Page 8 of Victorious, Part 2 (The LA Defiance MC #6)
CLOVER
“… and then Phoenix and this psychotic cat got into this wrestling match, and we’re still waiting to see if Phoenix has rabies or not,” I say, laughing despite everything as I tell Maverick about the last couple of days. “I should probably check the scratch on his hand, now that I think about it.”
My brother’s deep chuckle rumbles through the phone, and the sound is like medicine to my soul. For the first time in hours, I can actually breathe without feeling as if my chest is caving in.
“Sounds about right,” Maverick says, and I can hear the smile in his voice. “Phoenix always was a pain in the ass when it came to taking care of things.”
I glance over at Phoenix, who’s sitting on the edge of the road with Dracula, the psychotic cat, curled against his side. The sight makes something warm expand in my chest. He’s scratching behind the cat’s ears, his face relaxed in a way I haven’t seen since this damn nightmare started.
“He’s not so bad, you know,” I murmur down the line. “Phoenix, I mean. Even if he does drive like an old woman most of the time.”
Maverick’s quiet for a moment, and I know the conversation is about to turn. “Clo, I need to tell you something.”
The warmth in my chest instantly turns cold as ice. “What?”
“Everyone’s okay,” he interrupts firmly. “The club is handling it, but it looks like shit is going to get real hectic. Nighthawk, the woman who killed Livvy, is here.”
“What?” I blurt out.
“No, it’s fine… I think. She’s here with Haven. Fuck knows why, but Poppy adores her, even though she knows she’s the woman who killed her mother. I will never understand the dynamics of these birds,” he mumbles.
“Jesus.” My eyes widen in surprise. “Okay, so why the hectic?”
He exhales down the line. “Nighthawk is giving us snippets, but she’s still holding shit in, I can tell. Javier has shit planned. His roots thread deep, Clo. I’m just glad you’re not here right now.”
I glance over at Phoenix, biting down on my bottom lip. “Are you guys going to be able to bring him down?”
Maverick huffs, and the uncertainty in that one sound sends a shiver down my spine. “We’re gonna try our damn hardest, Clo. We’re gonna give it all we got.”
Wracking my jaw from side to side, my eyes begin to well up again. “So, what does this mean for Phoenix and me?”
Maverick chuckles down the line. “You sick of him already, huh?”
Glancing over at him as he pulls Dracula up onto his lap, the sight melts my heart.
A silent tear slides down my cheek at the shit I have been putting him through.
Sniffing back, I swipe the back of my hand across my nose.
“I’ve been such a bitch to Phoenix, Mav,” I whisper, guilt washing over me.
“He was just trying to follow your orders, and I’ve been making his life pure hell. ”
“Phoenix can handle himself.” Maverick lets out a soft laugh, like the thought delights him. “But… maybe cut him some slack. The guy’s been worried sick about you since this trip started.”
My heart humps an extra beat. “He has?”
“Yeah. He cares about you, Clo. More than I think you realize. More than I realized. More than he probably should, considering you’re my little sister.
Even though you were out of service, he was still sending me text messages, updating me, knowing they would come through when you got in range…
” There’s a slight pause before he continues with, “There were a lot of messages, Clo.”
My entire body sinks with this information, and my eyes close, my heart hammering in my chest as the vision of Phoenix kissing me plays over and over on repeat through my mind. “Oh,” I simply whisper, not knowing what else to say.
Maverick exhales heavily. He’s frustrated, and he groans.
“Look, he just wants to do the right thing. He clearly adores the ground you walk on,” he snorts like it’s a no-brainer.
“Everyone does, Clo. But the guy’s also trying to stand on his own two feet as a Defiance brother.
You’re making it real fucking hard for him right now.
” He exhales as if he is defeated. “Whether I like it or not, you two are there together, in this situation, and have always had this pull to each other, just…” he hesitates as though he is unsure how to finish, and something in my brother’s tone makes me pause.
“Mav…”
“Yeah?”
“Are you… are you giving me permission to like Phoenix?”
“Fuck no,” he snaps back quickly. Slumping my shoulders, I sigh as he continues.
“But, Phoenix is good people, Clover. He’s been through hell with the Steel Serpents, but he’s Defiance now.
He’s family. And you? You’ve been carrying the weight of the world on your shoulders for far too long.
Just be careful and for fuck’s sake, please for the love of God, don’t come back here pregnant. ”
Snickering under my breath, I can’t tell if that was his warning for me to stay away from Phoenix, or his acceptance that he knows our pull toward each other is already happening.
I watch Phoenix stand and dust off his jeans as Dracula winds around his ankles. Even from here, I see the gentle way he’s handling the cat, the patience in his movements, and how his toned and muscular body moves against the glistening of the setting sun.
Damn, he really is a marvel to look at .
“Did I lose you? You still there?” Maverick asks, and I snap my lustful stare from Phoenix and concentrate back on my brother.
“Sorry, I’m here. So, the world’s not ending?” I ask quietly, more to myself than Maverick.
“No, Clo. It’s not. We’re all okay. You’re okay. And you’re gonna have a great time in Vegas, you hear me?”
“I hear you.”
“Good. Now go apologize to that poor man before he thinks you hate him forever.”
I laugh, wiping my eyes. “I love you, Mav.”
“Love you too, Clo. Call me when you get to Vegas.”
“I will and keep me updated on all the shit happening there.”
“Tell Phoenix I’ll call him for a debrief tonight.”
Smiling, I glance over at him again and smile. “You got it, and say hi to Sadie for me, and from Phoenix too.”
“ ’Kay, later,” he chimes, then ends the call. The line goes dead, and for a moment, I just sit in the passenger seat, clutching the phone, feeling like a completely different person than I was an hour ago.
Everyone is safe.
The club is safe.
My family is safe.
Phoenix has been worried about me this whole time, not just following orders.
And I’ve been an absolute nightmare to that poor man.
Climbing out of the seat on shaky legs, my heart hammers as I walk toward Phoenix. He peers up when he hears my footsteps, his expression cautious but hopeful.
“Everything okay?” he asks carefully.
“Everyone’s safe,” I reply, my voice coming out thick with emotion. “Apparently, Nighthawk, the woman who killed Livvy, is at the club helping them with Javier. It’s a whole thing and is making everyone feel weird.”
He furrows his brows, like he’s confused. “There’s another bird at the club?”
Shrugging, I shake my head. “I don’t even want to think about all that right now. He said he’s gonna call you tonight and debrief you on it.”
Relief floods his features, his shoulders sagging. “Thank fuck. I feel like I’m missing a part of me. Not knowing what’s going on at the club feels as if a knife is constantly stabbing my side, then twisting for good measure.”
I never thought of it that way.
For me, it’s been about my family.
Yes, the club means everything to me, too, but the club literally saved him. So, for him, being away from them, not knowing what’s going on, and not being able to help, would be physically painful.
I’m a horrible person for not having realized that sooner.
Taking a deep breath, I reach out to take his hand. “Phoenix, I owe you an apology. A massive one.”
He raises an eyebrow. “For what?”
“I’ve been horrible to you. You were only trying to do what Maverick asked, and I’ve been making your life hell because I was scared and taking it out on you.”
“Clover—”
“No. Let me finish.” I inhale a shaky breath.
“I stole your truck. I left you stranded at a rest stop. I nearly got us both killed driving like a maniac on the highway. And through all of that, you still protected me. You still chose to jump in the back of a moving vehicle rather than let me drive away alone.”
Phoenix’s jaw works as he processes my words. “You were terrified. People do crazy things when they’re scared.”
“That’s not an excuse,” I say firmly. “And it doesn’t change the fact that I’ve been treating you like the enemy when you’ve been nothing but supportive.”
“You haven’t been treating me lik—”
“I called you a robot,” I interrupt, raising my brow for emphasis. “I said you don’t feel anything. I screamed at you for following orders that were meant to keep me safe. I’ve been pushing you away when all you’ve been trying to do is help.”
He’s quiet for a moment, studying my face. “You were hurting. Sometimes when people hurt, they lash out at the people closest to them.”
The simple understanding in his voice makes my chest tight. “Maverick said you’ve been worried about me. Really worried.”
Phoenix’s cheeks actually flush a little. “Your brother talks too much.”
“He said you care about me. More than you probably should, considering I’m his little sister.” I step closer. “Is that true?”
He’s quiet again, but then he takes a small step toward me. “Your safety scares the shit out of me,” he admits finally. “Not just because of the promise I made to Maverick. But because… because the thought of something happening to you makes me feel as if I physically can’t breathe.”
My heart clenches. “Phoenix…”
“I know it’s probably crossing a line—”
I cut him off by stepping closer this time, close enough that the gold flecks in his blue eyes illuminate, bringing back that magic, and suddenly I can’t remember how to breathe either. But somehow, I find the strength to reply. “It’s not crossing a line. It’s… it’s really sweet, actually.”