Stone (Knights Corruption MC Series Book 2) (10 page)

I smiled and said, “Hey, what about me?”

“It goes without saying, Adelaide. You’re as important to a certain someone as my wife is to me.” His statement confused the man sent to babysit us, but I knew exactly who he was talking about. What had Stone told Marek about us? I guessed it didn’t matter really, because there was no longer an
us
. “He’ll watch over the both of you like his life depends on it.”

“Fuck,” Tripp mockingly grumbled. “I had no idea this was gonna be so stressful. I just thought I was hanging out with two hotties, shopping for clothes and shit.” The twinkle in his eye put everyone at ease, even though Marek didn’t want to show as much. He liked the guy, and apparently he trusted him.

When we approached my car, Tripp opened both of our doors before taking a seat in the back. Never in a million years would Stone allow a woman to drive while he was a passenger, insisting only pussies let their women cart them around. Then again, neither one of us belonged to Tripp, so it appeared he didn’t have an issue with me driving my own damn car, or with Sully sitting in the passenger seat.

The day passed quickly. We were gone a little longer than expected. Sully checked in with Marek a few times, nervous he was going to be upset she was taking so long, but her husband assured her it was all right, that he wanted her to have a good time.

I wasn’t sure what was going on with my friend, but she looked distracted and down in the dumps, for lack of a better term. There was only so much we could talk about with Tripp close by, and I doubted she wanted to get into anything heavy with him listening. I promised I would stop by their house in the next few days so we could spend some quality girl time together. Marek would most likely be present but would busy himself in another room so we could really talk.

Sully knew all about me and Stone, just not about the part where I told him I no longer wanted to see him. I wasn’t gonna lie; there were a few times when I had picked up my phone to return one of his many calls, but decided against it. Nothing would change and we would be right back to square one, going around and around until both of us were dizzy.

“So, Tripp,” I started, licking my spoon clean of vanilla and peanut butter swirl ice cream before continuing. “Is there a special lady in your life?” I didn’t know much about the nomad, but the fact he chose to stay at the clubhouse and not go back on the road after his recovery was intriguing indeed. I wondered if he had his eye on anyone local, which would explain his reasoning for sticking around longer than normal.

We were sitting in a local ice cream parlor, our shopping bags resting at our feet while we gorged ourselves on frozen treats. It was obvious Tripp was surprised by my personal question, and a fleeting look of regret crossed his features before he showcased his winning smile. After running his hand through his hair, he flicked his wrist and checked his watch.

“No one to speak of,” he answered. As jovial as he appeared, my probing had certainly put him on edge.

“Come on,” Sully prodded further. “No one at all? Not even someone casual you kind of like?”

Wrapping his lips around his spoon, he winked before pulling the utensil free. “Nope. There is too much pus—too many fine women to ever pick just one.” Shrugging, he said, “It just wouldn’t be fair to take myself off the market.” His smile broadened when he heard us both laugh.

Before either of us could get all up in his business again, he announced it was time to go. The ride back to the clubhouse was quiet, but it was a comfortable silence, so I had no complaints. Pulling into the lot, I killed the engine when I saw my uncle up ahead. I hadn’t seen him in days and wanted to say hello. He was engaged in conversation with Hawke, and God only knew what the two of them were talking about. Hawke was a crazy bastard. From what I heard from Stone, the man couldn’t keep it in his pants. Therefore, his longtime girlfriend, Edana, was forever after him. Why she didn’t just leave him was beyond my scope of reasoning. I would never tolerate Stone cheating on me, even if we hadn’t officially been together.

That was an unwritten rule—no other women for him, and no other men for me.

But I guessed that had changed now. We were free to pursue whoever we wanted. Problem was I wasn’t interested in anyone but him.

Could he say the same?

After promising Sully I would call her and set up a day and time for me to come by her house and hang out, and thanking Tripp for going with us, even though he’d pretty much been forced, I walked toward my uncle. As soon as he saw me approaching, he opened his arms wide and waited for me to nestle into him. I loved him dearly. His protectiveness over me was sometimes irritating, but deep down I didn’t mind it so much. I would never tell him that, though, because he would only go further into the realm of crazy uncle protecting his only niece.

No, the current level of overprotectiveness he displayed toward me was good enough.

“How are you, sweetheart?” he asked, kissing the top of my head before releasing me.

“Good.”

“How’s work going?”

“Good,” I answered again. Before he asked any more questions, I interjected and switched the subject. “Uncle Trig, Dad wants you to come over for dinner soon. You up for it?” My uncle and father got along just fine, often finding time to hang out before my mother died. But it seemed ever since her death, her brother and my father distanced themselves from each other. I wasn’t sure if it was because the other reminded them too much of my mother, or if they had some sort of falling out. I had no idea. All I knew was that my uncle stopped coming around after the funeral. I found it odd but I never pressed, not wanting to step into something personal I had no business in.

“Tell him thanks for the offer, but I’m busy.”

“You don’t even know what day it is,” I countered, looking at him in confusion.

“I’ll be busy,” he retorted, suddenly looking a bit uncomfortable.

“Okay.” I sighed, deciding it was indeed best to change the subject.

We stood close to each other, but thankfully Mother Nature called before it became awkward. Excusing myself, I walked toward the entrance to the club, hoping and praying I wouldn’t run into Stone.

Once I finished using the restroom, I opened the door and shut off the light. Taking a few steps down the hallway, I heard a noise coming from the bedroom Stone used. When I stepped closer, I realized it was a woman’s voice.

“You like that, baby?” she said. “Come on, Stone,” she urged. “What’s wrong? Looking at my tits doesn’t do it for you?”

Instant sickness flipped my stomach, and my heart felt like it had been ripped from my chest. Clutching at the walls to hold me up, my mind was quickly bombarded with images of Stone having sex with someone else, a faceless woman. A woman with a high-pitched, whiny voice.

He’d obviously moved on from me rather quickly, but could I really be upset? I was the one who told him good-bye, after all. It just would’ve been nice if he could have at least waited a few more days before jumping into bed with some club skank.

I heard him grumble something before his door flung open, and out walked a bleached-blonde, fake-titted bimbo. The dark circles under her eyes revealed she was beat, someone who would most likely spread her nasty legs for anyone willing.

In shock from witnessing what I did, I was still frozen in place when Stone appeared in the doorway, raking his eyes over my stunned face before he let a curse fly from his mouth.

“Goddamn it, Addy. What are you doing here?” He looked embarrassed and angry all wrapped in one.

“Don’t mind me,” I said sarcastically as I turned around. “I just dropped Sully and Tripp off and decided to say hi to my uncle. The only reason I came back here was to use the bathroom before I headed home.” Having no idea why I felt the need to explain myself, I shut my mouth and started walking away. I didn’t get very far before his fingers circled my wrist to halt me.

“Don’t go, baby. Let’s talk,” he said, a softness to his voice I hadn’t heard in quite some time. Outside of the bedroom, at least.

“I don’t have anything to say to you, so why don’t you
talk
to the skank who came out of your room,” I seethed, anger pouring out of me before I could even think to suppress it.

Turning me around, he pulled me close. Lifting my chin so he could look in my eyes, he asked, “You pissed another woman was trying to get my attention? Because you’re the one who threw me away.”

He spoke the truth, but the words still killed me.

“You can do whatever you want. You’re free to fuck as many lowlife, scum-sucking skanks you want. Just do me a favor and wrap it up, unless of course you don’t care about your dick falling off.” The venom in my voice wrapped around me like a warm blanket. I spewed the words so easily it was as if I’d been holding them back for some time.

His eyes widened at my choice of words . . . but then he smiled. Big.
Damnit!
He reveled in my irritation, and for someone who claimed they didn’t care, I’d just proved the opposite.

“I don’t want that whore.
She
came into my room and propositioned
me
. I told her to get lost. It was just unfortunate you were here to witness any of it.” Leaning in closer, his mouth rested just above mine. “I only want you, Addy. Only you.” His lips were so close I could taste him already.

Thankfully, we were interrupted before I gave in.

“Stone, there you are,” Marek called out, walking straight toward us and completely ignoring the fact he’d almost caught us in a compromising embrace.

Staring at me for another few seconds, Stone finally broke our connection and stepped back. With a puff of his chest, he glided past me and followed Marek toward Chambers to no doubt talk about club business.

And I was left standing in an abandoned hallway, trying to figure out what just happened.

Stone

“I can’t take it anymore, man. I have to kill that fucker or I’m gonna go insane.” Marek paced back and forth, grabbing his hair in anger while he tried to figure out the best way to handle the issue with Yanez. We despised that the bastard still sucked air into his lecherous lungs. “Sully wakes up almost every night now, screaming and fighting, as if she’s trying to push someone off her. Seeing Yanez again has brought back that night full force.” He turned glassy eyes on me. “I feel so fuckin’ helpless.” It was rare to see such emotion on my best friend’s face. It was a true testament to how he felt about his woman.

Not wanting to call him out on his brief moment of weakness, I chose to offer my undying support instead. “I’m ready for whatever you wanna do, but we have to be smart, Prez. We can’t go on a killing rampage and expect nothing to happen. We’d be putting everyone we care about at risk. And for what?” The question left my mouth before I could take it back.

Fury blazed from my friend’s eyes, stalking toward me with his fists drawn. “Sorry,” I grumbled. “Wrong question.” He composed himself before continuing to pace. Taking my seat to the left of his head chair, I leaned back and started spouting off scenarios that might work to our advantage.

“How about we mess with his truck and cut his brake lines? Or we could make it look like a robbery gone bad, kill him before anyone was the wiser?” So many thoughts rambled around inside my head I wasn’t sure how they sounded when I said them out loud. Marek was still restless, so nothing had grabbed his attention yet. Flinging myself forward, I pounded my fists on the table and yelled, “I fuckin’ got it, brother!” My lips curved up in a menacing smile. “We set him up.”

“What do you mean?”

“Well, Carrillo seems like he’s a man of his word. If he told you he was going to cut the Savage Reapers out of any further dealings with Los Zappas, only to find out Yanez is still doing some side dealings with them, then wouldn’t that prove he isn’t loyal to his boss, and that he’s only looking out for himself? It questions allegiance and all that happy shit.”

For the first time since we entered Chambers, Marek stilled and contemplated my suggestion. His eyes lit up, looking forward to something akin to a plan. I knew the man was itching to set things right, although no matter how many men he killed, it wouldn’t take away the pain of knowing Sully had been abused, repeatedly. First by her father, then Vex . . . and now Yanez.