Page 28 of Creep (Vulture Hollow MC #2)

Creep

So maybe some of the cargo in the warehouse we have in town is illegal.

Still doesn’t make it right to steal from us, does it?

In turn, how is breaking the thief’s fingers a crime?

You have to be a special brand of dense to try stealing from Vulture Hollow MC, so maybe I should have expected him to press charges on top of that.

I don’t know, and I don’t care, because someone provided me with an alibi, and I’m leaving. I imagine the guy has already enjoyed a one-on-one with Prophet or Road, so neither he, or anyone from his group will be trying that again.

I half expected to be getting out sooner or later, it’s not like I’ve been caught sawing off someone’s leg to turn it into feed for the graveyard chickens.

What I’m most annoyed about is that the precious gift from Angel is now broken, and I swear, if even one stone is missing, I’m gonna torch the whole damn police station.

The officer shoving the tray of belongings toward me is clearly annoyed by my presence.

This is a small town, so me being let out means she has to pause whatever YouTube video she’s been watching and follow all the necessary procedures, because she’s new in town, and still worries about making a good impression.

She recites how much cash I had in my wallet, then mentions the candy I carry on me and a few other necessities.

I was worried the cops might want to confiscate my iron, and my favorite knife, but they’re both on the counter, along with the broken necklace, which I gather into a piece of paper, then fold all the edges to create a secure pouch.

I’ll need to have it put together as soon as I’m out of the station, because I can’t show my face at Angel’s without it being whole.

He’d likely take it away, thinking I can’t take care of his things, assume I was careless, or worse yet, just tell me to go to my cave with disappointment in his pretty blue eyes.

I can’t have that. Not after what he said at breakfast, and I’ve had more time than I’d like to think about that moment.

He’s unsure of me and where we stand, whereas I’ve never been more certain of anything.

I spent a lot of time in the cell mulling over what I can say to him, how I can entice him to be mine when he’s sitting on the fence at best, already looking over it at worst.

As soon as I have all my stuff, I’m headed out where no doubt my pack of Vultures awaits.

It’s at times like this when I don’t feel like I’m a disposable piece of the club.

The guys show up, sometimes even when I don’t want them to, when I don’t want the attention and the spotlight, but I can trust they’ll have my back.

Prophet was annoyed that I stayed to pick up the necklace pieces, but he wouldn’t abandon me or withhold help for a while, so I learn my lesson.

Something my aunt was always more than happy to do.

The last of the sun blinds me as I head for the glass doors leading out of the station, but I focus on my feet and walk outside.

My friends are only shadows in the bright red landscape I see through my lashes.

But then, one figure steps forward, and my heart leaps, because I would recognize his shape anywhere.

Angel’s wearing one of those cozy cardigans he seems to like so much, wide, lightweight pants, and sandals with thick soles that give him an extra inch of height. Did Prophet convince him to pick me up?

How embarrassing for him to see me coming out of jail. Sure, he knows I’m an outlaw, but I wanted to wait with the reality of it bursting our bubble. Then again, I killed a man in front of him on the day we met, so maybe that’s not a dealbreaker.

I look up at him, and suddenly my carefully crafted speech on how I will take care of him, how I will try so hard to meet his expectations and prove myself to be a good choice drizzles out of my brain, replaced by the kind of anxiety I never feel when I have to punch someone.

Because what if he says no? The stakes are so much higher than life or death. And on top of that, my club is here, watching us.

Angel’s face is so sweet when he stops right in front of me, eyes reflecting the light streaming through the windows of the police station.

Before I can think things through, he’s taking a deep breath, hands hovering on either side of me as if he wants to grab my arms and decides not to at the very last moment.

A twitch passes over his features. “Are you for real? You got caught because of my necklace?”

Oh fuck. I should have worn it inside my top at work, but I was too vain. Too proud of the gift. “I… um… I want you to be my boyfriend,” I choke out, because I’m no pussy. I will die on this fucking hill if I must.

Angel’s mouth drops open. “What?”

I can tell it’s bad because instead of cracking a joke at my expense, Yeti turns around with his hands on his nape, pretending he didn’t see anything.

“I want to define it.” I stand my ground, staring right into his eyes to make my point clear.

Angel licks his lips, then reaches up to push some stray hair behind his ears, and his eyes linger on my chest before shooting up to meet my gaze. I feel like it’s burning me, a hot stream encircling my neck and then reaching all the way to my crotch.

I’ve never wanted anyone this much.

If he says no, I will lower my head and accept my fate, but if there’s even the slightest chance that he could like me back—

“Okay. I’ll be your boyfriend,” Angel says softly, Adam’s apple bobbing up and down as he swallows.

My chest cracks open, and my black heart greedily ingests all the sunshine he’s throwing at me with a hint of a smile. I’m so overwhelmed, so elated I have to let this energy out somewhere.

So I lean down and kiss his cheek.

Everyone should see me staking my claim.

The whistles erupting around us are just background noise to the furious pounding of my heart. Then his hand finds mine, and I can barely think, because he’s leading me back to the guys.

“Never do that again. I’d rather you lost the necklace than got arrested. I don’t like lying, and today I had to so the police let you out,” Angel mumbles.

I squeeze his fingers, still finding it hard to understand how I’m allowed this touch. Then again, he is my boyfriend now. I think deep down I expected rejection, even if gentle, so I didn’t prepare well for this new reality where he’s mine .

I catch a glimpse of my reflection in a car mirror and straighten. Even after being stuck in jail, with the new hairdo I don’t look half bad.

But it’s hard to talk to Angel about our private things in front of the guys, so I leave my answer for later.

“I bet you’ve got shit to talk about,” Prophet saves me and pats me on the shoulder. “We’ll have a meeting to discuss all this tomorrow.”

I stare at him in disbelief. “About me and… Angel?” We did have a meeting when Road came out and told us he plans to marry Clyde, but wasn’t that because Clyde was a member of an enemy club at the time?

Prophet’s eyebrows rise. “No, Creep… About the warehouse.”

“Yeah. I knew that. Just joking.”

Admittedly, not something I do well, so he might just believe me. That’s what I get for Angel being the single thing on my mind.

Road winks at me from his hog, then wiggles his brows, grabbing Clyde’s shoulder and pulling him against his chest. They start whispering, maybe wondering how someone like me managed to attract a boy as handsome as Angel, so I say my goodbyes and let my new boyfriend tug me to his car.

I’m so overwhelmed by this whole situation that I open the driver’s side without thinking and sit down, discovering that there’s barely any space for my legs.

Angel rests his hand on the roof and leans in. “Oh, you wanna drive? That’s all right,” he says and reaches between my legs. We aren’t even touching right now, but my skin’s fired up, and I only realize what he’s doing when the seat rolls back.

I nod, trying to find words, but he graciously gives me more time when he walks around the car to join me in the passenger seat.

I watch him pass in front of the hood, unable to comprehend how gorgeous he is with his blond hair, slender fingers— He winks at me and I smile, because yeah, I’m allowed to watch my boyfriend .

I might be a creep, but I’m not just ‘some creep’. I don’t have to hide that I was looking.

As soon as he’s inside, I start the engine with a key decorated with a pink acrylic charm, and say what’s been on my mind. “I couldn’t lose the necklace. I promised to protect it.”

He whips his head, sending the scent of jasmine at me in a wave of warm air. “I can’t believe I need to say this, but I care about your life more than I care about the necklace,” he says, and his hand rests on my thigh.

I clutch the wheel, because I’m instantly drowning in guilt over asking him to be mine in the first place.

Even though he told me that he cares about me, even though he was the first to hold my hand, and who invited me into the shower with him …

the other voice in my head is loud and chastises me for thinking I deserve to be touched.

It’s hard to focus on the point he’s made.

“Th-thank you. I do have it though, every piece. I will get it put back together.”

Bikes roar as my brothers drive past us in a loose formation, but my world has shrunk to the boy sitting next to me, and his burning touch on my thigh. “Thank you. That’s super thoughtful of you, Creep.”

His voice sounds as smooth as velvet feels, and when his other hand settles on my shoulder, I can’t keep in a soft moan.

It’s embarrassing. I’m embarrassing, but he doesn’t pull away in disgust. On the contrary, as I squeeze my hands on the wheel in an effort to keep them from trembling, Angel is close enough for me to sense the warmth of his breath.