Page 5 of Ethan's Sky

“I know, babe. But you know you need to follow the plan. It’s what he wanted for you. The guys are losing their shit trying to find your ass. Apparently, the tracker on your truck has been removed.” He pulls back a little, his eyebrow raised challenging me to deny it.

“I took it off before I left the apartment. If Xander can track me, anyone can. You know I’m right.”

“Yeah, but we would’ve gotten to you before anyone else, and we have to know where the fuck you are!” His voice raises with his agitation.

I get it. He’s pissed I went rogue, but I had to. Just for a little while.

“I needed time to myself. To wrap my head around this shit before I go to the clubhouse. You don’t know the half of what I’m up against. I just…I couldn’t face my past without taking the time to breakdown, even if only for a few minutes. I’m struggling to keep my shit together here, Cash. My fucking dad isgone!” I scream, punching his chest. He doesn’t stop me. He absorbs everything I’m giving him. A few minutes later and I sink into him, my knees nearly giving out on me.

Cash is quick to pick me up, carrying me back to the edge of the dock before sitting down with me cradled to his chest. We sit there in silence as I work to gather the pieces of my shattered heart.

“Listen, I don’t know everything about your past or what brought you to Mountain Heights, but what I do know is you’re fucking strong, Sky. One of the strongest people I know. I watched you go from broken and scared to a badass fucking wild child. You can do this. And I’m going to be here and whenever you start to feel like you can’t fight, you grab my ass and I’ll fight your fucking demons for you. You got me? You’re not alone. I’ve got you.”

I nod into his chest because I don’t have the strength to do much else.

“Come on. You need to get your shit together. We’ve got to get to the clubhouse or you can bet they’re going to send the fucking calvary out to find us. Xander may not be able to track your ass, but he sure as shit can track mine and I don’t need Pres realizing we took this little detour and didn’t tell anyone, yeah? He’s already pissed I’m here before the rest of them because I was coming down to watch your show and pay you a surprise visit. I wasn’t planning on having to babysit you again too.” He huffs as if this is a hardship for him. We both know he’s full of shit.

He may have told them he was coming to surprise me, but I know damn well he was coming to see the show and see about getting some one-on-one time with Sherrie, one of the dancers who gives extras in the VIP rooms. Something I never do. I strictly dance and nothing else. I don’t judge the girls I work with; their life is their own, but I don’t do this for the money. I dance because it’s the only place I feel complete and total freedom.

Pushing off Cash’s chest, with one last deep breath, I shift off his lap and stand up. He moves to stand behind me, his arms circling my waist. He rests his chin on my shoulder and tells me, “You’re going to be okay, Sky. You can do this. Pull you big girl panties up, lock your shit down, and do what your dad asked you to do. Let us keep you safe, and I promise you when we find the fuckers responsible for killing George, we’ll make them pay.”

We’ll make them pay.

His words ring in my head, and I suddenly feel my anger rising to the surface.I’ll make them pay.I make the promise to myself right then and there. Whatever it takes, whatever shit I face to endure coming back here, I’ll do it. I’ll take it all. Because the only people I trust to find Daddy’s killer are the Kings. They won’t rest until whoever it is, is found. And I need them find the son of a bitch…so I can end them my damn self.

Finding my resolve, I turn around, grab Cash’s hand, and lead him back to the truck.

“Uh, Sky. You good?” When we make it to my truck, I open the door, and look him dead in the eye, my mask of indifference firmly back in place.

“Good? No. Ready? Yeah. I’m ready. Let’s go get this shit done so I can start planning my next steps.”

“What next steps? You know they’re probably going to lock your ass down at the clubhouse, right?”

I smile, and Cash looks at me genuinely nervous. “I’m not staying in the clubhouse. I have a safe house in town Daddy set up for me years ago. If any of you try to make me stay in the clubhouse, I will shoot you in the fucking cock and not feel an ounce of remorse.”

He grabs his crotch and wrinkles his face at me.

“Harsh, babe. Too harsh.”

“I’m not staying in the clubhouse. I can’t. But you’re more than welcome to crash with me in the safe house if it’ll make Eli and Gabe feel better.”

I slam the door and start up the truck, not bothering to explain the reason I can’t stay in the clubhouse is because it’s going to be hard enough to confront Ethan after all this time. Having to see him is one thing. Having to sit by andwatch as the club girlsinteractwith him would fucking break me. I can be strong enough to get through losing my dad, and facing my past, I hope. But I know for certain I don’t have enough strength to handle seeing Ethan with another woman. I know it would rip me apart.

2

ETHAN

The sun is barely up over the mountains, highlighting the tops of the trees lining the road. The cool morning breeze on my face, a soothing balm to my nerves. I’ve been on edge since Hawk called at three a.m. telling me, “Do whatever you need to do to sober up and get your ass to church by six o’clock. Pres says no excuses.” Since Hawk knew I was over an hour away visiting the Velvet Pearl, he wanted to give me ample time to get back.

I was already in a foul mood after wasting an entire trip up there to see Scarlet. I planned on talking to Vincenzo again about convincing Scarlet to give me any kind of time. I was about ready to offer him a grand just so I could buy her a drink and hear her voice for an hour. I didn’t need the lap dance. If I can get close enough, spend some time with her, I know I can break down the barrier they have walled up around her. Once I do that, she’ll give in to me. I know she will.

I had a plan. One that went to shit.

I was in my usual booth with a bourbon, waiting patiently to see her again. When the show started, and everyone made their way out onto the stage, I knew the woman dancing center stage wasn’t my redheaded fantasy. She had the same long red hair and wore the same sexy outfit, but she wasn’t the woman who had my dick in a vice.

When I realized the truth, I asked my waitress about the woman on stage. The young brunette smiled and whispered where only I could hear, “the real Lady Scarlet had an emergency. Amethyst agreed to fill in for her. She used Scarlet’s costume and wig so the customers wouldn’t know.”

Wig?

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