Seduce Me (19 page)

“Thanks. I’m doing good. Arm and chest are healing up.”

“We had a discussion while you were on your back.” Here it came. “The vote for VP is between you and Becs.” I nod looking at Becs, who’s been here for as long as Pops. Even though Diamond and Pops have been preparing me for this role since I was thirteen years old, something inside of me says that it isn’t my time. And I feel okay with that. I actually feel a weight being lifted off of my shoulders at the realization.

“I nominate Becs. He’s the man for the job.” Immediately all eyes turn to me, even Pops. “I pull my name out of the running. Becs is the guy for the job.”

“You sure about that son?” Pop questions.

“Damn sure.” I turn looking at Becs and light a cigarette inhaling it deeply.

“We vote then.”

The vote goes quick and Becs is our new Vice President and I’m actually relieved. Even though I can damn well do the job, it’s not my time. I don’t feel it yet. It’s better for the club this way, letting the older generation continue the legacy that they started. I’ll have my time.

“We need to fill G.T. in on what’s been going on. Dagger, you’re up.” Pops says.

“Paine needs to die.” I am in total agreement with that. “He contacted me the day after Diamond was killed. Said one down and more to go. Fucker.” My blood boils. He will not pluck my brothers off. I will not allow it. “It’s all about that land. Pops, you may need to help me here because I joined about a year after this happened, but this is what I got on it. About fifteen years back, Zane, Paine’s father, owned the land. We needed access to it because it was a direct pipeline down to Florida. Zane wouldn’t allow it. War broke out, we took it. Gunfire and blood was everywhere, but Ravage won and took over the land. Zane was pissed and wanted revenge. Diamond suggested a hand to hand fight.”

“Becs and I were there. It was rough.” Zed chimes in. Becs nods.

Dagger continues. “Zane agreed and played it dirty. Somehow Ravage came out on top, getting the land fair and square. Zane left shit alone. Zane died about a year ago and his oldest son Paine took over. Paine wants it back, by any means necessary.”

“Alright, what’s he offering?” I ask snuffing out my smoke.

“He’s not offering shit. He said, he’s going to take it, like we took it from his father. And if we don’t give it up, he’s going to pluck us off one at a time.” Fury courses through my veins. Dagger is absolutely right. This fucker will die.

“The hell he is. Where is he?” I demand.

“Underground. Can’t find him. Dropped off the radar after the phone call. He’s like a fucking ghost.” Cruz cut in running his hands through his hair in frustration. “Last time he was seen was at a diner. After that, gone.”

“You asked all of our contacts?” I direct to Cruz. I may not be VP, but damn if I needed to catch the hell up from my little impromptu vacation.

“Yeah. All but Ransom have gotten back to me. I expect to hear from him by the end of the day with his little tidbit after he gets confirmation. Other than that, nothing. No trace of the fucker.”

“Where’s his money coming from?” I ask. No one could run themselves underground that good without money.

“His crew is still running. Just Paine seems to be gone. But I’m sure he has a few guys with him.” Dagger answers.

“So, we find some of his crew and make them talk.” Seriousness drips off my words.

“Agree and on it. We’ll take them out to the small house in the woods. It’s quiet there.” Dagger smiles, sadistic fucker.

“Good, let’s do it!” I say and slam my hand down on the table actually excited to get back in the groove again.

“We go, you stay.” Pops says, halting my thoughts.

“What?” I growl remembering his words the other day and not liking them one fucking bit.

“It’s not something new. You stay back ‘til you’re 100%. Can’t have you going in there with one fucking hand.” Pops growls back.

“Bullshit. I’m fine, I’ll drive a cage.” I counter knowing one of the reasons is that I can’t ride yet.

“No. End of discussion.” Pops says, slamming down the gavel.

“What am I supposed to do then? Sit here with my thumb up my ass?” I ask thoroughly pissed now.

“Why don’t you go fuck Casey? Relieve some of your tension.” Rhys says with a laugh.

“You’re just fucking jealous she’s not in your bed.” I say getting up from the table and walking out of the room, to do just that.

“Where are you going?” I bark entering my room. Angel is pulling her dress on from the night before and gathering all of her things.

“I’ve gotta get downstairs and pack. Breaker is going to follow me back.” Angel says without looking at me.

“Didn’t we just have this fucking conversation last night?”

“Relax big guy. I need to talk to my professors and get some things. I’ll be back in a couple of days. No worries.”

“No.”

She stops in her tracks, turns and glares at me. “What do you mean no?”

“You’re not going without me.” I say matter-of-factly. “I’m driving you up there.”

“You are not driving my car, one handed.” She demands. A small smile plays on her lips.

I step close. “Hurry up. We leave in a couple of hours.” Her eyes lift up to meet mine. They flare and her breathing picks up.

“Getting back to the old G.T. I see.” She smiles catching her bottom lip in her teeth.

“Damn right. Those fucking drugs were messing my shit up. Doc gave me some different ones that don’t mess with me so much.”

“You sure you’re okay to drive?”

“What do you think?” She didn’t say a word, just scoots around me towards the door. “I’ll be downstairs.”

“What the fuck was that boy?” Pops billows in my room as I’m putting a couple of shirts in a bag.

“What?”

“Why the fuck did you bow out of VP?” The vein in his neck ticks showing his rapid heartbeat.

I sit on the bed and rub my hand over my face. “I love this club. I am this club Pops. But it’s Becs’ time. Mine will come later.”

“After I’m fucking dead.” He growls. “This better not have anything to do with Casey.”

My anger peaks at the sound of her name in such a demeaning way. “No, it has nothing to do with her. It’s on me, just like every other fucking thing.”

“What’s that supposed to mean?”

“Nothing. Look Pops, for once it was the right thing to do. Let’s just let it lay.”

Pops clenches his fists but nods his head.

“I’ve gotta take Angel up to get her shit. She’s coming home and this time she’s not leaving.” I say as I put jeans in my bag.

“Good. Then maybe you can get your head out of your ass.” He says pushing the door open and slamming it shut.

Some decisions you make are good, some not. Deep down, in my gut, not being VP right now is what needs to happen for me.

I look over to the passenger seat to a fidgety Angel, her hands are in front of her and not one finger has stopped moving since the car left the clubhouse. “You nervous, Angel?”

She looks up, a soft smile graces her lips. “A little.” She swallows and looks out the window. “We’re going to the place where I thought I’d have Mia and where I lost her. Just hard going back.”

A lump forms in my throat, but a slight cough helps it melt away. I want to reach out to her and hold her hand, but with only one arm, that’s not going to happen. “I’m here Angel. We’ll get through this.” I try to reassure her.

I can’t say I’m happy about coming up here and that the anger isn’t there. It is. It’s not burning me like it did at first. Now, it’s more about the fact that I didn’t get to be a part of it. Regret. Even though, I know deep down it’s not my doing, it still doesn’t sit well. If I hadn’t lied, maybe just maybe baby Mia would be here. We could have been a family. I stop the car at the light and rake my hand over my face trying to clear my head.

Pulling up to the building, Angel gives a small sigh and reaches for the door handle. I follow and move around the car swiftly and wrap my arm around her body. I nuzzle my nose in her neck and pull her tight to me. “It’s okay.” She nods.

I release her waist and grab her hand, making it to the elevator.

I give her hand a gentle squeeze before releasing it for her to unlock the door.

“Casey!” A deep voice calls from my left and I quickly turn putting Angel behind me. A guy in shorts and a fancy shirt walks towards us. Angel goes to talk, but I interrupt.

“Who the fuck are you?” The guy flinches and Angel’s hand falls on my arm and she peeks around my body.

“G.T. calm down. This is Jace.” She whispers.

“And that means shit to me.” My anger spikes. My eyes lock on the guy coming down the hall towards my girl. Dude’s got fucking balls to keep coming; his eyes show a small amount of fear, but not enough.

“He took me to the hospital and stayed with me. He’s a friend of mine.” She rubs my arm up and down sending shocks to my dick. Not the time to be getting hard. And it dawns on me the name Jace is one that Princess said to me. Shit.

“You took care of my girls.” I state as I look him square in the eye. “Appreciate it.” That is the closest to a thank you he’ll ever get, I don’t trust him.

Casey moves around me, “Hey, Jace. This is G.T.”

“I caught that.” His eyes do not waver from mine and I can’t help but feel this is a standoff of some sort. Whatever the fuck it is, I’ll end him.

I grunt. Angel wraps her arms around my waist and leans into me slightly, my body instantly warming from hers and calm flows over me.

“We just came to pick up a few things and get school sorted out. I’m going back home.” Jace’s eyes snap to Casey’s and glare at her, a slight redness creeps up his neck.

“What?” He asks her and I keep to myself for the time being.

“I’m going back home, Jace.”

He balls his fists up like he’s gonna swing and I move Angel fast behind me. The instant I do, Jace blows out a deep breath and unclenches his fists. But his eyes are cold and hard. “A couple days home and you’re gonna throw everything away.” The annoyance is perfectly clear.

“G.T. he won’t hurt me.” She moves to the side of me, but I keep her tight against my body. “Jace. I’m not throwing anything away. I’m gonna finish school, but I’m doing it online. I need to be home.”

“I thought you were starting over. I thought…” He trails off and I fill in the blanks.