Page 176 of Traitor

Nothing.

Nothing bad, at least. Just warmth. Comfort.

And want.

Fuck. I'm in so much trouble.

32. Wings

Bones

The clubhouse is alive, the kind of buzzing chaos that only Mama can command. She's barking orders like a general preparing for war, and every single brother is scrambling to keep up. I should be helping. I should be overseeing shit. But I'm standing here, waiting.

Waiting for her.

We've seen each other twice this past week. First, she asked me for a ride to work. Said she was just in the mood for one, like it wasn't a big deal. Like she didn't just fucking resurrect my entire soul with those words. I barely had time to blink before I was already in front of her house and she was adjusting herself on the back of my bike, her arms wrapping around me like she'd never left. And when I dropped her off at work, she said"I'll need another ride back, obviously."Like it was the most normal thing in the world.

Then, coffee. With the demon woman tagging along, of course. I complied, because I'd do just about anything Temper asks of me these days, but there was no fucking way I was drinking that coffee. I don't trust anything that woman hands me.

And then Ria fucking came clean about all those bullshit texts. I didn't really want Temper to know, but I couldn't stop the demon from talking now, could I?

She stole my number from Tank's phone a few months back and had been sending me updates about Temper and Griffin's supposed ongoing'fuck buddy situation'up until before the paintball match. Photos.Old photos.Details.Old details.The kind of shit I didn't want to know but couldn't stop myself from reading. My finger hovered over that block button more times than I care to admit, but I couldn't do it. Because I wanted to see. Because I was a glutton for punishment.

But it was all bullshit. They weren't together like that in a long fucking time. I tortured myself over nothing.

I see the car pulling through the gates, and my heart slams against my ribs. My nerves are shot, my patience threadbare. Even Mama and Pops have been avoiding me today, sensing the live wire I've become.

This moment is big. For both of us. Sure, she came here two weeks ago, but it was empty. Just Tank. But now? Now, it's the whole fucking club. In a social setting. Not some revenge scheme. If she walks through those doors, she's truly stepping into our world again.

I don't know if she'll stay. I don't know if it'll be too much. But the fact that she's here at all? Fuck, that's everything.

Then I hear it — her laugh.

I swear my fucking soul goes up in a puff of smoke.

She's getting out of the passenger seat, smiling, the sound of her laughter cutting through the cold air like a blade straight to my chest. I don't even try to fight the massive grin spreading over my face.

She's in a good mood. That's a good fucking sign.

I move before I can think, closing the distance between us, but she beats me to it. She turns, eyes already on mine, smiling.

"Hey, we brought some cupcakes and other desserts. Help us bring them inside," she says, voice light. Easy.

My heart fucking sings.

"In a moment, baby," I murmur, and then I pull her into my arms.

She huffs in surprise, but she doesn't hesitate. Her arms come around me.

"Missed me, big man?" she mumbles against my chest, teasing.

"Like fucking air," I breathe, pressing a kiss to the top of her head before forcing myself to step back.

"Hey, biker boy!"

Here we fucking go.

The demon woman waves from the other side of the car, her evil grin locked right on me. Maybe it's just a normal grin. But all her expressions seem evil to me now.

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