I force a small smile. “You don’t have to explain. I get it. Let the people who have families be with them. That’s what Christmas is about, right? Family. The children.”
He nods slowly, then meets my eyes. His mouth opens, then closes.
“I’ll be there, all festive and everything.” I start to walk away, but he takes hold of my arm.
“For what it’s worth,” he says, “those fuckers are losing out on the best woman to ever step into their world.”
My throat tightens. My body freezes.
“Thank you,” I whisper. They’re the only words I can manage to form,
He clears his throat, and I know there’s more coming.
“But we also can’t have tension in our club. We’ve already had too much discourse to add more to it. Do you understand what I’m saying?”
I nod. I get it. I’m the problem. I’ve caused the animosity among three members because I couldn’t choose who I wanted to be with. I didn’t make my feelings known before it escalated to the point it is. “I hate how things are.” I don’t give him a chance to say anything more. I turn and head straight to the kitchen and out the door.
Chapter 18
Hank
Iwasalreadyoutthedoor, heading to my bike when I felt eyes on me. Not just any. Hers.
Vee was coming tonight to the Christmas celebration at the clubhouse, and I had only one plan in mind. Get the fuck out of here before she arrives. No one told me she was coming but I knew she was. There was no way Ash wasn’t going to invite her. And as stubborn as that woman is, I knew Vee wouldn't be able to talk her way out of it. The two of them are thick as thieves.
Still, seeing her in the parking lot has me stopping dead in my tracks. She’s sitting in her car, the lights still on, her eyes locked on me. I can’t see her clearly, the light blinding me slightly. She doesn’t make a move to get out, and I don’t head in her direction. I can’t.
Fuck she’s gorgeous. And she’s the only person I want. But I guess I’m not the only one she wants. Vee wants something that I can’t give. Yeah, I can talk a big game, but when it comes down to it, sharing my woman with someone else isn’t it. A whore, yeah. But it isn’t happening with the woman I want to be my ol’ lady.
It pisses me off that I’m not enough for her. That what we have—no, had—isn’t as rock solid as I thought it was. My heart jumped when she announced I was coming home from the hospital with her so she could take care of me. Over the months it took for me to heal, we formed more than a friendship. It grew into love. At least it had for me.
I didn’t know she was still talking to Luke. I thought they were over. Especially since she was with me. And fucking Doc. When did that shit happen?
How stupid am I that I missed everything happening around me? The revelation claws at me, making my jaw tighten as I turn my gaze away from her and get on my bike. Putting on my helmet, I turn my bike on and rev the engine before taking off out of the parking lot. I only stop long enough for the Prospects to open the damn gate.
Bash asking me to work tonight is a blessing. Being in the same place as Vee would’ve been too hard. It’s going to be bad enough when she starts back at Hell’s Desire. Maybe I can get on different shifts than her, or work at one of the other businesses the club owns.
If not, the only option I have is my current buffer. The club girls. I’ll let them hang on me just enough to make Vee think I’ve moved on. I don’t want them. Vee is the only woman for me, but if she thinks she’s lost me, just maybe she’ll come to her senses and finally make a decision.
Me.
The ride to Hell’s Desire passes in a blur. Lights flashing, cars honking and the static background noise. I couldn’t tell you what it was. There was just something there, buzzing in my ears.
Pulling into the parking lot, I pull right to the front of the building to the parking spots marked just for the Hellions.
Heading inside, I pass the line waiting at the door to get in. Nothing but a bunch of pretty boy college kids and businessmenwho no doubt have lied to their wives about where they are. As long as they tip well and keep their hands off the dancers, who the fuck cares what they do.
The bass from the speakers vibrates from the floor through my boots. The air gets thicker with smoke from the machines used on stage, cigars, and the alcohol. Tank has the door handled, so I head further inside the building and straight to the bar. There’s a new girl behind the bar, and she smiles as I step up. She's hot. Curves in the right places and tits that are practically spilling out of her top. Not my type, though. She’s too eager, but she may prove valuable when Vee starts working. I give her a wink, and she reaches into the cooler and pulls out a bottle of beer, sliding it over to me.
“Here you go,” she gazes at the name on my cut, “Hank. Let me know if you need anything else.”
“Sure thing, babe.” Just calling her that makes my heart hurt.
I take a seat on a stool at the end of the bar. It gives me a perfect view of the stages and the door. I sip on my beer, not wanting to get wasted yet, as I watch the crowd. I need to be ready for any one of these idiots who want to make a stupid mistake and act up.
Over the next few hours, I move around the club, sticking to the wall, my focus on the crowd as they get more alcohol in them. I’ve already kicked a group of college pricks out who thought they had the right to touch the dancers. Not on my watch.
As I make my way back toward the bar, I see him. Luke.
