The MC President's Forsaken Wife (Zara and Knox) novel Chapter 198

Chapter 104-3

Clem

“Fine.” Jade lets out a long sigh, raising her hands in defeat. “But you owe me a bottle of top-shelf bourbon for keeping me trapped in luxury.”

“Put it on the club tab,” Locke says.

“You know I will.”

He checks his phone clock, then reaches for his heavy leather cut hanging over the back of a dining room chair. He slips it on over his Henley, the heavy, patch-covered leather settling over his broad shoulders, instantly transforming him back into the intimidating, lethal MC member.

He steps back up to me, pulling me into his arms. I wrap my arms tight around his waist, burying my face into his chest for a quiet second, drawing in the heat of his skin and the rich smell of his leather. He cups the back of my head, tilting my face up before bringing his mouth down to mine in a deep, thorough kiss that makes my toes curl against the floor.

“Stay inside, baby,” he murmurs against my lips, his eyes searching mine with a fierce intensity. “Call me on the secure line if you need anything at all.”

“Be careful,” I say. “Don’t take stupid risks out there.”

“Never do.” He turns to Jade, reaching out to give her a quick, affectionate one-armed hug. “Watch her, Jade.”

“Always do,” Jade says. “Go plan to steal some more chemical trucks.”

Locke gives us one last long, steady look before turning on his heel and heading down the hallway. A second later, the elevator arrives with a ping, followed by the quiet, mechanical thud of it smoothly moving down.

Silence settles over the massive penthouse.

Jade and I stand in the middle of the kitchen for a long moment, listening to the soft, steady hum of the refrigerator and the quiet rustle of the winter wind against the glass windows.

She takes a slow, deliberate sip of her industrial-strength coffee, turning her head to look out the massive floor-to-ceiling windows at the bright, clear city skyline below. Then she turns her gaze back to me, a slow, mischievous smirk spreading across her face.

“So,” Jade says, resting her elbows back against the counter. “We’re trapped in a thirty-floor luxury penthouse with a private heated tub, a sixty-inch TV, three streaming accounts, and an entire kitchen full of expensive food and booze.”

I break into a laugh, crossing my arms over Locke’s oversized shirt and leaning back against the counter next to her. “It really is a brutal punishment. Locke is a goddamn monster.”

“An absolute tragedy,” Jade agrees solemnly, setting her mug down. “I say we make some proper coffee, order an absurd amount of expensive Thai food later, put on face masks, and do absolutely zero work today.”

“Deal,” I smile, feeling the last lingering bits of tension completely wash out of my chest. “Let’s have a girl’s

12

Chapter 101

day.”

“And while the coffee perks,” Jade says, her eyes sparkling with absolute, unyielding curiosity. “You are going to sit your ass down right here and spill every single detail.*

I blink. “Spill what?”

Claim

“Oh, don’t give me that innocent look, Zara,” Jade says. “I’ve seen you and Locke tip-toe around each other for months now. But the way he looked at you just now could have melted the ice off the mountain tops outside.”

My cheeks heat up instantly as I look down at the oversized cotton hem of Locke’s shirt.

“Something’s changed between you two,” Jade adds, dropping the sarcasm, now speaking with pure, affectionate warmth. She bumps her shoulder gently against mine. “And since I’m your sister, your best friend, and currently held hostage in luxury with you, you owe me the full story.”

“Well… something did happen last night…”

“I knew it!” she crows. “What? What happened? And don’t tell me about the steamy living room sex, because I already know about that.”

“What? How?”

“I found your skimpy underwear on the floor this morning.”

“Oh, God.”

“Sooooo.” She cocks her head at me. “What else happened?”

My face flames even brighter red. “He – he said that he loves me.”

“Of course he does! That’s hardly a secret.”

“It was to me.”

Jade snorts, spooning coffee into the machine. “Oh, sweetie. You have the emotional awareness of a golden retriever. The man walks around looking at you like you hung the damn moon and the stars, and you thought he was just semi-interested?”

I open my mouth to defend myself, but Jade just pokes me in the arm with a wicked, triumphant grin.

“We’ve got all day and night before he gets back from the warehouse,” she says, grabbing two face masks from her bag and tossing one to me. “So start talking. All the dirty details, please.”

Comments

LUCK DRAW >

311

M