Chapter One #2
When Bones starts to whine that he wants out, I realize that I’ve been sitting here staring at her for longer than I should have. Climbing from the cab, I open the door and let my boy out to do his business. I chuckle as he huffs, annoyed I’m taking so long.
“You made it.” The excitement in Sierra’s soft voice does nothing to help the semi I’m sporting. I need to get my head right if I’m going to have this woman sitting next to me all the way back to Miami.
When I turn around to face her, there’s a look of disappointment on her face. She better get over that. She’s in for a lot of disappointment when she gets back to Miami.
“Put your shit in the back.” At my snapped command, she slightly stumbles but is quick to recover. The hurt look that crosses her face gives me pause, but I can’t allow this replica to get in my head. She isn’t Kierra. She may look like my brother’s wife, but they are nothing alike.
When she peeks up at me from under her lashes, I can see that her eyes are glassy, and her cheeks are tinged pink. I feel like an asshole when I realize she’s struggling not to cry. Fuck. I may not want to be her friend, but I’m not a fucking monster.
“Hey. I’m sorry. That wasn’t cool. Let me help you.” She shakes her head, but I move in and take her bag from her anyway. It’s a lot heavier than I thought, which makes me feel even worse.
“Sparrow. How’s it going, brother? Been a while since you’ve made this trek up north,” Riddick asks, standing at the top of the steps.
I watch in amusement as two beautiful blondes saunter through the clubhouse doors and wrap themselves around him.
Lucky bastard. Every time I’m here, these same two women follow him around and watch his every move.
It’s not uncommon for a brother to have a house mouse, but not many take on two.
“Been a hot minute, Prez. How are things panning out up here? Heard you’ve been having some issues lately with a new club that’s popped up.”
“Pain in my ass is what they are. Riding around on fucking rocket bikes. Racing around the city, disturbing folks with their bullshit. Acting like they’re gangsters or some shit.
Going to have the DEA watching all our asses if they don’t stop drawing attention.
” The crimson hue on his face isn’t something I’m used to seeing.
It just goes to show exactly how pissed these interlopers have made him.
“That’s a damn shame, Ridd. No honor in the streets anymore.”
From the corner of my eye, I can tell my co-pilot has gotten antsy. Guess I better figure out what I’m supposed to be doing with her.
Pulling my phone out of my pocket, I find Viper’s number and hit the call button.
“Lo?”
“What do you want me to do with the girl?” I think he wants her brought to the clubhouse, but unfortunately, I only remember half of that conversation.
“Bring her to the clubhouse. I’m going to tell Kierra tonight that Sierra’s en route, and she can decide what she wants to do about her when you arrive tomorrow.”
“Why’d you send me to get her and not a prospect?”
“Nobody reads people better than you, Braxton. I need you to feel her out and see if you think she’s changed.
Sailor says the woman is solid now, and if that’s the case, maybe she can help you with your sobriety.
She’s going to need one hell of an ally, and you’re the man for the job.
Be nice to her, be her friend, because I don’t think she’ll be welcomed with open arms. Everyone loves Kierra and Nash, and they’re not going to be as forgiving as my wife will be. ”
I don’t even reply. I just hang up and shove my phone back where it belongs.
He’s got to be fucking kidding. He’s trying to play sobriety matchmaker.
Be her friend? Looking back at the woman in question, I slowly regard the cautious look on her face and suppose she could serve a purpose.
I wouldn’t mind fucking her, that’s for sure.
Although, I’m pretty sure I’m old enough to be her father.
Shaking off the thoughts of women, I reach out and shake Ridd’s outstretched hand.
“Like I told Viper. Sailor’s spent a lot of time visiting the girl over the last year, and he trusts her.
If it doesn’t work out in Miami, you can send her back, and we’ll look after her because I’m pretty sure Sailor’s sweet on her.
” My hackles rise, and I feel jealous at the thought of her spending time with him.
I’m not sure why it bothers me, but I don’t like it at all.
“I’ll relay the message. It was good seeing you, Ridd. Even under these circumstances.” He smirks, catching the emotion before I can mask it.
Getting the hint that it’s time to go, Sierra quickly scrambles into the truck. As I close the door behind me, I’m hit with the sweet scent of peaches. Of course, she smells good enough to eat. How could a woman who looks like her not? Fuck!
I start to have doubts about my copilot when I notice she’s unable to sit still. I wonder if she’s on some shit as her leg bounces nervously, and she continues to rub the bird tattoo on her wrist.
When she notices that I’m staring, she turns and looks at me questioningly. I raise a brow and nod at her fidgeting.
“Sorry. I’m nervous.” My cock twitches at the sound of her soft voice. She and Kierra may be similar in looks, but fuck me, they sound nothing alike.
“As you should be, Birdie. We may be headed home but don’t expect a warm welcome. I’m not trying to be an asshole. I just want you to be prepared. A lot of people will not be as forgiving of how you treated your sister or your son.”
The blank look that crosses her face has me questioning exactly what happened to make her pull the shit she did. She doesn’t say anything, which is surprising, just turns around and looks back out the window.
I expected a different reaction, considering the hellcat I encountered in the shed a year ago, but I don’t think that Sierra has the kind of fire her sister has.
She seems timid, but that can’t be right.
Can it? As I shift the truck into drive, I start to wonder what happened to the woman that I briefly met a year ago because this version seems broken.
After five hours behind the wheel and the hundredth time I’ve attempted to get comfortable, I decide it’s time to call it a night. I’m tired, and my body is aching.
Pulling off the highway, I look for the nearest hotel. At this point, I don’t care if it’s a dump. I just need to get out of this truck and stretch my legs.
“Why are we stopping?” Pulling her headphones out of her ears, Sierra scans the area. I don’t like the frown marring her pretty face when she looks at me. I know she wants to keep moving in the direction of home, but I can’t go another minute cramped in this truck.
“Darlin’, I’m 6’5, and I’ve been sitting in this truck for going on two days. I have shrapnel in my back that causes me pain when I sit too long. I’m sorry, Birdie, but I can’t go any further tonight.” Spotting a motel, I pull into the lot, throw the truck in park, and quickly get out.
Standing in front of the truck, I stretch my arms above my head and try to get my joints to loosen up.
Looking over my shoulder, she’s staring at me with that same frown, and it’s fucking with my head.
She hasn’t done anything wrong. It’s just that it’s only been a few hours, and she’s already getting to me.
She stuck her headphones in her ears ten minutes after we left New York and has been listening to music ever since. The problem is, I’ve been smelling peaches and listening to her hum for hours, and I can’t shake the image of her humming around my cock.
Fuck! I need a goddamn drink.