Page 27 of Scorched King

“Meeting fucking adjourned.”

Axel stood too and took his time surveying each man in the room before he said one last thing. “Tick tock, mother fucker.”

CHAPTER THIRTEEN

Sasha

Two days had passed since that almost romantic night in JD’s backyard oasis, and I’d barely seen him since. The one time he’d been in my presence for more than five minutes I reminded him about taking me to my apartment and he brushed me off with his usual excuse of club business.

I swear, half the time they claimed club business just because they felt like it, not because they actually had business they couldn’t share. Last night for example. When JD stumbled home after 3am, I found him in the living room, drunk off his ass and looking like he’d been ridden hard and put away wet.

With one look at his disheveled clothes and messy just out of bed hair, I’d turned around and disappeared back into my room. If he’d spent the night with one of the club girls I didn’t want to hear it or smell her on him or anything else for that matter. Just the thought of him with someone else made my heart pound painfully.

Tears pricked my eyes, but I clenched my jaw and willed them away. I refused to go there. He’d already gotten the best of me too many times, and it was high time I got over it.

This morning the cabin was eerily quiet. With his bedroom door closed, I could only assume that he’d sobered up and gone back to the clubhouse first thing. Either way, I wasn’t just going to sit around all day and feel sorry for myself. I had plans to make and things I wanted to do. But first, I needed a ride to my apartment.

I grabbed my cellphone and my fingers hovered over Bear’s number. If I asked I knew he would take me, but I’d also be putting him in a rough position between me and JD and that didn’t seem fair. Or even worse yet, he might call JD and ask for permission. Another lackluster option, especially if he said no.

No, the better option in my opinion would always be to ask for forgiveness instead of permission. That way what’s done is done. I opened my contacts and chose someone who wouldn’t be afraid of a little trouble.

“Sasha,” she squealed when she answered her phone. “Oh my God. How are you? I was just thinking about you. It’s been too long. And now that you’re back we MUST get together.”

“Well, Meg, that’s kind of why I was calling. I need your help with something. Can you come and pick me up?”

“Of course! Where are we going?”

“I’ll let you know when you get here. How soon can you come over?”

“Uhmm…” I could picture her checking her phone, trying to do the mental math like she used to at the poker club. “I’m finishing up at the salon now. Maybe thirty minutes. Does that work?”

“Yep. Sounds perfect.” That would give me just enough time to get dressed and clean up my breakfast dishes. With luck, we’d be back before anyone noticed we were gone, and by this afternoon I’d be baking orange blossom cinnamon rolls as a peace offering.

“Okay, I’ll see you then. Should I bring the stuff to make margaritas?”

I laughed and started to tell her it was way too early in the day to start drinking when I decided what the hell. If JD could stay out all night partying with god knew who, then what difference did it make if I started in on a little day drinking myself.

“Yes,” I said. “You definitely should.”

Fifteen minutes later the doorbell rang and I wasn’t ready. For the first time ever, Meg was early. “Hang on,” I yelled in the direction of the door and reached for the first thing I could find to cover up with. It just so happened it was the clothes that JD had let me borrow the other night. Whatever.

I hastily pulled them on, tightening the drawstring to keep the shorts from falling as I rushed through the living room to the front of the cabin.

At the front door, I disengaged all of JD’s security and threw open the locks before I wrenched it open. But instead of Meg or the prospect who I thought was keeping an eye out, a stranger stood at the door.

“Uhm… Can I help you?” I had no idea who this pretty brunette was, but my stomach twisted as my imagination ran wild. Was this who he’d been with the other night?

“Hi, I’m Jeanne,” she said with a smile.

“Okaaay.” The name meant nothing to me and I wasn’t sure what to say. Was I supposed to invite her in? Because I swear to Christ if this woman was sleeping with JD I was going to lose my mind. She couldn’t possibly be more than a few years older than me so WHAT. THE. FUCK.

Jeanne’s eyes crinkled with amusement, as if she could read the suspicion on my face. “You’re Sasha, right? I’m the medic who is going to be taking care of you. JD said you’d be expecting me.” There was an easy confidence to her manner, a no-nonsense kind of professionalism that would make her fit right in with the club. But underneath, I sensed a hint of something else. A wariness, maybe, or an edge that didn’t quite fit the pleasant smile she wore.

Or maybe I was paranoid.

She held up the case she had in her hand. “I know I was supposed to be here days ago when you first arrived, and I’m sorry about that. Between extra hospital shifts and a small family emergency, this was my first chance to check on you properly.”

“Ohhh,” I managed as relief flooded through me. “You’re the doctor he mentioned. Yes, I was expecting you, but now I’m on my way out.”

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