“Look, you’re getting carried away. Nothing really happened.”
“Yet, if I hadn’t walked out, it would have?”
“Would have what?” Melissa whispers loudly beside us, edging closer. Zane is talking in the background about our next plan of action, and in my defense, I’m trying to listen but these two have a lockjaw with gossip. More Melissa than Phoebe, Phoebe is only like this because it’s me.
“It’s nothing.” I wave Melissa away and she narrows her eyes at Phoebe, kicking her under the table.
“Ouch. Melissa! I walked in on Beast and Meadow almost kissing. It was hot, I could have…” It was my turn to kick Phoebe under the table.
Widening my eyes to let her know to be quiet, she yelps out again, “Meadow! Ouch!”
“Phoebe! Shut up,” Blake growls from the front table. She’s like this untouchable little ray of fucking sunshine.
“Sorry,” she murmurs, looking to Zane. “Carry on.”
Shaking his head, Zane carries on his talk.
Thirty minutes later, Zane has finished his talk and I’m bored. I think I need a drink. I’ve obviously been spending too much time with Phoebe and Melissa, my drinking has increased.
“Hey, you all right?” Beast asks, pulling a stool up next to me.
“Yeah,” I smile at him, picking up my drink again.
Draping his arm around the back of my chair, he pulls me into him. My stomach flips and my palms sweat at the sudden proximity. Everything inside me is hyper aware and driven with need. I have zero control over how much I want this man, and that scares me. Having no experience with men period, but throwing Beast into the mix is frightening. Not because he’s scary, well he is. But I know he would never hurt me physically, but I’m still scared. I don’t know how this all works. I don’t even know how to kiss someone. But with Beast, it seems to come naturally, that’s how much I want it.
“We have to go and meet with the Russians, hopefully, sort this shit out. I’ll be back later, okay?” His head tilts and I run my eyes over his face. I still can’t get over how stunning he is. My eyes dart to his scar that sits under his ear, without thinking, I bring my fingers up to it and draw them down the angry risen skin.
“What happened?” I whisper, eyebrows creased before I lock my eyes onto his.
His jaw ticks as he scans his eyes over my face like he’s trying to memorize every single detail of me. “That’s a long story. I’ll tell you one day.”
Swallowing down the lump that has formed in my throat, I reach for my glass again. “Every scar has its story.” And he never did see mine. No-one has seen mine. Phoebe knows about them, but she hasn’t seen them. They’re the reason I’ve never been able to wear a bikini even though God knows I want to.
His lips land lightly on my temple, and I exhale my breath slowly, closing my eyes while clenching my fist around my glass.
“I gotta go, baby. I won’t be long.” Then he stands and walks out the sliding door.
“Jesus,” I whisper to myself. I’m not sure what’s happening between him and me, but there’s certainly something going on. I think between it all, I’ve just decided to go with it. Follow my gut and hope I don’t get hurt.
Pulling down the gravel road that leads to Hecknet Falls in Westbeach California, our bikes come to a rumbling halt as the line of Russians stand in front of the long black limousine that’s parked on the edge way. With Zane and me in the front and Hella and Ade following close behind, we get off our bikes and remove our helmets. Gripping onto my cut, I lift it to show I’m not carrying—anything they can see—and one of them curls their finger for us to proceed to them. The back door opens and an immaculately suited man steps out, popping his collar with a small smile. He brings his eyes to us, whipping out a cigar from his suit jacket.
“Well, this is a different turn of events to meet you both under.” He clips his cigar, bringing it to his mouth and rolling it in between his lips.
“We didn’t know what was happening. We were under the assumption that we were bringing down someone else. We didn’t know the Russians were there, and we sure as fuck had no plans for the Feds. It was supposed to be an ambush, we got set up just as much as you did,” Zane lies, running his hand across his chin.
Russian looks to me, running his eyes up and down my body. He scoffs. “Apple doesn’t fall far there, son. You Luce’s boy?”
I nudge my head, shoulders standing strong. “Yeah, why’s that?”
He shakes his head, taking a puff of his cigar. His long black inky hair slicked back and hanging around his neck. “This true? What he’s saying?”