Page 19 of Inflame Me
Looking at her now, I see exactly what I’ve been missing.
She’s wearing these sexy as fuck jeans that curve her ass as she sits on the barstool and a navy blue shirt that hugs her just as tightly. No doubt, under those clothes is one hell of a body.
“Don’t fucking think about it.” Dagger comes up to the table I parked my ass at and falls in the seat beside me. “I don’t have a damn clue if she’s my kid or not, but if she is, stay away.”
“Since when do I listen the fuck to you?” I bite back. I fucking hate people trying to control me. I’m the one in control. I keep it that way for a fucking reason. This shit isn’t club-related. If I want to fuck her, I will. He may be my best friend, but even he won’t tell me what to do.
“I know, but fuck.” He rubs his hand over his face in frustration. “I can’t believe I could have a kid. I cover that shit up religiously, but back then …” His head shakes like he’s remembering some fond memory. “Fuck, I don’t know, brother.”
“Don’t know what to tell ya.” Mearna’s been knocked out on pain meds for the past couple of days while her body heals, so Dagger went with me on the run. It was good because Tanner doesn’t know shit, and Dagger walking around like a caged animal is not fun.
“Why the fuck wouldn’t she tell me about Tanner? My fucking kid? I’ve missed her whole fucking life,” he drones on.
I’ve got to say I feel for the brother. I don’t know what I would do if the tables were turned.
She’s turned my way several times, our eyes connecting like some live wire between us, but neither of us have moved.
Breaker catches my eye at the bar, talking to Tanner. He’s leaning against it, beer in hand, and whatever in the fuck he’s saying is making her laugh. This time, it’s not the fake shit I noticed a few minutes ago. No, this shit is real.
As she flips her sexy as fuck reddish-blonde hair, which I initially thought was fire red when I first saw her, but realized it was the party lights, over her shoulder, anger bubbles inside of me like hot lava. I don’t know where it comes from, and I don’t know why, but it’s there, and it’s steady. I don’t like the fact that someone is making her laugh, and I don’t like the fact that she’s going to be leaving to go to that fuck-wad’s funeral. Fuck!
The grip on my bottle gets tighter, and my breathing picks up without caution. When her head falls back from another laugh, the grip tightens, and the bottle shatters in my hand, beer spilling all over the table and shards of glass entering my hand. I know I’m cut, probably pretty badly, but my eyes don’t leave Tanner. I can’t even force the fuckers to.
“Brother!” Dagger yells beside me, standing swiftly and his chair scraping against the floor. “What the fuck?”
Tanner, Princess, and Breaker all look our way. Princess’s eyes grow wide as she hops off the stool, grabbing a towel and darting over. Tanner quickly follows after her.
“What the hell, you big lug?” Princess says as I feel her wrapping my hand.
I need to get a fucking grip. This shit ain’t right. No, I don’t do this shit. I don’t care. I share all the fucking time. This has to end.
I abruptly stand, clutching the towel in my hand. “I don’t need your fucking help,” I bark at Princess then storm to my room.
Tanner’s eyes stay on me, and I can’t get the fuck out there fast enough.
WHAT IN THE hell was that look he gave me when he stormed out of here? It was a mix of contentment and disgust. I know I look bad with the bruises, but I was never expecting that kind of reaction.
Before we left, I thought he may have felt whatever it is that eats at me every time he’s around. Sure, it was brief, but I couldn’t stay by him another minute longer since I was so damn nervous. As a result, I made the excuse that my mom needed me. Then he left with Dagger for a day or so, and now this.
“What the fuck is his problem?” Princess asks Dagger.
I realize that my mother says he’s my father, but I just have issues with calling him daddy dearest right now. I don’t even know the man. I don’t know any of them, and they act so differently than I do.
I cornered Dagger, telling him what the cops told me, but he refused to tell me anything except what I told them was good. I didn’t think it would work for shit, though. Sure, I had no one at home who was pining for me, and with my vacation, no one would be expecting me. I’m pretty much a loner, and I like it that way. However, if the house blew up, I figured there would be some investigation or something.
I tried to ask more questions, but Dagger only shook his head.
I’ve never had a father before, but I don’t think you’re supposed to be scared of him, are you? Because I’m scared as shit of Dagger. Only one person scares me more, and that’s Rhys.
“Fuck if I know. Asshole got beer all over my fucking jeans,” Dagger bites out. “One minute, we’re talking, and the next minute, he’s crushing fucking bottles with his hand.”
I am probably not supposed to be totally, utterly impressed by this, but I am and also intrigued. I can’t believe he’s strong enough to do that. I’ve never met anyone who could, not that I have a lot to pick from. I have been to bars where fights break out, though. Bottles get slammed and broken on the table, but never by a fist.
“Who the hell knows with Rhys?” Princess says, shaking her head. “I swear that man is going to combust one day.”
“Why do you think that?” I question. I mean, there has to be a reason one would think that way.
“He’s not one to mess with, Tanner. He’s hard. Biker hard.”
