Chapter 2
HOW TO brUISE AN EGO IN TEN INSULTS OR LES
CANDYMAN
I’m fuming by the time I get outside. I hop onto my bike, grip the handlebars, and stare at the house I just stormed out of.
I didn’t expect anything that just happened.
I thought Izzy had grown up in the club and wouldn’t spout the type of bullshit I just heard out of her mouth.
I know I need to watch myself. Griff will kick my ass if I get him blackballed from Beau’s shop.
Still, it takes everything I am not to go back in there and continue giving Izzy a piece of my mind.
I’m just about to start my bike and get away from the temptation of doing just that, when Pez walks out.
He stomps over to me. It’s clear he’s mad. I don’t really give a damn. I’m not feeling that happy my damn self.
“What the fuck did you do to Izzy?” he growls.
“That’s between the two of us. So, back off,” I growl, not liking being questioned.
“Izzy is family and you’re on our territory, asshole. I’ve seen a lot of shit since coming here, but Izzy is not emotional. That means you did something, and I want to know what.”
He has a point. Honestly, after she said she’d have to have antibiotics just to touch me, the rest is a blur.
I don’t like women insulting me—especially women who grew up in this life and know how things are.
Right now, though, I do my best to keep Griff and our club’s contracts in mind.
That’s the only reason I answer this asshole at all.
“I called her on her bullshit. Izzy started spouting shit about bikers—bullshit that I didn’t expect from a woman who grew up in a club.
You need to teach her better before she spouts her holier than thou beliefs to the wrong man. ”
Pez looks shocked at first, and then he just shakes his head, laughing like I’m the idiot here. “Run back home, C. You’re clearly in over your head here.”
“What the fuck does that mean?”
“It means you’ve been surrounded by so much easy pussy that you haven’t taken time at all to see what a real woman is.”
“I know what being a judgmental cunt is about. I’ve seen enough of those in my lifetime.”
Pez studies me for a minute and then nods his head. If I didn’t know better, I’d think he was agreeing with me. The look on his face, however, tells that is the furthest thing from the truth.
“Fine. Tell you what, C. I’m going to make a deal with you.”
“What kind of deal?” I ask, watching him closely. I can’t shake the feeling that I’m walking into a trap.
“I like Griff. All of us do. We also know he needs Beau’s help to turn your club around. So, I’m not going to report this shit. Besides, Izzy would hate it if I did that.”
“I bet she would. She probably doesn’t want Daddy and big brother to know how she really feels about the club.”
“Oh, they’re aware and agree with her, by the way,” Pez deadpans.
I roll my eyes. “Sure they do.”
“You’re starting to make me change my mind. Do you want to save these contracts with Beau, or not?”
I sigh, knowing he has me over a barrel. “I do.”
“Then, I’ll keep it a secret under one condition. You come back with Griff every fucking time—”
“I’m not coming back. I don’t think—”
“You have to come back, but you keep your distance from Izzy—even if you change your mind about her. If you break that vow, so help me God, I’ll make you regret it and that’s a promise you can bank on, asshole.”
“I’m not going to change my mind about her at all,” I sneer.
“Good,” he laughs. “See you next time, C.”
“I doubt it. I think I’ll avoid you as much as I will her. The temptation to slap that look off your face is too strong.”
The bastard throws his head back in laughter, barely getting it under control before he looks at me, dead in the eye, and delivers a message that just might haunt me.
“Oh, I’ll be here every fucking time you step foot on our property.
I’ll definitely be here whenever Izzy is around.
I want to see the exact moment you realize how fucking wrong you were.
It helps to know that by the time that moment rolls around, you would have lost every chance you had at making Izzy claim you as hers. ”
With that, he slaps me on the back and walks away.
I watch him for a minute, not liking anything he just said.
A sense of foreboding moves over me, but I shake it off.
The bastard is just trying to get in my head.
I start my bike and ride back to the hotel to meet up with Griff.
We’re heading back after Griff speaks with King tonight.
I was hoping to get more time with Izzy. That’s not happening now.
It's for the best. I mostly believe that, but for some fucking reason I just can’t shake the smug look on Pez’s face.
Did I make a mistake?