Chapter 9
Chapter
Nine
KENSI
T orch, Daisy and their twins are sitting together on the couch. Capone, Danyella, Blayze, Monica and Nina are sitting together across from Torch and Daisy. Nina is making faces at the twins, making them giggle. Red, Nadia holding Matthew, Derange, Jezebelle, Dagger and Trigger are at the bar. No one is drinking but they’re all talking and relaxing. Tiny is talking to Syvannah and Exleigh with Pearl glaring at the trio. Pretty Boy is missing, probably with a patch bunny and Bones is talking to Aftermath’s mom, Silver Grace, which causes Aftermath to growl low. I quirk an eyebrow at Aftermath’s reaction but he doesn’t say a word besides grumbles about how his mom is not a MILF and Bones better keep his bone in his pants around her.
Seth and Knight are running back and forth, getting whatever any Club brother or their Ol’ Lady needs. That’s their duty as prospects. To prove their loyalty to the club and the brothers and Ol’ Ladies. Aftermath and I take a chair next to Torch and Capone, me sitting on his lap. His hands roam all over my body, setting it on fire.
Playboy saunters out of the hallway Aftermath and I just came from with the blonde from last night wrapped around him. She looks worse for wear in the light of day, but I won’t judge who does what or when they do it. It’s not my place. As long as her glaring looks don’t wander in my direction, I’m fine with her being here.
Playboy leans down and whispers something in her ear. She giggles as her eyes shoot to Aftermath and me, biting her lip. I stiffen and Aftermath notices.
“What’s wrong, Tiger?” he asks, moving a piece of hair from my face.
My chin lifts in Playboy’s direction. Aftermath glances over there but doesn’t say a word. “Does she think we’d be up for a foursome?” I ask perplexed at the way she is staring at us. “That woman is highly mistaken and if she doesn’t get her nasty eyes off my man, I will remove them for her.” I threaten.
Nadia hears my threat, glances over in Playboy’s direction and rolls her eyes. “Don’t worry about it, she’s harmless. If anything, she needed a good dicking last night to snap her out of her funk.”
Playboy walks the woman to the hallway that leads outside and she disappears out of sight. Once she’s gone, I relax. “Something about her doesn’t sit well with me.” I ponder out loud. Aftermath stands up, scooping me with him.
“I have to get going.” He says while sliding my body down his until my feet touch the floor. “Tiger, try to stay out of trouble while I’m gone and please leave that woman alone.” Aftermath kisses the side of my neck, “The last thing I need to worry about is you ending up in jail for harassment before our wedding.” His lips trail hot and wet up the column of my throat and I forget what we were talking about.
We walk hand in hand toward the garage. Torch, Daisy and the twins follow with Playboy behind them. The rest of the club is behind them. It’s tradition thatany time a member has to leave on business, the whole club sees them off, giving them a wish for safe passage. This is always the hardest part for me, but I pull up my panties and stay strong for Aftermath, even though I’m hurting on the inside.
Aftermath wraps his arms around my waist, pulling me against him. I lock my hands around his neck so our bodies are flush against each other. The top of my head comes to his chin but we fit perfectly together.
“I love you, Tiger,” Aftermath says, burying his face in my neck. I can feel his chest heaving against mine and it almost breaks me.
“I love you too, Aftermath.” I pull his face away from my neck and cup his cheeks in the palm of my hands. “Stay safe and I’ll see you when you get back.” Staring into Aftermath’s eyes, they’re red-rimmed but he doesn’t shed a tear. He holds them back, which is good because if he started crying, I would too.
Aftermath’s lips land on mine in a heated kiss that ends all too soon. I grab his helmet and Aftermath straddles his bike, slipping his helmet on his head. He fires his bike up, drowning out the emotions of everyone. I kiss him one last time and step back into Nadia’s awaiting arms before I don’t let him go. Aftermath winks at me then drops his bike in first before riding out of the garage with Torch and Playboy behind him.
“Come on, girl. I have just the thing to cheer you up.” Nadia says pulling me back into the Clubhouse once the three men are out of sight. “Danyella and Monica are taking Matthew and the twins for a little while and the three of us are getting the fuck out of here. Grab your dancing shoes!”
The excitement in Nadia’s voice pulls me out of the spiral of depression I was heading in and before I know it, the three of us are at her dance studio. Red, Trigger, Bones and Knight are outside the building guarding it. I think it’s overkill, but it’s pointless to argue.
Daisy and I follow Nadia to the back of thebuilding where the dancers practice. She flips on some lights and the room is flooded in a soft glow. Nadia walks over to a radio set up in the corner and turns on some dance music.
“OK, ladies, this is your time to unwind and let the music move you.” Nadia starts moving her body, shaking her hips like a belly dancer. She moves her arms up and down while rotating her body. Her long blonde hair is flowing freely down her back. She’s beautiful when she moves.
Daisy closes her eyes and starts to move, letting the music take her away. Once the two of them are in their own beat, I follow suit. I’m not one to dance in front of others, but Nadia is my best friend and I’ve become close with Daisy, so I suck it up and let my stress and worries melt away. Gone is the stress about the wedding, gone is the stress about the Feds trying to get to my dad. I dance and dance until I’m covered in sweat and my legs can’t move.
I collapse on the mat and try to catch my breath. “Wow, that was exhilarating!” I exclaim.
“I agree,” Daisy responds plopping down beside me.
“This is why I love dancing,” Nadia speaks while wiping the sweat from her chest with a towel. She tosses one to me and another to Daisy. “You forget about everything for a little while.”
“Speaking of forgetting, are you going to tell me anything about the bitch who kept staring at my man like he was a piece of meat she wanted to sink her teeth into?” I blurt out. I have no filter when it comes to certain things. Which can be good but it can be bad too.
“I can answer that for you.” I turn around and find the bitch of the hour standing in the doorway.
I stand up and cross my arms over my chest. “Well?” I prompt, not the least bit worried about her hearing me call her a bitch.
“Your honesty is refreshing, Kensi.” She states. “Must be hard to be so honest when others you trust can withhold the truth from you and not bat an eye.” Her breathy voice is getting on my nerves and I’m close to knocking her on her ass.
“What the hell are you talking about?” Questions swirling around in my brain. Who is lying to me? Is it someone I trust? What is she talking about? Does someone know about the visit to my dad’s house? Is the FBI harassing my family?
“Don’t ask me the question, ask someone you trust with your whole heart.” With those parting words, she turns around and disappears out of sight.
Anger replaces confusion and I take off after this bitch. “Kensi, where are you going?” Nadia shouts from across the room.
I don’t slow down when I answer back, over my shoulder. “She is not coming in here and accusing people like that!” I hurry out of the dance studio and sprint down the hallway. I stop at the reception desk, turning my head left and right. I listen for footsteps, but all I can hear is my harsh breathing. Deciding to check outside, I burst through the glass doors.
Bones jumps a mile high, clutching his chest. “Fuck, Kensi. You gave me a heart attack.”
“Where’d she go?” I ask, look around the parking lot. It’s empty aside from the SUV we brought and Knight’s and Bones’ bikes.
“Where’d who go?” Bones asks, still rubbing his chest.
“Uh! Never mind.” I throw my hands up and go back inside. Nadia and Daisy are still in the dancing room and hurry over to me.
“What was that all about?” Daisy questions.
“I have no idea, but we’re going to find out,” I answer, pulling both women into the security room with me. If the bitch wants to fucking play, I’ll play.
Red is in here at the monitors. He looks up when we barge in, pushing his glasses up. “What the fuck?”
“I need you to pull up thefeed from a few minutes ago,” I demand.
“What? Why?” Red questions.
“Because the bitch wants to play games and fuck with my head. When I get my hands on her, I’ll fuck with her head,” I respond.
“Who is she talking about?” Red asks, peering behind me at Nadia.
“Lynn, my new dance instructor. She came in here all cryptic about people Kensi trusts,” Nadia answers.
Red’s eyes narrow and he swallows hard before standing up. “Sorry, I can’t help.” Red ushers us out of the security room and shuts the door behind us, locking it.
“What’s going on? Why aren’t you helping me?” I ask. I’d stomp my foot if it didn’t make me look like a child throwing a temper tantrum.
“Nothing is going on. If you ladies are done dancing, we have to get back to the Clubhouse.” Red’s face flushes, but his gaze never wavers. “I can see you have questions, Kensi. But think about everything before you fly off the handle.”
I know he is hiding something from me and I will find out. I take Red’s advice while we drive back to the Clubhouse. Aftermath’s been very attentive the last few weeks, more than normal. I’ll catch him spacing out every once in a while like he’s thinking about something that he shouldn’t be thinking about. He doesn’t want to socialize when there’s a party. No scratch that. He’ll socialize with Club members and their Ol’ Ladies, but he won’t socialize when a certain blonde comes strutting in.
My heart sinks with realization as Red pulls into the Clubhouse driveway. I don’t say a word to anyone as I drag my feet into our room. My stomach is flipping violently and I feel like I’m going to be sick. If Aftermath is cheating on me with that skank, they’re both going to regret it. I’m not a doormat, nor will I ever be a doormat.
The smell of him lingers in our room and it makes my eyes tear up. I can’t stay here. If I do, I’ll break and allow Aftermath to walk all over me with his lies. I’ve had enough people lying to me in my life, I don’t need him to do it too.
Quickly, I pack all the stuff I can into a couple of suitcases and stop at the foot of the bed. It’s still messy from earlier today when we made love before he left. I can’t stop the tears as they slide down my face anymore. Taking a deep breath, I slip the engagement ring off my finger and set it on the dresser. I can’t do this.
Some people might think I’m rushing to judge, but those people don’t know the hell I went through to get to where I am today. I refuse to allow a liar and a cheater into my life. Even if he didn’t sleep with that dancer, something happened and until Aftermath tells me the truth, I can’t stay here.