Page 15

Diamond

Over the years, Diamond witnessed his patched brothers and their old ladies having several arguments. They rarely kept their marital fights quiet. It was usually over some dumb stuff that Diamond wouldn’t even care about.

And then harmony would resume once again once the lovers made up. Most often, Diamond would hear them going at it like sex-crazed animals behind a locked door.

As he sat at the bar in the Diablos clubhouse, drinking strong black coffee, he understood how his brothers were moody in those moments because they missed their soft-bodied women.

He couldn’t say it was the same because he hadn’t claimed Joelle. She wasn’t his woman and never could be.

But he missed her.

He felt a void without her disjointed conversations that hopped from topic to topic without a smooth transition. He missed how she’d smile at everyone like they were all her friends, even if she didn’t know them. He missed the way she couldn’t hide how her eyes followed him. He’d fucking loved her attention. And he missed how she’d laugh so effortlessly and look his way to see if he found it equally funny.

He missed her taste. She was like nothing he’d had in his mouth before. And one time with her shouldn’t make him an infatuated addict, but here he sat, unable to think about anything else.

“Why so glum, chum?” asked Scarlett as she restocked the bar.

“I’m not glum.” He brooded into his coffee. What the fuck did glum mean, anyway?

His curt answer didn’t deter Scarlett.

They’d all taken on the role of being her big brother ever since Axel dragged the waif into the clubhouse after trying to steal from him. From then on, it became clear Axel was keeping the woman for himself. The club queen was younger than most, smaller than a mushroom, and probably weighed less than those boxes she was hauling out to the recycling, but she sure did like to poke her nose in everywhere if she sniffed out drama.

“You look like someone painted unicorns on your motorcycle.”

He raised his head and playfully arched an eyebrow at Scarlett, his lips twitching with amusement.

“That would be so cool, wouldn’t it? If I can talk Axel into letting me ride a motorcycle, I’d paint unicorns all over it.”

God help them. If she ever rode a bike, they’d have to climb up on the roof so she didn’t run them over.

“Is something wrong, Diamond? Anything I can help you with? You’re usually one boy I don’t need to worry about. But here I am, worried about you.”

That was the club’s First Lady; she had a soft heart, and he flashed a smile.

“I’m good, babe.”

“You’re a boy, so you’re a liar,” she smiled with empathy, “but I’m here if you want to talk.”

What would he say? That he was pining after a woman who couldn’t be his, even if their chemistry was like nothing he’d ever felt before. He could imagine how that vote would go when he asked to bring Joelle around as his old lady. The daughter of a shady Judge, they’d never trust a Snow. They’d say it would be like having a fox in the henhouse. He understood because he would make the same choice in their position.

Decisions that would put the club at risk, especially from enemies, were consistently voted down. Joelle was not his enemy, far from it, and he felt his mood plummet even further.

He got her first text while discussing the Riot Brothers with Bash over lunch.

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

Shit.

Why did his gut have to tighten with a thrill?

She was only a woman.

A woman who had a claw hold on his attention.

He thought about ignoring it.

But he had rogue thumbs.

DIAMOND : If I ever say I miss your father, have me committed.

DIAMOND : Don’t get into trouble, and you won’t need my services, Bluebell.

JOELLE : HEY! It wasn’t me who hired you.

JOELLE : I’m a good girl.

Diamond’s mind was pure filth for what that sentence conjured.

“Why are you smiling at your phone?” asked Bash across the table. “Shit, is this another Ruin situation? It creeped everyone out when he’d hunch over his phone while he was romancing Rory. Or whatever he called it.”

Fuck. It was precisely like Ruin.

He did like all men and deflected like a pro.

“Don’t you have a nurse to chase, brother? Is little Lottie succumbing to your charms yet?”

As hoped, Bash’s attention switched, and he scowled into his chowder. “I fucking wish. She’s stubborn.”

“You know, you can move on, right? There’s...”

“Don’t say plenty of fish in the sea,” he growled. “I get enough of that shit from Denver. He saw Casey and latched on like a barnacle, so he has no room to talk.”

Diamond smirked. That was true. Denver picked up his hitch-hiker, moved her in, and she’d been there ever since.

For the rest of the week, Diamond sent texts back and forth with Joelle.

JOELLE : I wish Christmas was over.

DIAMOND : You’re not a fan?

JOELLE : It’s okay. There are fifteen trees in my house right now. Fifteen! There were three in the therapist’s waiting area. It’s forcing festivity.

He observed that her suite at the mansion lacked any festive decorations. Weren’t all women crazy about the season? Axel had stupidly given Scarlett the green light for anything she wanted to do, so the old ladies have gone all in with decorating shit.

DIAMOND : Who knew someone so colorful would be a Grinch?

JOELLE : Bah Humbug.

* * *

Diamond knew what the beeping meant while he iced his busted knuckles in his home bathroom. It was late. He’d been sorting out an issue for a client all day and only just got home to boil himself in a shower and treat his hands.

He parked himself on the side of the bed and smirked, reading her message.

JOELLE : I had to be social all night.

JOELLE : How does Santa Claus cope? I’d retire and take my cookies with me.

DIAMOND : Poor girl. You can retire from being a Snow.

JOELLE : I wish I could. It was the Christmas party at my father’s office. Hell would freeze over before we were allowed to opt out of attending.

JOELLE : Reeves got high in the bathroom, and I got stuck talking with Trent for hours.

The little fucking suit-wearing pen pusher. Diamond’s jaw cracked as he stared at his phone and thought of twenty-six ways to kill a pompous twat.

Was she trying to make him jealous? Because it was working so efficiently.

Lock her up.

Tie her down.

Keep her at his mercy until she only knew his name.

Christ. His thoughts had jumped into crazy town.

He didn’t want Joelle to feel alone, but he was murderous at the idea of another man trying to make her happy. They would dim her sparkle and drain her vibrant soul.

Just thinking about it made Diamond want to punch a wall.

He couldn’t help himself.

Though he had no rights here and didn’t want the answer, he still asked.

DIAMOND : Did the monotonous dick ask you out?

JOELLE : LOL, you don’t like him, huh?

JOELLE : Your assessment is correct, though. He droned on about lawyer stuff all night.

JOELLE : And he kept asking me out for a date.

Motherfucker. He should ride to that guy’s place and stick his head under the fridge.

He had no intention of responding.

They weren’t gal pals to talk about this shit.

He only discovered he was a jealous maniac over the right woman. No fucking way did he want to hear about Joelle’s dating life. It would turn him into a serial killer.

He finished slathering his knuckles with ointment to heal faster, and he marched back into his bedroom to pull on a pair of boxer briefs.

He’d made his way into the kitchen to grab a beer and to crash out in the lazy-boy chair in front of the TV when the phone beeped again.

JOELLE : I didn’t say yes.

JOELLE : Anyway, it’s late. Goodnight, tough guy. Hope you’re staying out of biker trouble.

* * *

JOELLE : I saw all you guys today! You were riding in formation like a pack of ducks. It looked cute!

DIAMOND : Bluebell, bikers aren’t cute.

JOELLE : A few are!

DIAMOND : Which bikers do you think are cute so I know who I’m killing?

JOELLE : laughing emojis I plead the fifth.

The answer caused him to scowl.

The next night, fueled by Joelle’s comments about other bikers, he beat up a guy for being late with his Diablos debts.

* * *

DIAMOND : I saw you on the local news with your Snow clan tonight.

JOELLE : Ugh, did my smile look real or fake? My jaw was aching by the time I got home.

JOELLE : Worst night ever.

She’d looked fucking spectacular in a bright yellow and peach dress, and her blue hair piled on top of her head with wispy bits around her face. Diamond had come to a complete stop seeing the news bulletin on the big TV in the clubhouse. Like she’d welded his feet to the floor, he hadn’t moved until the next item came on, and he could breathe again.

DIAMOND : Your smile was fine.

JOELLE : Stop with the compliments, tough guy. You’ll give me a massive ego.

DIAMOND : Why are you awake so late?

JOELLE : I’m wrapping Reeves’ gifts.

DIAMOND : Did you spoil him?

JOELLE : Of course. He’s a little devil, but I love that devil.

JOELLE : I didn’t get him the sports car he begged for.

DIAMOND : What did you get him?

JOELLE : Some gamer stuff. A new monitor and clothes.

DIAMOND : You have spoiled him, Mrs Claus.

DIAMOND : Get into bed, Bluebell. Santa sees you when you’re sleeping. He knows when you’re awake.

JOELLE : You just sang the song, didn’t you?

JOELLE : Cute biker.

JOELLE : Goodnight, tough guy. Wish me luck tomorrow. I have two events to attend.

DIAMOND : Be like a biker and get drunk. It’ll make them more tolerable. Sweet dreams, Bluebell.

* * *

DIAMOND : Did you survive?

JOELLE : The parties? Thankfully, yes!

JOELLE : An old lady wearing Chanel and pearls looked me up and down and queried if I got dressed in the dark. LOL.

DIAMOND : Stupid old crone. Give me her name and address.

JOELLE : OMG. Will you put a biker whack on her?

DIAMOND : I’m not the Italian mafia, Bluebell.

JOELLE : Don’t burst my imagination. That sounded cool. And hot.

JOELLE : Anyway, I’m about to go to my grandparents for mulled wine and more socializing. I swear, I’m hibernating in January.

JOELLE : What are the bikers doing?

JOELLE : Especially the cute one winky emoji

The deep breath Diamond took stretched his Henley t-shirt across his chest. He wasn’t a praying man, but that woman made him ask for patience almost daily.

“Brother, you coming?” called out Devil, striding to the door in his leathers. Diamond grunted affirmatively and grabbed his leather jacket. Swinging it on, he thumbed out a reply as he headed for the entryway.

DIAMOND : We’re going to see a man about a dog.

JOELLE : OMG, are you buying a dog?

JOELLE : Adopt one instead, Diamond. So many older puppies need homes.

JOELLE : But I want to see him immediately!

DIAMOND : Woman, it’s an expression. I’m not getting a dog.

JOELLE : Oh. Now I’m sad.

JOELLE : Send me a picture of the cute biker instead.

DIAMOND : You’re asking for it.

JOELLE : I’m begging for it!

JOELLE : I meant the picture grin emoji

Shit. They were flirting.

And he liked it.

Diamond grinned and pocketed his phone.

She’d put him in a good mood, and now he had to crack some Riot Brothers skulls.

* * *

JOELLE : Merry Christmas Eve, Diamond.

The bike beneath him idled on the corner of a private street as he frowned while looking up at the brightly lit windows.

Could she sense he was creeping outside the Snow mansion?

There was no disguising or excusing his behavior this time. He’d gone all in with the stalking, led solely by his addiction to her.

What was his end game here? Knock on the door like a boyfriend, and give her the gift, burning a hole in his pocket?

He was acting like an infatuated, out-of-control fool.

Two weeks had passed since he last saw Joelle and their most fantastic night.

He wasn’t the club muscle only because of his size. Diamond’s fuse was short in intense situations, causing him to detonate quickly. But somehow, these past few days, while he’d been neutralizing some issues the Riot Brothers had been causing for the MC, having Joelle constantly on his mind meant Diamond kept his head together and didn’t pummel someone to death. He only left them bruised instead.

Just picturing her in her bed, surrounded by a sweet scent, or in her paint-filled studio with her hair tied up, helped him handle the situation calmly.

Almost like he’d envisioned having an old lady waiting at home for him.

Giving his head a disgusted shake, he revved the engine and did a U-turn to go down the street the way he’d come in.

He needed to get his shit together before he went full-on stalker, or worse. He’d kidnap the woman and keep her for himself and not give a shit what anyone else thought about it.

Then where would he be?

Heaven. For sure.

Also in jail.

He rode into the night and forgot about the Bluebell broach in his inside pocket, reminding Diamond of how reckless he was.

* * *

JOELLE : Merry Christmas, Diamond.

JOELLE : I haven’t heard from you. I hope you’re spending the holidays with your family and having a wonderful time.

JOELLE : What did Santa bring you?

JOELLE : Are you in a post-Christmas hangover?

JOELLE : Diamond, are you busy?

JOELLE : I hope you’re being safe, tough guy.

JOELLE : Diamond, are you getting my messages?

JOELLE : Happy New Year, Diamond. I hope it’s the best one yet.

Over the past week, he repeatedly read their texts and felt like a cruel prick for not responding. He didn’t want to be another person in her life giving Joelle the cold shoulder. She deserved the fucking world at her feet. He wanted to be at her feet, worshipping her.

But his silence was for the best.

For them both. Eventually.

Even if it was tearing him apart.

She didn’t need someone like him, bringing the dirt and the dangerous.

And he couldn’t have someone like her in his world.

A clean cut was needed.

So he sighed, shoved his phone away, and hooked up the whiskey glass to toast to the New Year, wishing his Bluebell all the good shit in her life she could ever want.

And that didn’t include a biker who couldn’t stop thinking about her.