Page 21 of Rogue’s Path (Sweet Chaos #1)

Rogue

“Are we going to have enough room if another club shows up?” Havoc and I stand together, staring at the almost full field.

“We can move them into the west field.” It’s mowed. But we don’t have half as many bathrooms back there. We had no idea so many clubs would show up. I know Berzerker has made a ton of friends at rallies, but never would I have imagined that this many people would have come.

“That’s a hike to get back to the main compound, especially for some of the older and younger ones.”

Havoc isn’t wrong. “We have a few golf carts. But I’ll see about renting a few more.”

“Don’t rent them; buy them.”

“Will do.” They won’t match our others, but we can give them a paint job after everyone leaves. “I’ll do that and stop in for a coffee.”

“Coffee, eh?”

“I haven’t seen her in two days. She might have given up on me.” Leaving her waiting there was torment, but we hadn’t made any official plans, and the club needed me.

“You mean you haven’t kissed her in two days.” Havoc smirks at me.

“That too. Something about that woman is addictive. It’s like nothing I’ve ever felt before.”

“Then why this game? I’ve never seen you like this with a woman.” Havoc steps back and leans against his desk.

“Have you ever just seen a woman and known she was someone special? Just in a single moment, you thought, my whole world could be that woman standing in front of me. Then you find out she came over on a dare and would have happily kissed any of my brothers. The way she was staring at you…I thought you would have been her preference.”

“Once she looked at you, she never saw anyone else.”

No, she didn’t. “That’s the only reason I kissed her.

” I almost didn’t, which would have been the stupidest mistake that I’ve ever made.

But one kiss solidified all those thoughts.

“Then she walked away. Without even telling me her name. And she did it again at the Ivy Café. I don’t know what she wants, but it doesn’t seem to be a relationship.

” And now I’m talking about my feelings.

This woman messed up my head already, and we aren’t even in a relationship.

What’s she going to do to me when we’re together?

“Have you two talked about anything? Or has it all been physical?”

We just started when you called me. “Mostly.” But it doesn’t feel like that’s all it is.

“Why don’t you go spend the afternoon with her? I’ll find someone else to take care of the golf carts.”

But… “Thanks.”

“If you two end up together, you can name your first child after me.”

I shove him. There’s no way I’m thinking about bratty kids with Peaches’ attitude…

There’s a knock on the door.

Havoc glares at the door for a moment. “Come in.”

Vandal, Ryot, and Torque step in. They’re hardly recognizable with their haircuts. We should send them to some preppy school after this to learn manners.

“We came to ask you to reconsider letting us attend the funeral. He was our friend. We went to school with him. It isn’t right.”

It isn’t right. His death will never be.

“You’re about to go undercover. What if one of these clubs is part of the drug ring? None of these people would recognize you after your makeovers. I hardly recognize you, which is what we need right now.”

Torque steps forward. “It isn’t right.”

How do you convince kids that this is for the greater good when their hearts are in the right place?

Havoc walks away, probably thinking the same thing.

“You three are correct. You should be there when he’s finally laid to rest.” Havoc turns around.

“What’s happening tomorrow isn’t that. It can’t be that while his murderers are roaming the streets.

When this is done and you three have helped take them out, ‘every member’ of the Children of Chaos will be there when he’s finally laid to rest. But tomorrow we need you three manning the security room, keeping the clubhouse safe.

Reaper is up to something. He doesn’t care about anything or anyone.

The best time for him to make a move is while we’re distracted. ”

“So you want us to take him down.” There’s a weird blend of excitement and fear in Ryot’s voice.

“No, you’re supposed to contact Rogue and wait for instructions.”

My instructions will likely be wait and watch, even though they should be to lock him in a cell and forget he’s there.

Or drop him in the woods somewhere hundreds of miles from any other humans.

Reaper is slimy enough to find a way out of that one.

Maybe throw him into shark-infested waters covered in chum. Oh, I like that.

When the three leave, I ask, “What do you think Reaper is up to?”

“No good. But whatever it is, we need to be prepared for it.”

There’s another knock. How Havoc hasn’t gone insane, I don’t know.

Bear walks in. At least I think it’s Bear. The man in front of us trimmed his beard and his hair. He’s also wearing slacks and a dress shirt. The only way Bear would clean up like this is for court, a date, or a…funeral. Duh.

Havoc reaches for a file on his desk. “About that girl, Maddox would only send us images. He said they’ll take care of her stalker.”

Maddox wants to feed his snakes.

“Don’t worry about it.” Bear waves Havoc off. “It was all a misunderstanding.”

A mis — “You found her.” And all of this change is for her benefit.

“Yup.” He grins. “I just wanted to tell you there was no stalker. It was just the booze talking.”

“And you got the date.”

“Sure did. I’m meeting her tonight for dinner and a movie in the park. Don’t worry, I’ll be back before my shift starts at midnight.”

Maybe I’ll invite Peaches to go. There are plenty of dark corners where we can sit and ignore the movie. That’s why they picked the park in the first place.

“What is she doing here?” Havoc’s eyes widen as he moves towards the wall of screens.

It’s hard to miss the woman stepping out of the SUV at the gate. There aren’t many tattooed women with a pixie face and dreadlocks. Rhys showed up! Without her husband or kids.

“Do you think she’s going to tattoo?” Bear asks.

That’s usually my second thought when I see her. The first being that’s one fine woman.

“Rogue, could you make sure she’s settled before you leave? And if she plans on working, set her up with a shop. There will undoubtedly be a line.” Havoc asks.

It’s tempting to jump the line, but Peaches is waiting. “Got it.” I rush out of the room before anyone else needs something.

Rhys steps through the gate, dragging two large suitcases as I walk up. “Hey.” I reach for her suitcases. “You didn’t pack light.”

“Nope, I brought everything I need to ensure that I can tattoo all weekend.”

That’s incredibly kind of her. Memorial tattoos can give the family peace. The common practice at funerals is not to charge but just to set up a tip jar. “Your husband and kids arriving later?” A cop will add a certain air to the party, but he’ll act as a deterrent for Reaper.

“No, he had to work.”

That’s not good. “Reaper’s here.”

Her whole body shakes for a long moment. “He won’t bother me.”

Whether that’s bravery or bravado, I’m not sure. “I’ll make sure you have some added security and are in a restricted corridor. And I’ll have a brother with you at all times.”

Rhys tips her head to the side, making the jewelry in it clink together. “No. A guard sitting there staring at them will make my clients uncomfortable.”

Her safety is more important. It’s galling that I have to worry about a woman’s safety inside the clubhouse.

“Fine, I’ll give you space, but there will be someone making rounds checking on you.

” I give her a look daring her to question me.

She better know I won’t hesitate to call her husband, even if it means there’s a cop in the clubhouse.

“That will work. I didn’t bring a bike. Do you know if someone would have a spare, or maybe one of your new brothers would let me ride on the back of theirs?”

Any one of the three would hyperventilate at the idea. “None of them are coming.”

She raises an eyebrow at me.

All of our non-custom bikes are accounted for, or I’d loan her one. Even my personal bikes have been loaned out to people who flew in from the other side of the country. “You could ride with me if you’d like, or I could ask another brother.”

“You wouldn’t mind?”

Only if your husband decided to kill me for it, but he isn’t a biker. “Not at all.”

“Perfect. Thank you.” She reaches over to grab her other suitcase, but I beat her to it.

We start walking towards the door.

“I have to say I’m surprised you don’t have someone on the back of your bike yet.”

Peaches would look stunning back there with her arms wrapped around my waist, molding her body to mine…I need to see her soon. “Not yet.”

“Next time you visit Beach Haven for a tattoo, I’m going to introduce you to a friend of mine. Do you like horses?”

“Not especially. I prefer my rides to have an engine. And not bite.”

“They don’t bite…often.” She grins at me.

We stop at a locked corridor on the opposite side of the clubhouse from Reaper. It’s probably too much to wish that with all these people, he won’t see her. Once she sets up shop, tongues are bound to start wagging around here. “I don’t need to tell you not to share this code.”

“Nope. Thank you for finding a room for me. I know most of them are reserved.”

Without her being in a club, it was necessary. “No problem.”

This weekend would be the perfect time to show her the tattoo. I need to talk to Havoc.

***

I’m late.

The spot Peaches usually sits at is empty. Has she left already today? Or did she give up on me already?

What am I going to do? I sit down at her table.

There’s no way I’ll get a second back at the clubhouse to think. I need a plan.

Should I find her this time?

Should I just let all of this go? Would she ever be open to adding leather into her wardrobe? Peaches is more of the white picket fence with yoga pants and my tee on.

Why did I put that picture in my head? It’s going to haunt me.

Why can’t she be both? I can build her whatever house she wants. She can wear leather on the weekends for me. It’s not like she’s a shy flower afraid of her own shadow. When I introduce her to my bikes, she’s bound to love the thrill of riding them.

With me…

Only with…

How am I going to fix this?

“Hey, Rogue.” Jane made it all the way to the table without me noticing.

“Hey, Jane.”

“She already left.” Jane nods at the empty seat.

That means Peaches is still looking for me. The tightness in my chest relaxes.

“She mentioned going to the park tonight. You might want to check there if you’re looking for her.”

The park it is.