Page 5 of Bound by Destiny
Could the floor just swallow me whole right now?
Micah’s eyes widen as he starts to take a step forward, but the woman holds him back. It’s then it hits me, someone can only have control over you if you let them. And I’ve let him have it for far too long.
In all honesty, it goes back to my parents.
They had a love that bloomed while they grew up side by side in the clubhouse. Of course, they had their rocky times, but I’d always envisioned that would be my destiny as well—following in their footsteps. The dream of it is almost as powerful as the actual feelings involved and that’s just it—Micah owes me nothing. Just as I owe him nothing. He’s made his choice, and now I’ve made mine.
It’s time to close that section of my life for good and I’m happy about that, at least my drunk self is happy about it.
A heavy arm comes around my shoulders and I jolt, looking quickly to see it’s Jacks, one of the Ravage MC brothers, and instantly I relax. Ever since what happened with JK, the asshole who gave me the wonderful scars I just displayed, I’ve been jumpier than I should be. I settle into him easily finding my comfort again.
Jacks is quiet and reserved, always in the background. While it’s shocking he has his arm around me, it feels natural, which is completely strange considering I don’t really know him even after being around him all these years.
Jacks looks at Micah. “Glad I got the real one.” Jacks pulls me up from the barstool, without a word, and leads me out of the clubhouse. Drunk and looking for any escape from the room, I go with him.
Shocked isn’t even the half of it, and I try not to laugh, but I’m unsteady on my feet.
The metal door slams behind us cutting all the music and noise from the clubhouse off. People mingle around outside, some by the fire pit in the wide-open yard, but no one pays any attention to us.
Jacks leads me over to the far wall and presses my back against the hard surface, getting in my face. I’m trying to take it all in at the same time, and I fight back the urge to vomit all over his boots. Jacks is a rugged man with a fierce face and eyes I find myself getting lost in as he speaks.
“You never take shit from him. Ever. He wants to come in here parading his whore after years of being away, fuck him. You do not clam up. You do not give him a lick of the satisfaction you did in there by falling into his stupid, childish trap. You do not cower into yourself, and don’t fuckin’ deny it because I watched you do it.”
Air is swooped from my lungs, and I reach up to my chest hoping my heart is still beating. It is. Whew. Sure, I’ve seen Jacks around the clubhouse and talked to him a time or two, but he’s never had this ferocity with me—ever. My mind processes what he says slowly, but it processes.
“Never want to see that shit again, Emery. You are who you are, and no little piece of shit is ever going to change that. Do you hear me?”
Unable to speak, I can’t tell him that I wasn’t taking his shit. That I was finally coming to terms with the fact that it will never be. I don’t explain that I was just too damn drunk to get it all out so my reaction, while delayed, definitely wasn't giving into anything for Micah. I also don’t explain that I was happy he pulled me out of there just so I didn’t have to deal with the looks from everyone in the room. Instead, I nod. Because Jacks is in my face with these kind eyes and this sexy smell, and my body is like a tornado inside spinning out of control. So, yes, I just nod rather than speak.
“Good. I’m takin’ you home because you sure as shit ain’t drivin’.”
Stunned, I allow him to lead me to my car. He puts me in it, buckling my belt wordlessly.
What exactly just happened here? I’m too drunk to let it all sink in. Lord knows what I’ve just gotten myself into.
2
Micah
“Wow, you really are a douche canoe,”Austyn says as I watch Emery walk out with Jacks.
The burn in my chest is fierce. Seeing him touch her like he has every right to, pisses me off.Like you have any rights to her.My hand releases Jacklyn’s. It was a huge fucking mistake bringing her here. I’m not even sure why I thought it would be a good idea in the first place.
Chalk it up to another mistake on my list of many.
“Hey, douche canoe!” My focus goes to Austyn who snaps her fingers in front of my face. I feel Jacklyn tense at my side. Great.
“What the hell’s your problem?”
Austyn slides off the barstool to stand in front of me. She comes up to my nose so I have to look down at her. The height difference means nothing to her judging from the fury boiling in her eyes. Austyn always did have a strong loyalty to Emery, and I know I’ve fucked up with that woman big time. She’s also fearless. Then again, all of Princess and Cruz’s kids were born with brass balls. Guess it’s in their DNA.
Her finger pokes my chest. “My fuckin’ problem is—you come here after years of bein’ gone, talkin’ shit about this club and bringin’”—she glances over at Jacklyn, sizing her up from head to foot—“herhere when you damn well knew Em would be here, you dumbass.”
“Is there a problem here?” Ryker comes up behind Austyn, putting his arms protectively around her and staring me down like the enemy, which I have no doubt he’d be willing to take out with a snap of his finger. I knew they were together. I knew that going toe-to-toe with a claimed woman in the club would bring her man right up to me too. This is the life, this is the club.
Austyn pats his arms. “No, baby. I’m just telling douche canoe here, that he’s a moron and if he ever wanted to have something remotely with Emery, he just blew that shit sky high.”
“He blew that shit high a long fuckin’ time ago,” Ryker throws in like he’s an expert in the matter, only pissing me off more.
