by Lila Rose
Men were strange.
The days that followed were something special. I got to know most of the guys as they came in and got their coffee when they wanted one. Some stayed around to chat and others said a quick hello.
On Friday, at closing time, I was shocked to come back from a toilet break to find the front office filled with most of the guys. Upon opening the door, they all started clapping and cheering. Then they parted, and Josie, with Pick and Billy behind her, stepped forward with a big bunch of flowers.
“They all wanted to do something special to show you how much they appreciate you being around to deal with the paperwork, phone calls, and for fixing their coffee machine.” She rolled her eyes and I giggled. Tears brimmed in my eyes. I quickly wiped them away.
“Glad to have you here, Low!” Bulldog shouted.
“Yeah, be lost without ya, beautiful!” Sunny yelled from the back of the group.
“Babe, if Dodge doesn’t get his finger outta his arse when he gets back, I’ll claim you,” Muff teased with a wink.
Though that comment confused me.
My head jerked back and I said, “But Dodge and I aren’tâ”
“Anyway,” Dive interrupted. “It’s time to party!” he shouted. Cheering, hollering and whistling echoed around my small office.
Things calmed down and almost everyone left the office, either walking out the side door to the garage or out the front. That was when I saw women arriving and the men claiming them with an arm around their shoulders.
Looking to Josie, who stood beside me while I shut down the computer, I saw her wince.
“Babe, it’s party time,” Dive said. “Means the club girls are here to get the party started.”
“Club girls?” I asked.
Josie nodded with a look of disgust on her face. “They’re a bunch of women who freely offer themselves up for…”
“They like the attention and to get fucked by us bikers,” Dive finished for her.
Suddenly, I felt sick. Women did that? They came here to get it on with bikers and let the men use them in any way? Why?
“Women get hot for biker cock,” Billy said plainly. He sent an apologetic look to his woman. “They’re up for anything, and they don’t care who they get it from. They share themselves around. Some even have a few men going at them at the same time.”
“That’s…”
“Shameful,” Josie said. “Iâd never seen it before until the first time I joined in at a club party with Billy and Pick. Though, I wasn’t really welcomed by the women. They hated me because I had two of the new, fresh meat.”
“Screw them then,” I snapped. Josie laughed and Pick came forward to pull her back against his chest, wrapping his arm around her waist. I watched her melt. I quickly glanced at Billy to see the small smile playing on his lips as he watched Josie and Pick, before I asked, “Wouldn’t you have seen this in Ballarat, though?” I asked.
“No.” She smiled.
“Talon got rid of all free pussy before he took claim to Zara. Knew she’d hate it, didn’t want anything to wreck his chance with her. Pussy still showed, just never when Talon was there. But now, a lot of the brothers are hooked to an old lady, so club pussy stopped altogether in Ballarat.”
Oh, now I got it. âOld ladyâ meant they had a woman.
“But they still do it here,” I stated.
“Yeah, Memphis didn’t care. He had a woman at home, and all the girls knew not to approach him after he shoved one bitch outta his face for even trying. Still, he was fine with the brothers having their fun.”
“But Dodge is now president.”
“Dodge loves getting it on…fuck,” Dive groaned. “That was back when we just got here, before he knew you.”
Shaking my head, I offered, “I don’t know why you keep defending him like I’d be hurt with what he’s done. He and I weren’t and never will be a thing.”
“Butâ”
“Dive,” Billy barked and shook his head.
“Anyway,” Josie said. “It’s up to you if you want to party at the compound, or we’re heading to our place for drinks and then a nightclub. We wanted to know if you wanted to come to celebrate your first week finished working here.”
Taking her hand in mine, I gave it a squeeze. “I appreciate the thought, I really do, but I think I’ll just head back to Dive’s.”
Dive groaned. “That means I’ll have to go with you and miss out on free pussy.”
“Pig,” I coughed into my hand. “But no, you can stay. I doubtâ”
“Never doubt,” Pick said in a low tone. “You never know what can happen. Look, we’ll take you back. Dive can get his fill and meet us back there. We’ll stay with her until you’re done, brother.”
“Lifesaver,” Dive cried, slapped Pick on the back and walked out the door.
I wasn’t really in the mood for company. After finding out about the club women, it kind of put a dampener on my happy mood from my heart being filled to the top with the appreciation the men had shown me with having me work there.
Still, because I didn’t want Dive to regret taking me into his house…after Dodge ordered him to, I was glad Pick had offered.
On the drive home, Josie said to Billy in the back of the car, “I put the final touches on the rooms today.”
“Good, sweetheart. He’s all set then.”
“Yes. It’s kinda scary that we’ll see Dodge with children.”
“He’ll have our help, precious,” Pick reassured her. I thought it was nice that Pick, Billy and Josie had gone to Dodge’s place to clear out the spare rooms and install new bedding and such to go with the children and their ages. Josie was excited to have kids around again; she’d told me how much she missed seeing her nieces and nephews.
What was also nice was that they didn’t hide those things from me. They still included me in things, even after what happened between Dodge and me. Instead, for the children’s sake and because I loved spending time with Josie, I went shopping with her and her men in my spare time and helped pick out items for the kids’ rooms. I was even excited to see how they’d like their new rooms.
Though, because they’d just lost their mother, I wasn’t sure they’d be too happy about anything.
When we pulled into Dive’s driveway, my heart took off in a wild gallop. There was an SUV parked in Dodge’s drive. He was home.
Chapter Sixteen
Willow
“I’ll take Willow inside and lock the place up if you two want to go see Dodge,” Josie offered. I was glad she did. There was no way I was going over there.
“We’ll get you both inside first,” Pick said as he climbed out of the car. We all followed and made our way inside. Billy asked us to stand by the front door as he walked through Dive’s house. He came back out stating all was clear. Josie gave them both a quick kiss before they walked out the front door and Josie locked it, which was then checked by one of the guys from out the front.
I slumped down on the chair in the living room and sighed. I wanted to go over there and needed to know he was okay.
But how could I want to do it after the way he treated me?
Looking to Josie, I asked, “Did you leave it?”
She sat in the chair opposite me and nodded. “On his nightstand. He shouldn’t miss it. But…honey, are you sure you should have done it?”
No, I wasn’t sure.
However, I did.
I’d asked Josie to leave money and a note in Dodge’s house. It took me multiple times to write what I wanted to say and still, I remembered every word.
Dodge,
I wanted to thank you for taking me in when you did. For wanting to protect me, even when I pushed it on you. I’m sorry for giving you no choice and having me stay in your house. Thank you for the clothes you bought for me, but I can no longer accept them. I would have given them back to you, but somehow I doubt they would fit. So in return, I sold them. Here is most of the money back. Once I’ve w
orked some more, I’ll give Dive some more money to give to you for the rest of the clothes and for other expenses while I was under your roof.
I hope you find happiness, and I hope you’re okay after facing the loss of your sister.
I promise not to be a burden on your doorstep again.
Low
Regret for doing it filled me. Regret for saying I was a burden when I’d tried not to be in the first place and asked to stay with Lan ate at me. Was I being petty by leaving it? Probably. But at the time, I wanted to hurt him, even just a little, like the way he’d hurt my feelings.
Still, right then, I felt stupid.
We’d had a week together, yet somehow my emotions, my feelings were coiled tight around Trey Monroe. A week and I was a goner for that man.
Stupid, stupid me.
“Do you want anything to eat, drink?” Josie asked.
“Not really, girl.”
“You have to have something. What about I order a pizza? The guys will want something soon.”
There was a knock on the door. “Sweetheart, open up,” came Billy’s voice from the other side. Josie smiled and skipped over to the door. On opening it, she threw her arms around his neck like she hadn’t seen him for months. He curled her into him and gave back the love she’d greeted him with.
That was what I wanted.
Groaning to myself, I slapped my hand to my forehead. God, how could I be thinking about my love life when I was still in hiding from the biker who owned me? I was still stuck in a situation that kept me where I was.
If it was over, I could move on.
If it was over, I could start again.
…And then be kicked up the arse once again when someone new chewed me up and spat me out like most people in my life did.
Pity party for one. Please take a seat and enjoy my morbid train ride.
“Low.” I looked up to see Billy standing in front of me with a sad smile upon his face.
“He wants me gone?” was the first thing that popped into my mind, which I accidently voiced.
“No, babe. He asked me to give this back to you.” He held out the money. “And then there’s this.” A slip of paper was in his other hand.
My hand shook as I slowly reached for it, worried it was going to bite me on the fingers. I pulled it free and he laid a gentle hand on my shoulder before he turned to Josie, tagged her with an arm around her waist and led her off towards the kitchen.
I didn’t think he would find it that fast and then have time to reply. He had kids to take care of, get them settled in. But maybe, after he threw his bags in his room, he spotted it and got so angry he didn’t want to wait to rip me a new one.
Licking my suddenly dry lips, I opened the note.
Little bird,
What the fuck were you thinking? You need a phone so I can ring you or text you instead of this old-school shit with passing notes. You can buy the fucking phone with the money that belongs to YOU!
I was an arse. A big, giant, hairy fucking arse. We need to talk face to face. I know now isn’t the time. But soon. I’ll come calling, and you will talk to me.
Trey (not and never will fucking be Dodge to you!)
My eyes teared. Then they widened and then they squinted into a glare. Who did he think he was? He will come calling and I will talk to him. No way and no how.
He was the one who called me a bitch and kicked me out of the house because he thought I was all over Beast like a dog in heat. He kicked me out. He spoke to me like a piece of dirt stuck to his shoe, yet he thought he could order me around in a goddamn note.
The whole letter pissed me right the heck off.
Sighing, I slumped back in the chair.
I was annoyed because my stupid, pathetic heart fluttered and I smiled a small smile.
God. What was I going to do?
One thing I did know was I was never letting him treat me like that again, and if it meant keeping my distance, I had to do it.
After everything.
After my family screwed me over time and again, I did not need some alpha male dictating to me what he wanted from me.
What about what I wanted?
God. What do I want?
It seemed I got out of one mess and straight back into another.
I knew for certain, though, I was not going to buy a phone with his money. Somehow, I would get it back to him. Even if it meant spending it on his niece and nephew.
Josie walked back into the room with Billy following. “How was it?” she asked, and then her footing stalled when she saw my glare. “That good?”
“Oh, no, it was fine,” I said sarcastically. “He thinks he can come back and expect me to get over it because he called himself an arse and then boss me around. Then things are all peaches.”
“I’m thinkin’ it’s actually not,” Billy mumbled.
“Damn tooting it’s not all good,” I growled and stood from the chair.
I watched Billy’s lips twitch. He turned to Josie and asked, “Did she just say âdamn tootin’?”
“Um, yes,” Josie said, her lips also twitching.
“Not funny.” I glared and stamped my foot.
“All right, take a breather and calm your tits, woman.”
Josie turned on him. “Did you just say âcalm your titsâ to Willow?”
He groaned and stepped back, arms folded across his chest. “If I say yes, does that mean I’m not gettin’ lucky tonight?”
“Yes.” She glared.
“Then no.” He smiled and winked.
Josie rolled her eyes and turned back to me. “Dodge probably didn’t think when he wrote the note. Billy said he’s had a hard time with the kids.”
My venom eased a fraction. “Are they okay?”
Billy shrugged. “Dodge said the girl, Romania, is cool about moving, but the boy is being a shit.”
I threw my arms up in the air. “Of course he’s acting out. He just lost his mum and now he’s moved away from his friends, who could have helped him out, and in with a man he hardly knows. And let’s face it, Dodge can come across as a scary guy. All tall, big shoulders, sexy…anyway, I was saying the boy will need time to settle in.”
Josie giggled then sobered when I lasered her with a look. “Yes, you’re right. I totally agree. Sexy Dodge can be scary.”
Groaning, I slapped my forehead.
“Though, you’re also right. If he gives…Texas, right?” She looked to Billy who nodded. “Some time to settle in, start at the new school, things should settle down. Dodge isn’t the most maternal man.” Billy snorted at that, and Josie glared at him. “But with help, he should be fine.”
I hoped so, for the kids’ sake, at least. What must they be thinking after going through losing their mum and now living with a big, scary biker dude? It would be hard.
There was a knock at the door. “That’ll be the pizza,” Josie said and started for the door until Billy grabbed her arm and shook his head. Instead, he went to the door.
Once he’d paid and gave the…heck, five boxes to Josie, he said, “I’ll be back soon.” He spun, walked out the door and closed it behind him.
“Where’s he going?” I asked as I helped Josie place the boxes on the big coffee table.
“Going to get the others for dinner.”
I was bent over, looking in the boxes to see what toppings they’d got, when I paused and looked up at Josie. “And by others, you mean Pick, right?”
She wouldn’t meet my gaze. She shrugged then mumbled, “And Dodge and the kids.”
Standing quickly, I faked a yawn and said, “Wow, I’m so tired. I think I might just go to bed.”
Why would Dodge write me a note when he knew he was coming over in the first place? Was it to piss me off before he got there? What was his game? I didn’t understand it, and I didn’t have to stick around to find out.
I moved. Josie got in front of me. I side-stepped. She was there.
“What are you doing?” I hissed. �
�I thought you were my girl?” I snapped with my hands on my hips.
“I am. But I’d love for you to meet the kids with me.”
I raised a brow at her. “And?”
She sighed. “It’s got to happen sooner or later, you two in a room together, so why not let it happen when other people are around? At least you’ll have a buffer then and be able to dodge Dodge.” She giggled. It was actually funny and I would have laughed with her or smiled at least, but my stomach was all of a sudden wrapped up tight in a ball of nerves, annoyance sliding around, as well.
My eyes widened when I heard the rattle of the doorknob.
Chapter Seventeen
Dodge
They hated me.
Maybe I was exaggerating. Romania seemed to warm to me straight away, but the boy, he couldn’t stand me and I couldn’t blame him. We didn’t know each other and even in the two weeks we’d spent together, he’d said hardly a word to me. So we still knew nothing about each other. I’d tried. I asked him questions, but he’d ignore me. I’d left him alone, thinkin’ he’d soon come around. However, he hadn’t.
The kids were still dealing with losing their mother. Not that it was much of a loss, which I found out the first night with them. Still, it’d be something to deal with, thrust outta one situation and into another. Knowing it was hard for them, I didn’t push anything on them.
Romania was a cute, smart kid. One who went with the flow on things. Her, I could deal with. The boy and his attitude, not so much. Still, I had to give him time to adjust.
As soon as I’d walked into my sister’s house, I knew I was gonna have trouble with Texas. Jennifer introduced me to them as they sat together on the couch. Romania jumped up with a smile and flung her tiny arms around my waist to hug me. Texas took one look, turned up his nose at me and walked outta the room. Romania, who told me I could call her Rommy, skipped out of the room after her brother. I learned then that they also had no father; he’d died five years earlier, and it wasn’t like he was even in their life before that, either.