Throne of Scars (Lost Kings MC 20)

“I’m Serenity,” the girl next to me says.

The universe really enjoys fucking with me, huh?

“Did you really just get out of prison?” she asks with wide, curious eyes.

“You should be careful asking men you don’t know questions like that, sweetheart,” I warn.

“Oh, sorry. I’d love to show you a good time.” She wraps her fingers around my bicep.

I swear to God I hear Z and Teller giggling behind me. Fuckers.

My skin’s crawling with discomfort. Not from the girl. She’s lovely. Twenty-five years ago I would’ve let her lead me by the dick straight to her bedroom. My body’s frozen. How the fuck do I handle this? It’s not like I’ve been around a lot of women in the last fifteen years. Sure, a muffler bunny here and there have hit on me up at the clubhouse—they’re easy to blow off. But most of my time’s been spent obsessing over Serena.

I don’t want to offend this woman and risk causing a problem with a business associate of the club. But I really want her to get the fuck away and stop touching me.

“We need to go.” Rock drops his gaze to where she’s clinging to my arm. “Another time, sweetheart.”

I shoot a glare at him. There won’t be a next time.

Finally, I shake her loose, and pull myself free from her grasp.

“Okay.” She leans up on her toes, pursing her lips like she’s planning to kiss me.

I swerve away like she just threw a snake at my face.

This is ridiculous. I need to get out of here.

Without another word, I stomp out of the house and down the front steps.

“Fuck.” I kick one of Rock’s front tires. I’m stuck until he gets his ass out here.

“Don’t take it out on my vehicle.” Rock’s rumbling voice is somewhere between concerned and amused. He stops and rests his hand on my shoulder. “You all right?”

“No. I’m old, awkward, and not used to hanging around forward women.” I blow out a frustrated breath. “And I didn’t want to be rude to one of the girls and have it fuck up your relationship with Loco.”

“Don’t worry about it.”

Z and Teller join us. Both of ‘em grinning like idiots.

“Serenity would like you to have her phone number.” Z presents me with a small black business card.

“Fuck off with that.” I slap the card out of his hand.

“Christ, Grinder, you could’ve just told her you had a girlfriend and weren’t interested,” Teller chimes in. “You didn’t have to act like she had cooties.”

“You can fuck off too.”

“It’s okay, G. We’re not questioning your virility, we’re questioning your manners,” Z says between giggles.

“Enough,” Rock groans. “Where are my other two fuckwits?”

“Present!” Rav hollers, pounding down the steps and jumping onto the sidewalk. Dex follows at a slower pace, hands stuffed in his pockets.

“I think Tasha likes me.” Ravage grins and turns to wave at the girls watching us from the window. “She was extra chatty and cuddly.”

Dex rolls his eyes. “She was probably hoping you’d tip her.”

“Of course I tipped her.” Rav’s offended tone actually lightens my foul mood. “I’m not a scrub. Just ’cause Loco says it’s on the house doesn’t mean I’m gonna stiff the lady.” He ducks his head. “Well, not monetarily anyway.”

“What a gentleman,” Teller grumbles.

“Nah, give him credit where it’s due,” Dex says. “Most guys wouldn’t bother.”

“Again with the low bar,” I mutter.

Teller catches my eye, smirks, and nods at me. “Charlotte’s friend Mercy is always saying ‘the bar is in hell’ and now I understand what she means.”

“Damn, Mercy is fine,” Rav says. “When you having her over to your house again? I wanna be there.”

Rock smacks him in the back of the head. “Didn’t your dick get enough attention today?”

“I don’t understand the question, Prez.”

“Let’s go.”

Finally.

I’m itching to get back to the clubhouse. As soon as Rock stops the truck, I open my door.

“If you don’t need me, I have a few things I want to take care of.” I hate runnin’ out on Rock but now that business is out of the way, I can’t sit still for the recap of the events I just sat through and all the other assorted bullshit that will drag on for the next two hours.

“Yeah, go ahead.” Rock clasps my shoulder and stares at me for a second. “Need anything?”

I open my mouth to snap at him, then stop myself. “Nah, brother. I’m fine.”

“Thanks for coming today. It helped a lot.”

“Careful, Grinder, Rock will start making you go meet with Loco on the regular,” Z warns.

I huff a laugh. “Whatever you need, I’m here for it.”

“I know you are,” Rock says in that serious tone that gets under my skin for some reason. “If you need something, call. I’ll be home. Not planning to go anywhere else today.”

Teller snorts. “That’s code for—”

“Don’t start.” Rock throws a warning glare Teller’s way.