Rogue (Sons of Sangue Book 4) (29 page)

She took the glass to her lips and finished off her wine, then placed it back on the bar. Smiling up at Wolf, she gave his large hand a quick squeeze. “Thank you so much for the drink, Wolf. I think it’s time I call it a night.”

“It’s nothing I said?”

Kimber leaned in and kissed his cheek. “Nope. I think down deep, you might be one of the good guys. Thank you for the conversation.”

He winked at her again. “Thank you, sweetheart. You decide to give Rogue a chance, don’t go easy on his ass. I may be still pretty damn pissed at him for being a complete shit, but I still love the bastard. Don’t you dare tell him I said that.”

Kimber laughed and bussed his cheek a second time. “I wouldn’t think of it.”

Turning, she headed for the dance floor to find Chad. She didn’t want to leave without letting him know and seeing if he had a ride home. Tena and Bobby had arrived on his bike, while Chad had hitched a ride with her. He stood near the exit, chatting with a dark haired, good-looking man, who appeared to be a good ten years older than him. Kimber bet Chad wasn’t about to leave, not with her anyway.

Chad saw her approach. “Hey, boss. Having a good time?”

“I was.” She smiled, looking briefly to his friend. “I was about to head home. You need a ride?”

“I’ll give him a lift.” The way he looked at Chad told Kimber he was all about spending more time in Chad’s company.

“I think I’ll stay a bit longer.” Chad’s blue eyes spoke of his delight. “You okay to head home alone?”

“I am.” Kimber pulled the car keys from her small handbag. “See you at work tomorrow.”

The heavy glass and steel door closed behind her, muffling the sound of the music as she stepped outside. Pressing her key fob, her car horn honked, and the lights flashed once. Kimber walked between the row of cars until she reached hers.

Anton and Tamera came to mind. What the hell was going on? Kimber had been pretty sure Tamera was head over heels when it came to Grayson. Not that she didn’t care about Anton, that much was evident in her asking Kimber to befriend him. So why had she called Anton and why had he said she belonged to him?

When Anton came back to town, she definitely planned to ask him. Knowing now which Tam he referred to, she was more than ever determined to get to the bottom of whatever Anton was up to. Kimber was pretty sure if Anton stepped over the line where Tamera was concerned, Grayson would kill him. Whatever she thought she heard, Kimber didn’t believe for a minute Anton would betray a friend, Devil or not.

* * *

Anton’s head snapped back and blood streamed from his nose. Tamera screamed and all hell broke loose. He hadn’t wanted it to come to blows, but Grayson wasn’t about to listen to any explanations at the moment. His brother’s eyes filled with black rage. Long fangs extended from his upper lip. Kaleb pulled Tamera clear, keeping her from getting into the fray. Bottom line, they needed to fight it out, even if Anton hadn’t wronged Grayson.

Well, other than kissing his mate.

And though it was a pleasant kiss, there was nothing hot about it, not like locking lips with Kimber. Damn, he had a lot to make up for. The kiss between him and Tamera had been all for show. Too bad the act had also worked on Grayson. The man was out for blood.

Anton’s blood
.

Tamera tried to get her mate to see reason, but Grayson wasn’t listening, and Kaleb found amusement in the entire scene, cackling like an idiot from the sidelines.

What the hell?

There wasn’t a damn thing funny about the situation from where he stood. Anton ducked Grayson’s right and delivered an uppercut to his jaw, sending him stumbling back. It didn’t take long for him to right himself. He charged Anton, throwing a shoulder low and into his gut, sending him sprawling to the asphalt. His shirt ripped and the blacktop tore at his skin. Grayson leaned down and bit his shoulder.

The motherfucker actually bit him.

Anton growled, his own fangs lengthening, his anger getting the best of him. If he didn’t stop the brawl soon, they’d both be bloody messes. He grabbed Grayson’s shoulders and ripped his fangs from his skin. Anton bit back a roar as white lights flickered in his gaze. Red hot pain shot through his shoulder. He tossed Grayson like a rag doll. His one-time friend’s backside skidded twenty-feet along the parking lot. Before Anton could pounce, Kaleb released Tamera. She moved with lightning speed to stand between them again, her hands held palms out.

“Enough.”

Turning to Grayson, Tamera fisted his shirt and jerked his sorry ass off the ground, landing him on the hood of her Range Rover.

“Damn, you’re sexy as hell when you use your vamp strength, doll.” He grabbed hold of her shirt, stealing a quick kiss. “But right now, I have a score to settle.”

Kaleb pointed a finger at Grayson, stopping him from leaping on Anton again. He stepped forward. “This true? You down here with Tamera?” he asked Anton.

Anton ran the back of his hand beneath his nose and swiped away the blood. “I’m not fucking Gypsy’s mate, if that’s what you’re getting at.”

The club P looked mighty pissed, more so than just being angry with him for possibly fucking Tamera. His glare told Anton his anger was much more personal. “Nope. Not what I’m getting at, asshole.”

Kaleb looked back at Tamera, who had wrapped herself around Grayson from behind. Grayson now stood in front of her vehicle and she sat on the hood, watching Anton and Kaleb. Tamera looked ready to leap from the hood and jump between Kaleb and Anton if need be.

“While you two knuckleheads were going at it, Tamera told me you were working undercover. That true?”

Anton took a quick look behind him to the gateway of the alley. If they weren’t careful, they’d blow the whole gig. He couldn’t be sure they weren’t followed. “Not here, P. Meet me at the pier, just north of town, in twenty minutes. For now, let me go. I need Tamera to follow in her Range Rover. Make sure you and Gypsy aren’t seen when you leave. We’ll talk there.”

Twenty minutes later, Kaleb and Grayson pulled their Harleys onto the asphalt parking lot next to the pier. Anton and Tamera had parked their rides a half mile down the beach. The salt water hung heavy in the air, clinging to their skin and stinging the healing cuts on his flesh from his skirmish with Grayson. Now the foursome stood in the sand at the bottom of the wooden pier, out of sight.

“You want to start by telling me what the hell is going on, Rogue?” Kaleb leaned one shoulder against one of the support posts of the pier, legs crossed at the ankles. “If I’m guessing right, my brother and his mate most likely know about your involvement with the Devils.”

“Why would you think that?” Anton glanced at Tamera, who merely shrugged. The last thing he wanted was to have the twins at odds because Cara thought it best to keep it between them.

“Because the son of a bitch was always coming to your rescue. Stepped between us at the club meeting you busted in on.”

“It wasn’t his idea, Hawk. Cara wanted it kept quiet.”

“I’m club P. I had every fucking right to know. You guys had no right cutting me out. So, it’s true then. You really didn’t turn rogue.”

Anton ran a hand through his short dark hair. He’d be so glad to get his old life back and his old look. “We had to make it believable, Hawk. I didn’t like keeping you and Gypsy in the dark. Tamera swore she’d bring Gypsy up to speed first sign of trouble.”

Grayson looked at his mate, one of his brows raising. “You knew about this?”

She shook her head. “Only within the last month. Cara thought after Kinky’s death I might be able to find out which of the Devils might be involved. Anton was to be my cover. We were supposed to act as a couple.”

“Did you find out who ordered the hit?”

Tamera shook her head and snuggled into his side. Grayson wrapped his arm about her and tucked her tightly against him. Anton was glad the case had not caused problems with his one-time best friend and his mate.

“It doesn’t appear the Devils were involved.” Tamera looked at Kaleb. “Not that I was able to ascertain. The Devils’ VP was getting a little too friendly, regardless of me telling him I was with Rogue. I think it was more because he didn’t trust me, reporter or not. He seemed pretty suspicious of me. That’s why I called Rogue in.”

Grayson glared at Anton. “If you were supposed to have her back, why the fuck weren’t you there?”

“Not his fault, babe.” Tamera gripped his chin gently, taking his gaze from Anton to hers. “Tank sent him north. Rogue had no way of knowing I had left for Santa Barbara. As soon as I called him, he headed south. Even at the risk of pissing off Tank for not following orders.”

“Well, I want to speak with Viper,” Kaleb grumbled, stepping away from the pier and straightening his spine. Anger rolled off him in waves. “The son of a bitch had no business keeping this from me.
You
” — he pointed a finger at him — “shouldn’t have kept this from me.”

“Cara thought it would be better the fewer people who knew.” Anton squared his shoulders, tired of being everyone’s punching bag. “She wanted your reaction to my defection real, Hawk.”

Kaleb’s jaw tightened. Waves slapped against the beach, cutting through the uncomfortable silence. The tension was thick. Cara and Viper were going to get a piece of Kaleb’s mind, no matter what Anton had to say. Not to mention Joe Hernandez, Robbie Melchor, and the DEA knowing about Anton’s undercover work. This was bigger than Kaleb’s ego. He needed to learn it wasn’t about keeping him from the know, but more about protecting Anton and Draven. This was Cara’s sting and she’d have to answer for it.

For now, they needed to get the hell out of Santa Barbara before the entire mess came crashing down on their shoulders. Anton needed to get back to Bobby … and Kimber, if she were still speaking to him. They couldn’t close this case soon enough for his liking.

“Sorry, Rogue, but she isn’t getting off the hook that easy,” Kaleb said.

Anton took in a deep breath. “Whatever, man. You take it up with Viper and his mate. Honestly, I am getting a little tired of being everyone’s kicking stone. You, Tamera, and Gypsy can sit here all fucking night and talk about it for all I care. You find Viper, kick his ass if it makes you feel better. Just keep me the fuck out of it.”

He turned and started for the beach. Stopping just shy of stepping on the pier, he looked back. “I have a job I signed up to do and I need to finish it. I’d appreciate it if you two asswipes didn’t get me killed in the process of your desire to soothe your egos.”

Anton reached the top of the sand dune when Grayson called out. He stopped and turned back. Grayson’s arm dangled over Tamera’s shoulder, reminding Anton of what he wanted … had always wanted.
A family.

“Glad to know you aren’t a fucking traitor, man.”

“I wouldn’t have turned my back on the Sons for the Devils, bro. But for the sake of the case, I’m glad you bought it. Don’t think it doesn’t bother me, though.”

He turned and jogged down the beach to where he had left his bike. He had to get back to Pleasant before the shipment of heroin came in. If he wasn’t there, Tank would have his ass and the gig would be up.

If Anton were a betting man, he’d say his chances of securing a meeting with the cartel kingpin had become very slim odds. Once word got out he disobeyed, Anton wasn’t exactly going to be getting favors from the Devils’ P. Not to mention the condition he left Spider in. Yep, he wasn’t going to be earning any brownie points over his beating the VP’s ass.

Stepping over the seat of his bike, he started the engine and turned his Road King north, speeding off down the road. Anton gritted his teeth. Over one year of his life had been lost to this case, and they still were no closer to wrapping it up. He wanted his life back. Hell, what he really wanted was a shot with Kimber.

Fat chance.

Should he come clean, she may forgive him over the Tamera incident and understand why he had kept her in the dark about his undercover work with the Devils. But Anton was pretty sure, should she find out about his desire to sink his fangs into her carotid artery, she’d freak the fuck out, which wasn’t conducive with his desire to keeping her in his life.

Anton hadn’t gotten out of California before the cell in his pocket began to vibrate. He pulled his bike to the side of the road and cut the engine. One glance at the home screen had him rolling his eyes. Time to face the music with Tank. He took off his helmet, tapped the
SEND
button, and placed the phone next to his ear.

“Where the fuck are you, Rogue?” Tank’s deep tone radiated with anger.

“Somewhere between Santa Barbara and Oregon.”

“You want to explain why you aren’t with Preacher?”

Anton chuckled, devoid of humor. “Cut the bullshit, Tank. You already know why I was in Santa Barbara. If your fucking VP would’ve kept his hands to himself, I wouldn’t have had to leave Oregon. So instead of ragging on my ass, why not give your anger to someone who deserves it?”

“You fucked him up pretty good.”

“Think I care? The piece of shit deserved it. He knew damn well Tam was my woman. Spider told me since he was VP, it gave him the right to fuck her.”

“He said that?”