Payne (The Soldiers of Wrath MC: Grit Chapter Book 3) Read Free Page A

growl.
    Yeah, maybe, but Payne wanted to blame someone.
    “But she’s still been speaking with her.”
    “They’re best friends, Payne.”
    Payne looked at King. “I’m trying to find Vicky, and you think it’s okay for her not to tell me she’s been in contact?”
    King cleared his throat, but still looked annoyed and defensive. “Why are you hunting her, man? Vicky, she was free pussy, according to you. You told me that so many damn times, and now you’re saying she’s not? Now, after she left, now you want her as your old lady?”
    Payne felt his anger grow. He grabbed King’s neck. “Don’t call her that.”
    “What? Free pussy or your old lady?” King ripped Payne’s hand away from him. “What do you want me to call her? Your old lady? You didn’t give her the fucking title when she was here.”
    Only King, his VP, could tell him this kind of shit without any serious consequences. He didn’t like what he was hearing, though, because it was the damn truth.
    “She’s mine.”
    “So? You never claimed her. Vicky should have left your ass months ago,” King said. “Can you blame her?”
    “You all know she belonged to me.”
    King shook his head. “That girl’s heart was breaking. That was your fault. She was dying inside because of it. Hell, if we could see it you should have too.”
    Payne took a step back, staring down at her cell phone. Opening up the pictures, he saw the life he’d been living with her. All these pictures of him and them together … all of them she’d taken and he hadn’t even known. “Eventually she would have gotten hurt if I really claimed her.”
    “Damn, man. She can get hurt anywhere. She could get run over, hit by fucking cancer—you name it, the risks are always there. You think Beast and I didn’t think of this with our women? You think we don’t worry about their safety? I do. I worry about Clara all the fucking time. She’s a damn pain in the ass but I love her, and I don’t want to even think of life without her. We all have to deal with this kind of shit. Instead of dealing with it, you just push Vicky to the side, never claiming her. You never allow her to find peace with others either.”
    “She’s mine!” He didn’t know how many times he needed to state it before his club started to realize it.
    King smiled. “I’ll talk to you when you’re in a better mood and have some damn sense knocked into that hard head of yours.”
    Payne pocketed the cell phone and moved to straddle his bike.
    They headed toward the clubhouse. Once they reached it he saw Clara waiting. She was nibbling her lip, and he climbed off his bike, making his way toward her. He stepped right up close to her, invading her space.
    “Is she okay?” he asked.
    “Yes.”
    “I know you called her. I know you warned her about me and what the fuck I’m doing. Your loyalty should be to this club.”
    “It is. My loyalty is to this club, but it’s also making sure Vicky is safe. She’s been in my life since before the club was even a blip in my radar.”
    “Then why did you warn her?” he asked.
    “She’s not ready to be found, Payne. Do you want her when she’s doing nothing but running, or would you like her to come back when she’s ready?”
    It made no sense.
    “Tell her I’m not giving up.”
    He went to move away, but she grabbed his arm.
    “Do you love her?” she asked.
    “Yes. I will never love another woman. She is my life. Tell her that.” He was under no illusions that she was in contact with Vicky.
    Clara frowned, looking torn. He’d seen the look many times before. She didn’t know if she should tell him something or not.
    “What is it?”
    “It’s nothing.”
    Payne stood. “I’ll find out.”
    “What Vicky has to tell you is her right to tell, not mine. I’m not going to force the issue. This is all on her.”
    He sighed. “I’d never harm her.”
    “She would gladly die for you, you know that.”
    “I don’t want her to die for me,