Chapter 14
Chapter Fourteen
CJ
I’ve never felt freer than I have since I opened up to Axe.
How does a man become the center of my attention in such a short time?
I’ve read books on insta-love and lust. I’ve read some about souls connecting. Is that what I’m feeling with Axe? He’s become more than just Axe to me.
He’s Andrew.
The man. Not just the biker.
I love everything about him. We’ve gotten to know each other even more since the day he took my virginity. He’s made me his in every way possible. I didn’t think it could be so amazing, not after all I’ve witnessed in my life.
I learned he lost his sister and father years ago.
Axe told me about his sister and what she went through.
Then we talked about his father being murdered.
I felt for him, having lost so much. I also felt jealous of a woman he told me about.
One that he talks to on the phone, but he explained to me that Simone is nothing more than someone he cares for.
According to Avery and Willow, who I’ve gotten to know from my time going to the clubhouse, Simone is mentally ill after the trauma she’s endured for years.
Sure I feel for her, but I can’t help but feel jealous over her needing attention from Axe.
Does that make me a bad person?
I hope not.
I expressed my feelings about this to Axe after Avery advised me to be honest with him about the whole thing.
He explained in further detail, not leaving anything out about Simone.
He even FaceTimed her with me right there and introduced Simone to me.
It felt awkward at first, but then she expressed her gratitude for Axe helping her and seeing redeeming qualities.
That he never gave up on her. She admitted to loving him but not in any way besides friendship.
I understood this since K-9’s called to check up on me a few times.
To say Axe didn’t like the fact a member of his club from a different charter was calling his woman so much at first. Then he found out I was who K-9 opened up to about shit going on in his life.
I don’t hide the conversations from Axe and most of the time, he’s right there when I’m talking to my friend.
Out of all the members of the club up at the Franklin charter, he’s the one I’m most attached to.
Sighing, I look to the door again, ready for Axe to get here with my burger and fries. My stomach is tight with nerves and anxiety for reasons I can’t understand. I want to say that it has to do with my gut telling me something, but I can’t be a hundred percent sure.
“You okay, CJ?” Rogue asks, stepping back behind the bar with me.
We’ve got a crowd tonight and it’s massive at that. Summer break is just starting, and people are out celebrating.
“Yeah, I’m okay,” I respond while pouring another draft of Devore’s brew into a mug for a customer. Handing it over to Asa, I glance at Rogue and give him a smile.
“Just stay behind the bar tonight. If you need to go to the bathroom or some shit before Axe gets here, let me know,” Rogue mutters with a stern look on his face. “I’m not taking any chances with this crowd tonight.”
Nodding, I understand where he’s coming from.
They’ve all become overprotective of me when it comes to what I’ve endured.
Hammer even called his niece. I didn’t even realize that Burner’s ol’ lady who works with him at the tattoo shop back in Franklin was Hammer’s niece, Ally.
I knew she’d been familiar, but I’d blocked out as much of my past as I could.
Unfortunately, she’d known who I was the entire time. It’s why the club members were constantly around me. I thought I’d kept it a secret from them all this time. Instead, they all knew who I was, although they didn’t know the details. Ally kept those to only Burner.
Inwardly shaking my head, I go about filling mugs and making mixed drinks. Some people come in wanting a bottle of beer, but most come for the Devore brews we have here. I myself find the Devore brew one of the better things to drink.
The front doors to the bar open, and I smile as I take in the man walking through the crowd toward me.
My man.
My smile quickly leaves my face when I see the fury marring his. What’s happened since I talked to him just a bit ago?
Axe stalks through the bar, around to the opening behind the bar top where I’m standing watching him.
Something is majorly wrong right now and it seems to not just be wrong with him but with others as well. I notice several of the members of the club come into the bar, but only Hammer, Malice, Gunner, and Cy take a seat at the bar.
Axe steps behind the bar top and comes my way, wraps his arms around me, and pulls me against his chest. His arms are tight as he holds me to him.
“Are you okay?” I ask, lifting my head enough to meet his gaze.
“Now that I’ve got eyes on you, yeah, Sunbeam,” he mutters and leans forward to press his lips to mine.
Catcalls and hollers are thrown in our direction. I ignore them and deepen the kiss. When it comes to Axe, I’m insatiable. Okay, maybe this has to do with the fact I’ve never been with anyone and my first and only is the man who I would love nothing more than to spend the rest of my life with.
Breaking apart, I’m left panting with need and have to keep myself from begging Axe to take me to the office and fuck me against the door. Or over the desk. Better yet, on the couch that sits in there.
“Love you, Citrus, and I want you to know that no matter fuckin’ what, you’re mine,” he rasps gravelly.
My heart literally skips a beat with his words. “I love you too, Andrew. What’s going on?” I mean, why would he say he loved me and let it be followed by a no matter what sentence.
Fear starts to seep within me. My eyes flicker to the bracelet Axe gave me the other day. He told me it held a tracer in it. So if anything ever happened to me, he would always be able to find me.
“Just work the rest of your shift and I’ll be here with you. If you see anything out of the ordinary, let me know. Remember, I’ve got you,” Axe whispers, sliding his hands up my sides and cupping either side of my face. “Trust me.” With those two words, he presses his lips to mine once more.
“Okay,” I murmur against his lips.
I trust Axe. I trust him to do what he needs to do, not just for me but for the club as well. I just hope that whatever he’s referring to isn’t what has my stomach now churning into knots.
Getting back to work, I get the members of the club their drinks with Axe’s and Rogue’s help. Even with their help, I’m still busy with keeping up with orders. One of the customers comes to stand near the end of the bar, and I immediately wish it weren’t me assisting the person.
Not because I wanted to be rude, but because I know who he is. He’s the spitting image of my uncle and the man they continue to send after me when they want to hurt me or try to get me back.
Oh, God.
This isn’t good.
Standing before me with a malicious sneer on his face is none other than Carlow, their son and the next to be the vessel for the Dark Lord.
Or that’s what they think.
“Hello, my precious one,” he cackles.
“Go away,” I mutter.
“Now you know that’s not going to happen,” he snickers, and it’s then I notice the blade in his hand. “You’ve been a very bad girl, my precious one, and now I must make some very big decisions where your life comes into play. To keep you as my bride or kill you and let Apricot take your place.”
No.
He can’t do that.
Marcus won’t let anyone near my sister.
“Hmm, what to do?” Carlow is insane. I take a quick step back, only to stop when he shakes his head. “Now, now, my precious, I suggest you come to me if you don’t want anyone in this building hurt.”
No. No. No.
This can’t be happening. I won’t let it happen. I already told myself that when it came down to it, I’d take him and whoever else out with me. I refuse to go silently.
My mind races to thoughts of Axe. His words about trusting him. I trust him and I know that no matter what if something happens to me, he’ll make sure they’re taken out as well.
Taking in a breath, I do my best to keep anyone watching me from seeing my hands trembling.
Hoping that Axe and the others notice something’s going on before anything can happen. If memory serves me correct, Carlow doesn’t have patience for ending things when the game is over.
And that’s what’s about to happen. The game’s over for my aunt and uncle. They sent their son, the man who they claim to be a vessel for their sick illusions, and lost.
I just need to get him to show his cards before it’s too late.