Rooster (Cerberus MC Las Vegas Chapter #2)

Chapter 1

Morgan

Parties are supposed to be fun, especially Halloween parties where everyone is dressed to the nines in fancy costumes and looking fabulous.

I went to great lengths to make this party a success. I needed chic and fabulous, something the attendees would talk about until next year's party.

There are no ridiculous costumes in the place. Everyone was instructed to... Is that a fucking blow-up dinosaur on the dance floor?

I grind my teeth, about ready to tell the guy following me with a spotlight to fuck off. It's making me sweat, and I can already tell my face is getting oily. In hindsight, the spotlight guy was probably a bad idea, and I make a mental note not to do the same next year.

Just the thought of another one of these parties makes my skin crawl. My dream would be to set these up for other people rather than be the center of attention when the night finally arrives. Doing both has left me wishing I hadn't taken this on. By the time it came time for the party, I was so exhausted I just wanted a nap.

I run my hand down my custom-made dress, making sure the fabric isn't shifting out of place. I look fabulous, and it's not just ego to think that way. I'm turning heads, and it's more than grateful looks from people happy to have been invited. They're literally staring at me, butI'm having a hard time keeping a smile on my face. My makeup team had to use more concealer than normal under my eyes today.

I know a lot of my worry stems from the argument I had with the guy I met a few weeks ago. The sex was fantastic, but the super clingy love bombing he did made my skin crawl.

I'm terrified he's going to show up tonight and make a scene or do something to try and ruin all my hard work.

I just don't get men who don't understand the word no. They think that arguing or explaining just how great they are means women are required to give them a second chance, as if our own thoughts, needs, and expectations mean nothing. If a man wants it, he should have it, and it's as simple as that.

As if my night couldn't get any worse with the damn dinosaur costume, I spot, of all things, a fucking eggplant swaying to the music on the dance floor.

Having enough, I begin to walk in that direction, my spotlight man struggling to keep up. He runs into my back when I suddenly pause, the woman the man is dancing with coming into view.

Kaylee looks like a princess in her wedding dress costume, and the smile lighting up her face tells me exactly who the man is. I don't recall another moment where I've seen my best friend so incredibly happy, and it pulls the first genuine smile of the night from my lips as I approach.

She seems too wrapped up in dancing to turn to face me, but eventually, she shares her attention with me.

"Is this your dick of a husband?" I ask with a smirk.

"Morgan, this is Ellis. Ellis, meet my ex -best friend."

"Nice to meet you," he says, holding out his hand.

I shake his hand but a flash of something to the far right of the room distracts me momentarily.

"Are you here to win her over or break her heart more?" I manage through my distraction.

"Win her over," he answers easily.

"You're a good guy in my book," I tell him, knowing he has to be from the smile I saw on her face moments ago. "Take good care of her."

I leave them to their night, darting away as quickly as possible to find the person I just saw wearing a dress similar to mine. Of course, I didn't put limitations on people's costumes, although after the eggplant and dinosaur, I imagine I may have to next year. But the chances were slim that someone would also dress likeCruella de Vil.

I lose her in the crowd of people, stopping in my tracks when I feel a warm hand land on my forearm.

My fake smile back in place, I turn toward the guest, wanting to scratch her eyes out.

"Margo," I say, looking at my former college dormmate. "So glad you could make it."

We attended the University of Las Vegas, where I graduated with a degree in finance, and she left her senior year because she found a husband, which, come to find out, was really her only goal.

"It looks like the company I suggested did an amazing job for you,"she says as she looks around the room.

I barely refrain from scoffing. The company she suggested was trash, and I had to fire them after realizing they had no real idea what they were doing. I've wondered more than once if she suggested them because she knew how terrible they were or if her standards for a party are just much lower than mine.

"They were awful," I say truthfully. "I fired them and did all this myself."

She narrows her eyes as she shifts her weight from one foot to the other.

"That's my cousin's business," she snaps. "Serenity loves her job."

"She may love it, but she isn't good at it. If you'll excuse me," I say with a sugary-sweet smile before walking away.

I get across the room and release a long breath. There are so many people here who just drain my battery, and as I get older, it seems it takes longer and longer to recharge.

I press my fingers to my cheek, hating the makeup caked there.

"I think that's enough," I say, turning toward the guy holding the spotlight. "I'm melting."

He simply dips his head and walks away. The instant relief I feel from not having that stupid light shining on me makes me sigh.

I continue to walk the party, greeting people and thanking them for coming, and I find it all just incredibly boring. When did I turn into someone who would rather be in my pajamas binging movies?

The party is beautiful and extravagant, just as I'd once hoped it would be. But it doesn't bring the same feeling of joy these things once did. That's almost enough to make me want to make an appointment with my doctor because I've always loved being social and putting myself in the spotlight.

Maybe I'm getting sick?

I consider it as I press the back of my hand to my forehead.

"I know what would help."

I pull in an agitated breath before turning toward the familiar voice.

"Mr. Peterson. I'm so glad you could make it."

"Marvin," he corrects. "We're not at work. I'm not your boss here."

My smile widens because it's the best I can manage without making it very clear that I hate this man.

"You're always my boss. Is Vivian here?" I ask, faking looking around for his wife because I know better. They never go to events together, but I feel like he may still need the reminder that he's married. It's something he seems to forget on a daily basis while he's sexually harassing his female analysts.

"She's out of town. She sends her regards," he says as he lifts a glass of dark amber liquid to his lips.

"Too bad she missed another party."

His eyes narrow as if he's trying to figure out why I'm not jumping into his arms, knowing his wife isn't here.

Objectively speaking, the guy is good-looking. He stays fit, and his taste in clothing is better than most men in town, but he's scum, and that makes him look no better than a troll. He wouldn't have even scored an invite if he hadn't caught one of the other gals at work talking about the party. If I ever have another one, I won't share it with anyone at work. I don't really like anyone there anyway.

My phone vibrates in my purse, giving me the perfect reason to walk away.

"Excuse me," I tell him as I pull my phone from my bag.

Kaylee: Come up to my room. I need your help.

Me: On my way.

I look around the party. I hadn't realized that she and her husband had left the room, but I don't spot either of them.

I make my way toward the stairs, but I get stopped twice by partygoers. I chat as quickly as possible, taking minutes to get to the stairs.

I don't know what I expected to find when I cleared the threshold of the bedroom, but never in my wildest dreams did I expect to see Kaylee tied on the bed with her husband pointing a gun in my direction.

"No!" Kaylee screams when she spots me.

I can't recall a single moment in my life where I have been so confused. It's like I've walked onto the set of a movie or something.

Ellis lowers the gun, but it does nothing to stifle my rage.

"He's the one who is hurting you?"

"No," Kaylee says, a level of exhaustion in her tone as she turns her attention back to her husband. "Can you please untie me?"

"Is this some sort of kinky game you two play?" I ask as I cross my arms over my chest because this entire scenario is really fucking weird. I watch as Ellis works through the knots in the rope at her wrists.

"She was fucking tied up," Ellis snaps.

"It was the guy who you were arguing with last night," Kaylee says, sitting up with a wince as she reaches for her ankles.

"Are you okay?" The concern in Ellis's voice makes me wish for someone who would care for me as much.

"How are you sure?" I ask.

"How many other guys do you think would tie me up and text you to come up here?" Kaylee asks, glaring at me as if I had something to do with any of this.

"You saw his face?" I'm not intentionally playing twenty questions when she has been traumatized, but I just can't believe what I'm hearing.

"Who is it?" Ellis demands as if he'll raze the entire earth for vengeance.

"He was a little creepy, but I don't think he'd do something like this," I answer.

"Why are you protecting him?" he growls.

"How do you know this isn't connected to your marriage-for-sale scheme?" I challenge back.

Why is this man so quick to point fingers and place blame when clearly his lifestyle has put Kaylee in danger?

"He's not the bad guy," Kaylee says, her words coming out on a sob that makes me feel like a complete asshole.

"Sweetheart," I whisper as I go to her and wrap my arms around her.

Screams from downstairs drift up, and the fear that has been building inside of me triples as I hear pounding on the stairs.

Ellis lifts his gun, pointing it back at the door as he repositions himself to where both Kaylee and I are blocked from whatever danger may be coming.

The tension in his back eases when a man walks in wearing full combat gear and carrying a rifle bigger than anything I've ever seen on television.

For some reason, in all of this, the anarchy patch on his vest draws my attention for the briefest of moments.

"She was attacked and tied up," Ellis says just as another combat guy enters the room. "The suspect climbed out the window before I could get to her."

The newest guy repeats the information into a black device on his chest.

"We need medical," Ellis snaps as he looks back at Kaylee.

"Have you been hurt, sweetheart?" the guy asks.

Ellis snarls, sounding like an animal preparing to attack.

"Not the time for that shit, man," the guy snaps at Kaylee's husband.

"I'm not hurt," Kaylee assures him.

"Your ankle," Ellis challenges, pointing to the mark the rope left behind on her skin.

"Can't be healed by a paramedic," she mutters.

"Did he—" I begin

"No!" Kaylee snaps.

"What happened?" Ellis asks.

Kaylee shakes her head, tears still streaming down her flushed cheeks.

Guilt swims inside of me like acid, trying to find its way out of my body.

"Kaylee?" Ellis pleads.

"I don't want to talk about it," she says. "Later."

"This is all my fault," I sob, unable to control the tears streaking down my face.

I believe her. If she thinks it was the guy I had to cut loose recently, then it had to have been him.

His behavior was a little off, and showing up here last night was beyond rude. But I never imagined he'd be the type to hold someone hostage.

What in the world would've happened if Ellis hadn't scared him off first? What would he have done to the two of us if I had gotten up here first?

"We need to get you out of here," Ellis says, holding his hand out to Kaylee.

I tremble beside her.

"You, too, sweetheart," the first guy who came into the room says as he moves closer to the bed.

"The party isn't over," I say absently.

"We've already started clearing the house," the second guy who joined us says. "Waitstaff and the catering company you hired have been instructed to return in the morning. It's all taken care of."

I don't know if I should feel relieved not to have to deal with any of it or what, but I know terror is filling my blood with an urgency that's telling me to get very far away from this house.

I stand from the bed, placing my hand into his before looking back at Kaylee to make sure she's going to be taken care of.

Ellis looks less than impressed with me, but now is not the time to argue that I can't be held responsible for what other people do. Had I known this was going to be the outcome of the night, I would've canceled the whole damn party. I'd never do anything to put anyone else in danger, especially not my one true friend.

Sobs are threatening to take over as we walk from the room, and when this stranger wraps his arm around me and draws me close to his chest, I don't hesitate to lean into him for comfort.

Two hours later, I've been given a room at the insane villa where Kaylee's husband and his friends live. I feel like a brat with Kaylee sitting across from me on the bed as if I was the one who was traumatized tonight, not her.

"I'm fine," I vow. "You should get some rest."

"You're sure? I can stay here with you tonight."

"I appreciate the offer," I tell her, trying my best to smile. "But if you don't go get in your husband's bed, I might just have to."

Her lips attempt a smile, but my attempt at a joke lands pretty flat considering what happened tonight.

"I'll see you in the morning," she says as she leans forward and gives me a quick hug. "I showed you the room we're in if you need me. You're safe here."

I believe that she believes what she's saying, but convincing my frayed nerves is a whole other story.

I stay on the bed as I watch her leave, my lips lifting up when I see a flash of Ellis as he waits in the hallway for her. The man isn't very keen on letting that woman out of his sight, and I'm happy she has found someone who cares so deeply for her.

I lean back on the pillows, trying to find a blank spot in my mind that will allow me a moment of peace, but I startle at the knock on the door.

Climbing off the bed, I make my way across the room.

"I told you I was—"

My words fade away at the sight of the man standing in the doorway. From his height and build, I know it's the same guy who helped me out of my house earlier, but I'm just now seeing his face for the first time.

He's stunningly handsome, his shirt tight across well-formed muscles at his chest and arms.

He swallows as if he's nervous.

"I thought you were Kaylee."

"Do you need her?" he asks, hitching his thumb over his shoulder. "I can go get her."

"No, thank you."

"I umm... just wanted to make sure you were okay," he says. "After what happened."

"I'll be okay," I assure him. I have no doubt the guy would concern himself with the fear I feel, even though I don't seem to be in any immediate danger.

"You're sure?"

I dip my head twice. "I'll be okay."

"I'm in that room," he says, stepping back and pointing to another room across the way. "If you need anything, don't hesitate to find me."

"I appreciate that..."

"Twisted," he says, making my brows squeeze together. "Paul Carnes. My club name is Twisted."

"Thank you, Paul," I say as I take a step back into the room. "Have a good night."

Even with Kaylee assuring me I was safe, I don't hesitate to flip the lock on the door, unconcerned if he heard the bolt shifting into place.

I don't think there will ever come a time when I'm no longer afraid.