Revealing my past to Wrath doesn’t leave me feeling as vulnerable as I thought it would. If anything, I’m relieved to share it with him. Not once did he make me feel bad or ashamed. I fall asleep in his arms and don’t wake until morning. Not one nightmare.
“Hey, babe,” he greets me in the sexy, morning-rough voice I love so much.
“Were you watching me sleep?”
He runs his hand over his face and yawns. “Yeah, you’re pretty.”
It’s simple but so amazing to hear.
His phone buzzes and he throws his arm out, slapping the nightstand until he finds it. He takes a second to check the screen and smirks. “Guys are on their way back.”
My mouth turns up. I know how happy Hope will be to see Rock and I say so.
“Ummm, he said keep it under wraps. He wants to surprise her.”
“That’s mean. What if she wants to get all dolled up for him?”
Wrath shrugs. “Only one I’m worried about gettin’ dolled up is you.”
We tease each other like that for a few minutes. Then one hand cups my cheek and he stares into my eyes. “You okay, baby?”
“Yeah.”
“I’m sorry I made you—”
“I feel better.”
He nods once. “I have a confession to make.”
Immediately I assume he’s teasing me. “Oh, yeah?”
He runs his thumb over my bottom lip. “The reason I asked you to help me prepare for the fight? I just wanted a way to get close to you again. You blew me off after we—”
My hand reaches for his face. “Oh, Wyatt.”
“You were a big help to me. Once I came up with the idea, I knew it was a good one.”
I work to keep the smile off my face. “So why the confession?”
“I feel guilty you got behind on your book stuff because of me.”
Sweet mercy. How is it this man who could kill someone with his bare hands if he wanted to, is also so fucking sweet? “Yeah, but you got me all my fancy new stuff. I’ll be caught up in no time.”
“I’m glad. Want you focusing on that. Gonna talk to Rock soon about you handing off your household chores to someone else.”
Now wait just a minute. I bolt upright. “What?”
“I don’t want my woman being the maid of the MC anymore.”
“You said you—”
“That came out wrong. You’re my girl. I want you lookin’ after me and I want you concentrating on your art.”
“Wrath. You know I like taking care of things around here, right? It gives me purpose. I can’t explain it.”
He looks away. “I get that. Just think about it, okay?”
Think nothing. Now that I’m aware this is in Wrath’s head, it’s only a matter of time before he takes it to Rock. I’m not sure how I feel about it, although I would like the extra time to make my business more solid.
“I’ll think about it.”
He leans down and plants a kiss on my forehead. “Thank you.”
Trinity decided she wouldn’t be able to keep a straight face around Hope, so she’s in her room. Honestly, I think she couldn’t wait to get her hands on her new computer equipment. When I left, she was so into setting things up, she barely glanced at me.
I’m not insulted. Seeing her happy, makes me happy.
Messin’ with Hope is also making me happy. She’s got no clue her man’s coming home any minute now.
“What?” she asks me for probably the tenth time this morning.
“Nothing.” I grin at her and she wrinkles her nose.
Her face goes through a complete change when we hear the guys coming up the driveway.
“You’re evil! Why didn’t you tell me?” she shouts, shooting off the couch.
“Go greet your man.” That was pointless. She’s already halfway to the door.
After a minute or two Rock carries Hope in. He barely glances at me long enough to nod and then takes her right upstairs.
Murphy drops his bags at the foot of the stairs. “Ain’t gonna see them for the rest of the day,” he says with a smirk.
“That fucker got her name tatted on him,” Z informs me.
“Would you shut the fuck up about it,” Murphy gripes.
I grin at both of them. “Calm down children. Maybe if you’re good little boys, Daddy will get your names inked on him too.”
Z throws himself down next to me. “Look who’s chipper. Have fun while we were gone?”
Wrapping my arm around Z’s neck I pull him in for a hug-choke and rough him up. “Yeah. Missed you, though, little brother.”
He breaks out of the hold, laughing.
Murphy slaps my outstretched hand. “How’s the leg, bro?”
“Gettin’ there.”
“You’re back!” Trinity yells from the hallway, rushing out to greet Murphy and Z. She gives both of them a quick hug and the two fucks keep a respectful distance.
“I take it Rock’s upstairs?” she asks.
None of us really need to answer that. Trin takes a seat in my lap, which makes me pretty fuckin’ happy.
Z smirks at us and heads into the war room. “Got some shit to do, then I’m taking a shower and a nap. Any of you fucks wake me up, I’m kicking some ass.”
Murphy laughs at him. “I’m gonna grab something to eat then do the same.” He slaps my shoulder and heads into the kitchen. To my delight, Trinity stays put. In fact, she leans back against me.
“Thanks for letting me get some work done,” she finally says.
“Sure, babe.”
“Want to see what I was working on?”
I tip my head down to take her in. “If you want to show me.”
A hint of a smile slips across her face. “I’ve got a few things to show you.”
Now she really has my attention. Sliding out of my lap, she holds her hands out to me. I made it down here without the crutches, but I’m not sure about the walk back. I’m not about to tell her that though. She wraps her arm around my waist, and I lean on her more than I care to admit.
Restless, I leave Trin sleeping. Definitely proud of myself for wearing her out again. If only I could wear myself out.
I find Z, Dex and Murphy yapping in the living room.
“I thought a fucking bomb hit the house,” Z finishes saying as I walk in.
“What are you talking about?”
The guys turn and look at me. Murphy smirks. “Z’s tender ears were hurt listening to Mom and Dad get it on.”
I throw my head back and laugh so hard, I almost lose my balance.
“Fuck both of you,” Z snaps.
Dex chuckles. “Keep your mouth shut. That girl embarrasses easy. You upset her, prez will kill you.”
Z waves his hand in the air, dismissing Dex’s sage advice. “Nah, she loves me.”
I shake my head.
Dex and Murphy head out. Z fills me in on the trip.
“Seriously, he didn’t look at another chick the entire time,” he says.
I shrug. “Is that supposed to be a surprise?”
Z tilts his head and stares at me. “It’s fuckin’ weird, that’s all.”
“I thought you liked Hope?”
“I do. What’s that got to do with anything?”
I make my For fuck’s sake face at him.
Z lowers his voice. “Don’t tell me on your next trip out there you’re not gonna hang with Sha—”
My hand squeezes the back of his neck. “Worry about where you park your own dick, brother.”
He slaps my arm away. We’re interrupted from further discussion by the couple in question coming down the stairs.
“Hey, porn stars,” I call out. Hope’s finally wearing her property patch. The sight of it knocks the breath out of me.
Z goes on to do exactly what Dex warned him not to do, almost getting an ass-kicking from Rock. I sit back and enjoy not being on Rock’s shit list for once.
“Are you still in pain?” Rock asks her after I have to sit through the two of them playing an extended game of tonsil hockey.
“A little.” She reaches over and taps my leg. “That’s why Wrath offered to get me high.”
Thanks for bringing that up, Cinderella. “See, I told you I’d take good care of her.” I smirk at Rock.
Sparky surfaces and asks for Rock’s help. Once they disappear downstairs, Hope turns to me with a sly smile. “Enjoy Trinity’s new outfit?”
Well, now. Cinderella came to play. Let’s see if she can take it or only dish it out. “I sure did. Heard you got one just like it. That what got prez so worked up?”
Her cheeks turn bright red. Just as I thought. She taps my side with her fist. “Jerk.”
“You started it. I’m not sure if you noticed, but no one’s sex life is a secret here.” Fuck, that’s the understatement of the year.
“I’m a bit of a prude, aren’t I?”
Well, at least she’s self-aware. “We’ll work it out of you. Oh, and I gotta tell you, the idea of you and Trin trying that shit on together is going straight into my spank bank.”
Her face flushes even redder. “Oh my gosh! It wasn’t like that. And ew.”
My star patch on the side of her vest catches my eye. On Trinity’s vest, the star would be over her heart. Am I ever going to get there with her? I feel like her finally confiding in me last night moved us closer. I’m not jealous of Rock. Not exactly. But Trinity grew up in the life and understands the significance of a property patch. The fact that Hope—who had no fucking clue anything like that existed before she met Rock—is wearing one first, frustrates the fuck out of me.
Rock’s gone for a while and I can tell she’s getting anxious.
“Wrath?”
“Yes, sugar.”
“What’s downstairs?”
I chuckle. “The club business.” She doesn’t laugh. Motherfucker. “Rock still hasn’t told you?”
“Geez, don’t tell me it’s more strippers,” she grumbles.
“No strippers.”
“Porn studio?”
“No sugar. Noting like that.”
Rock chooses that exact moment to come back upstairs. I turn and glare at him. “Can I have a word with you, brother?”
“Not now, we’ve got a problem,” he answers, dismissing me.
“Why don’t you take Hope on a tour of downstairs?”
Rock’s jaw sets in a hard line. “Not now.
Hope sits up. “Wrath, it’s fine. I—”
“What the fuck you waiting for? You patched her.”
Rock clearly wants to knock me the fuck out, but this is getting ridiculous. The girl’s here all the time. She should know the risk she’s taking.
“Fine. You wanna see what’s downstairs, baby doll?” he asks her.
Hope’s gaze swings between the two of us. “If you want me to.”
“Christ, it’s not that big a deal at this point.” I say.
“Shut up. Remember, you started this,” Rock growls.
He leads her downstairs and I wait for the fallout.
Maybe half an hour later, they return. Hope seems to have survived. Rock looks like he wants to punch something. Probably me.
He keeps going right upstairs even though Hope stops to talk to me. “Rock?” I call out, but he ignores me. Shrugging, I turn to Hope. “What did you think?”
“Pretty cool.”
What crawled up Rock’s ass then? “You’re very unpredictable, Hope.”
She pats my arm and takes off after Rock.
They’re barely gone a minute, when she comes racing back downstairs. “Hope! What’s wrong?”
She’s shaking her head and I can tell she’s close to tears. Before I can grab her, she darts out the door.
Motherfucker. I’m gonna wrap my hands around Rock’s neck and squeeze really hard. How dare he take her on a tour of our entire operation, then piss her off so bad she storms off afterward.
I’ve been doing better without the crutches, but the stairs are a pain in the fucking ass. I’m livid by the time I reach Rock’s door, so I pound on it extra hard. “Rock! Open the fucking door.”
After a minute, he opens it wearing a towel.
“What the fuck did you say to her?” I snap at him.
“Who?”
“Hope, you asshole. She just took off in fucking tears.”
He glances around the room then back at me. “She’s not going to run to the cops, if that’s what you’re worried about. She thought Sparky and his setup were adorable.”
Now I really do want to choke him. I know she isn’t gonna run to the police. But we also don’t need her sobbing to one of her girlfriends and mentioning our grow house in the process. We do not need is a pissed-off woman who not only knows where our clubhouse is, but what’s in our basement running around.
He promises to go talk to her and I hop next door to my room before I really do knock his ass out. No fuckin’ way am I making it back downstairs anytime soon.
My room’s surprisingly clean and dust free considering I haven’t been in it in weeks. I assume that’s Trinity’s doing.
I roll onto my bed and stare up at the ceiling. Remembering the conversation Trinity and I had about my sister, I reach out and snag the second drawer of my nightstand. My only photo of Faith is tucked into a silver frame. Both of us are actually in the cheesy Sears portrait. I can’t stand looking at what a goofy kid I was, but Faith’s just as adorable as I remember.
I set the frame on top of the nightstand so I’ll remember to bring it back downstairs with me.
Z shoves my door open. “What’re you doin’ in here?”
“Didn’t you ever learn to knock?”
He snorts and steps inside. “You and Trin okay?”
“Yeah. I came up here to choke Rock.” We’ve all been friends for so long, this doesn’t phase him.
I give him the concise version and he laughs. “She ain’t gonna run her mouth. Even if she’s pissed at him, he’s got her pretty well dick-whipped.”
A harsh laugh explodes out of me. “I’d love to see you say that to her face.”
He grins. “I gotta run out. You need anything?”
“Nah. I’ll hop back downstairs eventually.”
After he leaves, I end up dozing off.
My phone buzzing in my pocket wakes me.
Where are you?
Something about Trinity asking where I am makes me grin like an idiot. I let her know I’m upstairs and dial Rock.
“What?” he snaps. Typical.
“Where are you, dick?”
“At Hope’s.”
Thank fuck. “She okay?”
“Yes.”
“Are you guys okay?”
In the background I hear Hope say. “Awww” and it makes me chuckle.
“Yeah, we’re good,” Rock answers.
“Are you coming back up tonight?”
“Yeah, we’ll be up in a little while,” she answers.
“Oh, for fuck’s sake, are you going to turn into one of those annoying couples who answers every phone call together?” I snap, but I’m laughing the entire time.
“Bye, Wrath,” she says and hangs up on me.
I’m still shaking my head when Trinity knocks on the door.
“You don’t have to knock, angel.”
She shrugs. “Do I want to know?”
At first I think she’s joking, but then I notice how nervous she looks. “I came up here to kick Rock’s ass and was too tired to hop back downstairs,” I explain.
“Oh.”
I pat the bed. “Come sit. I want to show you something.”
She rushes over and sits next to me. I pull her down for a kiss. “You’re not gettin’ rid of me, if that’s what you were thinking.”
“No?”
“No. Even once you finally let me publicly claim your ass. I think I’d rather stay downstairs with you.”
“Really?”
“Yeah, really.”
“But—” She stops and looks around my room. “This is a nice room. You earned it, being one of the officers of the club—”
“Trin, look at me.” I wait until she does what I ask. “Don’t give a fuck about that. I like being away from all the stuff going on up here. Unless you don’t want me…”
“No.” She glances around again and I can almost hear her thoughts. “I’d like that.”
“We can talk about it later.”
“Okay. What’d you want to show me?”
Picking up the silver frame, I glance at it one more time before handing it over.
“Oh.” Watery honey eyes blink up at me. “She’s so pretty, Wyatt.”
A smile tugs at the corners of my mouth. “Yeah.”
“Look at you. All those blond curls.” She chuckles while running her fingers over the glass.
“I look like a doof.”
“Oh, no. You’re both so sweet together. Can I bring it downstairs with us?”
“Yeah, of course.” I shove over to make room for her and pat the bed. “Come here.”
Slowly, she lies down next to me so we’re both staring at the ceiling. “I used to hate coming in here…before,” she says quietly.
“Why?”
She turns her head, staring at me. Hurt crosses her face and I know what she’s going to say. “I never knew who or…what I’d find in your bed.”
Shit. The idea of her cleaning up after…It probably occurred to me once or twice over the years, but never like this. “I’m sorry.”
She shrugs and turns away. “It was my own fault. I deserved it.”
“Don’t say that, Trinity.”
“How many times did you run into me leaving—” She chokes on a sob and finishes her thought by flinging her hand in the direction of the hallway.
“Too many. And I hated it every time.”
She laughs and sniffles at the same time. “I guess we’re even?”
I catch her hand in mid-air and bring it to my mouth, kissing her fingertips. “We’re done hurting each other.”
She nods and swipes her cheeks.
“Let’s go back downstairs, Angel Face.”