Chapter Five #2
I watch her tentatively as she drinks her coffee, her eyes betraying her.
Portraying that she’s holding it together when deep down she’s waiting for that wind to knock down her sail.
I’d like to say I own that poker face, but Drifter could always see straight through it.
He was the one to take me under his wing and guide me.
Little did I know that we’d become brothers, and he’d trust me as his VP.
Being part of The Broken Iron Demons MC was kind of like being in the Marines.
Brothers in arms that have each other’s back no matter what.
It’s just a shame I didn’t have my own brothers back when he needed me.
It’s going to haunt me for the rest of my life, and so it should, I don’t deserve anything less.
“Earth to Clay.” She clicks her fingers in front of my face, and I let out a long sigh.
“Shit, sorry, I zoned out.” I shake my head, running my hands over my face.
“Are you okay?” she asks, concern lacing her features.
“Yeah, yeah . . . all good.”
What the fuck am I doing? I hadn’t blanked out like that in a long time.
I drain the rest of my coffee, placing the cup on the table. She crosses one leg over the other and sits back into the chair. “You look tired.”
“Part of the life we lead, beauty.” Flirting has always been my go-to, that and humour. It stops people digging where I don’t want them to go, and this beauty has her own demons without knowing mine.
“The MC life?” she asks.
“Mmhmm.”
“Okay,” she says, dragging the word out. “What is it, like some secret cult?” She laughs.
“Nah, it’s a brotherhood that loves bikes, and we look out for each other.”
“Aww, man, I thought you were going to be like, if I tell you, I have to kill you.” She laughs, draining the last of her coffee.
“I think you’ve been reading too many of those romance novels.” I arch my brow towards the books on the shelf behind her.
“And what would you know about those?” She places her cup on the table.
“Maybe a man from BikerTok found himself on the wrong side of BookTok.” I wink, and watch as her cheeks blush a bright shade of red. I can’t wait to see that shade of red on her from my touch.
My phone buzzes on the table, but it’s not a number I recognise. Odd, as no one has this number apart from a select few.
“Sorry, I have to grab this.” I place the mobile to my ear. “Hello?”
“Well, hello there, mister tall dark and spankingly sexy,” a woman’s sultry voice comes over the phone. I frown, wondering which fucker set this up.
“Who the fuck’s this, and which bastard put you up to it?” I snap, watching Belle’s frown deepen.
“It’s Jodie from The Corner Cafe. Nobody put me up to it. I watched your fine ass walk out the door and just knew I had to hit you up.” Now, it’s my turn to frown. The only person I gave my number to is sitting opposite me.
“Well, Jodie, I’m not sure who put you up to this, but erm . . . I hate to break it to you. I’m totally not interested right now.” I watch as Belle puts her hand to her face in realisation, trying to stifle her laugh. The more she tries to stop herself from giggling, the louder she gets.
“Never mind, always worth a shot, right? But if you get bored of chasing Bella, you know where to find me. I can totally give you the ride of your life.” She doesn’t let me answer and disconnects the call.
I stare at the phone in complete disbelief.
I mean, it isn’t like I’m not used to women throwing themselves at me, they only usually need to see my bike for that to happen, but damn, that woman comes across as desperate.
Belle is in a fit of giggles as I place my phone on the table.
“What the fuck was that?” I ask as she struggles to catch her breath.
“Oh my god.” She chuckles. “I completely forgot I handed her your number.” She throws her head back as the tears begin to stream down her face from laughing.
“Fucking hell.” She snorts, which sets off another fit of giggles.
“Oh, shitting hell, I’m so sorry.” She dabs at her eyes, wiping away the tears. “She’s harmless, I promise.”
“Well, apparently, she wants to give me the ride of my life. Damn, what did you tell her?”
“I gave her your number and told her to knock herself out.”
“Fucking hell, I think she might knock me out at this rate,” I laugh, enjoying the lightness of the situation.
“Fuck me,” she blurts, and my jaw drops at the outburst.
“Oh my god, I didn’t mean it like that!” she rushes to explain, cheeks flushing. “I just, I haven’t laughed like that in ages.” The sound makes my chest swell, and my mind wanders to other things that I’d like to witness.
“Well, I’m glad I could assist,” I say as I stand and hold out my hand. She grabs it, and I pull her to her feet. “Come on, let’s get outta here.”
My brother’s lifeless body lays on the table, cold to touch.
I stroke his blood-stained hair out of his face.
His eyes are sunken and his pupils fixed.
His hair is sticky where the blood is mixed with sand.
I lay my hand over his heart, almost expecting to feel it beating, that he’ll jump up any minute and shout ‘fooled you, you prick.’ But he won’t.
He’s gone. I’d fucked up, and I’ll never be able to make up for that.
I clutch his dog tags, ripping them from his lifeless corpse and my lip wobbles as I try to compose myself.
My dad’s words ring through my ears. “Boys don’t cry.
Pull yourself together, kid.” With shaking hands, I pull the sheet up over his body.
I commit this view to memory, knowing it should be me laying there, not him. I’d fucked up.
I lower my head and whisper, “Sorry, brother,” as I place my hand over the sheet. I stand to salute as my heart rate pulsates in my ears. Duff duff duff.
Sweat drips from my body, and my eyes shoot open. I stare aimlessly at the ceiling, trying to slow my racing heart. My breathing’s ragged as I come out of my slumber.
A quick glance at the clock shows it’s only three-thirty a.m., and yet again, my brother’s face haunts me.
I unwrap my body from the tangled sheets, throwing my feet off the side of the bed and running my hands over my exhausted face. “I hear you, brother,” I say out into the darkness. “I hear yah”.
Taking myself to the en-suite, I splash cold water over my face, knowing that sleep will no longer be an option.
I go back into the bedroom and perch on the edge of the bed, picking up my phone. There’s a message, and I smile when her name flashes up.
Beauty to my beast: Thanks for today. It was something I didn’t even realise I needed x
I smile wider, dropping back onto the bed and staring up at the ceiling again. “I think you’d approve, brother.”