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Because I want answers, I nod, taking a seat on his bed.
Chase ducks into the bathroom, showering quickly. To occupy my time, I examine his suite. Like several of the men in this MC, Chase keeps his space pristine. The navy way of life has been embedded into him.
The hipster biker has a taste for rustic, heavy furniture. It’s a little homier than the mid-century modern décor Jo prefers in her designs—less sophisticated, but not any less stylish. I quite like it.
Admiring the craftsmanship, I run my fingers along the thick, weathered headboard. It appears to be made from old barn boards. Six black iron rings adorn the front of it, evenly spaced out. It’s a charming touch, like a little masculine bling.
Chase is gone less than ten minutes before returning in a towel wrapped low on his hips. He fumbles to put his facial piercings back in. While he’s distracted, I get to admire him without interruption. His bare chest glistens with water droplets, rolling down the sharp panels of his abdomen and trailing along the V-lines at his hips.
He’s beautiful, with his skin covered in lots of ink and piercings—eyebrow, septum, bottom lip, ears, tongue, nipples and genitals. As much as I want to trace him with my eyes, I’m fixated on his latest mission.
“Do you need help with laundry? Cleaning the shower?”
Well, this is a first for me—destroying evidence. I didn’t see any blood on him, but I wasn’t looking for it. I’ve seen plenty of forensic crime shows to recall blood doesn’t simply wash down a drain. You need chemicals to strip the DNA.
He shakes his head. “We did a sponge bath onsite and swapped clothes before coming home. The clothes are in the incinerator. I just wanted to wash off anything I may have missed. I already sprayed down the shower with bleach.”
So there was blood, enough that required burning evidence and harsh solvents.
I swallow. “Chase?” I want to ask if he killed Luca, but the words are stuck in my throat.
He kneels in front of me, taking my face in his long hands. “Luca is dead.”
A normal person would freak the fuck out being in the presence of a murderer. But all I do is burst into tears, throwing my arms around his neck to pull him closer.
His muscular arms wrap around me, holding me tight as my body rakes with sobs.
“Shush,” he whispers against my ear, softly rubbing my back in soothing circles. “It’s okay. No one will ever harm you again, not as long as I live.”
“Was it you?” I know I shouldn’t ask, but a part of me is compelled to know if Chase or Butch snuffed Luca out.
Chase groans. “Simone…”
“Don’t coddle me. I’m a full-grown woman. I can handle it.”
“Fair enough. The bullet came from Butch, but we both had our fair share of flesh beforehand.”
I shudder, gripping him tighter. It makes sense Butch got to make the kill to avenge Candy. And if I’m honest, I’m grateful Chase wasn’t the one to do it. I’m not sure how I would have handled Chase murdering a man for me, even a merciless, raping pig like Luca.
“I shouldn’t have told you. Don’t ask for more. You don’t need to know the ugly.”
“No, I don’t want the details. Thank you for answering my question. I’m relieved he’s gone.”
All that remain are bad memories for me and countless other women who were Luca’s unfortunate victims. There’s not one scrape of remorse inside me to give a rat’s ass about his death being criminal.
Chase eases us into his bed, throwing his comforter over us. The warmth of the blanket is comforting, and I snuggle against Chase’s chest, my fingers absently playing with the soft curls of his minimal chest hair. I’m sure I’m sending mixed signals being this close, but I can’t help myself. I need Chase’s console, need to feel him close to know he’s okay after what happened tonight.
“What you did…I can never thank you enough,” I choke through my slowing tears.
“There’s nothing to thank me for. I take care of what’s mine,” he says nonchalantly.
I shut my eyes. “I’m not ready for a relationship. Not yet.”
“But you will be someday, and I’ll be here waiting for you. I can’t promise I’ll be waiting patiently, but I’m not going anywhere. I want us. This right here, every night, with you in my arms.”
It sounds wonderful. Everything I want. But I can’t rush this. “Please, try to understand. I don’t want to make the same mistakes I did with Trent.”
Chase growls. “I’m. Not. Like. Him.”
