Chapter 26 #2
For a moment, he looks right through me, but I cover my mouth and stagger back when those dark eyes focus on mine. Gone is the man who held me while I cried and I don’t recognize the version who takes his place, but I see something I never considered as he stands there like a fucking statue…hate.
I can’t draw a full breath, and I claw at my throat while his eyes bore into mine, the irises all but gone as the darkness pulls him under.
“Maddox!” Joker barks behind me and I slide away from the desk to the wall.
Maddox tracks my movements and like the prey I’ve become, all the hair on my nape stands on end when his nostrils flare and he practically sniffs the air.
“Son,” Joker says as a shudder rolls down my spine and I bite back a whimper.
As though the spell is broken, Maddox staggers back before he turns toward the wall, his fist in the air.
Bits of drywall spray the floor as he stares at the hole he just made, his chest heaving. My heart clenches at the sight, especially when he drops his chin to his chest and a shudder runs through his body.
I wish I knew what to do and I curl my fingers into my palms to ensure I don’t do something stupid, like touch him.
Beyond that, I know that I am well and truly screwed. Besides Draven, Maddox was the only one on my side but after this little tidbit of shared information, I can kiss that goodbye.
What will Joker do? Who is Ice? Is it the man with the pale, blue eyes who threatened me?
It would make sense, based on the resemblance between him and Joey but what does that really mean?
Although I don't want to bring attention to an already twisted conversation, I have to know because this is my life on the line.
If those men were willing to come to my work and follow me home a few days later, I’m not going to just walk away from this.
“Um,” I whisper. “Who’s Ice?”
When Joker and Maddox don’t respond, Wolf says, “Ice is the President of the Smokin’ Aces.”
Okay, so he’s in charge. Is that bad?
“Son,” Joker says but Maddox spins away, grabbing the door and flinging it open.
When it rebounds off the wall, I wince, watching with a pit in my stomach as he disappears down the hall before turning back to Joker who places his palms on the desk.
Whatever he was about to say drops away though when Wolf interjects to say, “We need a minute.”
“O-Okay,” I whisper, slowly backing away until I’m in the hall.
Thank God, Maddox is gone but with his absence I am truly alone.
When Wolf stares at me with a weird glint in his eyes, I close the door behind me, eyeing Joker as he bows his head.
I’m so entirely fucked but what did I expect? I knew to some extent that there was bad blood between these two MC’s. It’s not like they were going to welcome me with open arms. I just hoped…what?
I can’t stay here forever, and God knows how long the Smokin’ Aces are going to wait.
As far as I know Joey hasn’t been in an MC since I was a child or before I formed any memories.
That means the Smokin’ Aces are still after him all these years later.
I know Peter and Mom would welcome me back, but could they stop an MC? What does it mean that this Ice dude was at their house yesterday?
Where the fuck did Joey go? Fucking coward.
“Hey, are you okay?” The question comes from the young woman I passed on the way here and when I stare at her blankly, she waves her hand and says, “C’mon.”
Since I don’t have a better idea, I follow her down the hall and into a media room of sorts.
After collapsing into the cushions of a comfy couch facing a giant ass T.V., I rest my shaky limbs while she does something behind the fancy bar.
When she emerges with two glasses and hands me one, I take it gratefully.
She doesn’t look much older than me and after a moment of studying her while I sip on my drink, I realize who she is.
“Lilli Abernathy?” I say and she grins.
“That’s me.”
“Oh.”
That's all I can think to say because if you had asked me yesterday what I thought the prim and proper reverend’s daughter would be doing after high school, it did not include hanging out in a motorcycle club.
She takes another sip before setting the glass on the table before me. Her pretty red gold hair slips over her shoulder as she smooths her hand down the MC t-shirt she’s wearing and asks, “Okay. Why are you here?”
I mean, I'm dying to ask the same. Instead, I wave my hand and say, “I guess Joey, my, er…dad was in the Smokin’ Aces club. He quit or something and now they’re looking for him. I didn’t know where else to go…”
“The Aces,” she murmurs. “That’s bad.”
At her words, a chill marches down my spine and I bow my head. “They don't want me here.”
When she covers my icy fingers, I soak up her warmth as she says, “We don’t know what’s going to happen, but I’d be surprised if they sent you out there knowing you could get hurt.”
“Maddox was so mad,” I whisper, and she squeezes my fingers before dropping her hand.
“There’s….” She pauses and I look at her sideways as she continues. “There’s a long history with the Aces but he’s a good guy.”
How does she know how good Maddox is? Is she another of his conquests?
Clearly, he has them lined up if the chick with the caterpillar eyelashes was any indication. Lilli is pretty too with her deep dark eyes and shiny hair.
My stomach twists and I pull away before standing and pacing beyond the couch. I shouldn't be wasting time on what Maddox does. It’s not like it matters in the grand scheme of things.
I may never see the tall, handsome but annoyingly gruff biker again. I don’t know him, and he doesn’t know me beyond the fact that he thinks Snake is my dad.
Is Joey my dad? He denied it but that doesn’t mean much. Besides, I’m sure there’s no coming back from this whether I’m blood related to the jerk or not.
“Let’s not borrow trouble,” Lilli says as Wolf, the hot but scary ass VP appears at the door.
“Baby girl,” he says, and she turns, her skin lighting with a blush. Hm.
His stern expression fades to something warm and I look away uncomfortable at the heat that shines just for Lilli Abernathy as she breathes, “Yes?”
There’s a weird silence before he clears his throat and says, “I’ll be a little longer. Why don’t you meet me at home.”
“Wolf?” she says but he doesn't bother to respond beyond a manly grunt and when he raises his brow, she turns to me and says, “It’ll be okay.”
She can’t know that. No one can but I appreciate her kindness when she doesn’t know me and muster a smile before whispering, “Okay.”
At the door, she touches Wolf’s arm, and he leans down, brushing his lips against her forehead.
The tender moment seems so out of place for the gruff man but when she beams up at him, I concede that there’s a bond between these two I don’t understand.
Her smile fades to a frown though when she looks back at me before Wolf gently nudges her on, and she goes.
Once she’s out of sight, he turns to me, and his frown reappears.
Bracing for the worst, I swallow past the lump in my throat and say, “It’s okay. I get it.”
“You get what?” he asks, eyeing me like I’m a fucking bug under his shoe.
“I shouldn't have come,” I mumble. “It’s too much to ask. I mean, I don’t know much but it's obvious Joey…my dad…this Ice dude, they’re the enemy. And I’m…the enemy’s daughter.”
His brows flicker as he stares at me before he sighs and says, “You’re right. You shouldn’t be here, but you are and unlike the Aces, we don’t punish women for the sins of their fathers.”
At that, hope fills my heart that I’ll be given just a little more time to figure out what to do. Maybe I can stay after all?
“Look, the clubhouse is no place for someone like you,” he says, and I bite my wobbly lip. Shit. “But, until we find Snake, you can stay at Joker’s.”
“Oh?”
I mean, I don’t want to look a gift horse in the mouth, but I have to be cautious. I’m the only one who truly cares about what happens to me.
“Yeah, it's secluded. We’ll have men watching. You can stay there.”
He turns to go, and I stare after his retreating form, before saying, “Wait!”
When he looks over his shoulder, I ask, “What are you going to do with Joey when you find him?”
I’m still confused about how I should feel about him considering he doesn’t think he’s my dad and now that he’s gone, I’m in a huge mess.
Still, he is the man who took me in when I ran away from home.
“You don’t want to know,” Wolf says while I stare after him with a frown.
Can I live with myself if I continue this journey?
It’s not like I have much choice. I may not understand Joker’s anger but even as upset as he appeared to be, he didn’t scare the shit of me like Ice did.
That’s got to count for something. Right?