by Ryan Michele
“Love you.” G.T.’s hand landed on my leg and squeezed. My heart warmed instantly.
“Love you, too.” Sitting there in silence for quite a while, we let the everyday noises of the garage fill the void. It was nice having the sun on my skin and not having to move for anyone. If I wanted to stay all damn day, I would. Yeah… never going back. “So, what’s new around here? Ma couldn’t tell me much when she came up.”
“Sorry, I couldn’t come.” None of the club members had been up to see me the entire two years. Part of me felt deserted by them, but deep down, I knew they were doing it to protect the club. One wrong word and they could all go down. I couldn’t live with that.
“No worries. Tell me.”
Blowing out a deep breath, G.T. began laying out the new shit going down and even some old shit. I knew he couldn’t tell me club business, so he just kept to the basics and more about the people and families than anything.
“What about my studio?” Two years before I went in, I started Studio X. The club owned the business, but it was mine. I built it from the ground up, making it the number one strip joint in Sumner. Every town needed one, and people came from miles around to partake, mostly married men who needed a little escape. I’m not one for cheating, but in my world, it happened all the time. As for me, I’d never tolerate it.
I took really good care of my girls and paid them exceptionally well. The club provided me with security that I was too busy to handle, and I handled the girls and money. The manager, Liv, handled all the scheduling, and whatever the girls needed she brought to me. Or that was how it was before I went inside.
The strip club was a legal way for the club to make money, and I was glad to help. Not to mention, the paychecks I received allowed me to live very comfortably. Win… win. But while I was gone, who knows what the hell happened. I knew I was ready to get back to it, though.
“X is doing great. Liv’s been running the show, keeping everything in line. Any issues we’ve taken care of. Nothing too much. Couple of the girls got roughed up. Money’s good.” G.T. said blowing out the smoke from his cigarette and paused. “You going back to work?”
“Yep. I’m gonna check in on everything tomorrow. Tonight is about partying.” Standing up, I brushed the ass of my jeans getting whatever dirt off. “I’ve gotta go say hi to Diamond.”
Out of the corner of my eye, Cruz walked out of the shop, putting his sunglasses on and making that already sexy body even sexier. Was that even possible? When his head turned, and he met my stare, he shook his head and kept walking. “What’s his story?”
“Patched in about a year ago, completely trust him. Came out of the Marines, and he’s an honorable man. He’s proven himself over and over again.” My mind flashed to Cruz in uniform, and I liked what I saw.
I spotted a man in the corner of the garage wearing a Prospect rag sweeping the blacktop and nodded his way. “What about him?” The man’s straight long hair covered his face, but his dark beard was long enough to see beyond the ends. His body was lean and lanky, but his movements were fluid and knowing. G.T.’s eyes followed mine.
“That’s Rocky. Pretty quiet, but talks when it’s important. He’s only about six months in.” I tilted my head to the side trying to get a better look at him. Something about him seemed familiar, but nothing I could pinpoint.
I turned to G.T. “I missed you,” I said, pulling my baby brother into a tight hug, which he reciprocated effortlessly. Ever since we were kids, he’s always acted like my big brother instead of younger. He taught me more than any one man in the club. He’s been in the ring with me, at the shooting range, and by my side throughout all these years coaching me to be the woman I am today. G.T., also known as Gage Thomas by birth certificate only, was the rock that I would fight for till my dying breath.
“I missed you too, Princess.”
Nodding, I began heading in the direction of the clubhouse with Cruz a few feet in front of me. “I know you’re there, girl.” I could get lost in that deep drawl of his voice. I didn’t slow my pace, but I did answer.
“I’m going to see Diamond.”
Cruz turned around suddenly, halting me in mid-step, “We will talk about this later.”
“We will, huh? You think this is how it works?” Leaning in close to him, my lips almost touched his ear. “I don’t fuck brothers. It’s not gonna change.”
He challenged me back, leaning into my ear, the smell of him and leather assaulting my senses. “Everything changes.”
I tapped down the shiver that ran through my body. I was not giving in. I couldn’t. I’ve seen so many mommas come in and out of the club, that’s what the guys called whores, club mommas. The names were interchangeable with them. I would never become one of them.
It’s one thing to find a guy outside the club, have a good time, and get away. Here… you never get away. I was not one to be passed around by the guys and deal with all the drama of seeing them with another woman. I was strong, but some things, I knew were too much.
Pulling away from him, I stepped through the clubhouse doors. The smell of stale beer and cigarettes lingered everywhere. Adjusting my eyes to the darkness, I took in everything in the room. Dark paneling encased the entire room. One was a wall of pictures, those who we have loved and lost. The other wall was the bar. Mirrors lined the walls with beer signs shining brightly. Liquor and glasses encompassed the shelves. The L-shaped bar had tons of nicks and dents, representing years of men drinking and becoming brothers.
A man about my age wearing a Prospect rag was behind the bar. “Hey, Sweetheart, can I get ya something?”
“Oh, Honey. What I want, you can’t give me,” I purred, cozying up to the bar, leaning on my elbows, giving him a good show of my tits. Yep flirting.
“I’m sure I can.” His eyes lingered on what I’ve just put out in front of him, and he licked his top lip.
A hand slammed down hard on the bar next to me, catching me off guard and causing me to jump a bit. Cruz stood next to me, eyeing the Prospect. “She yours?” he asked Cruz.
“Yeah. Hands off,” Cruz growled.
My temper flared. There was no way in hell this guy was going to lay claim to me. I knew how this shit worked. Once a brother claimed a woman, she was untouchable to anyone. I shouldn’t care since I wouldn’t get with anyone in the club, but my independence took over. This was so not happening. “Fuck off. I’m not yours. I’m not anyone’s. Let’s get that shit straight right now.” The Prospect actually looked nervous which pissed me off more. “Grow some balls,” I murmured, staring at him.
“Who the fuck do you think you are?” The Prospect glared intently at me. Respect goes a long fucking way, and if these shits didn’t show it now… they’d never make it.
Before I could let the asshole know how I felt, Cruz stepped in. “Shut the fuck up. You don’t fucking talk to her like that. You hear me?” His eyes fell as he went back to cleaning the bar.
“I don’t need to be rescued. I can damn well do it myself.” I gripped the side of the bar tight enough to turn my knuckles white.
“Maybe that’s the problem. You need a man instead of the pussies who let you get away with that shit.” Cruz said grabbing the beer bottle from the bar taking a long swig. Watching his Adam’s apple bob as he swallowed, I held back the moan that wanted to escape my dry lips turning my insides to mush.
“You know what I need?” I leaned in close to him breathing him in, but mustering my strength. “I need a dick. One that has no association with this club, and I’ll get it tonight. After that, I’ll be just fine. Don’t worry your little heart about that.” Hearing Cruz’s breathing pick up, I turned back to the bar smiling.
“Princess?” Turning towards the church doors, Diamond stood there tall and proud. Man, these two years since I had seen him last had aged him. He was still as handsome as always, however, with his short gray hair and green sparkling eyes; it was obvious that time was wearing on him. I could sense the power radiating off of h
im though.
Before I was able to walk to him, Cruz reached out and gripped my arm. “We’re not done here.”
Nodding and pulling away from Cruz, I leaned into Diamond’s arms. “You all right, Old Man?”
“Never better now that you’re home.” Diamond wrapped his arms around me tightly, kissing me on the cheek. “They let you do that red shit to your hair in the joint?” His own question made him laugh. He has always given me shit about my wild hair ways. Back in the day, I’d have three or four colors at a time. He just liked to give me shit.
“Yep, some bitch named Berta. Made me eat her pussy first.”
His deep laugh was music to my ears. “Glad to know your smart ass mouth came home, too.”
He squeezed me tighter. “Thanks, Di.”
The story continues in Ravage Me (Ravage MC Book#1) which is currently available FREE through all major ebook retailers.
About Chelsea Camaron
USA Today bestselling author Chelsea Camaron is a small town Carolina girl with a big imagination. She’s a wife and mom, chasing her dreams. She writes contemporary romance, erotic suspense, and psychological thrillers. She loves to write about blue-collar men who have real problems with a fictional twist. From mechanics to bikers to oil riggers to smokejumpers, bar owners, and beyond she loves a strong hero who works hard and plays harder.
Join Chelsea in Chelsea’s Biker Broads FB Group
Chelsea can be found on social media at
@chelseacamaron
authorchelseacamaron
www.authorchelseacamaron.com
[email protected]
Other books by Chelsea Camaron
Click Here for Direct Amazon Link
Love and Repair Series: Available in KU
Crash and Burn
Restore My Heart
Salvaged
Full Throttle
Beyond Repair
Stalled
Box Set Available
Hellions Ride Series:
One Ride
Forever Ride
Merciless Ride
Eternal Ride
Innocent Ride
Simple Ride
Heated Ride
Ride with Me (Hellions MC and Ravage MC Duel with Ryan Michele)
Originals Ride
Final Ride
Roughneck Series: Available in KU
Maverick
Heath
Lance
Box Set Available
Stand Alone Thriller – Stay
Stand Alone Short Romance – Serving My Soldier Available in KU
Devil’s Due MC Series:
Crossover
In The Red
Below The Line
The following series are co-written
The Fire Inside Series:
(co-written by Theresa Marguerite Hewitt)
Kale
Regulators MC Series:
(co-written by Jessie Lane)
Ice
Hammer
Coal (Coming Soon)
Summer of Sin Series
Original Sin (co-written with Ripp Baker, Daryl Banner, Angelica Chase, MJ Fields, MX King)
Caldwell Brothers Series
(co-written by USA Today Bestselling Author MJ Fields)
Hendrix
Morrison
Jagger
Stand Alone Romance – co-written with MJ Fields
Visibly Broken
Use Me
Ruthless Rebels MC Series – co-written with Ryan Michele)
Shamed
Scorned
Scarred (Releases May 5, 2017)
Schooled (Releases June, 2017)
Click Here for Direct Amazon Link
About Ryan Michele
Ryan Michele found her passion in bringing fictional characters to life. She loves being in an imaginative world where anything is possible, and she has a knack for special twists readers don’t see coming.
She writes MC, Contemporary, Erotic, Paranormal, New Adult, Inspirational, and other romance-based genres. Whether it’s bikers, wolf-shifters, mafia, etc., Ryan spends her time making sure her heroes are strong and her heroines match them at every turn.
When she isn’t writing, Ryan is a mom and wife living in rural Illinois and reading by her pond in the warm sun.
Join Ryan’s Sultry Sinners Group on Facebook
Come Find Me
@Ryan_Michele
AuthorRyanMichele
www.authorryanmichele.net
[email protected]
Other Books by Ryan Michele
Click Here for Direct Amazon Link
Ravage MC Series
Ravage Me
Seduce Me
Consume Me
Inflame Me
Captivate Me
Ravage MC Novella Collection
Ride with Me (co-written with Chelsea Camaron)
Vipers Creed MC Series
Challenged
Conquering
Conflicted (Coming soon)
Ruthless Rebels MC Series (co-written with Chelsea Camaron) Available in KU
Shamed
Scorned
Scarred (Releases May 5, 2017)
Schooled (Releases June, 2017)
Loyalties Series
Blood & Loyalties: A Mafia Romance
Raber Wolf Pack Series (Available in KU)
Raber Wolf Pack Book 1
Raber Wolf Pack Book 2
Raber Wolf Pack Book 3
Stand Alone Romances Available in KU
Full Length Novels
Needing to Fall
Safe
Wanting You
Short Stories—Available in KU
Hate Sex (Coming Soon)
Branded
Novellas
Billionaire Romance Series
Stood Up (Coming Soon)
Set Up (Coming Soon)
Picked Up (Coming Soon)
Hung Up (Coming Soon)
Click Here for Direct Amazon Link
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