“No.” My voice was higher than I meant it to be. With effort, I lowered it. “No Avery. Fuck no. What kind of man do you think I am? Chelsea is Ruins kid sister.” Technically I hadn’t fucked her. We had just kissed. Just fooled around. Not that Avery or anyone else needed to know that. Not ever.
“I’ve seen the way you look at each other.” As always Avery sounded calm. The complete opposite of me.
“How I look at people has nothing to do with you Avery. I am not and have no slept with Ruins sister.” Although I want to. Desperately. I added silently. “But who I fuck is none of your business.”
“It’s my business because it’s Ruins business. Chelsea has been through enough Wicked. He won’t put up with you hurting her.”
I whirled on her with a growl. Me hurting her? That was the kind of man my friend’s old lady thought I was. Someone who went around hurting women on purpose.
Flicking the half-smoked cigarette into the rain, I opened the back door. “Fuck You, Avery. Fuck. You.”
***
I hadn’t meant to shout it at her, I really hadn’t. I wasn’t Avery’s biggest fan and she wasn’t mine but I should have shown her some respect. If for no other reason than she was Ruins old lady.
I had lost my cool because what she had said was true. We had been watching each other. If Avery had noticed then so had other people. If they hadn’t then they would soon.
It just proved my point. I had to put some distance between me and the delicious Chelsea. The more miles the better.
“I’m going to leave.” I hadn’t meant to say it out loud but as soon as the words were out of my mouth I knew it was the right thing to do.
Every single person around the table, lifted their head to stare at me but it was Ruins eyes that I met. There was no way I was going to glance at Chelsea. As much as I wanted to see her reaction, I couldn’t. If she looked upset I would cave and stay.
“After the funeral,” I added quickly. The fork clattered on to my plate. And still, Ruin didn’t say anything. The asshole just continued to stare at me. “You will need people on the road.” I continued. Why wasn’t anyone talking?
Then he nodded. His face was thoughtful. “Yeah, we will. And someone needs to take Chelsea back to school.”
I blinked at him in shock. Take Chelsea back to school? That would mean being alone with her. It would mean having her breasts pressed against my back and her arms around me. It would hours of being alone with her.
“No.” I shook myself. Trying to keep my voice under control. “I mean do you think that’s a good idea? Wouldn’t it be safer for her to stay here? Where she is protected.”
I didn’t think Chelsea was in danger, not from anyone but me. If I had to be with her for hours then she would be in serious trouble. Because I would give in to temptation. I wouldn’t be able to help myself.
Ruins shoulders sagged. “You’re probably right. You are always fucking right.” He sighed heavily. “Why is that?”
I didn’t answer him, instead, I turned my head to Chelsea. She was frowning. I knew that look on her face. She was about to throw a fit. Narrowing my eyes I waited until she lifted her own to meet mine. They were puffy and red but defiant.
“Don’t argue with your brother on this Chels he doesn’t need your shit,” I told her off like I had done in the past.
“Don’t talk to me like I’m a kid.”
“You are a kid though Chels…” I cracked a smile but it was forced. We had had this argument so many times before but this time it was different. This time she took it to heart. I could see it in her eyes.
Which was fine, the angrier she was with me the better. Anger wasn’t lust. Anger would turn into indifference or even hatred.
Either one of those was better than the feelings I had seen creeping into her eyes.
Chapter Four
Chelsea
Ruin did his best to shield me from everything that was going on just like my dad had always done but as the day of Fenders funeral approached I knew he wouldn’t be able to for much longer. The police were always hovering about. Asking questions, taking statements. They had even questioned me. Much to Ruins dismay. He would have kicked off and gotten himself arrested if Cali hadn’t stepped in. The police hadn’t been happy about that. I was an adult, and just giving a statement. Why did I need a solicitor with me?
Cali had been spectacular. Almost icy in her calmness and they soon stopped asking her to leave.
I knew they were just doing their jobs. I completely understood that but I didn’t hold out much hope that they would find the person who pulled the trigger. I doubted they would even try very hard. We were bikers. Living in the grey area between what was right and wrong. Hell, most of the club had bypassed grey and gone straight to black. Or maybe red. Red was the colour of blood after all.
No, the police wouldn’t find out who killed my father. But the club would. And when they did their justice would be swift and violent.