Page 10

S unny rolled over and groaned. The sun hit his face in a harsh wake-up call, and he growled at it. He slung an arm over his eyes and sat up.

He frowned as he looked down. What the fuck? Sunny lifted his duvet and peered underneath. He was freaking naked.

Had he slept with someone? Blinking, Sunny picked up his pillow and smelt to see if there was perfume on it.

Sunny winced when he smelt it. It wasn’t a scent he recognised. Sunny gazed around his room, where was she? There was no sign of a woman being present. The war was over. A fortnight had passed since the Fangs hit Rapid City.

Sunny was still reeling from the loss of life they’d suffered. Too many had died defending Rapid City, but there’d been no choice. Had Fury gained a foothold there, the other towns would have swiftly followed. The law enforcement had clearly been overwhelmed, and RCPD had been decimated.

Funerals of the fallen were still happening as the deaths continued.

The latest was Officer Sally Kenner; she’d died of complications following her surgery.

Drake had been discharged, but Calamity remained in hospital.

Though Calamity was no longer critical. Grey had been buried, and Willow had fled.

Fanatic looked like he had lost his right arm.

Sunny wanted to speak to the prospect but didn’t know what to say.

Last night, he’d tied one on with the rest of the club.

Sunny wracked his brains. He did not remember much after around eleven o’clock.

Callie had been doing shots while he kept to his beers, and Sunny barely remembered anything afterwards.

And now he was stark naked in his bed, which smelt of perfume.

Was she in the shower? Sunny glanced towards the bathroom but didn’t hear any noise.

Snagging his boxers, Sunny rolled out of bed and just stopped himself being sick.

What the hell had he drunk last night? Sunny could handle his booze, so what on earth was wrong with him?

He staggered into the bathroom and emptied his stomach, idly noting there wasn’t a woman present.

As he was beginning to believe he was imagining it, Sunny looked in the mirror and winced. There was lipstick on his mouth and a huge hickey on his throat. He’d been marked.

Shit! Sunny wracked his brains but couldn’t think who he had possibly slept with.

As picky as he was, Sunny didn’t put out.

And especially not with the women that tried hanging around the club.

Despite the no club slut rules, women did end up at the clubhouse.

Not often, but it happened. Which Sunny hoped the hell happened last night.

Because the other option was unthinkable.

He’d either slept with an old lady or a relative of someone belonging to the club.

Sunny’s stomach revolted, and he hit his knees and hung his head over the toilet. Fuck him!

Callie

I scrubbed all traces of last night from my skin. Talk about fucking up big time. I blamed the moonshine that Celt broke out. Wherever he had got that from, needed shutting down. I wasn’t that drunk, but merry enough to throw inhibitions to the wind.

When Sunny kissed me, I had jumped his bones. He’d made me come four times; the man fucked like a dream.

I’d fallen to sleep in his arms, and he’d woken me twice during the night. Sunny had stamina and bragging rights. He had moves I’d read about but never believed possible. This morning, I’d woken before him and had snuck out. I didn’t want anyone knowing what Sunny and I had done.

It was five a.m. when I drove out of the compound.

Fanatic had been on the gates and had nodded at me as he let me out. Somehow, I knew Fanatic would keep his mouth shut. Last night had been amazing, but it couldn’t be repeated. I had a full schedule and wasn’t looking for a relationship.

Later today, I was attending a cookout. I’d speak to Sunny then. In the meantime, I had my sisters to deal with.

Things with Polly were colder than the Antarctic.

Since I had literally told her to fuck off, we’d barely spoken.

Clio and Thalia had worked hard at gaining my forgiveness.

I’d held back, forewarned was forearmed, but we were all meeting this afternoon to discuss our issues.

Grandma had threatened to bang all our heads together if we didn’t speak to each other. She said we’d lost enough years.

That may be right, but I still held a huge grudge against the three of them. They might not approve of my choice of career, but that was their issue, not mine. Puffing my cheeks out and resigned to this afternoon’s pending drama, I climbed out of the shower to dress.

◆◆◆

I held Polly’s gaze as I crossed my arms and glowered. Clio winced as Thalia opened her mouth and then closed it again.

“Yeah, I’m a big joke, aren’t I? Because I never got the breaks you did, so that makes my chosen career a farce,” I sneered at Polly.

“Polly never said that,” Thalia interrupted.

“Yes, she did. I quote, ‘You make up shit for people’s entertainment and try to trick people into believing you’. Did she not?”

“Thalia, don’t. I did say that, and I meant it. You are little better than a con artist,” Polly said. “We’re Winchesters. We should be setting examples.”

“I ain’t no Winchester. That’s not a claim I’d ever make. I want no part of our father’s name or family. It doesn’t matter how many times you’re told, you do not hear. Honestly, I’m starting to wonder if you’re dense, stupid, or wilfully deaf,” I hissed.

“Don’t you dare talk to me like that!” Polly exclaimed.

“Why not? You don’t care about upsetting or insulting me. Why should I worry about your feelings,” I retorted.

Clio’s eyes were huge. “Maybe if you just admit to faking—”

“Shut the fuck up. My team doesn’t fake anything. Funny how you’re willing to believe in Aurora from Rage, but what we investigate is bull. I don’t see us resolving these issues. Honestly, I can tolerate you and Thalia, but I really dislike Polly.”

Polly’s eyes went wide. “You don’t mean that,” she exclaimed, shocked.

“Yes, I do. Why wouldn’t I? You take every opportunity to demean me and my career. You ridicule and say spiteful things. Why on earth would I like you or want to be around you? Hell, I’ve lost count of how many times you’ve called me a liar!”

“I’ve never called you that!” Polly shrieked.

“Every time you ask me how I fake the footage or ask if I really expect people to believe me, you call me a liar. And I’ve lost count of how many times I’ve told you we don’t fake the footage or make crap up, but no… you still call my integrity into question,” I replied.

“I’m not…” Polly bit her lip as she sought her words.

“And you two support her. With your stupid little teases about what I film can’t possibly be real.

What, just because it doesn’t fit into your narrow ideas of the world, it’s false?

Grow up. I’ve sat here for an hour listening to the three of you being patronising bitches.

Rain is the only one who’s praised me for how much I’ve grown in confidence and how well I have done. ”

“That’s not true…” Thalia began, and I cut her off.

“Then tell me one positive thing you’ve said around my career.”

I watched as Clio and Thalia struggled to find something to say. I let them sit uncomfortably for a minute before speaking again.

“Exactly. Now, again, I can tolerate you two, but I really don’t like Polly.

To be honest, none of you, in the few years we’ve known each other, have bonded with me.

I am the odd one out, and I’m fine with that.

But stop the bullshit requests to join you for family events.

Because as far as I’m concerned, we may share blood, but we’re not family,” I said.

Clio looked stricken, and Thalia horrified. Polly was expressionless, her go-to face when she was deeply distressed. It was weird how I understood them so well, but they didn’t know me. I rose to my feet.

“After tonight, can we just agree to stay out of each other’s way? Especially me and you, Polly, we’ve nothing in common. If I’m local, I’ll let you know, but stop calling and inviting me to events I won’t attend. My life is at odds with yours. I think that’s pretty obvious.”

“When’s your next event?” Polly asked me suddenly.

“Two weeks today.”

“Can I come? Maybe if I experience what you do, I’ll understand,” Polly suggested.

Well, damn if that didn’t shock me. Polly had actually rendered me mute.

“Callie?” Polly pushed after I failed to reply.

“Okay. But you sign on for two. And they are both weeklong investigations,” I replied.

“Fine. I will ensure my team knows, and I’ll come with you. I’ve not had a break since I opened the dojo,” Polly said.

Suspicious, I nodded.

Clio beamed at us. “That’s a great start.”

“There’s one condition. You keep your doubts to yourself. My team doesn’t need to know you think they’re all liars,” I stated. The team already knew that, but Polly wasn’t aware of that.

◆◆◆

I watched as Sunny stood talking to Bunny before he caught my gaze on him. He sent me a warm smile, but there was nothing intimate in it. That puzzled me. Was Sunny going to pretend last night did not happen?

He wandered in my direction, and I almost licked my lips. Sunny had what I called a lazy gait, purposeful while relaxed, and he didn’t rush. No stomping for Sunny or primping around, nope, just two hundred per cent, man.

“You okay? I heard what happened earlier?” he asked.

Really, Sunny wasn’t going to mention last night?

“I am fine. Polly will be in for a shock, though. She thinks it’s all mirrors and smoke. I’m going to enjoy her eating her hat,” I said with heat.

Sunny’s eyebrows rose. “You mean that.”