by Unknown
Mathew takes a yellow envelope with Sadie's pay from a drawer and pushes it towards her.
“The man is a complete dog. I'm done with this Mat. This was really the last time,” she says and actually means it. Her nest egg is big enough that she can stop doing the two jobs she hates.
“Did I tell you that Jeff kept his ex-wife's last name? It opened many doors for him,” Mathew says with disgust.
Sadie laughs.
“So, it's a case of conman getting conned?” she asks.
Mat grins, and says, “Jeff is the type of man that keeps me living in style.”
He's quiet for a second.
“Now that I am no longer your boss... I can ask you out.”
Time to go. She stands and grabs the money.
“Sorry, I only date guys that can beat me at arm wrestling,” she jokes.
Mat grimaces.
“You know you cheated!” he accuses.
“Not really, we didn't set any rules,” she reminds him.
“You pinched me with those claw like nails!” He says.
She looks down at her neatly trimmed nails.
Some people are such sore losers.
“You were weak, dude,” Sadie says dismissively.
“So no date?” he asks.
“You're a lawyer and I work at a strip club, it won't work out,” she says.
He doesn't say anything to that.
He's a nice guy, unless it involves his career and image. She even understands him; his parent's set a high standard for him. Sydney, his sister, and her friend, had caved under the pressure and in defiance of her parents, worked as a stripper.
“Thanks for the opportunity Mathew. I'm sure we'll see each other around,” smiling, Sadie says goodbye.
Dating is not part of Sadie's plan. She's been burned by love before and plunging into that pit of hell is not something she is willing to repeat.
Chapter Five
Sadie stares into the bathroom mirror while she puts on the finishing touches on her makeup. Her eyes look cat-like with the black liner. Her vivid red hair requires heavier makeup than what she'd prefer. Even her golden tan doesn't keep her from looking washed out without makeup.
Her outfit consists of dark skinny jeans, a gray crop-top, and her favorite pair of biker boots. Sydney teased her endlessly when she bought two pairs of the same black, calf length, studded boots.
Remembering their earlier fight deflates Sadie. Especially, since they haven't talked since her friend left. She decides to text Sydney before her date from hell arrives.
Sadie: FML. Going out with Zack, send help if you don't hear from me by tomorrow!
Sydney: Wanna get rid of him? Sleep with him! Your complete lack of skills will make him run back to Ashley!
Sadie: Really? With all the unnecessary play by play of your sex life, I feel like I know TOO MUCH!
Sydney: Bitch, I'm just trying to help! :P
Her train of thought is interrupted by loud banging at the front door. Of course, Zack wouldn't use the doorbell.
Sadie: Gotta go. He's here..
She opens the door a minute later. He looks freshly showered, his dark hair still damp and mussed. Maybe if he weren't such an asshole.... Sadie could like him. She mutely steps into the night and leads the way to his motorcycle.
“Babe, that is not a white dress,” He calls out from behind her.
Sadie just glares at him, and he laughs.
***
Rampage MC's compound is outside the city limits. It's huge, and consists of a large farmhouse, and several smaller buildings, all surrounded by a tall illuminated fence. Motorcycles are lined up along the house, and a few men in leather vests, stand by them. They greet Zack with nods.
Zack leads them to the large farmhouse. Inside, Sadie is assaulted by the blaring music.
Knowing she looks immature, she still covers her ears and glares at Zack.
He grabs her hand to lead her through the heavy throng of people, towards a raised stage on the left side of the huge room. The house has obviously been gutted to create the vast open space, and now resembles any other bar. There are even a few pool tables and booths.
On the stage, a lone man sits on a throne like chair, watching over everyone with a bored expression. He instantly catches Sadie's attention, mainly because he looks like a famous soccer player. Sadie loves soccer. So what if she chooses her team based on the players' looks?
As she draws closer, she can see his sharp hawk-like eyes, under low brows that are the same light ashy brown as his hair. His hair is kept very short on the sides and very long on the top. His angular features and square jaw covered in man scruff give him a stunningly masculine face. Who doesn't love man scruff?
Sadie isn't aware that she stopped walking, until Zack yanks her hand and startles her. She never ogles over hot guys, but this one is delicious. She sort of wants to draw hearts with her fingers around him. Zack's weirdness must be rubbing off on her.
Zack doesn't stop until they’re standing in front of the stage. Hot guy turns and looks at Zack with annoyance, and then turns his hazel eyes on Sadie. Oh, fuck. It's him. Stunned Sadie feels the pulse at the base of her neck jump. She turns to Zack, barely keeping herself from running.
Maybe he doesn't remember her. Pasting a fake smile on her face, she tries to act casual. She has nothing to worry about, her face is covered in a few layers of makeup, her own mother wouldn't recognize her.
Zack seems nervous, “Babe, this is the club president.”
The president turns to Zack and smirks, “What the fuck do you want dipshit?”
Zack turns an alarming shade of purple.
These two really don't like each other.
Even though Zack is ripped, he doesn't ooze half the power that this guy does with very little effort. That is probably the reason he dislikes him so much.
Puffing out an angry breath Zack responds, “I'm making her my old lady,” he pushes Sadie forward.
What. The. Freak. That in no way sounds good.
“We're doing it now,” he goes on.
Sadie snorts and the president turns his hard stare to her.
By now, Sadie is sure he doesn't recognize her. Isn't that funny, the guy freaking took her heart and put it in a meat grinder, then he just forgot about her. Sadie tells herself that it is just her pride that is hurt. Who wants to be forgettable?
“What's your name?” He studies her and Zack's hand on her shoulder.
She hadn't even felt his hand there. Okay, being here is messing with her usual ninja instincts.
Zack answers for her, and she sees the change in his expression, as he searches her face, he recognizes her.
He nods at someone behind them and the music fades, “I'm Jackson, Sadie.” He waits as if expecting a reaction, she doesn't give him one.
Fuck him and his stupidly beautiful face, and body. The mean bastard doesn't have a heart.
Instead, she turns to Zack and asks, “What's an old lady?”
Before Zack can answer, Jackson chuckles angrily, “An old lady is like a wife, but it's tighter than any marriage. And you have to fuck twelve members to be an old lady,” he says.
Oh, crap.
Chapter Six
Jackson
She's still the same fucking beauty he abandoned years ago. Except her hair is no longer that sweet shade of blonde, and she seems thinner, harder somehow. Jackson can't help but feel angry.
What is Sadie doing with Zack? The guy is flirting on the wrong side of crazy, and has been causing trouble for Rampage MC. Jackson has been dangerously close to stripping Zack of his cut or just killing him. Seeing him with Sadie, might be the last nail in his coffin. Even after six years without seeing her, he still feels protective of her. Maybe it's how they met.
Six years ago, after completing two military tours he was back home, wandering around the state aimlessly, trying to figure out his next move. When he met Sadie, he'd been camping out next to a lake. Getting ready to lea
ve, he heard a frantic scream for help. He'd rushed to help.
Jackson had lost it, and ended up killing the fucker that was trying to rape her.
She'd been a mess, crying and shaking, but she'd snapped him into action, insisting they do something about the body. Together they'd hidden it and any evidence, then they'd ditched town in his old pickup. A twenty-six year old military vet, and a sixteen year old girl who had no one to care for her.
Those first weeks she'd given him a mission, direction in his fucked up life. Jackson had done everything to take care of her, until he ruined it by falling for her. Disgusted with himself, he'd thought himself little better than scum. Without a word, he'd left her. Knowing he'd done it to protect her didn't keep him from being haunted by her. By the time he tried to check on her, she'd been long gone. Now, here she is, grown up, no sign of recognition in her electric blue eyes. To make matters worse, she's about to become another man's old lady. Well, that would have to be over his dead body.
“So, Sadie, are you ready to become Zack's property?” he immediately gets a reaction; she becomes furious.
“Oh my god! You are so fucking delusional! I don't even like you!” she screams and tries to leave, but Zack grabs her arm roughly.
Sadie glares up at him, reminding Jackson of an angry kitten.
Zack of course acts like the asshole he is, “Not so fast. I made shit clear for you already. You're mine, or your whore of a friend is dead!” he yells into her face, trying to intimidate her with his size.
Sadie doesn't back down, “I don't give a fuck about anyone but myself. Over petty shit, I'll play your game, but not this!” she screams back.
Zack raises his hand to smack her.
That fucker is so dead. Furious, Jackson stands and freezes when she dodges his hand, and lightning quick, punches him. Right in his junk. Ouch, even he flinches. Zack drops into the fetal position, a high-pitched squeal coming from him.
Jackson laughs when she kicks him. All around his brothers are laughing. The dumb bastard rocks back and forth moaning and cupping his balls.
When Sadie moves to leave, after kicking him again, his brothers even clear a path for her.
She looks frighteningly beautiful as she walks away from him.
Jackson catches up to her outside the house. Sadie is looking around, obviously for a way to leave.
“Need a ride?” he asks.
Looking up at him, she asks, “Are you offering?”
“Come on,” he says and nods towards his bike.
Hesitantly, she follows and stops next to his bike.
“I'll call a cab,” she says.
“No,” he says.
“I don't know you,” Sadie says, then backs up.
She knocks into his motorcycle, which knocks down the next one, causing a fucking domino effect.
“Shit,” she says with a flinch.
She looks mortified, so he takes advantage.
“Listen, I'm the club president, but even I can't keep everyone in there,” he points inside the house, “from lynching you for this. Now, do you want a ride or not?”
She nods.
He rights his motorcycle and gets on it. A second later, she hops on behind him.
“Where to?” he says as he settles on the bike.
Turning, he sees she's as far away from him as possible. She mentions the worst part of the city.
He's angry, but says nothing.
Chapter Seven
Sadie
Sadie's childhood had been awful, always hungry, always in the same outgrown clothes. The kids at her school had tormented her. The mayor's kids had especially hated her, because of the rumors and their physical resemblance. She never understood their animosity; they had a loving mom and dad, and everything else Sadie could have wanted.
Anything from verbal to physical bullying went unnoticed by any of the adults. When Sadie turned fourteen, the type of harassment changed. Boys found her attractive, but as her mother's daughter, she deserved no respect.
That led up to the day she meet Jackson. Just turned sixteen, Sadie had no friends, but she'd had a new job at the convenience store. With the new job, came new hope. One day, she'd be free of Terrace Texas, and it's people. She'd start a new life; one in which her mother's choices didn't reflect on Sadie. Her self-esteem was also rising, and she no longer accepted her mother's abuse.
Instead, she spent most of her free time by the lake. There she'd loose herself, sketching for hours. That was where Craig, her mother's latest boyfriend, found Sadie. He worked at an oil-rig, but when he was off work, he stayed with Tara.
Except for slapping Sadie around a few times, he'd never tried to really hurt her. But that day, he'd immediately pounced on her. Jackson had swooped in like her personal miracle. He'd pulled Craig off before he got in more than a few punches. He'd changed her life, swooped her away to what she thought would be a fairy tale. She'd fallen in love with him like only a teenager can. Then she deluded herself into thinking he felt the same way. They were always together, always happy in each others' company. He proved her wrong in the end. He'd left her broken.
Finally arriving at her apartment building, they stop and both get off.
“Thanks for the ride. You didn't have to leave your own party for me,” Sadie says.
She drinks him in, unable to get over how much he's changed. He'd been clean cut, where now he's scruffy and tattooed. His shoulders are even more impressive than six years ago, like he does physical labor daily.
Those amazing hazel eyes now have a few lines around them. Damn, he'd gotten better with age. It almost hurts to look at him.
She can't let herself feel anything around him, it would be fucking stupid.
“Thanks and bye,” she knows she sounds nervous, but she manages to smile through it.
This might be the last time she ever sees him. Despite everything, she drinks him in. The shape of his eyes, his hard mouth, his shoulders, shoulders are it for her. She is a shoulder person. His are wide and muscled and since his tattoos disappear under his shirt, he probably looks better without a shirt.
He doesn't smile back, “What the hell are you doing? Getting involved with a loser like Zack!”
His huge arms are crossed and she has a hard time pulling her gaze from his right arm that is covered in beautiful, yet manly tattoos.
God, he's intimidating, “Did you miss the part where I punched him in the balls? He's been stalking me. Not in a romance novel way. He's been stalking me in a horror novel way! And guess what? It's all your dumb club's fault! He started stalking me since your club took over Climax!”
Her little speech makes him even angrier, “It gets better! I saved your ass six years ago!
And you become a fucking stripper!”
“Fuck, so you do remember me,” she doesn't even make it a question.
He growls and stalks towards Sadie, “We'll talk inside.”
His tall frame leans towards her and she moves back slowly.
Just because he is freakishly tall doesn't mean he can use it to intimidate her! He should try being only a few inches over five feet, and see how he likes it!
“Like hell,” she snorts, “No, I don't know you anymore, Jackson. You're a bad biker dude now. Forgive me, but I don't trust you.”
The Jackson she thought she knew would have never joined a biker gang.
He surprises Sadie by swinging her over his shoulder, “Which apartment?” he demands.
His shoulder digs uncomfortably into her stomach. Sadie doesn't bother fighting; he outweighs her by at least a hundred pounds of mostly muscle.
Once at her apartment door, the jerk even digs his huge hand into her back pocket for the key. He has no respect for her personal space. His hand stills there... and squeezes!
Overbearing bully!
Sadie pulls hard on his ear, causing him to exclaim, “Ow! Let go Sadie! Fuck that hurts!”
Ha!
“You let go! Pervert!” She isn't overreacting! He
squeezed her butt!
“Dammit! I already did!” he says indignantly.
Oops, he so did.
“Fine,” she huffs and reluctantly releases his ear.
Chapter Eight
Jackson
She's too bloodthirsty for someone so tiny. Damn, her violent streak is a lot funnier when directed at anyone else.
They are now inside her apartment; he starts his inquisition with, “Why are you a stripper Sadie? You said you were finishing school!”
Jackson knows he sound accusing, but he can't help it; he'd only left her so she'd have a better life without him.
Judging by her shitty apartment, in an even shittier neighborhood; she isn't doing too well on her own. It might be clean, but the paint on the walls is peeling in a bunch of places. The floor is no better, though clean, the carpet is old and flat. The furniture is too sparse even for the small apartment. Overall, the effect is depressing. This place is just a reminder of how he failed her when he left her on her own.
He has more money than he knows what to do with and the woman that he loves is living like this.
She walks over to the small fridge and takes out a pop, and doesn't offer any. Sadie only answers after she is lounging on the couch, and has taken a long drink.
“How was I supposed to do that? You never got me a fake ID, or birth certificate! The first few months I couldn't even get a job to feed myself much less keep a roof over my head. I couldn't get my own ID in case someone was looking for me,” she says.
Fuck, she's right. But he left her money to cover the first few months and the rent paid for a good six months. “I went back for you. The land lady said you left right after I did,” he offers even though he knows he messed up when he left her.