Chapter 13

 

I told Dragon everything. That was over a week ago. For now, I have to play my part with Tomlin, until we can get more inside information from him.

“You sure you don’t want me to ride?” Devil says as he slaps a hand on my shoulder.

“I got this. If he sees someone else, he’ll get suspicious.” Devil nods, and walks away. I blow out a breath when my phone rings. Sliding it out, I answer.

“Yeah?” The other end is silent. I know it’s her.

“Aria. I don’t know what you’re thinkin’ darlin’.” Her sniffles are the only thing I hear. She’s crying and it’s all my fault.

“I couldn’t do it. I couldn’t turn you in. There are things you don’t know about me, Roc.” Checking the time, I sigh.

“I have to be at a meetin’. You wanna meet me at the clubhouse tonight? We’ll talk.” I can almost hear the excitement in her voice.

“Yeah, I’ll be there.” With my heart in my throat, I try to speak but it comes out forced.

“I’ll see you tonight.” I don’t know if that’s the right choice. Bringing her back here isn’t the right choice. It’s wrong on so many levels and I know it.

“You keep fuckin’ up, Roc.” I mumble to myself while I rev my bike. I need to meet Tomlin before shit gets way too out of control. I make my way through town with ease, but there’s something nagging at the back of my mind. Tomlin has to have more on me than just that one murder. A man like him will pull out every stop to make his point. He’s highly known. He has more secrets than just me.  I park in my usual spot and climb off the bike. There is an aggravating sense of dread that sits on my shoulders. I can’t place what it is, but it’s there. I glance across the street and stop dead in my tracks.

“Aria?”  Her name floats off my lips like it’s always been there. I’d swear that was her going into the building across the street. My stomach cramps as chills race over my body. I don’t like the feelings I’m getting at all. I shake it off and head toward the building. I make my way inside and straight to Tomlin’s office. I don’t bother with knocking as usual.

“Nice to see you as well, Rocland.”

“Cut the shit. What do you want now? I killed Malcolm.” I say, my tone clipped. He nods his head knowing this isn’t news to him. He knew I’d do it.

“I have a situation. I’m at a crossroads of sorts. We are having a gala next weekend. You are obviously not my first choice of attendees but under the circumstances, I think you’re needed.” His words slam into me. He wants me to attend one of his fancy rich bitch gala’s? No way in fuck.

“Not happenin’. I do your dirty work under the table, not in public.” I cross my arms over my chest as he grins. I watch as he pulls out a folder and tosses it on the desk in front of him.

“Go ahead. Open it.” He says, nodding toward it. I reach over and pick it up.

“You son of a bitch.” Pictures of Angel, Devil, and Ghost sit in front of my eyes.  I flip through the pages and photos. The more I look, the more I want to rip his beating heart out. I throw the photos onto the desk before I look back up at him.

“What the fuck do you want from me?!”

“My daughter has too much information. She knows too many things, and her emotional stability has been altered.”

“So, your family issues are now mine? Fuck you, Tomlin. Can’t handle your own daughter?” I chuckle.

“She is a liability. You do this, I will drop everything else. I have nothing against your friends. They are a security deposit of sorts.” Shaking my head, I let that sink in. Kill one woman−which I don’t do−and he lets it all go.

“I don’t trust you.”

“I don’t trust you, either. Be there at seven. Don’t find me, I’ll find you. You romance her in any way you need to, to get her alone. I don’t care what you need to pull to make that happen.” 

***

“Fuck, Roc!” Dragon says. I know this sounds bad.

“We need to get a handle on this asshole.” Dragon says his bit, but I already know that the Flames are moving in, too.

“We need to handle Flame’s first. I can handle Tomlin’s shit.” All eyes fall upon me now. They know I’ve never killed a woman before.

“You sure you can do that?” Devil, of all the guys to ask, it would be him.

“Don’t have much of a choice. I’ll make it quick.” I say as Devil nods.

“So, you handle that shit. We’ll set up a meet with Cambridge to see what the hell they want. One way or another, we need to get Tomlin on somethin’.” Dragon announces. We all nod in agreement.  My phone rings in my pocket as I sigh. Pulling it out, I see a text from Aria saying she’s out front.

“Get the girl.” Devil says laughing at me. I shove off the chair and look at him.

“Don’t get all jealous on me.” Making a little fun of him, he laughs. I head down the hallway and out the front door. Aria stands with her back to me, her long hair flowing in the breeze. She’s angelic. I walk slowly, as to not make any noise. Wrapping my hands around her waist, I breathe her in.

“I don’t know why you are so hardheaded.” I whisper in her ear making her laugh.

“There’s just something about you that I can’t let go, Roc.” Ain’t that some shit? I feel the exact same way.

“I needed you to turn me in.” I tell her in all honesty. Aria spins around in my arms, her eyes pinning me in place.

“If I did that, I wouldn’t be able to do this.” Her fingers slide up my arms, wrapping around my neck. She pulls my lips down to meet hers. The world slips away when I’m with her.  My tongue slides effortlessly into her mouth, caressing hers. Moans slip freely from her mouth, and straight into mine.  The connection I have with this woman is beyond anything I would have ever expected.

“Let’s go inside. I might fuck you in this driveway.” Pulling my lips away from hers, Aria giggles before I wrap my arm around her. I lead her in the front door, to find the guys all staring us down.

“You have my boy in an awkward situation.”  Devils says with his arms crossed over his chest, glaring at Aria.

I look between Ghost and Dragon.

“What the hell is this?” I ask no one in particular. Devil is in a mood; I can see that much.

“I didn’t mean to put him in any situation.” Aria holds her own. That’s why I like her. She isn’t afraid of them, even though in her right mind, she should be.

“Yet, here he is.” Devil says, not backing down. I didn’t expect him too either.

“If there is something I did, tell me. I will fix it. If I managed to fuck up some of your little plans, tell me. I will walk away from him if that’s what he wants.” Aria says, crossing her arms over her chest to mimic Devil.  The stare down between the two of them is deadly. I’ve never seen the look in her eyes, that she’s giving him right now.

“Why don’t we just calm down. Today has been crazy. Let’s get a fire up out back and just take it easy tonight.” Dragon finally adds his two cents.

Devil stares her down never the less.