over my shoulder, hands gripping my bicep.Like she’s waiting to pounce.And I can’t do it anymore. It all feels too much. Too hard. Too heavy.
Maybe I need to tell her again, to make sure she understands I’m not on the menu and she needs to stay in her lane.
I push to my feet and stumble a few steps before grabbing the wall. I head unsteadily towards the pool table where Kitten is playing pool with Slider. She laughs innocently at something he says, and when I grab her arm roughly, it dies on her lips and she squeals in fright.
“Where the fuck is Siren?” I demand.
She glances down at where I’m gripping her before dragging her frightened eyes back to me. “In the dorms.”
I climb the stairs, gripping the banister like it’s a lifeline. Then I stumble along the corridor, following the low beat of music coming from the club girls’ entertainment area. After Hell made it clear she hated the girls hanging around the bar, dancing half-naked, especially with kids around, we sorted a space for them to do it away from the main area.
I use the wall to stabilise myself until I find the door I need. I shove it hard, and it swings open. Joker and Gears are watching Siren dance through hooded eyes, and I know they’re thinking about how they’re going to spit roast her.
“Out,” I bellow, and both men stumble to their feet, leaving quickly. They know not to push me—my authority counts as everything.
Siren smiles at me seductively, sauntering over to me, running her nails over my kutte. I grab her wrist, stopping her from circling me like I’m prey. She bites her lower lip, her eyes darkening as a laugh escapes her. The sound pisses me off more, and I grit my teeth, clenching my jaw.
She leans closer, her mouth brushing my ear. “About time,” she purrs.
“That is not why I’m here,” I growl.
My tone doesn’t scare her. She isn’t like Kitten or the rest of them. She slips her arm from my grasp and tentatively brings her palm to my face. I watch, like she’s moving in slow motion. She presses it to my cheek, her fingers raking my beard, and I lean in to her touch like some desperate prick needing the warmth of her.
“Are you sure?” she whispers. “Can’t a girl convince you?”
My eyes snap open as her hand slides to the back of my neck. She’s on her tiptoes now, her breasts pressed against my chest. She gently tugs me closer, but I resist, leaning back slightly. She grins, her eyes twinkling with a dangerous glint that should have me running, but instead, I’m holding my breath . . . waiting.
Her free hand runs up the front of my kutte, her nails tapping against the leather. I catch it, stopping right before she touches my face again.
“This shit . . . it has to stop, Siren.”
A smile tugs at her lips. “Your mouth says one thing, but your body is saying the opposite,” she says, her tone low. “How long’sit been now, Pres?” Her hand travels back down despite me holding her wrist. She brushes my cock, and her smile widens to a knowing grin. “See? You want this as much as I do.”
I shake my head, ignoring the fact my cock is solid, betraying me.
“You came to find me,” she points out, pressing her hands to my shoulders and shoving me back. I drop onto the couch like lead. My legs too unsteady to hold me up. She wastes no time clambering on my lap, grinding against me and pressing her tits to my face.
I turn my head, focussing on everything but the way her body feels warm and inviting.Get your shit together.
“Get the fuck off me,” I mutter, “This ain’t happening. I came here to tell you to back off. Stop getting in my face at every opportunity.”
