Page 14 of Rage
I nod sharply. “Yes, I do.” His reaction makes me even more curious.
He scratches the back of his neck, looking uncomfortable. “I had a rough time in school. A lot of family shit going on. It made me angry, and I got into fights all the time.”
My heart twists for him, but I stay silent, waiting for him to continue.
“I didn’t want to say anything, but since we’re on the topic, I refuse to lie either.” He pauses, his jaw tightening. “I started fighting in the club’s underground fights. Then I asked to join the club because the men there treated me like family. For the first time I felt like I belonged. They said yes, and I haven’t looked back since.”
“Hold up,” I say, raising a hand. “What underground fights?”
“The club holds illegal fights at their warehouse, which is just down the road from the clubhouse. The gambling is a way to get money into the club.”
I frown. “I don’t like it.” The words fall from my mouth. Not that I have any say in his hobbies, but it explains why onlyone punch sent Tyler to the ground. My body deflates. I don’t want to be near any violence. “Do you have to fight?” I ask, and flinch. “Or do you enjoy it?” I’m sure it’s a somewhat controlled environment and he’s only out to hurt his opponent, but it’s still a heavy weight on my chest.
He shrugs. “I’m good at it, and it’s a place to free my head.”
It’s sad that he hasn’t found a more constructive way to get his emotions out. It’s something I can work on with him if we spend more time together. Maybe he just needs someone to talk to.
“What else does the club do?” I ask, curiosity lining my voice.
He briefly looks away. “I can mention the club fights, a lot of people know about them... but apart from that anything else is club business. It’s nothing too serious. It’s not like running guns or hard drugs and stuff. As a plus, we help with the women and children’s refuge center.” He looks around the place. “We helped with the renovations and assist with getting the women and children to safety. I think we’ve done a good job.”
“You certainly have.”
If the club isn’t doing anything to jeopardize people’s lives, who am I to judge? The club was there for me when I called. I need to get the presumption that motorcycle clubs are bad out of my head because the War Brothers MC seem different. Rage fights to let out his emotions. It’s not the end of the world, but it pains me to think he could get hurt.
“What do you do?” Rage asks, leaning forward.
I smile because I love my job. “I own a small jewelry-making business. I design and make the jewelry at home and sell it on Etsy.”
His brows shoot up. “So you’re smart. I knew you were.”
I blush. I’m smart and beautiful now.This man...“I’m just lucky that my customers are aware that I was taking time off.”My eyes roam his face. “How old are you?” I ask. My heart beats faster; I’m a little worried.
He smirks. “Twenty-four.”
I hold on to the table because I’m about to fall off my chair. My eyes bulge as I just stare at him. I slept with a twenty-four-year-old.“Jesus Christ,” I shriek. “I feel like some weird old cougar.”
He laughs out loud. “No, you’re not. How old are you anyway?”
“Too old for you!”
He smiles, showing all his straight white teeth. “No, you’re not. Come on... spill... How old are you?”
“Thirty-four,” I mumble.
He shrugs like it’s nothing. “I thought late twenties, but age doesn’t bother me.”
“It bothers me!” I should take that I look like I’m in my twenties as a compliment, yet I can’t help but feel a little uncomfortable at the age gap.
He leans back, completely unfazed. “Why? We get along, we’re attracted to each other—who cares about anything else or what others think?”
He has a point. “You”—I gesture up and down at him—“are false advertising. You look much older than twenty-four.”
He blows on his knuckles and rubs them on his shirt, like he’s polishing a trophy. “Good to know,” he says with a cheeky wink, making me laugh. Being with him makes me feel lighter. He has this way of making me forget my worries, even if just for a moment.
His phone rings and he answers it. “Okay, sure. I’m leaving now.”
All the happiness seeps out of me at the thought of him going.
