CHAPTER EIGHT
I leave Priest and head up to my room. I need to see Hope bad. Not that I plan to tell her Sway might not make it through the rest of the year.
I turn the corner, headed for the elevators, and Sway’s waiting, leaning up against the wall.
Fuckin’ great.
Motherfucker doesn’t waste time. He pushes away from the wall and crowds into my space. “What was that about?”
This isn’t a conversation we should be holding out in the open.
Not a fan of anyone in my face, I hold up a hand between us, a gesture he needs to read as back the fuck off before I knock you out. He doesn’t advance any farther, but he doesn’t stand down either.
“Not your business. I’m sure you’ll have your own sit-down.”
“Yeah, that’s what I’m worried about. Don’t fucking stonewall me, Rock. Do I need to watch my back this weekend?”
The elevator doors across from us open and I grab his arm and shove him inside. After the doors close, I turn and face him. “You really need me to tell you he’s pissed?”
“And?”
“And nothing. Here’s my read on the situation, he wants to see how you do this year. But I gotta warn you, he’s not thrilled about anything that’s gonna bring unwanted attention to the club.”
“Yeah, no shit.” He leans past me and jabs one of the buttons. “Those guys can laugh all they want, but I’m on to something with Stella’s studio. It’s posting bigger profits every month. I’m working on a deal with a friend of hers now to get her up and running too.”
Good for you. “That what got Tawny ready to blow?”
He levels a cool look my way. “Who the fuck knows. She’s always been like that. I’ve been telling her less and less about club business to protect her ungrateful ass and she thinks I’m boxing her out.”
I need a minute to absorb that information.
“What’s your plan, to keep bankrolling small porn studios?”
“For now, yeah. These girls have been treated shitty by other studios and don’t wanna work with ’em anymore. But they still have a big enough following to make some money. They just need a little assistance.” He cocks his head. “Besides, you seem to have the weed trade covered.”
The bitterness in his tone pisses me the hell off. No one’s ever stopped him from running a similar operation. He and his crew just don’t want to put in the work.
“What’re you talking about? There’s room to expand in your end of the state. I’ve offered to send Sparky down to help you set up.”
“I don’t got anyone on my crew as dedicated as Sparky.”
And whose fault is that?
“I wanna build up my own thing, Rock. It’s legitimate and will keep us out of trouble.”
“Then run with it.”
“I’m trying.”
The elevator dings and stops on Sway’s floor. I nod to him. “I’ll catch you at the pool party later.”
He stares at me for a few seconds before nodding.
As soon as the doors close, I spear my fingers through my hair and jab the button for my floor.
I really need to see my girl.
I can only describe Rock as grim as he returns from his president’s meeting. I don’t have any notions about it being a polite corporate retreat sort of sit-down. My mind conjured up beer, cigarettes, topless waitresses, and maybe a beating or two being given out. Hopefully to Sway.
Rock’s humorless laugh when I describe my version doesn’t ease my anxiety.
“Maybe back in the day. Now it resembles more of a corporate meeting. Only with leather and denim instead of suits and ties.”
“Darn.”
“Come here.” He holds out his arms, and I happily embrace him. “How was your trip?”
“Quite an adventure.” I snuggle into his embrace and he rests his chin on top of my head. “Thank you for taking care of everything. That was really sweet.”
“Least I can do for my girl.”
I tip my head back. “You know you paid everyone’s bill, right?”
His lips twitch into an amused smirk. “Yes.”
“Well, thank you.”
“No one bothered you, right?”
I hesitate and Rock rests his hands on my shoulders, gently pushing me back so he can see my face. “Hope? No one bothered you, right? Birch and the prospect took care of you?”
“Yes. Birch and Stitch did their jobs. We stopped at the store, though, and two plainclothes cops tried to talk to me in the candy aisle.”
“The candy—what? Start from the beginning.”
I relay what isn’t that much of a story. “They tried to talk to Heidi and Charlotte too, I guess.”
“Goddammit. Birch was supposed to—”
“Don’t be mad at him. He couldn’t be with all four of us at once the whole entire time. And what are you going to do, send four guys to the supermarket with us? Seems impractical.”
He growls, a pissed-off, frustrated sound, and yanks his cell phone out of his pocket.
“Please don’t yell at Birch.”
“I’m not. Not yet anyway. I’m checking in with Wrath.”
“Oh.”
Their conversation is short and tense. When Rock hangs up, he seems a little less stressed.
“We’re only here for two more days. I don’t want you leaving the hotel unless you really need—”
He blows out a relieved breath. “Good. I’m so sorry, baby doll. You shouldn’t have to worry about shit like that.”
I wrap my fingers around his bicep and squeeze. “It’s not a big deal. More than anything, I was offended by their assumption that I needed their help.” I point to the three blue grocery bags on the dresser. “I mean, I was buying my weight in chocolate, not exactly a damsel in distress.”
“Any of that chocolate the kind I can smear on your body and lick off?”
“No.” I take a step back and strike a pose for him. “Besides, I’m all polished and glowy and you didn’t even notice.”
“Oh, I noticed. You’re fucking beautiful. Kinda wish we were back on our honeymoon island. All alone.”
“Mmm, me too. Five-year anniversary trip, right?”
“Right,” he agrees, sealing the promise with a kiss.
“Everything go okay for you?” I ask.
He doesn’t tense up or mutter “club business” like I expect. Instead, he’s quiet for a few seconds. “Yeah,” he finally answers. “Got recognized for my club doing well and reminded that we need to add some prospects.”
“Oh,” I breathe out, startled Rock actually shared that much information with me. “It can’t be easy to find people you can trust who are willing to sacrifice so much time to prospect for the club.”
“Exactly.” He blows out a breath. “I like things small. More like a family than a business. But I can’t deny we’re spread thin at times too.”
“Makes sense,” I whisper, not wanting to say too much and break the spell.
“As far as Sway, he came damn close to getting that beating you were daydreaming about.” His mouth twists in a pained smile before slipping away. “Need to help that fucker some before he gets voted out or worse.”
I’m conflicted about voicing what I think is bothering him. “You feel… guilty that you were congratulated while he was criticized?”
He sucks in a deep breath, eyes widening as if he hadn’t quite realized that’s how he felt about the situation. “Something like that.”
“You can say you’re a filthy biker all you want, but I know who you are, Rock.” I rest my palm over his heart. “You’re a smart businessman. Clever.” I peek up at him from under my lashes. “Ruthless when you need to be. I understand the club is a brotherhood, but don’t ever regret your successes because someone else can’t compete. You’re smarter and work harder than anyone I know.”
“Regret isn’t the right word, but I understand what you’re saying. Thank you, baby doll.”
I still don’t think I expressed the right words. “You’re fair and humble. You know when to speak and when to observe. You’re good at what you do, but you give credit where it’s due and that’s the mark of a true leader. It’s why your brothers respect you so much and why others will resent you. It’s not sycophantic allegiance you’ve earned from your brothers. It’s genuine loyalty and respect.”
He frames my face with his hands and places a soft kiss on my forehead. “Where were you twenty years ago?” he mutters. “I would’ve been ruling the world by now if I’d had you by my side.”
I turn my head and rub my lips against the underside of his wrist. “Well, I was in high school, so you probably would’ve ended up in jail, not supreme ruler of the universe.”
He chuckles.
“Besides, a big badass biker like you wouldn’t have even noticed the quiet, nerdy girl in the corner.”
He rubs his thumb over my cheek. “I would’ve noticed you no matter what. I bet you were just as beautiful back then.”
“Somewhere I have picture proof that’s not the case. But thank you.”