Stain (King's Harlots MC Book 2) Read Free Page A

I didn’t know much more than that. The letter gave little information, but I knew it would be a dangerous job. It was one reason why I gave up on becoming a police officer. I could have passed the academy. I was at the top of my class, but when Asher said he was moving because his base was relocating, I didn’t even hesitate to go with him. What that meant, I wasn’t sure. There had been rumors, but none of them were true.
    “What’s his problem?” Brogan slid into the booth beside me, handing me another bottle of water.
    “Uh … who knows?” I had to try and figure out a way to make him happy. The guy was stubborn.
    “Maybe he needs to get laid.” Brogan waggled her eyebrows.
    “Why are you doing that?”
    “Because!” she cried. “ You need to get laid. Asher needs to get laid. Put two and two together, girl.”
    “What!” I shrieked. “Are you fucking kidding me right now?” A bubble of laughter escaped me. “You think … Me … Him …” I doubled over, holding my stomach.
    “Why is it funny? He’s hot. You’re hot.” Brogan smacked me on the shoulder. “Stop laughing. I’m being serious.”
    And that made me laugh even harder. The thought of Asher and me together—oh, God, even I couldn’t think of that without bursting into hysterics.
    “What is so damn funny?” She shook me. “I’m being serious. Hasn’t the thought ever crossed your mind?”
    “No! Are you insane? He’s my best friend. He’s like a brother to me.” Yeah, the guy was good looking, but I had never thought of him that way. He had women coming and going faster than I changed panties. The guy was a user. A player. Even if we weren’t as close as we were, I would never think of him that way. He was not my type.
    “A man and a woman can’t have a platonic relationship.” Brogan held up her hand when I went to argue. “I say by the end of the year, you two will be knocking boots and then some.”
    “Knocking boots? Who says that anymore?” I tried to ignore what she was predicting, but it made me wonder … I shook my head. No. Not going to happen.
    “ I say it.” She fluffed her hair. “Now, go see what has his panties in a bunch.” Brogan left me alone, greeting Maxine Stanton, the Vice-President of King’s Harlots, before she made her way to the back. Probably to work out again. Brogan was a little tank, but I often wondered why she worked out so much. She never gave me a reason when I asked. All she ever said was that she wanted to be healthy. But everything in me told me it was something else.
    “Checking out?” Max called from behind me.
    “Yeah. I have to meet someone.”
    “Okay. Jay should be here soon,” Max warned.
    I swallowed hard. The president and I got off on the wrong foot, and I didn’t know how to make it better. I joined the club because of Brogan. It showcased powerful and strong women, and I wanted to be a part of it. But when the president didn’t trust you, you lived day to day on a very thin wire. Most people didn’t think she would do anything to harm any of us—and she wouldn’t, as long as we remained on her good side.
    “You two need to talk,” Max suggested. “Jay can be hard-headed, but she’s softening up a bit now that she’s with Angel.”
    “She’s done talking to me.” I shrugged. “I’m not going to force her to like me or to understand why I did what I did. It involved her sister. I should have told her.” It was my fault Jay hated me. I got that. Angel wasn’t a huge fan of Asher right at that moment, either.
    “Give her time.” Max gave me a quick hug, wincing.
    “How’s that baby of yours?” I leaned back, placing a hand over her small belly.
    “Growing.” She sighed, her eyes shining.
    “Give him time,” I said softly, referring to the man who had invaded her life months before.
    She nodded, turning away from me but not before I saw her wipe a tear that slipped down her cheek.
    My heart panged. The father of her baby, Dale Michaels,