Chapter 4
FOUR
JULIE
Following the prospect as he maneuvers deeper into the building, suddenly I’m frightened.
What if these guys are worse than the Italians who broke into the apartment?
Looking at the back of the man in front of me, I see a pattern with this motorcycle club.
All the men are built and hot, while the women are skanky and bitches.
I’m so far in my own thoughts I walk right into the guy I’m following.
He had turned so my front is lined up to his front which, to say the least, is uncomfortable for me.
Looking up into his face, I’m guessing he’s far from being bothered that I plowed into him.
When I feel some action below I instantly move back, almost jumping to get away from him.
All I want to do is start this nightmare of a day over, but with my luck it would only be worse.
“Julie, this is the room you’ll be staying in. There is the bedroom, bathroom, and small sitting area. Hope it’s okay.”
Feeling like a total asswipe, I just give him a small smile and nod his way. He pulls a key chain from his front pocket, unlocking the door and then turns, handing me the keys.
“If you are in the room or not, keep the room locked. That is the only way we can protect you. Until we find out why there is such an interest in ya, gotta keep you hidden, or worst-case scenario, Incubus has a few underground bunkers we can put you in.”
My head is shaking violently as I try to explain why that won’t work for me.
It’s not ever going to be good with, or for, me.
I’ll fight to the death to make sure it’s not me buried in the bunker underground; that’s for damn sure.
In the blink of an eye I’m back in the past, both Jimmy and I locked in that hole our father liked to call “our punishment time-out.” The only thing that saved me was my brother.
Feeling eyes on me, I glance up to see the prospect, whose name I don’t even know, watching me intently.
Without thought, once again, my mouth opens before I can stop it.
“What’s your name or nickname?”
A shit-eating grin appears on his face.
“Well, gorgeous, it depends on who you’re talking to. My brothers call me Rocket, and the ladies like to call me…”
Hearing a growl is what tells me someone is behind me, so I turn to see the stormy blue eyes glaring at Rocket. When my eyes look back to the prospect, he’s grinning ear to ear.
“What, Prez, the lady asked a question and I was just answering, that’s all. No harm, no foul, right?”
Watching Cobalt first, his eyes close then reopen with even more fire behind the blue in them. His glare at Rocket eventually has the prospect lowering his head, not saying a word.
“Prospect, what were your orders in regard to her? Thought I made myself perfectly clear.”
Rocket’s head jerks up at the tone in his president’s voice, and I can instantly see the fear in his eyes. Before I even give it a second thought, I open my mouth.
“Come on, Blue Eyes, he wasn’t doing anything wrong.
Probably trying to lighten the mood, that’s all.
Why do you have to always be such a grouchy person?
My life is the one in shambles, not yours.
And who died and left you the boss of me…
well, it sure as hell wasn’t me. Thanks, Rocket, I appreciate you getting me here.
Hope your day gets better. Sorry Blue Eyes seems to have turned into a grumpy-ass. ”
Before I can even push the door open, I hear Cobalt whispering something under his breath. God, this dude doesn’t give up. I hear a throat clear and then Rocket’s voice sounds so unlike it was before. Now it is timid and quiet, where before it was a bit cocky and vibrant.
“Julie, I owe you an apology. Cobalt is right. I was given orders and was messing around, which in our way of life could get people hurt or killed. It won’t happen again.”
I watch as he turns to head back down the hallway, but I call out to him to stop. Then I look at Cobalt, giving him my worst stink eye ever.
“Well, Blue Eyes, your turn to apologize to Rocket for being a major dick. You can do it; I have faith in you. You can’t always be this grumpy because if you are, how do these guys put up with you?”
Rocket is waving his hands in the air, his eyes huge.
Cobalt has a bit of pink on his cheeks so I think to myself my job is done.
I watch as Cobalt runs his hands over his buzzed head then looks to Rocket, mumbling something under his breath.
It looks like the prospect is ready to have a heart attack.
“No, Prez, you don’t owe me anything. If you don’t need me for anything else, I got some shit to do with Nickel and Dreamer.”
He then hightails it out, almost running down the hall.
When the big guy turns my way, I turn the handle and push the door open.
To say I’m stunned doesn’t describe what my eyes are seeing.
The room is so different than the rest of this building, which kind of looks like a frat house.
I slowly walk in, my head moving left then right.
Off to one side is a sitting area with a love seat, and two sitting chairs by the window, a small table, and a hanging reading light above the area.
Behind that love seat I can see the bathroom, though the door is slightly closed.
The bed is huge with a very faint floral design on the duvet, along with quite a few pillows.
The floors are wood-like vinyl with a really pretty muted colored area rug.
On the other side of the room is a small counter with a beverage refrigerator and a few cabinets, along with a sink and microwave.
It literally takes my breath away. So warm and welcoming.
“What’s wrong, Darlin’, cat got your tongue? Is this up to your standards?”
Feeling like such an idiot I slowly turn, not realizing how close Cobalt is to me.
My breasts rub up against his muscular chest, which has him growling right before his hands land on my upper arms, moving me away from him.
Whatever, I think to myself but bite my tongue.
If that’s the way he wants to play it, I’m good with it.
I don’t plan on staying long enough to have to worry about having feelings, or falling into some kind of warped reality with the biker with blue eyes.
Before he can spew whatever his next comment is going to be, his phone starts to ring.
He pulls it out of a back pocket, looks down at it, then swears profusely.
Oh, poor Blue Eyes is having a bad day. I don’t feel sorry for him at all.
I grab a suitcase, push it into the room, turn and repeat, then finally pick up the travel bags.
He gives me a finger like he needs a minute, which is perfectly fine.
I move into the room, slam the door, and lock it.
Glad I’m out of the same vicinity as him because, for some reason, Cobalt affects me more than any other man I’ve ever known and, just saying, that isn’t a good thing.
Pushing him out of my head, I grab a flavored water from the drink refrigerator and then take a second to look around.
The room is much larger than I thought, in fact, it’s probably almost the same size as the entire Airbnb I was renting.
That’s wild. I almost let out a screech when I push the barn door to reveal a walk-in closet.
Oh, it’s been a dream of mine to have something just like this.
Quickly placing the lid on the water, I put it down on the carpet and then I grab my stuff and start putting it away.
I mean, I’m here, and even if it’s for a day, week, or month, might as well use this beautiful closet.
I lose track of time and before I know it, I’m extremely tired.
Maybe a short nap might help, though it dawns on me that for reasons unbeknownst to me, I don’t have my cell phone.
Which tells me Cobalt took it because who else would want it?
That dog I think to myself as I pull the throw up to cover myself.
This has been one of the longest days in my life and that is saying a shit ton.
I need to find out where my brother is and how he’s doing.
Also need to find out what this club wants with me anyway.
I’ve always followed the letter of the law, which is how I got in this jam to begin with.
As my mind is shifting, I feel my body relaxing as my eyes drift close.
Before I know it, I’m heading toward sleepy town without a care in the world. Or so I think.