Page 46 of Marcus: Sins of the Father

“Oh, is that what that stunt was all about? You’re the one who is jealous.” A little grin starts to tug at his mouth.

He’s hit the nail on the head, and the fact that he finds it funny pisses me off. “What the hell does it matter?” My voice rises, and he glances over to the other side of the yard. I’m getting to the point I don’t even care anymore. Let them hear. Let everyone in the damn place hear us. I lift my chin, daring him to say something.

One thing I’ve learned about Billy in all the years I’ve known him is he’s more about action than words. He proves it again by grabbing my hand and leading me farther into the darkness back near the perimeter fence. I yank my hand free.

“I’m not some sweet-butt you can jerk around like your personal property.”

He totally ignores that and circles back to my question. “What do you mean why does it matter?”

“You and I.” I gesture my hand between us. “It can’t happen, so I might as well go have fun with Logan.”

“The hell you will.” He steps closer to me crowding me against the chain-link fence. “We both know I’m the only one who can turn you on.”

“I don’t—” Before I can finish my thought, he grabs my face and pulls me to him, his mouth coming down on mine. This kiss is filled with need and desire and sexual frustration all tangled together. It has me losing myself, and I kiss him back just as ferociously. I’m desperate for this, for any sign he feels what I feel, just as deeply and strongly as I do. Sometimes he makes it seem like it’s so easy to walk away from me, and I hate that. I want him to want me with the same desperation I want him.

But deep down I know there’s something Billy wants more than me. His patch. My heart breaks at the thought. I want what I can’t have, and a part of me hates him for it.

We break apart for air, and he leans his forehead against mine, his chest heaving. “Don’t tell me you want to have fun with anyone else.”

I sigh, trying to catch my breath. “Billy, how are we—?”

“What the hell are you two doing?”

We’re deep in the dark shadows of the building. Jake stands at the corner, the side of his body lit by the bulb above the clubhouse door. He looks pissed in a way I’ve never seen before.

“Are you two fucking nuts?” He practically yells, stalking toward us. “You want to lose your chance at a patch?” He directs his second comment to Billy.

Billy quickly moves away from me, and it hurts like a stab to the chest.

I push off the chain-link, stalking toward Jake. “There’s nothing going on and nothing between us.” I twist my head and look Billy dead in the eyes when I say the second part. His jaw clenches, but he does nothing to stop me. He’s made his choice. The club. Always the fucking club. My eyes sting. I brush past Jake, determined to get the hell out of here before I do something stupid, like letting them see my tears. “Don’t worry, Jake. I’m going home.”

My chest tightens with every step I take. I head to the clubhouse door to search out Harley Jean and see if she’s ready to leave, because I sure as hell am.

***

Billy—

Goddamn it.

This wasn’t how I wanted tonight to go. I hate watching Melissa walk away from me. If Jake wasn’t standing in my way, I’d no doubt go after her.

As soon as she’s out of sight, Jake turns his attention and ire back at me. “Melissa? Really?”

“You’re one to talk. You fucked your friend’s little sister,” I snap, too pissed to care about the backlash.

That backlash comes swiftly and forcefully.

Jake grabs me by the shirt and slams me into the fence. “Watch your fucking mouth when you talk about my wife. I’m only gonna let that shit slide once because of what you’ve done for the club and because of who your father is, but if I see you around the president’s daughter again, I won’t be the one you need to worry about. Are we clear?”

“Crystal.” I spit the word, my jaw clenching tight. It takes everything in me not to shove him off me, but if I succumb to that temptation, I’ll lose my shot at a patch for sure.

Jake releases the fists full of cut he has in his grip and turns away. Then whirls back, and before I know what hits me, his fist slams into my jaw, and I stumble backward.

“And you say shit about Layla again, you’ll be spitting blood for a week.”

I rub my jawline, straightening to my full height. “Yes, sir,” I bite out, letting my anger edge my tone, but deep down, I know I deserved that punch and probably more. You don’t talk about a brother’s ol’ lady like that, and you especially don’t do it to a full patched member of this MC. I know all that. It was a dick move, and I’ve got no excuse. Maybe I’m looking for a fight to distract me. I need someone to knock some fucking sense into me.

Jake stalks off, and I stand in the dark, sucking the cold air into my lungs. I wipe the blood from my split lip with the back of my hand, but my mind’s not on the pain. All I can think about is Melissa, and wonder where she’s gone.

---