Blood & Ash (Saint’s Outlaws MC: Deadman’s Beach, AL #1)

11. Chapter Eleven

One year later

“Fuck. Do you remember prom?” I ask Gotti as Ashley and her friends take pictures in front of the clubhouse dressed to the nines.

“Feels like a lifetime ago.” He chuckles.

“Who was your date?”

“Sophia. Damn, she was a sweet little thing.” He smiles. “Let me guess. You went with Shelby.”

I shake my head, but he’s not wrong. “Yeah. Another life.”

“I hear that, man. You need a drink.”

“That I do.”

Ashley gives me a wave as she and her friends climb back into their party bus.

This is exactly what I wanted for her.

A normal life away from her sister’s shitty influence. And so far, that’s what I’ve given her. She’s got plans to go to community college in the fall. Getting an apartment with her besties. She’s got a shot at a good life.

“Prospect,” I yell once inside. “Make us some drinks and keep’em coming.”

I flop down in the back booth where my old man used to sit. Felicity drops onto my lap. “Hey, baby.” I wrap my fist in her hair, getting a taste of her strawberry gum. “Mm.” She moans into my mouth.

The prospect slides our drinks onto the table.

“What the fuck is that?” I stare at what looks like Mountain Dew over ice.

“Redneck margarita. Mountain Dew and Tequila. It’s all I know how to make.”

“Just bring me a beer, man.”

“It’s fine, honey. We’re not going to be doing much drinking.” She skips her fingers along my cut. “I’ve missed you. Take me upstairs.”

Fuck. She’s catching feelings. Now I’ve gotta scrape her off. Last thing I need is this chick having expectations.

“Later,” I tell her and knock back a heavy swig of my redneck margarita.

“Did you miss me?” her whiny tone grates on my nerves.

“Yeah. Sure,” I lie.

“Doesn’t sound like you missed me.”

“Try this. It’s not terrible.” I hand her one of the drinks and suck down more myself.

Hell, this is strong, but I don’t mind. By the fourth one, I can’t even feel my teeth with my tongue.

Felicity crawls between my legs under the table to blow me. It’s about the only thing I’ll miss about her when she’s gone. Except right now she’s drunk and being sloppy as fuck with her teeth.

My cell vibrates from my pocket, giving me an excuse to get shot of her.

“I gotta take this.”

I tuck back into my jeans and walk out to the beach, leaving her on her knees for someone else.

“What’s up?”

“Prez, man. You’ll never guess who I just saw,” Slasher tells me.

“Who?”

“Shelby.” My blood turns to ice hearing her name and sobers me up some.

“Where?”

“Gas station off third.”

“You have eyes on her?”

“Shit,” he mutters. “She was just here, but now I don’t know.”

“All right, try to find out where she is. I’ll be in touch.” I dial Martina and tell her to be on the lookout. I don’t want that cunt anywhere near Ash. Next, I call Ashley, but the call goes straight to voicemail.

Probably having fun with her friends. Hell, I don’t know what to even say to her in a text. I don’t want to spook her, but I don’t want Shelby filling her head with a bunch of bullshit either if they cross paths.

Fuck.

Ashley

My phone goes off with a text from an unknown number.

You can’t trust Blood.

What? Who is this?

A friend. Don’t believe me, ask him where your sister really is.

What do you mean? Tell me who this is.

I stare at the messages. What do they mean I can’t trust Blood?

“Everything okay?” Jackson shoots an uneasy smile my way.

We’ve decided tonight is the night we’re finally going to have sex. My stomach does a pitch, and I try to forget about the weird texts. “Never better.” I kiss his cheek and glance around the room at all our friends having the time of their lives. I should be doing the same, but I can’t stop thinking about Blood and my sister.

Every time I bring her up, he gets all tense and changes the subject. I know he’s not Ash’s father. I’ve heard talk about my sister and…well I thought she should have at least tried to reach out or come see her kid. Nothing makes sense.

Nothing.

“You sure you’re okay? You getting nervous about tonight?”

“I’ve gotta go.”

“What?” His face falls.

“I’m sorry. I’ve gotta go talk to Blood.”

“Right now? Why?”

“I’ll be back. I swear. I’ll meet you back in our room. I promise.”

“Don’t bother. It’s like you’re in love with the guy or something. I think it’s weird that you live with him. Is that why you keep putting me off?”

“What? No. Ew. He dated my sister. He looks after me and my nephew.”

“How do I know that you aren’t fucking him? That baby could be yours together for all I know.”

“Really Jackson. You see me every day. When would I have had a secret baby?”

He frowns and I shake my head. “Wow. Okay. This was a mistake.” I never should have taken him back after he cheated on me.

I get outside of the hotel and realize I don’t even have my car.

Blood tried to call me while I was arguing with Jackson.

I dial him back.

“Hey. Is something wrong? I got a really weird text.”

“What did it say?”

“I don’t know. They were talking about Shelby.”

“Where are you?”

“I’m at prom. You know that. Tell me what’s going on and don’t lie to me.”

“I’ll come get you. I’ll tell you everything.”

His words from forever ago play in my mind. ‘ If I told you, you’d hate me .’

Did Blood do something to Shelby?

Blood

I roar up to the hotel and find Ashley pacing along the sidewalk outside of the front entrance. I park and shut off my motorcycle. My gaze meets hers and I hate the distrust and sadness staring back at me.

“Take a walk with me.”

“I’m in heels.”

“Take them off. A little sand between your toes won’t be the end of the world.”

“Are you really going to tell me everything?”

“I said I would.”

“You know.” She laughs without humor as we stroll off the sidewalk and onto the beach. “It’s weird. You took my sister to prom and here you are at mine.”

“I’m not your date.”

“Or trying to take my virginity.”

“What?”

“Nothing. I thought tonight would be the night, but no.”

“I told you that punk isn’t worth it.”

“So what? I should save myself for marriage?”

“You should do it when you’re with the right person.”

“What if I can’t have the right person?”

“You said you had a weird text?” I drop down to the sand on my ass and she does the same in her shimmery purple dress, putting her head on her knees as she stares at me with a lost expression on her face.

“Yeah. An unknown number. They said I can’t trust you and to ask you what really happened to my sister.”

“You sure you want the truth?”

“I’m tired of the secrets and the lies.”

“You’re a kid. What would you know about secrets and lies?”

“I’m eighteen. Hardly a kid. Whatever the truth is…I can handle it. You tell me a secret and I’ll tell you one of mine.”

I take my flask out of my inner pocket of my cut and take a swig. “All right.” I let out a heavy breath.

Ashley reaches for the flask, and I don’t stop her, even though I should. Her lips pucker as she takes another drink. “Tell me.”

“You sure you want to know?”

She nods and I take another drink.

“Your sister was fucking my father behind my back. He’s Ash’s real father.”

“Oh my God.” She reaches for my flask again.

“There’s more, and I want to tell you, but it’s complicated. It’s club business.” We continue trading drinks. Tonight’s regret will be tomorrow’s problem.

“You can trust me.”

“I wouldn’t be able to tell you, even if you were my Ol’ Lady.”

“That’s crazy.”

“It’s my life and soon you’ll be off living yours and I don’t want any of this shit hanging over you. I don’t want to taint you with my fucked-up shit.”

Her face softens. “Nothing about you is tainted.”

“You owe me a secret now.”

“Fair.” She smiles at me and inhales deeply. Her blonde hair shimmers around her shoulders under the moonlight. She’s beautiful and I shouldn’t be looking at her mouth like I want to kiss it. “Don’t get mad.”

“Oh hell.”

“I mean it. You have to pinky promise.” She hooks our fingers together.

“Okay. Whatever you tell me. I promise I won’t be mad.”

“Good. Do you remember that time I almost kissed you and said that it gives me the ick?”

“Maybe.”

She rolls her eyes. “Well, you don’t give me the ick. Not even a little bit.”

“Lame. I know you’ve got a crush on me. That’s no secret.”

“Okay. How about this then? I don’t want to lose my virginity to Jackson. I’ve always wanted it to be you.”

I pull away from her. “Don’t say that. Involving yourself with a guy like me would be a fucking tragedy.”

“Why? Because of Shelby?”

“Because you’re eighteen years old and live under my roof. Because I’ve fucked your sister. I can give you a million reasons, Ashley.”

“Because you killed Shelby?”

“Fuck no. What gave you that idea? Is that what whoever texted you said?”

“Not exactly.”

“Your sister is alive, but if she comes back around.” I gather sand in my hand and fling it out.

“If she comes back, you’ll what?”

“I’ll kill her.”

“Why? Because she screwed someone else? I get it. That’s messed up but to kill her.”

“She murdered my father.”

Thwack.

Ashley’s hand sweeps across my cheek with a stinging slap. “Liar.”

I grab her by the wrist and she tries to pull away. We wrestle in the sand, and I end up straddling her. “I’m not lying. She killed him and Eightball. Gave them laced drugs.”

Ashley stares up at me, her eyes burning with intensity.

I loom over, every breath a fight for control.

Tears well up in the corners of her eyes and all I want is to take away her pain.

“Shelby wouldn’t do such awful things.”

“She did.” I roll off her and onto my back.

She goes up on an elbow. “I’m sorry, Blood.”

“Me too. I thought I loved her.”

“We both did.” Ashley squeezes my hand and brings her lips down on my knuckles.

“Don’t.” I warn her. I’ve had too much to drink, and she’s too damn tempting right now.

“Don’t what?” She pushes the thin straps of her dress down off her shoulders.

“Stop. I’m drunk and you don’t want this. It’d be a mistake.”

“It’s mine to make, Blood. I’m moving out and we’ll never see each other. Not often. You don’t want to be my first?” Her lips meet mine and I close my eyes.

“Don’t ask me that.”

“I’m asking.”

“I’m a man, honey. Of course, I want you and I hate myself for it.”

She presses her lips harder against mine urging me to give into the sweetest sin.

One taste of her and I’ll ruin us both.

She’s sweet as honey and he’s a filthy outlaw who doesn’t deserve her.

As President of a notorious biker club, Blood doesn’t have time for love or relationships.

He took an oath and promised he’d never claim an Ol’ Lady. That doesn't mean there's a shortage of women eager to be another notch on his bedpost, thinking they will be the one to change his playboy ways. As hard as they try to trap him, he loves his single lifestyle. He’s dedicated to the club and only the club .Nothing can sway his decision until one drunken night changes everything he thought he wanted. A confession leads him down a forbidden road he swore never to travel. Forcing him to break the promise he made to himself not to ever fall in love. The last thing he expects is to wake up and discover that he’s married to his ex's little sister. She’s the last person who should be in his bed and wearing his property patch. Ashley differs from anyone Blood has ever met. She’s a good girl who doesn’t belong with a dirty outlaw like him, but he wants her more than he’s ever wanted anything in his life. He’ll do whatever it takes to prove to her that their union is more than a drunken mistake.

She’s always been his.

Now he just has to prove it.