Chapter Twelve
The last two weeks had been surreal. Perfect, actually.
Cleo had spent more time with Wraith than she ever had.
And it wasn’t restricted to the clubhouse.
They’d gone back to the bar for lunch a few times.
It was enough for Barry to comment. “You’re becoming a regular.
” It wouldn’t have meant much to most people, but Cleo liked the idea.
They’d gone to Minnie and Ralph’s three times and stayed the night.
It gave them privacy, which was necessary after Gent’s taunting about hearing her.
Although, it hadn’t stopped her from sneaking into Wraith’s room. Twice.
Their relationship was shaping into something real. So, why did he lie?
It was completely by chance she’d stopped by the motel. She was heading to the clubhouse when she saw a car pass in the opposite direction. She didn’t see the driver, but she thought she recognized the car. Reyna’s.
For the last two weeks, she’d done odd jobs around the clubhouse and for Ace, because the motel was still shut down for renovation.
Or so I thought. When she showed up, there were no signs of construction.
She searched for Cypher, but he wasn’t around.
A few prospects she didn’t know well were leaving when she stopped them.
That was when she was informed the whole operation had been shut down weeks earlier, and the girls had all moved out.
Why had no one told her? She wasn’t privy to most club business, but this should’ve been an exception. I friggin’ work there. Or, she did. None of it made sense. But Cleo wanted answers.
When she pulled into the driveway, she groaned. They were having a party, which made finding a parking spot an absolute nightmare. She circled the house several times, finding an opening on the grass. She rushed through the back door. She was looking for Wraith but found Ace instead.
She sidled up next to him at the bar, squeezing between him and a woman clearly vying for his attention.
“Ace?” She nudged his elbow, and he glanced down.
“Hi. I just stopped by the motel, and the prospects said the girls moved out.”
His jaw squared. “Yeah.”
She waited, expecting some type of explanation. Ace lifted his glass, taking a sip without any response. She could’ve let it go. She didn’t.
“They said you shut it down weeks ago.”
Ace stared back at her but didn’t say a word. What the hell was going on? Say something. Anything!
“Why didn’t anyone tell me?”
“Because we don’t answer to you, Cleo.” His cold tone had her clamping her lips.
Of course they didn’t. But why all the secrecy? She wouldn’t push Ace any further. He was the president and no one questioned him. She turned to leave and felt his hand wrap over her wrist. She glanced back and he leaned closer.
“Talk to Wraith.”
“Okay.” She slipped out of his hold and weaved through the crowds, making her way into the main area of the house. It was just as crowded as the back. Finding Wraith in the sea of people would be a task.
Cleo pulled out her phone, texting him.
Cleo: Hi! Are you downstairs?
She tucked her phone in her pocket and made her way to the bar, finding a small spot near the end.
Getting Joker’s attention with the mob at the bar would be next to impossible.
But he always had a keen sense of where the brothers were at all times.
Cleo waved her hand, but he didn’t see her.
Or he was ignoring her. It wouldn’t be the first time.
“Who the hell are you stalking?”
Cleo turned her head to the two women standing beside her. They weren’t talking to her. She recognized them from parties but didn’t know their names. The women who came to the clubhouse were there for one purpose, and it wasn’t making friendly chat with her.
“Him.”
Out of curiosity, Cleo subtly glanced over to see who they were talking about. There were so many people, it was hard to decipher who she was pointing out. It seemed, even her friend was having trouble.
“Which one? Is he a member?”
“Yeah. Shaved head, long beard.”
Cleo angled her head, and her stomach dropped.
Wraith was standing with Ghost and Oak at the opposite end of the room.
He was the only guy who fit the woman’s description.
Cleo fought against the unfamiliar emotion to overhearing the conversation.
She wasn’t jealous often but she was showing clear signs now.
“You been with him?”
“Not yet but I’ve seen him at the strip club. And everyone knows all the members get sucked off in the back rooms.”
Cleo furrowed her brows, jerking her gaze to the blonde. Surely, the woman was making a broad statement including all the members. Cleo had no doubt some would partake, but all? It seemed her friend had the same reservations.
The other woman snorted, lifting her glass to her lips. “All?”
“All.” She purred. “I work there. I would know. I just haven’t gotten to him yet. Can you imagine the groan he must make when he comes… I’m wet just thinking about it.”
It was as if ice water was poured over her.
She slowly shifted her gaze to Wraith. All would include him.
Cleo wasn’t sure what hurt more. Wraith adamantly denying her something he got from other women, or the idea of him getting blow jobs at the place he took her on dates?
Both made her skin crawl and had Cleo scowling in his direction.
She’d had sex with Wraith quite a few times in the last weeks, and while they’d gotten more creative, he’d shut her down every time she’d attempted to go down on him. Cleo chalked it up to something he didn’t enjoy but she was seeing it differently now.
“What do you need?”
The blonde leaned across the bar, smiling. “Oh, can I get…”
“Wasn’t fucking talking to you,” Joker snapped, and Cleo glanced up. He sneered at the women next to her, then looked over at Cleo, softening his gaze. “What do you want, Cleo?”
I want my boyfriend to tell me why he’s getting blow jobs in the back room of a strip club!
She flattened her lips and shook her head. There was something in Joker’s stare. A confirmation that everything the woman had said was true. I know sympathy. She’d seen it a dozen times over in her life.
Cleo stepped back, bumping into someone, but she didn’t bother to apologize. Heat was racing through her body. Not the usual type. Cleo wasn’t nervous or anxious. I’m pissed! A jealous rage coursed through her veins.
Cleo walked through the room. She no longer cared about the motel and why she’d been lied to. She had zero interest in finding Wraith. Lies and betrayal didn’t concern her. Not anymore. She walked up the stairs, heading to her bedroom with one realization.
This is what being nice gets you…and I’m done!.
****
“Hey.”
Wraith furrowed his brows watching Joker weave through the throngs of people. He was scheduled to work the bar the entire night. They were working him hard knowing he’d be patching in soon.
“Prospect, get your fucking ass back to the bar.” Oak snapped.
Joker held up his hand. “Need to talk to Wraith.”
Oak pointed across the room. “You can talk to him when you’re not fucking working the bar.”
Joker turned to Wraith. It was unusual for a prospect to ignore a direct order from a brother. It was grounds for dismissal and a severe ass kicking. Oak charged forward, and Joker blurted.
“Do you know those two girls at the end of the bar?” It was directed at Wraith.
Oak stopped, and they all looked over. There were so many people crowded around, Wraith didn’t know who Joker was referring to.
“The strippers?” Ghost asked, and Wraith shifted his gaze, locking in on the two girls. He’d seen one of them a few times at Barry’s strip club. She was the woman in the bathroom with Oak, offering her services to Wraith.
“Yeah.”
“What about them?” Ghost asked.
When Joker didn’t answer, Wraith looked over, and the prospect was staring directly at him.
“What?” Wraith snapped.
“They were talking about hooking up tonight, and the one closest to the wall was talking about you.” Joker paused. “Said she was looking for you and something about blow jobs.”
Oak burst out laughing. “They’ve sucked everybody’s dick, asshole.”
Not everybody.
“Yeah, that’s what she said.” Joker cleared his throat. “And she said it when Cleo was standing next to her. She looked pretty upset and then left.”
Ah, fuck.
Wraith could feel his brothers’ eyes on him.
“I don’t get my dick sucked at the strip club, asshole.”
Joker raised his brows and took a step back. “Well, Cleo thinks you do now.”
Wraith had never been in a relationship, but he wasn’t na?ve to think there wouldn’t be bumps along the way. But fuck!
Wraith slammed his glass down on the table. “Where’d she go?”
“Upstairs, I think. She took off real quick.” Joker backed up. “She looked upset and if I know women, a little mad.”
Mad? That would be a stretch for Cleo. He’d been around her for years and never some much as heard her raise her voice.
She’d be more upset than anything else. Wraith pushed past Joker and stormed through the room, knocking people out of his way.
This was a clusterfuck. But it was complete bullshit and Cleo would understand when he broke it down for her.
He took the stairs two by two and stalked down to the end of the hallway, banging on her door. Then he waited. And waited. He clenched his fist, and ground his teeth.
“Cleo!” He shouted.
The door swung open, and Cleo stood in the opening. Her eyes were glassy and tear streaks lined her cheeks. All for some bitch running her mouth and spewing lies.
“Let me come in.”
“No.”
Wraith cocked his brow. This might’ve been the first time she’d ever uttered that word to him. He dragged his hand over his jaw and down his beard. Joker was right. Cleo was mad.
“What did you hear?”
He expected her to back down, drop her gaze to the floor, and possibly blush. He got the opposite. Cleo straightened her shoulders and stared at him.
“That you like getting your cock sucked at the strip club.”
“Cleo.” He growled. “That’s fucking bullshit.”
“Okay,” she muttered, and started to close the door. “Goodnight.”
Wraith shoved his boot in the door to keep it from closing. “Look at me.”
It took a minute, but she finally met his stare.
“She’s fucking lying.”
“So you don’t like it then?”
“Like what?” he snapped, and Cleo was quick to match his demeanor.
She raised her brows, mockingly. “Getting your dick sucked, Wraith!”
Fuck. Blow jobs were on his top ten things he liked. It took all his control and restraint when it came to Cleo giving him head. It was different, but he couldn’t explain that to her. He’d obviously hesitated too long, and Cleo lost her patience.
“If I’m not doing it, and the strippers aren’t doing it, then who is?”
Wraith balled his fists. His frustration was growing to an all-time high. Why the fuck are we having this conversation? It put him on the defense with her calling him out.
“You think I’m fucking lying to you?”
She shrugged. “Wouldn’t be the first time.”
What the fuck?
“You said the motel was closed for renovations. But it’s not.
I went down there, and all the girls are gone, and it’s completely shut down with zero construction in sight.
I even asked the prospects, and they said the club closed it down a few weeks ago.
” She pointed her shaky finger through the door. “You lied to me.”
He did. Keeping her in the dark until they knew more had been a club decision. But it didn’t change the fact that he had looked her in the eye and lied.
“It’s club business.”
That should’ve shut down the discussion. It didn’t.
She widened her eyes. “I work there!”
Wraith dragged his hand over his head. Thankfully, he didn’t have hair, otherwise he’d be yanking it out in pure frustration. “You really want to fight about this?”
“You lied to me. It fractures trust when you do that. If you lied to me about that, then maybe you’re not being honest about where you get your dick sucked.”
Is she trying to piss me off? This was a side of Cleo he hadn’t seen and wasn’t sure how to navigate.
Wraith ground his teeth. “Stop with the cock sucking.”
She raised her brows. “Those girls started it.”
And their asses would be thrown out of the clubhouse, fired from the strip club, and banned from ever stepping foot in there again. But not until he got this sorted out with Cleo.
“How did you think that would make me feel? The one thing I keep offering, and you shut me down. Either you don’t like it, or you don’t want it from me. So, which is it?”
Wraith had reached his boiling point over this ridiculous conversation.
“Cleo,” he ground out on a growl.
She spread out her arms. “It’s a simple question.”
Wraith clenched his jaw, darkening his glare. He was trying to keep his control intact, but it was wavering.
“Answer me!” she shouted.
“I’m not gonna let you drop to your knees on some dirty floor and suck my dick. I don’t want to see you that way again.”
Fuck!
“I don’t…” Cleo shook her head and widened the door. Her confusion was easy to read. Until it wasn’t. Cleo’s face paled, and she swayed to the side looking like she was seconds from passing out. Wraith reached for her arm, but she yanked it to her chest, cradling it.
“Again?” she whispered.
He’d said too much.
“Knox told you?” she mumbled with a dazed look in her eye.
Wraith could’ve let her brother take the fall. There was no way to dispute the claim. It would’ve lessened the blow for her, possibly. But then she’d be left thinking her brother betrayed her. Wraith couldn’t do that.
“No. I was there.”
She stared up at him with her eyes welling. “You were there that night? At my house?”
Wraith gave a curt nod.
“You saw me?” Her voice was barely audible.
A tear streamed down her cheek, and Wraith reached for her arm, but she pulled away, turning around and closing the door. He heard the lock set in place.
It was a secret he swore to take to the grave. They all did. A promise to Knox.
He fucked up and there was no coming back from it.
Wraith didn’t even know how he’d fix this or where to start.
I fucking broke her. Hundreds of thoughts raced through his mind.
Should he pound on the door and demand she talk to him?
Forcing her to do anything right now was cruel.
Instead, he leaned against the wall staring at her door.
Time.
It was what she needed. And he was going to give it to her.