Page 10 of Wild Card (Royal Bastards MC: Cody, Wyoming #1)
“I know, and right now, I can’t explain shit to ya, so don’t ask me to. But what I can tell ya is that if you don’t come with me willingly, I’m gonna throw your ass over my shoulder and put you on my saddle myself.” I feel my lips pull up into a smile when he gets that hot-as-sin grin on his face.
“Now that's better.” His thumb strokes my bottom lip again, and it does something to me internally. Something that has me forgetting my surroundings and reaching up to kiss him again.
The painful groan that comes from behind him causes me to stop and get a reality check.
“You don’t understand.” I pat my hand against his chest when I realize it’s been resting there this whole time.
“Then make me understand.” He takes hold of my wrist so I can’t get away. “And don’t give me the I’m his sister's best friend bullshit.”
“How do you kno–” I shake my head and sigh defeatedly. I can’t tell him the truth, not even if I wanted to.
He’s a Royal Bastard.
“I…I can’t tell you,” I admit weakly, looking up and suddenly wishing everything was different. I don’t know who this guy is or where he came from, but he’s got me wanting things I have no business wanting.
“Okay.” He shrugs, his response surprising me.
“Just come with me.” He slides his fingers from my wrist into my palm and clenches them between mine.
“Please.” There’s a desperation in his voice, and despite knowing that I’m going to regret it, I nod my head and let him lead me out the door.
Glancing over my shoulder, I see Brett barely conscious and looking exactly like Ash promised he would when we spoke in the kitchen this morning.
I shouldn’t leave, I should stay here and try to fix this; continue to do everything I can to secure the secret that would destroy me.
But I’ve tried living a lie, and it didn’t work for me.
It got way out of hand, and although leaving here with Ash is taking a huge risk, my gut instinct is telling me it's what I need to do.
“You know, folks in town say that if a Royal Bastard puts you on his saddle, you belong to him.” I laugh, touching my fingers to the leather seat when we get to Ash’s Harley.
“That scare ya?” he asks with a much more serious than usual look on his face.
“I…No…It’s just…”
“Relax, I’m playing. Folks in town say lots of crazy-assed shit. Climb on,” he smirks. “You rode on a bike before?” he asks, reaching behind him and taking my hands so he can place them round his middle.
“Never,” I admit.
“Well, you just gotta hold on, real tight,” he explains, clasping my hand tight in his fist and touching it to his chest. “Don’t let go, okay?”
“What about Brett?” I look back over to the open door. Sure, the guy's been an asshole, but we can’t just leave him here.
“We’ll send someone to fix him up, if it’ll make you feel better.” He shrugs as if leaving him half dead isn’t a big deal.
“I just don’t want you getting into trouble. You do know who his father is, don’t you?” I check.
“I know exactly who his father is, and I’m damn sure that he wouldn’t want this whole town knowing that the son he raised thought it would be okay to beat on a woman.
I’m not scared of a fucking mayor and his pussy son, Ruby.
” Ash looks over his shoulder at me, and I have no reason not to believe him.
“I’m starting to figure out how you got your name.” I smile back at him, ignoring the guilt I feel forming in the pit of my stomach when I think about how I’m going to explain all this to Esmé. Her and Brett never really got on, but he’s still her brother.
I should at least call her and let her know where he is so she can help him.
“I should call Esmé; she can come out here and take him to a doctor.” I make to get off the bike so I can head for Brett’s car and see if my purse is still inside it.
“Wait.” Ash hauls me back. “She’s at the bar, setting up a surprise party for you and your fiancé ,” he scoffs.
“She’s gonna hate me for this.” I release a long, heavy breath, trying not to panic.
This guy is making me feel like we’re Bonnie and fucking Clyde, right now. Esmé has been my best friend since me and Mom arrived in town. I don’t want this to come between us.
“She’s not gonna hate you, not if she’s your best friend. I’ll take ya home, you can sit her down and explain what happened. Let her decide for herself before you go makin’ assumptions."
“Ash, we can’t just leave him here to die,” I tell him.
“You're cute,” he tells me, licking his lips and making me want to kiss them again. “Real fuckin’ cute.” He sinks his teeth into the bottom one like he’s holding himself back.
“I’m not trying to be cute, I’m showing a little humanity.” I slap him hard in the back for being so chill about all of this. This may be an everyday life occurrence to him, but it’s not for me.
“Your ex- boyfriend ain’t gonna die, darlin’, but he’s gonna have one helluva headache and some scrapes and bruises. If I wanted him dead…” Ash cuts himself off and smiles darkly. “He’s gonna be fine, and you don’t need to worry about him no more.”
“How can you be sure of that?” I ask. Ash has no idea what hold Brett has over me.
“You're on my saddle, ain’t ya? You’re Royal Bastards' property now, darlin’.” He turns his head and starts up his engine, taking off before I can argue.