“Where are you going? I need a trailer,” he whines.
I snort. “That drug was as much my creation as yours. Don’t think I don’t remember how to make it.” The threat is real but he doesn’t even stop pacing.
“I’m calling Gina and telling her to put the land up for sale. I’ll get Jimmy and his crew to clean it up,” Axel informs me as he pulls out his phone. He keeps his eyes on Doc as he paces.
“Tell her to push it hard. I want out of here.” I move toward my bike.
I’ve barely seen Eve this week. I’ve been here for a couple of days and at a club I’m taking over, so I stayed in the office for a few nights on the couch. She’s in my blood, and like a thirsty man needs water, I seem to need this girl. So I’ve made a real effort to distance myself from that. But not today. I’m sick of running from her and what she does to me.
Ryder joked the other morning that I was scared of her. I ignored his jab, but as the day wore on, I wondered if he wasn’t right. Am I afraid of the way I feel around Eve?
I don’t feel guilty about scaring her when I threatened to sell her. It was needed. If she’s going to be in my life, for her safety and my sanity, she needs to be where I can find her at all times. She’s young and beautiful, but she is also tough as nails. I can’t tolerate her dramatics. My guys will lose all respect and I wouldn’t blame them. Threatening to sell her not only scared her, it brought us to a place we have to be.
I know I’m an ass, but watching her cry and knowing she needs my comfort to feel whole turns me on. She’s never had that kind of attention, so her whole psyche soaks it up like a sponge absorbs water. She knows the rules and has committed to being mine. I don’t feel guilty about keeping her. Each day that I wake up to her sweet-smelling skin I learn a little more about her, even when I try not to. Like how when she smiles big, she has a small dimple on her right cheek. How her blue eyes turn color with her emotions. How she is grateful every day because she chooses to trust that I’m taking care of her father. All of these things are why I had to give myself some space. Jesus, the other night I almost took her out for dinner and a movie. I had to force myself to leave her and go to our local bar where the Disciples hang out. I don’t do dates and I can’t remember the last time I’ve gone to the movies—maybe when I was sixteen. The thing is, the more I learn about this stunning gypsy, the more I want her. More than likely she’s never even been to a movie. And if she has, it was a long time ago. So I almost did it—almost took her hand and jumped over the cliff. Instead I locked her in my room and ran like a fucking pussy.
I get on my bike and start it up. Doc looks shocked. “What the hell, Blade? What did you decide? Do I get my trailer?”
I don’t respond and leave him with Axel. Suddenly I’m through running. Jesus Christ, she’s only a girl. But I’m going to teach her to swim today. Then maybe we’ll go get pizza and a beer. Fuck, I want to take her to the movies and see her face light up with wonder. I want to kiss her pouty lips and watch the sunset with her. This is why I should head in the other direction. Instead I merge onto the freeway toward LA and Eve.
I find her sitting with Amy and Dewey laughing in the kitchen. Her back is to me, and for a moment, I stop and listen to her giggle at their ridiculous conversation. Amy is trying to convince Dewey that if he wants a girlfriend he needs to be a gentleman. By gentleman she means he needs to take off his cut and wear preppy clothes. If Eve wasn’t laughing so hard she was hitting the counter, I would barge in and tell Dewey no woman is worth taking off his cut. But I don’t. I watch her hands wave around as she snorts out a laugh about picturing Dewey in skinny jeans and a collared pink shirt. That even makes Amy crack a smile and my heart tightens like someone is squeezing it.
I push off the doorway and walk into the kitchen where everyone turns to stare at me. Eve jumps off the stool and Dewey stops grinning.