Page 34 of Deadly North
“What are you saying?” I can’t stop myself from asking.
Melissa fixes me with a steady gaze. “Well, for one thing, I’m saying hate-fucking is underrated.”
“What? Oh my god, Mel!” Kat bursts into laughter. “Are you serious?”
Melissa holds up her hands in mock surrender. “Hey, I’m just saying I’ve seen the way Mack looks at Gigi. That man wouldn’t turn away from a night in your bed.”
“Oh, I definitely agree that Mack has a thing for Gigi,” Kat adds. “Though he tries to hide it. But Gigi can’t stand him.”
Mel shakes her head. “Like I said, hate and love aren’t opposites.”
Suddenly, all three women are staring at me expectantly, waiting for my reply. Taking a big gulp of my drink, I try to act casual. “I mean, we’re nothing alike,” I murmur. “We just clash, is all.”
“Opposites attract, honey,” Christy says. “Hell, look at me and Arjun. I’m two inches taller than he is, and my idea of a good time is line-dancing at a country bar with fifty of my closest friends. He’d be content spending every night at home watching Masterpiece Theater or something ‘educational’ on PBS. I exaggerate, but you get the idea. And still, we’re perfect for each other.”
“When you’re not fantasizing about hot bikers,” Kat says, snickering.
“Yeah, but that’s just what it is. A fantasy. Arjun’s my soul mate.”
The conversation veers into a lively discussion of whether soul mates exist, and the subject of Mack recedes into the background. But for the rest of the night, I can’t help but keep replaying the words Melissa said over and over in my head
Is the hate I’ve always held onto for Mack not what I thought?
Is the way I always seem to know when he’s in the room, even if I can’t see him, something else entirely?
Why has he always been able to make my heart race with just a word or a glance?
Was the adolescent crush — which I always thought was just my stupid hormones playing tricks on me — actually something more?
Why is it that when we finally fell into bed together, his body seemed to speak to mine in a language we’d always known?
My god.
Is it actually possible I’m inlovewith King Asshole?
17
GIGI
The next day, back at the clubhouse, I’m suffering the effects of a nearly-sleepless night, a hangover, and a jumble of confused emotions about my feelings for Mack. The MC’s not back from its run yet, and as the day wears on, I get more and more fixated on the idea that I don’t want to be here when they return.
Mid-afternoon, I take a shower, put on my tallest boots, and practice my “fuck you” look in the mirror a few times until I feel ready to face the world. Out in the main room of the clubhouse, I walk straight up to Reed. “I need to get out of here,” I tell him. “So I’m leaving.”
He frowns at me. “Not without me, you’re not.”
Turning on my heel, I stalk out the front door of the clubhouse. Jingling my keys in my hand, I head to the Body Bus with a purpose in my stride. I’m just opening the driver’s side door when I hear a voice behind me. “Hey!” I ignore it.
Seconds later, a rough hand grabs my bicep. “You ain’t leaving here without me.”
“The hell I’m not. I’m in charge of me. Not you, and not the Bastards. You try to keep me here, I’ll…”
“You’ll what?” he challenges. “You’ll call the cops? You think they’ll come down here and get you? They’re not gonna risk a problem with us. You’re not stupid, Gigi. You know damn well you’re not leaving here without me. You don’t like it, neither do I. But we both got our orders.”
“You go ahead and follow your orders,” I say, sneering. “I’m not under anyone’s thumb.”
Reed’s face turns eerily stony. “I don’t want to get physical with you, Gigi. But I will.”
The way he’s looking at me turns something cold in my stomach. From the expression in his eyes, I have no doubt that he’s telling me the truth. Would he hurt me, if it was to stop me from running away?