5. Elsie #2
“She’s right!” Lacy looked like she was about to burst with excitement when she suggested, “You should set up another date with him and tell him to come here to pick you up.”
Just thinking about how the guys would react to me having a guy come to the clubhouse made me groan, “You know the guys would never let me live that down.”
“Oh, don’t worry about them.” Lacy lifted her hand, waving it nonchalantly. “They’ll be fine. And even if they do give you a little hell about it, it’ll be worth it to see how Bones reacts.”
“You really think so?”
“Absolutely.”
“Okay... I guess it’s worth a shot.”
I pulled out my phone and sent Ben a message, asking him if he’d like to hang out again.
I didn’t even have time to put my phone back in my pocket before he replied, saying that he would love to get together.
A few texts later, we had made plans to go out to eat and watch a movie.
I’d even done like the girls had suggested and asked him to pick me up.
I felt a little guilty about not telling him that the address I’d given him was to the Fury clubhouse, but I didn’t want to take a chance on him not showing. I figured he’d only be there for a few minutes, so I thought it wouldn’t be a big deal.
I was wrong.
I’d picked out the perfect outfit—a classic mini-skirt with a long, cable-knit sweater and knee-high boots, I’d curled my hair, and I’d gone all out with my makeup.
I was looking pretty good. It seemed a shame to waste it on a guy I wasn’t all that interested in, but I held on to the hope that Lacy and Makayla were right about Bones and this little charade would pay off.
Lacy was all smiles as she said, “You look great.”
“You really think so?”
“Oh, yeah. Bones isn’t going to know what hit him.”
“I don’t even know if he’s here.”
“Oh, he is. I just saw him walking down the hall with Big and Rooster.”
My phone chimed with a message, and my throat tightened when I saw that it was from Ben. He was letting me know that he was about to pull in, and that thought had my heart racing. “Are you sure about this?”
“Nope.”
“Lace!”
“I’m kidding! It’s going to be fine. Besides, it’s too late to back out now.”
The words had barely left her mouth when there was a pounding at my door. “Hey, Elsie!”
“Yeah?”
“There’s a dude at the gate. Chains said he was here to see you.”
“Great! I’m coming.”
I opened my door and found Wyatt and Rooster standing in the hall.
Wyatt’s mouth dropped the second he saw me.
I could feel the heat of his eyes as they skirted down my body, sending chills down my spine.
Damn. I loved when he looked at me like that.
For a moment, I thought he was going to say something, but he simply stood there, glaring at me like a hungry predator.
Rooster’s expression was fierce as he asked, “So, you were expecting this guy?”
“Of course, I was.” I inhaled a quick breath, then slipped past them. “He’s my date.”
“Your date?” Rooster followed as I headed towards the back door. “And you didn’t think to mention that he was coming here?”
“I did mention it... I told Cotton about it this morning.”
“You did?”
“Of course, I did.” I stopped and turned to face them. “I wouldn’t bring someone here without telling him.”
Rooster crossed his arms and gave me a scowl. “So, who is this guy?”
“Nobody.” I shrugged. “He’s in one of my classes. He’s perfectly innocent.”
“No one is innocent, Elsie. No one.”
Our exchange drew the attention of Savage and Torch. They’d both come out of their rooms and made their way over to us. Savage looked and sounded just like Cotton as he turned to Rooster and asked, “What the hell is going on?”
“Elsie invited some guy over here.”
“Did you run it by Cotton?”
“Yes,” I groaned with frustration. “I ran it by Cotton.”
Our little plan was going south, and it was going south fast. Things only got worse when the back door opened, and Chains stepped in with Ben.
Even though he was just as tall and muscular, his khakis and a neatly pressed button-down made Ben look small and weak next to the guys.
Chains looked positively livid when he announced, “He says he’s here to see Elsie. ”
“Elsie?” Ben looked understandably rattled when he turned to me and asked, “What is this place? Who are these guys?”
“We’re Satan’s fucking Fury, asshole.” Rooster stepped towards him, stopping just inches from his face. “Who the fuck are you?”
“Ben Nichols. I’m... ah.” He stepped back, only stopping when he bumped into the back door. “Like I told the other guy, I’m just here to pick up Elsie. I don’t want any trouble.”
Even though he was behind me and I couldn’t get a good look at him, I could feel Wyatt’s eyes on me. They were burning against my flesh as I reached for Rooster’s arm and said, “Please, stop. You’re making too much of this. We’re just going to the movies.”
“I think it’s best if I just go.”
Ben gave the back door a push, then slipped outside. I gave Rooster and Chains a harsh look, then rushed past them and out the door. Ben was just about to get in his car when I finally caught up to him. “Ben! Please wait!”
“What the hell was that?”
“That was the guys being overly protective.” I knew it was much more than that, but I didn’t know how else to explain it. “I’m really sorry.”
His expression softened as he said, “It’s not your fault.”
“It kind of is.” I glanced behind me and sighed when I saw that Rooster and Wyatt were standing at the back door watching us. “I should’ve told them you were coming.”
“You could’ve told me, too. It would’ve been nice to know that I was coming to the Satan’s Fury clubhouse. I could’ve been a little more prepared.”
“Yeah, that was bad, and again, I’m really sorry.”
“It’s fine. Don’t worry about it.” He paused for a moment, then asked, “Do you still want to go grab a bite?”
“I’d like that.”
“Great.”
He walked over and opened the passenger side door, then waited for me to get inside.
Once I was settled, he closed the door, then got in next to me.
As soon as we were both buckled in, Ben started the car, and we were on our way.
We hadn’t been riding long when he turned to me and asked, “How the hell did a girl like you end up living at the Satan’s Fury clubhouse? ”
“Remember me telling you that some friends helped me out when my parents died?” He nodded. “Well, they are the friends. I had no place to go, and they took me in.”
“Your parents died just before you turned eighteen, right?”
“Yes, that’s right.”
“So, you’ve been living there for six years?”
“I have.” I could tell by his tone that he was struggling with the idea, so I added, “I know they didn’t make a very good impression, but I promise, they’re really good guys. They gave me a place to stay and looked out for me.”
“You didn’t have any family or friends who could’ve taken you in?”
“No, I had no one. I honestly don’t know what I would’ve done without them.”
“I see.”
Our conversation trailed off when we pulled up to the pizzeria. But as soon as we were inside and seated, Ben started in with more and more questions—some of which I wasn’t sure how to answer. “So, they just took you in.”
“Pretty much.”
“Hmm.” He seemed perplexed by the thought, so I wasn’t surprised when he asked, “How well do you know them?”
“Well enough, I guess.”
“Okay, then, what’s their story?” He took a sip of his beer, then asked, “What are they into?”
“I’m not sure what you mean.”
“Is it just drugs, or are they running guns, too?”
“What makes you think...”
“Oh, come on, Elsie. Don’t act like you don’t know,” he scoffed. “You live under the same roof. You gotta know they aren’t just riding bikes. These guys are into some pretty heavy shit.”
“You don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“Seriously? You’re gonna tell me you haven’t heard the rumors about them?”
“I have.” I leaned back in my chair as I added, “But rumors are just rumors. Nothing more.”
“But they’re not just rumors.” I didn’t like his condescending tone. And I really didn’t like when he said, “They’re facts.”
“You know, I think it might be best that we end things here.”
“What?” His brows furrowed. “What are you talking about?”
“This date is over.” I stood and placed a twenty on the table, paying for my part of the meal. “I’ll find my own way home.”
“You gotta be kidding me!” When I turned and started for the door, he shouted, “Elsie, wait! I’m sorry!”
His apology came too little too late. He’d crossed a line—a line I didn’t even know existed, and I no longer cared what he had to say. I rushed to the bathroom and locked the door, then messaged Lacy, asking her to come and pick me up.
Fifteen minutes later, I received a text message that read-
I’m here-
Relieved that I could finally put an end to this crazy night, I unlocked the bathroom door and rushed out to the parking lot.
That’s when I realized, that in my frazzled state, I hadn’t paid attention to who the notification was from, and my crazy night was far from over.