Page 15 of Desert Rose

“She’s a friggin’ ping pong ball. Going back and forth between them. Look, I need to go. Thanks for telling me.”

I stare out in the sunset. My heart sinking with the sun. I got my brother back but in doing so handed her right over to the man who feels like the other half of me. And I can’t even fight for him. I’m too young and belong to his rival MC. But somehow, someday I will rise and take my desert king. I might start a war in doing so. But maybe I could be the peace bringer. The one who bridges worlds. If the Bastards and Scorpions ever joined…. no one could best us. Not the Chinese mob in Vegas or the cartels in Mexico. We’d rule the desert just like my Apache ancestors did and no one would be able to take it from us. No woman or child would be trafficked across our dunes.

I go back to my room and throw out the perfume she wore and all my makeup. I will imitate no body. I will be my own unique desert rose.

THE PRESENT

EDGE

8

Where desert king left off…

I carry Amber over the threshold of the clubhouse. Just like I swore to myself in the desert that night, I took something that was his. Finally, when he had moved on from the ghost of Mandy, I struck. The only problem is I kinda fell for the same girl, too.

“Who’s that?” Butch asks as I carry her in.

“Tarak’s girl. And mine.”

“Again? Damn, the two of you need to find another type.

I don’t answer. I carry her into a back room, plop her down and lock the door before grabbing her a water from my fridge and loosening her gag.

“Don’t do this. Please, untie me.”

I ignore her.

“I-I’m falling in love with him.”

“But you want me.” I step closer. My finger tracing the curve of her cheek. “Damn, mouse. You became beautiful.”

“Is that what this is about? …felt like you missed your chance with me, and you want to know what he has?”

“By the time I’m done with you, mouse, you’ll forget what his hands on you feels like…what he tastes like. I’m going to erase his every touch.” Her nipples peak under my thin shirt, betraying her. My lips find the crook of her neck.

“Please. I can’t. Don’t put me in the middle of your war.”

“You’ve been there since day one, babe. Smile.” She opens her eyes, blinking them quickly after the flash on my phone goes off. “Perfect.”

“He’s going to kill me,” she whispers.

I attach her pic to a text and hit send.

“What’s it gonna be, little mouse? Him or me?”

“Him. You know that.”

“Liar. I saw you first. I kissed you first. Why did you go with him?”

“You never made a play for me.”

“Is that it? Did you need romance? Hearts and flowers and all that shit? Well, fuck that. I stole you, sugar. You’re my property now.”

“Am I worth a war?”

“I don’t know. But I’m willing to risk finding out,” I growl, capturing her mouth.

“Edge, please. Stop this insanity. Stop all of it. You could have your own great love. She’s out there waiting for you. In fact, I already know who she might be.”

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