by Sarah Peis
Since it felt safe to let her go inside the room, I did. She was delighted with her new surroundings, walking straight to the drawers and opening them, pulling out T-shirts.
I cringed and hoped Sebastian wasn’t particular about his clothes. This wouldn’t be the only time she’d be doing this while we were here.
“Sorry,” I mumbled and kneeled down next to her. “She’s made it her life goal to empty every drawer within her reach.”
Sebastian looked down at me with an intensity that caused my hands to shake and my eyes to widen. Was he really this mad at his clothes being disturbed?
“Don’t worry about it. She can empty whatever she likes in here,” he said, his words contradicting his expression.
Luca climbed up on the couch, and Sebastian turned the TV on. “What’s your favorite show?”
“Paw Patrol,” Luca exclaimed, hopping up and down.
Sebastian put the series on and left the remote on the coffee table. I figured by now he should know that Lena would go straight for it. Any resulting bite marks would be on him.
“I have to go,” Sebastian said, turning for the door. “The kitchen is downstairs, big red door, can’t miss it. Help yourself to whatever you need.”
He put a keycard on the coffee table. “This is for the door to the room. It’s yours while you’re here.”
He was gone before I could do more than mumble a “Thanks.” And why would I even thank him? I wasn’t here because I asked to be. I was here because he once again decided I needed to be semi-kidnapped.
My bags were sitting next to the bed, and I pulled out all the toys and books I’d packed. Looking around the empty space that was to be our home for the next few days, I regretted not packing more.
We hung out in the room for a total of forty minutes before the kids were trying to put holes in the walls and Lena had the meltdown to end all meltdowns.
“Okay, okay, let’s go find something to eat,” I said, thinking an early dinner might be the best idea at this stage.
I picked Lena up and took Luca’s hand. They were excited to get out of the room.
The trip down the stairs was slow since Luca was busy watching everything but his feet and tripped every second step. I had to half carry him down as well as holding Lena. The stairway wasn’t long—my only saving grace—and I released the breath I was holding once we made it to the bottom.
“Now where is the kitchen?” I said, looking around the room, searching for a red door.
I spotted it on the other end and took a fortifying breath before making my way through the leather-clad bikers.
Lena threw her little body around, not wanting to be carried. I held on tight, and she clocked me in the face with her tiny fists a few times thanks to my efforts. But if I let her go now, we’d never eat tonight because I would be busy chasing her.
Luca was too intimidated to do much more than clutch my hand and stumble along behind me.
I once again received a few nods and waves that I returned. It wouldn’t be smart to piss people off on our first day here.
The kitchen was empty except for the big guy Sebastian introduced as Grim and one barely dressed woman.
“There you are,” Grim greeted me. “I was wondering when you’d be brave enough to leave your room.”
“The kids were hungry,” I said, my tone apologetic.
“There’s plenty of food, so you should be able to find what you need.”
Luca didn’t leave my side when I rummaged through the fridge, finding it well stocked. I decided on hot dogs. They were quick and easy to make, and the kids loved them.
I grabbed the buns and sausages and got to work. Luca was holding on to my leg, and Lena was still trying to get down.
“Baby girl, stop trying to dive onto the floor. You have to wait until I’m done cooking,” I said, placing a kiss on her head, barely missing another head butt.
“I’ll take her,” Grim said, holding out his hands.
He read my hesitation and said, “I’ve got eight grandkids. Haven’t dropped a single one. Your little one is safe with me.”
Lena stared at him wide-eyed when I handed her over, surprising me by not screaming at the stranger who’d picked her up.
Grim sat down with her on his lap, letting her play with his beard and leather vest. I finished dinner, keeping an eye on Lena to make sure she wasn’t scared or turning into a turd and annoying the big guy.
“Do you want hot dogs?” I asked Grim, wanting to do something to repay the favor. He was really good with my little tornado, stopping her from sliding off the bench they were sitting on and keeping her entertained.
Luca had fused himself to my leg, but I had no intention of removing him. I understood his feelings well, since I also wanted to hide behind someone’s leg.
“That would be great, darling,” Grim said.
I put everything on plates, making sure to give him three hot dogs.
Once we were all settled around the table, Lena went straight for Grim’s food.
He didn’t stop her, and we both watched her pull off a piece of his sausage and stuff it in her mouth. And spit it out again immediately.
“Hot,” she cried and put the regurgitated meat back on Grim’s plate.
My eyes went wide, and I jumped up. “I’m so sorry. I’ll get you a new plate.”
“Do I look like I’m scared of a bit of saliva? Sit back down and eat your dinner.”
I plopped back onto my seat and watched with not a small amount of horror as he continued shoveling food into his mouth, the half-chewed sausage getting caught up in the process. “This is amazing,” he mumbled between bites.
“It’s all about the right ketchup-to-mustard ratio,” I said, blinking at him when he finished the last bite of his food before I’d even gotten through half of my hot dog.
I’d settled in and stopped checking over my shoulder when about four guys burst into the kitchen.
Luca immediately dropped underneath the table, and Lena stood up, leaning on Grim’s arm.
“You made food and didn’t make us any?” one of the guys asked Grim.
“Wasn’t me who made it,” he responded and pointed his fork at me. “Ace’s girl did.”
“Do you want some?” I asked, getting up.
“Eat first. And if you still feel like cooking up a little more after you’re finished, I won’t say no,” he said and pulled out the chair next to me.
The guy looked to be in his thirties, with dark tousled hair and a body that saw a lot of gym time. Must have been one of the requirements to join their gang: big and muscly, facial hair preferred.
He only sported stubble and his eyes crinkled around the corners, making me hope he was a happy guy who wasn’t planning on damaging a hair on mine or my kids’ heads.
“I’m Talon,” he introduced himself with a wink.
“I’m Nora. This is Lena,” I said, pointing to my girl, then underneath the table. “And this is Luca.”
Talon leaned to the side so he could look underneath the table. “Hey, buddy. Looks like a good spot down there. Mind if I join you?”
Before I could tell him that he was the reason Luca was down there, he’d pushed his chair back and crawled under the table.
I shoved the rest of my food in my mouth, not really tasting anything, watching Talon talk to my son.
After five minutes, Luca chuckled. After ten he was talking to his new friend.
I decided it was safe to leave them to it and put more sausages in the pan. More people joined us, and soon I was making dinner for at least twenty bikers. The kitchen was big enough to house everyone, and the table was a long monstrosity with a bench attached to the wall and chairs on the other side.
Every seat was taken, and I couldn’t keep up. It wasn’t hard to fry up a sausage, but you’d think I’d made a three-course meal by the way the guys held out their plates.
Luca had come out of his hiding spot somewhere between sausage forty and fifty and was sitt
ing on a chair next to Talon, eating his food.
Lena was done with her bun and climbing all over Grim, who didn’t seem to mind. He let her go wild, holding on to her shirt so she wouldn’t fall off.
I was beginning to think I might have judged these guys a little too soon. So far no bodily harm had been threatened, and everyone seemed welcoming.
“Blade, man, you gotta try this,” Talon called to the guy who’d just walked in. They’d called him Prez last time I was here.
Two girls followed in his wake, and they looked less than pleased to be in the kitchen. Guess they weren’t big on carbs. Couldn’t win them all.
“There’s plenty there,” I said, nodding at the mountains of hot dogs I’d made.
I turned the stove off once everyone had had at least two servings. If they wanted more, they could make it themselves.
A glance at the time confirmed we’d been in the kitchen for nearly two hours and it was time for bed for my little ones.
“Okay, I’m off,” I announced, drying my hands on a dish towel. “Food’s on the plate on the counter. I have to put my kids to bed.”
There were a lot of groans, and a few guys jumped up to get more. Chuckling when they pushed each other out of the way, I went to collect my kids.
“Come on, baby girl,” I said and tried taking Lena from Grim.
She wasn’t having it and went from giggling to piercing screams.
“I’ve got her,” Grim said and got up.
Lena quieted down, and I looked at the table, the tips of my ears burning. “Sorry, guys.”
They all waved me off and didn’t seem to care that their eardrums had nearly been shattered a few seconds ago.
“Luca, time for bed,” I said to my son, who was playing a card game with Talon.
He could barely hold the cards but was having the time of his life. The tip of his tongue was sticking out in concentration as he studied the cards on the table.
I tapped him on the shoulder when he didn’t respond. “Come on, Sötnos.”
“No, Momma, I’m playing Go Fish with Talon.”
I blinked at my four-year-old, then at Talon. He shrugged, grinning at me. The big biker was playing Go Fish with my son. Who would have thought that would ever happen?
“It’s a great game. And he wanted to play, so one of the guys went out and bought the cards since all we usually play is poker,” Talon said, like he had to defend himself for playing a kids’ game.
“Hey, I’m not judging,” I said and put my hand on Luca’s arm. “Time to finish your game.”
“But, Mom,” he whined, looking at Talon with big eyes.
“We can play again tomorrow, but you have to go with your mom now,” Talon said.
Luca huffed but put the cards down. “You promise?”
Talon put a hand to his heart. “Promise.”
Luca studied him for a moment, then seemed to come to the conclusion that Talon could be trusted with his promise. He got up and took my hand.
“Say goodnight to everyone,” I said, and Luca and Lena both called out to everyone. They were delighted when they received a loud chorus of goodnights back.
“You coming back down?” Talon asked. “We’re having a few drinks tonight. Nothing big.”
“Maybe,” I said, having no intention of doing anything but sleeping tonight.
We walked back to the room, Grim following me with a tired Lena. I opened the door to Sebastian’s room with the keycard he’d given me and ushered Luca inside. Lena let me take her this time, her eyes drooping.
“Thank you so much,” I said once both kids were inside.
“It’s no problem at all. And you should really come down. You’ll go crazy if you stay in the room the whole time you’re here.”
I forced out a smile, hoping I hadn’t been too obvious about my thoughts on my temporary accommodations. “I’ll think about it.”
He waved to the kids. “Good night, munchkins. See you tomorrow.”
The kids went to bed easier than anticipated, and I soon found myself sitting in the dark, trying not to make too much noise so I wouldn’t wake them up.
I didn’t want to turn the TV on, and there was only so much online poker I could play on my phone before I got bored. After an hour, I still wasn’t tired enough to go to bed.
I plugged the child monitor in, making sure it faced the bed, and grabbed the other monitor.
Guess I was joining the party downstairs.
CHAPTER ELEVEN
“Why are you looking under the table? Your kids are still fast asleep upstairs,” Talon asked, watching me stick my head under the table.
“Just checking,” I muttered, my face feeling numb.
I’d had too much to drink. Five shots were too much for me. I hated tequila. But the guys looked so hopeful when I came back down. And then they offered me alcohol, and it felt rude to say no.
“Checking for what?” he asked, looking under the table as well.
“The orgies?” I said and slapped a hand over my mouth. That thought was supposed to stay in my head.
“Orgies? We don’t have orgies in the main room. And definitely not under the table. Not enough space,” Talon said and then broke out into roaring laughter.
I pushed him, his tall frame not moving an inch. “That’s not… I meant… it was just…”
“I think you’ve got bad reception. You’re cutting out,” Talon said, watching me with a twinkle in his eyes.
“You really thought we’d just all get down to business right here?” Gears asked, amusement evident on his face.
“I read books,” I said, blinking to clear my vision.
“Books of what? Orgies?”
“Bikers.”
Talon shook his head, his eyes still beaming with mirth. “You might see someone’s naked ass by the end of the night, but we keep the rest in our rooms. Sorry to disappoint.”
I’d come to realize that everyone was really easygoing. They all seemed to care about each other, liked to joke around, and welcomed me like I was their long-lost sister.
Being part of something meant a lot to me. Being part of a family, even if it wasn’t by blood, meant even more, especially since my own had discarded me so easily.
“I love you guys,” I declared, throwing my arms around Talon’s shoulders and my body into his arms, orgies forgotten.
He caught me, squeezing me around my middle. “How are you this drunk already?”
After hugging the other guys in the group that consisted of Gears, Grim, and a man they called Smoke, I settled back in my seat. I had a permanent smile attached to my face, my cheeks aching.
“I’m not drunk, you are,” I said, crossing my arms over my chest.
“You’ve had five shots over three hours and you can’t even figure out how to cross your arms. That’s the definition of a lightweight,” Gears said, taking a drink of his beer.
I looked down and noticed I hadn’t crossed my arms but instead was holding my own hand over my chest. Huh, I really thought I’d crossed them.
I squinted at the monitor sitting on the table. The image was grainy, but when I saw Luca and Lena still fast asleep, I relaxed back into the couch.
“So how did you meet Ace?” Gears asked. “You don’t seem like his type.”
“You mean he doesn’t like a woman with a brain? Or is it the kids? The half-Asian thing? You gotta be more specific here, dude.”
Grim smacked Gears over the head and murmured something to him, causing his face to blanch.
“Sorry, Nora, that’s not what I meant. Forget I said anything,” Gears said, his eyes shifting from me to Grim and back.
I waved him off, too drunk and happy to be offended by the comment. “Don’t worry about it. I know I’m not exactly a catch.”
Grim heaved himself up and squeezed in next to me. “Girl, if I was twenty years younger, I’d ask you to marry me today. You are the full package. You can cook, you’re beautiful, you’re funny and smart, and did I
mention you’re beautiful?”
I leaned my head on his shoulder. “Thanks, Grim. That’s a really nice thing to say.”
“Don’t let Ace hear you,” Talon said from Grim’s other side. “He’ll make you disappear faster than you can say ‘wedding.’”
Grim grunted in agreement and patted my hand that was holding on to his bicep. “I don’t fear many things, but that man’s wrath is one of them. Sorry, girly, no marriage for us.”
“Shame. I was looking forward to it. I’ve never been married before.”
There was silence on the table and I sat up, brushing my hair out of my eyes. “What? I bet none of you have been either.”
“You didn’t marry the kids’ father?” Talon asked.
“Nope. We were together eight years, had two kids, and he always said it wasn’t the right time. Should have known something was up. But I guess I like to learn my life lessons the hard way. Anyway, it all worked out for the best, because there’s no way I could afford an attorney to get a divorce.”
“That deserves another drink,” Grim announced and got up.
He poured as much tequila in each shot glass as he could fit and handed me mine. “Drink up.”
We clinked glasses, and I chugged the vile liquid, holding my breath the whole time. I took a large gulp of water to chase it down, taking a deep breath once it was done.
“Isn’t there something else we can drink?” I asked, my voice croaky from the alcohol.
“Nope. If you want to sit at the big boys’ table, you have to drink tequila,” Talon said and winked at me. “If you prefer a girly drink, you’re welcome to sit at the bar.”
I eyed the bar and suppressed the grimace that wanted to escape. Most of the girls were gathered along the metal bar, spanning almost one whole side of the warehouse. I looked at my sweats and T-shirt and knew I’d rather drink a whole bottle of tequila than go over there.
It was safe to say that the club didn’t attract shy girls. Or girls who wore clothes.
I poked my tongue out at Talon. “Hard pass. How about a round of poker?”
Talon’s face lit up, and he looked like a kid who just got the key to a candy store. He pulled a deck of cards from somewhere and shuffled them.