Sold to the MC Men
Page 9
She spun on her heel, about to leave him without his water. She was only doing a kind thing, but here he was, telling her she was lying about who she was.
How dare he?
She didn’t get two steps before the water was plucked out of her hands. She turned to see Tank down one glass, then the other.
“Why was one warmer than the other?” he asked.
“I gave you the ice. I figured you could use it.”
“Oh.”
She nibbled her lip. “I’ll go and finish cleaning.”
She didn’t stick around.
Tank had really upset her, and she shouldn’t allow his words to affect her. None of these men owed her anything.
She had tried all of her life not to let anything affect her, and here she was, bothered by a few assumptions and words of a man who had control over her.
It was stupid.
Cleaning the glasses, she dried them as she didn’t like the glasses to get stained from drying water.
She wasn’t always so neurotic when it came to cleaning. With the Broken Devils MC, she wanted to surprise them. To show each man she wasn’t like her mother. She wasn’t afraid of hard work, and she was someone they could trust.
Again, she didn’t know why, only that she wanted to succeed with surprising them.
****
Tank walked into the main clubhouse at lunchtime. He got a text from Edge to say they were close, and would be there within thirty minutes. He had a lot of trust issues when it came to women.
Leah was a problem.
From the moment he saw her, she inspired a need within him that had been dead a long time. He wanted to protect her.
He felt that way about the men he called his brothers. They were the only ones who had ever inspired any kind of loyalty within him.
He wanted to protect them. With Leah, he didn’t know what he wanted.
Women were … weak.
They made mistakes and were foolish in love, or lust. They always thought with their pussy or their bank balance.
That was his experience of women.
Leah bringing him out a simple glass of water, a cold one at that, it had unnerved him, and he didn’t like the feeling.
The main room looked freaking shiny. There was not a single speck of dust. He moved up to the bar, running a finger across the surface, and sure enough, no dust. No nothing.
Everywhere sparkled.
He walked into the kitchen, and there were once again, clean surfaces. He opened the fridge, and there wasn’t any food or grime, or mold.
She had completely gutted the place.
The sound of the washing machine drew him to the laundry room. He had never been in this room, ever. He always bargained with the other men to get out of laundry. There she was, folding laundry. He had seen her hanging out clothes.
She looked very domesticated, putting the clothes out on the line to dry, leaving them, coming back, gathering them up.
“You’ve taken a shower,” he said, noticing the change of clothes. She wore a black pair of shorts this time.
She gasped, turning toward him.
“You startled me.”
“Sorry,” he said. He didn’t feel it.
“I had no choice but to take a shower. This heat is terrible, and I stunk. I didn’t even want to be around me it was that bad.”
He chuckled.
“I’ve put the clothes into piles. I’m going to let the guys know. I didn’t want to go into anyone’s room in case they thought I was trying to steal their stuff.”
She wouldn’t look at him, and when she spoke, she turned away.
Tank sighed. He moved toward her. He couldn’t touch the washing; he was filthy.
“I don’t trust well.”
“I don’t either. I’m not a criminal.”
He laughed. “Sweetheart, you’re in an entire building full of men who are.”
“Yeah, well, that doesn’t mean I am. I just want to make it out of here alive. Is that so hard to believe?” she asked.
“It’s not. We’re used to women like your mother.”
“Offering you her services so you’ll give her all the dope she wants?”
“Pretty much.”
“It’s not exactly a good way of looking at women,” she said.
“In my experience, women bring it on themselves.”
“You’ve prejudged me. I’ve never been with a man. I’ve never given a man that kind of power over me. I don’t do drugs. I’ve never taken them in my life.”
“And?” he asked.
“No and. I just wanted you to know.” She shrugged. “I’m a good person. I’d never hurt anyone.”
“It sucks being in the system.”
“It makes you feel worthless.” She shook her head. “You were looking for me.”
“Edge called. He’s not too far out.”
“Great.” Her stomach growled.
“You tossed out all the food.”
She finished folding the last shirt. “It wasn’t edible, and I’m not going to serve you guys something that could kill you.”
“It makes you one step ahead of Junior.”
She chuckled. “Please tell me he was joking about the whole moldy cheese being okay for bread and meat?”