Page 110 of Tattooed Love

Pulling my arms through the long singlet that stopped mid-thigh, it was clinging to my body from the heat already. I pulled my hair up loosely; I was sick of the heat alright.

The bedroom had turned into an oven and I had the pleasure of staying in here all night. Opening the bedroom door, I allowed the cool air to swish around me, and it felt like taking a dip in a cool pool. Anything would feel cooler compared to the oven I had been baking in.

“Last night’s leftovers have woken,” a guy chuckled to me darkly from a bar stool as I walked into the main living area. His eyes raked up and down my body as he belittled me.

“Don’t speak to her like that,” Grant roared from across the room. The room went silent and only now did I realize it was full. Jax and my brothers were also in there. Suddenly, there was an uneasy tension in the room, as everyone’s eyes darted between me and Grant, all most likely thinking I was his last night.

“How did you sleep Amber?” Grant broke the silence in the room.

My eyes were locked with Jax’s for a moment and then his narrowed with suspicion as Grant spoke directly to me. “Fine, old man,” I said. Breaking my eyes from Jax’s, I strolled across the room to sit next to Grant. “You?” I asked

Conversation had returned to the room, and I had a feeling that I wouldn’t be receiving any more comments from a Deadly Dozen member again. I was thankful Grant had done that; it had saved my brothers from having to come to the rescue.

“Not well enough. Considering you left me in the dark,” he said. His lips curled slightly; he was stirring shit on purpose, making a play on words to make me look guilty.

“Whatever,” I muttered and glared at the floor. Swallow me ground, swallow me I prayed. I hated attention on me!

“Let’s get to business,” Jax’s voice ordered, and I heard his chair legs drag along the ground. “We have a run to lead this morning, as you are aware…” Jax was speaking directly to Grant, making sure his attention was off me. “Clear the room,” he said.

“All people currently in this room are people I trust, so Jax, no need to take this private,” Grant said. I felt Grant’s eyes dart in my direction, as he continued, “Unless there is someone in here you don’t trust, then we can.”

I glanced up at Jax and was surprised to meet his angry eyes directed at me. Did he not want me to be here? He looked as if he was having a debate with himself on whether to order me out or not.

“The guns. Where are they?” Jax snapped and crossed his arms, clearly coming to the decision he couldn’t ask me to leave.

“At the boatyard. The delivery was smooth. Did you take care of that problem at your end?”

“There wasn’t a problem.” Jax’s voice was firm as he glared at Grant, clearly indicating that Grant just mentioned a subject he shouldn’t have.

“The buyer has changed,” Grant spoke as if he wasn’t receiving a silent death threat from Jax. “The TNS will be buying them. Pick up is still the same place.”

“We don’t know them!” Jax roared “Why didn’t you mention this before? We don’t have a dealer with them, how can we make a deal with someone we don’t trust!” Jax’s voice was booming across the room. I couldn’t believe he could look so threatening.

I wasn’t sure how Grant was facing him off right now, because even I was slightly scared of Jax’s rage at the moment. Slowly, I was beginning to see a different side to the man I cared for.

“They are paying double and mistrust was their main concern also, until they realized there was someone who they trusted dearly within your organization.”

If I’d thought I was in trouble before, well now I was sure my death was sealed. My brothers were going to kill me. I silently hoped that Grant would leave me out of this, but I had a feeling I was about to get dragged into this fire.

“Who?” Jax asked. “We don’t have any contacts with them, which is why we haven’t dealt with them before.”

I was glaring into the side of Grant’s face as he turned around to face me. His eyes were twirling with humor and cunningness; I was about to be burnt badly.

“Amber.”

“Amber isn’t to get involved,” Cole interrupted, not even asking why he would say my name in the first place.

“You don’t have a choice. She does the deal or you keep the guns.” Grant looked dryly at Cole “And we all go out of pocket.”

“How do you know them?” Jax’s voice scared me. He was calm and authoritative.

“I just do,” I replied weekly. What could I say? Grant had put me in a hard place on purpose, and I knew why. He was making me face my relationship with Jax, though I would love to know how he’d changed the plans of this deal within such a small timeframe.

“That isn’t good enough,” Jax spoke calmly, with coolness. He was boiling on the inside and I knew within minutes he wouldn’t be as calm because I couldn’t answer his question.

“It’s personal.” My eyes pleaded with him to not question me further; to just leave it be. I could do the deal without everyone knowing my history with the TNS. I hoped Jax had enough trust in me to just let me not answer.

“Fucking do as you’re told!” he roared at me, and shivers of fear ran up my spine. “Now, how do you know them?”

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