Wrath (Dirty Soul MC: Long Beach #2)

Chapter 4

“ D on’t you think this is all a bit over the top?” I look across the table at Peyton and her friend, Alicia.

“I think it’s necessary,” Peyton speaks under her breath as she smiles across the room toward my brother.

“I could have just met Mark in a coffee shop, there's no need for him to come here.” I look over my shoulder at all the members who are crowded around the bar. They all look terrifying, and I don’t want Mark to feel intimidated.

“Yeah, well, big brother mode’s been activated, and it looks like you haven’t got a choice in the matter.” Alicia rolls her eyes. I remember Peyton telling me that her brother is a member here too, though I’m not sure which of them he is.

“I’m sure you’d rather Mark come here than have this lot follow you to a coffee shop. Raze just wants to make sure you don’t get talked into doing something you don’t want, he’ll make sure you have your privacy,” Peyton assures me.

“And what about Wrath, supposing he arrives while this meeting is happening?” My stomach churns just thinking about him being in the same room as Mark.

“I’m on it.” Ruckus comes out of nowhere, winking at me as he takes his keys out of his cut pocket.

“Have you been listening to our private conversation?” Alicia looks at him.

“Darlin’ nothin’ is private around here anymore.” His attention shifts to me. “Good luck with the ex-fiancé, I hope for his sake he don’t give ya no shit.” The way he smirks as his eyes look over my shoulder toward Raze makes me even more anxious.

“This isn’t a joke, Ruckus, I broke this man's heart, and I’m still not sure I–-”

“Don’t worry about your man, I’ll keep him distracted.” He cuts me off and starts making his way toward the door before I can defend myself.

“He is not my man.” I stand up and call after him, and when I turn back around and see the eyes of every person in the room staring back at me I can tell they aren’t convinced. The fact Raze looks pissed as hell tells me he isn’t convinced, either. I smile at them all awkwardly before I sit back down and finish my coffee.

“Do they all have to stand like that? Mark isn’t like these guys, he’s a businessman.”

“Raze is a businessman too.” Peyton looks a little wounded.

“I didn’t mean it like that, what I mean is Mark is legit. He owns an entertainment agency.” I look at Alicia, knowing she’ll be impressed. I’ve counted at least four faces that Mark represents in the magazine she’s been flipping through while she’s been here.

“No way! Does he have any big names?” She leans forward.

“Some of the best. Just last week we were invited over to Tamzin Montgomeries place for a BBQ.”

“Tamzin Montgomerie.” Alicia’s mouth drops open.

“Yep, she was gonna be at the wedd…” I stop speaking when the door to the club opens and Mark steps inside. I feel terrible when I see how broken he looks. I’ve never known Mark to leave the house without shaving, it’s why I bought him one of those travel shavers for Christmas last year. Stubble looks unfamiliar on him and the dark bags under his eyes prove he’s not been sleeping.

“Mark.” I stand up and move toward him, but my brother manages to get there first.

“She wants to talk to ya and because I appreciate that, up to now, you’ve given me no reason to dislike you, you're welcome here. That’ll change the second you make her cry or try to guilt trip her.” Raze delivers his warning before stepping aside and letting me take his place.

“Hi,” I whisper, suddenly forgetting all the things I need to say.

“Hey.” Mark looks around us cautiously and when I turn my head and see everyone staring at us I give them all a look that tells them to go about their business.

“Come on, we’ll go sit out on the balcony.” I lead Mark out the side door, scowling at my brother as I pass him so he knows not to follow.

“Baby, what are you doing here?” Mark looks concerned as I take a seat on one of the benches. It’s a clear day, the sun is shining and you can see out over the ocean for miles.

“This is my brother’s club.” I shrug, knowing that this is the moment Mark finds out he’s been in love with a girl who doesn’t exist.

“Your brother is a Dirty Soul ?” He stares back at me as if I need sectioning.

“So was my father.” He might as well know it all. “I changed my name when I was eighteen, so they wouldn’t be able to find me.”

“Okay, so what are you doing back here?” He looks so tired and confused. If I ever doubted that this man loved me I know now that I was wrong to.

“I couldn’t pretend anymore. I got fed up with being Katie,” I admit, looking past Mark’s head onto the beach where me and Aaron used to run together each morning before I started school.

“Being Katie? Babe, you are Katie, I got you your own fucking design studio for God’s sake!”

“I know, and I can’t tell you how grateful I am for what you’ve done for me. I really, really like you Mar?—.”

“ Like me? ” He stares back at me looking horrified.

“Katie, I love you. We’re supposed to be married. I have spent the last three years of my life planning an entire future around you.” He takes both my hands in his. “Stop being silly and come home with me. You aren’t giving up our lives for this.” He looks around us in disgust.

“Mark, you're not hearing me, this is my life. This is where I came from, and I really tried, but I don’t fit into yours.” I can feel tears threatening, but I hold them back. I have to be strong.

“That’s not true. My family loves you, Laura treats you like a sister, and Mom?—”

“Your mom hates me. She doesn’t think I’m good enough for you, and she’s right. You’re gonna be a fantastic husband but?—”

“But not to you.” He laughs bitterly.

“I’m sorry. The last thing I wanted to do was hurt you.” I hold both his hands in mine over the table and stare at them while he lets the fact there's no going back from this sink in.

“And you couldn’t have told me this before we gathered every fucker I know into one room to witness my heart get broken?” His tone dramatically changes and when I look back up at him, I’ve never seen the look he’s got on his face before.

“Don’t you think I would have if I could? I tried. I wanted to marry you. I wanted to try and be happy but?—”

“Then try again, try harder. Come with me now and we’ll get married. We can just do it at the courthouse. No one’s expecting us to have another big fancy wedding. Mom’s told everyone that you're not well, they think you’re seeing a shrink.”

“A shrink?” I stand up.

“Will you keep your voice down, you heard what that guy said.” Mark checks over his shoulder nervously. “What was she supposed to say? We had a chapel full of people waiting to witness a wedding and no fucking bride. You stole the minister's car, Katie!” he whisper-yells at me.

“That got returned,” I correct him, knowing for a fact that Aaron would have seen that through.

“You think I care about the fucking minister's car?” He laughs at me again. “I had clients in that chapel — directors, producers, real important people. You humiliated me, and now I find you here, in this biker clubhouse, sitting with a bunch of whores drinking coffee like all this is normal!”

“Mark! Those girls aren’t whores, and if you want to leave here in one piece I suggest you keep your voice down.”

“Katie, no decent girl hangs around a place like this. They’re whores, and for you to sit among them, makes you one too.” He points his finger at me.

“So, I’m a whore now?” I shake my head.

“No, and that's exactly what I’m trying to tell you. You need to come home with me, while all this is still fixable. Mom will forgive you if you tell her you got overwhelmed.” He reaches for my hand again, and this time I pull away.

“It’s over, Mark. I don’t want to be Katie anymore. I need to face the real world. We have mutual friends and business colleagues so I hope we can be civil–”

“Business colleagues?” This time the laugh he makes is spiteful. “Katie, you’ve got nothing without me. No friends, no clients, and no fucking business.”

“Mark, I know you’re hurting but–”

“You just said you didn’t want to be Katie, anymore. Well, in case you’ve forgotten, Katie is the sweet, nice girl whose boyfriend invested in her business and used his connections to get her contracts.”

“That may be true, but I’ve worked hard to get where I am. I was designing costumes before I met you and I’ve earned my reputation,” I defend myself, still shocked at how quickly his attitude has changed.

“Yeah, baby, but that studio has a name above its door that’s respected, which is about to change. I was the sole investor for that business and since I’m not your fiancé anymore, I just became your boss.”

“I’ll pay you back, I’ll–”

“ You're nothing now.” Mark stands up and looks down at me with a snigger. “When your pussy becomes over-used and those sick fuckers are done with you, remember that I gave you a choice, and you choose this .”

He starts walking toward the door and I don’t have the strength to follow him. Instead, I keep staring out at the ocean, trying to pretend that my whole world didn’t just come crashing down.

“He didn’t seem too sad walkin’ out so I guess that went well.” I look up and when I see my big brother standing beside me, I can tell he’s trying to be sympathetic. The last thing I want is for him to get mad so I manage a smile.

“It went better than I expected it to.” I look away from him in case he notices my eyes filling up with tears.

“Eden.” He takes the seat beside me, and I don’t even bother to correct him on the name thing. I guess the conversation I just had put an end to Katie and her career.

“You gonna offer me some brotherly advice?” I laugh as I dry my tears.

“Sorry, I’m all outta that, but I was gonna tell ya that I’m happy you're here. It feels like I got a second chance to make things right.”

“Does that mean I can stay?” I look back at him, not caring if he sees the tears anymore. His words just turned them into happy ones.

“I wouldn’t have it any other way.” He slides his arm around me and tugs me in close and I allow myself a few more minutes of being comforted by my big brother because I like how it feels.

“I can’t stay at the hut, it’s too small and I’m not being the third wheel.” I eventually nudge him off me.

“I’ll have Polly make ya up a room in the motel. We’ve been doin’ some remodelin’ on the second floor. You can take one of those.”

“Thank you.” I pull myself together and stand up. I don’t know what I’m going to do about the studio. I can’t imagine Mark will make working for him easy, but I’m all out of options. For now, I just have to take each day as it comes. I guess I can do some work from here for my upcoming project, the deadline for the presentation is the end of the month and all I need are a few art supplies.

I already have a pretty good vision from the conversation I had with the director last month.

“Well, at least I don’t have much stuff to move out.” I laugh.

“You want me to send a few of my guys to get your stuff?” he offers.

“No, but I’ll borrow your fiancée to take me on a shopping trip. I can’t keep borrowing her clothes and I could do with the distraction.” I smile.

“She’s all yours. I’ll let you break the news, but I’ll warn ya, her idea of a successful shoppin’ trip is the bargain box in a thrift store.”

“One man’s trash is another man's gold,” I remind him, thinking back to the days when I thrifted my way through college. It was a hard time, but I loved making something out of nothing so I could stand out from the crowd. Utah may not have been where I wanted to study, but it was far away from here, which is what I needed. I never thought that smelling this fresh ocean air would bring me comfort again, but knowing Cliff is never coming back and that my brother is in charge makes me want to stick around. I ignore the voice in my head that tells me Aaron has a little to do with that too.