Chapter Twelve

 

Anna checked the calendar on the wall of the clubhouse near Duke’s office. She’d been at the Trojans’ place now for nearly two weeks. She wasn’t allowed her cell phone without Landon’s permission, and she was growing a little tired.

Lifting her hand, she knocked on the President’s office. During her time at the clubhouse she’d seen how much the guys respected Duke, and she only hoped he didn’t have an aversion to a woman knowing one of his club’s secrets.

“Come in,” he said.

Her hands shook, but she pushed on the door and entered the room. Duke was alone and he had a couple of sheets of paper in his hands, and he wore a frown.

“Is this a bad time?” she asked, pointing at the papers.

“Every single time just lately is a bad time. What can I do for you?” he asked, putting his papers down and looking at her. “Is something wrong?”

“I’d like to go home. I know you guys have been really sweet, keeping an eye on me and all that, but I do miss my home.” She sat down, hoping he didn’t see how nervous she was. If he was a preying wolf, he’d have struck her already.

“I don’t seem to see the problem?” he asked. “Your every whim is catered for.”

“It is, and I do appreciate it. I like to work, and to do other things than wait around for Landon to arrive all day. I’m not going to say anything. I promise. Please.”

“How are things developing between you and Landon?”

She frowned as he leaned forward. “Developing?”

“I need to know you’ve got the Trojans’ back. What you saw, what went down, I need to know you’ll always think about the club when opening your mouth.”

“I won’t tell anyone. I get it. That guy, the drug dealer, he was a bad one. He hurt someone close to you. I’m not going to hurt the club.”

Duke sat back, watching her.

She hated this.

“I can’t let you leave, Anna. Not yet.”

“Why not? I won’t leave.”

“I’ve got some work to do. We’ll talk about this another time.”

He lifted his paperwork up, and she was so pissed.

Getting to her feet, she slammed out of his office and into a hard wall. Glancing up, she saw it was Landon.

“Care to share why you were with my prez?”

“Simple, I want to go home. I miss being … outside.”

“We can go outside.”

“No, I miss being able to come and go as I please. Doesn’t this kind of life make you go crazy? I know it’s making me go crazy. I can’t do this.” She turned on her heel and headed toward the kitchen, which would lead her outside.

“The front door is that way.”

“Oh, please, and fail whatever test Duke has.”

“He has a test?”

“I’m guessing so. I’m not running out of this clubhouse until he gives me the all clear to do so. I’m not freaking stupid.” She walked past Mary and Holly and went straight toward one of the benches where she slumped down in her seat.

“You look mightily pissed,” Zoe said, joining them.

“You think so?”

“And sarcastic.”

“I’m sorry. I don’t mean to be a bitch. I just … ugh, you know what, it doesn’t matter. I can’t leave, and it so doesn’t freaking matter.” She dropped her head on her arms and tried not to sob.

She was angry for getting herself muddled up in this mess.

“Landon is one of my best friends,” Zoe said. “We’ve been close for a while. I can see why he really likes you.”

Anna lifted her head and stared up at the woman in front of her. “What?”

“You’ve got a fire inside you that you keep under wraps for the most part. You’re passionate, and above all else, you don’t judge. I’ve watched the way you’ve been with him the past couple of weeks. He’s smitten.”

“I think you’re mistaken.” She didn’t want to get her hopes up. It didn’t take a rocket scientist to know Landon wasn’t the kind of guy to stick around. In the back of her mind, she knew she still had to deal with the little problem of a morning after pill.

Running fingers through her hair, she felt a little sick.

“I’m not mistaken. I know Landon. He comes off as being this guy who likes to play around, but I know deep down within him, he’s waiting to find the right woman. You’re the right woman.”

“Honey, it’s not me. Landon and I, we’re having fun.” He certainly made sure she knew it, just as she did him.

They were both drawn to the sound of a bike pulling into the parking lot. She had taken up a bench that overlooked the front of the clubhouse. She didn’t recognize the guy who climbed off, removing his helmet.

“That’s Greg,” Zoe said. “He’s a prospect like Kid, Rick, and Matthew, but he likes to think of himself as a guy closer to getting a patch because he rides a bike already.”

Anna noticed several of the club whores running toward him.

“Doesn’t it bother you, seeing them here nearly all the time? They’re here to pleasure the men.”

“Not my man. I know my Raoul, and he will always be faithful to me. He loves me just as I love him.”

Anna hated how she yearned for that kind of connection with someone.

“It must be nice.”

“Oh, it is,” she said. “Don’t get me wrong, I know this lifestyle is … different, but I wouldn’t trade it for the world.”

“What about the whole claiming thing the old ladies go through?”

“Landon told you about that?”

“We struck a deal. He didn’t have much choice.”

“Wow, I had no idea.” Zoe had this massive smile on her face as if she’d just told her she won a great deal of money.

“It’s not what you think.”

“It’s fine. I get it. But you totally don’t know what is going on.”

Anna frowned as she heard the sound of a whimpering dog.

Glancing behind her, she didn’t see anything, and as she looked back toward the front of the club, she saw Greg was throwing stuff at a poor, vulnerable, stray-looking dog.

Anger filled every single part of her as he lashed out, kicking the dog.

“Hey!” She got to her feet.

The man didn’t stop even as the dog made no move to attack him.

The poor thing was scared, and Anna, she was boiling.

“Hey!”

Still nothing.

She started to run, and the man, he wasn’t paying any attention, and some of the women were laughing.

With all of her force, she kicked over his bike, and it did the trick. Greg turned to look at her as she slammed her foot on his bike. She didn’t know if it would do any damage, but he stopped trying to hurt the dog, and walked back to her.

“You fucking little slut.”

Acting on instinct, she grabbed the helmet that rested on one side of the handlebars. Pointing up, and swinging her arm around, she hit Greg in the face, taking him down with one hard hit.

Dropping the helmet, she rushed toward the dog. The last couple of feet, she crouched down, holding her hands out, showing the dog she meant no harm.

The dog whimpered, and without another word, she gathered it into her arms.

“You need to be checked out. I’m so sorry, little one. I won’t let anything happen to you again.”

She turned to look, to find many members of the club looking at her. Landon was near the man she’d hit, glaring at him.

“I’ve got to take him to the vet. He’s hurting.”

“I’ll take you.” Landon moved toward the truck, and he helped her inside.

She didn’t look at Duke. Her thoughts were on the dog in her arms, and she just wanted to protect him.

****

“What the fuck?” Greg asked as he was dragged back into the basement. Duke had him tied to a chair. Blood was pouring from his nose where Landon had hit him hard. He couldn’t blame the brother for taking a swipe at Greg. Anna had been so preoccupied with the dog, she hadn’t seen that Greg had gotten up and was advancing on her to harm her.

The woman didn’t have a clue.

Duke had been on his way out of the clubhouse when he heard Anna shouting. He’d watched her as she kicked over the bike, clearly trying to gain the man’s attention.

Seeing her use the helmet and hitting the man, he didn’t know why, but he felt a sense of pride in her. Greg wasn’t one of the prospects he liked, and after today, he had the perfect excuse to get rid of him.

“Landon will be dealing with you.”

“You’re going to let some cunt hit me, and then lock me up? What kind of pussy club is this? Are the women in charge? Is that what this is? Maybe I should go and hang out with Holly. Let her know the kind of pleasure I can give her.”

Duke slammed his fists against the man’s hand twice. He’d have gone for a third, and to keep on going, but he wasn’t going to give the prick the satisfaction in knowing he’d goaded him.

“You never lash out at one of our women.”

“No? Landon doesn’t have a woman.”

“Anna belongs to him. You’ll see.” He nodded at Preach. “Keep an eye on him.”

“Gladly. What kind of sick fuck attacks a dog? Those women who were laughing with him, I want them gone,” Preach said. “They have no idea how many times Boy saved my ass.” Boy was the dog Preach had lost during his time in the service.

“Consider it done.” He gripped Preach’s arm, offering him support. The only time Duke had known Preach to suffer real loss was when he lost Boy.

Leaving the basement, he found Holly there, biting her nails and looking nervous.

“You okay?”

“You’re not going to hurt Anna, are you?”

“No, why?”

“It’s … she hit a prospect.”

“He’s not a club brother, and there’s no way I’d accept that kind of behavior from anyone. Besides, she’s Landon’s woman. Greg went to hit her.” He would have done so as well if Landon hadn’t been there.

“But he hasn’t made any claim on her,” she said. “Some of the guys won’t agree unless Landon says she’s his woman. Do you think he will?”

Duke had no doubt. “Did you see the way he looked at her? He’s going to claim her. It’s only a matter of time. When they get back, I’ll talk to him.” He pulled her in close, kissing the top of her head. “What else is troubling you?”

“Matthew. He’s gone again, and we both know where.”

“Why does his whereabouts bother you?”

“We know he’s gone to see Luna. His obsession, it’s getting dangerous. Surely you can see that?”

“I can, but I trust my son, Holly. We’ve raised him well, and he loves Luna.”

“But she wanted to be let go and he let her go.”

“And now he wants her back. He’s going to win her back. I know he is.” He smiled down at her. “Please, don’t worry. It’s not good for you.”

“I hate worrying.”

“I know.” He kissed her again. “I love you.”

“I love you too. I don’t want him to be heartbroken, is all. If Luna loved him back, she’d have stayed,” Holly said. “Instead, she wanted to get as far away from him as possible.”

“It’ll all work out in the end. You’ll see. Matthew learns from his mistakes, and this was one he made, and he won’t make it again, I promise.”

****

For a long time, Matthew was content to watch Luna in the shadows, keeping an eye on her, even as it broke his heart to see her with anyone else. Straddling his bike, he stared at the campus. It was late, and he knew from breaking into Luna’s apartment and getting her schedule, she always studied late at the on-campus library.

Checking the time, he saw it was a little after nine, and she’d be out in just a few minutes.

He shouldn’t be seeing her, but he couldn’t keep hiding away.

Several women came and went. A couple eyeballed him but he wasn’t interested. His dick and other chicks were what got him in this situation. Rather than face the fact being with Luna was what he wanted, he’d let hormones and fear drive his decision. He’d almost knocked her up, and he’d have been able to make her his. He’d been both terrified and excited at the thought of being a father. He knew it wasn’t an easy task, being a dad, but if it gave him the second chance he wanted, he’d have taken it.

When he ran his fingers through his hair, his hands felt clammy.

In the past couple of years, he’d changed. Just like so many people at the club had changed, Maya being one of them.

Tapping his fingers on the handlebars of his bike, he watched as Luna left the main building. She was heading his way, keys in hand, and she looked up, stopping in her tracks as she spotted him.

She stayed perfectly still, and he didn’t like how nervous she looked as she approached. Her car was parked behind him.

“Matthew, what are you doing here?”

“I wanted to see you.”

“You did?”

“Yes.”

“Oh.”

“You don’t have to be afraid.”

“I’m not afraid. I’m a little surprised you’re here, but I’m not afraid.” She lifted her bag higher on her shoulder. “You come here often, don’t you? I recognize the bike.”

“I come here as much as I can. I like seeing you.”

“You do?”

“Yeah.”

She nodded. “Are you thinking about attending here?”

“No. There’s only one reason I’m here.”

“And what’s that?”

“I want you back,” he said.

“Matthew, don’t.”

“Why not? You think I don’t know of the fuck-up I made all those years ago? How I screwed up?”

“I don’t want to talk about this,” she said. She didn’t walk away though.

“Are you seeing someone?”

She gritted her teeth. “No, I’m not.”

“Who is the guy I’ve seen you kissing?”

She blew out a breath. “Are you stalking me?”

“I want to know the truth,” he said.

“Matthew, what happened between us was a long time ago. We went through something rough. I wasn’t pregnant, and we moved on. We’re supposed to move on.”

“I don’t want to move on.” He stepped away from his bike, closing the distance between them. “Don’t you ever think about what it would have been like if you were pregnant? If I’d knocked you up.”

“But you didn’t. I just skipped a period. I don’t want to talk about this anymore. You were off enjoying as many girls as you could, and I’ve moved on. I’m living my life, and I’m happy. Why can’t you see that?”

“Are you happy? The guy I’ve seen kissing you. It’s not serious. Why don’t you give me another chance?” he asked.

“To break my heart?”

“To mend what I broke when we were kids. I’m not a kid anymore.”

“I know, and you’re prospecting for your dad.”

“No, I’m prospecting for me. This is what I want, and I want you to come back to Vale Valley, to let me prove to you I’ve changed.”

“You don’t have to prove anything to me. For a long time, I was sad. Then I was heartbroken, and now, I’m just … I’m over what happened. You don’t have to make amends with me. We can be friends.”

“I don’t want to be friends.” He cupped her face and slammed his lips down on hers. She didn’t fight him. Her hands went to his arms, but she didn’t push him away and she let out this sweet little sigh that consumed him. He wanted to keep on kissing her but knew he couldn’t. “And you and I both know this isn’t over between us. It will never be over.”