He holds his hands up. “I want to help. My life did a complete three-sixty when I left the Marines, and without my brothers, I don’t know where I’d be today.”
“Probably not saving my arse from being pothole filler.” I try to make light of the situation, but he suddenly looks serious.
“Belle, listen, I don’t ever want you to joke about that again. And I never want you to feel your life is useless or not worth living, because it is. It doesn’t matter how dark the world might be, you have to search for those stars to light your path.”
“Like you,” I whisper, more to myself than him.
“Huh?”
“You were there then, and here you are now. You’re one of those stars, holding the light for me.” I swallow hard, not trusting myself to say anything else. I don’t want tears today. Today is about taking back my power bit by bit.
Clay
I watch her tentatively as she drinks her coffee, her eyes betraying her. Portraying that she’s holding it together when deep down she’s waiting for that wind to knock down her sail. I’d like to say I own that poker face, but Drifter could always see straight through it. He was the one to take me under his wingand guide me. Little did I know that we’d become brothers, and he’d trust me as his VP.
Being part of The Broken Iron Demons MC was kind of like being in the Marines. Brothers in arms that have each other’s back no matter what. It’s just a shame I didn’t have my own brothers back when he needed me. It’s going to haunt me for the rest of my life, and so it should, I don’t deserve anything less.
“Earth to Clay.” She clicks her fingers in front of my face, and I let out a long sigh.
“Shit, sorry, I zoned out.” I shake my head, running my hands over my face.
“Are you okay?” she asks, concern lacing her features.
“Yeah, yeah . . . all good.”
What the fuck am I doing?I hadn’t blanked out like that in a long time.
I drain the rest of my coffee, placing the cup on the table. She crosses one leg over the other and sits back into the chair. “You look tired.”
“Part of the life we lead, beauty.” Flirting has always been my go-to, that and humour. It stops people digging where I don’t want them to go, and this beauty has her own demons without knowing mine.
“The MC life?” she asks.
“Mmhmm.”
“Okay,” she says, dragging the word out. “What is it, like some secret cult?” She laughs.
“Nah, it’s a brotherhood that loves bikes, and we look out for each other.”
“Aww, man, I thought you were going to be like,if I tell you, I have to kill you.” She laughs, draining the last of her coffee.
“I think you’ve been reading too many of those romance novels.” I arch my brow towards the books on the shelf behind her.
“And what would you know about those?” She places her cup on the table.
“Maybe a man from BikerTok found himself on the wrong side of BookTok.” I wink, and watch as her cheeks blush a bright shade of red. I can’t wait to see that shade of red on her from my touch.
My phone buzzes on the table, but it’s not a number I recognise. Odd, as no one has this number apart from a select few.
“Sorry, I have to grab this.” I place the mobile to my ear. “Hello?”
“Well, hello there, mister tall dark and spankingly sexy,” a woman’s sultry voice comes over the phone. I frown, wondering which fucker set this up.
“Who the fuck’s this, and which bastard put you up to it?” I snap, watching Belle’s frown deepen.
“It’s Jodie from The Corner Cafe. Nobody put me up to it. I watched your fine ass walk out the door and just knew I had to hit you up.” Now, it’s my turn to frown. The only person I gave my number to is sitting opposite me.
“Well, Jodie, I’m not sure who put you up to this, but erm . . . I hate to break it to you. I’m totally not interested right now.” I watch as Belle puts her hand to her face in realisation, trying to stifle her laugh. The more she tries to stop herself from giggling, the louder she gets.
