Chapter 3 Mountain
Cami grows more beautiful every time I see her. I’m fucking starved for her attention, for just the tiniest hint of a smile. Maybe she still doesn’t hate me. Maybe we can get through this ride to the hospital without shit becoming tense or worse.
Trying to be polite, I take her bag and place my hand at her lower back, gently guiding her forward because I can see she’s tired. But Cami shrugs my hand away, visibly creating distance like she can’t stand to be near me.
Fuck.
Christ. I need to get my head on straight and outta the gutter.
My truck sits high because of the tires. It’s not an ego thing. I often have to drive to job sites in wooded areas without roads. Usually, the trails are through the grass or deep mud. I have to drive a vehicle that can handle that, or I’ll get stuck.
Cami sighs as she reaches out to place her palm in mine.
I don’t hesitate to grab her by the waist and hoist her up, helping plant her delicious bottom in the seat.
She sends me a glare for the effort.
Worth it.
I climb inside the truck and turn up the heat because she’s only wearing a light jacket, and it’s fall in Ohio. The weather can’t seem to decide what it wants to do. Since it’s early in the morning, nearly sunrise, it’s chillier than she’s used to in L.A.
Cami shivers.
“Need a blanket? I keep one in the backseat.”
“No. You’ve got the heater on,” she points out, huddling in her jacket like she’s freezing to death.
Another reason she needs to come home to stay: She’ll get used to the weather again.
I focus on the drive to give her a minute to warm up.
Cami’s stare swings my way. “How’s my Granny?”
“She inhaled smoke, and her arm was burned. There’s a cut on her head, but I don’t know how it happened.”
“Haven’t you been to the hospital yet?”
I nod, hating I don’t know more to tell her. “Yeah, but I haven’t been able to see or speak to her since the ambulance took her away.”
“Where were you, Rex? Why was my Granny alone?”
The question sounds accusatory, and it isn’t fair. She knows it. I know it. But, if she wants someone to blame right now, I’ll shoulder it for her. Until I find the motherfucker who did it.
“I was at The Barn. Didn’t know your Granny stayed at the Butter Bliss so late, or I would’ve been there to take her home.”
That was the truth.
“She must have fallen behind on orders.” Cami’s shoulders droop. “I keep telling her to hire more help. She can afford it from all the drug money she makes off your club.”
I snort. Drug money. What a way to describe it. I’m not gonna get roped into an argument, so I shrug. Not gonna touch that sentence with a twelve-foot fucking pole.
Sure, our club gives Granny THC to put in her brownies and baked goods, which, in turn, she sells back to us for a profit.
It’s not drug money per se, but I’m not gonna rile up Cami any more than she already is because of a difference in opinion.
Plus, Granny Jo enjoys as much of the product as she wants. It’s no hardship.
“She’s gonna be okay, Cami.” I don’t know if I’ll piss her off with those words, but I believe them.
“My Granny is tough. I know she’ll be okay.” Cami’s chin lifts as I glance her way. “I still want to know why your club isn’t protecting my grandmother.”
Fuck.
“We do, Cami. Someone checks in every day. She’s not had any problems, or I would have been there.”
“Then explain to me how her bakery was burned down and she’s in the hospital. That happened on your watch, Mountain,” she emphasizes with disdain.
Christ. She really does fucking hate me.
“I saw her this morning. She was baking cinnamon rolls. Nothing seemed out of place.” I don’t know why I feel the need to defend myself.
For fuck’s sake, it’s her grandma. I go outta my way to keep that old woman safe and happy.
She’s become a surrogate mother, and that means a lot to me since I lost my parents.
My hands grip the steering wheel so tight I can hear it groan back.
“I asked one thing of Scythe,” she mutters. “One thing. Keep Granny Jo safe.” Cami’s arms fold across her chest as she scowls. “Why can’t you bikers keep your word?”
I bite my tongue until I taste the coppery tang of blood. The last thing I want to do is say something I can’t take back.
Cami has no idea of the sacrifices I’ve made for her.
She doesn’t know what I gave up for her, to give her the life and the future she wanted.
There’s no point in admitting it now. She won’t believe me.
I’m the villain in her story, and there’s no way I’m changing her mind.
If I tell her the truth now, it’ll seem like I did it because there was something for me to gain.
That was never my motivation. I only wanted her to be happy. Hell, that’s what I want now.
I just want her to stay in Raven’s Crest and find that happiness here, where I can someday have a chance to prove I’m not the bad guy she’s conjured in her head.
Uncomfortable silence stretches in the truck until it’s taut like a rubber band, ready to snap.
Cami finally drops her arms and sighs. “I want to talk to Scythe.”
I blink, processing what she means by that. Scythe is the president of the club. He’s a great guy, one of my best friends. But he’s a biker, an outlaw. I’m not sure what she wants to say to him. It’s got me curious, and I can’t let it go. “Why?”
“To find the asshole who hurt my Granny.” She gives me a look like I’m too thick-headed to understand. “I want his help hunting this guy down.”
Woah. I tilt my head to the side, absorbing what she said because she surprised me with that. “Well, darlin’, he’s not the right guy to ask.”
She narrows her eyes. “Who is?”
“Me.”
“Rex Coleman,” she spits like its venom on her tongue.
I swerve the car to the left and pull onto the shoulder before coming to a stop.
I shift into park and turn to Cami. “I’m the one who’s going after this motherfucker.
You can ask Scythe if you want, but he’ll send me anyway because I’m the V.P.
of this club, and when I’m seeking vengeance for my family, the club has my back. ”
Cami opens her mouth to argue and then closes it. It’s a full, adorable, static-fueled minute before she blurts her response. “We’re not your family,” she argues, and I catch the fiery green stirring to life in her eyes. She’s agitated.
“Your Granny Jo is family to my brothers and me,” I say with enough conviction that she purses her lips, knowing there’s no point in arguing since I’ve already won. And I’m right.
You’re family to me, too, Blissy Girl.
Someday, I’ll tell her.
“You better find the guy,” she finally says, closing her eyes.
“I will,” I vow.
Cami suddenly looks drained. I see the puffy circles under her eyes, and then I remember the time difference. Shit. She’s been up all night.
“You want coffee?” I casually ask as I merge back onto the highway. I don’t need to know her order. It’s locked in my brain under a file titled All Things Camille Parker.
“Yeah.”
I don’t tell her where we’re going. It’s not necessary. I drive to her favorite coffee shop since it’s on the way, the one we’ve been to a dozen times together in the past. It just never felt important before now.
We use the drive-thru because I know she’s anxious to get to Granny Jo.
I place her order without thinking about it, pay the cashier, and grab our drinks.
I hand her the mocha latte with all the correct modifications as her jaw pops open.
She quickly closes it before taking a sip.
I know it’s perfect when a sweet sigh escapes her lips.
It’s the first time I’ve seen her relax since I picked her up.
As we resume the trip, I expect her to ask how I remember her coffee order. She doesn’t. It’s quiet, but the hostility isn’t nearly as present now.
“Who’s investigating the fire?”
Her question isn’t one I’m prepared to answer. I’ve not had a chance to talk to Braden yet. “I don’t know, but I’ll find out.”
“No need. I’ll take care of it once I’ve seen Granny.”
Never mind. Hostile environment noted.
“Braden will know. I’m sure he’d be happy to fill you in on what he knows.” It fucking kills me to tell her, not because I mind her talking to my brother, but because I want to be the one to handle this shit for her.
It’s like I can’t resist trying to swoop in and be her avenging hero. She doesn’t need me. That’s obvious. I don’t think she can’t handle shit on her own. I just want to be there to help her through it. What was wrong with that? And maybe offer her shelter and protection in the process.
Camille Parker is no damsel in distress. I once saw her punch a guy in the face so hard it knocked him flat on his ass. His crime? Slapping her ass in a bar and touching her without permission. Fucking badass.
I might have fallen a little harder for her when I saw that.
It happened the same night I let her go, three years nearly to the day. I wonder if she remembers the date. If she regrets how things ended between us before they had a chance to become something real.
The corners of her lips twitch like she’s hiding a smile. “I miss Braden. It’ll be nice to catch up.”
Ugly jealousy flares in my chest. I have to hold back a growl.
“That’s good,” I manage to say with clenched teeth.
She notices my reaction with a smirk but doesn’t comment.
I need my fucking ax and to chop shit up. Manual labor that will help get rid of the excess energy I feel, along with the need to break something.
Why the fuck am I so transparent to her? I can’t hide shit about how I feel. It’s goddamn annoying.
“You’re growling,” she points out with a laugh. “Big bad Rex. All flustered like a t-rex.” She tucks in her arms and waves them like the dinosaur she’s imitating.
It’s adorable, hilarious, and annoying as fuck.
I want to smack her ass for it and then dive face-first into her pussy, using my tongue and fingers to wipe that grin off her face and replace it with one that shows how well I’m taking care of her needs.
I want to see her skin flush from arousal.
To render her speechless because she’s been thoroughly fucked and satisfied.
Someday she’ll be mine.
“I wasn’t growling,” I lie.
“Uh-huh.” Cami picks up her drink and sips on it for the rest of the drive.
By the time we reach the hospital, I’m not so sure it was a good idea to drive her. I managed to look like a fool in her presence, which only irritates me more. She’s amused rather than angry right now, which isn’t any better.
I pull up to the hospital entrance so she doesn’t have to walk. As I place the truck in park, she pushes the door open and reaches for her bag.
“Need any help?”
“No. I can manage.”
Great. Right back where we started at the airport.
“It’s a far drop,” I warn as she jumps out.
I can see that she landed wrong as she yelps. I’m out of the truck and rushing toward her, worried she’s injured an ankle when she flashes those fiery green eyes my way. “I’m fine.”
She doesn’t look fine. Her expression is tense, like she’s in pain. “Let me help you, Blissy Girl.”
It’s out before I can snatch it from the air and stuff the nickname back in my mouth.
She practically snarls. “Don’t call me that!”
I watch her limp toward the entrance, and I can’t take it. I won’t watch her struggle in pain because of her pride. She could injure herself further.
I rush to scoop her up, entering the hospital. I only set her down once we reach the information desk. “We’re looking for Granny Jo, uh, Josephine Parker.”
The nurse looks up the room and hands us guest stickers. I slap mine on my flannel shirt as Cami places hers on her jacket. She’s glaring at me as I move toward her.
“Don’t touch me, Rex. I’m fine. I can walk.”
She’s so fucking stubborn.
“Fine.”
“Fine,” she mirrors back.
Fucking Christ. She hates me. I keep thinking it’s gonna change. Nope.
“I’m going to park the truck, and then I’ll be up.”
“Don’t rush.”
She walks slowly to the elevator, the limp hardly noticeable. The doors swing open, and she enters, flipping me off as the doors close her inside.
She thinks she’s won. That I’m not going to keep fighting for her. She’s wrong. My resolve sharpens the more she resists. I’m gonna figure out how to get her to fall in love with me while I keep both my women safe. Granny Jo and Cami are mine to protect.
That won’t ever change.