Chapter 22

 

  I called the guys and filled them in for the most part. I didn’t want to go into too much detail on the phone. Aria finally calmed down and took a shower. It took her more than two hours to finally fall asleep. I run my hand up and down her back absentmindedly. I like having her this close to me. I like knowing that she’s safe and secure in my arms. But is she safe? Security I can give her but safety is an illusion. It’s all it has ever been in this lifestyle. We’re never really safe. We do criminal things every day that puts that illusion into focus. If I can’t get everything on Tomlin, I could lose it all. I could lose my freedom–my Club–Aria.

“You’re doing it again.” Aria’s groggy voice snaps my brain back into focus. My fingers give a little from digging into her back.

“Sorry, just a lot on my mind.” Aria tips her head, resting her chin on my chest, her eyes peering up at me.

“Can’t you stop for one night? We have to go home tomorrow.” I don’t miss the little whine in her voice. It’s sweet.

“You like this? Just bein’ out here, me and you?” I ask her as a smile pulls across her gorgeous face.

“It’s nice, you know. Nothing to worry about and no one around.” She smiles. I have to agree; this break has been a much needed one.

“We can come back.” Pressing a kiss to her forehead, she snuggles back into me.

 ***

I drop onto the couch in the lobby while Aria takes the bags to my room. I’m happy as hell to be home, but there is still that dread in the back of my mind. If Tomlin knew my every move, does he know where the clubhouse is? That’s been a constant worry for me.  There hasn’t been anything pointing to him knowing, so I try to let that play out the best way I can. Devil drops onto the couch next to me.

“Glad you’re back. Find out anything new?” He says, passing me a beer. I gladly take it.

“Nope. Just tryin’ to figure out how the hell Cambridge is playin’ into all this.” Devil nods before shifting in his seat.

“They could be workin’ with Throwers. Who the hell knows, maybe that’s where the war is comin’ from.”  Shrugging his shoulders, I think he might be right.

“I agree. Throwers were the ones that were after Aria that night up north. Makes sense that Cambridge would have been around, takin’ the pictures.” Devil leans back, toying with the ring in his lip.

I can’t stop the chuckle that escapes me.

“What the hell you laughin’ at?” Devil grunts as he looks at me.

“Somethin’ comes out of your mouth every time you touch that shit in your lip.” Flipping me off, he goes back to messing with it. His fingers stop moving when Aria walks back into the room. Their eyes find each other instantly. It’s a strange connection you feel between the two of them.

“Glad you’re home.” Devil says, smiling up at her. She drops onto the couch in between the two of us.

“Me, too. I missed your hateful ass.” Devil laughs as I look at the two of them.

“Inside joke, brother,” Devil says, but I narrow my eyes at the two of them. Aria throws her arms around my neck.

“So, when do we get to work?” She asks me with a smile. I look down at her a little confused.

“Don’t we need to find out more about my dad?” Shaking my head, I lean my forehead against hers.

“We, as in the club, not you.” I can see the anger in her. She thinks I would let her get into this any deeper than she already is? That’s cute.

“I’m not a baby.” Devil chuckles before Aria kicks him.

“I can clearly see that,” I say as I look down at her ass. Aria slaps me in the chest.

“You two are vile.” Aria scrunches up her nose.

“You didn’t say that at all this weekend.” Her face blushes the prettiest pink I’ve ever seen.

“Got you a present,” Dragon hollers, making us all turn to see what the hell he’s talking about.

“Dana?” Aria leaps off the couch running straight to her friend. They grab each other hugging, but Dana is crying. Devil and I share a glance at each other before looking back at Dragon. He makes his way toward us with a sick look on his face.

“That girl is a handful,” Dragon says, wiping the sweat away from his forehead. We wait for an explanation as to why she’s even here.

“Seems that little Miss Crystal, is a fuckin’ snitch. Dana overheard her talkin’ on the phone.” Dragon tells us. I’m sure my eyebrows shot up into my hairline. I didn’t see that shit coming!

“Mitch, go run the perimeter.” I tell the prospect. He gives me a nod before heading out the front doors. Dragon and I sit in complete confusion. Aria stands there holding Dana in her arms.

“What the hell did she hear?” I ask Dragon but he just shrugs.

“Couldn’t say. That little shit has fought my ass all the way back here.” Holding his arm up, I can see all the scratches. I can’t help but laugh.

“She whooped your ass, Prez.” I laugh. Ghost walks in taking in the scene in front of him before letting out a slow whistle.

“Now we got a party.” Ghost lets out another whistle. Dragon cuts his eyes at him.

“That girl is not down for any party,”  Dragon grunts. I can’t hold in the laughter. I can just picture that little girl giving Dragon hell.

“What do we do now?” I ask as I lay back against the couch.  Dragon snaps his head around to look at me.

“We kill that motherfucker. He’s usin’ whoever he can against each other. That snitch Crystal, she was feedin’ him shit on your woman!” Scrubbing my hand over my face, I sigh.

“Up north? Shit, they didn’t know she was with me.” Dragon nods, but there is still something bothering him, I can see it.

“What is it?” I ask. Resting his elbows on his knees, he drops his head.

“He’s been fuckin’ that girl. Crystal was in on this shit, Roc.” Fire blazes through my body. My hands clench in my lap.

“Roc, can she come to our room?” Aria stops in front of me.  Without thinking, I nod to her. I watch her walk away with her friend latched onto her.

“Our room? You got a roommate?” Ghost laughs. I flip him off before looking back at Dragon.

“What do we do with her?” Nodding toward the hallway, he shrugs.

“Fuck if I know. What the hell do we do with Crystal?” Shit, this whole thing has turned into a world of hell.  I shove off the couch and head down the hallway when Angel cuts me off.

“Hey, Roc. I just wanted to say sorry.” Her eyes flicker to something behind me before coming back to rest on mine.

“It’s fine.” Glancing over my shoulder, I see Devil with his arms crossed over his chest at the end of the hallway. His eyes are burning holes into that girl.

“Well, I just wanted to say that.” Leaning down, I kiss her cheek.

“No worries.” She smiles before walking down the hallway. I turn to catch the look in Devil’s eyes as she walks past. Pushing my door open, I mumble to myself.

“Crazy fuckers.”