Page 27 of Bound by Desire
“Deke, we need to talk.” Surprisingly, this comes from myfather.
I cross my arms over mychest. “Talk.”
“My office.” This one comes from the left. My uncle Cruz stands there with Cooper at his side. Both give me disapproving looks. What else is new in thatdepartment?
“Why? There’s nothing to say,” I respond, taking a glance around the space, my focus landing on a beautiful blonde with bluish-purple tips in her hair and her hands tucked into the back pockets of her jeans. She’s toned in a way that tells me she works out, but it’s something about those green eyes that I can see from here that stop me for a moment. They suck me in, and it takes strength to pull awayfromthem.
Look at me. Here ten fucking minutes, and I’m already salivating over a club momma.Dumbass.
“Look, let’s get real; none of you want me here anymore than I want to be here. I did a solid for Austyn. She’s home, safe and sound. No need for a talk that will prolong my leaving, which makes everyone here, including me,happy.”
“Austyn, are you okay?” Ryker, one of the brothers, darts to Austyn’s side, taking in her face. His features go hard. Then he moves to touch her face, and she jerks away. She then proceeds to take a couple of steps backfromhim.
Motherfucker. He’s thefather.
A red haze fills my vision as I stalk over to him, putting myself between him and Austyn. She’s had a thing for him since as long as I can remember, and that fucker knockedherup.
I tightly grip his shirt andleather.
“You,” comes out in a forcefulgrowl.
Austyn moves quickly, inserting herself between us, her pleading eyes coming to me. “No, Deke,” she says. “I swearit’snot.”
“Not what?” Ryker asks, throwing his arm out, but before it can connect, I pushhimback.
“Better not fuckin’ be,” I warn her as she continues to standbetweenus.
Her eyes beg me, pleading with me todropit.
I search for the truth. If Ryker is the father, I’ll beat his ass right here, right now, and dare one motherfucker in here tostopme.
The tender touch of her hand to my arm stops me. “Swear, Deke.Pleasestop.”
“What the fuck’s your problem?” Ryker moves in close, anger radiating from him. Good. Maybe he needs some sense knocked intohisass.
“You.”
“Fuckoff!”
“Ryker, enough,” Cruz calls out, giving his order. That’s exactly whatitis.
Ryker reluctantly backs up a step, his eyes not leavingAustyn’s.
“Care to tell me what the fuck that’s about?” Ryker accusesAustyn.
“No, she fuckin’ doesn’t,” I answer for her, and his response is a growl. “And stop askin’ her questions like you give a shit. Go off with yourmomma.”
“Yousonofabitch!”
“Enough!” Cruz’s voice rises to growling and authoritative. He’s always had it, but now it seems to have a deeper edge to it. Guess that’s what happens when you take over as president of a club. I wouldn’t know. “Deke, myoffice.Now.”
“I’m not really keen onorders,Cruz.”
“Boy, now,” my father says, comingcloser.
I know what’s going to happen. He’s going to try to force me to do what he wants. Then I’ll fight back and get the entire club in an uproar. If I just go in and see what the fuck these people have to say, then I can get the hell outofhere.
“Fine, but only a few. I need to get back ontheroad.”
