Page 89 of Tracking Luxe

He couldn’t do whatever Malachai wanted.

He wouldn’t hurt the club.

He’d only had the club for the longest time. They were his family who’d picked him up even when they didn’t know they were doing it.

They knew nothing about his time back home. His other life.

He fucking hated himself.

Deserving of that pine box, he was ready to confess his sins to Rider and let the chips fall where they may.

“Well, our mother wants you home for her birthday. I passed the message along to you, it’s up to you if you wish to disappoint her further, it’s at the Dorian Estate Club at five pm. And Addison says hi.”

A truck of concrete poured over his head. The punch to the throat made his vocal chords sound strangled.

“Tell your wife hi back. I have to go. I won’t be home, don’t expect me, Malachai.”

And he hung up.

Pure fucking agony dogged Texas’ steps as he bypassed eating breakfast, everything would taste like sawdust in his mouth, he grabbed his wool jacket, slipping it on and locked up taking the steps that led to his place and out to where he parked his bike.

They wanted him to come home for a party. It happened every year and every year he said the same.

No and hell no.

He stayed away for a good reason. He’d once been best friends with his brother, thick as thieves, they’d done everything together, as expected with twins, until the age-old adage of falling for the same girl had caused a rift Malachai wasn’t even aware of. All he knew was his twin no longer wanted anything to do with him and Texas allowed it without explanation.

Wasn’t being in love with his twin’s wife good enough of a reason? His mother had told him to stay away, so he was staying hell away,you’re welcome, mom. It hurt in that place he didn’t access anymore.

It should have been you, Tait.

All these years later he could still hear the last words Addison spoke to him.

But it wasn’t. He scowled, clipping on his helmet and kicked off the stand with the toe of his boot. It never would be.

With a burning in his sternum, Texas rode off and headed towards the club compound.

He’d lose his mind in money and numbers.

CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT

“His eyes watch wherever I go. And I watch him watching me. And I wait … hoping he will speak to me.” – Paige

It came as no surprise to Grinder to see Reaper parked at one of the corner tables. Seemed if the brother wasn’t at the club he was here atBeau’s Dinerwatching the pink haired waitress in unhealthy stalkerish ways. Grinder had no room to open his trap to ask if Reaper thought this was an okay thing to do, so he didn’t. Instead he strode over, lowered his voice.

"I gotta talk to your girl for a minute, are you gonna freak out if I do? I can’t afford to have broken bones, Reap." He said with levity, only wished he was joking around. Reaper was possessive over that little female. Again, he thought it wasn’t healthy for the silent assassin to obsess over a woman he was doing nothing about it, but each madness to their own, he reckoned. His own obsession had finally crawled out of his bed a few hours ago to steal cars.

"She's not…" an expression like pain crossed Reaper's face and Grinder arched his brow. "Not mine." he finished in a tone that didn’t sound like he believed it.

Grinder half-grinned rubbing his beard and looked between his brother and the smiling woman behind the counter talking to a customer as she poured coffee. "Tell that to your eyeballs stuck to her ass. So, you gonna mind if I go up there and ask her summit?"

Reaper scowled, his chest inflating in a hard inhale, other than that didn't reply Grinder who pushed off from the table and started across the diner. "Nate?" he heard in that unused New Zealand accent and turned to find watchful eyes on him, a hint of something shadier swirling. "Just ... not too close."

Grinder nodded.

He wasn't about to upset an on-edge brother even if he didn't fully understand the attachment the guy had for diner girl, why he didn't just ask her out no one knew but every moment Reaper wasn't dealing with club stuff he was here, stationed right there at the same table drinking coffee and watching diner girl like she was the second coming.

Grinder spent two minutes at the counter talking to Paige, his request sorted with a big smile from her, he’d pick it up next week, he turned to see the straight face of Reaper watching the exchange closely. "She's all yours, bro, back to your stalking," he told him quietly clapping Jud on the shoulder with a smirk twitching his beard. “Catch ya back at the club." Reaper grunted a reply.