Rogue (Sons of Sangue Book 4) (25 page)

His gaze traveled to Kimber’s house. He couldn’t help wonder if she stood in one of the darkened windows and watched. If he did what was best for himself, he’d turn right, go make it up to her, kiss away all their troubles, fall into bed, and fuck the night away. Instead, too many lives depended on him doing the right thing for everyone else. So he picked up his feet, turned the bike left, and hit the gas.

He needed to get to Santa Barbara like yesterday.

Time was wasting.

Grayson’s mate depended on him, maybe even her very life. He was supposed to have been her cover, and he hadn’t been there for her. Not that it was his fault. He couldn’t be blamed for what he didn’t know. But he wasn’t about to fail Grayson, even if Anton had no idea Cara meant to send her so soon into Devil territory.

At the end of the country road, he flipped his turn signal, slowed at the stop sign, then turned onto the highway and buried the needle to his speedometer. Anton sure in the hell hoped he made it before Tamera got herself into too much trouble.

* * *

“What has you all down in the mouth this morning?” Tena grabbed her Styrofoam cup of coffee and took a long sip, wincing. “You made the coffee, didn’t you?”

“Too black for your taste?” Kimber smiled weakly, about as much as she could offer at the moment.

Her heart had snapped in two last night when she heard Anton use the same phrase he had used on her, on some woman named Tam.
You belong to me.
How many women did he actually claim? Kimber swallowed, hoping to stay the tears. She had cried enough last night as she stood in the window and watched him pull out of his driveway. Part of her had hoped he would’ve headed in her direction, but he hadn’t. Anton had turned his motorcycle toward the highway. She stood there watching the red taillight fade from sight.

“You could stand a spoon in it.” Tena picked up a plastic spoon from the tray and stuck in the cup as if she actually expected it to stand. “Cream and sugar doesn’t even help the taste.”

“I needed the caffeine.”

Chad walked into the break room, his eyes going to Tena’s hand, spoon, and cup. “Let me guess. Kimber made the coffee.”

Kimber actually chuckled. Chad had a way of making anyone smile, no matter their troubles. “If you guys want to make the coffee, feel free. Just get here before I do.”

Chad shook his head and waved his hand, palm out, in front of him. “No way, girlfriend. That was Tena’s complaint. I only made an observation. I’ll gladly drink the dregs to get a few extra minutes of sleep.”

“I thought so.” Kimber grabbed her own cup and took a sip, her gaze going to the clock. “Ten minutes until opening. Aren’t you early anyway?”

“I was up.” Chad took a seat across the break room table from the two of them. “So what has you looking like you lost your best friend?’

Damn, she wasn’t very good at hiding her feelings, even if she had just laughed at Chad’s joke. “I’m fine. About time to get to work is all.”

“Mmmm hmmmm. If you say so.”

“I was just asking her the same thing before you walked in.” Tena placed her cup on the table and shuddered. “I may have to go across the street and get me a latte.”

“You guys don’t know what good coffee is.”

“Sure we do, it’s called Coffee Haven and it’s just across the street.” Chad winked at Tena. “I’ll buy if you fly.”

“Hell, yes. Not too often you offer to buy.”

Chad reached into his front pocket and pulled out a ten, handing it to Tena. “You want anything?” he asked Kimber.

She shook her head. “No, thank you. Unlike you two, I know good coffee. Not that sugared down weak stuff you get across the street.”

Kimber took another sip from her cup. The hot java warmed her from the inside, though she doubted it heat the areas of her heart Anton made run cold with his words to Tam on the phone. What had she expected? She was the one who agreed to the whole stupid friends with benefits crap. Did that ever really work out for anyone? It seemed one party would always be more invested than the other, only to get hurt in the end.

Tena damn near skipped from the room, no doubt happy to get an extra-large coffee paid for by Chad. The man rarely offered to pay for anything. Kimber wondered about his motives, but didn’t have to wait long. He looked at Kimber, his expression sobering.

“Spill, girlfriend. What did neighbor boy do? Do I need to kick his ass or toilet paper his house?”

That earned Chad a chuckle. She loved how he could so easily amuse her. Why she hadn’t befriended these two earlier was beyond her. They had quickly become her closest friends.

“No kicking of his butt, Chad. I don’t want to see you get hurt.”

He wiped his forehead with the back of his hand in mock worry. “Whew. I was worried there for a minute. Not that I wouldn’t have given it a try, but toilet paper is much more my style. I could egg his house too, if you want.”

“You realize Preacher is staying at Rogue’s, right?”

“Preacher? The big ass bear?” His gaze widened. “Sorry, girlfriend, you are on your own.”

Kimber chuckled again, feeling better all ready. “No worries. No one needs their butt kicked but me.”

“Stand up then.” Chad rose from his chair. “Well?”

“What are you doing?”

“Getting ready to kick your butt.” Chad laughed, then quickly retook his seat. “In all seriousness, what did Mr. Tall, Dark, and Dangerous do?”

This whole sharing thing was still new to her. Kimber wasn’t used to talking about her life, let alone something as personal as this. Her heart felt stepped on, ran over, dragged, and ripped apart. Her feelings were still pretty raw, so she wasn’t sure she was ready to talk about how deep Anton’s betrayal cut. Chad seemed as if he truly cared, prompting her to spill the beans. Maybe having someone to listen would help her get it off her chest.

“Where to start is more like the question.” Kimber picked at a cuticle on her finger. “I guess I was aiming a bit high.”

“Don’t be silly. Anyone would be lucky to have you. If I wasn’t gay, I’d be trying to get in those pants. You may not see it, but for a girl, you’re pretty smokin’.”

Her cheeks heated. “You’re such a charmer.”

“Maybe. But I was being serious.” He reached across the table and laced fingers with her. “Don’t cut yourself short. If your neighbor doesn’t want you, then he’s not only blind but damn stupid. Now tell me what he did.”

Kimber sighed heavily. Letting go of Chad’s hand, she leaned back in the chair. “I wanted to see him last night. I think I should’ve stayed home. I thought I was special. Turns out I was wrong.”

“Then he doesn’t deserve you.”

“No, he doesn’t, but it hurts nonetheless.”

“You need to turn this around. Show him what he’s missing, girlfriend.” Chad punctuated his statement with a wide smile. “Next time he comes around, you turn him away. Better yet, let’s find you a hottie to make him j-e-a-l-o-u-s.”

“Anton went to Santa Barbara and I have no idea how long he’ll be gone. He went to see some woman called Tam, said in his phone conversation that she was to tell someone she belonged to him. So I doubt finding a hottie would work in my favor.”

“Maybe, but men like your neighbor, they get all territorial when they see someone cutting in on what they want.”

Kimber couldn’t argue. After all, he had gotten pretty pissed when the biker from his rival MC had his hand on her person.

She shook her head. “I hate drama and I don’t play games. If Anton wants to treat me that way, then I don’t need him.”

“That’s the spirit. Make him regret his actions.”

Tena walked in, carrying two tall paper cups with sleeves. She handed one to Chad. She looked between both Kimber and Chad. “Okay, what did I miss?”

Kimber looked at the clock and stood. “Time to open the doors.”

“Really? Seriously?” She trailed Kimber out of the room, damn near on her heels. “You can’t think to cut me out of your conversation. What did I miss? And don’t tell me nothing.”

“Ask Chad. He can tell you. I have a lot of work to do today.”

Tena stomped her foot. “Not fair. Chad’s a vault!”

Kimber chuckled, heading for the entrance. She turned the deadbolt, opened the steel and glass door covered by a large literacy poster, and squealed when someone jerked the door from her grip, making her heart jump from her chest.

Placing a hand over her sternum, she said, “Sorry, you scared me,” before she looked up and into the eyes of Anton’s roomy.

“What’s up, P?” Grayson walked into the clubhouse meeting room where he found Kaleb sitting at the large wooden table, the other thirteen seats empty. His lips turned down and dark shadows rimmed his eyes. Kaleb scrubbed his palms down his face, then scratched at his beard. The rest of the house remained silent and free of any other vampire’s scent, telling Grayson they were completely alone.

“Have a seat,” Kaleb directed, followed by a yawn.

Grayson pulled out a chair and sat, unsure why Kaleb had called the meeting. “You getting much sleep, P?”

“Not lately.”

Leaning back, he crossed his arms behind his head. “Where is everyone?”

“Just you and me, Gypsy. I sent Xander and Ryder over with the box truck to help Wolf pack his shit. Suzi and I finally got moved. It was time to get Stefan out of the clubhouse, safer for him.”

“No doubt in that. Can’t have everyone privy to your whereabouts.”

“More specifically Mircea, the son of a bitch. Cara and Kane don’t think he’s responsible for Kinky. Me? I’m not so sure. I wouldn’t put anything past the sneaky little bastard. And I’m certainly not going to give him access to my son.”

“I couldn’t agree more.” Grayson tipped his chin. “So why did you want to see me privately?”

Kaleb leaned forward, clasping his hands in front of him on the table. “I need someone I can trust.”

“You know I got your back, P.”

“Tamera have Luke?”

Grayson’s expression warmed at the mention of his son. “Actually, your mate is watching him. Tamera had an assignment out of town. Said she’d be back in a few days.”

“How’s it going having her back at the newspaper?”

“She loves being a journalist, and I love alone time with Lucian.” Grayson smiled. “If Tamera’s happy, bro, then I’m happy.”

“I’ll need to call Suzi, see if she wouldn’t mind keeping an eye on Luke for a couple of days. I need you, Gypsy, can’t trust anyone else with this.”

“You want to fill me in?”

“Viper’s MIA.”

“I thought he was going north to recruit Red and the Knights, bringing them back into the fold.”

“That’s exactly where he’s supposed to be. Unfortunately, Red’s VP confirmed Viper had been there, but that he and Red went south.”

“South? What in the hell for?”

Kaleb shrugged, leaned back, and toyed with the wooden mallet before laying it back on the table. “I have no fucking idea, and my brother isn’t answering his phone. Cara assures me it’s just a bonding trip between the boys. I’m not stupid. He either went fishing for Kinky’s killer or something else is going on.”

“Devil territory with just him and Red? Not the smartest thing to do.”

“I agree.” Kaleb leaned an elbow on the arm of his chair, his forefinger resting against his temple. “Viper isn’t ignorant, so why head to Devil territory with Red? The man can’t even help him, should he get into trouble. He’s no vampire. Better yet, why keep me in the dark?”

“You think he’s working with Blondy.” Grayson rolled his eyes. “I’ll never get used to calling him Rogue, even if he is a fucking traitor.”

“I honestly don’t know what the hell to think.” Kaleb sighed, exhaustion clearly evident in his heavy lids. “You and I are going to Santa Barbara. Will Tamera be okay with Suzi watching the baby?”

“Tamera won’t question club business. She trusts me and I know she trusts your mate.” Gripping both arms of the chair, he rocked back on two legs. “Besides, we’ll likely be back before she will.”

“You may want to call her, just in case.”

“She’s on some assignment. Told me it’s best I don’t call.” He rocked back forward, the front legs of the chair hitting the floor with a thud. “I don’t want to blow that for her. If we don’t make it back by tomorrow, I’ll send her a text.”

Kaleb grabbed his cell from the table and pointed it at Grayson. “I’ll call Suzi. You go pack an overnight bag and meet me back here in an hour. I’d like to hit Santa Barbara before tomorrow.”

“Any idea where we might find Viper and Red?”

He shook his head. “Not in the least, but I do know where to find Rogue. I was told by Prospect Lightning, that Rogue road out of town last night … alone, said he followed him to the state line, which I believe means he headed back to Devils territory. Question is… Why the hell he didn’t take that overgrown fuck with him? Lightning said the big guy was laying low at the farmhouse.”

Grayson stood and grabbed the keys to his bike. “Well then, let’s find out what the hell Past P is up to. If he’s looking for Kinky’s murderer, then I think we need to give him a hand. If he’s not, then I want to know what the hell he’s up to. See you in an hour.”