Claiming Crusher (Savage Brothers MC #4)(84)

“A trip?”

“Yeah, sweetheart. I’m thinking a change of scenery would do you good. Diesel asked me to come help him out at his club and I’m thinking about it. I think Tennessee would be good for the both of us.”

“Tennessee?”

“Yeah baby, we could rent a house on the water, I think you’d like it.” I watch her face closely. I don’t want to do anything she’s not a hundred percent on board with.

“Zander, I’m pretty messed up. I don’t think…I’m not sure I’m ready for…I mean, I love you, I do. But, there’s just…”

I put my fingers on her lips. I know where she’s going, and I just can’t let her go there. She will heal. I will get her there. It’s just going to take time.

“Do you want me?”

“Well, of course, but…”

“Then we take each day together. No promises, no pressure,” it kills me, but I understand. She looks sad, but doesn’t argue. I start to say more when there’s a knock on the door, I let it go and get up to answer the door.

When Bull, Dragon and Dancer are all at the door, I know the time has come.

“We need to talk,” Drag says, looking around me at Dani lying in the bed.

“Yeah, okay. Can I say goodbye to my woman first?” I ask quietly, because I don’t want Dani to know what’s going on exactly.

Dragon nods and I close the door, and walk back to the bed.

“Hellcat, I got some club business going on. I’ll try and hurry back. You can text me though, okay?”

“Is everything okay?”

“It’s perfect and when I get back we’re Tennessee bound… sound good?”

“If you’re sure…” she says hesitantly, and I think she sees that I’m holding stuff back but she nods. I give her a kiss. It’s not as passionate as I want, but still sliding my tongue inside to taste her, soothes me. I’ll handle this and get back to my woman soon.

I close the door behind me and look at my brothers.

“You called me out,” Dragon says and his face is remote, but I think I see a flicker of something there that lets me know my brother hates this f*cking shit as much as I do.

“I did,” I can’t deny it and I wouldn’t.

“It can’t go unanswered. Out back in the yard, meet me in ten. I win, you get the cooler for a couple days while I arrange the vote. You win, you get the President patch.”

Fuck, and I say f*ck for two reasons. I told Dani to text me and if I get the cooler, I’m not going to have a cell phone and even if I do, there’s no signal. Secondly, I may strike at Dragon because I’m pissed at the way he did stuff, but I’m the one who f*cked up here, so I’m not gonna even try to win. Dragon is President of this club and even if I don’t like how he did things with Michael, it was brilliant, proving he is a leader. I’m not. I don’t even want to be.

“See you in ten,” I say resignedly, because f*ck, this is going to hurt.





Chapter 45




Dani


“How are you feeling?” I look up to see Nicole standing at the door.

I was hoping it was Zander. I haven’t heard from him in two days. I wanted to ask the others, but they don’t really talk to me and I don’t want to make myself look stupid by asking for a man who might not want me anymore. He’s not even answered my texts.

“Bored,” I answer, turning my attention back to Nicole as she comes in and closes the door. “How’s Dom?”

“He’s good, really good. I was hoping we could talk for a little bit, if you’re not too tired.”

Things are stilted between me and Nicole now. She held me responsible for Dragon’s death and I understand. I hold myself responsible too. I want to fix it, but I don’t really know how. I’m hoping time manages to do it.

“Nah, I’m bored out of my mind. I’m thinking about going outside and walking a little bit. I need to feel the sunshine on my face.”

“Zander wouldn’t like you overdoing it. You’ve healed a lot, but you were in bad shape.”

“Yeah well, I haven’t heard from Zander, so I’m not sure that matters now.”

“I uh…You don’t know?” She asks, her voice sounding surprised.

“Zander is under lockdown by the club. They’re having a vote today to decide on kicking him out of the club,” she answers.

“But…he and Dragon are like brothers…that doesn’t make any sense.”

“He called Dragon out, and I guess they had to go all he-man over it. There’s protocol and rules that can’t be broken.”

She says that last part imitating Dragon’s voice and I could almost laugh if I wasn’t so worried.

“Where is Zander?”

“How the f*ck do I know? Some place called the cooler. They’re getting ready for church now though, so I imagine he’ll be there with the rest of the morons,” she answers sounding as frustrated as I’m feeling.

“I need to go there,” I tell her, already heading towards the door.

“Women aren’t allowed in church, Dani.”

“If it was Dragon being voted on, would you just sit by and wait?”