Picking up the phone, I saw that it was way too damn early for us to be awake after the night we had. I also saw that I had three missed calls. Before I could look to see who called, my phone started ringing in my hand.
“Carbon,” I answered.
“It’s Coal. Phoenix wants you at the clubhouse now,” he said and disconnected. Coal’s frantic voice coupled with Phoenix’s early morning order to call the troops in caused an uneasy feeling to wash over me.
I climbed out of bed and began quickly dressing. “I’ve got to go to the clubhouse. I don’t know what’s going on or how long I’ll be, but I’ll be back as soon as I can.”
“Be safe, Chase. I love you.”
“I love you, too, baby.”
We were supposed to stay at the clubhouse after the wedding because Phoenix didn’t want anyone who’d had even a drop of alcohol driving, but we hitched a ride in the limo when Ember and Dash left. Now, I wished we’d stayed.
I walked into utter chaos when I arrived at the clubhouse. I didn’t live far from the clubhouse, but somehow, I still managed to beat Phoenix there, and he lived on the same damn property. “Somebody tell me what the fuck is going on!” he bellowed as he plowed through the front doors.
When I learned that our one and only prisoner had escaped from the makeshift jail we had hidden away in our basement, I knew I wouldn’t be getting back to Harper anytime soon. Sighing, I pulled my phone out and sent her a text letting her know that I would be gone for the better part of the day. I felt torn. I wanted to spend the day with Harper, especially since our time together was limited, but I also wanted to be there for my brothers.
Harper replied back and let me know that she was going to meet Hilarie for lunch and some shopping. I turned to Shaker who was seated to my right. “You left that girl in your apartment alone?”
“I didn’t have much of a choice. Besides, I keep anything of importance here.”
“What excuse did you give her for running out the door this morning?”
He smirked. “Told her I had to go and I would be back when I got back. She wasn’t happy with me this morning, but some of that was probably left over from last night.”
“Do I even want to know?” I hesitantly asked.
“You tell me. She was pissed because I would only fuck her ass.”
“For the record, I didn’t want to know.”
“Noted.”
Color me surprised when we ended up back at the clubhouse before 4:00 pm. Once again, I turned to Shaker. “Your girl has been hanging with my girl all day. You want to do a brother a solid and occupy her time for the rest of the evening?”
“Not really, but I guess I can take one for the team. Send the bitch back to my place.” With that, he stood and left the room. I sat there for several minutes, shocked by his comment. His whole attitude toward Hilarie was out of character for him. Just like the rest of us, he had his fair share of one-night stands or sex only arrangements, but I had never known him to be openly disrespectful about it.
Badger’s voice broke into my musings, “I’ve got my eye on him. I’ll bring it to attention if need be. Go home and see your girl.”
“Thanks, Veep.”
I entered my condo to find Harper, Hilarie, Reese, and James in my living room. Like the big badass I was, I bypassed the ladies and went straight for James. “Hey, Little Man. Have you been good for your momma today?” He squealed and giggled when I blew raspberries on his onesie covered belly.
“When did you guys get back?” Reese asked.
“Just now, Reesie Piecie. Duke was talking to Phoenix when I walked out so he should be calling you any second now.” I turned to Hilarie. “Shaker wants you to meet him at his place.”
I helped my sister get James in the car and sent her on her way, followed by tactfully shoving Hilarie out the door. Back inside, I didn’t see Harper in the living room where I had left her. I found her upstairs in my bedroom, and the anger in her eyes shocked me.
“What’s wrong, baby?”
“Gee, Chase, I don’t know. Maybe the fact that I had to explain to your sister, as well as Hilarie, how I got the bruises behind my ears and down my neck when she showed up here unannounced to question me about my previous job as a stripper!” she yelled.
“Bruises? What fucking bruises? Who hurt you?” I demanded. I could feel myself getting worked up and I wasn’t in a place where I could get a handle on it myself.
She yanked her hair into a ponytail and turned to the side, pointing toward her ear. “These are from you, you big beast!”
I couldn’t believe what I was seeing. My fingers were bruised into her skin from where I had held her in place while I was fucking her. “Harper,” I croaked. “Baby, I’m so sorry. I didn’t know I was hurting you. I would have stopped if I knew. I-I-Fuck!” I turned away from her, shame consuming me. I loved our rough fun together, but I never meant to hurt her.