Page 4 of Wrath

“Everything’s good. You don’t have to worry.”

“The clubhouse was on fire, Wrath,” I argued. “Everything isn’t good.”

“The fires are out, and everyone’s fine. That’s what matters.” His eyes skirted over me, sending a wicked chill down my spine. “You certainly look like you’re okay.”

“I’m fine.”

“See? All is well.” He started back down the hall as he said, “I’ll let Stitch know you were looking for him.”

“Thanks!”

As I stood there watching him continue down the hall, I thought about an earlier conversation I’d had with the girls.

“I’m over it.” Darby threw her hands and huffed, “I refuse to go out with another momma’s boy with control issues.”

“Oh, God. Don’t get me started on the control issues,” Casey grumbled. “I love Lewis, but if he doesn’t stop pouting every time he doesn’t get his way, I’m gonna lose it.”

“Ugh. I hate that.” Susana threw her head back with an aggravated groan. “I hate it even more when they try guilt-tripping you into doing stuff you don’t wanna do, like going to their stupid frat parties or staying the night when you’d rather go home.”

“What about when they try to check up on you all the time? It’s like they’re trying to catch you doing something.” Darby giggled as she added, “Which I usually am.”

“We’re dating the wrong men.” I rolled my eyes and shook my head. “Actually,menis the wrong word. We’ve been dating boys. Immature, spoiled-rotten boys. We need to be dating men.”

“I agree.” Susana shrugged. “But men are in short supply.”

“Not around here.” I thought back to that night in the family room, and a smirk crossed my face as I confessed, “In fact, there is one that’s caught my eye, and I’m thinking about starting something up with him.”

“With who?”

“Wrath?”

“Wrath?” Darby gasped. “Our Wrath?”

“The one and only.”

“You’ve got to be kidding?”

“No, I’m not kidding. Not at all.” I twirled a strand of my hair around my finger as I told them, “I’m telling ya, I’ve dated the bankers, the lawyers, and the preppy college boys, and none of them have ever made me feel the way I do when that man looks at me.”

“He’s definitely hot, and he’s got that whole intense thing going.” Concern marked Susana’s face as she asked, “But what about your dad?”

“What about him?”

“If he even thinks about getting involved with you, Stitch will kill him!”

“Dad loves Wrath.”

“He likes Wrath. He loves you, and you know how protective he...”

Our conversation got cut short because of the fires and commotion outside, but I’d said all there was to say. I was interested in Wrath. A part of me always had been, but I’d never acted on it. I’d convinced myself that I didn’t want to get involved with a biker, especially one of the brothers I’d grown up with, so I’d never let myself consider him as an option.

After being in countless bad relationships, I was starting to reconsider.

I had no idea if Wrath would be interested in starting something up with me, but I was going to find out—one way or another.

I decided to skip going to find my father and went straight to my room. I went over to my desk and pulled up the images I’d been editing for the past three days. After spending two years studying photography, I landed a job with an up-and-coming photographer. He was amazing. He had talent that I only dreamed of having, but with his guidance, I was learning.

I had some edits that were due, but with everything that had been going on, it had been hard to get anything done. Not that I minded. I’d enjoyed hanging out with the girls, but it was time for me to get my act together.

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