Page 123 of Tattooed Love

“She has a new boyfriend,” I spoke up, loudly. I knew one thing the Shield boys hated, and that was any other male close to their little sister. I was going to use that to my advantage.

“WHAT!” Cole was the first one roaring at her, demanding more. “Who?”

“Thanks!” Amber shot me a glare.

“Didn’t know it was a secret,” I said as I shrugged my shoulders.

“No one you know,” Amber answered Cole, but she should’ve known better. The boys wouldn’t stop at that. All of a sudden, all the boys were throwing questions at her and the dread across Amber’s face was amusing… to me at least.

“ENOUGH!” Mr. Shield shouted from the head of the table, and rose from his chair.

“Thanks dad,” Amber smiled, relieved.

“Amber isn’t…”

“DAD, YOU PROMISED!” Amber quickly cut him off, slapping her hands on the table. She was fuming with anger.

Mr Shield was actually chuckling. All of us were in silence. Mr Shield looked too serious to be chuckling and, by the shock on the boy’s faces, they weren’t used to it either.

“Amber’s boyfriend’s initials are C.S, and that is all I am saying. Now, leave her alone.” Mr Shield sat back in his chair with a grin.

“Thanks dad,” Amber rolled her eyes, and left the table with a huff. Now all I had to do was find out who C.S was and threaten him until he buggered off.

***

“I don’t know anyone named C.S.” Adam said. He was laying on the grass, smoking and thinking of who Amber’s boyfriend was.

“Neither do I.” I said as I lit up my own smoke. Adam and I were out in the backyard, with beers, enjoying the fresh air, and quiet - two things we didn’t usually get much of.

“You know Troy was saying that dad was thinking of sending her away,” Adam said as he sat up. “Troy was trying to get him to change his mind.”

“He wouldn’t send, her would he?” I asked and blew out the smoke. Amber couldn’t be sent away like a naughty child; she was an adult now, although she rarely acted like one.

“Don’t know,” Adam shrugged his shoulders, putting the cigarette out. “But he doesn’t want Amber to get mixed up with what we do, so he might.”

Amber was strong-willed; you couldn’t make her do anything she didn’t want to do. There was no way she would go anywhere she didn’t want to go.

“I’m turning in; night Jax,” Adam said as he pushed my shoulder slightly, walking passed.

“Night mate.”

I had more important things to think about than Amber. I should be organizing and planning our next run and I should be taking care of business.

But my thoughts were consumed with Amber.

Chapter 35

Jax

Leaning against my bike, I watched Amber move quickly through the school gates; she was jogging to her car. Putting my cigarette out, I quickly mounted my bike and started it.

It had been a week, and Amber was still meeting this secret lover; today I was going to follow her. Every day after school she would take off as soon as the bell rang, and then she wouldn’t be back home until late.

Yes, I did have more important things to do than stalk my ex-girlfriend, but all I needed was an address, and then I would be able to get a name.

I slowed the bike down and followed two cars back from Amber. She was frustrating me, not giving me the time of day. I even bought her flowers last night and left them on her bed. The next morning I woke up to find them thrown out in the hall, outside her door.

To think I wasted an hour picking the bastards. I changed lanes, still following her; why was she going so damn slow? She was holding the traffic up! I crept up behind the car in front, and looked up. Shit.