“You killed the other guy, didn’t you?”
“He couldn’t control himself. We tried to push him to join the Lost Men out there in the deserts, but he kept coming back. He wanted everyone and everything destroyed. But you know what? It wouldn’t have changed a thing. Circumstances and events just happen. Is there a plan? I don’t fucking know. I don’t have time to sit and think of a plan.”
“I understand, Miller,” Erik said.
The message was loud and clear.
Calm the fuck down or you’ll be dead.
Then again, dead wasn’t such a bad thing, was it?
“Get out there and enjoy your night,” Miller said.
Erik knew his place, even if he was feeling rebellious. There was no defying Miller. He respected Miller with everything in his body. Hell, the biggest reason he hadn’t killed himself yet was Miller and what the MC stood for.
When Erik stood up, he faced Miller. There were a few tense seconds before Miller opened his arms. Erik hugged him and then retreated to the clubhouse.
It was alive.
Gaige walked up to Erik and handed him beer.
“Drink.”
Erik wouldn't argue that.
Blaine was playing darts with Jace, betting on two women who were more than willing for some fun. There was an open pool table and when Gaige nodded to it, Erik agreed. They set up and played their first game in silence.
Erik’s mind thought about a hundred things at once. He thought about Kaity in his room, but he had no urge to go back there. Going into that room wouldn’t end well. Erik knew if he went in there and she was there, he’d end up inside her; which usually wouldn't be a problem. She was a woman. He was a guy. If they wanted to fuck each other, so be it. But he was glaringly aware that something else was there between them. Even if it was just because of the events of the day, it just made more sense to hang in the clubhouse and fuck around all night. In the morning, Erik could take Kaity to check on her car and then she’d be gone.
After two games, Nate, Landon, and Blaine joined in. They started playing in teams, betting some cash and drinks. Erik and Landon were a lethal team together, cleaning up a couple hundred dollars and seven shots each.
Finally, as the clock ticked beyond midnight, Landon put his pool stick on the table.
“I’m out,” he said. “Got my own business to take care of.”
“Women,” Blaine said.
“I’m with Landon,” Gaige said.
“You’re lucky your girl helped the club,” Blaine said to Landon. “Avery is a beauty, man. I’d take her…”
Landon waved a hand and walked away. Nobody wanted to hear Blaine talk about the other guys’ old ladies. Somewhere in Blaine’s mind he envisioned a MC where everyone shared women.
“Don’t say a word about Emily,” Gaige said. “I’ll slit your throat.”
“You got it, boss,” Blaine said. He smiled like a smart ass, making it obvious his mind was picturing Emily naked.
“I’m going to kill you,” Gaige said and laughed. “I’m going to have no choice one day but to kill you.”
“For now, just enjoy your woman,” Nate said.
Gaige slipped away.
It was now Erik, Blaine, Nate, and Jace. They played with Erik and Jace on a team, against Blaine and Nate. It was Erik’s first loss of the night.
The party raged on. A few guys stumbled away, falling to the floor or heading to the bathroom to throw up. Erik felt really good. The booze fumbled his mind and blocked all the suicidal thoughts, which was good. But it didn’t do a whole lot for the mess waiting outside the MC, and it didn’t completely chase away Kaity.
He was full.
He needed some release.
Erik played one more game, lost again with Blaine as his teammate, and then quit the game.
“I need to get some relief around here,” Erik said.
He pushed from the pool table and stumbled to the back wall. He put his hands to it and hung his head. When he closed his eyes he saw Kaity’s sweet pussy. He swore he could still taste her on his lips. It made him throb. He was half hard just by thinking her name.
Yeah, he needed to let one go. That would be the only way to make a decent decision.
“Bro, what are you doing?” Blaine asked.
Erik turned around. “Picking out a reliever.”
“What? You have someone…”
“No, I’ve got nobody,” Erik said. He put a hand to Blaine’s chest. “Remember that, man. Nobody.”
“What about Kaity? She return the favor yet?”
“No, I don’t want that shit.”
“Are you kidding me?”
“No,” Erik said and pushed Blaine. “Get the fuck out of my way, man. You’ve been a pain in my dick all day. I only protected Kaity because I wanted to keep her safe from you.”