White Heat (Lost Kings MC #5) (2 page)

Sophie
: Friend of Hope. Also an attorney. Helped orchestrate Hope and Rock’s get together in
Slow Burn
. She’s appeared in
Corrupting Cinderella, Strength From Loyalty, Tattered on My Sleeve, and White Heat.
She’s in an on-again-off-again relationship with heavy metal singer, Jonny Cage.

Lost Kings MC Terminology

Crystal Ball
– The strip club owned by the Lost Kings MC and one of their legitimate businesses. They often refer to it as “CB.”

“Conference Center”
– The clubhouse of the Lost Kings MC. It was previously used as a conference center and is sometimes jokingly referred to this way.

Empire
– The fictional city in Upstate NY, run by the Lost Kings.

Green Street Crew
– Street gang the Lost Kings do business with. Often referred to as “GSC.” “Loco” is their leader and frequent nuisance to Rock.

LOKI
– Short for Lost Kings.

Vipers MC
– Rival and frequent enemy MC. Runs Ironworks which borders the Lost Kings’ territory. Their president, Ransom and his SAA, Killa appeared in
Tattered on My Sleeve
.

Wolf Knights MC
– Rival and sometimes ally of the Lost Kings. Their president, Ulfric appeared in
Slow Burn
. Their SAA, Whisper is a partner in Wrath’s gym and appeared in
Tattered on My Sleeve
as well as
Slow Burn
.

Dedicated to those who’ve found love in the most unexpected places.

CHAPTER ONE

“Ever seen a green wedding dress?”

Hope glances up at me with one of her adorable, baffled expressions I love so much.

“You said you didn’t want to wear white,” I explain.

“Oh.” She pauses and I can see the excitement building.

Tracing a finger down her arm, I remind her. “You were wearing green the day we met.”

Another confused face and I don’t even know what to think about the fact that I remember what she was wearing the day we met better than she does.

“My jewel green suit.”

“That’s my favorite color on you,” I tell her while brushing her hair off her shoulder and planting a kiss on her neck.

“Guys, seriously, chunks rising.” Wrath gags from across the table.

Hope chuckles, then looks at him more seriously. “I assume Rock is going to ask you to be his best man?” Wrath’s gaze skips to me and he shrugs.

“Do you think Trinity…”

Curling my hand over her shoulder, I give her a squeeze. “What about Sophie?” I can’t say I’d be super comfortable with Sophie standing up at our wedding, but I don’t want Hope to feel pressured to only include club family either.

She sighs and drags her gaze to her lap, where her hands are nervously twisting. “She did it for my first wedding…and I don’t know. It feels weird? Plus—” she flicks her gaze at Wrath, waiting to see if he’s going to make fun of her I guess. “I feel closer to Trinity, than, So—”

“I can’t believe you’d want Sophie as your maid of whatever after she pulled that stunt with Rock,” Wrath says.

Motherfucker.

Hope turns her head very slowly in my direction. “What’s he talking about?”

Wrath’s eyes widen. At least he didn’t let that slip on purpose. Still gonna kick his fuckin’ ass.

“She doesn’t know?” Wrath asks, making it worse.

“No. So, thanks for
that
.”

“Know what?” Hope insists.

“Your girl Sophie tried to climb him like a jungle gym.”

Hope’s gaze shoots to me. “What? When?”

“Uh, at that fundraiser thing we went to. She was drunk.”

“Yeah, I remember. What happened?”

“Hope—”

“Rock.” She turns and faces me, Wrath apparently forgotten. “You told me there were no more secrets. Why did you keep this from me?”

“I didn’t want you to get hurt,” I answer honestly. Taking her hands in mine, I give it to her straight. “She was drunk. She tried to kiss me. I left her and sent Ross to take care of her. I didn’t know if she would even remember it, so I didn’t want to ruin your friendship for no reason. I know she’s been a good friend to you otherwise.”

She swipes a tear off her cheek and I shoot a glare at Wrath.

“Damn. Is that why she didn’t stick around the hospital for long? Why she’s been acting so weird lately?”

I shrug. I’d been too fucked up when Hope was in the hospital to give Sophie much thought. “I don’t know, sweetheart.”

“You’re not mad at
him
, are you?” Wrath asks.

“Why are you still here?” I snap back.

He ignores me and focuses on Hope, waiting for her answer.

“No. Well, I’m mad he didn’t tell me about it. Not mad at him that it happened. Is that what you’re asking me?”

“Yeah.”

“When did he tell
you
?”

“I dunno. The night it happened? You believe him though, right?”

Hope cocks her head and narrows her eyes. “Of course I do. You’re like his excited utterance witness,” she says with a soft chuckle.

Wrath and I share a look.

“Lawyer thing,” she explains with a head shake. “Of course I believe him. Why would you ask me that?”

I let out a breath I didn’t realize I’d been holding. That’s why Wrath asked her. He knows me well.

He nods. “That’s good.”

Suddenly her face falls and her eyes go shiny. “Wait. That’s not why after—”

She means why after the party, I needed to have her so bad, we pulled over and frantically fucked in the front seat of my car.

Slipping my arms around her waist, I pull her—chair and all—closer to me. “No, baby. All you,” I whisper in her ear.

She grins against my face and tucks in closer to me.

“What happened after?” Wrath asks.

“None of your business,” I growl.

Hope lets out a soft giggle. “At least you don’t tell him
everything
.”

“Never mind,” Wrath says with a knowing smirk.

“Shut up.”

“What’d you do now, Wyatt?” Trinity asks from behind us.

His face breaks into a genuine grin and he holds out his hand. I’m happy to see them finally together and not trying to torture each other every chance they get.

She shuffles over to us and Wrath wraps her in a hug, making her wince.

“Shit. Sorry, babe.”

That gets Hope’s attention and she smiles at Trinity. “You okay?”

Trin pulls out of Wrath’s embrace and turns her left side toward Hope. She’s got a shiny piece of plastic taped over fresh ink.

I raise an eyebrow. “When’d you get that, hon?”

“Tuesday,” she answers softly with a look at Wrath.

“Can we see?” Hope asks.

“Yeah, I can take it off today.” Trin curls her body and starts picking at the tape, but Wrath brushes her hands away and starts undoing it for her.

“Oh! That’s Wrath’s star,” Hope exclaims with a big smile. “Let me see.” Trinity moves closer. “Wrath’s girl,” she reads out. “Aw, that’s so sweet. I love it.”

Trinity looks surprised at Hope’s enthusiasm.

A playful grin curves Hope’s lips. “So, you branded Trinity. Where’s her name on you?”

My brother surprises me. Instead of getting pissy with Hope, he breaks into a huge grin and lifts his shirt.

“Christ, brother, I just ate,” I grumble.

“Don’t be jealous, bro. You keep up with your workouts maybe someday you’ll look this good.”

Hope snickers. Hell, I do too. Cocky, fuckin’ asshole.

Wrath taps his finger at the Celtic symbol over his heart. “What is it?” Hope asks.

“A Triquetra. For Trinity.”

Hope leans over. “Trinity’s man. Oh. My. God. You two are the cutest ever,” she says with a laugh. Wrath drops his shirt and pulls Trin into his lap.

Hope’s gaze darts to me. “I feel left out now.”

“It’s okay, babe. I know it’s not your thing.”

“You get her name on you, Rock?” Trin asks.

I nod and tap my hip.

“Wow. Never thought you’d do that.”

“Never had a good enough reason to before.”

Trinity points to the wedding magazine Hope has on the chair next to her. “Making any progress?”

“Yeah. I think so. Rock gave me a good idea for a dress.”

Trinity bursts out laughing and Wrath—dick that he is—joins her. “Really?” Trinity gasps.

Hope has this cute indignant expression on her face. “Anyway. I guess I’d like to be laid back and simple this time.”

“Sounds good to me. His first wedding was a fucking circus,” Wrath says.

“Seriously, asshole?” I mutter.

“What?”

Trinity glares at him too. “It’s not nice.”

“What? Hope knows he was married before. It’s not a fucking secret. She fuckin’ met Carla. Man, I was busy protesting that shit right up until the end, too.”

Hope bursts out laughing. “Really?”

“Fuck, yeah.”

Hope turns to me for confirmation. “I guess.” I shrug.

A hurt look spreads across Hope’s face. “You’re not going to—”

Wrath cuts her off. “No, sweetheart.”

My supposed best friend hit on my fiancé.

I know Sophie’s been acting strange for a few months now, but I never expected
that
was the reason.  I thought it was me. That she was tired of me being a whiny pain in the ass.

“Hope?”

Rock left for his office down the hall and Trinity followed to ask about a few things she wants to do around here. I’d been so caught up I forgot it was just Wrath and me in the kitchen.

“Can I ask you something?”

The tone of his voice is what finally pulls me out of my kicking-Sophie’s-ass fantasies.

Focusing on him, I note that it’s the first time I’ve ever seen Wrath not one hundred percent cocky and sure of himself.

“What’s wrong?”

“Nothing.” He rubs his hand over his head in a move that’s very similar to what Rock does when he’s uncertain and it tugs the corners of my mouth up. By blood or not, they’re truly brothers. “Would you mind if I patched Trin at your engagement party?”

“What? Ohmygosh, that’s awesome! Of course not. Why would I mind?”

My enthusiasm seems to have shocked him because he stares at me for a few seconds before answering. “I don’t know. I figure some chicks would get pissed that their thunder’s being stolen or something.”

I guess that’s true and I stop to think about whether it bothers me. It doesn’t. “I’m not just any chick.”

He finally laughs. “No kidding.”

“How are you going to do it?”

His massive shoulders lift. “On my knees?”

That’s too much. A few snort-giggles escape me.

“It’s a thing—never mind.” He waves it off. “It’s just everyone—the whole family—and people from other chapters, will be in one place at the same time and Trinity will be so busy, she won’t expect it.”

“Makes perfect sense to me.”

“You know Kings will close that party down. I’ll wait until your friends leave, so I don’t embarrass you or anything.”

That knocks the breath out of me. Never in a million years would I expect Wrath to be so sensitive or thoughtful to something like that. Especially about a club ritual. While I love Rock enough to accept their strange custom of giving their women the property patch, it’s true people in my world might not as easily understand or accept something that on the surface seems demeaning.

“I’d never be embarrassed. Yes, it seemed odd and confused me at first.” Oh, hell, let’s be honest it still does. “I understand what it means to you guys.”

“Thanks.”

“But you’re also right, and it’s an important moment for you two. I wouldn’t want anyone—even without meaning to—to ruin it for Trinity, so yes, that’s probably best.”

He stares at me for so long, I end up looking away. “I’m sorry,” I mumble.

One of his big, warm hands closes over mine. “Nothing to be sorry about.” He stands and stretches, rolling his shoulders. “Think those two are done discussing whatever it was?”

I snicker at that. “Probably. I think she just wants to put lockers in the girls’ bathroom or something.”

He laughs too.

“Hey, Wrath?” I stand and before I can change my mind, wrap my arms around him and squeeze. “I’m so happy for you two.”