Page 32 of Colt

16

Colt

Iwoke up early the next morning, needing to speak with Ember so we could set our plan in motion before Torch arrived. They would be riding in on Friday which didn’t give us much time. I was surprised she agreed to pretend to be in a relationship with me without much of an argument. But I was glad. I didn’t want to have to spend time trying to convince her when I wasn’t completely sold on the idea myself.

But last night, I’d witnessed a little bit of the spark I remembered. She had been through a lot and I wasn’t giving her credit for that. It hadn’t been easy for her, living under a threat and in complete fear of her life and those she loved. In fact, it was admirable, the kind of thing you’d expect your woman to do—protect her family, to put them above herself. Maybe if Ember had told us about the trouble she was in earlier, things would have been different.

Despite the details of all she endured, I still didn’t want to do this. For a number of reasons. One, Fitz’s death; and two, the very idea of being in a relationship, even if fake, was going to mess with my head on a whole new level.

I grabbed the patch off the chair and walked down the hallway to the room she was staying in. Most of the doors to the rooms between hers and mine were closed, and it was eerily silent. Only a few of the guys lived here full time, but given recent events, a few more opted to stay.

The last time our club lost a member was when Falcon, Wolf’s and Hawk’s father, and his wife died. But their death was the result of a motorcycle accident, not because someone was targeting us. Now we were on edge, wondering when the next strike would come.

I could hear someone rustling around in Ember’s room, so I walked in without knocking.

“Shit,” she screeched as she grabbed the towel off her bed to cover herself, but she wasn’t fast enough. I couldn’t help but drink her in. Her skin was still a tad red from the hot water. Her red hair was hanging down far past her shoulders, and she had water droplets running down her neck onto the top of her shapely tits.

The desire to lick every single one of them off of her creamy pale skin came out of nowhere.What the fuck was that?Thinking of Ember in that way would get me in trouble and make me lose focus on what was important.

“What the hell are you doing?” she yelled, bringing my attention back to her face instead of her tempting body. “Get out!”

“Nothing I haven’t seen before, babe.”

“Not in seven years.”

Her snippy retort was the first time either of us acknowledged our past with the other.

“I’d almost forgotten about that night.”

That was the furthest thing from the truth and more proof that I was the biggest asshole who ever lived.

Instead of giving me more attitude, she looked down in embarrassment. I didn’t know why I continued to act like a jerk toward her. If I was honest with myself, I would admit how much I regretted walking away from her years ago. But now, it seemed I couldn’t help myself, and I was always saying shit to purposely upset her. I wondered if I was trying to protect her from me or if I was protecting myself from wanting something I shouldn’t.

“Anyway, you’re going to need this.” I laid the property patch on her bed.

She reached out with one hand to run her fingers across the leather while gripping her towel with her other hand. But she stopped herself before looking over at me for permission. Her reverent attitude resonated with me in ways I hadn’t felt for a long time. I nodded, and her touch reminded me that she understood the significance of the garment. Under different circumstances, I knew without a doubt that she would be the type of woman deserving to wear it.

“Wow, that was quick. How did you get your hands on one so fast?”

That was a question I didn’t want to answer. She didn’t need to know anything about me or my past and apparently had no clue I’d been married. “Don’t worry about it.”

When I looked back up at her face, her mouth was open in question, but then she shook her head like she changed her mind.

“What is it?” I prompted, curious.

“Thanks for doing this,” she said, unhappily, no tone or emotion to her voice or expression. “I know you don’t want to, but I appreciate it anyway.”

I knew I was getting a taste of my own medicine, so I didn’t contemplate the sting I felt too closely. I shrugged. “Sure thing,” I said, but she’d already gone back to the bathroom. The only response was the sound of the door clicking shut.

* * *

The week flew by and Torch, Stone, the acting VP, as well as the officers and several other members from Reno had just shown up. Viking had called Ember down so she could greet them. We both knew it was going to be a shit show the minute they saw her, but she was moving forward with our plan. She straightened her spine as she walked toward the group, and I could see the determination glittering in her eyes. She was as committed to solving this mystery as we were.

“What the fuck are you wearing?” Torch shouted the minute she came into view.

He stomped over to her, and I jumped between them, gently pushing Ember behind me. Sure, I had a role to play, but even if I didn’t, I wasn’t going to let Torch get near her. Not after everything she told us. It was a wonder any of the officers hadn’t lost their shit the moment he walked in here, knowing what he’d done to her. To all of us.

“You’ve got to be kidding me.” Torch looked like a caged animal, ready to attack. “I sent you here to keep you safe, not so you could act like a whore. Did you forget you already belonged to someone?”