Burned_Viking Bastards MC

by Christina Phillips

  “She’s all right.” He regards me as though he’s assessing whether to continue, and I take another bite of omelet, just to show him I don’t care that now, unlike before, he feels the need to screen everything he says to me. Except I do care. “She grew up with the Wolves.”

  My omelet sticks in my throat, and I choke. Tears well in my eyes, and I grab my napkin and press it to my mouth. Is he jerking around?

  “The Silver Wolves?” I double check as soon as I can breathe again. “Oh, my God. And none of the Bastards have an issue with that?”

  The Bastards and Wolves MCs have been enemies forever, and shortly before I left L.A., things came to a head with a double murder that rocked the Bastards. It came close to full out war between the two MCs, but I had my own problems and left before anything was resolved.

  “A lot of things have changed since you left.”

  Not enough. I ignore both that thought, and the hint of accusation in his tone. “Obviously. It used to be a capital offense to mention their name in a Bastard’s hearing.”

  “We formed an alliance over nine years ago.”

  Unbidden, I recall things Ty told me at the time, how the Wolves’ president was crazy and out for blood, not the type to negotiate or even understand the meaning of tact and diplomacy. “I’m guessing their president was voted out before this could happen?”

  Ty gives a dry laugh. “Something like that.”

  I can imagine the way the Wolves got rid of their unstable president. I don’t need Ty to spell it out for me. “The alliance must be working, to have lasted all these years.”

  “We watch each other’s backs.”

  Of course they do. The big macho men playing God, ruling their turf and answering to no one. I stifle a sigh and finish my coffee. I never used to think like that when I hovered on the periphery of that world. All I wanted was to be accepted as Ty’s girl and welcomed by his family.

  I don’t need validation from anyone for my existence now. I’ve carved out my own place in my own world.

  “Guess it cuts down on the territorial battles.” Why did I say that? I sound as though I’m condemning his lifestyle.

  I am condemning it…

  “It’s proved to be a lucrative partnership.”

  I didn’t expect that response. He sounds like he’s talking about a business decision. On second thought, I guess he is.

  He finishes his burger, and I reach over and take his hand. We don’t say anything, just gaze at each other like we’re a couple of star struck teenagers.

  Such a crazy thought. Ty was never star struck the way I used to be.

  “Stop looking at me like that.” His fingers tighten around mine, and he pulls my hand across the table. “I need to go into work this afternoon.”

  “Sure you don’t have time to squeeze in a quickie?” I flutter my eyelashes and pout my lips in what I hope is a seductive manner.

  He snorts with laughter, which isn’t exactly the response I was hoping for. “Not unless you want to ask Amelia if we can use the kitchen here.” He leans a little closer and breathes in my ear. “Or I could fuck you on this table. Give the regulars something to talk about.”

  “I think we’ve already given them enough to talk about just by turning up here.”

  “They should be used to it. Gage comes here all the time.”

  “Yeah, well, Gage isn’t you.”

  He grins against my ear, clearly relishing the ego stroke. “You turning down my offer?”

  “Is it the best I’m likely to get today?”

  “Fucking better be.”

  I pull back, just enough so I can see his face. He’s completely focused on me, with a mocking smile that melts me inside, and his gorgeous blue eyes take my breath away, just like the very first time I saw him. It doesn’t seem that long ago that he swaggered into Jett’s work and all the girls were gushing over him. I’d only stopped by to drop off a costume of Mom’s that she’d forgotten to take with her, but one glimpse of Ty was all it took to lose my heart.

  “There’s a kitchen back at the apartment. Can you wait until tonight?”

  “Can’t, babe. Doing a run tonight.”

  He says it so casually, as though it’s no big deal that he’s sharing that with me, and a warm glow seeps through me. Seriously, Jas? He’s telling me of his illegal activities. I should be stopping him right now, but hell. I’m in L.A., and this week has nothing to do with my real life in Florida.

  “With the Wolves?”

  “Nah. Strictly Bastards’ business. Hawk’s cousin is having some trouble with her deliveries turning up. We’re gonna make sure whoever’s behind it knows if they mess with her, they’re messing with us.”

  Not completely illegal, then. Just a little shady.

  “Tomorrow?” I don’t even care if it makes me sound desperate for him.

  His teeth graze my knuckles, and his gaze smolders whatever’s left of my reason. “Try keeping me away.”

  Chapter Nine

  Ty

  Early Sunday evening, Zach and I stroll into Odin’s, where we’d arranged to meet the others before doing the run. Cade and Hawk are already there, and Gage gives us the nod from behind the bar as he passes us a couple of bottles before returning his attention to Hawk.

  There’s still half an hour before we need to leave, so I prop my back against the bar and take a long swallow of my beer.

  The door swings open, and three girls stumble in. They catch sight of us and start nudging each other and giggling.

  “A blonde, a brunette, and a redhead walk into a bar.” Zach gives a snort of laughter. “Sounds like the start of a bad joke.”

  They’re all wearing tight tops that show off their tits and short skirts that hug their asses. The brunette smiles at me and twists a length of her hair around her finger, clearly waiting for me to make my move.

  “You girls want something?” Cade glances at me, his meaning clear. We down for this?

  Last week I wouldn’t hesitate. Hell, last week I’d already be taking the brunette up on her unspoken offer because that’s my MO. Doesn’t matter whether I want the anonymous sex or not. It’s become a habit, and not even one I much care about anymore. The only reason I’m not making a move right now is because of Jas.

  Jesus Christ. We’re not dating. I told her I wouldn’t be exclusive this week, and she didn’t give a shit.

  I don’t owe her anything. Why am I even thinking about it?

  The girls inch closer, and we spread out, giving them room to move in. The brunette squeezes herself between Zach and me, and the blonde wriggles next to Cade. He slings his arm around her shoulder, and she snuggles into him and takes a sip of his beer.

  Gage leaves the redhead with Hawk. “Count me out,” he says, looking at me as the chick runs her finger over my leather.

  “I’ve got my own redhead waiting for me at home.” Zach grins, and I give them both the finger.

  “My name’s Lulu,” the chick whispers, going up on her toes and leaning into my space. Her breath tickles my jaw, and it’s annoying. “What’s yours?”

  “Lulu,” I repeat, ignoring her question. I don’t give out my name to cheap little hookups. Now is a good time to wrap my arm around her, but I guess I’m in no hurry. “Pretty name.”

  “Thanks.” She traces her finger over the tats on my hand and around the cuff of my shirt, and I involuntarily tighten my grip around the bottle. This chick has serious boundary problems. “Does your ink go all the way up your arm?”

  Zach and Gage exchange a glance before tipping their bottles down their throat, probably to stop themselves from snorting with laughter. Strange, I don’t feel like laughing at all.

  “What do you think?” I take another pull of my beer and fight the urge to snatch my hand away from her. She doesn’t get the message and keeps on stroking my wrist.

  She’s hot, and I’ve always had a thing for dark-haired chicks, but she’s nothing classy like Jas.

  I swallow a groan befo
re it escapes, and finish my beer. It’s like I’m sixteen again, and committed to the only girl I’d ever really wanted. Despite all the girls who threw themselves at me, whether inside the club or not, there was never any possibility I’d cheat on Jas. Not even for that first torturous year when the most we ever did was fool around.

  Doesn’t matter what I tell myself. I’m not going to screw this chick tonight. I place the bottle on the bar and remove her hand from my wrist.

  “Go play with the others,” I tell her, and her mouth drops open like she can’t believe I’m turning her down. Cade beckons her over, and I shift along the bar to give him more room.

  It’s only then I notice the identical smirks on Zach and Gage’s faces.

  “Fuck you,” I tell them.

  “Told you,” Gage says to his brother.

  Zach gives me a penetrating look that pisses me off. “Heard Jas is back in town.”

  “Kelly died.” I know that won’t shut them up, though.

  “Yeah, I heard.” Zach rolls his shoulders, and for a second I think I’ve dodged a bullet. “And you’ve hooked up with Jas while she’s here.”

  There’s more behind his comment than an obvious observation. Zach knows me too well, and when it comes to Jas, he knows way too much. I should keep cool and shrug it off, but I can’t because, when it comes to Jas, everything’s raw and fucked up and I’ve no idea where the hell I’m going with it. “Why not? She’s up for it.”

  “Sure, bro.” Zach’s not smiling anymore. “But she’s still Jas. You sorting your shit out?”

  “Nothing to sort.”

  “Okay.” He takes a long swallow of beer, but I’m not fooled. He doesn’t believe a word.

  It shouldn’t bug me, but I don’t like anyone making assumptions when it involves Jas. Fuck it, what am I thinking? It’s been ten years since anyone assumed anything about her, but it’s like all the old anger is still festering just beneath the surface.

  Except I was never pissed with Zach. He treated her like my old lady right from the start, before we became prospects, because even if she was only fourteen, she was mine.

  She’s still mine.

  …

  Jasmine

  From the door of the apartment, I watch Ty stroll along the hall to the stairwell, where he turns and gives me his irresistible grin. I wave and shake my head, and he laughs before he disappears down the stairs.

  With a sigh, I close the door and go back into the living room. He turned up late yesterday afternoon, along with a takeout, and stayed the night as though that was completely normal. When I saw his battered face, I totally freaked out.

  He laughed and told me I should’ve seen the other guy, as though that should make me feel better about the bruises on his body. And he’s sure that whoever was behind the hijacked deliveries won’t be chancing their luck again, now they know they’ll be crossing the Viking Bastards. So that’s good, I guess, although it didn’t stop me thinking about what might’ve happened.

  I know he can take care of himself. This is his life, always has been, and he thrives on the danger, addicted to the adrenaline rush. He’s never walked away from a fight in his life, and he never will.

  It’s a good thing I’m leaving in three days. I don’t want the constant worry that one night he won’t make it home. Not that we’d ever commit to each other again in any case, but that isn’t even the point.

  The apartment is almost done, with just the heavy furniture needing to be dumped. I could fly home tomorrow, if not for the memorial service on Thursday. The ghosts have all but gone, but not because I’ve thrown out so much junk.

  It’s because of Ty. He often hung out here with me when Mom was working, but over the last few days it’s like he’s purged the bad memories of our last fight, when I told him I was moving to live with my dad.

  I catch sight of the corner of a shoe box that’s wedged under the couch. Frowning, I pull it out. It’s the one I was about to sort through when Ty first turned up on Friday night. I’d forgotten all about it.

  Do I really want to trawl through another thousand faded receipts for things Mom bought years ago? I glance at a half-filled garbage bag. It’s so tempting just to toss it, but I can’t, and so I lift the lid with a resigned sigh.

  What the…

  I collapse onto the couch, clutching the box as though it’s my lifeline. It’s filled to the brim with all the homemade cards I gave her, the strange little things I made in kindergarten, and a frayed blue hair bow that even now I remember wearing constantly, until all the sparkly plastic gems fell out.

  Even my old school report cards are there.

  She kept everything I gave her.

  I press my fist against my heart, trying to ease the pain that’s eating me up inside. Maybe she had loved me in her own odd way. My throat aches with unshed tears as I relive my childhood through my mom’s carefully hoarded mementos.

  It’s almost lunchtime before I go check the mail. I’ve set up a forwarding service to start from Friday, in case I haven’t contacted everyone I should have. There’s only one letter in the box so I take it inside and rake my fingers through my hair.

  I feel like crap, which is hardly surprising after ugly-crying for the last hour, but it’s also unlocked a hard knot in the center of my chest. Strange—I’d gotten so used to it I hardly noticed it anymore, but now that it’s gone, there’s a sense of peace.

  Guess I need to deal with whatever this mail is. I glance at the envelope and frown. It’s addressed to me. I rip it open, and there’s a check made out in my name. I pull out the compliments slip.

  Dear Ms. O’Brien,

  Enclosed please find check for final payment of wages owed to your mother, Ms. Kelly Gallagher, made out in your name.

  Huh. Didn’t expect that. I scan the rest of the brief message and the black and white logo for the Hammer.

  Tyler Jenson.

  For a second my gaze skims over his name at the bottom of the paper, uncomprehending.

  Tyler. Jenson.

  Heat washes through me, and my face burns. Ty owns the Hammer?

  No way. He would’ve told me. We talked about his job just the other day, and he said he’s still working for his dad.

  Did he really say that? My brain’s scrambled, and I can’t remember. Maybe I simply assumed. It wasn’t like I asked him outright.

  The words blur, and the old, familiar humiliation twists through my chest. Ty always knew how much I hated my mom stripping in sleazy clubs. How it crushed me that she’d put out for any of the Bastards or their hang-arounds because she believed it made her special to them.

  My stomach churns. Even at fourteen I knew what they really thought of her, and special didn’t come close.

  And Ty hired her to work in his club.

  I swallow, my throat burning, and for a few moments all I want to do is hide from the truth and pretend it doesn’t exist, the way I used to when Mom’s lifestyle over spilled into mine.

  It has nothing to do with me where she worked or what she did. Except she was working for Ty. And he didn’t think to let me know.

  Why not? Because it doesn’t matter? Deep down, I know it doesn’t, but that doesn’t stop the pain gnawing through my heart. He’s a Viking Bastard, he was her boss, and even years ago when we dated she used to tell me how hot and sexy he was. Not that she ever tried anything on with him back then.

  But I’ve been gone a long time. No matter how much I try not to let the image surface, I can’t help it.

  Did she put out for Ty, too?

  Chapter Ten

  Ty

  I’m in my office, going through the house rules with a new girl I’ve hired, when my office manager, Bella, texts me. She has a tiny office next to this, and screens the video entry phone system.

  Jasmine O’Brien’s here to see you. You in?

  I grin, stupidly pleased that Jas has dropped by.

  Sure. Be right there

  I glance up at the girl, who’s still looki
ng vaguely confused by my number one rule. No fucking the staff. Sometimes chicks interview to work here because they think it means they get me as a side perk, but I don’t need that shit. The Hammer is the one place I can hang out, surrounded by sexy girls, and not have to live up to my rep as a rabid man-whore.

  “Okay, that’s it. Any questions, ask Bella.” I stand up, ending the interview, and she follows me into the foyer just as the front door clicks open and Jas walks in.

  Instead of returning my smile, she glances at the girl, and without any warning, the blonde grabs my arm, presses herself against me, and breathes in my ear. “Catch you later, Ty.”

  Jas doesn’t say anything, and it’s none of her business anyway, but fuck that. If this silly bitch can’t follow one simple rule, she’s going to be more trouble than she’s worth. I peel her off me. “Nah, you won’t. You’re fired. Get out of here.”

  I ignore the shock on her face and stroll over to Jas, who hasn’t moved from the door. “Hey, babe.” I kiss her, aware Bella and the blonde are watching, and that’s fine by me. “You need something?”

  “Just a quick word.” Her voice is like ice. Is she pissed because of the blonde? It’s crazy, but I like that thought.

  We go into my office, and I kick the door shut. Before I can grab her hand and pull her close, she folds her arms. Fuck, has she been crying? Who’s messed with her? All my old protective instincts break free of their cage and roar to the surface. No one upsets my girl. “You all right, Jas?”

  “I’m fine.” She gives a frosty smile and then tugs something from her purse. “This arrived after you left.”

  I frown at the slip of paper she waves in my face. I didn’t expect her to be full of gratitude for sending her the check, but I don’t get the hostility. “Yeah? What about it?”

  She shoves it back in her purse. “Why didn’t you tell me my mother worked for you?”

  What the hell? “I thought you knew.”

  “No.” She folds her arms again. “Why would I?”

  Because we met right outside the Hammer on Friday. Guess I got that one wrong. “Okay. So, she worked here. What’s the problem?”