Текст книги "Arrow's Hell"

Автор книги: Chantal Fernando

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Текущая страница: 11 (всего у книги 16 страниц)

I love every second.

Even though I’m kind of missing Arrow.

 NINETEEN 

HOW long are you going to be mad at me?” I ask Rake, hand on my hip. I came to the clubhouse this morning to resolve two things. One, Arrow still isn’t back from wherever he is, and two, Rake is avoiding me.

“I’m not mad,” he says, eyeing but not eating the breakfast I brought him.

I throw my hands up. “Are you not going to eat the food I brought you because you’re holding a grudge against me?”

He pouts, actually pouts.

I point at the bag filled with his favorite breakfast foods—a croissant, a bagel, and a couple of hash browns. “Please eat it, or I will.”

He slowly moves the bag closer to his chest so I can’t take it.

I hide my smirk.

He sighs.

“Adam,” I say, wanting to get through to him. “This is my family too, now. Think about it—I’m safer with Arrow than on my own.” I lower my voice. “I love him.”

His eyes dart to mine. “I don’t want to see what happened to Mary happen to you.”

“Anyone could have died that night,” I say. “It wasn’t Arrow’s fault.”

He lowers his head. “I know that! Fuck. You’re my baby sister, Anna. It’s me who fucked up. I’m the selfish one. I wanted you around me, so I brought you here, and now you’re shacked up with one of the baddest motherfuckers in the club.”

He looks at me. “You couldn’t have chosen Tracker or someone, could you?”

Tracker? Did Rake think he was the best out of them all? I think over the rest of the men and realize, sadly, that he may be right. Tracker was a good guy, even though he had his own issues with Allie.

I step closer to him and wrap my arm around him. “I love you, you know that, right? I never want to hurt you, or disappoint you, and it kills me that you’re avoiding me right now. You were my only family, Rake; you were all that I had. Now you’ve given me your MC family, and at first I wasn’t too thrilled,” I admit. “But I wouldn’t have it any other way. So thank you. And Arrow has been a perfect gentleman to me.”

Except in the sheets—but he doesn’t need to know that.

“A gentleman?” he repeats, sounding incredulous. “I’ve heard Arrow called many things, but definitely never that.”

I smirk. “Now will you eat your breakfast?”

He smiles and looks down into the bag. “I suppose so.”

I kiss him on the cheek. “Will you spend the day with me?”

He nods and takes a huge bite out of his croissant, half of it disappearing into his mouth.

“Good. Any idea when Arrow gets back?” I ask, hiding my annoyance that he didn’t mention he would be gone for longer than a night.

Rake looks up at me and grins boyishly. “Not so great to be an old lady now, is it?”

Old lady? No one said anything about that.

“Hmmph.”

He chuckles. “At least now I won’t have to threaten you to get you to the clubhouse.”

Tracker walks in at that moment with Trace, Jess’s husband.

“You,” he says, pointing at me.

“Me what?” I ask, looking around.

“I have a favor to ask you.”

I instantly become suspicious.

“I’m listening,” I reply warily.

He walks over to me and casually puts his hand on my waist. “Let’s talk about this in my bedroom.”

My eyebrows rise at that. “I don’t think so, buddy, unless you want me to finally get the chance to punch Allie in the face.”

He rubs the back of his neck. “She isn’t here—just come.”

He grabs my arm and walks me to his room. I glance back at Rake, who just shrugs his broad shoulders.

“So, what?” I call out to him. “Before, no club members could touch me, now any of them can lure me into their rooms?”

He laughs at my poor excuse of a joke. “You’re Arrow’s now. No one would dare touch you.” In his room, Tracker turns and looks down at me. “I want to ask Lana out,” he says.

I should have seen this one coming.

“And?”

“And I want you to tell me where her favorite place to eat is,” he says, blue eyes pleading with mine.

I cross my arms over my chest. “You know I love you, Tracker, but for fuck’s sake, Allie still lives here with you! I don’t think you should ask anyone out, especially Lana, until you sort out your shit.”

His expression darkens, but I don’t regret my words. They’re the truth—whether he wants to hear them or not.

“You don’t think I’m good enough for her?” he grits out, jaw tense.

“Tracker—”

He laughs mirthlessly. “Look, I know no one is probably good enough for Lana; I see what she’s worth. But it’s nice to know that someone I consider a good friend doesn’t see my worth.”

“Tracker—”

He opens the door to his room and walks out, leaving me sitting here alone, feeling like complete shit. I sit there for a few minutes, thinking. I see a pad of paper and a pen by the bed. It’s pink, so I’m assuming it’s Allie’s. I rip off a sheet and write Tracker a note.

You’re wrong; I know what you’re worth.

But do you?

I’m sorry I’m a jerk.

Love, Anna Bell.

Why does he keep Allie around? As a safety net? Is it a comfort thing? I have no idea, but I realize I’m being judgmental and poking my nose into shit that’s not really my business. I’m very protective of Lana, but I should be asking her if she wants this. It’s not my decision to make. I leave the note on his bed, then go to find Rake.

We have some catching up to do.

*   *   *

Wetness on my face.

I force my eyes open and stare up at Rake, who is dripping water on my face from a water bottle.

“What the hell are you doing?” I ask, sitting up and looking for something to throw at him.

“You fell asleep,” he says, shaking his head. “Some party animal you are.”

“What time is it?” I ask, rubbing my eyes with the bottom of my palm.

“One a.m., Anna, let’s go out!” he says cheerfully, bouncing on the balls of his feet.

I blink. “Are you on drugs?”

It’s a legitimate question with the way he’s acting.

“You want to go where?” I ask. We’d hung out all day, went to see a movie, spent some time playing pool, and had dinner. Then, everyone started drinking and I may have joined in for one or two drinks.

Or five.

“Let’s go to the club,” he says. “Rift, remember?”

“The one you guys dragged me out of last time?” I ask in a dry tone.

Good times.

“Yep,” he says, starting to tip more water on me.

“Do it and die!” I yell, standing up and pushing my hair out of my face. “Let me get dressed.”

“You have ten minutes,” he says. “I’m going to round everyone up.”

I look at him and only just notice he’s dressed and ready to go, in jeans and the black T-shirt I bought him when I first came back.

“Fine,” I say, following him to the door and locking it as he leaves. I’m wearing jeans and a plain white top, which won’t do. Knowing I don’t have time for a shower, I wash my face, brush my teeth, and put on some light makeup. My hair looks like I just got fucked, but there’s no fixing it. I get changed into tight jeans and a black top that shows off my stomach. I slide my feet into some stiletto heels, spritz a little perfume, and grab my handbag on the way out.

Rake, Tracker, Trace, Sin, and Vinnie are standing in the game room, laughing and drinking. They all look at me as I walk in.

“What?” I ask, feeling a little self-conscious.

“You actually got dressed in like fifteen minutes,” Tracker says, any earlier anger vanished. “Impressive. Arrow is a lucky fucker.”

That earns him a slap on the back of the head from Rake.

I roll my eyes and look at Sin. “Is Faye coming out?”

He shakes his head but gives no explanation for her absence.

Okaaaay then.

“Where’s Arrow?” I ask Tracker. He still hasn’t contacted me since last night, and I’m really put out over it.

“He’ll be at Rift,” Tracker replies, then snaps his head back to me. “And you need to be on your best behavior because men from other Wind Dragon chapters are going to be there tonight.”

“Define best behavior.”

“Have fun but keep your mouth shut,” he replies. “And stick to us at all times.”

I can do that.

Maybe.

He hands me my drink, and I take a sip.

Then I cough. “Holy shit, Tracker!”

He chuckles. “What? Can’t handle a little vodka?”

“Not straight! I’m not an alcoholic, you bastard!” I snap, putting my drink back down.

“Why are you grumpy?” he asks. “You had a nap and everything.”

Rake laughs.

I pick up a pool cue and threaten them with it.

They laugh harder.

“Why am I the only woman going out tonight?” I ask the group of them.

They all look at one another.

“The other women know their place,” Tracker inserts, laughing at his own joke.

I slap his shoulder. “How you get women at all, I have no idea.”

“Probably my huge pierced cock,” he replies. “Or my charm.”

My eyes widen as I look down at his crotch area. “Your dick is pierced?”

He undoes his button. “Yep. Want to see?”

Another slap from Rake.

The truth was, I did want to see. But I didn’t want to get Tracker killed.

Vinnie walks over and takes a gulp of my vodka, then pours in some juice and hands me back the glass. “Thanks, Vinnie,” I tell him.

I pound the whole glass.

“That’s the spirit,” Rake says, wrapping an arm around me. “Let’s do a shot, then get out of here.”

I slam the glass down and nod.

Why not?

*   *   *

One of the prospects, Blade, drops us off at Rift. A few of them tried to argue with me and wanted to take their bikes, but I made a big scene over it. No drunk riding. When we walk in, the vibe in the club is different from last time. There are a lot of bikers around, and a lot more practically naked women. Tracker stands to my left, Rake to my right. I feel like I’m walking in with a group of bodyguards. I see Arrow standing at the bar, his back to me. He’s talking with a man I’ve never seen before, also wearing a cut. The conversation doesn’t look too friendly, and I don’t want to interrupt.

“I’m going to the bathroom,” I tell Rake, raising my voice over the music. After having broken the seal before we left, I know I am going to have to pee a hundred times tonight. I do my business in the bathroom, then wash my hands in the sink. A woman walks in, and I realize she looks familiar. Where have I seen her before? I try to rack my brain but come up with nothing.

“I know you,” she says suddenly, smirking as she looks at her own reflection in the mirror. “You were waiting outside my house when Arrow came by.”

So that’s who she is. I remember now, Arrow said he had to make a stop while I waited by his bike outside.

I shrug. “That doesn’t mean you know me.”

Her lip twitches. “You’re nothing like Mary. I guess he went for her opposite this time.”

I pretend that doesn’t hurt, unwilling to let this woman see any weakness in me.

I stare her right in the eye. “If you have something to say, then say it.”

She smiles then. “Arrow won’t ever love anyone the way he loved my sister.”

She’s Mary’s sister? I didn’t see that one coming.

I force a smirk. “Why are you here, then? Trying to pick up your sister’s seconds?”

She raises her hand to hit me, but I catch her arm and twist it back.

“I’m not someone to fuck with,” I grit out. “I’ve never said one bad word about your sister, and I never will. But if you want to be on my bad side, you’re going to need a whole fuckin’ army to take me down, because I’m not like any other woman you know.”

“Let me go!” she gasps.

“Do you understand me?” I ask, steel in my tone.

She nods.

I let her go.

I check myself in the mirror, then glance at her one last time.

“Have a good night,” I tell her in a saccharine sweet tone.

Then I walk out, leaving her wide-eyed and cradling her arm.

Bitch.

The worst part is that I think she may be right.

 TWENTY 

WHEN I walk back to Tracker and Rake, Arrow finally notices me. He instantly storms over and pulls me into his big arms. I’m about to scold the shit out of him when his mouth lands on mine, kissing me quickly before pulling back and whispering into my ear, “I’ve missed you so fuckin’ much. I’m sorry I didn’t call, I’ve been dealing with these fucks and didn’t know when they would leave.”

He cups my face and kisses me again, cutting off anything I was about to say. “Do you want a drink?”

I shake my head. “No, I had enough of those.”

“Water?”

“Okay.”

He holds my hand and walks me back to the bar.

“Water,” he tells the bartender, then focuses his attention back to me. “You look fuckin’ edible tonight, Anna.”

“I try,” I reply, grinning.

“You don’t need to try, you have a natural beauty most women could only dream of.”

“Well, aren’t you the charmer,” I reply, taking the bottle of water from his hand and opening the lid. I take a sip and let the cool, delicious water slide down my throat.

“So this is why you turned down our hospitality,” the man Arrow was talking to before says as he stares me up and down. “Beautiful woman.”

I don’t miss the way Arrow creeps closer to me. “Yes, she is, isn’t she?”

“She is right here,” I mutter.

The man smirks. He looks to be in his fifties but carries himself well for his age. “A firecracker.”

He can tell that from one sentence? The man must be a genius.

I see Mary’s sister out of the corner of my eye, but she turns away the second I look back at her.

Good.

Arrow runs his hand down my body, resting it on my lower back, almost on my ass. “We done here?” he asks the man, his eyes on me.

“I’ll meet up with Sin tomorrow to go over the details,” the man replies.

Arrow nods once sharply, then leads me to the dance floor. One hand cupping my jaw, the other on my hip, he kisses me, then moves to the music.

“I was mad at you.”

“I knew you would be.” He smirks. “And I thought I handled you pretty well.”

My mouth falls open. “You did not handle me.”

“I did,” he replies, a smug look on his face. “If that didn’t work I was going to take you out for sushi.”

Dammit! He knows my weakness.

“Now let’s go home, I want to be buried inside you. Unless you want me to take you right here?”

I look around. “My brother is here, so no, thank you.”

Not that that was the only reason. I’d never had public sex, but I don’t think it was something I was going to be into.

He grunts. “Let’s go, then. I’m tired of being around all these people.”

We say our good-byes to everyone.

Rake kisses me on top of my head, letting me know that we’re good, and I leave the club with a smile plastered on my face.

I’m about to slide onto Arrow’s bike when Mary’s sister runs out, looking panicked.

She starts to cry, her shoulders shaking uncontrollably.

An uneasy feeling spreads through my body.

“What’s wrong, Janet?” Arrow asks, walking over to her. “Why are you crying?”

She lifts her finger and points at me. “How can you be with her?”

Arrow frowns and glances at me briefly. “That’s none of your business.”

“It is when she says shit about my sister! About how you never loved her and how she was a whore!”

My eyes flare, my fists clenching.

She can’t be serious right now.

“You conniving bitch!” I sneer, losing my composure. “I never said anything like that!”

Janet cries more, laying it on really thick. She looks pathetic ,really.

The bitch should get an Oscar.

After I punch her in the face.

I step forward, but Arrow grips my upper arm, holding me back.

“She threatened me too, in the bathroom. She hurt me, Arrow. What would Mary say?” Janet adds.

Arrow peers down at me; I can see that he’s thinking about Mary right now.

This woman is Mary’s sister. Mary obviously cared about her, and that means Arrow must either care or feel responsible for her in some way.

Arrow looks down at Janet. “Come on, Janet, I’m calling you a cab.”

“No!” she cries. “Not until you say you believe me.”

I stare up at Arrow with an arched brow, daring him to say that he believes her.

He rubs the back of his neck.

“Did you say that shit?” he asks me quietly.

“No,” I reply, staring him straight in the eye.

“Did you threaten her?” he asks then.

I bite my bottom lip. “I did. After she spoke shit to me and raised her hand to me.”

He stares down at Janet, and even I can see the pity on his face.

“I’ll take her home, Anna,” he says. “You wait with Rake. I’ll be back for you. I just don’t want to have to be worrying about her ass all night.”

Wow.

Even after how he looked at her, like he knew what her game was, he’s still choosing her over me.

I pretend that I don’t see her smug look, and walk back into the club without another glance.

“Anna!” he calls once, but I don’t turn around.

I’m too pissed.

I hear him rev his engine as I walk back into the club, looking around for my brother.

I just want to go home.

*   *   *

I don’t end up going straight home.

Instead, I have a few more drinks, then head to another biker bar.

“What’s this bar called again?” I ask Tracker, who’s texting someone.

“Your words are slurring, Anna Bell, that means no more tequila,” he replies.

I stick out my lower lip. “What about vodka?”

He laughs. “Only water.”

I lean my head on his shoulder. “You’re a great man, Tracker; why don’t you dump that whore once and for all so you can ask out Lana?”

“I thought you didn’t want me with Lana?”

“I want you to do right by her, and that means no Allie baggage. And I’m sorry for being a bitch; Lana is just really important to me, you know?”

He messes my hair. “I know.”

“Good.”

“Allie is the daughter of a club member who passed away, that’s why she lives in the clubhouse,” he explains to me. “It’s a little complicated.”

“It always is,” I say sagely.

“Arrow?”

“Last person I want to talk about right now.”

“That’s a shame, since he just messaged me asking where the fuck you are.”

“Yeah, well,” I sigh. “He chose that Janet bitch over me.”

Tracker studies me. “Let him explain himself, Anna Bell. I know that man is crazy about you.”

“You’re, like, ten times better-looking when I’m drunk,” I blurt out.

“Thanks, I think,” Tracker replies, his eyes narrowing on me.

Rake hears my comment and starts to laugh, the woman that was perched on his lap falling on the floor.

“Ooops,” he says, retrieving her with a lopsided grin.

“Why do I hang around with you guys?” I muse out loud as the woman runs her hand over his crotch.

“Because your man ditched you,” Tracker unhelpfully supplies.

“Oh. Right.”

He grins. “Come here, I’m just playing with you.”

“Ew, save that for Lana please.”

“Ew? What are you, fourteen?”

I sigh heavily. “Sex with you isn’t appealing. You’re like family and you belong to Lana.”

“And I’ve already told you, you look too much like Rake for my dick to even pay attention to you.”

I smile. “Good to know. That’s why we’re friends. Like, best friends. And ha! You didn’t deny belonging to Lana.”

He laughs and shakes his head, looking amused.

“Thanks for the pierced cock picture by the way, it looks like it would have hurt,” I tell him. “Oh, and you also have a pretty huge cock.”

And that’s when Arrow walks up to us.

“The fuck?” he growls, his eyes darting between Tracker and me. If only he were here one minute earlier, he wouldn’t be looking at us like he is.

“What are you doing here?” I ask, sitting up straighter.

“Claiming what’s mine,” he snaps. “Come on, now.”

I lift my chin stubbornly. “I’m not going anywhere with you. I’ll get a ride home with the guys.”

“Anna, don’t fucking test me,” he says through clenched teeth.

I scoff. “You were already tested tonight, Arrow, and you failed. So leave me the hell alone, because you’re the last person I want to see right now.”

He lifts me in the air, carrying me out over his shoulder.

I have déjà vu.

Is it always going to be like this with us?

“Arrow, trust me, you don’t want—”

“Don’t tell me what I want, Anna,” he says, rudely cutting me off. We exit the bar, and I ignore the catcalls and whistles from the peanut gallery.

Arrow puts me down, then pulls out his phone and barks into it. “Blade, I need a lift.”

He hangs up and looks down at me, an unhappy expression pasted on his too-damn-handsome face.

“Where’s your bike?” I ask, looking around.

“You’re too drunk to get on the bike,” he says, looking away. “Blade’s going to give us a lift and bring back my bike later.”

“Can you just take me home?” I ask in a small voice, looking down at the ground. “I just want to sleep.”

“You can sleep as soon as we get back to the clubhouse.”

“Alone.”

“Not happening, Anna. I don’t care how mad you get at me, you’re sleeping right next to me, where you fuckin’ belong,” he says. “Don’t push me.”

“Don’t push me,” I mock him, digging through my handbag looking for my phone.

He sighs.

I look up when I hear someone approach us. A woman stands next to Arrow, but not too close, and licks her lips. “Hi, I was wondering if you guys were having a party tonight at the clubhouse. My friends and I would like to come.”

She sticks her chest out and I watch Arrow—but he doesn’t move his gaze from her face.

“Why don’t you go in the bar and see if any of my brothers are interested,” Arrow tells her, sounding bored.

“Oh,” she says, face falling. “I was kind of hoping—”

“Do you not see me standing right here?” I ask loudly.

She turns to me, as if only just noticing I was there. “Oh, I just assumed—”

I step closer to her. “Right, well, next time don’t assume. I’m not in a good mood, and it would be a shame if I had to take that out on you, wouldn’t it?”

“Anna,” Arrow snaps, stepping closer to me and grabbing my arm. “Cut it out.”

Blade pulls up at that moment, and Arrow all but throws me into the backseat. He gets in next to me and closes the door.

“Hi, Blade!” I greet him too loudly.

“Hey,” he says to me, twisting his body around, then looks to Arrow. “Clubhouse?”

“Yep,” Arrow replies. “Thanks, man.”

“No problem. Good night?” he asks Arrow.

Arrow glances at me, then replies, “Could have been better.”

“Mine could have been better too,” I add sulkily. “Much better.”

Blade chuckles until Arrow tells him to shut up.

The two of them talk as I close my eyes, the motion of the car making me feel slightly nauseous.

“You okay, Anna?” Arrow asks. The car comes to a stop and he carries me into the clubhouse. The place is still loud, with music and laughter being heard as soon as we exit the car.

Gently he lays me down on my bed. “Stay here. I’ll get you some water,” he says, then disappears. I use that time to clean up and use the bathroom, then strip down to nothing.

I walk out of the bathroom and scream.

Tracker stands there, grinning and staring at my naked breasts. Realizing he isn’t going to leave or close his eyes, I grab the sheet and cover my body.

“Okay,” he says slowly. “You don’t look anything like Rake.”

I purse my lips. “You pervert! You could have turned around.”

He holds his hands up. “I was just coming in to check on you. Now I’m leaving before Arrow—”

“What the fuck?” comes the growl from behind us.

Great.

“Just leaving,” Tracker says, leaving in haste.

“How come every time I turn around that bastard is with you?” Arrow asks, his jaw tense.

“He’s my friend. Who puts my feelings first,” I can’t help but add.

“Fuck, you’re stubborn,” he adds, handing me a cold bottle of water.

“And you’re an asshole.”

“Never claimed I wasn’t.”

“I’m going to bed,” I say after I take a sip of water. I get comfortable, then turn to the side and close my eyes.

Arrow slides in and curses. “You’re fuckin’ naked under here and Tracker was in here? I’m going to kill that fucker.”

I inwardly roll my eyes.

I’m about to fall asleep—in that dreamy state just before you lose consciousness—when I hear him say in a soft voice, “I know you didn’t say or do what she said. You’re not a liar, Anna. But she’s all I have left of Mary. I feel responsible for her.”

His voice wavers a little when he says her name.