18. Bad Liar
BAD LIAR
KITTY
Claire’s mouth drops open, and a clap of energy shoots through my veins. That’s been a long time coming.
And it felt good.
Really good.
Who brings a kid to a biker party at this time of night? I don’t even like kids and know better than that.
I’d thought seeing Cutter with his child would bother me. But it never has. That there’s zero resemblance to either of his parents helps, the betrayal not an automatic slap to the face. He looks nothing like my dad either. That would have been a fucked-up situation.
Keeping Keg in my arms, I push past a herd of giggling club sluts all trying to go into the same bathroom and slip out a side exit to the back of the compound.
The door swings closed behind me, engulfing me in peaceful silence.
The cool night air caresses my skin and sends a ripple across Keg’s fur.
Dropping him to the ground, I raise my gaze to the endless sky illuminated by starlight and crowned with a silver crescent moon smirking down like the Cheshire Cat.
Keg sniffs the asphalt before he starts walking, wanting to explore. Clutching his leash, I let him lead me around the perimeter fence. Dense trees line the back boundary line with no view of what’s beyond them. I wonder if that’s where Keg’s family is, wild and free.
Voices prick my ears the farther along the fence I get. If Green is out here fucking, I’m going to…
The thought dissipates at Rogue’s silhouette. She’s standing with Monster by the outhouse, appearing deep in conversation.
My curiosity piques, and I debate approaching, but before I can decide, Monster turns, staring straight at me like some paranormal being. Fucker looks like a werewolf. He probably sniffed me out.
Rogue follows his path, clutching her chest. “Jesus, Kit.” She blows out a breath, her nervous laugh sounding forced.
“You scared me. What are you doing out here?” Her tight jeans hug her butt and dip at the waist, revealing her toned, tanned midriff.
Her red shirt has a heart cut out on the chest, flashing a tease of cleavage.
Auburn locks flow down her back and shape her pretty face.
She’s so beautiful. I bet her and Callan’s kids will be gorgeous.
I’ll probably like theirs. I’ll kind of have to.
Twitching the leash, I say, “Walking my cat.” I gesture to him and frown. “What are you doing out here?”
“Some air,” Rogue says as Monster says, “None of your business.”
Slapping his arm, Rogue shakes her head, laughing that fake, forced laugh again. “I came out for some air. Monster saw me leave and wanted to check on me.”
What a load of shit . When the hell did she become comfortable enough around Monster to slap him playfully and be out here in the dark with him, all secretive?
Part of me wants to throw my hands up and say whatever, but the other part, the side that told Claire to fuck off, has other plans. “If you don’t want to say then don’t, but don’t lie to my face, Rogue. I thought we were past secrets.”
Scooping up Keg, I don’t wait around for another lie.
“What do you think we’re doing, dry fucking with three feet between us?” Monster calls out loud enough for me to hear.
Them fucking didn’t cross my mind. I don’t really give a shit what they’re doing, but hearing the fabrication roll off Rogue’s tongue stings. She promised me no more lies after I discovered where she came from.
Skirting around the building, I pickup my pace, the hum of laughter and chatter growing louder.
Floodlights at the front of the building offer a clear view of partygoers mingling, talking, and dancing to the pulse of music seeping through the open door to the bar.
Dodger is inside the boxing ring, attempting to teach Maggie how to throw a punch.
Her hands are tiny, and she keeps squealing any time he bounces around her.
He’d probably have a better shot at teaching Keg.
“Can I stroke your pussy?” a curvy brunette purrs as I pass her, her tongue swiping out and wiggling with insinuation.
“No, it’s hostile.” I chomp my teeth at her, and she cackles with laughter.
I slip inside, the party still in full swing. As happy as I am for Tim— it’s Chris now —and want to congratulate him, the way we left things was awkward. Seeing me might ruin his buzz.
I survey the room, searching for him anyway, and come up empty. Maybe he’s celebrating with someone else. Now that he’s earned his patch, all the club sluts will be throwing themselves at him. I wait for a swell of jealousy to rear up inside me, but there’s nothing.
“Kitty!” Green hollers from across the bar, maneuvering himself through the bodies until he’s in front of me. “You owe me a game.” His words slur, and he stinks of piss.
“I’m busy right now. Maybe later.” I try to move around him without making contact with any part of his body but he steps into my space clumsily, tripping over my leg, propelling his lanky frame straight through a table. Drinks fly, and brothers leap to their feet.
“What the fuck?” a particularly mean bastard, Hammer, yells, grabbing Green by the collar of his tee and yanking him up.
The scene descends into chaos, everyone shouting something different.
Usually, I’m all for pandemonium, but I have Keg, so I skim the crowd, groaning when I catch a glimpse of my dad with some naked slut grinding on his lap.
Shifting down the hallway, I head for the kitchen, halting when my brother’s imposing frame stops in front of me, his broad shoulders almost touching the dark walls on either side of us. “You seen Rogue?”
Crap . Do I lie? I know she won’t be doing anything with Monster. It’s not like I need to cover her ass. Would I if she was?
“No.” I pinch my lips and shake my head.
He raises a dark brow, shifting from foot to foot. “She said she was going to find you.”
Well, she lied. “I guess she hasn’t yet.”
Tension leaks into his posture, straightening his back, a worry line cutting across his forehead.
“She probably went for some air. Don’t be that guy.”
“What guy?”
“The one who needs to keep tabs on their woman twenty-four-seven.” I huff.
“Are you forgetting our history?” he asks incredulously.
That’s fair. She does have a tendency to disappear and get herself in trouble. “That was different. This is a party. She’s surrounded by family.”
Relaxing his posture, he blows out a breath and rubs a hand up the back of his neck. “I know that. I was just asking. I’m not keeping tabs.”
Liar. Everyone is fucking lying and thinking they’re good at it. I see you, assholes .
“Just tell her to come find me if you see her, yeah? I’ve got something to give her.”
Scrunching my nose, I jab a finger into his chest. “Gross.”
“What?” He chuckles, backing up the way he came, and I gag, knowing exactly what he wants to give her.
He waves at someone as he passes the kitchen but doesn’t stop. When I round the door, I find Grease inside.
“Hey.” He dips his head in acknowledgement as I enter then takes another bite of cold pizza.
“Seems you have a new club member,” I say, making conversation. Tugging open the fridge, I pull out the milk and grab a small plate from the cupboard, tipping a serving out for Keg. Placing him on the countertop, I unclip his leash.
“Yup, I like him.” He shrugs, pushing the box of pizza toward me.
Taking a slice, I offer a genuine smile. “I like him too.” Biting into the food, I wince and drop the pizza back into the box. It’s like chewing through rubber.
“Don’t waste food, Kitty.” Grease frowns, taking my discarded piece and chomping into it.
My stomach dips when another body joins us. “Surprised to find you in here, Grease,” Cutter says with a mocking tone as he waltzes over to the fruit bowl and picks up a banana.
“Fuck you. Do you know how many calories it takes to fuel this machine?” Grease waves a hand down his body for emphasis.
“It is quite the machine.” I wink at Grease, and his smug smile makes Cutter roll his eyes.
“I’m out. Have a good night, Kitty.” Grease jerks his head, his footfalls padding across the floor.
“What about me?” Cutter holds out his hands.
“I hope you slip with a hard-on and break your dick,” Grease calls out.
“Harsh,” Cutter muses as Grease’s chuckle fades down the hall.
“But fair,” I point out.
The smirk he gifts me tightens my core. No matter how strong I want to be, he has a power over my body that’s uncontrollable.
Changing the subject, he says, “Rocco’s hungry.” He waggles the banana. “He also likes your cat.”
“Who wouldn’t? He’s adorable.” I shrug, stroking Keg’s back.
“You seem different.” He leans a hip on the counter directly opposite me, shifting the banana from one hand to the other. The overhead light is brilliant white, highlighting the ocean blue of his eyes. I turn my gaze from his and refill the plate for Keg.
“Do I?” I whisper, fighting against his hold over me. It’s stronger than steel.
“Yeah.” He runs the back of his hand down my cheek, and my heart surges into a gallop. “I like it.”
No . He doesn’t get to do this.
Flinching away, I narrow my eyes at him. “Shouldn’t you be getting back to your wife and kid?”
“Claire’s gone. It’s just Rocco and me.” He scratches the back of his neck, almost seeming nervous, and his gaze drops to his boots. “We’re going to watch a movie. He won’t sleep with the noise. You want to watch with us?”
The clenching of my jaw sends pain shooting up my cheeks. “Are you serious?” He has to be joking.
“It’s just a movie, Kit.”
Hell no, it’s not just a freaking movie.
Bundling Keg into my arms, I sidle up real close to Cutter, forcing his gaze to burn into mine. “I’d rather poke my own eyes out and lie on a bed of broken glass than cozy up in your room watching movies with you and your kid.” I smack my shoulder into him as I walk away.
“It’s not his fault he was born, Kit.” There’s sadness in his tone.
Fuck him.
“No, it’s yours.”