Chapter 22
Chapter
Twenty-Two
It’s been three days since I saw her in Knights Café. I’ve been back every single day, even gone so far as to tell Jess to call me if she turns up again, but I’ve heard nothing. The fact that I’ve not seen her, and I don’t know where she is, is pissing me off.
“Your face has been tripping you for days. What the fuck is wrong?” Nitro asks as he slides onto one of the stools next to me, signalling for the prospect to pass him a beer.
I side eye him before downing my now warm beer, then hold up my empty bottle to the prospect. He gives a small nod then grabs two bottles out of the fridge, before dumping them on the counter in front of us then moving back to the end of the bar, making sure he’s within calling distance but out of earshot of our conversation. As prospects go, this kid is good. He’s around six feet, not as built like the rest of us, but he does as he’s told without question and knows not to listen in to brothers’ conversations. He’ll do well in the club when he eventually gets his patch.
I take a long drink of my fresh beer and then place it back on the counter, picking at the label wondering what I should tell him.
“She’s under your skin, isn’t she?” I give a slight nod, because he’s right, she is.
“What is it about her brother? Why can’t you stop thinking about her, and more importantly why are you fighting it?” There’s no judgement from him, just genuine curiosity.
I let out a small sigh before turning toward him. “Honestly, I don’t know, but ever since she walked into that tattoo shop back in Newcastle, I can’t stop thinking about her. What I do know is that I can’t get close to another woman; they can’t be trusted. And this chick, man, her being here is messing with me? What if she came here to follow me, what if she sees me as an easy target and is stalking me to get my patch?”
His eyebrows shoot so far up his head they almost disappear into his hairline.
“You can’t be fucking serious? You think she followed you here?” I hear the utter disbelief in his voice, but I don’t know what else to say so I just shrug my shoulders at him. “Jesus. That girl is not a stalker man. And if all she wanted was a patch, you and I both know that there were a number of guys in the Newcastle Chapter who would be only too happy to oblige. I get that Chloe used you, that she betrayed you, but you’re being irrational right now.”
My phone buzzing in my pocket stops whatever shit that was about to come out of my mouth.
Ice – Your girl just walked into the café.
Me – Keep her there.
Ice – won’t be too hard, she’s just sat down with Jess and Pops.
Fucking hell. So much for Jess calling me when she turned up. I push my beer away and climb from my stool. Nitro turns his head up toward me, in question. “I gotta be somewhere,” I tell him grabbing my phone and turning toward the door.
“Brother,” he calls out stopping me in my tracks. I don’t turn around; I don’t want to face him. He’s right, I am being irrational, but I don’t want to admit it. “I saw that text. Whatever you’re about to do, take a second to think about it.”
I don’t respond, I just storm out into the warm September afternoon. My mood souring by the second. The truth is, I don’t know what it is I’m about to do, I don’t know why I told Ice to keep her there. Kicking up the stand and starting my engine, I take a couple of deep breaths before placing my helmet on my head and taking off out the gate.
I thought the ride over here would clear my head and give me an idea of what I planned on doing, but it only takes fifteen minutes to get to the café from the clubhouse and by the time I pull up outside I’m so far in my own head, I’m convinced she really is here stalking me.
Not giving myself a minute to calm down I rip off my helmet and hook it over the bars of my bike before storming inside. I catch a glimpse of Ice and Tongue watching me, both ready to pounce at any moment.
I see Jess and Pops scowl at me, then I see her turn to look at me, confusion filling that beautiful face of hers. I stop right next to their table, right beside her. Folding my arms over my chest I tower over her; I see her swallow and I know she’s intimidated.
“Wrath?” She questions, trying to sound confident.
“What the fuck are you doing here?” I keep my voice low trying to rein in the anger that I feel.
She glances at the girls and then shakes her head like she doesn’t understand my question. “Erm, having a coffee?” She does her best to act confident, but it comes out more like a question.
I lean down, resting my knuckles on the table my face inches from hers. It takes way too much strength not to lean forward and kiss her.
“Tell me why you’re in London?” I bite out.
She pulls her head back a little and then looks just over my left shoulder. I don’t need to turn around to know that my brothers are behind me. They don’t say or do anything, they just watch, wondering how this is going to play out. If I’m honest I’m wondering that myself.
“I came for work. I started a new job this week.”
I narrow my eyes at her, I want to believe her, but the fucking idiot side of me still thinks she’s lying. “I don’t believe you. I think you found out I was in London, and you followed me here. You’re stalking me.”
“Oh fuck,” I hear Ice say behind me. He steps closer, placing a hand on my shoulder, “Brother, maybe we should go get some air.” I shrug him off not bothering to turn around. My eyes are so focused on hers.
She scoffs out a laugh. “Don’t fucking flatter yourself…”
I get right into her face cutting her off before she can continue. “You need to stay out of my way. And that means you can’t be on our side of the city, which means this café.” I gesture to the room. “Is off limits. Take your drink and get the fuck out.”
“Wrath, what the fuck is wrong with you, this is my café and I say who eats and drinks in here,” Jess snaps as she rises from the chair.
I turn to look at her and shake my head. “Actually, you and the Knights own it. We get a say too and I don’t want her in here.” I turn my gaze back to Marissa. Her eyes bounce between us. My brothers may not agree, but they will back me up, it’s what we do. I'm sure they’ll call me out on my shit later, but while she’s here they’ll stand by me.
She grabs her phone from the table and then stands to her full height, I stand straight as she steps up to me, our bodies so close I can feel the heat radiating from her.
“I applied for this job two months before I met you. I got the call while I was in Newcastle offering me the position. The first I knew you were going to be in London was when I saw you outside of the café the other day wearing that damn kutte. Despite what you’ve got going on in that head of yours I’m not stalking you. I’m here for me and only me. Whatever issue you have with me being here is just that, your issue.”
She bends down grabbing her bag from the floor and then stands, stepping just off to the side of me.
“I’ll do what you’ve demanded, I’ll stay away from you, and I’ll stay out of this café, but I work on this side of the city, and I will not be giving up my job to satisfy you. So, I suggest that you find a way to accept that you might just happen to see me around.”
She pushes past me, and I turn to watch her walk toward the door, grabbing the handle she stops to look back over at me. “Don’t worry Wrath, if I do see you, I’ll make sure to turn the other way.”