Clubwhore (Devil's Renegade MC #1)(54)

I start to ignore it, but decide there’s really no reason to. I’m pretty sure it’s Linda, and can’t hide my surprise when I discover it’s Luke. Bad thoughts consume me, and I immediately worry something might have happened to Bryce—who I haven’t heard from since he left.

“Everything all right?” I ask, shoving my hands in my pockets to hide my nervousness.

He looks over my shoulder to my window that’s still open. His jaw tightens, and his eyes harden. “I need you to work today.”

I frown up at him. “But it’s Sunday. It’s my day off.”

He shrugs. “Well, I need you to work.” His behavior confuses me. Even though he tries to remain detached, I can see he’s battling with something. It’s almost as if he’s pissed he even has to ask.

“Can someone else not handle it? I have some things I need to do today.”

“Nope. I need you.”

I let out a breath, torn between telling him no and giving in. He senses my struggle, and relaxes slightly. “I’ve never asked you for anything, Delilah. I’m asking you for this.” I meet his eyes—as blue as the ocean. Earnest. Almost desperate. Too desperate.

I narrow my gaze. “Did Bryce put you up to this?” His silence is a dead giveaway. “He did, didn’t he?”

“There’s an out-of-state support charter that’ll be here shortly. I need you up front by noon.” With that, he turns on his heel and leaves.

I slam my door with both hands. When that doesn’t help suppress my rising anger, I slam my window. Pacing the room, I dial Bryce’s number, but it goes to voicemail after the second ring.

“You have no right asking Luke to force me to stay here,” I yell into the phone. “It’s not fair and you fucking know it.” I end the call, and wait for him to call me back. An hour later, I’ve stomped holes in the carpet and he’s yet to return my call.

Finally, I’m exhausted enough to sleep. But when I close my eyes, it’s not Bryce I ache for. It’s my mom.



****



“Damn, you’re sexy.”

I smile up at our out-of-town guests’ road captain. He’s a good-looking guy—younger and free of the stress lines that are often found on a biker who’s been in this lifestyle for years.

“So are you, baby.”

My voice sounds nervous and unsure—exactly how I feel. I really don’t want to fuck this man. I only want one man in my bed—in my room. But he’s not here. And although he made sure to tell Luke I wasn’t to leave the clubhouse, he didn’t bother telling him I was off limits to other men. If he had, then I wouldn’t be having this conversation.

“Strip for me. I want to see that pretty little pussy I’ve been hearing about.”

His words make me sick. If Bryce has said them, I would moan and become wet and ready at the dirty talk. But this isn’t Bryce. And for the first time since I’ve been employed by the Devil’s Renegades, I feel ashamed. Like a whore…

“Hey…” The road captain’s voice drops with concern. “You okay?”

I shake my head, fighting back my tears as I hug myself. “I’m sorry.”

He gives me an understanding nod. “It’s fine, gorgeous. No pressure here.” I’m thankful for his warm words. It’d be better if he were an asshole about this. Maybe then I wouldn’t feel so guilty for disappointing him. “You look like you need a hug.” He smiles down at me.

“That would be nice.”

He steps forward, wrapping his arms around me. I shiver in his embrace, not feeling the protection or reassurance I feel in Bryce’s arms. I can’t even pretend that this man is him. He’s too small…his scent is off…his hold too polite.

A loud boom makes me jump, and the man’s arms tighten protectively around me as he looks over his shoulder. I peek around his arm to find Bryce’s big body looming in the doorway—dangerous and deadly.

“Get the fuck out,” he growls, and the man immediately releases me. Bryce takes me in with one sweep of his eyes—finding me still fully clothed and hugging myself. Another shiver wracks through me and my eyes well with tears. He mistakes my look for that of terror, and his cold, lethal glare centers on the road captain.

Before my mind can process what’s happening, his hand is around the man’s throat and lifting him off his feet. I scream for him to stop, but there’s a distance in his eyes as if he doesn’t realize I’m even in the room.

Seconds later, my room is filled with patches as they look to Bryce who has a gun trained at the man’s head. His finger is on the trigger, ready to kill the gentle man who had done nothing wrong. Luke appears then, and I beg for him to make Bryce stop—telling him that the road captain had done nothing wrong.

Resting a hand on Bryce’s shoulder, he mumbles something in his ear. I see Luke mouth my name, and the steely look in Bryce’s eyes softens when they land on me. I’m still screaming, crying, begging him to stop. He releases the man and drops his gun, forgetting him completely as he turns to me.

I don’t run to him, but I don’t run away either. I’m not scared of Bryce. Even in my state, I know he only did what he did to protect me. But again, he misjudges my reaction for fear, and lifts his hands in the air as he cautiously approaches me.

“Calm down, Love. I’m not going to hurt you.”

If I could manage my sobs, I’d tell him I know that. But I can’t. So I just stand here and continue to slowly break down until he’s close enough to touch me. The moment I’m in his arms, I shatter. And like always, he catches the crumbling pieces.

“Shh… I’m sorry. I overreacted.”

“H-he didn’t hurt me.” I cry into his chest.

“I know that now.”

“Bryce?” Luke asks, and I’ve never been more thankful for Bryce’s big body that shields me from the crowd still lingering in my room.

“I got it,” Bryce says, but Luke isn’t convinced.

“You sure, brother?”

“I said, I got it.” This time, the tone in his voice is enough to have Luke nodding, and leaving us alone.

Bryce cradles my head in his hand, raining kisses across my hair. “I’m not angry at you, Love. I never was. Please don’t think that.” His words are enough to break through the moment, and remind me of why the current events transpired in the first place.

“Well, I’m angry at you,” I say, pulling out of his hold. I walk to the bathroom, my legs rubbery but managing to hold me up.

“Why are you mad at me?”

I splash my face with cold water. My tears have stopped, but my chest heaves every now and then as I fight to control my breathing.

“I know y-you told Luke not to let me leave the c-clubhouse.” I hate myself for sounding weak. I wanted to be strong—confident when I told him how wrong it was of him to try to control me. My words don’t seem as threatening when I’m stuttering.

“That was for your own good.” I meet his eyes, finding them not the least bit apologetic.

“Well, that’s not for you to decide, is it?” He seems wounded by my words. Good. So why do I feel guilty?

“Are you really pissed at me for stopping you from going to your mother’s? After what you told me about your family, do you just expect me to let you go?”

“What I expect is for you to trust me to make my own decisions.” I shake my head at my own words, closing my eyes and taking a moment to find what it is I’m really trying to say.

“How can I trust you when you continue to put yourself in danger? If you hadn’t tried to go, then I wouldn’t have had to stop you in the first place.” Well, that did it. At his admission, my eyes are open and glaring at him.

“What do you really want from me, Bryce? Do you expect me to stay here under your command, do only as you say and be okay with not getting anything in return? What about me? What about what I want?”

He gives me a disbelieving look, like he can’t believe I have the audacity to stand here and question him. “This is about you. Everything is about you, Delilah.” Pain and confusion flashes in his eyes, but he doesn’t elaborate. Well, fuck that. He’s gotten off easy long enough.

“I love you, Bryce.” He stills at my confession—sliding the mask over his face to hide his emotions. “I am in love with you. And it’s real, so don’t even try to tell me it’s not. You may be able to control me physically, but you have no say over my heart.”

I take a step closer to him. He looks like he might want to back away, but he stands his ground. “I love you,” I repeat, the words flowing effortlessly from my mouth. “And you don’t have to love me back. But you do have to accept my feelings for you. So if you want me to be only yours, then say it. Because if you don’t, then you have no right to interfere in my job or my personal life.”

Time passes as he stares back at me unblinking. I can’t read him. He’s completely guarded. I know I’m nearing my fate. Either he’ll commit, or he won’t. There is no other option here. The longer he stands unspeaking, the more anxious I become. I need an answer. I’ve given him an ultimatum, and he needs to tell me his decision.