Page 46 of Chains

“Do I need to tan your ass red, little one? What the fuck are you doing here?” He growls close to my face, and even though I can smell smoke emanating from him, dressed in a sleeveless muscle shirt and jeans, covered in soot from head to toe, he’s too sexy for his own good and it’s the most intoxicating scent I’ve ever smelled But I wouldn’t allow myself to be distracted.

I narrow my eyes at him. “Did you seriously just say that to me?”

“What, tan your ass? You bet your ass I said it. Oh, and a heads up, you’d enjoy it, too,” he murmurs, nuzzling my neck as I tried to remain unaffected. “Stingray’s going to pay for not watching over you like I told him to.”

I tried pushing him back to give me some personal space. But who was I kidding? Personal space was the last thing I wanted. From Chains anyway.

“You can’t say things like that.” I reply, trying to maintain my anger, but his teeth and tongue were doing delicious things to the sensitive skin of my neck.

“Oh, but I can, little one. He had one job, and that was to keep you safe.”

“But he kept me safe. I’m here with you, aren’t I?” I argue.

Chains suddenly stops from his ministrations on my neck, and I pull back, noticing his attention is over my shoulder somewhere. I look around, but notice nothing.

“What’s wrong?” I ask, a ball of nerves settling in my stomach.

“Nothing, baby. Let’s get you inside.” Taking my hand, he silently leads me into the gym, and it’s there that I can see firsthand the damage the fire had done. And I feel like crying at how in just a few minutes, everything Ky and the club have worked for could just disappear.

CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO

Chains

I was dumping rubbish from the gym into the dumpster out the back of the building when I hear the pipes of more than one motorcycle. I’d been here for hours, helping Ky and the brothers clean out the inside of the gym, getting it ready for construction to come in on Monday.

I had come here after I had tried to see Storm at the hospital over in Cullville, but he’d refused to see me, the stubborn ass. I wanted to wish him well since he was leaving for the rehab clinic in the next few days, but he had ignored me completely. His silence had gotten to me, so I left only ten minutes after arriving, If he wanted to act like a dick, then so be it. He’s alienated everyone around him. I hope he actually goes through with the treatment. But I’m not holding my breath. He seems too far gone to me.

Standing with my hand shielding my eyes because the sun was now lower in the sky, I see Everleigh’s Escalade, Lexie on her sled, and Stingray following behind as they parked. But what had my attention was the woman behind Lexie. Zoe was holding on for dear life, and I couldn’t help the anger that bubbled up inside me, as I gave the prospect a warning look before dismissing him from my thoughts as I stalked towards my woman.

Picking her up, I carry her to my bigger sled, placing her on the seat, and making her widen her legs so that I could rest in between them. Feeling the warmth of her center against my crotch made me almost pop the zipper of my jeans.

I was dirty and tired, but I needed to make sure Zoe was okay. I left her sleeping earlier, not wanting to wake her to tell her I had received a text message from Ky to come to the gym. He’d organized a work party of brothers, even roping in his old man Kick, the president to come and help.

She tried to appear angry, but quickly melted when I nuzzled her neck with my lips, teeth, and tongue.

“Do I need to tan your ass red, little one? What the fuck are you doing here?” I can’t help my voice coming out in a growl. Her presence here without texting me made me pissed. The female DCMC posse had obviously collected her since they had all turned up together.

Standing this close to her, I’m sure she can smell the ash and smoke that’s coming from me, but instead of her nose turning up in disgust like I expected, her eyes darken to emerald green orbs of lust. Interesting. I’ll have to look into that further with her when we’re alone.

“Did you just say that to me?” She fakes indignation, and it’s all I can do not to grin.

“What, tan your ass? You bet your ass I said it. Oh, and a heads up, you’d enjoy it, too.” I add for good measure. I try to not show just how angry at that fuckin’ prospect I am, nuzzling her neck, I say, “Stingray’s going to pay for not watching over you like I told him to.”

“You can’t say things like that.” She argues, and I find it cute, but also it pisses me the fuck off that she’s defending the little shit.

“Oh, but I can, little one. He had one job, and that was to keep you safe.”

“But he kept me safe. I’m here with you, aren’t I?” She smiles coyly, and I shake my head, unable to stop the grin from spreading on my face.

I catch movement over Zoe’s shoulder. A black nondescript SUV grabs my attention, and beside the open driver’s side door stands a tall, lone figure, staring directly at us. His facial features are hard to discern from this distance, but instinctively, I know it’s Caleb. I lift my middle finger discreetly telling him without words, “Fuck you.” It’s time the club handled him once and for all.

“What’s wrong?” Zoe asks, and I can clearly hear the anxiety in her voice as I place what I hope is a mask of indifference on my face and pin a smile to my lips.

“Nothing, baby. Let’s get you inside.” I tell her, grabbing her by the hand, and leading her inside the safety of the gym.

“Inside is even worse than the outside.” Zoe remarks sadly, taking in the burnt, black interior. I don’t stop until we find the rest of the brothers and their women, a sheet spread out on the floor, eating sandwiches.

“It’s not so bad, we’ve had everything open, and had some fans on to clean out the air.” I explain, just as my stomach grumbles at the sight of the food, and everyone laughs.

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