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ChapterThirty-Seven
PIPER
The clubhouse comes into view,and my entire body sags against Itch’s back as he glides the bike into his normal spot and kills the engine.
It’s late, the entire place is quiet, and as the other bikes pull in, I hope I can get a little sleep and maybe will even be able to hear more than just ringing in my ears tomorrow.
Itch takes a step forward, then turns to me and dips his chin down. His eyes shift to my feet before he flicks his attention back up to meet mine. “Where the fuck are your shoes?” he asks.
My eyes move down to my feet, as if for whatever reason I have to see the fact that I’m without shoes, then I lift them slightly and look into his gaze. “They’re up in the bedroom,” I reply, lifting my hand and pointing at the clubhouse behind him.
Then, inwardly, I smile because I heard him. Although he sounded far away and a bit muffled, at least I could hear his words, and that’s more than I could back at that office building in Phoenix.
Itch doesn’t respond to me telling him that my shoes are here. He wraps his hand around mine and starts to walk toward the clubhouse.
The rest of the men have already gone inside, and I’m surprised to see that Henli, Reese, and Kiplyn are all in the bar area, looking directly at me as I pass through the door.
As if they’re waiting for us to come back.
But when I glance around the room, I realize that everyone is here, and the men have already come inside from the parking lot. But they aren’t all talking to one another… they’re waiting for me.
Then something shifts. Something happens.
The women rush toward me, wrapping their arms around me in a group hug, and the men… they all cheer. I’m met withwelcome backs,glad you’re homes, andgood to see yas. Then the music is turned up. Though I can’t make out the song, I can feel the deep bass as it flows throughout the room.
The girls all take a step back from me, but I miss their presence and wish we could stay embraced for a lifetime. I didn’t think I would ever see any of them again, and here they are, right here in front of me. Waiting for me. Their eyes bright and their smiles genuine.
Reese doesn’t step backward when the others do. She gives me a small smile and then dips her chin slightly. “Tomorrow, we’ll talk, and I want to know why.”
The last thing I want to do is explain to anyone why I left… or tried to leave. I don’t know if any of them would understand. Even Reese, who isn’t officially with Agony, who adores her. He doesn’t have some baby with someone else. He doesn’t leave her to live with this other woman.
None of these women are contracted to their men. They are all in love, even Reese and Agony. They don’t want to admit it, but they are in love with one another. Nobody would understand. I don’t say that, though; instead, I give her a smile as my response.
She tilts her head to the side, and I know she wants to ask me something, but she doesn’t. Agony appears at her side and slides his arm around her shoulders before guiding her away. I’m grateful for the moment. I’m exhausted, and my hearing is still off.
I just want some rest, and thankfully, Itch understands that because he slides his arms behind my knees and back before he picks me up and walks me out of the room and away from the party.
Once we’re locked away in the room together, he sets me down, my bare feet touching the floor. He doesn’t take a step back from me but stays close, his chest pressing against mine as he lifts his hands and cups my cheeks.
“I thought I lost you,” he rasps.
I want to relish this moment. I want to take it all in and just enjoy it all, but I can’t. Images of Tempt keep flashing through my mind. So, I say the first thing that comes to my mind. “Where is she? Why are you here and not with her?”
Itch’s lips curve up into a grin. “Baby,” he rasps, “there was never a pregnancy. She was full of shit, just like Reese thought. She and Dutch had plans together.”
“Dutch?” I ask. “But she was involved with Duke, wasn’t she?”
“Yeah,” I grunt. “And Dutch visited. That’s where they met. And they hatched this shit. He promised you to that motherfucker Chavez. It was never about a baby. It was never about a contract or anything other than money. And Chavez was supposed to pay out, but then Dutch got fucked after I got fucked.”
I stare at him, unsure of what to say, what to think. What he’s saying. It’s a lot to take in, but the only thing that plays on repeat is Tempt isn’t pregnant.
“So, where is she?” I ask.
“Everyone was getting fucked on that deal, but Tempt and Dutch were ultimately fucked the worst, because they’re both fucking dead.”
“And Raul?” I ask.
“He will be, too. I won’t work for him. Not for five months, not for five fucking minutes.”
