BAD BOY ROMANCE: DIESEL: Contemporary Bad Boy Biker MC Romance (Box Set) (New Adult Sports Romance Short Stories Boxset) (78 page)

Chapter 2

              The next few days passed quickly for Morgan. So quickly that it was almost like a blur as she learned this whole new side of not only Adrien, but the world as she had once known it. She felt like everything was different now, not just Adrien, but her as well. How can you learn a truth like his and not be changed by it?

              She stared at the canvas in front of her, the paintbrush still in her hand and smiled at the painting that was emerging. Sometimes she knew exactly what a painting would look like before she started, and others it was as if the canvas had a life of its own, a story of its own it wanted told.

              This time, it had been the latter. Morgan looked down at the image of the bear running carefree through a forest more lush and green than had ever existed in nature, but what had made her smile was the other bear, smaller, running along beside it. The connection between the animals was a palpable thing, like an energy emanating from the paint itself.

              She wasn’t sure how long she had stood there standing, just staring at the painting that had taken on a life of its own before she looked down at her watch.

              “Shit!” She cried as she realized she was supposed to meet Adrien at the bar in five minutes. She would never make it in time.

              With another curse, Morgan tripped over her own feet as she scrambled into the bathroom to take the quickest shower in human history before throwing on a slinky black dress and her motorcycle boots. Her hair was still wet but there was nothing to be done except wind it up into a messy bun on top of her head. She grabbed her jacket and was out of the front door in less than fifteen minutes and as she sped away on her motorcycle she prayed there wouldn’t be any cops out that night because she had ever intention of breaking a few speed limits on her drive over.

              She got to the bar ten minutes later, another record for her and parked her bike in the parking lot breathless and full of jittery excitement. Slowly, she got off, took off the helmet and locked it to the handlebar before turning towards the bar. It was only then that Morgan noticed the lights on in Adrien’s apartment and decided to go check it out. She knew she was supposed to meet him in the bar, but if he had already closed up for the night it would make sense for him to just wait for her at his place.

              Morgan bolted up the narrow stairs and raised her fist to knock on the door when she heard voices. One of them was distinctly feminine, and the other belonged to Adrien. A very angry Adrien.

              “Sera, I don’t know how many times I’ve told you before, and I’m not going to do it again. I’m out of patience. Just leave me alone! I don’t want anything to do with you!”

              “But, Adrien, baby…don’t say that, I…You know I love you.” The nasal feminine voice whined and Morgan took a deep breath as anger rushed through her. Just not at Adrien this time. At herself. This was the same girl that she had seen that night at the bar and assumed the worst. He had tried to tell her that it was nothing, that it was that old bastard Harris’ daughter, and that she wouldn’t leave him alone. She could hear it in her voice. The obsession, the inability to tell reality from her own twisted fantasy.

              “Hah! You wouldn’t know love if you kicked you in the ass, and speaking of which, I need you to get the hell out of my apt, because I really don’t want to have to make you.”

              “but, Adrien, you don’t understand! Please, honey, if you’ll just listen–.”

              “No, Sera. I’ve heard more than enough. Now get the hell out, and leave me the hell alone. The next time I see you around here I won’t be so nice about it.”

              “Is this about that bitch of yours?” Morgan shuddered at the sudden change in the other woman’s voice. It was deeper, unemotional, but just underneath lay a layer of something vile that had chills shivering down her back and prickling at the back of her neck. There was really something wrong with this woman.

              “Get out.” Adrien’s voice was hard, harder than she had ever heard, and that made her shiver all over again as he continued, “and don’t ever talk about Morgan again. She’s my mate. End of story. Now get the fuck out of my house.”

              Morgan didn’t hear anything else for a moment and leaned forward, almost getting her nose clipped for her efforts as the door suddenly swung open to reveal Sera. The other woman stiffened painfully, freezing for a moment before sweeping past her. Morgan shied away from the murderous look in her vapid gaze and her breath caught in her through as she stopped, staring hard right at her.

              “You better watch out, bitch. You may have Adrien now, but you’ll get what you deserve. And you’re not going to like it.” She smiled then, and Morgan thought it was so much worse than the look of anger, “take care of him for me, will you? Enjoy him while you can, whore!”

              Before Morgan could think of anything suitable to say, the other woman had already fled down the stairs and disappeared into the night. Trembling, she turned back to Adrien. He had his arms around her in less than a second and she melted gratefully into his embrace.

              “What did she mean, Adrien? What did she mean by that?”  She could feel the movement as he shook his head above her.

              “I don’t know, love. But I know whatever it is, it isn’t good.”

              “Did you hear what happened? I heard that Harris totally lost it over some bad food that his cook had served him and had almost killed him before his daughter came in the room. And she watched him! Thomas said she was just standing there watching when he ran in and stopped him!”

              “I’m telling you, Jan,” The older woman just shook her head sadly, contemplatively at the younger as they picked through vegetables at the small farm stand the clan put together every Saturday.  It was something that Dominic, their old leader had started to encourage community between the local clans. It sort of took off on its own, and now was looked on as a staple in the Long Pines tribe, as well as several others. A place to meet, exchange news, and especially gossip.

              “I’m telling you, Jan,” The woman continued as she looked over a box of large multi-colored tomatoes, “I think, well, I think something has got to give.” She looked around furtively, as did the younger woman, Jan. they were both well aware of what happened when people spoke ill of their tribe leader. It seemed his gang of bullies grew bigger and bigger every day, somehow attracting the worst sort of shifter to the clan lands and an uneasiness that had been festering under the surface for years had begun to rise to the surface in noxious bubbles.

              “Kara, you shouldn’t say those things. Not out loud, not here when anyone could hear us!” Jan looked around, her amber eyes reflecting the nerves underneath. “You know what happened to the Calloway boy.” Kara barely held back a shiver. Ben Calloway had been barely twenty years old, just coming into his own as a shifter. A kind boy, usually soft spoken, had been found more and more often speaking out about their leader and his misuse of the tribe, his misuse of the power of his position. Ben accused Harris of trying to set himself up as some kind of king and the next day, Ben had disappeared. And he wasn’t the only bear to go mysteriously missing after saying something untoward towards their leader.

              But the thing that worried Kara the most, and after almost seventy years on this earth even she admitted that nothing much did, was the fact that Harris had never denied it. She had been their that day, when Ben had confronted Harris right outside the lodge. No, what kept her up at nights was the look in the tribe leader’s eyes when Ben had said the word ‘king’.

              There had been a prideful glow there, and a hint of something else that she couldn’t quite put her name on, but it had sent a shiver running down her spine that day, and it sent one running down her spine on this day despite the warm sun shining down on them. Because in that look, she had seen the truth, even if she’d tried to deny it since. It was that look that had told her that Harris really did see himself as a king.

              She shook her head. The idea itself was blasphemy, and pure bullshit besides. Bears didn’t have kings. They had equals, and they had tribe leaders. Someone deserving of their mutual respect, but Harris had squandered any chance at that.

              “What is it, Kara? What has got to give?” Jan asked the words softly after she had been quiet for too long.

              “What?” Kara looked at the younger woman. A cousin on her brother’s side, and a sweet girl, if somewhat naïve. Of course to Kara, most bears these days seemed far too naïve for their own good.

              “Well, Harris, of course.” She finally said, picking up some berries. “Harris has got to give. There is so much pressure in the tribe, it’s just begging to implode. I can feel it,” She tapped on her chest with age worn fingers, “Here. Right here. There is change in the air. And that change is going to spell bad news for our tribe leader. I have no doubt of that.”

              Jan looked around nervously, fear skittering through her at the words from the elder. She looked up at Kara, not saying anything else even though a thousand questions tripped through her head. The older woman had lived through more than one shift of power, and had seen it all before, but even she seemed nervous. And if the unflappable elder was nervous, then she should be downright terrified.

              A prickle started on the back of her neck and all the tiny hairs on her body tried to stand on end. Quickly she looked around the stalls of the market but all she saw was the tribe members going about their business, smiling, laughing and talking.

              She didn’t see the hard, yellow eyes from across the lot, never leaving her as they continued to walk. The eyes narrowed and if she would have seen them, she would have known what true terror feels like. Because there was madness shining boldly in those eyes. Madness, and death.

              Harris turned away sharply, barely holding back the growl that threatened to erupt from his chest. People tripped over themselves to get out of his way as he stalked back the way he had come, but he didn’t even see them. All he could hear was that damned elder’s words ringing in his ears like endless bells.
Harris has got to give... There is change in the air. And that change is going to spell bad news for our tribe leader.

             
Over and over, he heard it. Harris has got to give. Harris has got to give. Slowly, it morphed as it replayed like the children’s game, telephone. With ever repetition it changed until it became Harris has got to go. Harris has got to go.

              He barely made it to the tree line before he gave into the rage boiling over inside him and let out a growl that sent a flock of wild birds shooting into the sky. Animals fled before him, and even the slight breeze seemed to still, waiting to see what he would do next.

              He lashed out at the nearest thing to him, the trunk of an old tree that had probably stood there for at least a hundred years before it had the misfortune to find itself in Harris’ warpath.

              His claws shot from his fingertips, tearing through bark as if it was soft flesh. He tore and tore until he was bleeding and sweat was pouring from his forehead, and still he didn’t stop. An ominous crack echoed through the surrounding forest a second before the tree toppled, crashing through several other trees until it finally landed with a loud thud.

              Harris stood their, panting for air and soaked with his own sweat and anger. Even the destruction he’d caused wasn’t enough. His claws ached for blood and he imagined sinking his teeth into that stupid elder bear. He smiled as he thought it, and then the image morphed and his grin widened even more. If anyone had seen that expression, they would have turned and run away without a second thought because there was no doubt that it belonged to the face of a mad man.

              As the delicious image still shimmered like steam in his brain, he dug out his cell phone and quickly hit the speed dial button.

              “Yes?”

              “Theo, is that any way to greet your future king?” Harris said the words through gritted teeth. Theo coughed slightly before finally answering.

              “Of course not…sire.” Harris didn’t hear the murder simmering under Theo’s words. He could only hear what he wanted to hear. “What can I do for you?”

              “I need to know how things are going? With our little…problem.”

              “I need more time, Harris.” The tribe leader took a deep breath, picking up a nearby log as thick as a man’s forearm and snapped between his fingers as rage flooded him once again.

              “We don’t have time, damn it!” He shouted through he other end before regaining his composure, looking at the shards of wood in his grasp as if he couldn’t remember how they had gotten there. “Listen, just hurry, alright? The tribe is getting…restless.”

              “I know. I’m working as quickly as I can but it’s hard to get her alone. Adrien hasn’t left his side since your bitch of a daughter tipped them off.” Harris snarled at Theo’s words.

              “Watch yourself, cub. My bitch of a daughter will soon be your princess, and heir to the throne. You will pay her the respect she deserves.”