Chapter Twenty
Addison had slept in. After a shower and getting dressed, she went in search of Cross.
The vibe in the clubhouse had changed in regards to her.
There was no warm fuzzy welcome and greetings, but there was definitely acceptance.
Even the president, Ace, didn’t seem to be affected by her presence.
They didn’t interact much, but she noticed his approving stare whenever Cross was close to her.
She grabbed her coffee and walked out the front door. She glanced around, noticing a huge garage to the left. The doors were wide open, and she recognized the three men standing around the vintage bike.
Addison wasn’t sure if she was intruding on guy time or if this was club business. She was learning quickly there was a lot of secrecy in the MC. She slowed her steps and cleared her throat. Cross glanced over his shoulder, and his eyes immediately softened.
“’Bout fucking time.”
“I was tired.”
“Yeah, I know.” He winked.
The insinuation of him tiring her out was not missed. And accurate.
Oak laughed while Cue had the decency not to react, though she noticed him turn his head. She had no doubt he was concealing his amusement.
She sidled up next to Cross, and he looped his arm around her waist, pulling her closer. It was no secret they were together. But she wasn’t expecting any type of PDA from Cross. I like it.
“So, Cue?”
He looked over, cocking his brow.
She gestured to the bike. “How’d I do?”
His lips twitched, and he dragged his hand over his mouth while shifting his gaze between her and the bike. “You want me to be nice? Or you want me to be honest?”
“That bad, huh?”
Cross tightened his hold over her. “Most people wouldn’t have even tried.”
It was a sweet reassurance. But she was looking for something a little more. Yes, she’d set it on fire twice. Yes, she’d done most work three times, because it had been done wrong the first two times. And yeah, there was the oil spill that ruined her favorite pair of jeans.
“Well” —she laughed— “some say I shouldn’t have tried. After the garage fire, people are less supportive, especially when it’s their shop. But Danny is a saint.”
“Who’s Danny?” There was no missing Cross’s tone. His expression was giving it all away. My man is the jealous type? Interesting.
“A friend slash mechanic. When I told him about the bike, he offered me a small garage bay they weren’t using.”
Cue circled the bike. “Where did you learn how to do this?”
She sighed, slightly embarrassed to admit it. Clearly, these guys knew about their rides from experience working on them.
“Mostly videos. It’s amazing what you can learn. Or in my case, mess up.”
Cue smirked. “There’s a lot out there. Some are great, and others steer you wrong.”
“Yeah, well I stopped watching this one guy’s after the second garage fire.”
Cue glanced up and cocked his brow. “Two fires?”
She flattened her lips, nodding. Not one of my finer moments. He continued to inspect the bike.
“Cue?” She raised her shoulders to her ears, smiling. “Have you ever seen worse?”
He chuckled. “Yeah, I’ve seen worse.”
Well, that’s reassuring.
“Paint job on the body looks real good.”
She rolled her eyes. “Yeah, I didn’t do that.”
“I’ll make a list of parts I’ll need and start working,” Cue said, which caught her completely off guard.
She shifted in Cross’s arms. “You’re not gonna rebuild it?”
“That’s not my thing. It was Knox’s.” He lifted his chin. “And Cue’s.”
“But” —she darted her gaze between the men— “I mean, it’s going to be your bike, right?”
It was meant for Cross. It was what she wanted. She had visions of them taking it to Knox’s ridge once it was ready for the road. And other moments that wouldn’t include her. The sole purpose of the gift was that Cross would have something of Knox’s.
“Cue will do the work, charge me a shit ton of money ’cause his labor ain’t cheap. But it’ll be mine.”
Perfect.
“Cross, man. We’re leaving in twenty,” Ghost said, walking across the front yard.
“You’re leaving?” She asked.
“Yeah, be back late.”
“Where to?”
“Club business.”
She hummed. That was something that would take time getting used to. She didn’t expect Cross to report his whereabouts every time he left. But she would’ve preferred a little less secrecy.
“You working ’til closing?”
She smirked. “That would be my business.”
Cross narrowed his gaze and lowered his hand to her ass, pulling her against his chest. “Baby.” He growled, brushing his lips against hers.
“’Til closing,” she muttered.
****
They hadn’t been back to the Satan’s clubhouse since the incident.
Ace had made the decision, that from now on, the Satan’s clubhouse was where they’d meet up, and then use their safe houses for the exchange.
It was a little riskier for them, but kept Killcreek safer from outsiders.
Every member had backed that decision. Especially him.
Cross, Wraith, Cue, Gent, and Ghost pulled into the driveway of their clubhouse and parked.
“Have we considered possible retaliation for the other night?” Ghost asked.
It was a valid question. But Cross wasn’t concerned. Griggs was driven by greed. He wouldn’t do anything to jeopardize the deal.
“They’re not gonna do shit.” Wraith said.
Cross scanned the area. There were a few members down the driveway smoking and a handful of women mulling around. Nothing suspicious.
“What the fuck is that?” Gent asked, and Cross looked over at his brother. He was staring across the yard, twisting his lips in disgust.
Cross, along with the others followed his stare. About twenty feet away, there was a scrappy, small dog. Or, at least I think it’s a dog. It was practically hairless with patchy scabs covering most of its head and legs.
“Is that a dog? In a sweater?” Ghost asked.
Gent snorted. “Looks like a giant fucked up rat.”
From around the bend, a familiar redheaded woman walked out. She had her head down, heading straight toward the animal. Cross wasn’t sure if she’d seen them, but she hadn’t looked over. She bent down and scooped up the animal into her arms.
“What kind of fucked up breed is that, darlin’?”
Eden jumped and spun around, clutching the dog against her chest. Her eyes widened, and a flash of fear traced over her face. She darted her eyes between all the men and bowed her head. Her hair covered most of her face, but they’d already gotten a good look.
Her bottom lip was swollen with a scabbed over gash. That was the most prominent injury, but he didn’t miss the purple yellowish bruise on her cheekbone.
“Darlin’?”
“It’s a mutt,” she muttered but didn’t look up.
Gent laughed and stepped closer, but she immediately stepped away. It usually wouldn’t stop Gent, but Cue did.
“Back the fuck up, Gent.”
She quickly peeked up at Cue then dropped her gaze to the dog. She had a large bruise covering her forearm. A handprint. Someone had definitely taken a good amount of anger out on her.
“Settle down, brother. Just getting a closer look.” Gent cocked his head, looking at the dog. “That’s the ugliest fucking dog I’ve ever seen. Why does it look like that?”
“It’s mange. Not his fault. His hair will grow back.” Eden gently pet his head, curling the dog against her chest. Without another word, she spun around, disappearing behind the brick wall.
Gent snorted, shaking his head. “Hot woman, ugly ass dog. Make it make sense, brothers.”
Cross sighed and gestured for the men to follow him.
Unlike last time, the door was wide open.
Cross resisted the urge to roll his eyes.
He knew for a fact, they had product in the clubhouse.
How they could be so careless with their security measures was beyond him. Another example of poor leadership.
There were a few members in the hallway. They all spread apart, making a path for them.
“You see her face?” Cue asked in a low tone.
Cross glanced over at him, sharpening his gaze. “Yeah.”
Cue’s jaw tightened when Griggs and Spinner met them at the bar.
Cue didn’t say much during the meeting. There was an element of tension in the room, but it was to be expected.
Both sides were still holding onto their resentment for the incident especially a few members of Satan’s.
Cross had little doubt the consequences for messing with their people in Killcreek wouldn’t be forgotten anytime soon.
The meeting was short, and they set up the new delivery date. It was two weeks earlier than their prior shipment schedule. Red flags had gone up for Cross once again. They didn’t have the demand for the supply they were ordering. The Satan’s were planning something, but they were tight-lipped.
Fifteen minutes later, they wrapped up the meeting. As they walked through the room, he noticed Cue glance around as if looking for something. Or someone? Eden hadn’t shown up again. In fact, they took the same exit as they’d entered. Even Cross scanned the yard looking for her. She was gone.
They were a few feet from their bikes when a few club girls started coming up the driveway. They ignored the women as they reached their bikes. It might have been on both his and Cue’s minds as to what happened to Eden, but neither was going to ask.
“Hey, darlin’?”
When all the women turned, Gent pointed at the brunette who’d coincidentally been with Eden the night they ambushed the Satan’s. He curled his finger. She hesitated slightly but straightened her shoulders and sauntered toward them.
“What?”
“Your friend? With the ugly dog?”
She snorted. “Eden.”
“Someone roughed her up, huh?”
Cross intently watched her reaction. Her lips twisted as she scanned the men, sending a pointed glare directly at Cue before looking back at Gent.
“Why do you care?”
Gent smiled and shrugged. “’Cause I’m a gentleman and concerned about the welfare of all women.”
Cross eyed Gent. That was a fucking stretch.
“She’s fine.”
Gent pointed to his mouth. “That lip looks like it hurts.”
“Probably doesn’t hurt half as bad as when it was fresh. Wanna know what she did to earn that?” The woman’s nostrils flared, and her glare turned on Cue. “She let you in.” The woman shook her head. “Looks like you didn’t live up to your word, asshole.”
Cross had his suspicions, and if he had to guess, it was the same thought that had crossed Cue’s mind. He wasn’t sure if Eden would’ve followed that order if not for Cue asking.
“What does she mean? Your word?” Ghost asked watching the woman walk away.
Cue grasped his waist and bowed his head. “Fuck.”
Technically, Cue had kept his word, promising Eden that Killcreek wouldn’t hurt her. But on a broader spectrum, it didn’t mean she was safe from the Satan’s. They couldn’t have predicted what would happen once they’d left that night. But we should’ve fucking thought of it.
“Let’s go.” Cross slapped Cue’s back, urging him to the bikes. But the brother didn’t move.
“Hey!” Cue snapped, and the woman whipped around.
“Get Eden for me.”
She scoffed and knitted her brows. “Haven’t you caused her enough trouble?”
Cue’s jaw squared. “Get her.”
“She left while you were in the meeting.” The woman eyed Cue and cocked her head. “But here’s some advice. Unless you plan on being a hero for that girl, leave her alone. She deserves a lot more than an asshole who can’t keep his word.” She walked inside, and the door slammed behind her.
Cue dragged his hand over his face and Ghost rested his hand on his shoulder. “Come on, man, let’s get out of here.”
Cross watched his brother walk a few feet to his bike and glance around the empty yard.
They had no way of knowing if she’d actually left.
It shouldn’t have mattered. Eden wasn’t their responsibility.
He was about to get on his bike when he saw something move behind the bushes.
Cross arched his neck and clocked a prospect coming around the clubhouse.
“Prospect.” He shouted and the younger guy turned. Cross waved his hand and the kid rushed across the yard, stopping a foot away from them.
“You guys need something?”
Cross shared a look with Cue before looking back at the prospect.
“You know Eden?”
He smiled, nodding. “Yeah.”
Cross lifted his chin to the clubhouse. “She here?”
“No, I saw her leave a little while ago. I think she was going to her job.”
“Where does she work?” Cue asked.
The kid shrugged. “Some place downtown, I think. Pet shop or shelter. She likes animals.”
Gent snorted. “Ugly ass ones, right?”
When the kid laughed, Gent hardened his gaze. “Do you know who beat the shit out of her?”
The prospect’s face paled, he flattened his lips and shook his head.
That was the most they were going to get from him. If he knew, he wasn’t going to give up a name. His loyalty was with the Satan’s, not Eden.
He hooked his thumb over his shoulder and started walking backwards. “I gotta go.”
The prospect practically ran into the clubhouse. Cross glanced over at Cue.
“What do you want to do?”
“Can’t do shit if she’s not here.” Cue sighed, starting up his engine. “Let’s head home.”
And they did.
But Cross sensed this was far from over for Cue. If he had to guess, they’d be seeing Eden again.