by Simone Elise
I glanced at Reaper, hoping he would say something, but he didn’t. I could literally feel my heart pump a few extra beats. He just filled my mind with fantasies.
”Did they fall off the back of the truck?” I asked, wanting to keep some sort of a conversation flowing.
“You ask a lot of questions for someone who is meant to be keeping her nose clean.” Cameron gave me a challenging smirk.
I shrugged my shoulders.
I glanced at Reaper, hoping he was going to say something, but he didn’t. Which made me standing here awkward.
“Abby?” Brad walked out of the garage with grease on his forehead. “Thought that was your voice.” His face softened with a smile.
He had been so kind to me the other night, which reminded me.
I opened up my handbag and pulled out a small plastic shopping bag. “I got you something,” I said, taking a few steps towards him. “I really hope it fits.”
I noticed his belt looked really worn and I knew he hated shopping so when I saw it, it was a bit of an impulse buy.
I immediately started to second guess myself when he pulled it out of the plastic shopping bag.
“Um. It was kind of an impulse buy. If it doesn’t fit you, I can um take it back. You don’t have to like, wear it if you don’t want to.”
There was this thing about Brad. He didn’t smile much or laugh. Actually, when it came to it, bikers just aren’t really a happy bunch, so smiling in general doesn’t happen.
Which is why I was slightly stunned when I saw a big grin on his face.
“Thanks, Abby.” He honestly liked the belt and wrapped it around his waist, checking if it fit. Which it did.
“As long as you like it.”
I could feel the scorch of Reaper’s glare.
“Thanks, miss.” He gave me a wink while threading his old belt out and putting the new one on.
“Well, I’m gonna head inside. Dad might be looking for me.”
An awkward blanket had just wrapped around me, and I did the only thing I knew how to do, run.
Brad was throwing his old belt in the trash when I headed inside. Was it stupid of me to expect Reaper to speak to me?
He messaged me, acted like he wanted to talk to me, then becomes a mute when I do show up.
That is so totally him.
Chapter 34
Abby
There is a reputation that comes with a motorcycle group, and it isn’t the most desirable one. Unless of course you want that reputation, and most of the boys liked it.
People openly stared: some out of interest, others out of anger, and most because they were jealous.
Jealous of the freedom.
When it came down to it, the guys stood for everything a typical society didn’t. At the end of the day, they were a brotherhood, one very large family.
What they did was no one's business.
But because they were considered outlaws, they were judged, but they weren’t judged as harshly or as openly as supporters or people they saw as ‘living off the dirty cash.’
I should be used to it by now.
It shouldn’t bother me as much as it did.
Why the hell did we have to order out again? I threw a dirty look at the middle-aged couple who was giving me a distasteful look.
Right now, I was furious at Cameron for scaring the delivery driver. Because of his stupid prank or whatever he did, the restaurant won’t deliver to the clubhouse.
So guess who got sent out to get their stupid darn food?
Me.
“Will it be much longer?” I asked the cashier. Who had told me they would only be a minute half an hour ago.
I placed this order two hours ago because I knew it was a large one.
“It won’t be long.” She glanced behind her, not even bothering to go check. Her bored and unhelpful tone was clear.
Stupid blonde haired, wide-eyed, teenager bitch.
I heard the boring bell tone of the door opening. I was ready to give this unhelpful mole a serving of bitch.
“Abby, what the fuck is taking so long?”
Only one man would storm into a pizza shop with that demanding voice.
My expression hardened. “Why are you here, Reaper?”
He hadn’t come with me. Even though I had hinted several times before I left for him to join me.
Instead, the thickheaded monkey stayed behind and played poker with a cheap woman on his lap.
“Your dad wanted to know why the hell it takes an hour to pick up pizzas.”
“Oh, and he thought that was a job for his VP, did he?” I had no doubt that Dad would have sent someone down to check on me, but I doubted it would be Reaper.
His cold-stoned unbiased expression broke for a moment, and his eyes shone with curiosity.
My head snapped back to the boring menu board. I swear I was going to go back there and ask the cook myself how much longer he would be!
Pizza parlors weren’t known for overwhelming space. Reaper took a noticeable (well, noticeable to me) step closer to me, placing a hand on my hip. He pushed me back until I was firmly against his chest.
The thing that annoyed me most was now I had the cashier’s attention. Well, Reaper had it.
My back was tense, and I was sure if I didn’t have my fingers tightened in a clenched fist, they would be shaking.
My hair was brushed to one side, and he took the opportunity presented to him.
“You mad, babe?”
His tone was tainted with slight amusement.
Mad?
No.
Not me.
I crossed my arms tightly, losing my clenched fists.
As smooth as a snake, his fingers slipped under my tee shirt, lightly tracing my skin, sending a heat wave through my body.
“Stop it.” I forced out and cocked my head up to meet his smoldering eyes. “I mean it.”
My wavering tone took any power from my words, and I watched him smirk with triumph.
“Why don’t you go do something useful and get our pizzas,” I snapped at him and pushed his grip off me.
I was sure the blonde would actually go out the back and check for him.
“Order 21.”
What a surprise.
“You can head back to the club.” My eyes sliced through his. “Tell Dad I’m safe.”
The cashier was stacking the pizzas up. I knew I was going to have to make two trips, and I would have preferred that than to have what happened.
“I’ve got it, babe.” He took the stack of ten pizzas while I paid the bill and got the remaining five.
It was after eleven at night, and this was meant to be a late tea, which now has turned into midnight drinking food.
His black sleek beast was parked next to the old pickup I had taken. Funny how no one ever seems to park that old thing.
When the pizzas were safely inside, I closed the old rusty door, which led to one of the main reasons I didn’t want Reaper to help because at that moment, there was an awkward silence.
“See you back at the club.” I murmured and walked around Reaper.
“You pissed I didn’t talk to you this afternoon?”
“Nope.”
“You brought Brad a belt, Abby. The blokes haven’t got off Brad’s back all night about it.”
I wouldn’t lie and say I hadn’t heard the digs or the sly remarks. I could defend my actions to Kade, but I felt like I shouldn’t have to. He was the one walking around all night with that woman under his arm then on his lap.
I knew even if I mentioned it, he would just say nothing happened, or nothing was going to happen and give me that demeaning look.
I slammed the car door and didn’t even give him the pleasure of a heated conversation with me. Because I knew what would happen, what always happens. He would make me feel silly, and I would end up caving.
Chapter 35
Abby
Kim was standing out front as I pulled in, smoking. Why was she outside?
Wasn’t like Dad didn’t allow smoking inside.
“Hey.” I said, getting out of the truck. Reaper had passed me on the way here. My eyes flashed to his bike. A gentleman would have stayed and helped carry the bloody pizzas in. But this was Reaper. He was most likely thinking about the woman he had on his lap all night. Yeah, he really loved me.
“Reaper said you needed a hand with the pizzas?”
Well, what do you know, he sent Kim to do his job.
“Um yeah, thanks.” I opened the passenger side door and started taking them out, handing them to Kim.
“Trigger’s left.”
“Where to?”
“His girlfriend’s. At least that is what the guys are saying.” Kim swayed on her feet.
“You’re drunk.” I laughed. I should have expected it. Kim wasn’t coping when it came to Trigger. Like at all. I was waiting for her to do something outrageous. Come up with some stupid plan.
I closed the door with my butt and we walked back to the clubhouse.
“So what have you been doing apart from knocking off Dad’s top shelf liquor?”
She paused at the clubhouse door, thinking. “Um, I have actually made friends.”
I pushed the door open. “With?”
“KIM!”
Two bikers I had never seen before greeted Kim like she was their best friend. Both were tall, slim build, but muscular and of course were covered in tattoos.
“Them.” Kim grinned and then like me started dishing out the pizzas.
I avoided Reaper’s table and his brunette friend.
I wondered where Dad was, then I spotted him at the table Kim was giving pizzas to. Looks like he was busy gambling like the rest of them. Smoking, drinking, and gambling. Yeah, one hell of a Saturday night.
“So come meet the boys.” Kim grabbed my elbow and slowly pulled me along. I wouldn’t lie and say I hadn’t noticed Reaper’s eyes on me. Was he paying any attention to the cards? Or the brunette?
“This is Darren and Collins.” Kim introduced us. “And we are polishing off this bottle of Jack.” Her eyes lit up as she reached for it. “Though they’re cheating. They have drunk way more than me.” Kim swayed on her feet and I guided her to a stool.
“So you must be Abby?” The one with the neck tattoo turned to me.
“And you are? Darren or Collins?”
“Collins.” He grinned. “The eldest.”
“And he won’t let me forget it.” Darren pushed a shot glass in my direction.
“Brothers?” I assumed.
“By blood.” Collins threw back a shot. “You still drinking, Kim?”
Kim was busy playing with an empty glass. How much had she had to drink? But her ears picked up the sound of more and she pushed her empty glass towards him.
“It’s still early days, guys.” She gave us a loose grin and I knew that grin, that grin told me she was in for the long haul. I knew then I’d be dragging her drunk ass to bed.
***
The hours ticked by and the shots didn’t stop. We moved on from that bottle of Jack. We were throwing back straight bourbon. The drinks didn’t stop flowing and the conversation was just as good. These boys could really talk, they were from up north and were just here for the night.
Darren and Kim were play fighting while having an arm wrestling competition. Kim kept losing and asking for a rematch, saying it didn’t count.
They were too busy laughing and drinking to be serious, even though we all knew Kim was trying her hardest.
I had watched the brunette get more and more feely with Reaper over the past hour. Every time she kissed his neck, I did two shots. Collins said I was outdrinking him.
So when Collins wrapped an arm around my waist and pulled me into his side, I didn’t stop it.
That’s when Reaper started giving me daggers. Good, I was under his skin, because he was under mine. I also knew he was paying way too much attention to our conversation cause when Collins said he didn’t have a bed yet and Kim said he should sleep with me, Reaper had an overreaction to a losing hand.
“You know what, we should play something I can beat you at.” Kim dismissed her losing arm wrestles.
My face lit up hearing that. “POOL! We should play pool!”
Kim’s face lit up the same as mine. “Yep, let’s play pool.”
“Doubles,” I added.
Darren nodded his head, but it was Collins’s evil smirk that made me know he was going to add to the terms.
“Strip pool.” Collins added. “And Abby gets to pick the teams.”
Kim and I shared a look. A smart mind would remind me that I was wearing a cast because I had been wearing very little near a biker. But I had had more than a few and this actually sounded like fun. Plus I had a secret weapon.
“Ok.” I grinned and turned in Collins’s arm, facing him. “I know how badly you want to play with me, Collins.”
His eyes lit up at the double meaning, and he pulled me that inch closer to him. I made sure to say it that much louder, just to ensure Reaper didn’t miss it.
“But I’m totally picking Kim,” I added with a cheeky grin. “So you ready to lose your clothes, Collins?”
“Sweetheart, you will be losing yours. And if I win, you’re sleeping with me tonight,” Collins said as we walked past Reaper’s table.
“Deal.”
“Looking forward to it. Look at Kim, she can barely stand.” Collins laughed at me. “Should have picked me, sweetheart.”
I just grinned. They had no idea what they were in for.
I sucked at pool. Sure, I could hold myself in a game, but I had more misses than good shots.
Brad was at the pool table and as Collins explained how we were all going to get a show, the boys jumped off.
“Really, Abby?” Brad said to me, handing me a cue with a knowing smile.
“Have you seen Dad by any chance?”
“Yeah, lucky for you, he’s already headed upstairs with Linda.”
“Ta.” That’s all I needed to know. I winked at him. Brad was one of the few that knew my secret weapon.
Kim walked towards me and I steadied her when she got to my side. Word about the game spread, and the boys actually stopped playing poker for the first time this evening to watch.
I guess boys would stop anything if there was a chance they were going to see nudity.
Kim leaned on my shoulder.
“So how drunk are you?” I asked her.
She just grinned at me. “Past drunk.”
“Do you know Trigger is here?”
Her eyes went wide. “What, where?”
I lowered my voice and whispered in her ear. “Behind you. Guess that girlfriend of his didn’t keep him entertained.”
I was aware of the fact Reaper was now leaning against the brick pillar, watching with that stupid brunette under his arm. I seriously wanted to rip that girl’s hair out, or drag her out the back. But what annoyed me the most was, why did club girls always have to be so young and happy? Seriously, are they all so happy to be used and ditched?
She was laughing and giggling under his arm. Reaper wasn’t funny. So I don’t know what she found so entertaining.
“Ok, some rules!” Collins cleared his voice, making everyone look at him. “Shoes and socks don’t count.”
All the boys cheered with agreement.
Kim was looking over my shoulder. No guess needed to know who she was staring at. Then she snapped back in the moment and had a killer look on her face.
“Fine then, vests don’t count.” Kim took a beer from a member and threw it down, and the girls cheered in agreement. Kim stumbled towards them. “No rings, no sunglasses, or belts. Clothes only.”
Darren just laughed and nodded his head. “It’s on, Kim.”
Ok, maybe I was confident, but I wasn’t that confident.
“You can break, too.” Kim smiled and my eyes widened slightly. I gripped her arm and dragged her backwards.
“You better be bloody
drunk, Kim.” I whisper-yelled at her.
“Four shots baby girl, and you are all mine.” Collins rounded the table and winked at me.
I gave him a confident smile, but I was starting to doubt our plan, especially because Kim just let them break!
My eyes went from Collins to Reaper. He was furious. One look at him and I could tell. Time to feel how I feel, Reaper.
The game had brought out every biker, even the ones that were busy feeling up the girls down the back. The other pool tables were empty now, all players more interested in this game. The boys were wanting a show. The ones that had always wanted to see us naked were now here, hoping.
Hope all you want, fellas.
Kim and I had already kicked off our sandals. We weren’t wearing jewelry and we were ready for the game.
Collins gave me a wink and then broke. Everyone was watching as the balls went around the table. Collins let out a deep rumble of laughter as one ball went into the pocket. Darren whacked Kim on the butt, and all the other lot cheered.
Kim and I looked at each other.
The crowd started to chant. Kim and I had to hold up our end of the deal.
“Bras.” I told her over the chanting.
Kim nodded her head and did the same as me. I unclicked my bra under my tank top and then threaded my arms through. My eyes flickered to Reaper’s just in time to see him crumpling up his beer can while glaring at me.
As if saying, don’t fucking dare.
I couldn’t help but smile at him as I dropped my bra on the ground.
Kim handed me the cigarette. “Ok, your shot Abby.”
I sucked on the cigarette lightly and handed it back to her. “So we are stripes, right?”
She nodded her head.
“What’s that, Abby, don’t know your pool that well?” Darren laughed at me.
“You won’t be laughing when you’re butt naked.” I sneered at him. “Let’s see how well that back tattoo was done.”
“I’m interested if you have any tattoos, Abby. On that fine body.” Collins leaned back and watched me bend over the table. I giggled at his obviousness.
“Where the fuck is Roach?”
Reaper’s voice caught my attention.
I looked over at him smugly. “Asleep.” I answered his question and because I knew I was going to miss anyway. I didn’t even have a look at the balls, taking my shot while keeping my eyes locked with his. I knew I had missed by Reaper’s reaction.