The Trouble He Always Wanted: Devil's Reach MC. (part three)

Enjoy it while you can

(Asher)

I watched Harlow's car disappear through the gates and wanted to put my fist through something. She'd looked straight at my injured leg before walking away from me, knowing damn well I couldn't follow her. Blowing me a kiss before getting into her car had been another way to piss me off. She was probably laughing right now.

"Don't."

I turned toward Ridge.

"I didn't say anything."

"You were about to."

Mira stood nearby with Sarah in her arms. She'd watched the argument too, and I could see she was trying not to laugh. Ridge didn't look nearly as entertained. Considering his sister was the reason I was ready to lose my mind, he could've shown a little sympathy.

"Your sister looked me in the face, reminded me I can't f*****g chase her, and left."

Ridge smiled.

"Sounds like Harlow."

"Not helping."

"You knew what you were getting into."

"She's still your sister."

"Nice try."

I went back inside before he could say anything else. My leg was hurting because I'd followed Harlow out there when I should've stayed where I was. I hated being stuck like this, and she knew it. Using it against me was becoming one of her favorite things to do.

But that wasn't the only reason I was pissed.

Harlow had done this before.

She'd gotten tired of being watched and slipped away during one of her showings. By the time we found her, she'd already been taken. Mira had ended up trading herself to Tyler so we could get Harlow back.

I hadn't forgotten any of it.

Neither had Ridge.

He'd blamed me for what happened, and I'd blamed myself too. We'd dealt with that s**t between us a long time ago, and I wasn't interested in going back there. But watching Harlow drive away alone brought back more than I wanted it to.

I sat in the common area and stretched my injured leg out in front of me. Harlow wanted freedom, and I understood that. She'd spent enough time being followed and watched because of the danger around us. I wasn't interested in locking her inside Devil's Reach.

That didn't mean I was going to pretend this didn't bother me.

Mira came over with Sarah still in her arms. Sarah was playing with one of Mira's bracelets while Mira sat across from me. I knew from the look on Mira's face that she'd come over to talk about Harlow. Apparently, I wasn't getting out of this conversation.

"She'll call you."

"She better."

"You know how she gets when she feels like everyone's watching her."

"Yeah. I remember."

Mira's expression changed.

I didn't need to explain what I meant.

"She needs to stop using my leg against me."

Mira laughed.

"That's not happening."

"I know."

"She's enjoying herself."

"She won't be when it heals."

Mira smiled.

"That sounds like a threat."

"It's a promise."

Sarah reached for me, and Mira caught her little hand before she could grab at my shirt. I smiled at her before she became interested in Mira's bracelet again. She had no idea what the adults around her were talking about. Lucky kid.

Mira eventually went back over to Ridge. I watched them for a second before looking toward the doors. Harlow hadn't been gone very long. I already wanted to know where the hell she was.

Knox came over and sat nearby.

"You look miserable."

"f**k off."

He laughed.

"Dane looked happier than you at his wedding."

I looked at him.

"Dane finally did something smart."

"Only took him fifteen years."

"Exactly."

Ridge heard us from where he was sitting and joined the conversation.

"Cassidy waited long enough."

"Don't let Harlow hear you say that."

Ridge looked at me.

"Why?"

"She'll start getting ideas."

He smiled.

"Maybe she should."

I stared at him.

"You volunteering to help plan another wedding?"

"No."

"Then shut the f**k up."

Ridge laughed and left me alone. I wasn't against marrying Harlow, and that wasn't something I'd ever needed to hide. She was already my old lady, and I knew exactly who I wanted beside me. Marriage wasn't something I needed to decide tonight.

Getting her to listen occasionally would be a good start.

There was something else I'd been thinking about anyway.

Harlow loved telling me I couldn't control her. She said it whenever I gave her an order she didn't like. But when we were alone, there were times when she stopped fighting me and let me take control. She could deny liking it all she wanted.

I knew better.

I wanted her submission.

That wasn't something I got because she wore my patch or slept in my bed. I couldn't demand it from her, and I wouldn't want it if I had to. Harlow would have to give me that kind of trust because she wanted to.

Getting her there would be the interesting part.

My phone rang.

I pulled it out and saw her name.

I answered.

"What?"

"Wow. You sound happy to hear from me."

"Where are you?"

She laughed.

"I knew you'd ask that."

"Harlow."

"I'm at a bar."

"Which one?"

"Why?"

I rubbed a hand over my face.

"Because the last time you decided nobody needed to know where you were, things didn't exactly go well."

She went quiet.

I knew immediately I shouldn't have said it.

"Asher."

"I'm not trying to start that conversation."

"Then don't."

"Tell me where you are."

"No."

"Harlow."

"I called to tell you I got here safely. Don't ruin it."

I stopped myself from arguing with her. She could've stayed gone all night without calling just to prove she didn't answer to me. Instead, she'd made sure I knew she'd gotten there safely. I wasn't stupid enough to turn that into another fight.

"When are you coming home?"

"In a couple hours."

"Call me if that changes."

"I can handle myself."

That sentence pissed me off.

I kept my mouth shut.

"Just call me."

"Fine."

"Have fun."

"That's it?"

"What else do you want?"

"I don't know. More yelling?"

I smiled.

"Plenty of time for that when you get home."

She laughed.

"Good luck catching me."

Then she hung up.

I stared at my phone for a few seconds. Harlow thought my leg gave her an advantage, and right now she wasn't completely wrong. She'd been enjoying the hell out of reminding me too. I put my phone away and got comfortable.

My leg was healing.

Harlow could keep playing with me until it did.

After that, we'd see who was laughing.