I don’t know if that’s enough.
“So what’s the plan? You going to sit around here all day and try and look pretty?”
“I’m not the one of us that spends a fortune on their hair to make it soft so all the girls want to touch it and fall to their knees to worship you.”
“Fuck you. You can’t talk. You tatted your fucking cock with the sign of the devil.”
“Not my cock. Just close to the cock. Besides, there was a reason for that.”
“What’s that?”
“Well I’m called Devil for a reason. Plus, women love to play with the bad boys. I wanted to point them in the right direction.”
“You’re such a cocky bastard.”
“Never claimed to be anything different.” I shrug and he flips me off.
“So we’re going to stay in this damn place for another day?” Diesel asks, and I frown, thinking about that. I scratch the side of my face through my beard and think his question over.
“No, man. You have Ryan and I know how hard it is for you to be away from him right now. You go on home, I’ll be fine.”
“Not going to happen, Ese.”
“You’ve seriously been hanging around Skull too damn long,” I mutter at his nickname. Diesel’s not got anything Spanish about him, but he uses words here and there—most commonly Ese, because he’s heard it often, because he likes it… Who the fuck knows really?
“Let’s go find some lunch and check the town out if we’re going to stay for a few days. I like to know the lay of the land.”
“Torrent might—”
“Christ, we won’t be gone that long. Your dick can’t be so wrapped up in her already that you can’t go find dinner,” Diesel mutters and I frown.
“You need to get back to Ryan. Just because we foiled the last kidnapping attempt—”
“Crusher and Dani will keep him safe, but I’ll head back tomorrow. You decide tonight if you’re going to stay another night. If you are, I’ll give one of the other men a call and have them come down here to watch your back.”
“Don’t you think that’s going more than a little overboard?” I ask him, frowning.
“If the way Wolf was looking at that girl is any indication? Fuck, no I’m not overreacting. You’re getting ready to wade into some dangerous territory, Devil.”
“Wouldn’t be the first time,” I respond and not to be a bigger asshole, but I don’t care what he says. If there’s a chance that I end up with Torrent when all of this is said and done, I’ll take that chance every day of the week.
Which is further proof that I really am wrapped up over this woman. The biggest problem with that is, I can’t be sure what Torrent will do… or how she feels.Torrent“You really think you got what it takes to beat me, Tor?” Wolf asks, gripping his hammer tightly.
“Dude, you are so going down!” I boast, holding my hammer the same way.
“You willing to make a bet?”
“What are we talking?” I ask, eyeing him warily.
“A little friendly wager, Tor, unless you’re… chicken?”
I narrow my eyes at Wolf, and fight the urge to smile.
“Fine. What is it that you want to bet?” I ask, determined to win.
“If I win, we eat at La Pena’s tonight.”
I cringe, because I hate Mexican food. I can handle taco salads or tacos at home, but to eat out I avoid those places.
“And if I win?”
“You tell me,” he says and I think it over.
“If I win, you let me move back into Dad’s house, no bitching.”
His face goes hard—like I knew it would.
“Damn it, Tor. I can’t do that. I need to know you’re safe and right now you’re safer inside the club.”
“You took out Crash and anyone involved.”
“The club still has other enemies, sweetheart. You know that.”
“I need this, Wolf. It’s not like Pop’s house isn’t right next to the club. I can practically stand on the porch and yell at you if you’re in the back courtyard.”
“Tor—”
“I don’t want to be at the club, Wolf. It’s not my life. And you don’t need to be my nursemaid all the time. You have a life and it’s one I’d rather not… witness.”
“What’s that mean?”
“Come on, Wolf. Those damn club girls hang all over you.”
“There’s one way to stop that, Tor. You got my jacket. Everyone knows how I feel about you—including you. Give in.”
“Wolf—”
“You love me, Tor,” he says and my heart squeezes. I ruined a lighthearted moment bringing this up. I should have left it to later, been wiser about picking my battles. It’s too late to stop it now, though.
“I do love you, Wolf. You know that. But I don’t love you like… I should.”
“That can come in time,” he says, and he sounds so confident. He was my father’s pick for me. He’s protected me and cared about me my entire life. He loved my father as much as I did. Things would be so simple if I could give him what he wants. He’s a beautiful man, caring, loving…