Page 6

Rogue

I leaned against the doorjamb. Brenna, one of the sweet butts of the club had taken an interest in Pike.

“How is he?”

She sat in a chair with her knees tucked to her chest and sipped a cup of coffee and watched him sleep. “He says he feels like he has the flu, so I figured I’d nurse him back to health with chicken soup and good love.”

“No pussy until his body is healed.”

She smiled.

“My dick is the only thing that doesn’t hurt,” Pike said with a slur.

I stepped into the room. “You want to give us a few minutes?”

Brenna unfolded from the chair. “I’ll go make a fresh pot of coffee.”

“Thanks. Close the door.” I pulled her chair next to the bed. “You want to tell me what happened?”

Pike blinked his eyes and adjusted to sitting with his back against the wall. He licked his swollen lips. “I’m fuzzy on the details.” His tongue worked to form words with his missing teeth. “Once they started doping me up, I’m a blank. ”

“No doubt it was the Crawlers?”

“No doubt. They must have followed me out. I was heading to a bar called Roosters to hook up with a girl I met online. Not my usual choice, but she works there. She told me she wants to take a ride on a Harley to see if the rumors are true.” He reached for the water on the end table.

I picked it up and handed it to him. “Where’s your bike?”

“They have it. My guess, its parts by now pimping out Crawler cruisers.”

I winced.

“Rogue, they asked a lot of questions about you, but mostly Wrench wanted information on Blade.”

My gut clenched. “Is he a target?”

“They think Blade is your target because he’s wearing the president patch.”

“Fuck.” I stood and raked my hands over my head.

“They think you took out Razor.” He licked his lips again. Blood still stained the dry cracks. “Are they right? Did you have something to do with Razor?”

“Razor was a junkie and was killing this club. I’m not losing sleep over his death.”

“That really didn’t answer my question.”

I glared at him. “You want to ask me that again?”

He shook his head.

I didn’t kill him. Only because Blade got to him first.

“You got any names? ”

“Yeah, I heard Wrench call one of them Snow. Tall, skinny, doped up. He’s the one who kept me high.”

“Listen to me, kid. You smoke it, snort it, or shoot it, I’ll fucking assign a babysitter to your ass, keep you from weed and pussy until your forty. Do we understand each other?”

I wasn’t losing another Heller to heroin. I strode to the door. My Crawler problem was going to lead to more violence. Pike added another drop of blood to my bucket. Who was next? Blade? One of the girls?

I rolled my shoulders. It was too late to worry about clean hands. A day of reckoning was coming for Wrench and the Crawlers.

“Could you assign Brenna as my nurse?”

I glanced over my shoulder. “Yeah, you earned her.”

Pippa

Sunlight streamed through my blinds. Morning had come too early. I lifted my phone. Late again. I hoped Hana had made arrangements with Blade because this tired bitch was going to be dragging ass today.

Pippa: Running late. Sorry.

While I waited for her reply, I quickly dressed in jeans and an Eminence University hoodie. A messy bun didn’t contain my hair, but at least I didn’t look like I’d just rolled out of bed.

As I brushed my teeth, I checked my reflection in the mirror. Never mind, I definitely had the ravished thing going. Only I’d spent the night tossing and turning with my thoughts of the man currently crashed on my couch.

At least I assumed he was still there.

My phone pinged.

Hana: I just woke up. Come get me at the MC.

Pippa: lol. On my way.

I checked my backpack as I rushed into the living room. Romeo was beautiful with high cheekbones, a flawless complexion, eyes to drown in, and a mouth made for kissing. He was tall and fit and funny.

Dozer took my breath. His hooded gaze sent a quickening of wicked need through me. He leaned up on his elbow. The blanket rode low on his hips and revealed the outline of his morning erection.

“I’m late for class. I can drop you at the MC. I’m picking Hana up.”

He swung his legs to the floor and rubbed his head. “Sure. I’ll pee and we can go.”

“How do you feel?”

Both eyes were bruised near the corner by his nose. The left was also swollen and dark. He had several cuts, and the right side of his jaw was red and puffy.

“Like shit.” He grabbed his clothes and strode past me to the bathroom.

“Care to elaborate?”

“Not really.” The bathroom door closed.

Was he always grumpy in the mornings because if so, he could break into someone else’s house drunk, beat up, and aroused.

No, not aroused. Not that he was mine, but if he were, I wouldn’t share him. I didn’t want to think of him with anyone else. I wanted him with me…I wanted to feel the way I did when he watched me with Romeo.

But I didn’t like the way I felt this morning. He’d come to me. I was trying to be honest with him and with Romeo. Why was I feeling guilty? Maybe he was, too.

“Ready?” He slipped a cigarette between his lips.

I snatched my keys from the counter. “Yeah, but you can’t smoke in my car.”

His lips twitched. Not quite a smile, but close as he tucked it behind his ear. “No problem.”

In the garage, I pressed the button for the automatic door.

“Keep this door locked until I get the window fixed,” he said, locking the kitchen door then pulling it closed.

“Maybe you should stop breaking and entering. You’re not very good at it.” I opened the back driver’s door of my car and tossed in my backpack.

He walked around the front of the vehicle. “Someone isn’t a morning person.”

I rolled my eyes and climbed behind the wheel. “Are you serious?” I pushed the start button and threw the car into reverse. “And put on your seatbelt. It’s the law.”

Once out of the garage, I lowered the visor, hit the remote, and closed the automatic door.

Rather than endure the silence, I turned on the radio and tapped my fingers on the steering wheel to the song. When the next song started, Dozer turned and stared at my profile .

“You were dancing to this song the first time I saw you at Liquid Chrome. You used a long neck bottle as a microphone, and you sang along as you rubbed up against Hana.”

“It’s a good song.”

“I couldn’t stop staring at you.” He plucked the cigarette from behind his ear and clamped it between his lips.

“Why didn’t you talk to me?”

“Your mouth was busy getting to know Romeo’s tongue.”

I let that sit between us for a second.

“Did you enjoy that? He knows how to use his tongue.”

He jerked his gaze to mine. “Did you fuck him that first night?”

“I did. In Hana’s bed while she and Blade got high and ate a pizza.” I smiled. “Don’t get excited. They weren’t in the room with us.”

“Fuck, Pip.”

“What? I don’t know what this is between us. Do you want to know about me? Do you want to go on dates?”

He’d made me come twice and hadn’t touched me, hadn’t kissed me.

“I like being near you.”

“That’s creepy, stalker talk. Do you have to watch to get off?”

His answer was an incredulous chuckle.

“Blade didn’t kiss Hana that night. I mean, she’s mouthy but she’s been in love with him since she hit puberty. Why wouldn’t he kiss her if he was into her? ”

“I haven’t kissed you.”

That was the point I was trying to make. I ached to feel his lips on mine. “Why didn’t you kiss me last night? You walked away.”

His jaw ticked making the cigarette dance between his lips. He pulled his Zippo from his pocket.

I hit the power button for the window, and Dozer lit the cigarette and blew the smoke out the window. “Because last night I manipulated you into being in the shower with me.”

“Pretty sure it was my own fingers getting me off.” A lie on my lips. It was the way he spoke to me, the way he looked at me.

I pulled into the MC and stopped the car by the front door.

“Thanks,” he said and popped open the door.

“About last night—”

“I’m sorry,” he said.

“I’ll get the window fixed,” I said. “Don’t come over tonight.”

“Pip.”

“Don’t, Dozer. Friends don’t shower together or masturbate in front of each other. And friends don’t manipulate to get what they want. I’d say that means we’re not friends. Maybe we shouldn’t be because we’re both afraid of whatever this is between us.”

Where are you, Hana? I needed her to save me from having to look at him, from seeing his eyes darken with lust or torment. I wasn’t happy when I was with him. A dull knife twisted in my chest, cracking me open and leaving me hollow.

Hana burst from the building, jogged to the car, and Dozer climbed out .

“I’ve never seen you in a cage,” she said to him. “And sitting bitch, riding shotgun.”

Desperate to put distance between us, as soon as Hana shut the door, I put the car in reverse. He stared at my face as I backed away. Then he flicked his cigarette into the metal oil drum and entered the club.

“Are you fucking Dozer now?” Hana flipped the visor down and checked her hair and makeup.

“No. I don’t think he’s interested in anything but watching.”

“He’s wired wrong, but then so are you.” She smirked. “Because I think you want a replay. If you’re going to be his twisted entertainment, you’re going to have to talk to Romeo. Dozer isn’t going to risk his friendship with Romeo. And he isn’t going to risk hurting you.”

I bit the inside of my cheek. I believed Hana because I had the same fears of coming between their friendship. “I already did.”

“Really? What did he say?”

“He’s open to it. Romeo and I are entertainment .”

Hana stared at me. “Romeo might be, but I’m not sure Dozer does casual.”

“Being with Romeo has been so easy. It’s not anymore.”

I found a spot in the C lot.

“Do you need a ride home, or is Blade picking you up?”

“Blade is picking me up, but can I meet you after class I want to keep my books in your car? ”

We split ways, and I rushed to my lecture hall. I wasn’t the only one running late. I filtered in with a few people.

I scanned for a seat. Levi leveled a glare on me. She could hate me, but her backpack was giving up the seat next to her. I strode down the aisle, stood beside her, and waited for her to move her stuff.

“Find another seat,” she hissed.

“Not today.”

The professor clapped her hands to get our attention. Levi grumbled and moved her bag.

I pulled my laptop from my bag to take notes. Levi bristled, and I could almost feel the waves of hate coming off her.

For the first half of the class, we sat in silence. Notes should have filled my computer screen, but I couldn’t listen to anything except the thoughts of Romeo and Dozer ricocheting around in my head.

“Are you more pissed off about Romeo or Dozer?” I whispered.

“Pick one.”

“Why don’t you hate Hana? She’s with Blade.”

She spun toward me. “Because she belongs with Blade. She belongs in the MC. You don’t.”

I sighed. “Levi, Hana is my best friend, and her brother is marrying my sister. I’m going to be around. I’m sorry that my being with Romeo hurts you. That’s not what I want. And contrary to what you think, I’m not sleeping with Dozer. We’re just friends.”

At least we were until last night. Or maybe we still were. I’d need a manual to understand Dozer.

“Dozer doesn’t have friends outside of the MC. And Romeo doesn’t have girlfriends. ”

Levi chewed her lip. Moisture glistened in her eyes.

“I don’t know Dozer well enough to know what he has or doesn’t have,” I said.

She snuck a glance at me.

“He’s protective of you, Levi. I’m not trying to take him from you. You and I aren’t going to be friends. I get it, but do we have to be enemies?”

“No.” Her voice faltered. “Because it hurts Dozer. Don’t look so happy. We’ll never be friends.”

“Because of Romeo?”

Her lips pursed but she didn’t answer.

“Just so you know I’m not playing games with you, I’m not trying to take Romeo from you, either.”

“But you’re going to keep sleeping with him?”

I kept my focus on the Professor. “I don’t know what’s going to happen with Romeo. But when it’s over, I’m still going to be around the MC.”

“How do you know it won’t last?”

I waited for her to turn to me. “Because I’m not the one in love with him.”

When the class ended, I waited for Levi to gather her stuff.

“You can go,” she snidely said.

“I know,” I said and chuckled. “Don’t look so horrified. But I have a half hour before my next class. I’m going to the Union Center for a chai. Do you want to come with me?”

She lugged her backpack over her shoulder. “We have a semester in this class together. I get the feeling you’re really freaking smart. I’m smart enough to know I’m in a bit over my head.”

We walked up the aisle and out the doors .

“Pippa.”

I turned to the familiar voice saying my name. “Quinn, I mean, Professor Chambers.”

“Dean Chambers.”

I took a step closer to Levi. “Yes, I heard. Congratulations on the promotion. You deserve it. I’m late for my next class. We’ll catch up later.”

“Actually, I’ve been trying to reach you. I need to see you in my office.”

My stomach roiled as his gaze skimmed over me, sending icy shivers from my scalp to my toes. “I’ll call your secretary and get an appointment.”

“A moment of privacy.” He curled his fingers around my elbow.

My skin crawled as he tugged me a few feet from Levi. She wasn’t going to need to be psychic to know Quinn handled me with more than a touch of familiarity.

“Just a sec, Levi. Don’t leave.”

Quinn spoke low, crowding into my space. “You don’t need an appointment. Come to my office. I’ve missed you.”

“Please, I told you that I need to focus on my classes. I’ve got a full load this semester. I’m sorry, but I can’t see you.” I squeezed out from between him and the wall. “I’m late for class.”

I hurried to Levi.

“What was that?” She fell into step beside me.

“A colossal mistake.” My hands trembled as I clutched my books.

“You were sleeping with your professor?” She shook her head. “Maybe you aren’t as smart as I gave you credit for. ”

I agreed. “Professor, correction, Dean Chambers was definitely not one of my most brilliant moments. Gabi teased me by calling him my anatomy professor because an older guy could teach me about my body.”

“I like your sister. It was good to see Vance.”

“Hana says he’s changed a lot since leaving the Hellers.”

“Seems like it. He never used to be laid back, at least not without smoking a forty bag. He was always with Blade, but Blade was the anarchist. He hated rules, and still does. Vance was always really aggressive. Like Dozer, he got in a lot of fights.”

“Seems the Hellers all like to fight.”

“Not like Vance and Dozer. Don’t get between Rogue and Bullet in the basement. Those guys are huge and brutal.” Her face pinched in disgust. “I hate the fighting.”

We made our way into the Union Center.

“Pipsqueak.” Coop rushed over, picked me up, and burrowed into my neck. “You always smell good.”

Levi scrunched her brows. “Sheesh, Pippa, how many guys are you friends with?”

“Friends as in…” Coop questioned.

“As in guys I’m doing dirty,” I said as he set me down.

He held me tight to his side with arms the size of cannons. His chest was solid and warm against my cheek.

“Are you cheating on me, Pipsqueak?”

“Get in line, Coop. I’m a busy girl. The hits keep rolling into my DM. ”

He sat on one of the circle tables. A couple of guys from his team called to him. He held up his middle finger indicating what he thought about the interruption.

“Seriously, do you have a date this weekend?” he asked.

Levi crossed her arms over her chest clearly interested in my reply.

I laughed. “He isn’t asking me out. Levi, this is Greyson Cooper, running back of the football team.” Eminence University had a chance at a championship this year.

“Coop,” he said and flashed his panty-melting smile at her. She shifted from one foot to the other and tucked her hair behind her ear.

“He is also a royal douche, my tormentor, and sadly to both of us, my babysitter here at school. He’s only concerned with my social media and relationship status because my dad is on the hunt for a new son-in-law. He’s being decent wanting to keep me from suffering a marriage a la Leo Ricci.”

“What is the status?” he asked.

“I’m working on it.”

“Work harder. Homecoming is next weekend. Are you going to be there to cheer me on?”

“Your ego doesn’t need me. Get one of your flouncy bubble-brain jersey chasers to warm your…bleacher.”

“Where’s your bad girl BFF?”

“With her badass biker boyfriend.” My phone pinged. I checked the text. “And this is her. I need to go.” I kissed Coop’s cheek. “Can we talk again?” I asked Levi .

“Considering you’re dating my badass biker best friends, I don’t think I can avoid you.”

Coop cocked a brow. “Friends? As in more than one? And I’m not in on the action?”

“Thanks, Levi.”

“Just making sure you can earn your way into the club.”

Coop turned his attention to Levi. “You know shit on Pip she’s not sharing with me. You and I need to chat.”

“No, she doesn’t. Girls stick together. Even girls who pretend to hate each other. Gotta go.” I waved and scurried away before I had to explain.

Coop continually tried to contribute to my delinquency. However, knowing I was getting rides from kings of misbehavior would have him throwing red flags…and tattling to my brother.