Chapter 22
Chapter Twenty-Two
AMbrOS
By the time I switch out the bike for the truck and collect Citi, the rain has stopped. Typical. Still, the roads are slick, so it was worth grabbing the truck in the end.
She’s quiet as I drive back. I keep looking over to make sure she’s okay. She doesn’t look upset, just lost in thought.
“How did it go?”
“Hmm?” She looks over before she realizes what I said. “It went okay. I have some things to think about.”
“Sounds serious.”
Her face flushes. “It’s nothing really. Did I tell you Amity called?” she asks, changing the subject.
“No, what did she want?”
“She asked me to go to the movies with her.”
“Nice. You said yes, right?”
“Yeah.” Her voice has a weird tone to it, making me look over at her.
“You don’t have to go if you don’t want to. Amity would understand.”
“No, it’s not that. I was worried about how Neveah would feel about it.”
“She couldn’t make it?”
“Oh…um, I don’t know if she was invited. Should I ask Amity, or invite her myself?” She sounds panicked.
I reach over and squeeze her knee. “Okay, what’s going on?”
She sighs. “I’m being silly. I’m just worrying I might be doing something wrong without meaning to.”
“By going to the movies?”
“By going with Nevaeh’s friend.” She toys with the hole in her jeans as she continues. “I had Havoc lie for me. He knew I was here, but I asked him not to say anything. That wasn’t cool of me. I didn’t do it to upset Neaveh. I wasn’t ready to get invaded, but now I realize how unfair I was being.”
“Okay, take a deep breath for me, Citi, and blow it out slowly. You’re spiraling, honey.
Neither Tink nor Havoc is bothered. They love and trust each other.
You’ve been to hell and back, so if Havoc did something to ensure your comfort, well, Nevaeh’s only going to appreciate that. You’re worrying over nothing.”
“You swear?”
“Yes, I swear. Where’s all of this coming from?”
“Something came up in therapy. He asked me how I would feel if the roles were reversed. I didn’t like the idea of you and Nevaeh keeping secrets from me.”
“This is a very different situation. Look, if it’s bothering you this much, talk to her. Call Nevaeh, or better yet, meet up for a coffee and tell her what’s going on inside that head of yours.”
“You think?”
“Babe. She’s your sister.” That’s not an answer to my question, though, I suppose it is.
“Could we go to the clubhouse? If I don’t do it now, I might chicken out.”
“What about Star?”
“Con and Theo are building a fort with her, apparently. I’m not entirely sure what that entails, but she looked really happy when Con texted me some photos. He said to take as long as I needed.”
“I’m pretty sure he’s going for the prospect of the year award.”
“They get awards?” She looks at me with wide eyes, making me laugh.
“No. They get the cut. That’s the big prize. Something tells me Con will get his with flying colors.”
“Cool. I like him. More importantly, Star does.”
“Of course she does. All the women love Con.”
“I like him, but there’s only one biker I love.” I look at her sharply. She smiles, dipping her head. “Havoc’s been good to me after all.”
It takes a while for her teasing to sink in. I pull the truck over, before unclipping her belt and yanking her into my lap. “You got jokes, huh?”
She grins at me without an ounce of shame.
“Well, he can’t have you. You’re mine.”
“Hmm…I don’t see your name written on me.”
I reach over with one hand and yank open the glove box, pulling out a black Sharpie. She throws her head back and laughs when she sees it, but I don’t let that deter me. I tug her T-shirt down, exposing the swell of her breast. Her laughter cuts off as I use my teeth to pull the cap off the marker.
“Ambros,” she says my name softly, her fingers sliding into my hair.
“I love the way you say my name.”
“Ambros, Ambros, Ambros,” she whispers as I drag the tip of the pen across her skin, right over her heart.
I finish with a flourish, sealing my mouth to hers. She grinds down on me as I grip her hips and work her against my cock.
“Fuck, you make me forget all common sense, woman.”
“I’m going to take that as a compliment.”
“You should. As badly as I want to fuck you right now, the cops police this road pretty heavily, and nobody is allowed to see you come but me.”
She pouts but doesn’t argue. I bite her lip before she does, my cock aching to be inside her. I manage to hold on to a shred of sanity and lift her back in her seat.
“Buckle up, baby. We’ll continue this later.”
She snaps the belt into place before tugging her top down a little so she can see what I wrote. “I thought you were signing your name.” Her voice comes out husky, her arousal riding her hard.
“Next time. Only with a more permanent ink.” I glance down at the top of her breast and the black ink spelling mine marring her skin.
“You’re such a caveman.”
“Angel, you have no fucking idea.”
* * *
We pull up at the clubhouse and wait for the new prospect to let us in.
“I don’t know that one.”
“The prospect?”
She nods as I park.
“Name’s Scooter. He started last week. Got another one starting in a few days. Damned if I can remember his name, though.”
“Makes sense. Con and Pig can only do so much,” she grimaces making me frown.
“You got an issue with the prospects?”
She shakes her head, worried she might have offended me somehow. “I like Con.”
I roll my eyes. “Everyone likes Con. Have you got an issue with Pig?”
“I don’t have an issue with him as such. I don’t know, maybe I’m just more comfortable with Con.”
“Pig makes you feel uncomfortable?” My frown deepens.
“You’re putting words in my mouth.”
I jump out of the truck and stalk around to Citi’s side, pulling the door open more forcefully than necessary. Reaching over her, I unfasten her belt. When she turns to get out, I pin her in place, my face inches from hers.
“I’m serious here, Citi. If Pig has done something to make you feel uncomfortable, I need to know.”
She sighs. “He hasn’t done anything. He’s just… indifferent? I often question why he even wants to be in an MC. He just doesn’t seem all that interested. Anytime he’s around, he’s always on his phone.”
“Like the day you were at the park.”
She nods. “I wasn’t mad that he was mad.
That was the first sign of emotion I’d seen from the guy.
I was disappointed that I’d made it home on the bus with Star before he even realized we were missing.
I won’t lie, I didn’t think about him getting into trouble when I left.
I was more pissed about him not paying attention.
If someone had snatched me and Star, would he even have noticed?
Heck, you arrived at my place after Capone called you before Pig did. ”
I lift her out and lower her to her feet before reaching inside for my cut and slipping it on.
“I told Havoc I don’t want Pig watching you or on Star duty.
I requested Con because I know you prefer him.
But I’ll be damned if I can remember if he asked why or if he assumed it was just a preference.
Dammit. This is shit I need to be reporting. ”
“To be fair, Ambros, you’ve been crazy busy and doing the best you can.”
“It’s not enough. Not if your safety is compromised.”
“But it hasn’t been. I’m fine.”
“Someone came into your home while you slept and took Star from her bed,” I remind her softly.
“This person has already proven they’re smart and resourceful.
If they wanted to take you from a park in broad daylight, they would.
Pig is supposed to be a deterrent. If he’s not doing his job, he’s putting you and Star in danger, and that’s never gonna fly with me.
I’m going to talk to Havoc while you have your chat with Tink. ”
She closes her eyes and sighs. “I really don’t want him to get in trouble over me. I’m the one who let her temper get the better of her and left. I still don’t know why I did that. I thought I’d had that beaten out of me over the years.”
“Hey.” I cup the back of her head and kiss the space between her eyebrows.
“The fact you reacted in anger and not fear is a good thing, at least from where I’m standing.
Once upon a time, you were scared of your own shadow, and with good reason.
Now, everything you’ve had to choke down can be expressed without the worry of repercussions.
Am I happy you left without protection? Not at all.
But you know I won’t hurt you as a punishment, no one in the MC will, and that’s what gave you the confidence to do what you did. ”
“I think you’re giving me way too much credit.
” She chuckles before pulling back. “I just reacted. But I do get what you’re saying.
And as much as it galls me to get him in trouble, what if I hadn’t been there?
What if he was watching Star? Anything could have happened to her, and if it had, I’d have killed him myself. ”
“Of that, I have no doubt.” I wink, taking her hand as I lead her up to the saloon.
I push the doors open and walk her in, surprised to find it relatively busy. I spot Neveah at a table with Legs and Delphi. Havoc, Midas, and Kruger are sitting at the table to the left of them. Dice, Hoops, and Capone are laughing about something at the bar, while Mac and Toot are playing pool.
Dice nods to me as I lead Citi over to the girls’ table. Nevaeh spots her first and jumps to her feet, rushing over to hug Citi.
“Hey sis, what are you doing here?”
“I came to see you, actually. Think we could talk for a minute?”
Neveah looks at Citi, taking in her nervous expression before nodding. “Of course. Come with me.” She holds out her hand for Citi, who lets go of mine to take Nevaeh’s.
“I’ll be over there with Havoc when you’re done, okay?”
Citi looks at me and nods. “Okay. We won’t be long.”
“No rush, take your time.”
Neveah walks away with her, yelling over her shoulder at Havoc. “Going to use your office for a minute, heathen.”
Havoc shakes his head at her. I walk over and take the empty seat next to Midas, who has his sleeping son over his shoulder.
“He’s getting so big.”
“You think? He still feels fucking tiny to me.”
Havoc leans closer. “Citi okay? I’m surprised to see her here.”
“She had therapy today and got into her head about something. Figured it would be better for her to deal with it now instead of letting it eat her alive.”
“Anything I need to worry about?”
I lean back and sigh. “No. I don’t think so. Things are good with you and Tink?”
He frowns. “Of course they are.”
“Then there’s nothing to worry about.”
“Ambros—”
“She’s a little worried that she might have caused a strain between you and Tink by making you keep her moving here quiet.”
“Ah. Was Tink pissed? Yeah, for about a minute. Once I explained, she was just glad to have her close. If anything, she’s grateful I care for Citi and Star.”
Kruger nods. “There are plenty of presidents out there that wouldn’t involve themselves in anything that didn’t affect the club.
And I get that works for some—separating family from club—but I don’t see how that would work for any of us.
Not now.” He nods to Hero as an example, but I don’t forget Theo, Kruger’s adopted son, and the hand the MC had in making sure they had everything they needed.
“Can’t leave a legacy if they feel no connection to the colors and what we stand for.
Otherwise, the club would just be the thing that kept us from going home, missing ball games and dance recitals.
I’ll take a dozen uncles for my kid over a dozen strangers my kid would only recognize because of the leather on their back,” Midas states, keeping his voice low.
“Amen to that,” Kruger agrees. “She settled into your place?”
“Our place. If I get my way, they’ll never leave.” I stare at Havoc, daring him to say something.
He reaches for his beer and tips it toward me in acknowledgment. “As long as that’s what she wants.”
Midas looks on, amused, while Kruger outright snorts.
“Changing the subject. I need to talk to you about Pig.”
Havoc groans. “What did he do now?”
“I was just talking to Citi about the prospects, that’s all. She loves Con.”
“Everyone loves Con,” Kruger grumbles.
I smirk, having said the same damn thing. “True, but she’s wary as fuck around Pig.”
That makes his smirk drop. There is no love lost between Kruger and Pig after an incident involving Delphi, not long after she was hurt.
“What did she say exactly?” Havoc asks before Kruger can jump in.
“That she has no clue why he wants to be in an MC anyway. He seems completely uninterested. Say what you want about the guy, but what happened with Delphi, and with Citi leaving the park, wouldn’t have happened on Con’s watch.”
Havoc rubs his hand over his face. “I’ve had my doubts about him making it to the end, regardless. Was trying to hold out until the new prospects started because Con can’t be everywhere at once.”
“I’d rather pick up the slack than have a prospect in place who isn’t doing his fucking job.”
“Alright, you’ve made your point. I’ll call an early church for tomorrow. You’ll be able to leave the gym?”
“If I can’t get cover, I’ll close the place early.”
“That works. Kruger, Midas?”
“I’m not in until Monday. The joys of having a team that don’t need me.” He rolls his eyes, but I can tell he loves spending time with his family, which he wouldn’t be able to do otherwise. “I don’t know about Powers, though. He’s usually there when I’m not.”
Havoc nods. “I’ll talk to him. Kruger?”
“Yeah, I’ll be there. I’ve been looking forward to this.”
Midas laughs, which makes Hero stir.
I look around to make sure Citi isn’t on her way back before lowering my voice. “Any news on Lil or the motherfucker who broke into Citi’s place?”
“No, but G’s looking into it. He’s trying to figure out who the client is. I still can’t understand why this Jack is so gung-ho him. I mean, he’s a PI, but he’s willing to strap on a bomb to make his point. Who the fuck does that?”
I look around at everyone here, picturing a life without them, and know I wouldn’t do anything to jeopardize it.
“Someone who has nothing to lose.”