Page 17

Chapter Seventeen

I drop Kiesha off at her car, hating letting her go but knowing I have to. I’ll have to keep my distance, but now she understands. Every move I make going forward is for us. For the future, we’re going to build. I know I’m a shit person to string Sabrina along, but if I can help get her on her feet, then is it so wrong?

She wanted to be with me to get away from her shitty family. I’ve done that and more.

We’d both be lying to ourselves if we didn’t admit that we are on two very different paths. I want a life with the club, and she wants…hell I don’t know what she really wants. I’m not sure if she even knows herself. I tried to make it work. I did. I never expected to meet Kiesha and to fall so damn hard. The last thing I want to do is hurt her, but for once, I’m ready to be a little selfish. I’ve always done what everyone expects of me. She’s never spoken about dreams and aspirations like Kiesha. Even when I ask, she avoids the topic as if it’s a live snake ready to strike.

For now, I have to hold all my cards close to my chest. I need to protect Kiesha from any potential backlash. The club won’t take kindly to my actions if they were to find out. Now, I’ve got to go home. Back to reality. The world where I smile at Sabrina as if everything is normal. Where I play house with a woman who used to mean something to me but doesn’t anymore.

Every moment with Sabrina, every laugh, every touch, every conversation is going to seem like a betrayal to Kiesha. But there’s no other way around it. At least not for now. If this plan is going to work, if Kiesha and I are going to be together, Sabrina cannot have any doubt about my commitment to her.

As I pull up into my Gran’s driveway, I can see Sabrina sitting on the porch steps waiting for me. She looks anxious, her hands fidgeting in her lap. Immediately guilt washes over me, but then the image of Kiesha surfaces in my mind and everything else fades away.

“Where were you?” Sabrina asks as I step out of my truck.

“With some guys,” I lie, hating myself for doing so but knowing it’s necessary for now. “Why are you waiting out here?”

Sabrina shrugs, her gaze not meeting mine. “I just wanted some fresh air. You said you would be here before I woke up.”

“I’m sorry. I got caught up, but I’m here now.”

“You’re supposed to help me pack.”

“I’ve got the boxes and totes. I didn’t forget.” Not that we have much to pack up. We’ve mostly only got to take our clothes. The house is already set up and we’ll be moving into one of the upstairs bedrooms. We’ve stayed over a few times in the past. I know Sabrina is excited about living with Ember.

“It wasn’t an accusation. I was worried.”

I squeeze her shoulder reassuringly, hating the lie on my lips. “There’s nothing to worry about, Brina.”

“Promise?” Her voice is soft and hopeful.

“Promise.” I say, looking away from her piercing gaze. The slight tremble in my voice goes unnoticed by her. I’ve never been a great liar, but with each new one, it gets easier.

“Let’s get this packing party started,” I propose, eager to change the subject and busy my mind. All I can think about is how good it felt to be with Kiesha last night. How right. I wish things were different, but this is my reality.

“Okay. Let’s pack.” Sabrina says, standing up from the steps. She gives me a brief, hesitant smile before disappearing into the trailer. I follow her inside, my heart pounding in my chest. This is going to be difficult, but I keep reminding myself that it’s for Kiesha and our future together.

Moving to Charleston is another step closer to where I’m meant to be.

Gran is sitting at the kitchen table having coffee and cracks a smile when she sees me. “About time you rolled in. I made biscuits and gravy. Help yourself.”

“Thanks, Gran. You’re the best.”

“I know,” she grumbles. “But not good enough that you’ll stay here instead of moving to the city to be one of them outlaws.”

“Soon as I have my own place, you can move with me.”

She shakes her head. We both know she will never leave this holler. She was born in these mountains, and she’ll die in them. Leaving her here alone has a newfound guilt taking hold of me. What if she gets sick or falls and I’m not here? She’s always taken care of me, and I swore I’d always be here for her, but I’ve got a life of my own to live.

“I’ll come by every week to have dinner with you.”

“Hmm,” she grumbles like she’s not so sure.

After scarfing down a plate of her cathead biscuits and white gravy topped with bacon, I start bringing in the packing supplies. Sabrina has started pulling her clothes out of the closet and gathering our toiletries from the bathroom. Within a few hours, we have my truck loaded and say our goodbyes to my Gran.

When we get to the house, Ember and Sabrina unpack and I head off to the clubhouse to return Trenton’s key.

“You going to explain what you were doing last night?”

“Nope,” I tell him, taking a hard pull of my beer.

“Hope you know what you’re doing.” He shakes his head and lights up a cigarette.

“Not a damn clue.”

“Fuck. You must have a death wish.”

“Maybe I do,” I reply, leaning back in my chair and closing my eyes. Images of Kiesha’s face, her smile, the way she looks when she’s lost in pleasure flash through my mind. My heart aches with a longing for her. But I also know what the club brothers will do if they find out what I’ve been up to.

The brotherhood has rules, unspoken codes of conduct that everyone follows. One of them is extreme loyalty to each other. If there’s one thing the club hates, it’s a man who can’t be trusted, a man who lies and deceives his brothers. And that’s exactly what I’m doing. Going behind Link’s back. Going against his wishes to steer clear of Kiesha.

I’m risking it all for her.

“If you two don’t have anything to do but gossip, I can find you something to do,” Sandman tells us.

“I was just leaving.” Trenton flashes me a smile, leaving me on my own to be hazed by this crazy fucker that’s married to a witch. When he met his ol’ lady, he was convinced she had cursed his dick.

“Put your ass in a maid costume and make you wait on me all day.”

“Marriage has made you lame. You need to find some new material,” Viking tells him. “That punishment is as old as your boots.”

“Fuck you.”

“I think Andi might get pissed, but…” He grins and Sandman shoves him.

“Stupid ass.”

“I was only here to speak to Trenton.”

“No, for real, man. We’ve got a job for you.”

“What’s up?”

“Kiesha says someone’s dealing to the high schoolers. You did so good blending in as a student. We’re sending you back to go undercover for real. Slick’s working on your papers to enroll you Monday.”

Fuck. It’s a great way to see Kiesha, but I don’t want to go back to school.

“Look at his face,” Sandman says, nearly doubling over with laughter.

No one thinks Sandman is as funny as Sandman.

“White as a damn sheet,” East answers with a chuckle. “We’re just fucking with you, prospect. Get me a beer.”

I grab them a round and one for myself.

“Did he say to get yourself one,” Hound says on a grunt, staring me down.

“No.” I slide the beer to him.

“Thanks. Now you can get one for yourself.”

Viking shakes his head. “Gotta grow some balls, boy. You don’t have to take our shit all the time. You can give it back.”

“Don’t listen to him. He just wants to see you get your ass laid out,” East warns.

“Leave that boy alone,” Pam, Link’s wife, tells them. “Come sit with me. I’ll give you some dirt on them.” She smirks and they all look a bit scared of her.

Can’t blame them. She knows everyone’s business and I need to stay on her good side. The second she suspects I have a secret, she will be on me like a dog with a bone.

“Heard you were the woman to see if I want to place a bet.”

“Step into my office.” She smiles, pulling her little black book out. Pam likes to run what she refers to as a baby pool. Whenever a club brother takes an old lady, she takes bets on how long it will take for him to knock her up. “Should I put you and your girlfriend down?”

My stomach drops to my feet. “No. We aren’t that serious.”

“Aren’t you living together?” Her brows meet as she studies me.

I cap a hand over the back of my neck and avoid her gaze. “Yeah. We just aren’t that serious yet. I’m not ready to put a ring on it.”

“Fair enough. Right now, we’re on Smoke and Ember. But I’m afraid they are taking their sweet time. You’re rooming with them. Maybe you’ve got some intel for me.”

“Afraid I can’t help you there.”

“You’re no fun. What about your buddy Trenton? He seeing anyone new?”

“Don’t think so.”

“You prospects are boring.”

She has no idea how wrong she is. I’m in a secret relationship with her niece while fake dating my current girlfriend. She’d have a field day if she knew my secret and the lengths I’m willing to go to protect it.