Chapter 7 Jinx
Jinx
Waking up alone in an empty room gives me what must be the closest I’ve ever come to a heart attack. Once the panic runs its course, the anger and annoyance seep in.
Can’t she just listen for once in her life? Why can’t she see that she’d be hurting the club if something happened to her?
What a pain in my ass. She’s what causes a pulse of pain behind my left eye.
Tossing the blankets off my body, I throw on clothes before starting my manhunt for her.
Trying not to bring any attention my way since I’m alone, I move in silence, popping my head in each room I think she’d be in. Once I’ve checked the back of the clubhouse, I move to the front.
As each minute continues to pass, I remain empty-handed. The few souls who eat their own cooked breakfast, a poor attempt at nutrition since Penelope has decided to sleep in, don’t even look my way. They look like they’re ready for their turn to get some rest.
I wish the panic rising in my chest would simmer down. With my ass on the line, I should freak out a bit, but that’s not all there is to it, is it?
What if Crimson Road did get their hands on her? What if she’s getting tortured? What if—
Realizing I’m starting to go down a bad train of thought, I reel back.
If someone tried to take her, one of ours would’ve heard. The whole place would be alert instead of like this. Everything is fine. She’s fine. She can handle herself, I know she can.
Stepping outside, I check the garage next. The two bikes, both currently torn apart, rest all alone, no hints of life inside.
“Fuck.” I kick an abandoned wrench. “Fuck!”
I’m going to kill her when I find her. That way, I won’t have to worry about feeling this panic that’s forming in the pit of my chest.
Knowing well enough that I’m not going to find her by standing her and throwing a fit, I do a parameter check to see if there are any signs of life. Any proof of movement that isn’t ours.
If I don’t find her, I’ll break the news that I fucked up. Knowing it’s the last thing I want to do, I prepare myself to do a second sweep before getting to that point.
Then, out of nowhere, I see her. My heart pounds as soon as my eyes reach her.
A surprising wave of relief floods me when I finally reach her hiding spot.
Bathed in a layer of sunlight, Raven is spread out in the grass. Just as quickly as I notice her, I realize she’s not alone.
Warden’s right next to her, sleeping like a damn baby. Hell, he’s even drooling, he’s that at peace.
Idiots, both of them.
Kicking his leg, I put a bit of my frustration behind it for their recklessness. Watching him jolt awake, he jerks and looks around like he expects something sharp to be pointed at him.
Noticing me, he relaxes before noticing Raven, too. Rubbing the exhaustion from his eyes, he groans. “Shit.”
Shit is right. It’s not my place to remind him of the dangers, so I bite my tongue when it comes to scolding him.
“Go.” Jerking my chin, my agitation only grows. “She’s mine to watch.”
Instead, I make myself sound like some possessive asshole. Great.
Warden doesn’t question it. Remaining quiet not to wake her, he groans as he stands. Looking exhausted, I do a quick sweep of him to see that he looks as he always does. No ruffled clothes, no marks on his skin. No signs that these two spent the night fooling around to add to their recklessness.
He just looks exhausted. How late did they stay up?
Realizing I’m thinking way too much into this, I pull back in hopes that I stop caring.
Sending him away with a nod, I’m left surrounded by silence and Sleeping Beauty. A kiss of wind catches a few strands of her ebony hair, skimming them across her cheeks.
I should kick her awake, too. It’s deserved. Instead, I’m moving into the spot Warden occupied only moments ago and settling down next to her. As my agitation grows, I glare at the wall of pine trees surrounding the land.
“You’re reckless, you know that?” Grumbling the words, I search the gaps. “They could be out there waiting for something like this to happen. You might be tough, but you’re not invincible.”
If she were awake, she’d argue with me. Hell, she might even hit me to prove how strong she is.
“I shouldn’t even care.” As the words leave me, I groan and shove my fingers through my hair, tugging at the strands. Shouldn’t implies that I already do.
I care too fucking much. Why, because I let her touch me? Because I enjoyed it?
Glaring down at her, I’m met with the most peaceful expression I’ve ever seen on this woman. There’s no pinch to her brows, no scowl. Tearing my eyes away, I stare at the stupid pine trees.
Get the patch. Move on.
Speaking it like a mantra, I repeat it louder in my head when she lets out a soft sigh.
One more day. I can do one more day.
For now, I let her sleep and enjoy the peace that comes with it, all while trying not to let my eyes drift in her direction too many times.
* * *
The day flies by in the blink of an eye. Made up of me following after her tail, to keeping up with her insults, I manage myself rather well.
I only look at her mouth four times when she calls me an asshole and think about her touching my dick twice.
That’s more thought than I ever give to begin with, but that doesn’t matter.
Before we know it, most of the club is filling up the bar area. Chatter happens amongst everyone, some nervous, some casual. All because it’s finally time.
Warden’s preparing for the ride, the vice president is chatting with the prospects, leaving to go through their plan one more time. Judge is with Penelope, talking to her. A lot of people are saying goodbye like it’s going to be the last time. Talk about gut-wrenching.
I hate it. Deep down, it makes me want to squirm.
Raven doesn’t even try to distract me with a glare. She witnesses the very same things, her lips pressed together in a tight line.
What is going through her head? She’s not really giving any goodbyes. Sure, she had a swift chat with Ripper, a brisk comment to Judge, wishing him luck.
I suppose that’s what comes with being a loner. Outside of her sister, she doesn’t try to get close to anyone. She doesn’t have anyone to miss.
Yet, when the time comes, she stands at my side to watch them all leave. With the pinch of her brow, I’m left to believe that she may care more than she lets off.
If I ask her about it, she’ll most likely give me her answer with a punch to something important.
With the roar of bikes disappearing in the distance, an unsettling sound of silence follows as everyone returns to the bar and pretends everything is fine. It’s impossible not to feel uncomfortable. So many things can go wrong tonight.
As much as I don’t want to think about Steelwood losing this fight, there’s a chance that Crimson Road can win. If they take out Judge and Ripper, what’ll happen to us? Will our club survive the loss, or will we fall apart? What if I lose the one place that makes me feel like I’m… something?
A sigh rolls through me, and I stare longingly at all the bottles of booze right there within my reach. A few shots would help numb all of these concerning thoughts immediately.
What other distractions are there?
Turning around on my stool, I take in the other club members.
In the corner, many of the usual women who drift in and out of the club are hanging out. Judge probably told them to stay here, where it’s safe. Makes sense.
What doesn’t make sense is why I don’t immediately consider drifting over to them as a way to distract myself.
Rosie has her legs resting on top of Jazzie’s, both women watching Aqua as she talks with her hands. They don’t seem bothered enough to deny a fun time.
I like them. They’ve got a talent for making people feel special. Under their attention, I don’t feel like… nothing.
Swallowing down the start of another groan, I tear my eyes away to look at something else. Something that won’t remind me that I’m not allowed to let my thoughts run down such a pitiful path.
Across the other side of the room, Hammer busies himself at the pool table. Instead of seeking out a partner and playing a game, he’s got his attention on the redhead planted in front of him.
He doesn’t look like he’s worried about the outcome of tonight, not while he’s tucked between her parted thighs.
I groan low in my throat in jealousy.
“You don’t have to sit here.” Four seats away, Raven fiddles with a jar of cherries. “With everyone together like this, you can finally take a break.”
I watch as she adds another stem to her pile before she flicks her tongue against her lips to catch the drop of juice clinging to them
I swallow thickly. Great. Three times now. This time, I’m not just thinking about her touching my dick. I’m thinking about her sucking it, too.
“Everyone is distracted by their loved ones. They won’t watch you like I would.” Yeah, that’s it, Jinx, because her safety is my top priority.
She huffs, rolling her eyes. Mentally, I do the same. We both share the same frustration toward me. Just the same, neither of us moves, glued to our seats. Minutes pass, and I can see the frustration on her face growing by the second.
If she started complaining, I wouldn’t even mind. But then, that would mean letting me in enough to know what she’s thinking. That’s something we both know she won’t do.
Ghost is a nice distraction, keeping the group up to date with Judge’s location. The closer they get to their destination, the heavier the air feels.
Leah then makes her appearance, looking exhausted like she’s just finished a shift at the clinic. Beneath the exhaustion, the panic is clear as day as she hugs her medic bag close to her hip.
Shit, she couldn’t stop by to wish him luck. Poor woman.
Raven notices too and frowns before capping her jar and putting it away. Looking more bothered than usual, she doesn’t return to her seat. Instead, she doesn’t leave any space at all between us.
“This place is a drag.” Returning to my side, she doesn’t sit. Instead, she turns and does a sweep of the worried expression glued to people’s faces. There’s a small shift of her body, a discomfort. Does she do well with times like this? “I’m leaving.”
Guess not.
“What?” I know I heard her right, but my confusion is answered when I notice her staring at the door. She wants to leave the clubhouse. Seriously?
“You can follow me if you want, but I’m sneaking out.” Lazily, she starts to drift away. “Or don’t, I don’t care.”
“Absolutely not.” The words leave me in a hiss. “They literally just left.”
Raven doesn’t listen, too stubborn for her own good. She approaches her sister, leaning close to say something. Pen nods and smiles sweetly, just as she always does. However, it does look a bit forced this time around.
When Raven returns, she snatches my hand. “Let’s go to bed.”
I’m being tugged before I realize what’s going down. All too late, I realize that she’s setting an alibi. But then, instead of abandoning me the moment we leave the bar, she continues tugging me through the halls and rooms toward another exit. The back door we purposely keep closed.
She’ll have to let go eventually. Otherwise, I’ll have to believe that she does care if I come with her or not.
The fresh night air meets us with a welcoming embrace. Once we get a few feet away, she finally releases my hand. Yet, I continue to follow. She keeps walking, putting more and more distance between us and the clubhouse.
“Where are we going?” Glancing through the darkness, the moonlight makes the worst kind of shadows.
“Away.” Her answer is simple, but it’s hardly that. “It’s fine.”
Knowing it’s not, I stupidly continue to tag along and tell myself that it’s just so I can keep her out of trouble.
There’s only so far she can go on foot. I just wish that I’d known we’d be leaving.
I could’ve grabbed a knife or a gun. Something to protect us with in case something jumps out of the shadows.
Silence surrounds us; even the wildlife is sleeping. Even if I shouldn’t lower my guard, something tells me that we’re fine.
It’s not the enemy that has me this twisted up. Deep down, it’s something far more concerning. It’s the woman guiding me deeper into the trees, using nothing but the limited light above us to bring us closer and closer to our destination.
Finally coming to a stop, I look out to see where she’s taken us.
A handful of feet away sits a lake that stretches out as far as I can see. The stars and the moon reflect against its clear surface, and an occasional ripple moves toward us.
I didn’t know this was even here.
“What are we doing here?” Staring ahead, I can’t help but wonder if this is her way of trying to take me out. If she killed me, she could probably sink my body at the bottom, couldn’t she?
“I want to swim, obviously.” She grabs her shirt and lifts it above her head.
Fuck. No. This is bad.
“This is someone’s lake.” Feeling frantic, I look around when she reaches for her pants. Unlike yesterday, there isn’t any hesitation. “Plus, your legs, you don’t want—”
“You’ve already seen them. They’re not going anywhere.
” She almost sounds bored as she steps out of her pants next.
Leaving her in a black bra and a navy blue pair of underwear, she lifts a brow.
“I didn’t take you for a coward. You can sit there and watch, or you can take a chill pill and do a few laps. ”
She’s fishing for a bite. If it weren’t her standing right there, looking like that, I’d chomp down on her words.
The only thing I want to get my mouth on is her.
Fuck.
Just when I think it can’t get any worse, she dips her fingers into the band of her underwear.
She doesn’t just plan on swimming. Raven is going to skinny dip.