Summer Pain (11 page)

“Oh yeah.”

“How does that happen?” Sassy asked. “I mean, look at us. We knew one another for a lifetime.”

“And we were separated for a number of years, but I still had you in my bed within a few days of you walking in here. Remember?”

“How could I forget,” she rasped, entwining her fingers with his. “You’re just irresistible.”

“And you were always the only woman for me.”

“Quit flirting,” Sassy scolded him. “This may not play out the way you’d hoped. Cara thought she was the only woman for Tigger.”

“She made a grave mistake and overestimated the power of love. It’s hard for love to conquer all when you’re trying and testing that love at every turn. In the end, her attachment to him would’ve destroyed him. She was willing to stop at nothing to prove to him that he needed her more than she needed him. With those tactics, it was inevitable. Sooner or later, she was bound to push him into the arms of another woman.”

“But I doubt she thought Tigger would rebound quite as quickly as he did.”

Logan shrugged and studied Cara from a safe distance. He could see the hurt in her eyes. “I’ll never understand Cara. She must be a very miserable person.”

Sassy frowned. “Don’t be so hard on her, Logan. I don’t think Cara believes she’s worthy of Tigger’s love, or anyone else’s for that matter.”

Chapter Sixteen

Logan approached them as soon as they arrived. He gave Tigger a half-hug and a slap on the back, the gesture a biker thing.

After formal introductions were made, Logan said, “Tigger, you need to talk to Cara. Sassy helped her move her things out of your room earlier, but I think it would help keep the peace if you had a few kind words for her.”

Summer stiffened. This was Logan’s way of luring Tigger away long enough for the two of them to talk?

Tigger squeezed her hand tighter. “Cara knows where we stand. She’ll be fine.”

Logan arched a brow and studied Summer with an intense glare. Now it was her turn.

“Tigger, Logan is right. You should talk to her.” She didn’t sound convincing.

“Sassy and I will keep Summer company while you talk to Cara,” Logan volunteered.

Tigger’s eye twitched. He studied the bar where Cara was standing. She shot him a smile and struck a pose. He took a deep breath.

“You’re sure you’re all right with this?”

Summer grated back curse words and forced a smile. “Of course. Why wouldn’t I be?”

“We’ll show her around.” Logan gave Tigger another verbal nudge.

Tigger kissed Summer’s cheek. “Thanks for understanding.”

No problem.
She wanted to punch a duck…or Logan Marcs.

A second later, Tigger was gone. And Cara looked as happy as a little elf on a shelf as he strolled toward her.

“This meeting will help you out more than you could possibly know. A man likes a woman with confidence, and you just proved you trust him. Tigger never had that kind of trust with Cara.”

“We’ve been together three days. I have no claims on Tigger, besides trust isn’t an issue here.”

“Trust is always an issue,” Logan said, placing his hand on her back and guiding her down a long hallway.

A few seconds later, they were behind closed doors. Sassy Road, Damsel’s stepdaughter, was present, too. Summer was taken aback by Sassy’s confidence. She’d read the file on Miss Road and knew what she’d endured as a child. If she had internal scars from Damsel’s abuse, she concealed them well.

“We don’t have much time,” Logan said, motioning Sassy to stand by the door. “What do you have?”

Summer went into agent mode. “Gaylord threatened me. He wanted me to finger you for going rogue.” Her fingers brushed her bottom split lip, and she quickly added, “You might say he went out of his way to convince me it would be the only choice.”

“How’d he find you?”

“Sampson.” She took a deep breath. “Logan, I was careful. I watched my back. Only two people knew where I was staying, Mark Sampson and Tigger. I didn’t put two and two together until it was almost too late. Sampson knows I’m aware of his dirty dealings, and I don’t know what to do now.”

Logan stroked his chin. “It’s hard for me to imagine Sampson turning on the Feds. He’s been a critical member of several teams that were responsible for bringing down large, organized crime operations. Why would he switch sides now?”

“I can’t worry about the why. What I care about is doing my job to the best of my ability. Sampson may try to stop me. Only one of us can leave this operation with our reputations intact, and that’s what scares me.”

“Summer, we have to use our heads here. Remember, Gaylord has been in place for nearly twenty years. I’m the only other undercover who has made it past the five year mark, and Gaylord still has me by more than a decade. More than ten other agents were made, and most were found in the Holston River.

“The few guys that were pulled out were never heard from again.” Logan paused. He looked deeply troubled. “Here’s what never made sense to me. About three years into this job, a few old guys were talking at the garage. Someone mentioned the Feds who were planted here. This group of old timers—every last one of them—claimed they didn’t even know the guys were cops until their bodies turned up at the dumpsites with evidence on them to prove who they were.”

“Gaylord?” Summer suggested.

“My thoughts, too, once I realized what extremes Gaylord would go to in order to cast a light of suspicion on me.” He thinned his lips. “So, Mark definitely knows you’re on to him?”

“Oh yeah, he knows.” Summer went to the window and peered outside. Under a streetlight, she could see two people and clearly made out the forms. Tigger and Cara were as close as two bodies could be without touching. A shot of disappointment spread throughout her body as she considered the likelihood of a reunion between the two.

Logan snapped his fingers. “Are you still with me?”

She turned away from the window. “Sampson and I discussed the threat, and, in a matter of minutes, it became crystal clear what he expected me to do. He needs me to point my finger at you.”

Logan released a heavy breath. “Damn it. I knew something wasn’t quite right when all this shit with Gaylord came down. Two Feds deep undercover are rarely if ever, brought together.”

“Logan, you have to be careful. Mark wants you out. He’ll stop at nothing.”

“And you think you’re his new best friend?”

“No,” Summer replied. “I just understand how this could potentially play out. I’ll be fired for sleeping with Tigger. You’ll be taken off the case because Mark will, in my opinion, submit a report showing you are too close to the Heroes and Rogues now. He’ll suggest you’re one of them rather than just living and working among them.”

“Summer, I wish it were as simple as that.”

“What’s the worst that could happen?”

“Our bodies floating down the river,” he quickly replied, shooting Sassy a disconcerting look.

“Well then, I guess we need to prepare ourselves for the worst.”

“I’m not dying on this job,” Logan snapped.

“And death is my goal?” Summer shoved her fingers through her hair. “I will not let Gaylord Martin get the best of me. I have hours upon hours of research. Before I took this job, I knew which one of you had gone astray. Gaylord conducted his dirty business right in front of the Feds. They have hours of wiretaps on him, suggesting he’s switched sides, but Mark is always there to explain away any suspicion.”

“What have you told Tigger?”

“Mark thinks I’ve told Tigger everything.”

“Well?” Logan pressed.

“Zilch. I haven’t told him anything.”

Logan rubbed his jaw. “You’ve placed Tigger in a vulnerable position.”

“You don’t have to worry about Tigger. I’ll cover him.”

Logan’s gaze worked her over. “How?”

“I may be small, Marcs, but I’m here because I’m good. I’m quick to draw, won’t hesitate to fire, and could probably kick most anybody’s ass who messes with me.”

“I can see that,” Logan remarked, tapping his lip with three fingers.

“Have you seen Gaylord lately?” she asked. “He’s a beast.”

“Don’t get me wrong. I’m sure you can take care of yourself, but my concern is for your safety and for Tigger’s as well.” Logan paused. “Summer, you may want to reconsider your relationship with Tigger. He’s dirty, hon. When this operation goes down, he’ll be one of the first to go.”

“Not if I can help it.”

Logan pressed his lips together.

“I know what I’m doing. I see something in Tigger that perhaps you don’t. Maybe I crossed the line by becoming involved with him but—”

“You need to cut it off.” Logan glanced at Sassy, who didn’t look too pleased by his demand.

“And if I don’t?”

“You’ll have to deal with the consequences of poor judgment. Tigger has a rap sheet already. He’s been a runner for the MC for a long time…guns, drugs, women, you name it. He was involved with Devon’s prostitution ring, and all the Feds know it. When I give my final report, and the Feds move in, Tigger will go to prison for a very long time.”

“And to think he thought of you as one of his closest friends. You’ve certainly done your job well.”

“That’s right.” Logan made no apologies. “And I suggest you try and do the same. The Heroes and Rogues are a very real organized crime operation. When this is all said and done, Summer, a lot of arrests will occur, and many of the H&R members—guys who think of me as a friend—will go away.”

“If Mark and Gaylord don’t stop you first.”

“They won’t.”

Chapter Seventeen

“She’ll never make you happy,” Cara told Tigger, dragging her finger down the side of his face. She moistened her lips and tried to move in for a kiss.

Tigger clasped his hands around her forearms. “Why do you want to do this, Cara?”

“I care about you. And whether you admit it or not, you care about me, too. You may even love me.”

Tigger shook his head. “I don’t, Cara. I never loved you. I was going to settle for what we had and try to make it work, but what we had together wasn’t anywhere close to love. If it had been, you wouldn’t have arranged to have Jake in your mouth while I was twenty feet away.”

“You deliberately tried to make me jealous.”

“I didn’t.” He shook his head. “I was friendly to Summer, sure, but that was as far as it would’ve gone had there not been an incident with Jake.”

Cara’s mouth fell open. She searched his eyes. “Oh my God. You’ve already slept with her. Haven’t you?”

“It’s none of your business.”

Cara shoved him. “It is my business! You left here yesterday and went running back to her, and you’ve known her what? All of a few days?”

“Let me remind you of how I found you a few days ago, Cara.”

“That doesn’t matter!” she wailed. “You started all this!”

Tigger looked at her and, for the first time in a long time, saw her for what and who she truly was. Cara had always manipulated others. She played with people like children played with dolls. She manipulated the club, the old ladies, and anyone who was affiliated with the members and their women. “We don’t have anything left to discuss.”

He turned to walk inside, and Cara attacked him from the back, jumping on him piggyback style and swinging her small fists against him. “You can’t do this to me! I have time invested in you! I cared for you! I did everything for you!”

Whipping around, he managed to push her away. Fury shot through his veins as he pointed his finger at her. “You did nothing for me that you haven’t done for everyone else here as the club’s chosen sheep. Remember that. As for giving me everything I ever needed and wanted? No, Cara, you didn’t. You told me early on in our relationship Domination and submission wasn’t for you. I explained from the very beginning, the lifestyle is part of who I am.”

“That’s it. Isn’t it?” Cara shook her head in disbelief. “You’re fucking her. I get that. But you’re convinced she’s the one because she’s submitting to you?” Her voice rose higher with every word. “Do you really believe Little Miss Perfect will submit to you from here on? Do you? She’s just giving you what you want so she can lure you away from me. Don’t you see that?”

“Stop.” Tigger set his jaw. Cara needed to understand. He said it was over and didn’t desire a long, drawn out goodbye. “Cara, don’t embarrass yourself or live to have regrets about us. It’s over. I’m not changing my mind. I’m with Summer now, and I’ll probably be with her for a while.”

“She’ll never make you as happy as I made you.”

Tigger opened his mouth to speak but decided to bite his tongue. There wasn’t any reason to keep doing this. He turned to walk away and left her with nothing but the best of wishes. “Be happy, Cara.”

“Don’t you see? I’ll never be happy without you!” she cried out in agony as he strolled toward the clubhouse.

Tigger took a deep breath but left her to cry out her pain. Maybe she wouldn’t be happy without him, but it wasn’t his problem. She’d made the mistake with Jake. Sure, it was probably an error of judgment made in a fit of rage. But Tigger had always suspected she’d made nine or ten other
mistakes,
as well.

Sometimes people just couldn’t redeem themselves. Cara was one such person.

* * * *

“I was getting worried about you,” Summer said, trying to avoid eye contact.

“Were you?” He possessed a little too much play in his voice.

“Yes,” she replied. “You were out there for a little longer than I would’ve liked.”

Tigger stepped between her legs and framed her face with his hands. “How long would’ve been just long enough for you?”

“If I’d had my preferences, you wouldn’t have left the building with her.”

Tigger brushed his lips against hers. “Nothing happened.”

“Not even a kiss?” she asked, feeling slightly insecure and hating every second of it.

“Not even a kiss,” he promised, pressing his forehead against hers.

“Is she all right?”

Tigger squinted. “Don’t do that. You really don’t care, so don’t pretend you do.”

“Actually, I do care. I don’t want someone else in pain because of my actions.”