The way he looked at me had me crossing my legs, trying to ease the tension settling between my thighs.
“Duke. You have a good time and enjoy your water, love. I’ll catch you around.”
I nodded, unable to say a word. I slowly sunk down onto the leather seat while Jessa took up the spot next to me.
“And you said you didn’t want his or anyone else’s attention,” Jessa said, causing Aubree to giggle.
I shook my head and brought my water to my lips. I didn’t plan to waste my time responding. It wasn’t like I had an answer for her, anyway. All I knew was this had to be my last time in Chrome.
Jessa and Aubree would be coming here alone from now on.
That man was nothing but trouble—and I didn’t need a damn thing from him.
I lookedover my shoulder to glance in her direction once more. I couldn’t hold back my smile until I bumped into someone.
I turned back to focus and realized it wasn’t nobody but damn Nessa. She had a grimace on her face, her arms crossed tightly against her chest.
“My bad.” I chuckled and walked around her.
I could feel her at my back, following close behind me. I wasn’t concerned—not one bit. I wasn’t interested in any of the shit she wanted to complain about today.
“So, you gone act like you don’t see me? I guess that baldheaded bitch got you ditzy?—”
I turned around quickly and gripped her jaw. Not too tight, but enough to let her know I meant business.
“Watch yo’ mouth. I’m not gone tell you that again. Oh, and keep yo’ ass from around me. I’m not for this jealous act you’retrying to put on for the women in here. You not mine, and I damn sure don’t belong to you.”
I released her jaw and turned my back to her to proceed to my office. I needed a moment to myself. Vanessa really pissed me off sometimes. Normally, I didn’t allow her antics to get to me. But something about the way she was moving felt territorial.
The moment I got up to my office, I walked over to my desk when a knock sounded at the door. I groaned inwardly. I thought I’d made myself clear with Vanessa, but clearly I hadn’t.
“Come in,” I yelled.
I frowned as the door opened wider and Rafe stepped inside. He was one of the old heads who had been here when I wasn’t in leadership of the Black Thorns.
Rafe made it his business to constantly remind me how shit used to be run before me.
If my memory served me correctly, that shit is the same reason they almost disbanded the Black Thorns. You would think the muthafucka’ would be grateful I stepped in.
But, nah, it was always the same shit with him.
“What’s up?” I asked, then stepped closer to my desk.
He strolled over towards the window that overlooked the club, then turned back to face me.
“I saw that shit that happened with Nessa man, she be tripping. I just wanted to check in on you and make sure you were alright.”
I lifted a brow before taking a seat. I knew he wasn’t in here just to check if I was straight. I kept my expression neutral.
“I’m cool. Where you been lately?” I asked.
I crossed my arms and leaned back. I watched intently as he fidgeted with his Black Thorn biker jacket. I couldn’t stand a nervous muthafucka’. You only got like that when you were into shit you didn’t have no business in.
He chuckled and looked away briefly before returning his attention back to me.
“Man, I’ve been chilling with my ole’ lady. She been complaining about how the Thorns been taking all my time. I done told her shit ain’t ran like it used to—ain’t no way my time gone as much as she says.”
I smirked and nodded. There it was, the infamous detail that shit wasn’t the same. I stayed silent. I waited for him to talk himself into some shit he might not be able to get out of.
