I hear Benji grunt in pain beside me and it drags me out of my head. When I look at him, he’s holding his arm, glaring with hatred at Brendan. He looks ridiculous with icing still smeared on his face, even after his attempts to wipe himself clean. I raise an eyebrow at Brendan and he smiles at me and shrugs.
“I hit him. He was about to put your beautiful face in the cake.”
I laugh at Benji and he pokes his tongue out at me, a small smile gracing his face. My heart lightens at his playfulness. I've missed it because things are still pretty tense between us, nearly nine months after our blowout over Brendan. I can see where Benji and my friends are coming from but I can't face the drama that I know will ensue if I break up with Brendan. Since I haven't told anyone about my fears, Benji and Joel feel it's okay to constantly voice their objections to my relationship with him. They normally finish their rants with nasty descriptions of my intelligence.
“Fuck, I reckon it must be time for presents.” I hear a very familiar voice shout. My heart skips a beat, and my body practically melts, and everything that’s wrong in my life is forgotten. I search the gaudily decorated, crowded hall for where his voice is coming from and grin widely when I spot him. Mik is standing on a chair near the front door with a big smile on his face. His radio silence during the last week had led me to believe that he wasn’t coming tonight and it had dampened my enthusiasm for the party.
Since Mik was voted as Sergeant at Arms for the MC nearly a year ago, he hasn't been able to commit to many events because he never knows when he might be needed by the Club. What could possibly keep that bunch of men so busy has me stumped. Mik won't tell me what he is up to whenever I ask and I stopped asking Dad years ago. I don't think the Black Shamrocks are outlaws by definition but I am pretty sure they flirt with the thin blue line at times.
“Mik!” I shriek. “You came.”
I start running towards him, as he jumps down from the chair. I feel Brendan grab my arm but I shrug him off and keep moving, dodging the crowd who have turned to see who interrupted the speeches. Benji is behind me trying to get his present from Mik first so I pick up the pace. Benji might be the football star but he’ll never be able to run as fast as me.
Once I’m close enough, I launch myself into Mik’s arms.
He catches me—just like I knew he would—because I’ve been launching myself at him like that since I was five years old. I wrap my legs around his waist and my arms around his neck and kiss his smooth cheeks. He holds my weight easily, with his arms folded under my backside.
“Hey, Angel. Happy to see me?” He chuckles, his hazel eyes flashing at me.
I love how his eyes light up when he sees me. He gets a twinkle in them that I'm sure only I create. The feeling’s mutual since the only time I feel as if I’m as whole as I can be is when he’s around. He makes me feel as if the hole in my chest that has been there since my mom died isn't as big or as painful anymore.
“Of course I am, you idiot. I thought you weren’t coming.”
He laughs at my pouting, happy that he fooled me, and I slap his chest for tricking me before Benji tries to get his attention. Mik puts me down to give Benji one of those weird handshakes that men seem to find necessary. He keeps one strong arm slung over my shoulder.
Benji asks, smirking slyly. “How ya been, Mad Dog? Got it all together, made sure everything's sorted?”
I snort inelegantly when Benji calls Mik by his road name and Mik rolls his eyes at me. He's been Mik to me since I could talk and he knows he always will be. I doesn’t matter to me if he's the rough and tough SAA for the MC now, I'm not calling him Mad Dog like the rest of them.
“Don’t I always have everything sorted?” he replies, grinning smugly as he answers Benji.
I have no idea what they are talking about. They obviously have something brewing and from past experience, I’m happy to be on the outer limits of whatever’s going on. That way I can honestly tell our fathers that I didn't know what they were up to when it all blows up in their faces. Plausible deniability is a good thing to have around these two.
“Well I suppose I better show you two your presents.”
He pats my backside and then walks outside. Benji and I turn to follow him, exchanging excited grins. Mik’s presents are legendary in our family so we know we’re in for a treat. He’s an only child so he treats my brothers and I like his siblings and spoils us rotten. He’s pretty well off since he was left a lot of money by his mother when she passed and he has a well paying job that takes him all over Australia at times.
Just as I’m about to follow Benji out the door, Brendan grabs my hand and tugs me to him so roughly that I spin in a half circle until I'm facing him. I look up at him with a smile, thinking he’s playing, but it quickly fades since he looks angry. I try smiling at him again to gauge how bad his mood is and thankfully, he gives me a small, tight smile back. We walk outside holding hands, not through my choice but because he won't let go of mine. He’s holding my hand much firmer than necessary. I hope he’s not going to have one of his jealous fits tonight. Last night was more than enough.
Tonight is his first time meeting Mik and most of the MC’s members so I don’t need them thinking he’s a jealous freak if he goes off the deep end over some innocent interaction of mine with the opposite sex. Even though the brothers can be typical bikers when it comes to the women who hang around the Club, I’ve grown up surrounded by these men so they are all protective of me. They demand that I'm shown respect at all times. Since I'm the only daughter born to any of the current members they’ll probably kick his ass and ask questions later if he blows up at me in front of them.
Coming to a halt at the top of the crowd, I see that Dad, Wendy and what looks like every other party guest are already out the front. There are a lot of people at this party; a few dozen are friends my age but the majority are here because of Dad and the MC. It makes for an eclectic group.
Mik and Joel are backing two Harley’s off of a trailer. My heart jumps in my chest when I see the sparkly sapphire blue bike that Mik is now wheeling towards me. This is the Wide Glide that we’ve been rebuilding. The last time I saw it we still had a fair bit of work to do and we were nowhere near getting it repainted. It’s my favourite colour and looks better than I could have imagined.
I see Benji jumping up and down and fist pumping with his friends as Joel wheels the matte black Fat Boy towards him. This bike is a lot newer than mine but I love the classics. I’m glad Benji is happy for once, he’s been pretty hard to live with lately. Constantly butting heads with our father, skipping school, and staying out overnight without telling anyone where he is.
With two fingers in his mouth, Mik produces an ear-splitting whistle that gets everyone’s attention and then points at Joel. My brother clears his throat loudly.
“Mad Dog and I fixed these bikes up for you both. We hope you like them. I helped with the rebuilding but Mad Dog is the one who found them and paid for everything. Happy Birthday!”
“Hey, I helped too,” I yell at Joel, over the applause that follows his announcement.
He rolls his eyes at me and snaps back. “Only because we couldn’t keep you out of the damn workshop without raising your suspicions, you grease monkey.”
His response makes everyone around us laugh because he is one hundred percent right. Everyone who knows me knows I'm worse than my brothers for disappearing during my spare time into my Dad’s workshop, consumed by a rebuilding project.
Benji throws his leg over his bike, loudly exclaiming, “This is fucking awesome. I love both of you. Best birthday present ever!”
“Here you go, Lainey.”
Mik puts my bike on its stand and holds out the key to me. I throw my arms around his neck and he picks me up, holding me to his body tightly. I can hear Brendan huffing in anger as Mik swings me around.
“Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.” I tell him, between the kisses I'm planting on his cheeks. I’m too excited and full of gratitude to hee
d Brendan’s threatening tantrum at the moment.
Mik puts me down and jogs over to his truck. Putting his hand through the open window he pulls out a helmet that is the same colour as my bike, and his jacket. It sparkles in the late afternoon sunlight and as he gets closer I can see that it has a rose pattern hidden in the paint. I examine my bike and notice that the same pattern is hidden within the paintwork. Roses are my favourite flowers because they were my Mom’s so I couldn’t have picked anything better myself. I sneakily pinch the inside of my arm to make sure I’m not dreaming.
“A little something extra I got you. When I saw it, it gave me the idea for your paint job.”
He grins at me smugly because he knows I love it as he puts the helmet on my head. He fastens it before slipping his leather jacket over my shoulders. It smells divine, all musky male. After zipping the jacket closed for me, he gently turns me by my shoulders and points me towards my bike.
“Take her for a ride, Angel.”
I straddle my bike; turn the key in the ignition, kick up the stand and hit the starter button. She starts straight away. Hearing Benji’s bike start as well makes my smile widen. He has finally been converted back to the right side, if the whooping and hollering he is doing is any indication. I rev my bike a couple of times before Brendan moves into my eye line, surprising me. I'd totally forgotten about him.
“Brendan, borrow a helmet off Dad’s bike and come for a ride,” I shout over the engines. I probably should share my first ride with him, even though he doesn't appreciate Harley’s at all. He looks at me in disbelief and shakes his head.
“No, I’ll pass. Are you sure you can handle that bike? It’s pretty big for a girl,” he asks, disapproval radiating from him.
Before I can answer him, Mik interjects in a firm voice. “Of course she fucking can. As if I’d give her something she couldn’t handle.”
He shakes his head at Brendan with disgust and grabs a helmet off of Dad’s bike. He jogs towards me and winks.
“If lover boy’s too scared to go with you, I’ll go.”
I can hear Benji laughing like a lunatic over the pulsing of the bikes. He loves it when anyone cuts Brendan down publicly. Constantly needing to mediate between Brendan and Benji and their mutual dislike is starting to wear thin.
"I'd prefer if you didn't, Mik.” Brendan tells him in a clipped voice.
Brendan turns his attention to me, effectively dismissing him.
“It's not appropriate, Lainey.”
“Is that fucking right, lover boy?”
Mik shoots Brendan a poisonous glare, causing Brendan to turn back to him. Why does Brendan have to do this now? I swallow when Mik takes a menacing step closer to him.
“I'm Mad Dog to civvies like you, I'll have you know. And she.” Mik points in my direction. “Is not Lainey to anyone but me.”
It surprises me when Brendan blanches in the face of Mik's open hostility and takes a step back. Mik follows, obviously not finished telling him how it's going to be.
“I'll also have you know that if I want to go for a ride with her, I fucking will. If any man here wants to go for a ride with her and she wants to take them, then she will. You're her boyfriend, unfortunately, not her fucking owner so fuck you and fuck your inappropriate shit.”
I hold my breath, waiting for Brendan to lose it but he doesn't. He turns without another word and walks towards the doors.
“Fuck, Lainey, you sure can pick ‘em.” Mik tells me seriously as I'm looking around us to see how many people were paying attention to the scene that just unfolded. Hopefully the sound of our bikes drowned out most of the confrontation. Thankfully it seems as if only Joel has overheard us since everyone else is either still fawning over Benji and his bike or has disappeared back inside to the party. Joel shoots me a look of pity which has me holding back tears.
“It certainly looks like it.” I give him a shaky laugh and a shrug. I'm nearly over Brendan’s crap. There's only so many times I can speak to him about his possessiveness before I just have to give up. “He's not like that all the time.”
“I guess I'll have to take your word for it, Angel.”
I don't think he believes me but he doesn't push the point. Mik fastens his helmet, pulls the pillion foot pegs down and slides on behind me. He wraps his arms around my waist and yells loudly so he can be heard over our bikes.
“Ride on, wench!”
Everyone who is still outside starts laughing and I join in even though I slap one of Mik’s thighs for effect, causing everyone to laugh harder. He always knows how to make me feel better.
Benji rides off in front of me with some random chick on the back of his bike and I quickly follow him. I give my bike some serious revs and smoothly move through the gears. She rides as well as I expected and I’m over the moon.
I pat Mik’s hands where they rest on my stomach and he leans forward so he can hear what I have to say.
“Thank you so much Mik, no one will ever be able to top this perfect present! Mom would love that I have my own bike. I can't ever thank you enough.”
“I knew you’d love it, Lainey. You deserve this for everything you've done for your Dad and brothers and me. You look after all of us. I know your mom would be proud of you.”
Tears well in my eyes at his heartfelt words and I send a quick prayer into the universe to honour my beautiful, missing mother on this day. Mik rubs my thigh gently as if he knows the effect his words are having on me, before putting his hand back on my stomach.
He has placed his hands under the jacket and the heat from them gives me goose bumps through my thin shirt. I shiver and then inhale sharply when he starts making lazy circles with his thumbs, all thoughts of my mother flying out of my head. Mik has ridden behind me many times before—although he's never held me quite like this—so it is confusing me that my body is reacting so strongly to his touch tonight.
We ride, following Benji, along the highway for about half an hour until he signals he’s turning around and heading back. Mik’s hands ventured all the way under my shirt about five minutes into our ride and are now stroking the bare skin of my stomach, his thumbs grazing the underside of my bra.
He’s never touched me so intimately and it has shaken me up. We’ve flirted plenty of times, but only when we are being silly, it's never serious. I’m enjoying his touch but I'm almost certain he doesn't mean it how my body is taking it. Confusion is clouding my mind and I need all of my concentration to ride my bike properly. His touch is sending butterflies to my lower stomach and making my face heat. I’m happy to be heading back to the party so I can get my head straight and my body calmed down.
After we turn around, Benji and I nod at each other and take off as fast as we can. Pushing all thoughts of my enjoyment of Mik’s touch to the back of my mind, I race my twin back to the town hall and, as always, I beat him. I can hear the chick Benji has on his bike screaming the whole way while Mik is laughing behind me. He knows I can handle myself so he’s not worried.
When we pull up, Benji’s passenger gets off and throws her helmet at him. He catches it with ease. She stalks off and we all share a laugh at her dramatics. I kick down my bike’s stand and Mik climbs off from behind me.
Taking off Mik’s jacket and my helmet, I pass them to him so I can try to smooth down my helmet hair. My hairdo feels beyond repair so I yank my bobby pins out, causing my hair to cascade down my back where it comes to a stop just before my backside. I flip it forward and then flip it back to give it some volume and I hear a low whistle when I finish.
“Jesus, Lainey! Take it easy on us fella’s out here would ya,” Mik drawls, one eyebrow raised. “You look like a fucking wet dream when you do that.”
He and Benji fall around laughing so I flip them the bird, my face going red. That’s a typical smartass Mik comment and makes me think I was reading too much into his touch on our ride.
Unfortunately, I hadn’t noticed the watchful eyes of all the male party guests clustered around the f
ront of the hall smoking and drinking, but I can see they had indeed liked the show I’d inadvertently given them. Holding my head high, determined not to give Mik any further reaction, I walk inside to get a drink and find my boyfriend.
Spying him sitting by himself in a dark corner, I grab a beer for him and a vodka and orange juice for myself and head over. Handing him his beer, I sit sideways on his lap since there aren’t any chairs near him. He smells strongly of beer. He’s obviously knocked back a few while I was gone.
“How was it?” he asks.
He’s not in a very good mood and I try to push my frustration at his mood away. I know he’s going to say something nasty about what Mik said before we went riding and I’m hoping he doesn’t do it here with an audience. I’ve managed to keep his moody, sometimes nasty side away from my Dad and I want to keep it that way.
Dad doesn’t take any shit and he raised me to be the same way. He wouldn’t understand the way I let Brendan treat me sometimes. Hell, Dad would lock me in my room for the rest of my life if he knew the things Brendan has said to me when he's angry. I don’t completely understand my unnatural meekness with him either. I know a lot of it is vanity because the most eligible local bachelor prefers the biker’s daughter over the other much more suitable women who live around us. If I'm honest with myself, some of it is also about wanting to save face by not admitting that the first decision Dad let me make on my own was a gigantic mistake.
“It was awesome!” I reply emphatically. I rethink my exuberant response when I see his frown deepen. Obviously letting him know that I enjoyed my present was the wrong thing to do.
“What’s wrong?” I ask him softly as I gently rub my hands over his chest.
Sometimes my touch calms him and I hope it works tonight. He shoves a gift wrapped in blue paper towards me. It looks like he has bought me more jewellery.
“I got you this but I don’t know if it’ll make you happy now. I can’t compete with your biker best friend and his Harley Davidson,” he replies, holding his torso away from me stiffly. I shake my head at his passive aggression and lean against him. I hate it when he gets like this. If he wasn’t so nice and charming when it's just the two of us, his mood swings and jealousy would be a deal breaker for me.
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