Dakota: A Motorcycle Club Romance (Infernal Names MC)

by Naomi West

  “Anyway, you put yourself at major fucking risk to keep our name feared,” he said. “You might’ve walked away with an ugly scratch, but you knew in the back of that big brain of yours that it could’ve been much, much worse.”

  He was right. I let him go on.

  “So,” he said. “That’s why I wanted you here for this little powwow.”

  “There are gonna be some big changes around here, kid,” said Gray, another one of the lieutenants. “Some major fucking shake-ups in the Names.”

  “What kind of shake-ups?” I asked.

  But I already had a sense of what they were talking about. It had to be about Jay Jay and the rest of the crew.

  “Take a guess,” said Suntree.

  “Jay Jay,” I said. “And the split that’s about to happen.”

  “Very good,” he said. “But before we get into it, I want to hear your take on the subject. Fill me in, in your own words.”

  I sat back and crossed my arms—my usual pose when I was about to really think hard about something.

  “There’s a rift in the Names,” I said. “But anyone with eyes and two brain cells to rub together can see that. The gap in recruit age is feeding into this, but Jay Jay being a distant president isn’t helping matters. He’s taking the new recruits for granted, treating them like his private army and expecting everyone to fall in line just because he’s in charge. But he’s making the mistake of thinking that because he’s on top, he’s always going to stay on top.”

  “Go on,” said Suntree.

  “The old guard is acting like a bunch of pissed-off dads, knocking heads and telling the new recruits to follow the rules without explaining why those rules are there in the first place. Instead of respected elders, they’re a group of buzzkills who show up to our parties and break them up like they’re cops. So, the effect is that the Names are turning into two separate clubs with the same name. Can’t last.”

  “And what would you do if you were in my position?” asked Suntree.

  “Sun Tzu said ‘never interrupt your enemy when he’s making a mistake,” I said.

  “Sun who?” asked Jace, another lieutenant.

  “A military mastermind,” said Suntree. “Don’t worry about it.”

  “Fucking Prof,” said Jace with a smirk.

  “Go on,” said Suntree.

  “Anyway, Jay Jay’s in the process of making a big fucking mistake. The new recruits outnumber the old guard three to one, and the old-timers have gotten complacent. And it’s no secret that you’ve got your eye on the president position.”

  Suntree said nothing, neither confirming or denying it.

  “So, if I were you, I’d let things rot for a little longer. Let things get worse, and then, right before things are about to crack, go to Jay Jay and let him know it’s time for him to step down. He won’t like it, but he’s not stupid. And by that point the other old-timers will have noticed that the strife in the Names is eating into their profits. Then you can push him out and take over.”

  “Damn, kid,” said Suntree. “You’ve got this all planned out.”

  “Hard not to think about it,” I said.

  “Especially when you’re someone who finds it hard not to think in general,” he said. “But this plan of yours, how long would you estimate it would take?”

  “Few months,” I said. “Enough time for the profit loss to really show itself.”

  Suntree shook his head.

  “See, that’s no good,” he said. “Because from where I’m standing, things are looking ripe for a shake-up now. But what I have in mind is a little more … drastic.”

  I knew right away what he meant.

  “You want to kill him?” I asked.

  “That’s the long and short if it,” he said.

  None of the lieutenants spoke up, and I took that as a sign that they were all on board.

  “That would be bad,” I said.

  Suntree raised an eyebrow.

  “Oh?”

  “Yeah,” I said. “Jay Jay’s slacking, but he’s president for a reason. You off him and get found out and you won’t have a political issue—you’ll have a war. All of the old guard will go into open rebellion. We’d tear each other apart. We’d lose good men, and the Hells or anyone else could move in and take advantage.”

  “Not if we make it look like a hit from the Hells,” he said. “That way we get the entire crew to unite around a common cause.”

  I didn’t like it. It was too risky.

  “Now,” said Suntree. “I think you’re smart enough to understand that you know a little too much to be cut loose right now. Only question is if you want to help, or if you want to turn in your patch right now.”

  I hissed the word “fuck” under my breath. I should’ve known Suntree would put me in a position like this, but I had fallen for it.

  But it might not be all bad. Being part of the conspiracy might give me a chance to talk some sense into these guys, maybe even save Jay Jay’s life and prevent a war.

  I didn’t like it, but there was nothing else I could do. Suntree had me right where he wanted me.

  “Now,” he said. “If you’re ready, let’s get started.”

  12

  Hazel

  Days later, the fight was still burned into my mind. I replayed it over and over, the red of the blood and the sound of bones cracking as fresh as they were when it had happened.

  And on top of all that, I’d let myself think that Dakota was different. I’d gotten fooled by the books and the breakfast and his protective instincts. I’d let myself be willfully blind to the fact that he was a criminal.

  Maybe even a killer.

  But it was over and done with. I’d made my escape, and in running from Dakota, I’d run away from that world.

  As much as I’d been relieved to get away from it, however, I still felt a pull. Like it or not, my time with Dakota had been the most exciting I’d had in a while. It didn’t hurt that he was about the best-looking guy that I’d ever seen in person.

  But it was for the best. I couldn’t even imagine what Mom would do if she found out what I’d gotten up to. What I’d seen with Dakota was exactly what she’d been trying to keep me away from. If she were to learn that I was running around with bikers and criminals … I didn’t even want to think about it.

  Despite all of that, it’d been nice to hang out with Bonnie. She’d been the closest thing to a friend I’d had in months. And she was fun, despite her reckless behavior.

  Not to mention that if I were to get in good with her, I might be able to make a connection through her mom. I was looking to get into psychology myself, so having a name like Dr. Vivant’s to vouch for me could get my career off and running as soon as I graduated.

  I’d sent Bonnie a couple of texts in the days following the party, but she’d been mostly out of contact. I’d gotten a terse text from her letting me know that she was fine, but that was it.

  However, that soon changed. Out of nowhere a few days after the party, Bonnie sent me a chipper, emoji-filled text asking me if I wanted to come over for dinner. Without thinking, I accepted.

  “I’m going to be out tonight, Mom,” I said as I took one last look at myself in front of the large mirror over the mantle in our living room.

  “On such short notice?” she asked, her expression one of curiosity. “I hope this isn’t for another party.”

  “No, nothing like that,” I said. “Bonnie wants me to come over for dinner.”

  “Oh,” said Mom, a trace of relief in her voice. “So, are you two friends now or something?”

  “I think so,” I said.

  “You think so?” she asked.

  “I mean yes,” I said. “It’s just that we’ve been hanging out a lot recently, and I’m still getting used to having an actual social life.”

  Okay, that was a lie. But it just sort of came out.

  “Well, if it’s just dinner, I guess I don’t have anything I need to worry about,” she said
. “But don’t stay out too late if you can help it.”

  “Will do!” I said, giving her a quick hug before heading out the door.

  After a quick drive, I was back in Bonnie’s ritzy neighborhood and in front of her house.

  “Hey!” shouted Bonnie as she greeted me at the door, as if it’d been years since we’d last seen each other. “Come on in!”

  I stepped into the house, the smell of something delicious in the air.

  “Hey!” I said right back. “Good to see you!”

  “That your friend?”

  A woman’s voice, low and professional, drifted down the long hallway.

  “Bonnie? Is that our guest?”

  I knew right away that it had to be Dr. Vivant. A little thrill ran through me at the idea of meeting someone who I’d read about in my psych classes.

  “Come on,” said Bonnie. “I want you to meet my mom.”

  We headed down the hallway, the scent of cooking food growing more intense with each step that we took. When we finally arrived in the enormous modern kitchen, I spotted Dr. Vivant seated at the kitchen bar.

  She was a trim, professional woman dressed in a very smart, very expensive gray pantsuit. She had hair like Bonnie’s, but tied in a simple but stylish ponytail. Despite being up there in years, she was still striking, and must’ve been as pretty, if not more so, than Bonnie when she was her age. A small smile formed on her lips as we entered.

  “Mom,” said Bonnie. “This is my friend Hazel.”

  Dr. Vivant rose from her seat and extended a slim hand in my direction.

  “Dr. Lillian Vivant,” she said. “Pleasure to meet you.”

  “Hazel Wiley,” I said. “It’s such an honor to meet you. I’ve read all about your studies on Aggressive Personality Disorder in my abnormal psych class.”

  Dr. Vivant arched an eyebrow.

  “I see I have a fan,” she said with another small smile.

  “No autographs,” said Bonnie, clearly a little embarrassed.

  A hot blush formed on my face as I realized how silly I was being. My eyes shot over to the kitchen, where a personal chef was putting the finishing touches on our dinner.

  “Well, I hope you brought your appetite.”

  My stomach growled in response.

  “Sure did,” I said.

  Before I had a chance to react, the chef had the kitchen bar set and our plates loaded with shrimp salad and a side of steamed vegetables. It was the exact type of food I expected women like Bonnie and her mother to eat.

  “Dad still out of town?” asked Bonnie.

  Dr. Vivant speared a shrimp on her plate with her fork and placed it delicately into her mouth, chewing it and swallowing before speaking.

  “Mhmm,” she said. “Until next Friday.”

  Bonnie nodded, and I got the impression such long absences were common in the household.

  “So, Hazel,” said Dr. Vivant. “What do your parents do?”

  Another tinge of embarrassment took hold. I knew there was no sense in lying about it, however.

  “She’s a maid,” I said. “Owns her own company.”

  “I see,” said Dr. Vivant.

  “That’s actually how we started hanging out again,” said Bonnie. “Hazel was over here cleaning.”

  I could tell that Dr. Vivant wasn’t all that thrilled about the idea of her daughter spending time with the help.

  “And your father?”

  Oh boy.

  “He’s … not in the picture,” I said. “He helps out when he can, but I haven’t seen him since I was a little kid.”

  I could almost see the gears in Dr. Vivant’s head turning, wondering if I was the type of low-class person she wanted her daughter associating with.

  “Hazel’s almost done with college,” said Bonnie, turning the subject to the more positive aspects of my life.

  “That right?’ she asked.

  “Mhmm,” I said. “I’m a psychology major at Angel City College. Looking to get into social work.”

  “Social work?” asked Dr. Vivant. “That’s admirable. But not exactly the most lucrative field you could get into.”

  “True,” I said. “But I figure I’d rather have the chance to help people than make a ton of money.”

  Dr. Vivant gave me another smile.

  “Nothing impossible about helping people and making money,” she said. “It’s what I do.”

  I supposed she had a point.

  “Have you ever considered private practice work?” she asked. “Working one on one with clients, maybe doing some private research on your own time?”

  “It’s what Mom’s done while she’s published her books and studies,” said Bonnie. “And she makes, like, a ton of money.”

  The idea of making “like, a ton of money” was strange to me. I’d spent all of my life in near-poverty and had no idea what I’d even do with enough income to live comfortably.

  Bonnie took several hurried bites of her salad before hopping out of her seat.

  “Okay, me and Hazel are going to be in my room,” she said. “Call if you need us.”

  “So soon?” asked Dr. Vivant. “Well, nice meeting you, Hazel. We’ll have to speak more about your career plans.”

  “I’d love to,” I said as Bonnie took me by the hand and led me out of the kitchen.

  Before I even knew what was going on, we were in Bonnie’s room, the door shut quickly behind us.

  “Okay,” she said. “Sit, sit.”

  I plopped down on the edge of the bed and waited for Bonnie to speak. She clearly had something on her mind that she was itching to tell me.

  “So …” she said. “Did you have fun the other night?”

  “It was … interesting,” I said.

  That barely scratched the surface, but before I could say anything else, Bonnie went on talking.

  “Isn’t Suntree so freaking amazing?” she asked. “He’s like no other guy I’ve ever met before.”

  There was a glimmer in her eye, and I knew what it meant.

  “Did you … sleep with him?” I asked.

  “I totally did!” she said. “And it was the best freaking sex I’ve ever had in my life. A guy like that … man, he knows how to make a girl feel good, you know?”

  “I’ll have to take your word for it,” I said.

  “And he was asking about you,” she said. “Wanted to know all about that ‘charming girl’ I’d brought along with me.”

  “Yeah,” I said. “Sorry to split. I was just feeling really overwhelmed.”

  “No problem,” she said. “It was your first biker party—it’s going to be this, like, totally sensory assault.”

  “And I kind of wish you wouldn’t have left me alone like that.”

  “Oh my God,” she said. “I felt so bad about that. But it’s just that when you’re with Suntree, you feel like the rest of the world doesn’t even exist. He’s got this way of making you feel like you’re the only person in the universe aside from him.”

  I thought back to how it had felt to have his eyes on mine. I was still peeved at Bonnie, but I almost couldn’t blame her. His gaze was like having a spell cast on you.

  “But you got out of there fine, right?” she asked. “How did you get out of there?”

  I didn’t want to bring up Dakota, so I quickly spun a lie.

  “I just went to the diner down the road and called an Uber,” I said.

  “Okay, cool—I can pay you back the next time we go out.”

  “Sure.”

  Silence hung in the air, and I could tell that Bonnie had more to say.

  “There’s something else, though,” she said. “How would you feel about going to another one of those parties?”

  My eyes shot open wide.

  “Are you serious?” I asked. “Another party with you?”

  “Kind of,” she said. “You’d be going to this one by yourself.”

  “What?”

  She nodded.

  “Listen, I
can’t stop thinking about Suntree. But he hasn’t messaged me or anything since we hooked up. And I want to know what’s going on with him, if I actually have a shot.”

  “A shot at what?”

  “You know,” she said. “Being his girl.”

  “Bonnie,” I said. “Did you see those other girls in his room? He had a whole freaking harem!”

  “I know, I know,” she said. “But I just know that if I could spend some time with him one on one, I could get him to forget about all those other girls.”

  “So you want me to another one of those parties and, what, talk to him about you?”

  “You can be in and out,” she said. “All you have to do is chat him up for a little bit, mention my name. And see if he’s got any other girls he sounds into.”

  “You can’t be serious,” I said. “You saw what happened the last time I went to one of these parties, right? I nearly got thrown over some biker’s shoulder and carried out of there.”

  “But that won’t happen this time,” she said. “Suntree knows you, and he likes you. Once he sees that you’re there, he won’t let any of the guys mess with you.”

  I hated the idea of it. But then Dakota flashed into my mind. Despite the violence I’d seen him dish out the other day, I couldn’t stop thinking about him. I hated myself for it, but I wanted to see him again so badly.

  And this would be just the chance to do it. Not to mention that doing a major favor like this for Bonnie would get me in good with her. I could have an actual friend, and maybe even get an opportunity to talk more to her mom about psych work.

  I had to do it—there was too much to be gained. And if Suntree really would look out for me, I’d be fine. I worried that I was addicted, that the danger and thrills of being in that world were too much to resist.

  I took a deep breath and answered.

  “Fine,” I said. “I’ll do it.”

  13

  Hazel

  Tension ran through me as I stood at the corner of the road where the party was. It was the same place as before, that big house situated among homes that looked like they’d been abandoned long ago.

  “Okay,” Bonnie had said to me before dropping me off. “I’ll be in the neighborhood, so give me a call when you’re ready to leave and I’ll come get you right away.”