Chapter 8
CHAPTER
EIGHT
WRATH
Elodie shifts from foot to foot, seemingly nervous while standing in front of me.
She’s sexy as fuck in her skintight exercise shorts and a somewhat oversized T-shirt that reads: I’m here because someone made a mess.
And she would be absolutely correct. We didn’t just make a mess; we made a goddamn disaster out of the place.
My lips twitch into a smirk at her shirt because it’s so fucking true. She’s adorable with her dark hair pulled up into a messy pile on top of her head. I know how long that hair is, and my fingers want to be buried in that hair.
I want to twist my fingers around the strands as I pull her head back slightly, arch her back, and watch her lips part for me. I want to slip my cock past those lips and sink down her throat.
I do none of those things. At least not yet. I need to remind myself that she’s here to do a job and I can’t fuck her, at least not until I don’t need her anymore. And judging by the way she’s made this disgusting-ass kitchen look brand fucking new, I don’t think I’ll be firing her anytime soon.
“I’ll take a walk around. Don’t leave until I’ve talked to you again, yeah?” I ask.
She nods once, her teeth tugging on the corner of her bottom lip, which is doing absolutely nothing to make me want her less. It’s cute as fuck and only makes me want to be inside her more.
“Your friend who let me in, Dare, showed me around again. I hope we got everything we were supposed to do.”
I flick my gaze over to the digital clock on the microwave and wince.
It’s after eight in the evening. They’ve been here for almost fifteen hours cleaning this fucking place.
I didn’t imagine it would take this long, and now I feel bad.
Also, she’s going to need to leave soon, before the booze and bitches start to flow, and they will… freely.
“I’ll let you know. I won’t keep you. I’m sure you want the hell out of here.”
She lets out a breath and tilts her head to the side, her eyes widening, but doesn’t say anything immediately. Before she does speak, I turn around and walk out of the kitchen.
Making my way into the bar, I look around, not at the people, but at all the tabletops, the bottles along the back of the bar, the floors, and the furniture. It fucking sparkles. I move through the clubhouse but don’t bother going into anyone else’s room. Instead, I walk into my own.
I’m not as much of a slob as some of the other guys.
I throw my trash away and hang up my clothes, but I’m definitely not the cleanest person on earth.
This bedroom looks better than it did the day I moved in.
And I’ve lived here for twenty-six years, since the night I got my patch, and I haven’t had a reason to leave.
Some of the other guys have houses in town when they need to get away. Some of them have day jobs and shit. But I’m an officer, and the vice president—that is my job. This club is my life, and I love everything about it.
I do a sweep of the bathrooms as well and am beyond surprised when I walk down the back hallway and see the person who must be her partner, Alex. He’s got his back to me and is scrubbing the floors vigorously.
Watching him for a moment, I lean against the wall of the hallway, crossing my arms over my chest as I take him in. He’s got his earbuds in and is rocking out to whatever the fuck he’s listening to, and for whatever reason, I find the scene funny.
Then, as if he can sense me watching him, his spine straightens and he turns around, his eyes shifting up to meet my own. They widen, then he tugs his earbuds out. His lips part in awe at the same time his eyes widen.
I could make him stand in front of me and sweat, but that isn’t my style when it’s someone I’m not trying to intimidate.
And I’m not trying to intimidate him. Plus, I can tell what side his bread is buttered on at first glance, so he’s not a threat at all whatsoever when it comes to Elodie, which is all I really give a fuck about.
“Everything looks good. I’m Wrath,” I say, pushing off the wall and extending my hand.
He reaches out to take my hand, and we shake before our hands fall to our sides. “Alex. I’m Elodie’s cousin.”
Nice.
Cousin.
Even fucking better.
“You guys did a great job,” I state, and I watch as he presses his lips together. I don’t know what the fuck he’s thinking, but it’s clear he’s thinking about something. And then he speaks.
“Thanks. We really deserve more than you’re paying us, just saying. This place was disgusting.”
My lips twitch into a smirk. “You’re right,” I agree. “Don’t worry, I’ll get you taken care of.”
His eyes widen, and his lips press together in a thin line before he speaks. “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have said that.”
I could make him sweat a little, but decide against it. He looks horrified and almost as if he’s ready to turn around and run. Far the fuck away from me.
“Yes, you should have, because I thought the quote Elodie gave me was low,” I begin. “So I was planning on paying you guys more anyway. It’s cash. It doesn’t matter.”
He blinks a few times, then he makes a noise in the back of his throat. “Are you serious?” he asks.
“Double,” I state, then I walk past him and smile.
I fucking love surprising people, then walking away. It seriously makes my fucking day. I don’t know the psychology behind that, but I don’t care either. Pushing the thoughts out of my head, I focus on one thing and one thing only: getting to Elodie… and surprising her.
I head straight for the kitchen, for that woman I crave, the one who is off fucking limits.