by Eve R. Hart
Sweet!
My prayers were answered with the number for a pizza delivery place. It wasn’t the best of food to eat, but hey, I wasn’t going to complain right then.
Knowing that Neiryn would be out for a little bit longer, I grabbed the last bag and headed up to the bathroom. I was hesitant at what was to come next but maybe it was just the change I needed.
Here goes nothing.
CHAPTER FOUR
Axe
“We need to head back,” Loch said with a look that let me know it was urgent.
I didn’t want to leave Tank, especially since I didn’t trust his chick one hundred percent yet. Though, it was hard to fucking deny that she cared about the guy. Part of me was over the fucking moon for him, because he deserved that shit. But the hardened part of me was skeptical. I tried my best to put my shit aside and really take her in.
Nadya was no doubt a cutthroat, badass, scary woman. She was too calm and her face was all stone, never revealing her emotions. Well, except when she was looking at Tank. That was the only time I saw her show the smallest amount of human. Even I had to admit, I wouldn’t want to be on her bad side.
But all that aside, it didn’t matter how I felt. Loch was my VP and if he said jump, then I fucking bounced with everything I had in me. Plus, the look of urgent concern on his face let me know we needed to get gone right fucking now.
The ride home was fast. Not even really long enough for me to feel a wave a panic over what was going on. After we pulled through the compound gates, we hopped off our bikes and Lock, Diesel, Bocca, and I ended up in Cal’s office.
Basically, someone had rented Ethel’s house.
Oh, right. Loch was the Vice Prez. Reagan was his old lady. Ethel was her grandmother. That woman was bat-shit crazy and pinched my ass every chance she got. But she was fun and made amazing cookies, so I’d put up with the ass grab as long as I got some of that shit.
Ethel called Loch, explaining the situation and said that the girl seemed skittish and gave her money for rent without even looking at the place. Yep, shit seemed shady to me and with all the stuff the club was dealing with, we couldn’t be too careful.
My first thought, Savage sent someone in to get close and spy on us. I wouldn’t put it past that motherfucker. We’d been under his thumb for too fucking long. I hated him for what he’d turned the club into and we were down two great people because of him. Three, really, because when Logan died in that explosion we lost Tank too. Though I had a feeling he might be making his way back and I couldn’t be more happy about it. Tank was my brother. The closest person I had here. He never looked down on me for all the shit I’d gone through in life and he never judged me for some of the things I thought sometimes.
So, it looked like I was up now. It was my job to check out the house and see who this bitch was. It didn’t bother me any, I knew I had the patience to deal with it.
After a much-needed shower, I rode over to the house. I parked a little ways down the road and cut the engine. I wasn’t going to make myself known, not just yet. I wanted to sit back and watch.
Sometimes watching told more than going in guns blazing and demanding answers. Plus, after dealing with Nadya, I was a little hesitant about being around women. Not that I was scared, it was more that I needed time to process everything that had happened in that basement. I had somehow managed to keep my cool with Nadya, but only on the outside. And I couldn’t help but wonder when my feet would slip off of that wire and I ended up becoming the man I hated with every fiber of my being.
Three hours went by and the house seemed as quiet as it had been for the past few months. The blinds were closed and there wasn’t so much as a shadow that crossed in front of them. I was beginning to think that the old bat had truly gone crazy and that there was actually no one there.
The sun tucked itself behind the tree line and I contemplated calling it a fucking night and letting one of the prospects sit watch. Then I thought I should at least get a closer look. With the night providing cover, I would be able to get close to the house completely unseen.
I pulled out my phone and send Cal a text. I told him to send me some backup. While I had no doubt I could take care of it all on my own, I was smart enough to know that there were surprises waiting around every corner. Nowadays, we couldn’t be too careful.
I pulled out a cigarette while I waited. The harsh smoke that filled my lungs did nothing to ease the strained feeling I had in my gut. I heard two bikes down the road heading my way. I didn’t even have to turn and look to know that one of them was Brand. His nineteen-eighty Triumph Bonneville T140E rumbled through the air and I swore if I closed my eyes I could feel it vibrating the soles of my sneakers through the asphalt.
Brand pulled up behind me while Calvin, one of the new prospects, parked on the other side of the street. Calvin dismounted and rested his ass against his seat like he knew exactly why he was there—to sit and watch my back like a good boy.
“What’s up?” Brand said as he walked over to me.
I blew out my last lungful of smoke as I dropped my cigarette and crushed it under my shoe.
“Cal fill you in?” I asked jerking my head in the direction of the house I’d been watching. With a short nod from him, I had my answer. “Hasn’t been any movement the whole time I’ve been here. I’m starting to wonder if we aren’t chasing ghosts.”
“Thought I heard your bike,” Chris said looking at Brand as he crossed the street. “Everything alright?” he asked looking back and forth between us.
“Ethel rented this place out. You see anything?” I asked.
His house was across the street and two down from Ethel’s rental.
“Yeah. I was actually out front fixing the porch when she drove up. Right away she pulled into the driveway and around back. I didn’t see her until she walked to the end of the driveway to meet Ethel. I really didn’t see much and I was too far away to hear. But I saw her give a pretty plump envelope to Ethel. Then Ethel handed her what I assumed were keys and they went their separate ways. The woman disappeared around back and that was the end of that.” He gave a little shoulder shrug like he knew it wasn’t much help.
“You see what she looked like?” I asked.
“About Reagan’s height. Medium blonde hair. That’s about all I saw,” he replied.
His eyes asked the questions his mouth didn’t dare to. Since he was pretty close with most of us at the club, I opted to let him in a little. It also helped to know that he’d have our backs if we ever needed. And an extra set of eyes wouldn’t hurt either.
“Ethel just said the chick seemed skittish. Wanted us to check it out,” I said and he nodded.
“Alright, I gotta get to the bar. Let me know if I can do anything.”
Brand and Chris exchanged some sort of hand slap thing and I resisted the urge to roll my eyes. Truth be told, it was kinda cute in a manly sort of way.
Ever since shit went down with Reagan, Chris and Brand had formed some sort of bond. Chris was Reagan’s best friend, and at one point she and Brand had been pretty close. I didn’t know the specifics of the shit that went on, but I was smart enough to figure out that there was some sort of weird feelings shit that went on with Reagan and Brand. I might even go as far as to say he was halfway in love with the girl. But in the end, Loch held her heart and now Brand was sort of awkwardly standing on the sidelines, trying to be invisible most of the time.
Just as we were about to head up to the house a truck pulled into the driveway. A truck I knew pretty fucking well because there was only one place in this small town that delivered and being that we sometimes liked to be lazy, we ordered from there a lot. So yep, that truck meant my way in.
My hand met Brand’s chest in a hard slap at the same time I waved the prospect over with my other. I took off across the Mayfield’s yard and to the hedges that separated the two properties. Slipping through the stiff bushes, I made sure there was no movement in the windows of the house. The driver caugh
t my eye and froze. Lifting my hand, I made a motion for him to roll down his window.
“Sup, man?” he said, looking a little less caught off guard.
“Here,” I said as I handed him a fifty dollar bill. “Let me take it to the door.”
“Sure, man,” he said lifting the pizza box up to me after he took the money. A smile spread on his face no doubt thinking about the nice tip he’d just received. “Oh! Instructions were to take it to the back door and knock three times.” He shrugged.
Yeah, because that didn’t sound shady. There was definitely something up here and just my fucking luck, I was about to bust in and find out.
“Thanks,” I said with a chin lift. “Wait here a minute. Count to ten once we round the corner then you can drive off.”
I took off with steady steps towards the back of the house without waiting for him to respond. I knew he’d do what I told him. I could hear Brand’s footsteps behind me and I knew he had my back.
On the back steps, I stood just out of view from the window on the door. The pizza box positioned in view, so it wouldn’t seem suspicious. I knocked three fucking times, exactly as instructed, and waited. The footsteps that approached were soft and light. I readied myself as I heard the lock disengage and I saw the handle turn.
My free hand whipped out, pushing the door and catching whoever was behind it off guard. I didn’t want to hurt them, just knock them off balance a bit. Because I was pretty sure it was a female that answered the door, but really, I had no idea. Without missing a beat, I barged into the house, followed closely by Brand and the prospect.
“What the…?” The light voice faded off as she realized that I’d pretty much just broken into her place.
She sucked in a sharp breath, and I continued to walk further into the house like I owned the damn place. I passed the kitchen, still holding the pizza box with one hand, then I turned and went into the dining room.
I knew the layout of the house and since I’d been there often enough helping Ethel fix up things when needed, I also knew the furniture that Ethel had set up in there. I knew the place came fully furnished and I couldn’t imagine that this chick had much with her anyway. Especially given that I didn’t see a moving truck anywhere.
“Excuse me?” She said following behind us. Her tone was mostly annoyed but I could hear the hint of fear under it. It brought a damn smile to my face sensing it.
I plopped down at the table, my back to the far wall so I was able to see into the open living room and nothing was behind me. The box hit the table with a loud plop that echoed off the bare walls. As I rocked back in the seat, looking comfortable as all get out, Brand flanked to my right and the prospect went and stood between the girl and the front door. My hands went out behind my head, fingers interlacing as I reached my arms back.
That was the moment I actually looked at her. My eyes did a slow skim over her, starting from her bare feet, up over her tight as fuck yoga pants, to her loose short-sleeved T. Her arms were folded over her chest in a way that hindered my view of her tits. Her neck was slender and I watched her throat work down a hard swallow as my eyes roamed higher. Her lips were pinched tight and mine tipped up at one side in a knowing smirk. Her nose was cute, small, and a bit upturned at the end. Then I met her eyes. Blue like the fucking deepest part of the ocean. They only stood out more against her dark brown hair.
Wait!
I recalled Chris saying she had blonde hair.
What the hell?
I looked again, really taking the color in. It looked like it could have been natural if it wasn’t for the fact that it was pretty much void of any highlights. She must have dyed it, and I guessed pretty recently given the fact that the ends still looked a bit damp. Couldn’t say it didn’t look good on her, though.
“What do you want?” she asked on a heavy exhale.
“We were hungry. Saw the pizza guy drive up. Heard you were new to town, so we figured we’d come give you the ole friendly welcome and share a meal with you.”
“P-please just go,” she said. Her stance was one of defiance but her eyes suddenly looked panic-stricken. I stiffened an unnoticeable amount.
She was hiding something. I could fucking sense it.
“But we haven’t even eaten yet, babe.” I knew I was being a giant asshole. I wasn’t beyond pulling out all the stops to make her feel uncomfortable. I wanted to see her shaking. I wanted to smell her fear.
“You need to go.” Her back straightened and she held her head high.
I chuckled at her as I flipped open the top of the box and pulled out a slice.
She shuffled back, looking like a caged animal. Her eyes shifted around and I was smart enough to know she was looking for a weapon or a way out. I’d bet on the former. There was something in her that screamed ‘fight’ at that moment.
“Don’t even think about it,” I said, pulling out my handgun from my side holster. Now, I knew I wasn’t going to use the thing on her, but she didn’t. And that was all I needed her to believe.
She froze, her chest rising and falling heavily. I placed the gun down on the table, my hand still gripped the handle but my finger was laying off the trigger. I lifted the pizza to my mouth with my other hand and took a giant bite.
“Eat,” a small voice called from behind her. My guess was it came from the other side of the couch that was blocking my view.
I shot out of my seat, the legs scraping along the wood making a loud, ear piercing ruckus as it did so. The panic and fear in her eyes flashed hard and I could see the wetness building up in them.
Before I could take another breath, little pitter-patter footsteps came running across the floor in our direction. With lightning speed, I tucked my gun back in my holster and made sure my cut covered it. I rounded the table, knowing I was about to come face-to-face with a kid. Well, probably knee-to-face, but you get my point.
The tiny boy stopped short right in front of me. His little head moved up as his eyes took me in. His little brows pinched together when he made it about halfway up my body, and what I only could assume was my cut.
“Dayee?” His voice rang out with confusion and a hint of fear.
“No,” she huffed out a strained laugh as she reached for the boy and picked him up. “Mommy’s got you.” She shot me a nasty look as she turned him away from me, trying her best to shield him with her body.
I won’t lie, I was fucked at that moment. No one said a damn thing about a kid. How had she managed to keep him hidden? And more importantly, why did she?
“I need to feed him. Do you mind?!” Her clipped tone wasn’t lost on me.
My eyes slid over to Brand’s. I could tell he felt as uneasy as I did. This changed everything.
CHAPTER FIVE
Allison
Holy Shit!!!
I mean, I knew all about this town and what was here before I even started this journey, but I didn’t think they’d find me that quickly. I hadn’t even been there a day.
Burke had explained the whole reason why he’d picked this place was because the town was pretty much protected by the Steel Paragons Motorcycle Club. Yep, bikers. And judging by the way three of them just pushed their way into the house, they were scary bikers. But then again, was there really any other kind?
As much as I tried to convince myself that I was prepared for their encounter, I wasn’t. My legs shook as they walked in caring my damn dinner like they were entering a buddies house. Then one of them sat down at the table like he owned the place.
I did my best to stand my ground but I was sure he could see the fear in my eyes. The only thing I could think was that I had to get them out before they saw Neiryn. It was one thing for them to know about me, it was another for them to know about my son. If they thought I was just some single girl looking for a new place to live that was alright.
This guy—Axe, his patch indicated, sat there looking like a king at the head of the table, though the table was round, so I wasn’t really sure there was a head.
But the point was, he took up the space like it was his.
He wasn’t overly huge and bulky, in fact, he seemed like he was maybe just under six feet tall and enough muscles to handle business but not lift a truck off the ground. I would say he was pleasantly defined. I wasn’t a huge fan of the steroid looking bulk.
Not that that mattered, because in no way did I need to find this guy—or any guy—attractive. I didn’t need anyone else entangled in the mess I was currently in. Though, I couldn’t deny his sandy blonde hair and hazel eyes may have made my breath hitch a bit.
Shaking off the crazy wobbliness that I had in my legs and belly, I steeled myself against his words, which were not all that pleasant. He was a first-rate asshole and I wasn’t sorry to say it. It had me wondering if Burke was right about these guys.
The look in this guy’s eyes was almost terrifying, though his tone seemed conveyed boredom. To say that I couldn’t get a read on him would have been the biggest understatement. And I could have sworn that his pupils dilated when he pulled out his gun. The fear that radiated off of me was unable to be hidden and all I could think about was getting out of this situation for my son.
Then Neiryn’s little voice broke through the tense mood of the room and my heart broke. I could no longer hide my little boy and I felt like a failure because there was no way I could shield him from what was going on right then. He’d seen enough in his short life and I’d hoped that we had put all of that behind us, but here we were, in a new situation with men who held all the power.
I was tired. I was sick of feeling weak and powerless, especially against men. I just wanted to find my inner strength and blow all of the bad stuff away. But sadly, I wasn’t that girl. I’d been too beaten down the last seven years and I had been left a broken shell of the girl I could have been. As much as I wanted to cry and crumble to the ground, I didn’t, only barely holding myself up and the bile back.
I flinched as the chair scraped across the floor, my eyes didn’t leave this Axe guy’s. If he was going to shoot then I was going to be ready to jump in front of the bullet.