Hell on Wheels (Four Horsemen MC Book 6) (22 page)

“What? You didn’t like it?”

Royal appeared to think it over. “Ain’t sure
like
is the right word. I was proud to be the president. I loved my brothers and I wanted to do right by them, but it could be burden.”

Axel could relate. Since he’d taken on this duty, it had swallowed him whole, but he was the best option for the club at the moment. “Would you do it again, if you had to?”

He shook his head. “I doubt that’ll ever happen, brother. I’m running for my life right now. But I’ll tell you one thing, I made it harder on myself. I didn’t have a life outside the club, so the job ate me alive. It ain’t healthy, brother. You need something of your own. A home. Children. A woman you love.”

“You didn’t have an old lady?”

Royal tipped his beer back, taking a long swig. “No, never seemed to find the time. I regretted it once I went inside. Felt like I wasted my life workin’, when I coulda been livin’, you know?”

Axel swallowed the lump in his throat. That sounded awfully fucking familiar.

“I made myself a promise,” Royal said. “If I found
the one
, I wouldn’t let anything stand in my way.” His eyes were faraway. They fell into a peaceful silence, staring at the fire for a while.

The one.
  Axel couldn’t stop thinking about Charlie. She called to him like no one had ever had. It hadn’t gone away, no matter how much he’d tried to ignore the attraction.

“So, aren’t you gonna ask me?” Royal asked suddenly.

“What?” Axel asked carefully.  He hadn’t requested details about the jailbreak and didn’t want any. He figured when the federal marshals inevitably interrogated him down the line, he could honestly say he didn’t know a goddamn thing about the escape.

“Why I did it. Why I kidnapped the marshal. I know it sounds crazy.”

He’d let the woman go unharmed, according to the news. “None of my fucking business,” Axel said.

Royal’s jaw squared.

Damn. Axel could tell Royal needed to talk to someone. And brothers helped each other out. He should amend the club commandments and take that one out. It only led to trouble. “Well, since you brought it up, why
did
you take the marshal hostage?”

His lips curved. “I couldn’t
not
take her.”

“Come again?” If Axel had kidnapped a federal marshal, he’d regret it for the rest of his life.

“Have you ever met a woman you couldn’t walk away from?”

Yeah, Axel could definitely relate to that. Charlie was never far from his thoughts.

 “I feel like she clunked me over the head with a two-by-four, brother. I ain’t been right since.” He finished off his beer in one pull.

Axel was too stunned to reply
. Royal’s in love with the marshal?
 
Talk about a fuckin’ tragedy.
 “They said she was in cahoots with you.”

“She’s innocent,” Royal said, squeezing the can in his grip until it crumpled. “Ivy wasn’t even supposed to be on duty that night. She filled in last-minute.”

“They fired her anyway, brother.”

“Ivy’s a bounty hunter now.” Royal had a gleam in his eye. “She bounced right back. Word is she’s huntin’ me down.” A grin curved his lips.

Was Royal wanting a showdown? Just so he could see her again? Maybe he had some sort of death wish. “My guess is she’s gunnin’ for you then. Maybe coming for a little payback?”

He settled back in his chair and stretched his legs out. “Yeah, I bet she is.” Royal didn’t seem concerned. “I’m lookin’ forward to it. Ivy and I are opposites, but we’re a match. She just doesn’t know it.” He pulled up his sleeve to reveal a yin-yang symbol on his forearm. “You’d think light and dark, good and bad, right and wrong, were opposing forces, but they aren’t. They match each other, they provide balance.”

What the hell was this…prison philosophizing?

Evidently, Axel’s consternation showed on his face. “It’s true. Opposing forces are complementary.” He tapped his tattoo. “You see there’s a little light in the darkness and vice versa. Good and bad aren’t mutually exclusive. I’m not crazy, brother.”

“Are you sure about that? You’re under a lot of pressure.”

Royal didn’t answer the question. “In prison, I did a lot of reading because I pulled library duty as my work detail. Anyway, there’s a German philosopher, his name is Nietzsche, and one of his quotes always stuck with me. ‘Whatever is done for love always occurs beyond good and evil.’ That makes a lot of sense to me.”

Yeah? Well, it sounded like crazy talk to Axel. “Yeah, well, thanks for the company, brother, but I should be on my way.”

He quickly said his goodbyes and got back on the road to Hell.

***

Charlie walked to Seventh Circle after finishing her shift at Beauregard Manor to meet Dani. It was a bit of a hike, but she was used to it by now.  She’d changed out of her maid uniform and opted for a pair of jeans, a t-shirt, and a hoodie. Charlie gotten the chance to enter a few more numbers into the safe today, but…surprise...she hadn’t been successful. Charlie was wondering if she’d ever crack the damn thing.

She’d changed into street clothes before she left, so no one would ask her any questions. Charlie found Dani seated on a stool in front of a small newsprint-covered table, beside a black SUV. She had a tray next to her filled with small cans of paint and several brushes.

“Hey, you ready to get some dinner?” Charlie asked, as she sat down on the other side of the car, on another stool. She discreetly did a sweep of the garage. No sign of Axel. And she told herself she wasn’t disappointed.  

“He’s in the office,” Dani said, not looking up from her paint tray. She pulled out a straight razor and sheared a couple of stray hairs from a small paint brush.

“I didn’t ask!”

“You didn’t need to.”

Charlie watched as Dani drug the brush through the black paint. She’d made a makeshift palette on the back of a motorcycle magazine.

“Don’t you want to know what he’s doing in the office?” Dani asked.

“No.”

Actually, Charlie was dying to know. But the ball was in his proverbial court. If Axel wanted to see her, he knew where she was. He’d pinned
her
panties to the clothesline.  And he’d insisted there was nothing but business between them, even though he’d nearly snapped the broom in a jealous outburst. She wouldn’t break the stalemate.  If he wanted to change that status quo, he’d have to man up and have a talk with her.

  So, she’d come over to see Dani. And that’s all.

Yeah, and apparently, she was lying to herself these days.

Dani shrugged. “Suit yourself.” She drug lines across a Harley Davidson gas tank she’d placed on a table. Every once in a while, she’d dip the brush into some mineral spirits, a paint thinner.

 Charlie watched, fascinated. Dani made it look so easy.

“Where did you learn how to do that?” she asked.

“Practice, I guess. I never had formal training, unless you count art class in school.” Dani shrugged. “My dad says I was born with a paintbrush in my hand. I used to decorate the walls at my parents’ place.” She snickered. “Not my finest efforts.”

 Axel also did some bodywork, but Dani handled most of the decoration. Their skills complemented one another. Charlie thought they were a great team.

Suddenly, the office door swung open. Charlie hunched down close to the SUV and slowly peeked around it. Axel was talking with a woman.

“That’s Nancy,” Dani whispered. “You know, Axel’s ex.” She said the last part with waggled eyebrows. “See?”

“Why didn’t you tell me?” Charlie hissed, inching to get a better view. She didn’t intend to eavesdrop. Okay, that was a lie. She was pretty damn curious about Nancy. She wanted to know what made this woman so damn special. From what Charlie could see, she was ordinary. She wore a pair of clackety black heels, which echoed on the cement floors. Who wears heels to go to a garage? And tight jeans, which looked spray-painted on her body, and a black halter top with a plunging neckline. Nancy seemed to be dressed for a date.

Was Axel having an affair with this chick?

“Do you think she’s pretty?”

“No comment,” Dani muttered.

“What’s she doing here?” Charlie glanced around the garage. “Is he working on her car?”

“Yeah,” Dani said, nodding to the black Durango next to them. “That’s hers. But I think she’s wanting him to lube something besides her chassis.” She gave a dirty chuckle.

As Charlie watched, Nancy placed a hand on Axel’s arm and copped a feel, squeezing his bicep. Axel shifted away from her hands. Good, he had a hands-off policy with her, too. But the woman was undaunted; she got even closer and placed her hands behind her back so she could thrust her breasts at him.

“Oh, my God,” Dani breathed as she glanced through the windows at the couple. “She’s showcasing her breasts.”

 “Isn’t she married?” Charlie asked in hushed tones.

“Yeah, I don’t think she cares about that right now.” Dani turned her attention back to the pin-striping. And Charlie silently seethed. Though, she didn’t have the right to be jealous, panty incident aside. After all, Axel had told her the attraction between them wasn’t going anywhere. If he wanted to talk to an old flame, that was his business, not hers.

But she wanted it to be her business.

And she didn’t like the way the woman flirted with him. Touched him.

As Nancy did a hooker strut out of the garage, then got into van with a woman out front, Axel ambled over to Dani. Charlie looked for a place to hide, but it wasn’t like there was a convenient black hole to duck into, so she just sat there and tried not to look pissed off. Easier said than done.

When Axel saw her, his eyes widened. “Charlie? What are you doing here?”

“Dani and I are going to dinner when she gets done pinstriping.”

“That, and we were watching you get pawed by your ex. What the hell was that?” Dani asked.

Axel opened his mouth and then snapped it shut.

Charlie crossed her arms over her chest and waited for the response.

“I’m fixing her car. And she nebtuibed having lunch or something.” Then he glowered. “But that’s none of your business.”

Dani laughed. “Yeah, I think she wants to have you for lunch.”

“Y’all want some company for dinner?” Axel asked, changing the subject. He pressed a hand against his stomach. “I didn’t have time to grab anything earlier.”

Charlie shrugged. “If you want to. I don’t care either way.”

If she didn’t know any better, she’d say Axel looked hurt. “You don’t?”

“I don’t.” Charlie said it like meant it. 

Dani coughed, but it sounded like she’d said
bullshit
. “Tell you what. I’ve got about twenty more minutes of work here. Why don’t you two go ahead and I’ll finish up, close up the shop, and be right over?”

Charlie could smell the set-up but didn’t protest. And Axel didn’t say anything. Maybe he wanted to spend more time with her, too? He was just too stubborn to admit it.

“Don’t be long,” he said finally.

“Don’t do anything I wouldn’t do,” Dani whispered.

Charlie followed him out to his bike, and soon they were on the road to Hades. Charlie couldn’t help herself. Being this close to him was such a temptation. She laid her head against his back and inched closer to him on the seat, so their thighs were pressed against each other. And was it her imagination, or did Axel slow down? He normally roared through the town, but they drove the streets at a leisurely pace.

Eventually, they pulled up in front of the diner. But neither one of them made a move to get off the bike. Finally, he shut the engine off and she reluctantly let go of him. They slowly walked in together; their shoulders brushed as they walked. Axel held the door for her, too.

Once they were inside, his brothers crowded around him and invited them to sit at a big table they’d made at the back of the room, with dozens of pushed-together tables and chairs.

Damn. She’d been hoping for a quiet booth for two. She glanced at Axel, hoping he’d protest, but he didn’t say a damn thing.

Charlie ended up a few feet from him, seated next to Lexi and Elizabeth. Dani joined them a few minutes later. Charlie refused to look at Axel the rest of the night.

***

That night, Axel stood under the hot shower and let the water sluice the mixture of soap, motor oil and grime from his body. The white tile felt cool against his palms and he bowed his head, leaning into the warm stream of water. He rolled his shoulders, relaxing his tense muscles. The stress had taken a toll on his body. Axel craved sleep, he forgot to eat sometimes, and he always felt restless. Like he should be doing something every fucking second of the day.

Maybe if he found time to exercise more. He usually ran in the morning. He’d get up early and go for a quick jog through town before he started work. It eased the tension and gave him time to think, but he hadn’t gone in weeks.

And now he felt…
edgy.

He’d choked earlier. At the diner, he should’ve found a quiet corner and talked with Charlie. But he didn’t know what he wanted to do. An apology for his behavior at was in order, of course. It took all of his willpower to keep a barrier between them.

And lately, he’d been thinking about giving in and asking her out. He couldn’t stop thinking about her. No, it wouldn’t last. Charlie would leave after she got what she came for. But, if he didn’t ask her out…wouldn’t he always wonder?

Damn.

And another way to deal with stress was sex, but he hadn’t gotten any in over a year. Axel hadn’t felt the urge in weeks. Not until he’d met Charlie. Jerking off usually did the trick whenever he took a notion, but it always felt so…artificial. Looking at skin mags and jerking off could be just as empty as banging a hellion. Even if he were to entertain one of those options, they wouldn’t quench his appetite.

Charlie had the starring role in his sexual fantasies. He wanted her touch. He was desperate for it. When she’d clung to him on the motorcycle earlier that evening, he’d drawn the ride out, eager for more.