Drifter looks at me, his face full of sympathy, and I fucking hate it. I didn’t need sympathy back then, and I sure as hell don’tnow. I groan, the memories flooding back to me. If I’d kept my dick in my pants, my brother would still be here.
“Your brother’s death was not your fault, and Bella is not your responsibility.”
I stand abruptly. “She is now.”
He mimics my movement, putting his hand on my shoulder.
“Sit the fuck down. I didn’t say we wouldn’t help, just that I’m not sacking one of my biggest earning dancers because she’s got beef with the woman you’re obsessing over.”
I sit back on the couch. I knew this wouldn’t be smooth sailing.
“We’ll come up with a plan. Maybe we can use her to get to the husband. But if Bella is sticking around, she’s going to have to face the fact that Brandy is a member of this club.”
“We’ll see about that,” I grumble, standing up and making my way to the door.
“Clay,” he growls, and I turn to face him, “don’t push me on this.”
I nod without as much as another word and leave his office.
I’ve been riding around for hours. I left the club shortly after speaking with Pres. I couldn’t cope with the look of pity on his face, and I couldn’t face going back upstairs to Belle in case she’d woken full of regret. So, I opted to ride. It’s what I always do when I need perspective. The freedom of the road before me and the thrill of weaving through the traffic sorts my head out.
The rain crashes down on my visor. I can feel the grip below me, not quite what it was before, but it only adds to the thrill.
I pull up outside the strip club. I had no intention of coming here, but the bitch needs to know I’m not happy, and although he’s my Pres, Belle is going to be my forever. She might not know it yet, but she’s unlocked something within me that died the dayI saw my brother lying on that cold slab. She’s ignited something I thought was long gone. I don’t just want her, I need her.I crave her.
Turning off the engine, I sit in silence, battling with myself. If I do this, if I go inside and challenge Brandy, I’ll piss Drifter off, but my conscience won’t let me leave it. This bitch and her dirty fucking trash needs taken out. It’s one thing to break a woman’s heart by stealing her man, but to take her children . . . that is some next level shit.
I nod at Jackson, the bouncer, and make my way through the entrance. Felicity greets me with a grin from ear to ear like the cat that got the cream. She places her long manicured nails on my kutte, and I feel myself shudder. This has never been my scene.
“Clay,” she purrs, “what are you doing here? Want a dance?” She runs her nails up my kutte and bites her lip seductively.
“Where’s Brandy?” I demand, and she snatches her hand away like I’ve burned her.
“What’d ya want that skank for?” she snaps, jealousy lacing her every word.
“Where the fuck is she, Felicity?”
“She’s in the back, but be careful, you’ll probably catch something. Come find me when you want a real woman,” she spits.
I storm into the back, the door crashing into the wall behind it. The girls all stop what they’re doing and look up in surprise. They don’t bother to cover up as I scan the room.
“Get the fuck out,” I shout, and the girls scurry towards the door.
Brandy follows, trying to slip past me sheepishly. I snatch her wrist in my hand, halting her.
“Not you.”
“Clay?” She visibly swallows. I keep hold of her wrist, waiting for the room to clear. She watches them leave longingly, her eyes dropping to the floor once we’re alone.
“Stay the fuck outta the clubhouse.”
She smirks. The bitch actually smirks, all the fear from moments ago gone. “Not a fucking chance,” she spits.
I shove her up against the wall, but it doesn’t faze her. She throws her head back, laughing like she doesn’t have a care in the world.
“And stay the fuck away from Bella.”
“Erm . . . why would I do that? I love toying with her.”
