Page 19 of Royal's Reign
Seven
Giorgia
So what, I lied, but the embarrassment, not to mention the pain of Royals rejection, leaving me hanging, fuck it had nearly broken me, in more ways than one.
I had to get out. Out of the apartment, away from the club so I could clear my head of all things Royal, and the Saint’s Outlaws.
I knew I wouldn’t be able to leave the premises without being challenged, and that would get straight back to Royal, the one person that I needed to get away from the most. So, I first called Ambrey to see if it was okay for me to go over to her place. Turned out that her fiancé, with whom she shared her apartment with was away overnight on business, and she welcomed the company. Secondly, I called Grinder and was as sugarsweet as my crazyemotions would allow me to be and pleaded insanity, if I didn’t get out of here and spend some time with a girlfriend to talk about, you know, girly stuff. Well, it wasn’t like I could do that with any of the girls here,although I had struck up a kind of friendship with Ria and the twins weren’t too bad, but it wasn’t quite the same.
My brother caved, but as he was busy working with Hammer, the club’s Road Captain, he told me that he’d get Royal to take me. I was quick to snap back a resounding no, and that was enough to raise suspicion.
I’d had to choose my words carefully, because shit, however hurt I was from Royal’s actions, the last thing I wanted to do was to cause a rift between the two of them. Royal was everything to my brother, and had been the one thing that had given him a reason to carry on when he’d lost his childhood friend. Although, I was very young when my brother’s life came crashing down, I saw the pain he was in. It wasn’t until I was older that I gained clarity on what impact Royal’s existence had on him. It had saved him, given him a purpose.
Garth and Noah. As two young boys together had navigated themselves into adulthood, both thought that the other had saved them. But in truth, they had saved each other.
So, I couldn’t tell my brother the truth, at least not the whole truth. I certainly couldn’t own up to the fact that I’d been goading him for the past few weeks. Theunderwear, the risky clothing. How I’d been leaving my scent everywhere, in an attempt to tease him into submission. It had obviously had some impact, but not enough to get him to submit fully.
Damn it.
To keep a modicum of peace between them, I played on the fact that I couldn’t put up with his obsessive behavior, grumpy mood swings, and how I felt awkward when in only his company. I whined out every word needed to convince him that I needed as much time away from Royal during waking hours to be able to continue to sleep there. When my brother still wasn’t convinced, I’d played my trump card. If he didn’t take my needs seriously, then I wanted to go home.
Now, as I climb into the car waiting for me outside the club doors, I’m on a high from cutting Royal a new asshole and the smell of fresh air and freedom. I smile at Ink, who’s driving, and Forger in the front passenger seat — the two poor bastards that are my nominated protection for the night. I’m used to Manny and Frank my usual bodyguards, but these two club guys, I hadn’t got to know as yet. To keep my mind off the early catastrophe I try to integrate them with the intention of finding out more about the club. It’s like getting blood out of a stone, both giving very little up, no doubt under the strict rule of not discussing club business. Not that they’d know that much, not being fully fledged members yet, but at least it entertains me until I arrive at my destination.
Forger escorted me to the door, waited and watched while Ambrey and I squealed like teenagers and squeezed each other as if long-lost friends.
“I’ll let you know when I’m ready to leave,” I tell him, but I’m not sure that he’s even registered that I’m speaking to him. He’s totally zoned in on Ambrey, but who can blame him? She’s gorgeous with her lush, corn-colored hair, sapphire blue eyes, and curves that leave many women green with envy, me included. “Eh hem,” I cough and click my fingers in front of his face to get his attention. Slowly, with an air of reluctance, I finally get it. “You can go.” I wave him off.
“Yeah, just drop a message in the Saint’s group number on the burner phone you’ve been set up with. We’ll be right outside if you need anything in the meantime,” he informs me before his eyes veer back to the one person who has clearly captured his interest. Slowly, he takes a step back, casts Ambrey a panty-melting smile before turning and walking back to the car where Ink watches, finding it highly amusing by the way he’s shaking his head and laughing.
Finally, we step inside. Ambrey closes the door, turns and rests her back against it.
“Holy hotness,” she whooshes out, her cheeks pinker than the lip gloss that shimmers on her lips. “Who is that?”
“He’s a Saint, or at least he will be soon,” I warn her. “In simple terms… I guess you could say trouble.”
The evening endsup being exactly what I needed, but too many margaritas cause me to have a very loose tongue, and I end up spilling all the beans on my craziest of crushes on Royal. I even admit the less than hygienic ways that I’ve been trying to seduce him. Ambrey finds it both shocking and hilarious in equal measure.
When our evening begins to wind up, basically because we’ve both consumed a little too much liquor, I drop a quick message to the Saints group to inform them I’ll be ready to leave around twelve-thirty. By the time I eventually stumble out of the door and to the waiting car, it’s nearer one in the morning.
I’m surprised when I walk towards it that, when the front passenger door swings open, it’s not any of the club members I expected, but my brother who is leaning over from the driver’s side.
“Hey.” Seeing him here instead of the other guys, a wave of fear has my stomach in knots. Why is he here? Has Royal said something to him? He said he had been busy working on something when I’d left early. Has he got news? Have they found Mom? “Has something happened?” I slide into the seat next to him and quickly close the door. My hands shake, and the quiver in my voice gives away my fear.
“No, no…Mom’s fine. Everything’s fine,” he quickly assures me by pulling me into a hug, which is pretty awkward. Partly because of the center console getting in the way, but also my brother is not a hugger. We’ve never shown much visual affection to each other, but often voice our love. So, this is a little out of character for him.
“Everything’s fine. I just thought I’d come get you.” He releases his hold on me, and I relax back into the seat, grab the safety belt and secure it. “Ink and Forger needed a break, and well… I thought it would give us a chance to catch up properly. We’ve not had much time to talk.” He puts the motor into drive, and we pull away from the curb.
“Your call earlier. I don’t get it. We’ve arranged for you to go back to work so you’re not stuck at the club all day, but you’re still not happy. What’s going on, Gio?”
“Nothing, I’m fine.” I lie. It’s not like I can tell him that I want to jump his president and best friend's bones. That the proximity and sexual tension with Noah are driving me insane.
“Gio,” he snickers. “I might not have spent as much time as I’d like to with you over the past few years, with you going away to college, the club… you know, life. But I do know when you’re keeping something from me.”
I want to scream,I want Royal to fuck me till I’m walking like a cowboy, but even with the liquor that’s still sloshing around in my bloodstream, I know that would be suicide. Both for me and Royal.
“It’s Royal.” I start, but before I get a chance toexplain further, he growls and tightens his grip on the steering wheel like he’s trying to choke it to death.
“What did he do?” he snarls.
