Page 8 of Trigger's Temptation

Once I put on my street clothes and fix my hair and make-up, I straighten my spine, ready to see this through without losing myself in the process.

Chapter 5

TRIGGER

I watch Aerianna leave the bathroom with her spine straight and her head held high. She radiates beauty and strength, traits I admire in a woman. With her elegance comes a gnawing fear of rejection, so I stay where I am, hidden in the shadows, unable to move. My eyes track her every step.

She sits at the bar, crosses her long, slender legs, and orders a drink. Once the bartender brings it to her, she swivels around on the stool, watching everyone and everything, looking for me.

Do I go over there and show her who I really am? Can I take a chance that this woman won’t destroy me? I’m already fucked up, flawed by my short temper, arrogance, and selfishness. It’s all part of my past, my history, something I can’t escape. But with her, she doesn’t deserve the wreck I am.

I decideto say fuck it. As much as I want to go over there, as much as my instincts scream for me to claim her, I leave her sitting alone. It’s one of the most unselfish things I’ve done in a long time. Normally, I’d go over, make my move, have my way, and leave, no strings attached. But I can’t do it. My heart crashesagainst my chest, stunning me with the realization, and for the first time in a long while, I realize I don’t want to hurt her.

I catch Tiny outside smoking a cigarette, waiting for me. Peanut is nestled in her carrying case, fast asleep on a soft blanket. “You ready to go?” Tiny questions, flicking the ashes off his cigarette.

“Yeah, let’s get the hell out of here. I’ve got better shit to do than play casino boss today.” I slap Tiny on his meaty shoulder, and we head for our bikes parked out front.

“Isn’t your sister coming in tonight?” Tiny asks while strapping Peanut on the back of his bike. He had his bike custom-made for Peanut and her carrier after his accident.

Red and Aftermath’s bikes are already gone, so we don’t have to wait for them. I straddle my Harley and slap on my brain bucket before answering. “Yeah, she is. I don’t know what is going on or why Elise is coming here, but it’s whatever. Out of my five sisters, she’s the only one who doesn’t judge me on my past or hold it against me. So, if she wants to come out here, then so be it. But she is off limits to everyone.”

Tiny climbs onto his custom bike, and we fire them up, the rumble vibrating beneath our feet. I drop the gear into first, and we take off. I glance in my side mirror and spot Aerianna walking out of the casino with a pissed-off look on her face. When her eyes land on my back, I can almost feel the heat of her gaze. If looks could kill, I’d be a dead man riding.

Instead of dwelling on why I walked away from her, I face forward and ride home. I have no room for complications in my life. With Lattimer still on the loose, anyone associated with our club is in danger.

Tiny and I make it to the clubhouse, and as soon as I park my bike, a laugh echoes through the corridor and hits my ears. Son of a bitch! What is she doing here?

I throw off my helmet and stomp down the hallway toward the common room. There, I see my sister, Elise, sitting on a barstool, holding a drink while Pretty Playboy and Bones hover around her, making her blush. She’s wearing a short black skirt that rides up her thighs, a tight white tank top, and a light black jacket. Her long blonde hair is pulled into a high ponytail, with loose strands framing her face. My sister is a beauty surrounded by a bunch of deadly beasts.

“Oh shit,” Tiny mutters, freezing when he sees what I see.

My knuckles pop, each crack sharp like gunfire, as I curl my fists at my sides. A slow burn spreads from my chest to my fingertips, an itch only violence can scratch. Pretty Playboy drags his fingers along Elise’s arm, his touch light, almost casual. My vision turns dark. A growl rumbles from my throat, deep and primal, my pulse hammering so hard I swear it echoes in my ears. He’s dead. He just doesn’t know it yet.

“Get your fucking hands off my sister before I break all of your fingers then shove them down your throat, making you choke on them.” I snarl.

Pretty Playboy’s eyes shoot up to mine, and his mouth hangs open. I shocked him because normally I act first before threatening him. “Did I fucking stutter?”

“No, Trigger. I didn’t know she was your sister.” Bones says quickly, backing away with his hands held up in defense. He knows better than to test me. I’m not in the mood. When my menacing gaze lands on him, he scurries out of the room with his tail tucked between his legs.

My gaze lands on Pretty Playboy. He hasn’t moved. He may have taken his filthy fingers off my sister, but he’s still sitting too fucking close.

“Carter, that is enough!” Elise snaps, cutting through my fury. “I’m not a child, and if I want to hold a conversation with a man, you can’t stop me.” She snaps her fingers in front of myface, drawing my attention away from Pretty Playboy and on her. What I see has my blood raging through my veins. She has a black eye she tried to cover with makeup, a split lip, and a bruise on her cheekbone.

I raise her chin gently, forcing her to meet my gaze. “What happened?” I ask again, my voice barely a rasp.

I carefully examine the bruise on her cheek with a delicate touch, and she flinches involuntarily. I can tell by the shame in her expression. I might be an asshole to most but when it comes to my sisters, I’m a different person. Instead of being rough and demanding, I’m gentle and cautious. My five sisters will tear you apart limb from limb before spitting down your neck if someone fucks with one of them.

“That’s why I wanted to come here. I needed to get away.” Elise casts her blue eyes, similar to mine, down onto the floor like she is ashamed of herself.

I gently raise her chin, making her look at me. “What happened?” I ask in a quiet voice. I look over the marks on her tender skin, and my body is vibrating with rage.

Elise looks around the room before speaking, “Can we go somewhere more private?” Her voice is barely audible.

I look around the room, and all my brothers and their Ol’ Ladies turn their heads, looking in different directions like they’re not eavesdropping. “Let’s go into my room.”

Elise slides off the bar stool, the weight of the world on her small shoulders as we walk side by side toward my room in the back of the Clubhouse. Once we reach my door, I pull out the key from my jeans pocket and open it. Placing my hand gently on the small of Elise’s back, I guide her inside. It’s taking everything I have to not fly off the handle and go on a rampage, breaking bones and tearing every man limb from limb or shooting them in strategic places on their body so they don’t bleed out right away, but will die eventually from blood loss.

Elise sits on the corner of the bed and exhales a long, exhausting breath. Her shoulders slump defeatedly. She looks around my clean room, taking in the neatly made bed. My clothes are either in the dresser against the wall or hanging up in the closet. It’s so clean in here you could eat off the floor if you wanted. I’m a closet neat freak, but not a lot of people know this about me, except for my sisters. Everything in my room is in its place. I like things to be orderly. There’s no place for chaos in my world, but right now, it’s everywhere.

---