Outlaw's Vow: Grizzlies MC Romance(41)

“This shit's not a game, babe. None of it. I don't know what that fucking asshole said to you, but –“

“Don't call him that.” Death ruled her eyes as they focused on me again. “Look, I know you two have a history, but he's my father. He raised me proper. He always tried to do the right thing, and I've got to help him, just like you're going to do everything you can for your club.”

“History?” I snorted. “That's fucking cute. Last I checked, we're still clashing right here in the present because he's shitting up the chain of command, Elle. You were raised in this MC, so I know you're not stupid. What Redding says goes – right across the fucking board. It's mother charter. If he's gonna do something stupid, then you'd be smart to stay the hell outta the way. Let us deal with this.”

“You don't understand, Asphalt. You really don't.” She looked past me, over my shoulder. “I have to go. We can sort this out later, if there is one, I mean.”

I lost it. The hellfire boiling my brain spilled over, and I wanted to curse her to the fucking moon, throw her over my lap and spank her defiant little ass, if I didn't just chain her to the nearest post first.

God help me, I loved her. I really had.

It shocked my whole system to start hating the bitch too.

“Don't do it, Elle. I'm telling you. You take one more step outta line, and this thing between us, it's over. You want to put the club first, your scheming fuck of father? So will I. Trust me, I can make this shit we've got as dead and business-like as any ordinary run. Your choice. Not mine.”

It ripped my guts out to say it, but I did. I had to make her understand, had to make sure she knew I was goddamned serious.

She didn't even waver. At least, her feet didn't, but the way she snatched her face away from me said some serious tears were about to fall.

The girl moved quick. Zipped right past me before I could catch her, wondering why the fuck she thought she could walk right out.

“Babe?”

Holy shit. I couldn't believe what I'd seen. She'd really, truly just thrown in the fucking towel, choosing that fucknut Gil over me?

What. The. Fuck?!

“Elle! Jesus Christ, where the hell do you think you're –“ I started running, one reach away from grabbing her and cuffing her to my fucking wrist.

Suddenly, I saw the asshole standing on the hill, waiting.

It was that fat piece of shit from the night we blew into town. He wore tape over his nose, trying to soothe the damage my knuckles had done to his ugly face.

He looked at me and grinned, one hand by his belt. He was sending a message, and I knew the bastard wouldn't hesitate to draw if I stepped up, even if this place was crawling with civilians.

Elle Jo looked back over her shoulder once. Saw her wipe one hot tear away as it rolled down her cheek before she turned back to the Tacoma brother and redoubled her steps.

I didn't move a muscle. That pitch black stone in my chest I called a heart splintered apart and turned into gravel by the time I heard fat boy's truck starting up, squealing outta the parking lot like they were in a real fucking hurry.

Then another sound. Sirens.

I couldn't take a chance just waiting with my thumb up my ass. If that old couple had truly called a buncha badges, I'd be gone like a phantom before they caught up here.

My bike started and I rode without direction. I swerved through the rush hour traffic heading toward SeaTac proper, not giving a shit if I wrecked.

I had my mission for Blackjack, for the club, but that was all I had now. I'd just lost the best thing that ever happened to me, plus my own damned mind.

Blinking back the angry red veil clouding my vision, I swore I'd never, ever let myself be this stupid again as long as I breathed.





VII: Lost in Translation (Elle Jo)


“Shit, still no answer. Fuck.” Sear swore, slamming his phone down on the dashboard. “Aw, come on little Elle, that fucking asshole won't follow us a single step unless he wants a bullet in his skull.”

“Just shut up. I need a moment.”

And I did. The man I'd left behind had been a bastard all my life, but I'd also fallen for him.

What started as a sham was starting to feel real – before he started making these cruel demands. What's worse, Asphalt had been right.

Of course I was hiding my father's deal with the Chinese from him. It couldn't get back to his club, or Tacoma would find itself at the mercy of swarms of angry Grizzlies several charters over.

Of course I'd disrespected him, thrown him off, and walked away. Blood ran thick – always had since daddy sat me on his knee as a little girl and told me it was everything. It ran like mud in my veins, cementing my loyalties, even when I wanted to break and tell the man with the beautiful green eyes everything weighing down my shoulders.