Also, I didn't understand what exactly William Ryder wanted from me. Wasn’t it too fucking late to try and build a relationship with me? Anyway, once he learned about the life I’d led, it guaranteed that he’d quickly disappear again. And this time, it’d be his choice. I shrugged. Why the fuck was I born under such unlucky stars?

Even worse: why was the universe still fucking with me? Showing me what could’ve been with Jade and with William, and then ripping it from me, and laughing in my fucking face?

I shook my head to clear my thoughts. Some things were never meant to be understood.

Chapter 27 ~ Ryder

I checked my phone for the address. Yep, I was at the correct hotel. I whistled through my teeth when I entered the lobby. This was fucking flash. I would feel like a fish out of water if I stayed in a fancy place like this. My little brother had to be raking in the cash to send an employee to stay in a glitzy place like this. I bet it had fucking gold taps and orgy-sized baths, just like the house we’d rented in Beverly Hills.

The staff members were giving me the hairy eyeball. They clearly thought just as I did: that I didn't belong here at all. I’d bet every surveillance camera in the fucking place was staking me out. I bet they were just waiting for me to make a wrong move before they kicked me to the curb.

I sat in a large puffy chair and ordered a beer. There was no crime in that, was there? I took my phone from my pocket and stared at the photo of Rebecca that Max had sent me. Yeah, I could see why Max was so into this woman—except for the flaming red hair, she reminded me of Jade. Especially her smile. It made my fucking balls ache.

The waiter’s eyes popped when I said he could keep the change from the fifty-dollar bill I’d used to pay for the beer. That should shut him the fuck up, thinking that because I was dressed in jeans, sported a few tattoos, and had a ponytail, and heavy biker boots that I couldn’t afford an overpriced beer in an overpriced hotel. He was, after all, the one working for wages and tips, so I didn't understand why he was so quick to turn his fucking nose up at me.

My ears prickled at the sound of laughter floating across the vast space from the direction of the elevators. Fuck, I'd know that laugh anywhere. It sent a pang through my heart as my chest grew tight. Fuck me if it didn't sound just like Jade.

I looked up, and straight into curious green eyes. Rebecca. Why had her laugh sounded just like Jade’s? The beautiful bitch drew in a sharp breath when she saw me, as if she recognized me. Fuck, Max didn't tell her I was playing bodyguard, did he? I wasn’t happy about being her fucking babysitter, but at least he could’ve spared me the embarrassment of her knowing about it.

Before I could curse Max, she turned away, quickly walking in the opposite direction. How she walked so fast in those ridiculous fucking high heels, I'd never understand. Her legs went on forever. Max would be shitting himself if he saw how short her dress was, and how fucking hot she looked.

Next thing it was me sucking in a breath. Fuck me running, if she wasn’t embracing a woman that looked just like Jade.

Fuck; it was Jade.

Dressed to kill in a short dress that hugged her body—the body that was mine—in all the wrong places, pushing her tits up and exposing her long legs atop equally ridiculously high heels.

She looked so fucking hot, I wanted to grab her by the hair and pull her into the nearest cave and fuck her till she was screaming my name.

Then it hit me: she’d dressed up like this—sexy as hell—for a night out with Rebecca. How did she even know Rebecca? As far as the info that Max gave me went, she had never been to LA before. I clenched my jaw as I shoved my fists into my pockets. Fuck. Clearly Jade had moved on. Clearly she wasn’t staying home pining for me. Clearly she was ready and willing to pick up men tonight.

Did she have a new boyfriend? Had she listened to me and taken Marcus back? Suddenly I cursed that I'd left LA, and that I'd not kept up with what was going on in her life. I'd assumed she’d be home, waiting for me to come to my fucking senses. What I didn't expect was to see her all dressed up, ready for a night out on the town. Fuck. A jealous rage consumed me, and the concierge jumped when he heard the feral growl I let out. Every primal instinct in my body to rush over and claim her was fighting with my common sense.

If Max couldn’t control his bitch, that was one thing. But my woman? There was no way in hell I was letting any motherfucker touch her. I wanted to punch all these rich fuckers who were staring at her now, and rip out their fucking eyes.

Rein it in, Ryder. Fuck, I was acting like a jealous out-of-control monster.

My mission tonight was to follow and watch over Rebecca, and keep her out of harm’s way. And fuck, if I didn’t find Jade when I least expected it. I wasn’t ready to see her yet, and especially not like this, as if she had moved on and forgotten all about me. That stung.

“Lexi! Oh my God!” I heard Rebecca scream her name and run toward the sliding door, throwing herself at Lexi. What the fuck?

As I watched, my eyes wide, it struck me. If Lexi was Jade’s cousin, maybe Rebecca was too? Was it possible? Shit.

Three pairs of killer pins and melt-your-heart smiles, all in the same room, was hotter than most men could handle. But I only had eyes for one woman: Jade. Seeing her laugh with her cousins was great, yet I wanted to be the one she was enjoying herself with.

They hooked their arms into one another and strode out of the hotel lobby, leaving every man watching them wishing he’d been invited along. Fuck, I was going to have my work cut out for me. Maybe I needed a wingman?

I quickly followed them outdoors, ensuring that none of them saw me. I jumped onto my Harley just as they got into a cab and pulled away from the curb. I'd be fucked if I lost them.

We weaved through the traffic. I stayed two cars behind the cab, just in case he’d been watching too many movies, and suspected that he was being followed.

The cab stopped in front of an imposing building with the sturdy bouncers at the door, and the women tumbled out of the vehicle laughing, and clearly in good spirits. I saw Lexi put a hip flask into her purse, and cursed. Fuck; they were already drinking, in the cab no less. I definitely needed backup. I quickly dialed Ratbag’s number.

“Brother, I need your help tonight. Come down to Santa Monica—to that new club that opened last week. Yeah, our new client’s place.” I nodded my head, even though Ratbag couldn’t see me. Funny; only a few weeks ago, before my trip to Seattle, I’d negotiated a protection deal with the new owners of the club. It was tough opening a new club if you didn't have the right people in your corner. There was always someone who wanted such a venture to fail, and they’d go to great lengths to prevent new competition from succeeding.

Over the years I’d seen theft, set-ups with drugs, and even murder. For a relatively small cut of the profits, our MC trained the bouncers, and provided protection to the club and its owners. And, since the arms deal went sour, Cobra had used his smarts to think of different ways to raise money for the club that were less dangerous. Make no mistake, this protection racket was as dangerous as any other job. There were always a few trigger-happy crazies that shot their way out of trouble. I knew the type—greedy and unforgiving. They wanted money and power at all costs. Nothing was sacred, or too high a price for them to pay.

Lexi flashed a card at the bouncers and the burly man opened the door to let the three women straight in. A few boos from the people standing in the long line only made her flash them her ass. Fuck, she was sassy. I watched as she lifted her skirt, exposing her perfect creamy orbs covered only in a neon-yellow thong to the crowd. The guys cheered, wolf whistles filling the air along with throbbing music from the inside of the building. I smiled as one bitch swatted the arm of her man for grinning lasciviously at Lexi’s ass. Man, I felt for him, ‘cause if it weren’t that I was in love with the blond bitch, I’d so tap that sexy ass.