Chapter 25

 

Leaving Cambridge, a weight feels like it’s been lifted from my shoulders. A calming feeling takes over as we walk toward the bikes.

“You good with runnin’ his shit?” Glancing over at Dragon, he nods.

“Better money. Higher payouts. We could use that. Besides, Cambridge is the biggest mass seller out there.” I guess he’s right. Right now, we’re only running local gigs. With this much power behind us, we can venture out.

“I didn’t like bringin’ you guys into this.” Dragon stops, turning to face me.

“I don’t want to hear shit else, Roc. You’re fuckin’ family, man. You took a lot of shit from Tomlin for way too long. This shit comes to an end, now.” The look in his eyes says to let this go. So that’s exactly what I do.

“Thanks, brother. Not just for this. I mean, for everything.” Dragon grins. Grabbing my helmet, I climb on my bike, revving the engine. With a quick nod from Dragon, I take off.  I’m ready to get this asshole and finish this. I’m ready to make him pay for everything he’s done to me. Every single time that phone rang and I had to leave, and take care of his problems. More than that though, I want to make him pay for the hell he put Aria through. I want him to feel the pain that she felt. The betrayal. The hurt. The fear.  He will feel every last bit of it. Pulling to a stop in the clubhouse parking lot, I leap off my bike, heading straight inside. I glance around, not seeing anyone until Trick walks past me.

“You seen my girl?” Trick grins before pointing.

“She’s out in the pool,”  He says. With a quick nod, I head toward the other exit. Spotting her wet body floating in the water, shivers roll over me. My smile couldn’t get any bigger. The closer I get, the hotter I am. That girl does some strange things to my insides.

“You’re lookin’ awful sexy in that.” Looking at her through hooded eyes, she smiles up at me.

“Come here.” I almost growl. Aria climbs out of the pool, walking toward me. Soaking wet and in nothing but a bikini, my dick hardens in my jeans. When she’s close enough to me, I yank her against my body.

“Roc! I’m wet.” She tries to protest but that isn’t happening.

“I haven’t touched you yet.” She giggles against my neck.

“You know what I mean.”

“I don’t care if you’re wet. I need to tell you somethin’,” I say, kissing her neck. Aria groans.

“Tell me, then.” Her fingers trace circles on the back of my neck igniting a fire inside of me.

“You’re safe. They won’t touch you.” Aria pulls back, her eyes full of tears.

“Are you serious?” Nodding my head, she slams her mouth over mine. Her kiss is hot and passionate. I want so much more of this.

“My dad?” Pulling back, I swallow hard.

“He’s mine. Cambridge wants to make sure he’s dead. Your dad sold you out to them. Made it look like the shit was all on you.” Her eyes fill with tears before I see the fire burning in them.

“Make him pay, Roc.” She says. That’s all I needed to hear. I set Aria on her feet before I walk toward Dana.

“I want you to stay here, just until we get shit taken care of. After that, you can go home safely.” I can see the relief in her eyes. She doesn’t like it here and honestly; I want that cock-blocker out of my room.

“Thank you, Roc. For everything,”  Dana says. Nodding at her, I don’t do the thank you, and shit.

“You’re welcome here any time.” Her laughter makes me smile.

***

I left Aria and Dana in the pool before grabbing some beers. With my feet kicked up on the table in front of me, I watch my girl swim and smile. That’s all I want for her. I want her to be happy.

“She’s a good girl, Roc.” Devil sits down next to me, grabbing a beer.

“Yeah, she is. That’s the way I want to see her all the time, man.” Devil grunts his agreeance. Taking a long pull from my bottle, I keep my eye on Aria.

“You will. We’ll get that asshole and she’ll be ok.” Devil isn’t really a man of words. He doesn’t say a whole lot that makes sense but he has a good heart. He’s a straight up Devil, that is one thing I know.

“You wanna talk about Angel?” I ask. Devil grunts before leaning forward, resting his elbows on his knees.

“Why does this shit bother you so much, Roc?” Glancing over, I shrug.

“Cause, I want to see you happy. I see the look in your eyes when she’s around.” Shaking his head, he takes a drink.

“She just rubs me wrong, man. I don’t get it either. It’s like somethin’ comes alive when I see her.” I know that feeling far too well.

“Shit, I get that. It’s how it is with her. What’s stoppin’ you?” Turning my head, I look over at him.

“The obvious. She’s fucked half the club, Roc. That shit isn’t gonna work out.” Shoving out of the chair, Devil walks away.

I watch him go. I don’t say anything to him. I can see he’s waging a war within himself. So, what, she’s been a club whore for years? That doesn’t mean she can’t change. I’ve seen it happen. Some of these girls are just looking for love. Some just need that extra push and someone to hold them. They aren’t much different than we are. We walk around here fucking as many girls, as they do guys. I drag my gaze from the disappearing shadow of Devil, back to Aria.  Her gaze is locked on me. The fire that burns inside of me sparks to life. How can her look do that to me? How do I deserve that? Dana says something to her, pulling her gaze from mine, but only for a moment.

“Hey, Roc.” Angel walks past in a swim suit leaving very little to the imagination.

“Hey, Angel. Got a minute?” Turning around, she smiles and nods.

“I just wanted to ask you about Devil.” She looks at me with so much questioning in her eyes.

“What about him?” Swallowing hard, I hate to get in the middle of this.

“Do you feel anything for him?” Angel watches me briefly.

“I don’t want to talk about this.” Angel walks away as I blow out a breath.  

“What’s wrong with her?” Aria asks as she walks toward me, wrapping a towel around her body.

“I pissed her off. Asked things I shouldn’t have.” Grabbing the towel, I pull it off her body as she whines.

“Give me that!” She whines. Shaking my head, I grab her and pull her against me.

“So, what did you ask her? About her, and Devil?” My eyes drop to hers. Her lips curl into a smile like she has all the answers.

“How is it, that you know shit before I do around here?” Aria smiles before chewing on her lip. “Are you gonna tell me?” I ask once more. Her smile fades only slightly.

“No. That would be rude.” Pushing up on her toes, she presses a kiss to my lips.

“So, you talk to Angel?” I ask. Shaking her head, she grabs the towel away from me, wrapping it around herself once more.

“Devil, then?” Aria starts to walk away from me but I don’t let her. I follow along behind her like a little puppy.

“Since when, do you talk to Devil?” I snap slightly.  Aria rolls her eyes at me over her shoulder.

“I don’t talk to him, Roc. It was once.” Now I’m getting aggravated. What the hell are they talking about? When was this? Grabbing her arm, I stop her in the hallway, spinning her to face me. Her eyes snap to mine and hold there. I can’t tell what look she has in her eyes, but it isn’t normal.

“Why are you pulling on me like that?” She looks afraid as she speaks. My hand slowly drops from her arm.

“What are you doin’ talkin’ to Devil?” Asking her again, I need to know. Aria huffs out a breath before looking around.

“You sent me with him, Roc. Remember? Did you think we would sit in silence the whole time?” Why does it bother me that they talked?

“Are you jealous? Is that what this is?” Her eyes dance with amusement. Is that what this is? No–fucking–way.

“I don’t think so.” Brushing past her, Aria laughs. I open the door to the room and she follows me inside.

“Rocland James Bishop, are you jealous of Devil?” When she calls my whole name, I turn to look at her. The amusement still dances in her eyes. It’s beautiful.

“Not even a little. He can’t do what I can do.” My body heats from the inside out. Aria licks her lips, that smile still on her face.

“What is it you can do, that he can’t?” Taking a few short strides toward her, I grip her hips in my hands. Slamming my mouth against hers, I yank the towel off her body once more.