by Claire Adams
“That is—”
I was cut off by the sound of a door. A few seconds later, I heard Mila come down the stairs. After last night, we had gone into our separate rooms, and I’d spent the whole night trying to figure out what she was doing in her room. The guys had returned around four in the morning, and everyone had slept in. When I’d gone to the kitchen this morning, I noticed that Mila had come down for her breakfast, but I had probably just missed her.
This was the first time we were coming face to face since we’d slept together, and I had hoped no one else would be around.
“Hi,” she said as she stepped into the living room.
“Hi, Mila,” Bones nodded, jumping at the chance to defuse the tension between Devon and me. “How was your night?”
I could barely look at her, but a part of me really, really wanted to.
“It was fine,” she replied, after a short pause that seemed to speak volumes. “How was yours?”
“Amazing,” Bones replied. “We drove twenty miles and found this great little bar… great drinks, good music, and smoking hot women.”
I glanced at Mila, and I saw her smirk at the last part. She did look a little less animated than usual, however, and I wondered if she regretted losing her virginity to me the previous night. When I turned my face away from hers, I noticed that Devon’s eyes were trained on me.
“Hey, maybe you should join us the next time,” Bones suggested.
Mila smiled distractedly. “Seriously?”
“Why not?”
“It’s best not,” Devon said. “You’d be uncomfortable.”
“What makes you think that?” Mila asked. “I went on a ride with Zack, and I loved it.”
Devon shot me a glance. “He shouldn’t have taken you out at all,” he said. “It wasn’t safe.”
Mila opened her mouth as if to say something, but then she changed her mind about that. “Well, I think it’s my decision as to whether I go with the guys or not,” she said defiantly.
Bones smiled. “Don’t try and mollycoddle her, Devon,” he laughed. “She’s not the same scared little girl who walked into this house. Give her more credit.”
Mila gave Bones a warm smile. “I’ll join you guys the next time,” she said. “On one condition.”
“What is that?” Bones asked curiously.
“I want to ride a bike myself.”
Bones burst out laughing, and I looked at Mila in surprise. “You want to learn to ride?” I burst out before I could stop myself.
“Yes,” Mila nodded, glancing over at me. “I loved riding that night. But I was still sitting behind you the whole time. I want to be in control; I want to be able to sit at the head.”
I nodded once, and Mila smiled. “Well… I was just going to get into the training ring for a bit.”
“You training with anyone?” Bones asked.
“Red,” Mila replied. “He came in this morning, and I convinced him to go a few rounds with me.”
Bones laughed. “Sounds like something you’d want a front seat for,” he said. “I’ll join you. Devon, you coming?”
“No,” Devon replied decidedly. “I’ll stay here.”
Giving a small knowing sigh, Bones headed out with Mila. Before she left, she glanced back at me with an unreadable expression in her eyes. The moment they were gone, Devon turned to me.
“Did something happen between the two of you?” he asked without hesitation.
I stayed silent for a long time. “I don’t think that’s any of your business,” I said, knowing that answer was basically a confession.
“I told you to stay away from her,” Devon said, standing up.
“And I told you that I was going to do exactly what I wanted to do,” I replied, standing up too.
“She’s too good for you,” Devon spat, taking a step towards me. “She deserves better.”
It shouldn’t have hurt, but it did. It hurt because I knew it was true, and a better man would have backed off and agreed and left Mila alone. But I could feel it already… I could feel the desire and the want already. I couldn’t just back off and let her go. I wanted to fuck her again. I wanted to talk to her again. I wanted to teach her how to ride a motorbike. I wanted to take her on another ride again. I wanted to do so many things with her that I could barely keep track of all of them.
“Maybe you should let her decide that,” I said.
“Sometimes Mila doesn’t always know what’s best for her,” Devon said. “She did pick Walter Black.”
My jaw clenched. “I’m warning you right now, Devon. Get out of my fucking way.”
“Or what?”
“Oh, I think you know.”
“She’s not used to men like you,” Devon said. “She’s… innocent and pure.”
“Innocent and pure?” I repeated, unable to stop myself. “After last night, that’s not the case anymore.”
Devon’s eyes widened with realization, and I saw unadulterated anger flit through his eyes. He lunged at me, and I ducked just in time to miss the hit he was aiming at my face. He recovered immediately and came at me again. This time, I grabbed his punching arm and head butted him right into a wall.
Devon was a strong fighter, but my father had trained me. I had been trained ruthlessly. There was no way he could win in a fight against me. I was still impressed that he was making an attempt, but that didn’t mean I was going to go easy on him. The testosterone was pumping now, and logic and sense had taken a back seat.
Devon made one more attempt to come at me, and this time I brought him to his knees with two punches, one to his stomach and the other to his face. I saw the fight go out of him, and I knew I had won. I walked over to him and leaned in.
“She didn’t do anything she didn’t want to do,” I said firmly. “You need to respect the fact that she’s a grown woman. Stay out of her business, and while you’re at it, stay out of mine, too.”
Devon’s response was to spit out the blood pooling in his mouth. Satisfied that I had got my point across, I walked out of the house, got onto my bike, and rode off, wondering what exactly I was fighting for in the first place.
Chapter Twenty-Two
Mila
“Fucking hell!” Red cursed.
It was the third time in a row that I’d managed to get him flat on his back. The other men hooted and hollered, and I couldn’t help but laugh in triumph.
“I think it’s time to throw in the towel, Red,” I said, offering him a hand to pull him back on his feet. “I think it’s time to admit that I’m the better fighter.”
“Please… you just got lucky,” Red said stubbornly.
“Lucky?” I repeated, in disbelief. “Three times in a row?”
“I beat you twice before that,” Red reminded me.
“I was just warming up,” I said cockily. “Letting you get comfortable.”
The men laughed raucously, and I gave Red a wink. “Maybe I should give you a few pointers.”
Red sent me a mocking glare and got out of the ring in a huff. “This is all Zack’s fucking fault,” he complained. “He never taught any of us. Apparently, he’s in on some secrets he’s shared only with you.”
“Guess that means I’m special,” I said.
“Please, it only means you’re hot,” Red said. “That’s it.”
I smiled. “Whatever helps you sleep at night Red,” I said.
“I think I liked you better when you didn’t know how to defend yourself,” Red said.
I narrowed my eyes at him. “You and most of the other perverts and assaulters out there.”
Red colored visibly. “Shit… that’s not what I meant.”
I smiled to tell him all was forgiven. “It’s fine… I know you didn’t mean it like that.”
I cooled down a little and then headed back to my room for a shower and a small rest. I was about to head upstairs when I noticed Devon in the living room corner.
“Hi,” I said. “What are you doing skulking around in�
�”
I stopped short as I realized his face was bruised up, and he had a swollen eye. “Oh my God,” I gasped. “I saw you only a couple of hours ago. What the hell happened?”
Devon sighed. “Nothing.”
“Nothing?” I repeated, coming towards him and inspecting his face in panic. “This does not look like nothing Devon.”
“You should see the other guy,” Devon said, trying to make a joke that just came off all wrong because he winced when he tried to smile.
“Who did this?” I demanded.
“It’s nothing, ok?” Devon said impatiently. “This was just… an argument that went wrong.”
“Wait, are you saying one of the guys did this?” I asked.
“Well—”
“Oh my God,” I said, realizing who it was. “Zack?”
“He never could handle a difference of opinion very well.”
I gave Devon a glare. “What were you guys arguing about?”
Devon gave me a look. “What do you think?”
“Me?” I asked, in disbelief.
Devon nodded shortly.
“Why?” I demanded. “What was there to fight about… if this is about Walter—”
“It had nothing to do with Black.”
“Then—”
“Is it true?” Devon asked. “Did you sleep with Zack?”
I paused in shock, and then I felt myself bristle defensively. “Is that honestly what you two were fighting about?”
“I told him to stay away from you,” Devon said, without mincing his words. “And he basically gave me a black eye for it.”
I cocked my head to the side. “That looks like it hurts,” I said.
“I’ve had worse,” Devon said with a shrug.
“I wish he hadn’t done this,” I said. “I wish you guys didn’t have to resort to punches for everything. I thought this was supposed to be a brotherhood.”
“Brothers fight.”
I sighed and shook my head. “I can’t believe the two of you.”
“You haven’t answered my question,” Devon pointed out.
“Because it’s none of your business,” I snapped.
“That’s what Zack said too.”
“Well, he has a point,” I said. “I’m not a child, Devon. I’m a grown woman, and what I choose to do with my body is my business. If you’re worried I was forced into something… that’s not what happened, so you can relax.”
“He’s not good for you,” Devon said. “This life… it’s not for everyone.”
“I know that,” I said. “I don’t think you have to worry about that in any case. Zack and I are both aware we don’t have a future together. After Black is found, I’m leaving, and I don’t know if I’ll ever come back.”
Devon nodded. “Ok.”
“Let me put some ice on that,” I said.
“I’m fine,” Devon assured me. “This will be great street cred for me.”
I shook my head. All men were just overgrown children at the end of the day. “Where’s Zack?” I asked.
“He went for a ride,” Devon said.
I nodded and went upstairs to shower. I had planned on spending some time in my room reading, but after my conversation with Devon, I was so wired that I could barely sit still. In the end, I went outside and walked up and away from the house towards the trees where I had had my first real conversation with Zack.
It was a perfect place to sit down and do some heavy introspection. I could see the clubhouse and the garage from my vantage point, but I was hidden from view for the most part. I sat there for almost an hour before I heard the revving of an engine, and then I watched Zack pull up outside the garage on his bike. As usual, he wasn’t wearing a helmet, but he was wearing his motorcycle jacket with the Angels’ patches and colors on them.
He cut an impressive figure, and I couldn’t help but admire his large and intimidating form. I wasn’t sure if he saw me or if the need for solitude was what pulled him towards the trees, but after he had put his bike away, he started walking in my direction.
“Enjoyed your ride?” I asked, alerting him to my presence as he came up along the slight hill.
He looked up and gave me a small smile. “I did actually.”
I could tell that he didn’t have a scratch on him. “So… Devon didn’t even manage to land a punch, huh?”
Zack looked at me pointedly, realizing that I had seen and spoken to Devon. “He was an idiot to think he could take me. Just so you know, I tried to stop the argument in its tracks. He just wouldn’t let it go.”
“You could have still walked away,” I said as he came closer. “You didn’t have to hit him.”
“When he’s asking for it… I do.”
“Still an asshole.”
“Get used to it,” Zack replied.
I sighed. “He’s only looking out for me,” I said.
“Which is why I didn’t leave him unconscious.”
I shook my head. “It’s so easy to you guys… fighting, bleeding…violence.”
“You’re one to talk.”
I frowned. “What do you mean?”
“You’re a natural fighter,” Zack pointed out.
“But I don’t seek out a fight.”
“No, but when it finds you, you need to be able to take it on,” Zack replied. “Which is what I did.”
I bit my lip. “Can you please… please just lay off Devon?”
“I can’t—”
“Zack!” I said, cutting him off and grabbing his hand at the same time. That forced his eyes to mine, and he seemed frozen in place for a second. “Please?”
He sighed deeply and closed his eyes for a moment. “Fine,” he nodded. “I’ll lay off him… even if he doesn’t deserve it.”
“Thank you.”
I meant to let go of his hand at that point, but something kept me holding on. Zack didn’t seem to mind. In fact, he was staying absolutely still, as though movement might scare me off and make me drop my hold on him.
“So… did he tell you what the argument was about?” Zack asked.
“I got the gist,” I nodded. “You told him we slept together.”
Zack had the grace to look a little ashamed at least. “It just…came out. I was trying to—”
“You were trying to piss him off…further.”
“Well—”
“Don’t bother denying it,” I said. “You and I both know that was what you were trying to do.”
“Ok… so maybe I was trying to piss him off… a little.”
I shook my head at him. “Children.”
“I’m sorry,” Zack said, and I could hear the sincerity in his tone.
I smiled. “I never expected to hear a real apology out of you.”
“I never expected to ever give one,” Zack admitted.
I looked up at him. “I know you want to act as though you’re cut from stone… nothing can touch you, nothing can hurt you. But I see past all that. You’re not as… ruthless as you appear, Zack Robinson.”
“Hmm I need to work on that then,” he replied.
I shook my head. “Why?” I asked. “Why is humanity a weakness?”
“I don’t know,” Zack said quietly. “It’s what I was raised to believe, and it’s a hard belief to shake.”
“You’ve taught me a lot, Zack,” I said. “But maybe I can teach you something too.”
“You can’t change me, Mila,” Zack sighed.
“I think I already have,” I said.
I could see all the color in his beautiful hazel eyes. I could see flecks of green and gold. I could see all the colors of autumn. There was nothing remotely frightening about those eyes. I leaned in and kissed him softly on the lips, purely because I wanted to.
We broke away naturally, and Zack's eyes softened when he looked at me. “I thought we agreed not to go there.”
“When this is all over… we’ll probably never see each other again,” I said. “So until then… why not be together whil
e we can?”
Zack considered that for a moment, and then his face broke out into a slow smile. “That sounds… very reasonable.”
“Does it?”
Zack pulled me closer into the curve of his body, and then I felt his hands travel up the skirt of my dress. I felt myself shiver in response, just like I had the night we had slept together for the first time. I was more aware of what to expect this time, but it still felt like the first time. There was all the same anticipation and excitement and wonder.
As he lay me down on the soft earth, I stared up at the leaves of the trees, dangling over us like dancing wind chimes. I should have been self-conscious that we were out in the open. Anyone could have walked right up to us. But at that moment, I couldn’t have cared less. I felt my inhibitions float away as though I’d never had any at all.
Even as Zack pulled down my panties and slipped inside me, I couldn’t bring myself to care about anyone or anything. Not even Walter Black was important enough to draw my focus or interest. There was only Zack and I… and the trees.
Chapter Twenty-Three
Zack
“Hi there, honey,” the waitress greeted as she came over to me. “I hear you’ve been asking some questions around here.”
She was tall and willowy, and she was wearing a short black skirt that showed off her legs. She had dark eyes and dark blond hair that could have passed for brown. She was obviously pretty, and I knew that on any other day I would have hit on her, but today she held no interest for me.
“I’m looking for someone,” I replied. “He’s a big guy, tattooed, about my height. Goes by the name Walter Black.”
The waitress frowned, but I could tell from her expression that she hadn’t heard the name before. “Sorry, hon,” she replied. “I haven’t heard of anyone with that name.”
“Has anyone come in here that fits that description?”
“It’s not much of a description,” she said.
“He has a tattoo of a siren on his right calf,” I said. “And a massive tattoo of an eagle that covers his entire back.”