Chapter Nine.
Harlequin
April didn’t look too amused as I approached her on my horse, Nycteus, named after one of the stallions that pulled Hades’ chariot. April’s eyes narrowed as I reined Nycteus in.
“What the hell are you doing riding?”
“Looking for you,” I offered a charming grin, which faded at the sheer anger on her face.
“Weren’t you warned not to do anything strenuous for a couple of weeks? You’ve a fractured skull, you fuckin’ idiot. Does a skilled doctor’s advice mean nothing?” April cried loudly, and her horse shied.
“Shh, Steel Knight,” April whispered and patted his neck.
“Is he yours? He’s a beauty,” I said in an attempt to distract her from the murderous scowl she was aiming in my direction.
“Clara’s.”
“Sorry, I heard about Clara’s accident. I bet you were worried sick.”
“Yup. What do you want? Stone, you didn’t chase me out here to discuss Clara,” April insisted.
Nycteus settled into a trot next to Steel Knight, and I shrugged. “April, I want to talk to you. Every time I try, you run, or someone interrupts.”
“Stone, did you consider that I don’t wish to see you, let alone have a chat?” April demanded.
I was struggling to keep my eyes on her face.
It wouldn’t take much for me to drop my gaze to her breasts bouncing happily away on Steel Knight.
Worse, I’d seen her lush ass jiggling in her saddle.
April was curvier than when we dated, but shit, it was becoming hard not to get a boner.
She captivated me more than ever. I was a moth to her flame.
“Hey, stop thinking of your cock and treat me with respect,” April snapped, and I jolted. “Your thoughts are fuckin’ obvious.”
“Sorry, it’s just you’re still so beautiful.”
April snorted. “Sure.”
“April, there was never a time I wasn’t attracted to you!”
“Stone, enough bullshit. What do you want?”
“To explain. I owe you that,” I said and hoped she’d listen.
April laughed bitterly. “Will the explanation wipe the image of you fuckin’ my best friend?”
“Hey, I didn’t fuck Chelsea.”
“No? You were certainly naked and were sucking on her tits,” April shot back. “Moments later, your cock was in her mouth. You’re denying that happened?”
“No, but there—”
“Stow it, Stone. That can’t ever be forgotten.
Not even twenty-four hours had passed! I left at midnight, heartbroken and shattered, and returned the next morning, and there you were.
Worse, it was my best friend, Stone! Chelsea and I were like sisters.
You took everything. You wanna know how deeply you scarred me?
I’ve not dated or trusted a single man since.
Hell, I can’t even have one-night stands because I don’t trust anyone.
You stabbed me deeper than my mother, and I’m still bleeding and healing! ” April shouted.
Steel Knight and Nycteus shied from the shouting, and April and I concentrated on calming them down.
“April, I hadn’t stopped loving you, but I needed you to leave. Babe, I had to push you away,” I insisted when both horses were calm.
“Had to? Why not just admit you were tired of dating the fat girl? As you got older, you wanted something different. You were Mr Popular, with the Harley, and all the girls desired you. The overweight bitch didn’t fit your image.
That’s the truth, Stone. Why the hell would I want you to drag those feelings up again?
I wasn’t slim or beautiful, and I don’t need telling that now.
Own it, I was the pity fuck! Chelsea made that very clear. ”
April shook her head, and I saw the denial on her face.
No matter what I said, April had convinced herself she’d not been enough for me.
I reached over without thinking and hauled April closer.
My lips claimed hers and shit… it felt like I was coming home.
April stiffened under my grip, but I didn’t care.
I’d dreamed of this for too many nights.
April’s lips were unyielding against mine until suddenly she softened and sank into the kiss.
My heart smashed against my chest as I realised that April was still attracted to me.
Until that moment, I hadn’t understood how important that was.
Only one woman had ever claimed my soul, and she was in my arms right now.
April’s body responded as if we’d never been apart. Her hand palmed my thigh to stabilise herself.
Greedily, my hands ran down her ribs, touching areas I knew were sensitive. April shuddered and then pulled back, breaking my kiss. Aroused and emotional, the revulsion in her eyes horrified me.
“Finished?”
“April… I…”
“Don’t. Whatever that was meant to prove backfired. How dare you touch me after everything you’ve done? What was that? A balm to the fat girl’s ego? Go fuck yourself, Stone,” she hissed.
April started turning Steel Knight away. Panic raced through me. Did April really think I’d kissed her as a consolation prize? “That’s bullshit, April. I was showing you how attractive you are.”
“Except my name isn’t Chelsea.”
With that shot, April turned Steel Knight and galloped off.
Frantic, I began to turn Nycteus, but it was futile.
April was a natural rider, and I’d never catch her, not the way that stallion was moving.
As April became a speck in the distance, a smile crossed my lips.
The kiss had proved one thing. April wasn’t immune to me—and maybe I had a chance after all.
◆◆◆
“Hey, I ordered a beer,” a guy called. I offered a glare as I finished serving the couple in front of me. I was covering a shift at the club’s bar in town with Jinx, and this asshole had been riding my last nerve.
“And I’m busy, wait your fuckin’ turn,” I snapped.
“Talk to me like that again, and I’ll have your ass canned,” the idiot shot back.
A laugh escaped. “Go ahead. I’m sure Chance will take your advice—not! Here, Jinx, you heard this prick? The fool thinks he has a say in how the bar runs.”
Jinx raised his head and grinned. “Want me to call Chance?”
“Listen up, I’m a paying customer,” the guy snarled.
“Not anymore. Hellfire don’t need your dollars. You’re not being served anything here, and you’re barred. Get the fuck out,” I said calmly.
The dude snorted and rolled his eyes. “You haven’t got the power.”
I’d had enough of this prick. I strode out from behind the bar and stomped forward. “Leave, this is your one chance before I throw…”
My words broke off as a meaty fist smashed into my jaw.
I rocked backwards, taken unawares by the attack.
Jinx yelled, and I received a second blow before rallying.
Fists flying, I fought back as screams and shouts erupted throughout the bar.
Women scrambled for safety as the guy and I flew at each other.
Jinx shouted from behind, and I stumbled and was shoved forward into an uppercut.
That fucker floored me, and I went down hard, my legs scissoring as I did.
Not a chance in hell was I going to let this asshole stomp me.
My attacker landed next to me, and I tried to contain him, but he was fighting like a fury. He closed on me and spat. I moved just in time to avoid a face full of spittle.
“Dirty cunt,” I hissed.
“This is a warning. Leave her alone, she doesn’t belong to you,” he hissed and reared up, sinking his teeth into my shoulder.
I howled like a scalded cat and wrenched him away, tearing my skin. My fist connected with his temple, and the blow dazed him, forcing him backward. I landed a haymaker that took him down just as the cops arrived.
Moments later, I was in cuffs, bleeding profusely from my shoulder and in the back of a cop car.
I scowled at the fucker who was also being marched out.
He stared in my direction and grinned. My injury began throbbing badly on the way to the station, and I was sure I’d needed a rabies shot.
What the fuck had triggered that asshole?
Who was she? Had April sent someone to warn me off?
That wasn’t her style, but April certainly had issues with me.
I wanted answers, and I’d get them from that motherfucker.
◆◆◆
“What do you mean he’s disappeared?” I demanded.
“Exactly what I said, prospect. He made bail and headed into the sunset. The address he gave was bogus; an old man lives there and has never heard of him,” Chance replied as I sat opposite.
“Seriously? The cops didn’t check? Fuckin’ typical half-assed job.”
Chance’s eyebrows rose, and I quickly amended my tone. “Sorry, Prez. It’s just I want to know why that fight was started.”
“So do I. I’ve got two injured prospects and no answers why.
That doesn’t sit well,” Chance growled out.
Pissed-off vibes filled the office from both of us.
Easy to understand why. Jinx had also suffered a dislocated shoulder.
Another asshole had decided to ambush me from behind.
Jinx had intercepted that sneaky attack.
That guy had been a local thug who’d not only been arrested but had experienced a severe beatdown since.
But he’d known nothing, just seen a chance for a fight.
The original attacker had disappeared into the wind, taking the reasons with him.
“Jinx was brave, that kid has a lot of balls,” I said, and Chance nodded.
“Prospect reminds me of Calamity from Rage MC. Calamity had more guts than brains in the beginning.”
“Jinx is all heart,” I defended.
“Don’t need telling that, Harlequin. I know what Jinx is. He’ll make a great brother one day. Okay, go back to your duties. Sunny is checking into this; he might discover something,” Chance said.
I cocked my head. Sunny hadn’t been around lately, having discovered who’d set him up. The lieutenant preferred being with his old lady. As the club’s hacker, Sunny had skills we needed. Sunny had declared that his hacking talents could be just as easily used travelling as staying here.