Nitro's Torment (Sydney Storm MC 2)

“Fuck,” I muttered. Who am I today? I never spent my time thinking about a man in this way anymore. I couldn’t deny, though, that most of my time had been spent on him that day.

Nitro had been there for me last night. When I’d been an emotional mess, he’d looked after me in ways a man never had before. Not even Chris had been there for me like Nitro had. Who would have thought a man who appeared so closed off from people would be the one there in the middle of the night?

When I’d woken up that morning, I’d felt like shit. My head hurt—from both a mild hangover and from crying during the night. I’d expected Nitro to be all awkward with me, so the first thing I did was smile at him, trying to stop any awkwardness there might be. Either that smile worked really well or Nitro was so horny that his dick was doing all the thinking.

He’d flirted with me, which was the last thing I’d expected from him. For a guy who wore moody like a uniform, he sure knew how to have some sexy fun with a chick. It was absolutely what I’d needed that morning. The only problem being that he’d stirred a whole lot of desire in me that I’d been trying to avoid thinking about since I’d met him. Being attracted to his looks was one thing, but this was something else altogether. I was beginning to see Nitro in a new light and I couldn’t deny I liked these new sides to him.

“You waiting for your man?”

I glanced up to find the dark-haired woman behind the bar watching me expectantly. She was the one who’d kept my drinks coming the night before. I shook my head. “No, I’m not with any of the bikers.”

Frowning, she cocked her head. “What about that guy you were with last night, just before you left?”

“Nope. I’m stuck here with him, but he’s not mine.”

Still frowning, she said, “Huh, coulda fooled me. The way he hung off every word you said and the way you guys argued… I would have sworn you two were together.”

My belly fluttered. I placed my hand on it as if to tell it to settle the hell down. “You misread him. Nitro doesn’t hang off any words I say. Although, if I were to tell him I wanted sex, he’d probably hang off those words.”

She laughed but her expression soon turned serious. “I know what I saw and trust me when I tell you that I don’t generally misread people. I have a kind of sixth sense about people.”

I paused for a moment. “Are you a psychic or something?” She did have that look about her with her long wild hair, crystal jewellery, earth-mother waif figure and flowing dress.

She hit me with a brilliant smile that turned her pretty face into magnificent beauty. “I wouldn’t say that, but I do sense things.” She held out her hand. “I’m Kree by the way.”

I shook her hand. “Tatum. Nice to meet you.” And I actually meant it. I didn’t bother with most people anymore, but Kree had an energy that drew me in.

“You want a rum?”

“God, no.” Memories of being sick during the night ran through my mind. “But I would love an orange juice.”

She frowned. “It sounds like that rum last night didn’t treat you well.”

“Let’s just say I won’t be having any more for a long time.”

As she poured me a juice, a blood-curdling scream filled the bar and I turned to see who it came from.

King had a petite woman in his arms just outside the doorway and I could vaguely make out her head buried in his neck. Loud sobs came from her. And then she lifted her face to his and screamed, “No! He can’t die!”

King said something to her that I couldn’t hear, and she once again placed her head on him and sobbed. He held her for a few minutes. I was fairly certain he would have held her for longer except for the fact a screeching noise outside distracted him and he left her to go out there.

The woman leaned against the wall near the bar entrance and I watched as her body slid down it to the floor. Shudders racked her body. The pain she felt was palpable. So much so, it pierced my heart. Feeling my way through that pain, I slid off the bar stool and made my way to her.

Joining her on the floor, I pulled her into my embrace. Running my hand over her hair, I tried to soothe her and take some of that pain from her. But I knew—God, how I knew—people couldn’t carry your load; they could only wipe your tears and wait your time out with you.

I’d only been sitting with her for a few minutes when King stormed back inside. He halted when he saw me, surprise in his eyes. A beat of silence passed between us and then he nodded, as if he was pleased with what he saw.

“Can you take her to Nitro’s room?”

I put two and two together and knew why he wanted her taken away. Nodding, I said, “Yeah.”

“Thanks,” he said gruffly. It was the first sign of emotion other than anger or frustration that I’d seen from him.

He turned and exited the clubhouse, and I somehow managed to get the woman to a standing position. Her arms clung to me and her head remained down while she cried.

I placed my hand under her chin and tilted her face to look at me. “I’m going to take you somewhere quiet now. You good to walk?”

Eyes that held her distress stared back at me. She didn’t speak but she did nod, so I held her close and led the way to Nitro’s room. I laid her down on his bed and settled myself next to her, sitting with my back to his headboard with my arms wrapped around her.