Текст книги "Arrow's Hell"

Автор книги: Chantal Fernando

сообщить о нарушении

Текущая страница: 9 (всего у книги 16 страниц)

 FOURTEEN 

HAVE you seen Tracker?” Allie asks me, sticking her head inside my door. Why the hell is she asking me? I’m not Tracker’s keeper. I don’t understand Allie. Is she just a shit person? Or a woman who hides behind her defenses, which in her case would be her bitchiness and general unpleasantness.

“Nope,” I reply. “Haven’t seen him all day.”

He is probably hiding from her. That’s what I would be doing.

She makes a noise of irritation and stomps her foot. “I’m so sick of this shit!”

“Why don’t you just call him?” I murmur, staring down at my textbook and wishing that she would spontaneously combust. “And why the fuck are you in my room?”

“He’s not answering,” she reluctantly replies. “If he’s with another bitch I’m gonna kill him! And her!”

I slam the textbook shut. “Can you please fuck off and leave me out of your shit? I’m trying to study.”

“Fuck, you’re a bitch,” she replies, sounding a little surprised. “How about some fucking help finding him?”

My phone beeps with a message from Lana.

Come over, I’m bored.

“Is that Tracker messaging you?” Allie asks, crossing her arms over her chest and trying to peer at my phone. Was she serious right now?

“You’re still here?” I ask, raising an eyebrow. I put down my phone and sigh. “I don’t know where he is, Allie, but if I do I’ll tell him you’re looking for him, okay?”

“Anna, I have to go out for a bit,” Rake says as he enters the room. He looks at Allie. “Everything okay in here?”

“She won’t leave me alone,” I say dramatically. “You should make her leave.”

Rake ignores my outburst. “Do you wanna come with me, Anna?”

“Will you drop me off at Lana’s after? She’s in need of some Anna time. I’ve done my time here anyway; I get to go home now.”

His face falls slightly at that. “Is that how you feel about staying here? Comparing it to prison time? Fuck, Anna. I love having you here.”

Shit, now I feel like a bitch.

“I’ll come back on the weekend, how about that? You know I just like having my own space,” I tell him, trying to get him to understand. Allie silently leaves the room, clearly bored with our conversation.

“Yeah, yeah,” he mutters. “Come on, I need to stop at Rift, then we can have some lunch before I take you to Lana’s.”

I smile widely. “Thanks, bro.”

His eyes soften. “Get your shit together then.”

“Okay,” I say, standing up and grabbing my bag. Arrow walks in a few seconds later, just in time to find me in a compromising position, bent over, searching under the bed for my pen.

“Trying to kill me, aren’t you, darlin’?” he says, clearing his throat.

I sit abruptly on the bed. “Yes, I purposely waited in that position in hopes you would drop by.”

He chuckles at that. “Lucky it was me then.” He looks behind him, then murmurs, “Fuck it.”

Closing and locking the door, he steps to me and lifts me up to a standing position. Then, without a word, his lips are fused to mine. Hands on my ass, he lifts me in the air, and I wrap my legs around his narrow waist. “Need to be inside you,” he says against my mouth. “But I can’t.”

“Why not?” I whisper, digging my fingers into his back, trying to get myself as close to his body as I can.

“I can’t do that to him,” he grits out. “I fucking can’t. I need to talk to him first. I need to tell him.”

I groan in frustration and lay my forehead against his chest. Suddenly he lays me back on the bed and starts lifting up my maxi skirt.

“Arrow?”

“Shhh,” he soothes, running his hands up my thighs and pulling down my white lace panties. I gulp in air as he spreads my legs wide, making a sound of masculine appreciation deep in his throat.

“Beautiful,” he says in a soft, husky tone, then his mouth is on me, licking gently. I arch off the bed as he pays attention to my clit, gripping the sheets and slamming my head back into the pillow.

“Arrow, holy shit,” I whisper, looking down to see his head between my thighs, the sight so erotic that a whimper escapes my lips. His large hands are on my thighs, spreading me to him, his head slightly bobbing as he worships me with his talented mouth. The orgasm creeps up on me, hitting me with full force. I take the pillow next to me and cover my face so no one can hear me scream. Arrow keeps at it, sucking my clit until he wrings every possible cry from me, each wave of pleasure making my thighs tremble and my eyes roll back into my head. I move the pillow away from my face and squirm silently, letting him know I’ve had enough. It’s too much; it’s too sensitive. He raises his head and looks at me with a smug, satisfied look.

“That tongue should come with a warning,” I pant out.

He wipes his mouth with the back of his hand, then kisses the inside of my thigh, once. I hear Rake call out my name, and I quickly jump out of bed on shaky legs. Arrow stands and grimaces, adjusting himself, his arousal straining through his jeans. I lick my lips, wishing nothing more than I could take care of that big problem for him.

“Later,” he says, staring at me, promise in his eyes.

I pick up my bag from the floor, then realize that I’m not wearing any panties. “Where are my panties?”

He looks to the ground, picks them up and lifts them in front of him. Grinning, he hands them over to me, but not before smelling them first.

“Weirdo,” I say as I take them from his hands, then slide them on. “When will I see you next?”

He rubs the back of his neck, considering. “I’ll talk with Rake tomorrow, then come and see you afterward.”

I swallow hard. “Okay.”

I close the space between us and press a sweet kiss to his lips, unable to stop myself from running my hand over the bulge in his jeans. “You better not use anyone else to relieve this.”

His eyes darken. “I’m going for a cold shower as soon as you leave.”

“Is that your promise to not screw around with anyone else until we sort out whatever this is between us?” I ask boldly, my eyes not leaving his.

He tilts his head slightly, which I take as agreement. Another quick kiss and I walk out of the room, where Rake is waiting for me in front of his bike.

“You know,” I tell my brother, “maybe it’s time I got my own bike.”

His smile is so wide that I can’t help but smile with him.

“I’ll teach you how to ride, then I’ll happily buy you a bike,” he says, handing me a helmet.

“A hot-pink bike?”

He laughs at that. “If that’s what you want.”

I get on the back of his bike, still smiling.

Life is looking up.

*   *   *

I was having the worst day ever.

After a long and tiring day of observations at the zoo, I wait at the bus stop. I finished classes early and didn’t bother to message Rake because it was just easier to take the bus than hassle someone for a ride.

“Hey, Anna,” Damien calls out, coming up to stand next to me.

“Hey, Damien,” I say, smiling. “How was your day? I saw you talking with some of the students and didn’t want to interrupt.”

He grins. “That would have been a welcome interruption considering I was on babysitting duty all day.”

“Got stuck showing around the freshmen, huh?” I tease.

He puts his hands in his pockets. “Something like that. Do you need a ride home? I’m parked just over there,” he says, nodding his head to the student parking lot to the right.

I look to his car and consider it. “Thanks, but it’s all right. I live close by.”

“Are you sure?” he asks, frowning. “I honestly don’t mind.”

He is sweet, Damien. We talk in class sometimes, usually about the work we were doing, nothing personal. But like I said, he is sweet, and I didn’t need Rake or Arrow scaring the shit out of him.

“I’m good,” I say as the bus arrives. “I’ll see you around.”

I get on the bus before he can protest.

Ten minutes later, as soon as I step off, it starts pouring.

Just my luck.

Dripping wet and moody, I walk from the stop to my apartment, which takes a couple of minutes. As I walk to my front door, dying for a hot shower, I notice something that makes me stop in my tracks.

The door is open.

What the hell?

Taking two steps backward, I pull out my phone and walk to the parking lot, where there would be people around. I dial Rake.

“Anna?”

“Hey, Rake, can you come to my apartment, please?”

He’s silent for a second. “Talk to me, Anna.”

“I just got home and the door is open. Something doesn’t feel right. I mean, it could be nothing; maybe I left the door open?”

But I know I didn’t.

“Are you safe?” he barks into the phone, and I can hear movement around him.

“Yeah, I’m in the lot, so I’m in clear view of the main road,” I say, shuffling my feet.

“Good girl,” he croons. “I’m on my way.”

“Thanks, Rake.”

“Oh, and, Anna?”

“Yeah?”

“You should have fuckin’ called me when you finished class.”

He hangs up, leaving me cringing at the phone.

I sit on the curb, lifting my head when I hear the sound of rumbling motorcycles about ten minutes later. I can just imagine the lecture I’m going to get from Rake, about how all of this could be avoided if I just lived at the clubhouse like he wanted. Resigned to my fate, I stand as Rake and Arrow approach, both wearing identical scowls on their faces. Arrow lifts his hands to me as he walks up but drops them at the last second. Rake pulls me into his arms as Arrow watches, staring at my face. He looks like he wants to touch me badly but can’t because of my brother’s presence. I know the feeling, because I want to be in his arms too.

“You okay?” he asks me, our eyes connected. I nod.

“I’ll go in and check it out,” he says, giving me a gentle look before he walks in the direction of my apartment. Rake and I follow behind and watch as he disappears inside my apartment.

“Fuckin’ hell, Anna, you’d be safe if you weren’t so stubborn and just stayed where you belong.”

“Don’t start, Rake,” I mumble, staring at the door, waiting for Arrow to reappear. When he does, he’s empty-handed.

“Place is a wreck,” he says. “Doesn’t look like anything is missing though. Lock’s broken.”

Probably because I had nothing of value to steal. Luckily Lana wasn’t over, since she has a key and drops by whenever she feels like it. A key I actually gave her, unlike my brother.

Arrow removes his leather jacket and places it over my shoulders. “You look freezing, Anna.”

I sigh. “It’s been a long day.”

“I can see that. Come on, I’ll help you clean up the place,” Arrow says, leading me inside with an arm around my shoulder.

Sweet, so fucking sweet.

“Thanks,” I sniff, walking into my home. Arrow removes his arm as we step into my kitchen and I take in the disaster that is my apartment.

“Fuck! Shouldn’t I call the cops?” I ask.

“No cops,” Rake says. “Unless you want one of us to get arrested.”

I roll my eyes. “You guys can leave then, you haven’t done shit. I’ll call the cops.”

“They aren’t going to do anything, Anna,” Arrow says. “Let us handle it. Don’t worry, all right?”

Sighing, I turn around to see Arrow and Rake having a silent conversation I’m obviously not meant to hear. Or in this case, see.

“What?” I demand. “What aren’t you telling me?”

“Nothing,” they both say at the same time, trying to look innocent.

And failing.

I point my finger. “Don’t fuck around, tell me what’s going on.”

I’m ignored.

“Call in the women to help,” Arrow tells Rake. “It will be quicker, and Anna looks exhausted. She doesn’t need to be doing this shit.”

Rake grins. “Shall I call Jill?”

I grit my teeth together. Why is that woman’s name still being said?

“Fuck Jill,” Arrow replies. “I was thinking more along the lines of Faye and Jess.”

“Oh,” Rake replies, deflated. “The old ladies.”

We really don’t have the time for this. I step into my living room, to see the place trashed. Everything is turned upside down, though I can’t come up with one reason why someone would do this. I clearly have nothing of value; they can see that. Tying my hair up in a messy bun, I quickly step into my room and change into some dry clothes, then start to arrange the place. Faye and Jess drop by, along with Tracker and even Allie. I appreciate the help. It takes two hours before everything is back in place. Arrow opted to help me put my room back together, and I literally cringe when he starts snooping through my drawers.

“Arrow, can you stop?” I ask, scowling at him as he opens my panty drawer.

“Just making sure everything is in working order.”

I don’t even know what to reply to that.

“You know you’re coming back to the clubhouse tonight, don’t you?” he says casually, pulling out a pink thong and stretching it between his fingers.

“No, I’m not. Everything is fine now. I can stay here. And I can see you still haven’t spoken to Rake.”

Rake walks in just after I say those words. “We’ll get this sorted out, then Arrow and I are going out later tonight.”

“Going out where?” I ask. “And I’m not moving back to the clubhouse full-time, but I’ll stay there until whatever this is is sorted out.”

“Fine. For now, that works.”

“Where are you going out?” I ask again.

Rake grins. “Strip club, having a couple of drinks.”

The look I send Arrow is judge, jury, and executioner.

He flashes me an apologetic look and mouths the word later.

“Fine,” I mumble.

I have other things to worry about right now.

*   *   *

Faye sticks her head through my door as I’m finishing off my room. “Anna, let’s go out tonight. I heard the men were too.”

“Sounds good,” I tell her. No way I want to sit at home while Arrow is out at a strip club.

I see Faye grin mischievously, her gaze darting to Arrow before landing back on me. “You need to get laid, and I think tonight should be the night.”

My eyes widen.

The shit stirrer.

I smile innocently at both Arrow and Rake, playing along. “I know just what to wear.”

Rake scowls at Faye while Arrow stares me down, his eye starting to twitch a little.

Yeah, he doesn’t like that idea much.

“Faye, don’t say my sister’s name and ‘get laid’ in the same sentence ever again,” my brother groans.

Faye raises an eyebrow. “The things I could tell Anna. The things I’ve seen!”

Rake grabs her and covers her mouth with his hand. He looks up. “Arrow, meet you out front. Faye will take you to the clubhouse, Anna.”

He walks backward with her, probably going to give her a talking-to.

Arrow kisses my brow. “I’ll be in your bed tonight, Anna.”

“That spot might already be taken tonight, Mr. Arrowsmith,” I reply, a smug smile playing on my lips.

Arrow surprises me by grinning. “We both know that won’t be the case, darlin’.”

Cocky bastard.

A quick kiss on my mouth, and he’s gone.

 FIFTEEN 

FAYE walks back from the bar with two shots in her hand. Sin stands at the corner, watching his woman, a hungry look on his face. The two of them are an amazing couple, strong and so very in love. I’d spent a little time with their daughter this evening too, and Clover was a treat. She’s a bright, witty five-year-old and I could tell she was going to be an absolute stunner when she was older. She even told me how her uncle Arrow sneaked her strawberry candy.

I glance around Knox’s Tavern once, then look at Faye as she hands me a shot glass. This wasn’t exactly how I pictured the night going, but I just pretend our every move isn’t being scrutinized and try to enjoy the drinks.

“I love this song!” Faye calls out, doing an exaggerated grinding move that has me laughing. She drags me to the dance floor, and it’s not long before her man is there, grabbing her by the hips and looking like he wants to fuck her right here on the dance floor. I head back to the bar, feeling like a third wheel, and sit in front of Reid.

“When you getting your ass back to work?” he asks.

“Why?” I reply. “Do you miss me?”

He grins and pours me another shot. “I just don’t want to have to train anyone else.”

I roll my eyes. “You love me. Admit it, Reid Knox, badass MMA fighter. You luuurvvve me.”

He pulls the shot back. “On second thought, maybe you’ve had enough.”

I lean closer. “I have a question. What do you know about that Talon dude?”

Reid seems to know everything about everyone.

His eyebrows raise. “Talon?”

“Wild Men Talon,” I explain further.

Reid studies me for a few tense seconds. “I know that no one will be happy you’re asking about him.”

I shrug. “I’m curious. He wasn’t a bad guy—you know, kidnapping aside.”

Reid scrubs a hand down his face. “So happy you’re not my sister.”

I gape. “Why does everyone keep saying that?”

“Maybe because you’re a troublemaker,” he suggests.

I pout. “Where’s Ryan? He’s nicer.”

He chuckles at that. “It’s his wedding anniversary, so he’s out spoiling his wife. How’s Arrow?”

I narrow my eyes. “What about Arrow?”

He doesn’t reply, just gives me a How stupid do you think I am? look.

“Does everyone know?” I grumble.

“Everyone except Rake.”

Okay, that makes me feel like total shit. I don’t want everyone except Rake to know. Rake should be the first to know. Even though Arrow and I haven’t really made anything official and won’t until Rake knows, it still feels wrong, and I don’t like it. Arrow better talk to Rake tonight. Surely the strippers will have him in a more amicable mood. Arrow should buy him a lap dance or something.

“Nothing is going on . . . yet,” I evade.

“You better be back here tomorrow night,” Reid says, changing the subject, which I appreciated.

“I’ll be here,” I tell him. “I actually like working at this place.”

“Well, lucky me then,” he says with a smirk, then walks off to serve a customer. When someone wraps their arms around me from behind, I elbow them in the stomach out of instinct.

“Ouch,” Tracker says, lifting up his shirt and rubbing his hand over an impressive set of abs.

“Like that hurt,” I say. “You just want to show off your sexy abs.”

He smiles and puts his hand out. “It’s nice to be appreciated. Want to dance?”

I give him my hand. “Lead the way.”

We enter the dance floor and Tracker immediately pulls me into him. I raise my eyebrow at his apparent lack of boundaries, but he just flashes me a boyish grin and starts to dance.

“Where’s the old ball and chain?” I say into his ear so he can hear me.

He waves his hand in the air dismissively. “Fuck her.”

I shake my head and start to move in sync with him to the music. Tracker turns out to be a good dancer. He moves his hips in a bump and grind that has me seeing exactly what Lana sees in him.

Holy hell, he’s sex on a stick.

One minute I’m pressed against Tracker, the next minute I’m pulled away from his body and pushed behind Arrow. I hear Arrow angrily say something to Tracker, a lot of swearing involved, and then he’s dragging me out of the bar by my wrist.

“What the fuck happened?” I ask when we’re standing by his bike, lifting my hand to touch his swollen cheek.

He moves his face away. “While I’m with your brother, trying my fuckin’ best for us to be together without losing him, you’re here, pressed up against another one of my brothers?”

Okay, he’s angry.

And even though it was an innocent dance, he does have a point.

His chest is heaving up and down and the look he’s giving me makes me want to cringe.

I need to apologize.

“Arrow—”

“You better be worth all this shit, Anna,” he says through clenched teeth. “Mary would have never—”

My gasp stops him in his tracks. I can’t fucking believe he went there. I just can’t.

“Well, unfortunately, Arrow, Mary isn’t here,” I snap, my chest tightening. “But I am. I was sitting alone and Tracker asked me to dance. As a friend, so I wasn’t bored out of my mind. You’re the only one I have eyes for, even though you’re usually a dick! You know I would never even think about being with someone other than you. I’m fuckin’ crazy about you!”

His mood instantly changes, lightening the air around us. “Anna, I—”

I hold up my hand. “I’m going to try and enjoy the rest of my night.”

“I told Rake,” he says. “He wasn’t happy. In fact, he was fucking pissed. He’s probably on his way here now to grab you.”

My head falls back against my neck. “Can you just take me home, please? Or shall I call a cab?”

He nods, rubbing the back of his neck. “You’re not taking a fuckin’ cab, Anna. Can you hold on, or have you had too much to drink?”

“I’m fine,” I tell him, staying silent as he puts the helmet on me and helps me onto the bike.

Mary would have never . . .

That’s what it all comes down to, doesn’t it?

I’m not Mary; I’ll never be Mary. She’s gone, and I’m here.

I just hope he sees that before it’s too late.

*   *   *

Arrow doesn’t take me home.

He takes me back to the clubhouse, where I ignore him, have a shower, and slide into bed. He stands in front of the bed, watching me while I try to pretend like he isn’t there.

“I didn’t mean it,” he says into the silence. “I shouldn’t have said it. I mean, it’s messed up of me to compare you two, I know that. It just slipped out.”

I pretend to sleep, and after a few moments he leaves the room.

When I wake up the next morning, I realize Arrow never returned to my room, and for some reason that annoys me. After I’m dressed I walk into the kitchen to see Arrow and Rake standing there, face-to-face.

“Rake?”

He spins to me. “Anna, what the fuck?”

I shrink into myself. “Can we talk alone, please?”

“We will talk after,” he says, staring at Arrow, who is a little taller than him, and bigger built, but Rake is scrappy. Like me, he had no choice but to be. “Arrow and I are going to sort some shit out in the ring, aren’t we?”

Arrow nods but doesn’t look happy about it like Rake does.

Sin storms into the kitchen with Faye on his heels, sends me a scowl, then demands, “Church, now!”

Great.

Everyone with a penis disappears into the club-only room while the women stand there with curious expressions on their faces. Then, one by one, they all turn to stare at me.

I shrug, feeling helpless.

Faye and I sit down on the couch, waiting to see what happens next.

“What happened?” she whispers.

“Arrow told Rake last night. Rake didn’t take it very well. And I think your husband is just angry that I’m getting in between his club members.”

Faye doesn’t bother to deny it.

I see her biting her lip. “What?”

“Nothing, it’s just . . . This is so out of character for Arrow. And kind of . . . hot.”

I purse my lips. “Seriously?”

She smirks. “What? I’m still a woman, after all.”

I roll my eyes at her, my focus back on Arrow. I am still mad at him over the Mary thing, but this is a time where I need to have his back. I should be in there with him; we got into this together.

What feels like an hour later but is actually fifteen minutes, the men all walk out. Arrow and Rake beeline to me straightaway, and I gulp at the expression on their faces.

Both of them are not fucking happy.

“Anna,” they say at the same time. I stand and look from one to the other.

“Yes?”

Sin walks up behind them and stares me down. “You caused this, so you’re going to watch.”

I gape. “I caused this? What the fuck, we aren’t in the Middle Ages! What I do and who I do it with is my business and mine only.”

Arrow leans down and whispers in my ear. “Calm down, Anna. Rake and I are going to fight it out. I need you to hold your shit together right now. Can you do that?”

I nod, then turn to Rake, who looks even more pissed off now.

Great.

I put my arm on my brother’s shoulder and give him my best puppy-dog look, which usually works on him.

Nothing.

Wow, he’s really angry.

“I’m sorry, Rake. I don’t want to hurt you, but I can’t seem to forget the bastard.”

He looks at me then and sighs. “I wanted better for you, Anna.”

I swallow hard at the disappointment in his eyes. “You wanted me here with you in this lifestyle. Please don’t be mad now that I’ve decided to be a part of it.”

“Fuck,” he curses, then kisses me on my forehead. “He hurts you and I’ll kill him. Slowly.”

“So you aren’t going to fight?” I ask, hearing the hope in my voice.

Rake smiles slowly. An evil glint in his eye that sends a shiver down my spine.

“Fuck no, I need this.” He looks down at me. “And stay out of it, Anna. You wanted to be a biker’s woman—now sit here, bite your tongue, and let me take what I’m owed.”

My eyes widen. Rake has never spoken to me like that in my entire life. I step away from him, not seeing my brother, but Rake—the club member. Arrow wraps his arms around my waist from behind and spins me around. Then, with everyone watching, his mouth settles possessively on mine.

Point made.

I’m his, and he’s mine.

And now everyone knows it.