Page 14

Diamond

“I think I was Irish in a past life,” Tomb declared with white foam on his upper lip. “Irish pubs are homey. They’ve got good home cooking and cold pints of Guinness.”

Five Diablos were hanging out at an Irish bar outside of Utah. It had been the neutral ground for an important meeting. The meeting was done, and Tomb was having a blast, feeling all Irish.

“I can’t believe we got out of that without bullet holes. We met with the Irish mob, and we’re still breathing. That doesn’t seem right.” Half-laughed Reno. The entire time, Diamond expected a Molotov cocktail through the window.

Axel dominated the conversation with the Irish mob’s US representative. Diamond was always prepared for explosive meetings, and his nerves were still energized.

“Never mind that. I can’t believe we brokered a deal for Snow. We should have hung his shriveled dick out to dry. Now I feel all dirty.” Tomb scowled, rubbing his mouth to remove the Guinness foam. Diamond agreed.

“He all but begged me to intervene.” Axel tapped his fingers on the table, stretching his legs out in front of him. “And taking five hundred G’s off him doesn’t hurt, either.”

“I do like that part,” Reno agreed. “I would have charged a million, though.”

“We got more than money.” Axel shared. Proving why he was the devious leader of the Diablos. “We have leverage over him. He made a mistake in coming to me, and now he’ll pay. As we speak, Bash is storing the evidence somewhere safe. We get a speeding ticket, a planning violation, a fucking murder charge. Who do we call?”

As a collective, all the boys shouted “Snow.” And toasted with their drinks.

That was a sweet as fuck blackmail.

As soon as he thought about sweet as fuck , Joelle bombarded his mind.

She’d been the sweetest, most addictive morsel he’d ever had.

Long days had passed since he’d put his hands and mouth all over her body, and the memory of it was haunting him. So many days since he’d licked, sucked, and mouth fucked her to orgasms and then watched her stroke more out while he sprayed his come like a dirty pervert over her pussy more than once. It had taken all his willpower not to show up the next night to repeat it. But they’d both agreed nothing between them could work out.

They’d scratched an itch in a way that wouldn’t compromise either of them. The truth was, Diamond had known if he’d fucked her in the way he craved to, he wouldn’t let her go. He’d corrupt the beautiful socialite in all the filthy, unforgiving ways. He’d bring her into the darkness with him.

But that taste of her had plagued him until he couldn’t sleep.

He’d rode by the Snow mansion countless times during the witching hours just to be close. And since Titan was on duty, he had no excuse to hang around her place.

That night, after he’d cleaned her up and tucked her into her bed, the temptation to crawl in beside her had been so strong Diamond had forced himself to leave, kissing her on the forehead. But no matter what he’d done to stay busy since, he could not forget her taste or her sounds of pleasure.

Her kisses got a man addicted, willing to do anything for another fix.

She’d thanked him, for fuck’s sake.

Thanked him for making her come.

Then she smiled and casually told him to sleep well as he was leaving, like Joelle wasn’t as affected by their steamy time together as Diamond.

She hadn’t texted or called. Never asked for a repeat performance.

She’d gotten what she needed and moved on.

And that blew.

He’d been hoping she’d turn psycho clingy.

He felt a kick on his boot and raised his head to see Reno watching him.

“Bet you’ll be glad, huh, D?”

He cocked an eyebrow. “About what?”

“Not having to work for the slick dick anymore. He won’t need security now the mob have put their little Irish shrew in timeout.”

Their representative was embarrassed to be contacted by the Diablos for a woman-scorned situation. Shannon was related to one of their field soldiers and had abused the connection to extort Snow. Right there at the table, the Irish representative had made a call and ordered the soldier to neutralize his sister, or he would.

Diamond hadn’t considered the consequences of resolving that situation.

Despite his squeezing gut, he forced a smile. “Thank fuck. One more day in that house, I might have started using a salad fork with my dinner.”

Everyone laughed. Diamond didn’t.

He would miss the rainbow Bluebell more than he could say.

He didn’t like the job, but enjoyed being around her more than he should’ve. He was pissed about working for someone as unlikable as Snow, but Joelle had gotten to him.

To avoid looking like a brooding idiot, he said something. “My team will be happy to have some time off from shopping trips and social events.”

Reno chuckled. “Different atmosphere than putting the heavy on someone at an underground boxing fight, that’s for sure. And no brats to watch over.”

Joelle was far from a brat.

His opinion of her had done a one-eighty almost immediately. She was so damn sweet and vulnerable, funny and intelligent.

And now he wouldn’t get to talk to her one last time.

It was for the best.

She was way too good for him and from a different world.

Even if every soft curve fit perfectly into his hands, as if she’d been designed especially for him. She made him come alive. But Joelle couldn’t be for him.

“We need to bring the old ladies here. Nina will get a kick out of the music.” Said Tomb. Reno agreed, and Axel grunted, which could be classed as agreement. He’d take Scarlett wherever she asked to go. He spoiled the club queen and didn’t hide the fact.

Diamond didn’t respond. Getting in the middle of a couple’s date night sounded like he wanted to stay home and watch the game alone.

* * *

Joelle

“What do you mean, it’s taken care of?”

She blinked at her father, unsure what he was telling her. When he’d called her into his office, she thought she was in for another of his famous do as I say, not as I do lectures.

The bangles around her wrist jingled as she linked her fingers in her lap.

“The situation is resolved, so there’s no need for tight security.”

“Oh.”

Joelle’s heart deflated, and she felt a sick disappointment in her belly.

That meant Diamond wouldn’t be around anymore. Nor the other guys, who were pretty fun to talk with.

“That also means you can drop this silly notion of moving out. You know it’ll break your mother’s heart.”

Joelle sighed, unable to believe he was still using the same old schtick of emotional blackmail on her.

“Why do you want me to stay at home? The truth.”

“I told you.”

“No. You use mother as an excuse. I’m not exactly like all of you. I’m not too fond of social parties and networking. I don’t fit in. Mother has to give me instructions at every public event, so I don’t embarrass you.”

She saw him frown. “You are my daughter, Joelle. I was the one who named you. Do you know that?”

She didn’t. And was surprised by it.

“I know I don’t show it, and I need to spend more time at home with my family, but you are important to your mother. And to me. You and your brother. I would be happy if you both stayed at home forever.”

Joelle cleared her throat, feeling her heart soften toward her father.

“You don’t need to hold on so tight. We’re always going to be a family. It’s not like you won’t ever see us again.”

His face was unreadable, which was half of the problem of not being close.

“Just give it some thought, okay?”

“I will, if you will.”

He arched a gray eyebrow in question.

“I don’t profess to understand the arrangement you and mom have, and I don’t want to.” He scowled like he was ready to lecture, and Joelle held up a hand for him to wait. “All I ask is to consider mom’s feelings the next time you... and please, not someone my age.” She popped to her feet, awkwardness in every limb. This wasn’t a conversation she wanted to have with him now or ever. But no one else advocated for her mother’s happiness, and she felt compelled to do so.

“Joelle.” He called out when she opened his office door. She turned to find him watching her pensively. “Your mother was the only woman I ever wanted to marry. I love her.”

It was a strange love if he had to fuck around and bring turmoil with his reckless decisions. But she never heard her mom’s side, so her thoughts were unclear. If Joelle ever got married, an open marriage would not be on the table.

She shrugged and departed.

It was all the way faithful monogamy for her future relationship, or she’d bury him in the backyard and plant tulips on his cheating ass.

She found Reeves in the grand family room playing on a video game. She plopped down on the couch beside him to annoy her baby brother and ruffled his hair.

“Leave off, Joelle. You nearly made me die.” She doubted it, not with the hours he played on that thing.

“You better make the most of me bugging you, little brother. I won’t be here for much longer.”

His gaze snapped into focus. “Are you going somewhere?”

“I’ve decided to move out, probably in January, if I can find somewhere. I’m downsizing from this mausoleum.”

“No way!” he replied. “And Dad is okay with that?”

“It’s my decision. And it’s well overdue.”

“Shit.”

“Are you going to miss me?”

Their sibling relationship was decent, considering the age difference.

“No. Because I could move in with you, sis.” He grinned, making her laugh.

“I’ll let you stay in the spare room once a month. It’s the best I can offer.” She ruffled his hair again and climbed to her feet.

“Hey,” he called out, already back into the video game with his eyes on the TV screen like an addicted zombie.

“What?”

“Mom said we don’t need those bikers around anymore.”

She couldn’t keep dwelling on Diamond and the dirty things they’d done. She didn’t need his repetitive orgasm sounds in her head.

“Yes, that’s right. You can be a sneaky punk again without being watched.”

He chuckled. “He was pretty cool, you know?”

She knew instinctively who he meant, and Joelle’s stomach tumbled over.

“For a biker, I mean. According to Dad, they’re scum. But I thought he was okay.”

Yeah, Diamond was an okay guy. More than okay.

Especially if he’d made a positive impression on her baby brother.

He called out as he frantically slaughtered a monster by pressing buttons on the control pad. “I might join his club one day. It’ll give Dad a fit.”

Joelle burst out laughing, leaving him to his fun.

Wouldn’t that be a sight? Her family and Diamond’s biker family united in a peaceful conflict.

To illustrate, he occupied her thoughts as she entered her studio and saw five additional paintings of him leaning against the walls. She had an unstoppable urge to paint his face in every color and position. For days since their midnight tryst, painting was the only thing to keep her focused.

Joelle pulled out her phone and sank to sit on a stool.

What could it hurt to message him?

JOELLE : I hear you’ve been set free from the Snow drama. Congrats, Diamond. Don’t miss us too much. XX

Crap . The two kisses at the end of her sentence were a bad habit she’d picked up from an English college friend. The Brits were notorious for it.

Grabbing her painting smock, she pulled it over her head. She had a sexy face to paint.

What was one more for her biker collection?