Chapter 11
Rex
My mind is racing as we head into the back office with Mary Beth to question her about these allegations against Lena. I don’t want to believe them, but honestly, after tonight, I’m more confused than ever.
As much as Cole and I enjoy sharing, I’ll admit that seeing Lena laugh and flirt with him made me jealous, especially since she ignored me.
I felt a small sense of satisfaction that I managed to make her feel jealous, too.
Since she was deliberately trying to make me jealous, she must still have some feelings for me.
I wish she had seen how quickly I removed Starla’s grip from me after she jumped up, hooking her legs around me like a damn limpet and sticking her tongue down my throat.
I’ve no doubt Lena thinks I was kissing her, but I didn’t, not voluntarily at least. But when I finally managed to disentangle her, I looked up to see Lena and Cole making out.
A double betrayal that hurt more than I care to admit.
I know Cole has feelings for Lena, it’s as clear as fucking day, but I thought our friendship was strong enough that there was an unspoken rule of, if we can’t both have her, neither of us can.
When Mary Beth arrived and started claiming that Lena was an Iron Vultures spy, and Zeke’s old lady no less, I initially thought it was impossible.
But doubts at the back of my mind told me that Mary Beth was making sense.
Whether I wanted to admit it or not, Lena and Zeke had history.
And obviously, there was also that unanswered question as to why she ran off that night, and on the night our Prez was due back.
Then, three years later, we get intel from an inside source at the Iron Vultures who tells us a random woman is about to be kidnapped, and we should intervene.
When we do so, we find it’s none other than Lena.
Could that really be a coincidence? Or was it a carefully crafted plot to infiltrate us again?
I don’t trust Mary Beth, but we need to find out if her claims have any basis in reality or if they’re the words of a jealous woman who can’t handle the fact that Lena has my affections when she doesn’t.
We enter the office, and Cole locks the door behind us. “Start talking.”
“Aren’t you going to offer me a seat first, or a drink? Such a bad host,” Mary Beth coos, her tone teasing and flirtatious.
“This is no time for playing games, Mary Beth,” I snap. “You’ve made some serious allegations, and now you need to explain to us how you came by that information.”
She rolls her eyes and twirls a finger in her hair. “Always so serious.”
“Enough, Mary Beth,” Cole commands. His voice is stern, and she immediately straightens her spine, sensing the seriousness of the conversation that she can’t flirt and talk her way out of this.
“You mentioned that you and Lena were old friends who confided in each other and helped each other out. I know that’s a bunch of bullshit.
You don’t help anyone unless there’s something in it for you.
What did you mean by that? When did you first meet Lena? ”
“Three years ago, when Rex brought her to the clubhouse, the Iron Vultures’ Prez tried to rape her but our white knight very conveniently saved her. So romantic,” she says with a sneer.
“And what about since she left?” I ask, thinking the way she talks about Lena sounds anything but friendly.
“I haven’t seen her until tonight.”
“Then how can you call her an old friend?” Cole asks.
I interject. “Or say that she confided in you? I was there the one time you met, and she did no such thing.”
“That wasn’t the only time we met while she was here. The night she left, after you rushed off and left her alone, we spoke.”
My interest is piqued. Is Mary Beth the reason Lena left all those years ago? “What did you say to her?”
She shoots me a sharp glance. “Nothing, just friendly girl talk.”
“What about?” Cole presses. “If this is the one time you properly spoke ever, it must have been some conversation for you to make these claims now.”
Mary Beth looks at me again, this time more nervously. “She told me she wanted to leave and that she felt like she couldn’t because she had no money. I felt sorry for her, so I loaned her some cash. I didn’t think she’d leave without a goodbye.”
“Oh sure, you’re a regular do-gooder, giving her cash out of the kindness of your heart,” I say sarcastically.
“Did she say why she wanted to leave?” Cole asks, his voice calm and controlled.
Mary Beth shakes her head.
“Bullshit!” I explode. “What the fuck did you tell her? We both know you wanted her gone, so what lies did you tell her to make her leave?”
“Rex…” Mary Beth reaches out a hand to me, pleading.
I step away and try to take deep breaths before speaking through gritted teeth. “What did you do?”
“She wasn’t right for you. She was a stupid girl, a teenager for fuck’s sake! You need a real woman, one who’s loyal to you and the Soaring Eagles. I was doing you a favor by getting rid of her, and look what happened? She ran back straight into Zeke’s arms.”
“What did you do?” Cole presses.
“I told her Rex was married. That he had a wife and a baby.”
“What the fuck?” I roar. I clench my fists at my side to control my temper.
I’ve never hit a woman, and I never will, but fuck, I want to punch something right now.
Mary Beth has always been jealous and manipulative, trying to scare away any woman I show interest in, but I didn’t think she’d stoop this low.
“It wasn’t a complete lie, you could have that… with me… She needed to know you were spoken for. Clearly, she’s over it; she’s with Cole now. We can be together,” she says pathetically.
“How many times have I made it clear I don’t want you. Not now. Not ever,” I snarl. I can’t even bear to look at her in case I lose my temper.
She starts to cry. “I’m sorry, Rex.”
“So what’s this shit you’re spouting about Lena being Zeke’s old lady? Are you just trying to get rid of Lena again?” Cole interjects.
“No—”
“How would you know this unless you’re involved with the Iron Vultures yourself?”
“I… I—I just know she is, that’s all. It’s too much of a coincidence!”
“Or she was telling the truth all along. She came here in need of our protection, but you sent her away. Then, she managed to hide for a while, but Zeke eventually found her and kidnapped her, almost killing her friend in the process. If we didn’t have our inside source, she and her daughter would be dead by now, and it would be all on you.
” There’s a lump in my throat as I say this.
The thought of Lena or Mia coming to harm is unbearable.
“Listen carefully, Mary Beth, I will only ask this once,” Cole says sternly. “Are you now, or have you ever been, involved with the Iron Vultures or any of its members? If I find out you’ve lied to me, and I will find out, there will be severe consequences.”
She considers this, looking terrified and downtrodden. “It was a long time ago.” Her voice comes out as barely a whisper. “Zeke and I… and a couple of others there… hooked up. But that was before I found the Soaring Eagles and met you, Rex. Before I knew how great you were.”
I laugh dryly. “And you accuse Lena of doing the very thing you did without remorse. I think you should return to the Iron Vultures. That’s where you belong.
” I turn to Cole. “I think we’ve found out the truth.
If you don’t kick Mary Beth out of the club for this, then consider this my resignation. Only one of us can stay.”
Cole nods somberly. I ignore Mary Beth’s pleas for mercy, for us to forgive her and give her another chance. I stand there as hard and cold as stone as Cole tells her she’s permanently banned from the clubhouse or from associating with any club members. Good riddance, I think.
All I want to do now is see Lena.
I hope she can forgive us, forgive me, for ever doubting her.