Page 22 of Claymore
Arch patted me on the shoulder, heading off to find himself something to eat. I caught Wrench and Tank both glaring at me like I fucking sold out the club or some shit. Between their puffed chests and flared nostrils, I already knew I was in for one hell of a lecture.
“I told you to keep an eye on Ella, not to court her to be your next lady. Goddamnit, Claymore. Don’t you see how fucked up this is? She’s Ray’s sister,” Tank blurted.
“Don’t start with this shit again. Look, I did exactly what you asked. I’ve been keeping an eye on her and I won’t stop until I’m sure she’s safe. She isn’t like Ray. I don’t know how much more I have to do to convince you, Tank. She just wants to help.”
“Well, I hope you know you can’t be bringing her around here. I don’t like you getting so close to her. Arch filled me in on how close you both were. As far as we’re concerned, she’s an outsider. She’s got ties to the enemy. The only reason you’re still watching over her is because we need information on Ray.”
“Yeah,” I spat.
I clenched my fists, feeling my jaw grow tighter the more Tank ripped into me about this. I didn’t know how I’d ever make them understand, how I’d make them see Ella the way I did. She was like a delicate flower, one that needed to be protected, and I wasn’t gonna let Tank or anyone tell me how to do that.
Tank and Wrench turned around to head inside when I cleared my throat.
“If you’d get off my ass long enough for me to have a real conversation with you, maybe I can finally tell you what I found.”
Tank glanced over his shoulder, raising his eyebrow at me.
“I’m all ears.”
“We ran into Ray’s ex-girlfriend on our little adventure. Real fucking small town if you ask me. Anyway, she got onto some bike that had a lion sigil painted on the side. I’ve seen that shit before, but I don’t know where. It’s white, thick lines, with big eyes.”
“I have too,” said Wrench.
We both turned to look at him.
“Where?”
“There’s a bar on the outskirts of Mascid. I stopped in there on a run a few nights ago. First time I saw that damn thing too. There were three bikes with it plastered on the side. I thought that it was maybe just a small gang rolling through, but if Ray’s ex-girlfriend is involved, there might be more to the story.”
“Wrench, take Archer with you. Find out what you can about that sigil. Claymore, be careful how you move forward. You’d be an idiot not to think Ella has something to do with this. I don’t want any more problems. Get as close as you need to find Ray and get out.”
“That a suggestion?”
“It’s a goddamn order.”
Chapter Six
Ella
I held the spatula in my hand, flipping the chocolate chip pancakes while I glanced out the window at the sunrise. The sheer curtains danced, and the scent from the bubbling, fresh coffee hit my nostrils. I took a deep breath, basking in how calm I felt, wishing this moment could last forever. I didn’t want to think about all of the trouble I endured, all of the pain this had caused me. For once in my life, I just wanted to be still.
I was careful not to wake Claymore up, but I stole a peek at him every few minutes. His bare chest rose and fell as he breathed softly, his long blond hair falling into his face. I thought about the night I nearly let him devour me, the night that instantly made my cheeks hot and my palms sweat. Even after I’d stopped him, even after I told him we couldn’t go there, he was still right here taking care of me. I wanted to tell myself that I didn’t feel anything, that Claymore was just another biker I happened to know, but that would’ve been a lie. Every time I was around him, it felt like my entire body was on fire, like I wanted something I just could never have. It was killing me and simultaneously keeping me going. I wondered how long it’d be before I crashed and burned.
I flipped the hot pancakes onto two fresh plates, pouring up two steaming cups of coffee before carefully carrying them over to the coffee table. I heard Claymore stirring, his pillow falling out from under his grasp, but when I tried to put it back, he instantly jolted awake.
“Good morning, sunshine,” Claymore murmured, with that low honeyed tone.
“Made you breakfast,” I said, handing him his cup of coffee as he sat up.
“Ella, you really didn’t have to. I’m fine eating whatever’s left in the fridge.”
“Claymore, the only other thing remotely edible in there is an old banana.”
“What about the Thai food?”
“You mean the Thai food that should’ve been thrown out three days ago?”
“Was it that bad?” he asked, squinting and wrinkling his nose.
