Chapter 21
Fox
Even though her revelation was supposed to be a relief, it only served to tense the moment. Now that she knew I couldn’t shake her, I also knew she felt the same way. She was drawn to me the way I was drawn to her, and that would make it harder to keep her protected. The KG9’s would sink their teeth into that, and once the club found out, it would be one more person we had to protect. One more person we had to conceal from The Devil’s Saints as they mounted their attack.
One more person to keep out of the hands of the police.
She nestled into me, and I closed my eyes. I knew I had to tell her. I knew I had to come clean. As much as I didn’t want to involve her in my mess, she was already a part of it. The revelation of our feelings didn’t deflate the balloon inflating around our lives, and I knew she felt it. My hands raced up and down her back as my mind tried to collect its thoughts, and suddenly her lips were on mine.
Drawing me from my mind and bringing me back to the present.
I cupped the back of her head as our tongues collided. My heart hammered in my chest as my cock began to pulse with life. What the fuck was it about this woman? Was it her dazzling eyes? Or her beautifully soft hair? Was it her supple curves or her unmarred body? Was it the way she was so ignorant or the way she was so blissful towards life? Was it her privilege? Or maybe her want and need to experience more?
I was still no closer to finding out why I couldn’t shake her.
Her lips pulled away from mine, swollen and twinged with pink. I gazed into her eyes as I tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. I couldn’t hide from her any longer. I couldn’t keep this a secret. She was in real danger. Danger I had put her in.
And with her telling me that her father was lying to her, I knew this would be the only natural opening I would have to sway her to our side.
“Harlow,” I said. “We do need to talk.”
“I know. There’s still something looming between us. I just don’t know what it is,” she said.
“And you’re going to be upset with me. But just try to listen, okay?” I asked.
“I could never be angry with you, Fox. I’m worried. I’m curious. But I couldn’t be angry. Not if you tell me the truth.”
“Well, hold that thought close to you. I think we need to get dressed first.”
“Probably. It wouldn’t look good if my panties were lying on the kitchen floor when my parents walked in.”
“When are they due back?” I asked.
“Dad will be gone for a while. Mom still won’t be back for another hour or so.”
“Okay. Where would you like to talk.”
“In your arms,” she said.
Holy hell, she was perfect. The exact opposite of everything I ever reached for, and yet somehow still the epitome of perfection. We peeled ourselves from the couch and gathered our clothes, walking through the scent we left behind in the kitchen. She giggled as she stepped into her panties, grimacing at their wetness as she slid them up her body. I pulled my shirt on and picked up my leather jacket, my leather cut was underneath it, and I made sure to keep the logo away from her sight.
I’d show her when the time was right. If she took things better than I figured she would.
“Are you thirsty?” Harlow asked.
“I could go for something to drink,” I said.
She pulled a couple of sodas from the fridge and tossed me one. She led me over to a little breakfast nook in the corner of the kitchen that overlooked their extensive amount of property. Their backyard was beautiful, I had to give them that. Alive with flowers and bees and hummingbirds and other sorts of creatures. My eyes darted around it for a while, giving me more time to gather my thoughts before I started in on what was really going on.
All I hoped was that Harlow didn’t kick me out. Didn’t try to push me away before she gave me a chance to protect her.
“You were just supposed to be a fling,” I said. “You know, a bit of fun on the night we met.”
“Usually how it goes, yes,” Harlow said.
“But then I kissed you. On that bench in the desert. And I don’t know what happened, to be honest. I felt it then that there was something different. Something not quite right about you, but in a good way. I figured if I spent a little more time with you, I could answer my question. You know, of why you were different.”
“Do you have your answer yet?” she asked.
“Not really,” I said with a chuckle. “Every time I had you in my arms or trembling underneath my body, I kept leaving with unanswered questions. Why I was drawn back to you. Why I was dreaming about you. I’m still not any closer to any answers, but what I do know is I enjoy spending time with you.”
“I enjoy spending time with you as well, Fox. Why would you think I’d hate you for something like that?” she asked.
“Because that’s only the explanation for why I’m about to tell you this,” I said.
“Tell me what?” she asked.
“Because I want to keep seeing you and spending time with you, then I have to really tell you about me. Really open up and be honest.”
“Usually how it works, yes.”
“Understand that I didn’t lie to you when I said I was a mechanic.”
“Okay?” she asked.
“Harlow, I’m a member of The Road Rebels.”
“Who?”
“It’s a motorcycle club. We’re one of the dominant forces on the outskirts of Henderson.”
I watched her face fall as she took a long pull from her drink.
“You’re in a gang,” Harlow said.
“Not a street gang. A motorcycle club.”
“Is there a difference?” she asked.
“A lot. But in the eyes of the law, not much,” I said.
“So… that leather vest underneath your jacket you’re wearing-”
“Has my club’s logo on it, yes. It’s called a leather cut.”
“Uh huh,” she said.
Wheels were turning, but I couldn’t discern what pieces she was putting together. I watched her digest the information as she fell back into her chair, twirling her can of soda between her fingers.
“I’m going to ask you something, and I want you to be one hundred percent honest with me. If you’re not, you can leave,” Harlow said.
“I’ll do my best.”
“Best isn’t good enough. My father gives me his best, but that still leaves me in the dark. I want the truth, or I want you out of here,” she said.
This was it. The ‘in’ I was looking for. She was angry with her father for something, and I could use that to my advantage.
But more than that, her anger meant I could come clean and still have a chance of keeping her around. And that was what I wanted. More than answers and more than helping my club.
I wanted to her to stay.
“Okay,” I said. “You got it. What’s your question?”
“Are you the people my father has hired?”
“So, you know about that,” I said.
“So… that’s a ‘yes.’”
“No, it’s not. How much do you know about that?” I asked.
“Enough to know he’s gotten himself into some trouble with a motorcycle gang. I get the feeling he’s trying t-”
She stopped talking and eyed me curiously, and I knew I had to answer her questions before she would answer mine.
“No, we’re not the club that’s hired your father. You’re thinking of The Devil’s Saints,” I said.
“Those are the people that have hired my father?” she asked.
“Are you familiar with them?”
“I know they cause a lot of trouble. But those are usually the type of clients my father takes on.”
“What kind of clients does he take on, if you don’t mind me asking?”
“People society has already regarded as ‘guilty.’ He goes to court, defends why they’re innocent of the crimes being brought against them, and enlightens the jury on their own personal biases and how they have no place in a courtroom.”
“You said you got a feeling of something. That he was trying to do something?” I asked.
I watched Harlow backtrack from me a bit as a wall went up behind her eyes.
“Why are you curious about that?” she asked.
“Because I’m worried about you. I’m worried about the trouble your father’s getting into with them. The Road Rebels have a long, drawn-out history with The Devil’s Saints. They are ruthless individuals. I’ve seen them kill in cold blood for nothing other than revenge. I’m worried you might be in trouble.”
“Is that why you were so panicked on the phone?” she asked.
“Partially,” I said.
“Wait, if you guys have a history with them…”
More pieces were falling into place, but I had no idea what pieces she was putting together.
“Harlow, talk to me. What’s going on in that beautiful little head of yours?” I asked.
I watched a grin tick across her cheeks as an innocent blush filled her skin.
“I get the feeling my father is trying to pin something on someone. That he’s cutting corners with this case just to get it over with. I don’t have any proof. Just a gut feeling with how he’s been talking and acting lately. And with your club having a history with them, I’m wondering if you guys might be who he’s trying to throw under the bus. Or whatever it is he’s trying to do,” Harlow said.
“Wait, what?” I asked. “Did you say ‘throw under the bus’?”