Nicky and get answers.”
Snake interjects, “I agree. Dodger and Spike, I want you on it.”
Hanger adds, “Hunter and Writer, you’re with them. Snake, you have anything else to discuss right now?”
“No, you?”
Hanger shakes his head, and the gavels hit the table dismissing Church. I need to check on Haven and make sure she’s over her fuckin’ fit from yesterday, so I head for her room. She’s gonna be the death of me; I can fuckin’ see it now. All the shit I’ve been through—guns, knives, fights, risking my life every goddamn day for this club—and none of it could take me out, but this little spitfire, Haven, she’s going to end me.
My knuckles lightly hit her door, but I don’t wait for her to reply before I step inside. Closing the door behind me and leaning against it with my arms crossed over my chest, I ask, “You over your shit yet?”
Her eyes become mere slits. “You can’t just walk in here whenever you feel like it, Storm.”
Dropping my head for a moment, my lips curl into a smirk. “I can do whatever the fuck I want, Darlin’. I guess that answers my question.”
Haven jumps up from her bed. “No, you can’t do whatever you want! This is my room.” She stomps toward me. It seems her feet and ankles are still sore based on the way she’s hobbling more than walking.
Challenging her, I draw closer. “This is my club, and you’re…” I shut my fuckin’ mouth because I was about to blurt out that she’s mine. I can’t do that.
She places her hands on my chest and tries to push me, but her efforts do nothing. “I’m what?”
Reaching for the back of her neck, I fist her hair. Tipping her head back so her gaze is sure to meet mine, I walk her slowly backward until she’s against the wall. I splay my other hand on the wall beside her head and cage her in like I did yesterday. Her lips part and her chest moves quickly as she pants for air. “You’re going to cut the shit, Haven. You’re going to lose your fuckin’ attitude, and you’re going to stop thinking you can win against me. My mouth descends to the shell of her ear, and I release her hair only to move my hand to her neck. The feel of her quickened pulse gives away the fact she’s not scared; she’s turned on. My cock twitches and I whisper in her ear, “You wanna keep fighting me? You will fuckin’ lose, Darlin’. Every goddamn time.”
“Stop making decisions for me.” Her words are shaky as they’re spoken.
“Can’t do that.” Pulling back, my gaze connects with her fluttering eyes. “It’s my job.”
Her features sober. “I’m not a job.” She pushes against my chest. This time, it’s not in anger, but it’s as if she’s done and given up. I let her go. “All this time, I thought maybe you cared, but I was wrong.” She moves to her bed and gently sits down. Her head is cast down as she stares at the floor. “You don’t even see me as a person. I’m just a job.”
“I didn’t mean it like…” Fuck! I take a deep breath and pull my silver-streaked hair.
She shakes her head. “It doesn’t matter how you meant it. I understand now.”
“You don’t.” She lays down on her bed, facing the wall. “Haven?” She doesn’t respond. I try a few more times, but it’s useless. I leave and close her door, leaning against it as I stare up at the ceiling. I just made shit worse, and now, I gotta figure out how to fuckin’ fix it. This is becoming a fuckin’ headache, and I’m getting real sick of saying I’m sorry. I apologize to no one, but it feels like that’s all I’ve been doing with Haven since yesterday.
“Hey, Storm,” Cherry’s voice echoes in the hall. “You got anything for me?”
Blowing out a deep breath, I respond, “Yeah, let’s go to my room.” I’ll pound my frustration out on Cherry.
2 YEARS AGO
I worked for what felt like hours brushing her hair until every last tangle was gone. Now that it’s been washed and brushed, her hair looks long and shiny. As I’m running the brush through, it’s forming beautiful curls. “All done.” I stand from the bed. “Do you need anything else tonight?”
Her brows tighten as if she’s contemplating something. “Don’t you want something in return?”
“For what?”
She stares at me with her big doe-shaped eyes before