14. Chapter 1
Chapter 1
H e looked at me with a broad smile, his expression full of pride. So, what do you think, Wave? This is awesome, right?
I looked around the bar. He was right, wed never had crowds like this. The guys behind the bar were run off their feet, the air hot and heavy, sweaty bodies dancing and screaming to the music. The band was good, great even, if they got their start here, it would bring epic bragging rights. Declan promised theyd rock the house. He worked for a record company and Red Alert were the first band hed managed as lead and not assistant, and he was grinning from ear to ear.
Its their first real show, it could be a fluke, I tell him, schooling my expression.
The fuck? he turned my way. Theyre killing it.
I struggled to maintain the nonchalance, but he saw right through me. He grabbed me around the waist and lifted me off the floor. Id like to say it pissed me off when he threw me about, but Id be lying. He tossed me over his shoulder like I weighed nothing and slapped my ass.
Put me down, jerk, I shrieked, slapping his ass, which was right within reach of where I dangled.
Declan laughed, his shoulders shaking, but he complied and lowered me to the floor. He didnt let me go, pulling me close and lowering his forehead to press against mine. I draped my arms loosely around his neck and smiled as he pressed his lips to the corner of my mouth.
God, what I wouldnt give to drag you out of here right now, he murmured.
I felt that voice right down to my core. As much as I wanted to take him up on it and drag him to a bathroom, were working and, mostly, professional. I groaned in frustration.
Hold that thought, baby, he told me, drawing back, and swatting my ass again. Youre gonna ride me long and hard tonight.
Is that right? I stepped away, glancing at the crowds again. Wed both worked hard to get to this and nothing would wipe the smile off my face tonight.
Hell yeah, babe, Declan kissed me and looked back at the band.
There were girls at the front, screaming at Nash like he could burn their panties off with one look. If only they knew he was madly in love with his childhood sweetheart and wouldnt look twice at groupies. How long that would last if they hit the big time remained to be seen, although Id seen Nash with Riley, they had the kind of love people would kill for. I glanced back at Declan, watching as his head bobbed, his hands in the front pockets of his jeans and a small smile played on my lips. Love? I wasnt sure we were there yet, but we could be. We were pretty close to getting there.
I need to get back to work, Dec. It looks like the guys are run off their feet.
He reached his hand back for mine, pulled it to his lips and planted a kiss on my knuckles. Get Anna to close up tonight, were gonna have a private celebration.
When I got to the bar, it was two person deep, the girls rushing to fill orders, Ben was washing glasses as fast as he could, steam blowing in his face. I stepped behind the bar to help.
Hey pretty lady, Ben smiled with his cocky grin. Id known him for two years now and although he stopped hitting on me, he hadnt stopped with the nickname. You slumming it back here?
I smiled. Come on, these glasses arent gonna wash themselves.
He shuffled over to allow me to start loading the empties into the crates for him. The band played for another forty minutes and if anything, we got busier, which was why I thought my imagination was playing tricks on me when I saw a familiar face in the crowd. I almost dropped a glass, but lost sight of him as more people moved on the dancefloor. It had been a long night, my feet hurt, hell my face hurt from all the smiling. My brother wouldnt be here, hundreds of miles from home.
You okay, hon?
I glanced at Anna and gave her a smile, shaking away thoughts of my family. Yeah, sorry.
Are you sure? Ive been calling you for like five minutes.
I apologised again, collecting more glasses, running them under the cold tap to cool before they were used. I handed them over to her so she could serve more customers. After another ten minutes the madness slowed, I looked up at the side of the stage where Declan was talking to a couple of guys and a woman, all laughing. Id seen the girl around before, I narrowed my eyes as she sidled close to Declan. He glanced at her with a smile but focused on the guy next to him. I snort laughed when the girl crossed her arms over her chest in a huff.
Havent grown out of that habit I see. I whirled around at the voice by my ear, my heart in my mouth. You always were so ladylike, Wave.
My brother was leaning against the bar and people were looking over at him, some warily, some with interest. I got it, my brother was a good-looking guy, over six foot, with wavy dark brown hair swept back behind his ears. He looked older, more serious with light missing from his eyes despite the joking tone to his voice. He wore his leathers, so he had ridden here. I couldnt see it, but the motorcycle club name was printed across the back of his leather vest, or cut as it was known in the MC. He never left home without it.
What are you doing here?
Is that any way to greet your big bro? he picked up the beer that was put on the bar beside him and sipped from the bottle. You look good, Wave, he said in a softer voice. I stared into his chocolate brown eyes that mirrored my own.
Little far from home arent you?
Arent you ? he asked.
Im right where Im supposed to be, I told him, my lips tight. This is my home.
You dont have family here, sis.
The family I have here are worth more than the one I walked away from.
He narrowed his eyes and for a second, the hurt was clear and guilt nipped at me, but I pushed it away. My mind raced over why he would be here. Why now? Was it about dad? He could be dead. I bit the inside of my cheek and my spine went rigid.
Hes not dead, Warren read me like a book, hed always been able to. Well, until we stopped agreeing with each other and I left. That was when our twin bond stretched too far, but it clearly hadnt snapped. There is some shit going down.
I dont care, I told him. Get out of here, Warren. Whatever this is, I dont want to know.
With that I turned to walk away but ran straight into a hard chest, the scent of leather and sandalwood cologne slamming memories back to the surface. I took a faltering step back and looked up. The man in front of me was six foot two and a wall of muscle. His cut and tight black t-shirt did little to hide the definition in his arms and shoulders. He had a pair of sunglasses hooked over his t-shirt at his throat, dragging it down slightly to reveal tanned skin. He was sporting a light coating of scruff, like it had been a couple of days since he bothered shaving but it only enhanced his features. He was a good looking bastard and it pissed me off acknowledging that, as I looked up into the silvery blue of his eyes. They were just as stormy as I remembered. His fair hair looked mussed up, from wearing his helmet then running his hands through it.
Fuck, I mumbled.
He smirked and spoke in a gravelly voice I knew too well. I dont think War was finished talking.
Ill tell you the same thing I told him, I pushed him. I dont care. I barged past heading towards the back of the bar. I had to get away from them. I couldnt believe Warren brought him . If he wanted me to listen, bringing Hudson Kelley with him was the wrong move. I barely made it three steps before he grabbed my arm, pulling me back against his chest.
Hudson leaned down and put his lips near my ear. That any way to speak to family?
Youre not my family, I gritted my teeth, trying to discretely shake him off. The last thing I needed was to make more of a scene than they already had, but people were watching. Shit, I cursed and turned to look at my brother. Not here. I glared at Hudson and he released me.
There was no need to look behind to know they were following. I pushed through the door behind the bar and let it go on the fire hinges. It hit one of them and a dark chuckle echoed down the corridor. I didnt want to do this, facing my past, my family. Whatever theyre here for, it couldnt be good.
I unlocked my office and went behind the desk, sitting on the leather chair. The two of them standing in front of the desk would be intimidating to anyone else, but not me. No, I grew up around these assholes, they didnt scare me.
Wave, Warren blew out a heavy sigh.
Just say what you came to say, the faster you say it, the faster you can get the hell out of here.
That isnt happening.
No one is talking to you, I snapped at Hudson, never taking my eyes off my brother. I drank in his face, noting the changes, his eyes were harder, fine lines by the corners, even though he was only twenty-four, same as me. He hadnt had it easy, but he made the choice to stay and work with our father when he could have got out. He had the grades to go to college, the skills to play scholarship basketball, but he threw it all away. For the Club. And I would never forgive him for that. The four of us talked all the time about leaving when we were kids. Warren, Hudson, Connor, and me. But when it came down to standing up to my father, I was the only one willing to walk away.
Warren held a hand up to Hudson to keep quiet. He wouldnt let us leave, Wave.
You didnt even try, I snapped. I wouldnt argue and dredge up old shit. I wanted them gone.
We dont have time for this, War.
Again, my brother tried to placate his best friend and out of respect, I guess, Hudson stopped talking but he wasnt happy and the glare he turned my way was telling. He didnt want to be here, just as much as I didnt want him here.
Youre perfectly welcome to wait the fuck outside, I folded my arms.
Not happening, Hudson pulled a chair out, making himself comfortable.
Were not here to argue, Warren told me. We have a problem. I did not give two shits about his problems but Warren continued. Youre in danger.
Me? My eyebrows shot up. Why would I be in danger?
Warren glanced at Hudson.
How could I possibly be in danger ? I glared harder at my brother. Ive been here for five years, away from you and dad and all of your bullshit. No one knows who I am here, Warren.
Doesnt matter where you go, youre a part of the family.
I ran a hand through my hair and stared at the desk. Walking away from them, getting to live my life the way I wanted, wasnt a betrayal, not like my father thought. It was self-preservation.
So what? I dont advertise where I come from.
It isnt about knowing where you come from. They know about you . They can find you, sis.
Who are they ? I hissed. What bullshit has our father dragged me into?
Look, there have been threats, Warren sat down heavily in the chair beside Hudson, who was inspecting his fingernails like he was bored. And King is worried.
I barked out a laugh. Worried about what? That Im in danger, or that someone has figured out he has a weakness.
Waverley, this isnt a joke.
Nope, it isnt a joke, you two walking in here, wearing your cuts, letting everyone know who you are because you cant bear to leave home without them. How do you know you didnt lead this danger right to my door?
We didnt.
Like that explained everything. I really wish Hudson would shut up and get out. I looked at him to convey that. Like my brother, he could read me and he smirked. Cocky, arrogant, bastard.
Look, Wave, my hands are tied here. If we dont bring you-
If you finish that sentence Im going to kick your ass right out of this bar. And you, I pointed my finger at Hudson. You say one more word, I have doormen outside twice the size and a million times more vicious than you.
Im shaking in my boots, he drawled raising a leg, putting his boot against my desk.
I rolled my eyes and looked at my brother. It didnt matter what they said, nothing would make me go back there. Nothing .
Wave, my brothers eyes were misty, his voice pleading, and I intuitively knew whatever he was about to say would hurt. They got to Connor. It was bad.
My heart almost stopped. I thought about the blonde haired, blue eyed boy who was always quick to smile, to crack a joke or make fun of himself to cheer me up when things got rough at home. He never liked to see me upset and I knew it would have devastated him when I left.
Shit, thatll do it.