Page 8 of Denial

“Okay. I will meet up with you during the day and you can show me around the city. It’s not a date and I can’t promise you anything more than that,” I tell Becker as he finally takes his card from me and grabs the box of parts.

“It’s a start. That’s all I need,” he returns, his voice cocky as fuck as I don’t laugh along with him and finally hear someone enter the store from the back. “When’s your next day off?”

“I have Monday off,” I answer him without looking to see who’s here.

“I can pick you up at ten if that works for you,” he offers and I shake my head in response.

“I’d prefer to meet you somewhere. It’s too soon for you to know where I live and I would rather just meet you,” I tell him, knowing there’s no way in hell I’ll have Becker to the clubhouse for any reason.

“Okay. There’s a small café on First Street. We can meet there. I’ll see you Monday, Hope,” Becker says, turning to leave before pausing as someone steps up to my back. “Bronx. Been a long time.”

“Becker. It hasn’t been long enough. Hope, I’m here now. You can go to the office and get started on what you gotta do,” Bronx practically growls as Becker smirks at the man I consider a friend.

Becker doesn’t say another word as he leaves the shop and I turn to face Bronx.

“Okay. What’s going on? It’s clear that you don’t like Becker,” I ask him, knowing Bronx will tell me the truth.

“He was always such a fuckin’ ass in school. Always thought he was better than everyone else and that his shit didn’t stink. Mommy and Daddy always keepin’ him out of trouble too. He’s never paid for a single thing he’s done. I’ve never liked him and I never will. I’m not sure what’s goin’ on with you and him, but I hope you’re not fallin’ for his fake as fuck charm or whatever the hell you call it,” Bronx states, anger lacing his voice as he looks down at me before watching Becker leave the parking lot like a douche when he squeals the tires on his way out.

“He’s gonna show me around the city a little bit on Monday. I’m gonna meet him at some café on First street or something,” I tell Bronx, waiting for him to go off.

“Be very careful, Hope. Make sure someone knows where you are at all times when you’re with him. And don’t let him get you in a car or anythin’ alone. He’s always rubbed me the wrong way and I just don’t trust him. Can you promise me that?” Bronx questions, his face more serious than I’ve ever seen him before.

“Of course I can. I’ll make sure we remain in public places and don’t leave any drinks or food with him. Trust me, my dad has taught me all the tricks and made sure I know what to do in any given situation. If he didn’t tell me something, one of the other guys did. And you know King is my cousin. He won’t let anything happen to me,” I promise Bronx as he finally relaxes and the back door opens once again.

After making sure he knows I’m serious, I finally head to my office as Raptor enters the building and heads straight for the breakroom. He grabs a large mug of coffee and adds his cream and sugar before heading for his office. Raptor doesn’t say a word to anyone and I can tell by his face that he’s in a rotten mood. The man isn’t subtle about anything when he’s pissed. It’s way too early to deal with him so I shut myself in my office and get to work for the day. Hopefully I can avoid Raptor until he’s calmed down.

Chapter Five

Jinx

RAPTOR CAME IN the clubhouse last night after work and couldn’t wait for Hope to disappear in her room. The second she was out of sight, he let us know that she was going out on a date and Bronx knows the guy. According to Raptor, this fucker isn’t the best man out there and he’s worried for Hope. Bronx and Raptor don’t want to see her hurt and are worried this stupid fuck will break her more than she’s ever been broken before. I know Hope doesn’t date a lot, but she has gone out a few times. It was easy to find shit out in school because gossip spread like wildfire. I knew every single time someone asked Hope out and what her response was. While I didn’t know the details of their dates or anything, I know that she never once got serious about anyone even if they went out a few times. Most of the guys only wanted to go out with her because of the club. They saw her as a way in with the guys because we wouldn’t give them the time of day. Hope learned really quick which guys to avoid and not give her time to.

To say I was pissed when Raptor dropped that bomb on us all would be an understatement. I left my seat so fast that it crashed to the floor and everyone stared at me. Annabell and Savannah looked at me as if I’d grown a second head and I could see the anger filling their eyes. Morgan was sitting next to me and King was making his way back over after grabbing something to eat since he had just left his room in the clubhouse.

“What the fuck is your problem, Jinx? Pissed someone got to Hope before you could tell them she’s off limits?” King questions me as he takes his seat across from Morgan on my opposite side and stares me down.

“You’re not pissed Hope is goin’ out with someone that could hurt her?” I return, confusion filling me that my best friend isn’t flipping his shit about Hope like he usually would.

“Nope. Am I pissed that the guy is a douche bag? Yeah, I am. I’ll keep an eye on her and make sure that the fucker doesn’t hurt my cousin the best I can. I’m not her keeper, Jinx. If Hope wants to go out with someone, she can go out. You’re the one who is tryin’ to make sure no guy goes near her. I told you that I wasn’t gonna fuckin’ question what you were doin’ when it comes to her. Hope knows you’ve made your decision about her, but you can’t leave her alone and not let another guy go out with her either. Bronx would’ve been my first choice to be with her because he’s a good guy and we already know him. You’ve made that shit impossible so now you can figure out what your next step is,” King tells me, his voice hard and cold which tells me he’s holding back because Morgan is sitting here with us.

“You need to stop this from happenin’, King,” I tell him, trying again as he continues to eat his food and ignore me.

Morgan is looking up at me with a knowing look in her eyes. She knows how I feel about Hope and why I’ve scared every man I’ve heard talking about her away. Ever since the day we rescued her from the storms, there has never been anything sexual or romantic between the two of us. I don’t see anyone but Hope like that and Morgan has given me a reason to hide from my feelings when it comes to her. I’ve been trying to prepare myself for the talk I need to have with Killer, but it’s not easy because I’m going to have to bare my soul and expose my secrets to him about everything. The past everyone thinks I have isn’t what has truly happened. King knows my secret and once Killer knows, I can only hope he believes me.

“I’m not stoppin’ anythin’ from happenin’, Jinx. Hope is an adult and she deserves to live her life the way she wants. I’m not gonna stop her. What I can do is make sure I’m in the public area they meet in and then I can follow the two of them wherever they go. I’ll keep a close eye on them so my cousin isn’t hurt. If you fuckin’ want her not to go out with other guys, then you need to step the fuck up and have the talk you’ve been avoidin’ havin’ with her dad. You want Hope not to date random men, fuckin’ put yourself out there and stop bein’ a damn pussy, Jinx. You’re my best fuckin’ friend and I want to hate you for what you’re puttin’ Hope through. And you’re not any fuckin’ better, Morgan. You know how he feels about her and yet you’re still up his ass,” King says, pushing his plate away from him so hard food spills over onto the table before he gets up and storms from the common room to leave me alone with Morgan once again.

Morgan gets up from her seat and leaves me alone at the table. Other than picking up my chair from the floor, I don’t stay at the table alone. Instead of remaining in the common room, she leaves me alone and disappears as Deegan remains behind the bar. Vault watches Morgan leave and I can’t figure out the look in his eyes as they follow her. Morgan has done nothing wrong in this situation but King seems to want to put part of the blame on her every time he brings this shit up. I understand how it looks to them, but Morgan has such a hard time letting new people in and that’s the reason she hasn’t spent time with anyone else. So, we’ve been hanging out and I don’t have a problem spending time with her because there’s no pressure to do anything I don’t want to do.

“You really need to figure your shit out, Jinx. Been fuckin’ sayin’ it. This is the last time I’m gonna fuckin’ say a damn word about Hope and you. Talk to Killer if she’s the fuckin’ one you want. If you don’t want her, let her the fuck go. Your little fuckin’ display right now just showed you’re not ready to see her with anyone else. So, I suggest you fuckin’ make sure you know what you want before doin’ another fuckin’ thing. You’ve hurt Hope more than enough and I’m puttin’ my fuckin’ foot down right now. Do you even know that she doesn’t want to be in the clubhouse any longer? She’s lookin’ for an apartment and waitin’ for Killer to get here so he can go check out the one she wants to get his approval for it. That’s because of you, Jinx. Get your fuckin’ shit together,” Vault states before he gets up from his seat at a table with Chrome, Valor, and Court to disappear in his office.

It feels as if all the air has been sucked from the common room and I can’t take a breath. I’ve loved having Hope in the clubhouse because it means I can see her every damn day even if I don’t talk to her or go hang out. If she leaves, I won’t know what’s going on in her life or be able to see her daily. I can’t believe that Vault and Killer are willing to let her leave the safety she has here to move on her own away from the compound. The Killer I know and grew up with wouldn’t be so quick to allow her to live in a strange city with no protection or safety measures in place. What the fuck is everyone thinking?

Instead of heading to my room, I go in search of Morgan. I want to make sure that she’s okay after King went off on her again. My best friend really has a problem with her and I can see where he’s coming from because King will always be there for his cousin and she’ll be his first choice in any situation until he finds a woman of his own.

Knocking on Morgan’s door, I’m grateful that she has her own room and doesn’t share it with the Phantom girls. Those woman are fucking vicious and would rip Morgan to shreds in seconds. I’ve heard the shit they say about her when she’s not around. Personally, I think they’re all jealous because she doesn’t get yelled at and always makes sure her work is done before she helps the ol’ ladies with things, watches the kids, and does whatever else she sees that needs to be done in the clubhouse. Morgan makes the perfect house mouse and the guys pay her to clean their rooms as well. She gets more respect than the Phantom girls ever will and they can’t stand that shit.

Morgan opens the door and I take in her face stained with tears as she steps aside and allows me to enter her sanctuary. She doesn’t close the door behind us and leaves it wide open so no one will believe anything is happening between the two of us. Before, she would’ve closed the door and not let what anyone else believes bother her. Now, I know our friendship is changing and I’m not sure if it’s a good thing or not.

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