He trembled in Hero’s grasp. “I don’t know anything about it. I swear.”
Boxer exhaled a frustrated breath.
“You’re pretty useless, prospect,” Lynx said.
Hero grunted in agreement. AJ twisted his face up as if insulted.
Fuck. I was getting nowhere with this piece of shit. It was no surprise. I never told my prospects vital information. But I had to try before I unleashed my enforcer.
I cut my gaze to Boxer. “Have at it.”
I had seen his deadly grin before. I’d have to keep an eye on him to be sure he didn’t kill the man.
“AJ, I want you over here with Wolf.” I jerked my chin toward the prospect in front of me.
My prospect would learn the art of a proper ass beating.
As I observed my men taking their frustrations out on the Hunters, Madeline stayed at the forefront of my mind.
It didn’t take my men long to beat the crap out of the Hunters. We sent them back to their prez with a message to not fuck with us and get the fuck out of our territory before it was full-blown war.
I needed to rid the town of the dirty maggots. For Madeline and I to be together, I needed to make my territory safe. Until then, I would stay away from her. I just hoped it didn’t take too long, or she might not forgive me for avoiding her.
22
Madeline
On the morning of the Fourth of July, I sat in a booth at Sugar Bliss with Tara, Kim, and Steph. If it hadn’t been for this little gathering and the picnic at the lake later today, I might still be home wallowing in self-pity.
I hadn’t heard from Storm since he left my bed Monday morning to return to his compound. I missed him like crazy.
Not only had Storm been a sex god with the endurance of a thousand men, but he’d also cracked open my heart. He’d done what no man before him could do, then he shit on it. Even so, like a fool, I wished to be with him instead of nibbling on a caramel roll.
The time we spent together wouldn’t be forgotten anytime soon. Or ever. We’d stayed locked away in my room, discovering each other from head to toe and everywhere in between. We’d basically had sex, slept, showered, and ate—on repeat until his sudden departure.
We were happy and insatiable. Or so I thought.
Why hadn’t he called me?
A throat cleared.
I lifted my eyes from my mug. I shouldn’t be surprised by my wide-eyed friends staring at me as I sipped my latte. Tara had blabbed about my “sex-marathon” with a biker the second we’d arrived. I’d waved her off while we placed our orders, but naturally, they wouldn’t be put off for long.
What did it matter now? I hadn’t heard a peep from Storm, not a text or phone call after five days, even though I gave him my number before he left. I’d hoped we’d continue seeing each other.Wishful thinking, Mads.The president of an MC did as he damn well pleased. Took what he wanted when he wanted, then he moved along on his merry way.
God, I hated how empty I felt without him. I also hated how I let myself get swept away. How he made me rememberandforget Kaleb. I betrayed my first love with a biker, who crushed me once he’d gotten what he wanted.
I felt like an idiot.
I wanted marriage and children. I couldn’t have either with a biker. Perhaps Storm was doing me a favor after having his way with me. Like he had my best interest at heart, cutting me loose to find a man who wanted the same traditional lifestyle. Because an MC life was the furthest thing from traditional.
“Spill. It. Girl. I’m dying here,” Steph whined into her mug. She was pulling out all the stops with her green puppy dog eyes, peering over the rim. So sad for her. I was immune to doe eyes, pouty lips, and crocodile tears. Most teachers were, especially kindergarten teachers like me. Still, Steph tried. Silly girl.
“What do you want me to say? We had sex. It’s pretty self-explanatory.” I popped my shoulders up and rolled my eyes, not wanting to talk about Storm.
“We want details.” Tara jabbed me in the side with her boney elbow.
“Ouch!” I shuffled my bottom across the booth closer to the window. “What the heck?”