Page 26

Chapter

Twenty-Five

Tenley

N ot that I know Stone much, but the way his brow is furrowed and his top lip curls back, I get the impression that he’s not a fan. Before I take the seat waiting for me, I notice that the chair on the opposite side is already pushed back against the wall, the angle as if recently abandoned with some urgency. There’s a partially drunk mug of coffee on the desktop that, still hot by the looks of the steam coming from it. However, Stone is holding a mug of his own, and there’s a distinctive aroma that I recognize instantly.

Smoke was here, right before I walked in. I’m surprised I didn’t pass him in the common room.

“Charming,” I tut. My gut tells me that Smoke has ducked out, probably so he doesn’t have to face me. “Wow, his Lordship summons me here, yet hasn’t even got the decency to turn up?” I shake my head at the audacity. “So, what’s so important that couldn’t be handled over the phone?”

“We need an update on Dunne.” Stone pulls the chair away from the wall and slides into it, pulling it close to the desk.

“I have nothing more to tell.” I shrug my shoulders at him. “All that I have was in the message I sent to Smoke.”

“Humor me.” he shuffles forward on the leather upholstered seat and then drops his elbows to the desktop. He has such a gigantic frame, shoulders, arms, and chest, that it looks like he’s sitting rather uncomfortably in a kid’s chair. “From the beginning. What exactly did he say?”

“This is ridiculous,” I huff, but the glare he gives me in return, the chances are I’ll be held here until I do. I relent. “We were meant to be going on a date tonight, so he was calling to cancel. Like I said in the message, his reason behind it was that he had some business contacts flying in from overseas in the next few days.”

“Did he say where they were coming in from?”

“Actually, I asked that question, but all he said was Europe. He was being vague. Didn’t name any specific country. I assumed it would be Ireland with him having a connection to it.”

“Why cancel if their arrival wasn’t imminent?” Stone brows knit together in question.

“Said he had to prepare for them arriving and that he’d be busy for the next couple of weeks.” My mind goes over the conversation, and I find myself frowning, too. “He also said that I might not hear from him for a while but not to worry… Do you think he’s planning something?”

“Did he mention any names or how many he was expecting?” Stone asks without responding to my enquiry. “A date they’re due to arrive?”

“No, like I said, he was being vague and when I tried to gain more information, every question I put to him he avoided.” I stare him in the eye. I don’t know Stone very well, but he seems a little on edge. His posture too, the way he’s leaning forward over the desk, his head slightly down. “Much like you’re doing with me.”

“Whatever,” he fires back at me, then quickly drops his gaze to his coffee cup. “You sure that’s all you have for us?”

“Every word, unless you want me to recite back to you the part of the conversation where he told me how much he’d enjoyed taking me to his hotel room and stripping me out of my dress?”

“Does that mean you can report that despite Dunne playing the part of the big man, he actually has a micro dick,” Stone chuckles at his own joke.

“Actually, the handgun that he carries in the waistband of his pants isn’t the only powerful weapon he carries.”

“No way,” he gasps. “You actually fucked him?”

“A lady never tells,” I throw back at him haughtily as I stand up from the chair. With my fisted hands resting on my hips, I look him right in the eyes. “Seeing as I have nothing of any further importance to tell you, can I go now?”

Stone’s hand comes up the side of his head and presses against his ear. With furrowed brows and lips firmly together, his eyes glaze over as he hesitates to respond to me.

“Well?” I ask when he still doesn’t answer me. His vision focuses on me and when he realizes that I’m watching him intently, he quickly drops his hand from the side of his head. He looks decidedly guilty, as if caught with his hand in the cookie jar. “Where’s the listening device?” I demand. It hadn’t taken me long before I realized that his unnatural posture was to make sure that he got nearer to a hidden microphone somewhere on the top of Smokes’ desk. That’s why I’d thrown in the suggestive comment about Dunne and me in the hotel room.

“What are you talking about?” he tries to come across all innocent, but I’ve got to his number.

“You’re so full of bullshit,” I throw back at him before turning and opening the door. I start to walk towards the exit, although when I notice Stone isn’t right behind me but hovering in the office doorway, I take a sudden veer off to the left toward the room that they use for the club meetings. Church, as they call it.

I’m pulling the door open before Stone reacts.

“Hey, where the fuck do you think you’re going?” he yells, dashing across the room to stop me.

I step into the room, and with absolutely no hesitation or fear; I walk straight up to the man who, I have no doubt, was on the other end of the earpiece that had been placed in Stone’s ear.

“I never took you for someone who played games, Smoke. ”

“Funny, because I never took you to be a liar,” he replies with a calm voice. His expression screams ‘couldn’t give a shit’ vibes as he sits high and mighty in the high-backed leather chair at the head of the long, wooden table. The President of the Young Outlaws on his mighty throne.

“And exactly what is it I’ve lied about?”

“You fucked Paddy Dunne, yet you made out that you hadn’t.” Once again, his voice has a level of calmness, still the ticking muscle in his jaw tells me otherwise.

“What’s the matter Smoke, worried you were sloppy seconds?” I taunt him. The sound of me slapping my hands on the tabletop rings out in the otherwise quiet room. I lean further towards him with a snarl on my face. “For your information, I didn’t lie to you, Smoke. Your precious VP jumped to that conclusion. The most Paddy Dunne got was a kiss, that he instigated and the chance to see me in my underwear, although by the time I’d come out of the bathroom, he was out of it.” I push back into a standing position and cock a hip. “One thing I’m sure of…” I glare at him before turning to take my leave. But if he thinks I’m going to go before I get the chance to call him out on his disgusting behalf, he’s deluded. “… if I had let him fuck me, I’m damn sure he wouldn’t have disrespected me the way you did.”

I swing away from him, hurrying to the door where I find Stone blocking the way. The sound of chair legs scraping against the wood floor instantly puts me on edge, wondering if I’m going to be barred from leaving. I half expect to hear the sound of Smokes’ boots as he comes after me, but I don’t. A blade of disappointment stabs me in the chest. Then again, why would I be surprised when his previous actions have already proven that he’s an emotionless, insensitive ape?

Stone is still blocking the doorway, and when I push against him with all my strength, I cry out with frustration when he doesn’t move.

“Get her off the fucking premises, Stone,” Smoke’s voice bellows from behind me, causing the blade piercing my heart to go in even deeper. “Now, before I do something that I might regret.”

Stone does as he’s told and steps to the side.

I should just go, yet I can’t resist getting in the last word. “Again.”

Stone

Making sure that Tenley leaves club grounds is easy. I walk a few paces behind her as she stomps towards the gatehouse in her heels, dressed like she’s just left a high-powered business meeting. Not a verbal shootout with my president.

Halfway between the clubhouse and the gates, she stops and turns to face me. There are no tears on her face, but her eyes seep with sadness, anger, and rejection.

What the fuck has gone on between these two?

“How’s Oriana?” she asks. Not what I expected, but…

“She’s good. Why would you care?” I’m not sure where this is going. As far as I’m aware, the two stepsisters hold a mutual hatred for each other.

“Just wondering,” she sighs. “Do you love her? ”

“What?” I gasp, again taken by surprise at her bold question.

“Do. You. Love. Her?” she says with all seriousness. “It’s easy. A simple yes or no answer will suffice.”

It’s at this moment that I catch sight of the similarity between her and Oriana. They both are confident in some ways, but mask a level of vulnerability that they have. I’ve seen Oriana slip several times; however, I get the feeling that when it comes to Tenley, she tries to keep it securely in place. Not this time. I decide to answer her personal question.

“Yes, I love her very much.”

“Good.” She does a succession of quick nods, her gaze sweeping off to somewhere on the horizon. I can see Edge making his way towards us, but I quickly shake my head. Taking my lead, he holds back.

“Tenley,” I say softly, bringing her focus back to me. “You okay?”

“Sure,” she says unconvincingly. “Do one thing for me, will you?” Before I get chance to agree to her request she continues. “Well, more than one, as it happens. Don’t hurt her. Keep her safe. Love her with everything that you have.”

“Where is all this coming from, Tenley? Why now?” At this moment, I see something in her I’ve not seen before. A softness in her demeanor as she talks of Oriana that I’m not sure Oriana is even aware of.

“Despite what she might think, what’s gone on in the past, I love her too and I want nothing more than for her to be happy. ”

With that, she turns and makes her way to where Edge has been waiting to escort her off the premises.

“Come on then, big boy,” she acknowledges him in her usual sassy way. “Get those gates open and let me get the fuck out of here.”