Chapter Nine
CAMDEN
I’m always up before the sun. Always. Wanting to start my day with the maximum amount of solitude before the weight of the club settles on my shoulders like a boulder pressing me down.
No brothers needing me, no threats on the horizon, no blood to clean off the pavement.
Just me, my thoughts, and the promise of a new day.
Since Lucas and I were abandoned by our parents, I’ve never had a reason to stay in bed past the sun.
Until today. For the first time in my life, the sun breaks through the curtains in my bedroom, pouring its orange and red rays across the floorboard, spilling over the bed, and illuminating the woman next to me.
I couldn’t have forced myself to leave her if I wanted to.
I sit up on my elbow, my hand propping up my head as I look down at her.
Saige breathes softly against my chest, like I’m her safe place, her body pliant and relaxed, peaceful.
Long, beautiful eyelashes rest against her cheeks, her eyes fluttering behind her eyelids in a rhythmic dance.
My eyes slowly trace over every feature of her face, so new yet so familiar at the same time, as if my soul recognizes her for exactly what she is.
My match. My heart beats wildly in my chest, but that’s not the only thing I’m feeling.
I’ve run straight into gunfire without blinking.
I’ve tortured, killed, maimed, I’ve seen things that no human should ever see, without fear.
Once you lose the most important thing in your life, that emotion dies with it.
But right now? Holding this woman who fits so perfectly against me?
Fear spreads rampant through my veins, choking and all-consuming.
I don’t know what that means for a man like me, only that I don’t want to let her go.
“No one wants to wake up with someone staring at them, idiot,” she says, her voice groggy and thick with sleep as she pushes off of me. At least she didn’t hit me. That’s a win. Maybe I’m growing on her.
“Has anyone ever told you, you’ve got quite the mouth on you? I’m sure it’s gotten you into trouble before.”
“I’m a ray of fucking sunshine, I don’t know what you’re talking about. Now, if you don’t mind, I’d like some space to wake up.”
Before I can protest and haul her ass back into my chest, my phone vibrates on the end table.
Sin: Got news, we need to chat
Malice: It’s not great either, in case you thought it was good
Me: How many times do I have to tell you I don’t want to be in a group chat?
Wrath: But you’re our fearless leader, we need you in here
Me: I don’t think you do
Malice: We voted, it’s a thing, we need you in here
Sin: Just get fucking dressed and come talk
Me: You’re the only one I’ll let that slide with. I’ll be down soon
“We need to go downstairs, something’s happened.”
“We?”
“Yeah, you want to stretch your legs?”
“You’re going to seriously let me out of this room?”
“Yes, but the moment you fuck up, your ass is going right back in the cuffs. I’m not fucking around today.”
Saige has the audacity to glare at me, and I can’t choose between wanting to bend her over my lap and spank her ass and dropping to my knees and worshiping at her feet.
After taking turns in the bathroom, Saige and I walk into the living area as Sin is pacing in front of the pool tables. Wrath and Malice are nowhere to be seen.
“They were hit in Oakhaven. Five of the nine presidents are dead.” His words are dropped like a bomb, the sheer magnitude of them reminding me why I can’t afford to have any distractions. My focus is slipping, and when that happens, people die.
“Who did it? The killer?”
“No, the Widowmakers made a play. You called it.”
“This is why I don’t fucking trust anyone.
There’s always someone who isn’t satisfied with what they have, always wanting more.
Greed is going to be the destruction of fucking everything.
” I turn to face Saige as she crosses her arms over her chest, like she’d rather be anywhere but here, “Well, vixen, looks like you saved my life.”
“What? I didn’t save anything.”
“Where do you think I was heading when you tried to get the jump on me? I was heading to meet the other presidents, the ones who were just murdered.” Realization crosses her face as she puts two and two together.
“There’s a good chance my ass would be dead right now had you not chased me down and flipped everything on its head. Looks like I owe you one.”
“You don’t owe me shit, Camden.”
“By the way, been meaning to ask you, who the hell is Seb?” Saige’s face pales, and I brace for the worst.
“How do you know that name?”
“Who is he, Saige?”
“My boyfriend.”
“Your fucking what?” I seethe. She just rubbed her pussy all over my thigh; there’s no way she has a damn boyfriend.
“I knew you were dense, Camden, but I didn’t know you were deaf.
” I prowl her like a predator stalking its prey, if its prey was also an apex predator.
She backs against the wall, her head tilted up to look at me, eyes squinted in slits, not an ounce of fear etched into her features.
That’s my queen. My hands cage her in before I drop one of them, gently stroking down the side of her face.
“Repeat that,” I whisper. “I fucking dare you. And don’t you dare lie to me.” I study her eyes, waiting for her to speak, looking for the lie as it crosses her lips. She swallows hard, her throat bobbing, the pulse in her neck throbbing wildly.
“He’s my best friend. Harmless, really, but he won’t stop looking for me. He tracks my location; he’ll already know where I am.”
“Will he come to rescue you?”
“He’s not that stupid. But I need to tell him I’m not dead.”
I walk back over to the bar, picking up the black leather backpack that Saige had stored on her bike.
“Here’s your stuff, your knives and gun are in our armory, but I thought you’d like to have the rest of it back.
Charged your phone for you. He seems concerned.
You should call him. Let him know you’re under the protection of Hell’s Heathens and the president is trying to win you over.
” Her head bops back, knocking against the wall behind her. I love the shocked look on her face.
“You’re insane,” she scoffs. “If it was that easy, I should have asked already.”
“Baby, you should have asked for a lot of things already, but you’ll get there.
” I slip her phone into her palm, taking a chance by leaning forward, pressing my lips against her hairline.
It’s not a kiss, just a gentle touch against her, my lungs desperate to breathe her in.
She sucks in a breath of air, her hand reaching up and laying flat against my cut.
I don’t dare move, wanting so badly to wrap her up in my arms again.
It’s a moment I want to freeze in time. She’s not fighting me, not trying to kill me or escape; she’s willingly standing close, letting me touch her affectionately.
“I come with gifts!” Malice yells jovially behind us, breaking whatever momentary spell we were under.
“Don’t tell Prez, we snuck out and raided Daily Rise.
We’ve got donuts, pastries, and my favorite .
. .” I turn just as I see Malice holding a massive muffin up in the air Lion King style. “Muuuuuffins!”
“Jesus Christ,” I mutter under my breath as Saige and I turn to enter the room fully. Malice moves quickly, hiding the muffin behind his back and standing in front of the dozen or so boxes of baked goods.
“Nothing to see here, Prez. We’re just talkin’.”
“The fuck is wrong with that one?” Saige asks, arching a brow with a smile on her face.
“There’s nothing wrong with him. Accept him for who he is or get the fuck out,” Rave barks, a low, guttural, warning growl escaping my lips in response.
I take a step forward, cracking my neck to the side as I look at him.
Rave has been with the club for a long-ass time, having grown up here way before I showed up.
He’s always been the one to show a little more mouth, a little more rebellion against the rules.
But I’ve looked past his rough exterior, chalking it up to jealousy and dislike for me rather than the club.
I just need him to respect me when push comes to shove, and because his loyalty to the club goes deep, I deal with it. Not this time.
“Rave. Talk to her like that again, and I’ll cut out your fucking tongue.
” Rave doesn’t back down, standing with his arms crossed like he didn’t just disrespect my woman, in return disrespecting me.
A woman who has no goddamn idea that she’s mine.
A woman I haven’t claimed in front of the club. I’m fucking all of this up.
“No, Prez,” she says with a bite, “it’s fine. Let him talk; he can find out what happens when silly little boys run their mouths. Malice, I meant nothing by it. I apologize if it was offensive; it wasn’t my intention.”
“You think I’m scared of little girls with a bad attitude? Honey, I can handle you.” What a dumbass. Rave should know better, but I keep my mouth shut, instead taking a step back and leaning against the wall, crossing my arms over my cut. Sin laughs, not bothering to hold back his amusement.
“Yeah? Such a pretty boy you are. How about you not talk to me like that again? You don’t know me. I meant no harm to him,” she says the words as she takes confident steps in Rave’s direction. He seems too distracted by her to even notice. A fucking viper in our midst, poised and ready to attack.
“Pretty boy, huh? Prez, this one’s got a mouth on her!” he hollers. And then it happens, a right hook that flies hard and fast, slamming into the side of Rave’s face. He stumbles back, hand flying up to his face as he mutters curses. The space erupts in laughter.
“Okay, okay,” Rave says as he lifts his hands outward in surrender. “I won’t fuck with you.”
“Goddamn, you’re incredible, woman,” I tell her with a proud smile.