Page 25 of Haze (Serpents of Chaos MC #2)

LU

The last person I expect to see when I’m out on a shopping run is Aspen.

She looks so different from the last time I laid eyes on her, and my stomach twists as I take her in.

Haze hasn’t been around the last few days, trying to help her sort out her life, yet here she is, standing in the parking lot and talking to a woman who is in a car with her window down.

The woman looks familiar, and it takes me a few moments to realize who it is.

I take a sneaky photo and then continue into the grocery store to get what I need.

Blade is here with me on babysitting duty, but when his phone rings and he stops to chat, I continue on without him.

What could happen in broad daylight surrounded by people?

“Lu, don’t run off like that again,” he rasps, gripping my upper arm in an iron grip. “You’re to stay with me at all times.”

“I’m fine,” I grumble, glancing up at him. There’s no doubt he’s handsome, with a mix of badass and nerdy with his glasses, not to mention the fact he’s usually in front of a screen or a book.

“And you’ll stay that way by following orders,” he grumbles, dropping his hand to my lower back. “Come on, let’s get what you need and get out of here.”

I lower my voice and step closer to him. “I actually just saw something interesting.”

“What?” he asks, his brow furrowing.

“You remember Pippa, Ora’s old neighbor?”

He nods. “She’s one of Isle of Insanity MC’s club girls.”

“Yeah, what is she doing talking with Haze’s sister?” I ask him, showing him the photo I just took.

“Fuck,” he snaps, narrowing his green eyes. “This is why you don’t run away from me. Something could have happened.”

“I could fight both of them and win,” I remind him.

“Not if Pippa calls up Insanity MC for backup. Think with your brain, not your ego,” he mutters, making me angry.

“ My ego ? I know how to fight. That’s not my ego talking.” I roll my eyes and step ahead of him, grabbing what I need for tonight’s barbecue.

Without Haze around, I have even more time on my hands. I had a few catering clients this week, so that kept me busy, and Ora and I had a movie night.

But I do miss Haze.

I know that makes me selfish, but we’re new, and I want him to at least be in our bed at night.

Suit keeps smirking at me every time I see him, so I’ve been purposely avoiding him. Doesn’t he have a courtroom or something to be in? I swore Ora told me that he’s usually hardly ever around.

Maybe the club members need to do more illegal things to keep him busy. I should tease them and ask them if they are turning into good boys now.

Blade gets a shopping cart and pushes it around while I load it up with everything.

If someone told me one day I’d be living at and cooking for a biker clubhouse, I would have told them that they were crazy.

But I have to admit, these men are growing on me.

Yeah, they are rough around the edges, sometimes pretty vulgar and downright dirty, but they’d protect me with their lives, and I know that.

They are honorable men.

Most of them.

Okay, a few are a bit questionable.

Cough cough—Ghost and Angel.

Blade’s phone rings. “Yeah?” He pauses and looks at me. “Yeah, it was that bitch, Pippa, and Haze’s sister.” He nods his head. “Tell Haze not to let her out of his sight. Okay, bye.”

He pushes his glasses up on his nose, and a lock of his curly hair falls across his forehead. He has this whole Clark Kent vibe going for him, and if I wasn’t head over heels in love with Haze, yeah, I might have gone there. “You’re a hottie, you know that?”

He smirks and bites his lower lip. “You trying to get me killed, Cupcake?”

“Oh God, not you too.”

He laughs and throws a packet of XL condoms into the cart, keeping his eyes locked on mine.

I smirk. “You fucking the club girls?”

He shakes his head. “I actually need a connection to fuck someone. Call me old-fashioned,” he replies, shrugging his broad shoulders.

“I think that’s very sweet,” I say, smiling warmly.

If only Haze had that same mentality.

“Women don’t want… sweet.”

“The right woman will, and that’s the only one you need to impress.”

“Okay, stop reminding me how fucking perfect you are because you’re taken,” he replies with a sigh, and I wink at him.

We check out, Blade pays, and we get the hell out of there. He carries the groceries to the car.

I’ve just returned to the clubhouse when Haze gets back, beelining for me, picking me up, and throwing me over his shoulder. I’m laughing as he all but runs up the stairs and lays me back on the bed, kissing me hard. “Fuck, I missed you so much,” he says through the kisses.

“Missed you too,” I reply, tearing my lips away. My eyes scan his face. “Aren’t you supposed to be watching Aspen?”

“Danger is watching her for now,” he rasps, gently stroking my hair off my face. His eyes watch me with a softness I never thought I’d ever get from Haze. “I think Pippa must have some drug connections. That’s the only reason she’d be meeting her in a random parking lot.”

“How is she doing?” I ask, saddened when I think about my former friend.

“Not well, but I’ve paid for her rehab. They have an opening next week and will come to the house to get her. So I just need to keep her around here until then,” he explains, resting his forehead against mine. “I have to go back, but I just wanted to see you.”

Pushing him onto his back, I straddle him. “Let me give you a proper taste.”

He smiles, making his dimple pop.

Okay, I might need more than one taste.

* * *

Lore is wearing a T-shirt that reads ‘Missionary so we can keep arguing,’ which makes me burst into laughter. “I never pegged you for a missionary guy, Lore.”

“Don’t use my name and the word pegging in the same sentence, Cupcake. You’ll ruin my rep.” He grins, kissing me on both cheeks. “You even smell like cupcakes, darlin’.”

“That’s because I just made some.” I grin, spinning my barstool to face him as he takes a seat next to me. “Where have you been? The Baddies’ chat has been dry without you.”

“I went on a short run to our Dawson chapter for Prez, and then I got a little… distracted while I was there,” he says, a lazy smile playing on his lips. “There’s this one woman, she has the biggest?—”

“Okay, I don’t need to know the details.” I wince, leaning back against the bar. “You know, one day, a woman is going to come along and put you in your place.”

His violet eyes dance with humor. “I don’t think so. I’ve had my share of women, and not one of them has tempted me for more.” He dips his head to the side, lost in thought. His eyes soften.

“Who were you just thinking about?”

“No one,” he fires back.

“Lies.”

“Let me keep a few secrets, Cupcake.”

Daisy appears out of nowhere, pressing her breasts against Lore’s side. “I’ve missed you.”

“Really?” Lore asks, sounding bored. He taps his knuckles on the bar, getting Rose’s attention. “Get me a beer, please, Rosie.”

She slides him one with a come-hither smile. “Anything for you, Lore.” She winks.

Damn, the club girls really do like him . He must be good in bed and have a massive cock. But personally, I think it’s because Lore is easy to be around. He’s friendly, funny, and makes you feel like he has nothing but time for you.

“I’m both good in bed and have a massive cock.” He smirks, trying to keep a straight face and failing.

“I said that out loud, didn’t I?” I mutter.

His shoulders start to shake with repressed laughter. “Fuck, Cupcake. You’re a riot.”

“Does Haze know you flirt with all of his brothers? How are you even any better than me?” Daisy barks, putting her hands on her hips. “I don’t even know what he sees in you! You coming here has ruined everything. And now that I’m pregnant, most of the men won’t even give me the time of day.”

Lore and I share a look before he turns to her. “I know you aren’t yelling at an old lady, Daisy. You know better than that. We’ve put up with a lot from you since you might be carrying a Serpent in your stomach, but you don’t get to talk to Lu like that.”

“She’s not his old lady yet,” she all but screams, her face turning red.

“She is,” Lore replies, his jaw tensing. “We’ve all known it for a long time.”

They have?

“Why don’t you worry about your baby now, Daisy, instead of who is fucking who,” I can’t help but add.

“I didn’t ask,” she sneers.

“Dogs don’t ask. They listen,” I reply, standing up and getting in her face. Well, I try. She’s a lot taller than me. “I appreciate Lore defending me, but I don’t need him to. If you weren’t pregnant, I would have beat your ass by now. I’m not threatened by you, Daisy.”

“You should be. Haze and I are having a baby, and once he or she gets here, you’ll just be a forgotten thought,” she replies, smiling widely. The crazy glint in her eyes makes me a little concerned about the kind of mother she’s going to be.

“Whatever makes you sleep at night,” I say, ignoring the jabs.

If Haze is about to have a child, it will be in my life too. I’ve come to terms with that. Whatever happens, I will support him. And I think he will make a wonderful father. Just look at how he is there for everyone else. Me, when we were kids. His mother. His sister, even now. His club.

Haze is a protector.

And he will be that for any children he has.

Suddenly, like he knew we were talking about him, Haze steps into the room, a piece of paper in his hands. His face is unreadable, but there’s a soft twinkle in his amber eyes.

“Actually, Daisy, you and I aren’t having a baby,” he says, handing her the paper. “Scorp just gave me this. I’m not the father.” His eyes come to me, and he holds his hand out to me. When I’m safe in his arms, he whispers, “Only kids I’m having are going to be with you.”

“How the fuck did you get this? I didn’t do the test,” she yells, stomping her feet. She looks panicked as she rests her hands on the back of her head, starting to pace. “No, no. You were meant to be the father.”

“I’m not,” Haze murmurs, his tone low and even. “Scorp is going to test all the other members who you’ve been with.”

Oh boy.

I bet there are a few men sweating it out right now.

Daisy starts to cry, and I actually feel for her for a moment. That’s until she goes on another rant. “You’re about to become rich and famous. I want that life. It was meant to be me!”

Ignoring her, I look up at Haze and smile. Yeah, I’m relieved. It might make me an asshole, but I didn’t want this baby to be his.

The amusement in Haze’s eyes gives away the fact he can read me like a book. He knows I’m happy.

“I love you,” he rasps.

“I love you too.”

And I love the fact that he didn’t knock that bitch up even more.

Finally, things are looking up.

“Haze, sorry, brother. She demanded to see you,” Danger calls out as Aspen steps into the room.

She stares at me like I’m a piece of dirt on her shoe. I don’t know why she turned on me. All I know is from the look on her face, I can tell she’s not here to catch up on old times.

“Of course you leave me to see her ,” she says, not looking away from me. “Hello, Lu. Long time no see.”

“Aspen.” I nod, taking in her thin frame. She has dark circles under her eyes and looks a lot older than she is. “It’s nice to see you.”

Life has been hard for Aspen, and I don’t take any pleasure in that fact.

“The last time I saw you, my brother was giving you a goodbye kiss. How was it without him there to save you from your shitty parents and shitty life?” she asks, smirking.

“ Aspen ,” Haze snaps, his brow furrowing. “What are you doing here?”

“You left, and I wanted…” She licks her lips, shifting on her feet. “I can’t go anywhere with your men watching me all the time. I need some money, Haze. And if I don’t get it, bad things are going to happen.”

“You owe money?” He guesses, his hand dropping to my lower back and tightening.

“Yeah,” she admits.

“How much?”

She swallows, looking at the floor. “Ten thousand.”

Haze’s jaw tenses, and he shares a look with Lore. “And who do you owe this money to?”

“You don’t understand what it’s like, Haze. I need those drugs. I need them, and?—”

“Who?”

“My friend.” She pauses. “She got them from some bad men.” Aspen breathes hard, throwing me a dirty look like this is somehow all my fault. “And if I don’t get it to them by tomorrow, they’re coming for me.”

Haze pinches the bridge of his nose and turns to Lore. “I need to talk to Prez and War.”

“I’ll watch her,” Lore states, standing up and nodding at Danger. “She doesn’t leave the clubhouse.”

Danger nods.

Haze turns to me and kisses the tip of my nose. “Don’t leave the clubhouse without at least four men until this is sorted, okay?”

I nod and watch him swagger away to fix yet another one of his sister’s problems.