I felt a slap on the back and looked behind to find Isaac. His long black hair made him look like he was apart of a metal band from the 80's. He was the treasurer of the Devil's Hellions MC which meant he took care of all the money. Isaac was smart—almost too smart to be a biker. We were lucky to have him.
“Glad to see you out and about, Ares,” Isaac said.
“I had to get a little time away from Emily. She was checking in on me every minute.”
Isaac noticed Owen and licked his lips. Down boy! “Who's the date, Ares?”
“Owen this is Isaac. He's also a member of Devil's Hellions.” I turned back towards Isaac. “Owen is the doctor who saved me.”
Everything clicked for Isaac. “Thanks for saving this bastard. But nobody would've noticed if you had let him die.”
I playfully slugged him in the arm. Isaac loved to break my balls. “Pay no attention to him,” I told Owen.
Isaac sat down next to Owen. “You don't want anything to do with this guy,” he said, pointing his thumb at me. “This guy's bad news. Heed my warning, stay away from him.”
“Okay he's had enough, Isaac. Go bug someone else.”
Isaac grabbed my beer and took it with him. He deserved a sucker punch to the stomach later. Hunter saw what happened and already began pouring me another.
“Is this where you guys...” Owen searched for the right words.
“No our club house is a few miles from here. We like coming here because there's more liquor.”
“Are there any other members here?” he asked.
I scanned the room. “See that big oaf in the corner with the two girls.” Owen nodded. “That's Big Mike.” I pointed over at the other end of the bar. “That's Pain over there with the gray hair and glasses.”
“Oh yeah, I remember him from the hospital.”
“The rest of the MC are probably back at the clubhouse.”
Owen nursed his drink and looked around acting bored. How could I engage him more? I'd never really been on a date before. My experience was one-night stands. I didn't even know most of their names. All it took was one look from across the bar and they'd be under my sheets within the hour. What do people normally talk about on dates?
“Why did you become a doctor?” I asked, shuffling closer.
Owen returned to me. He seemed surprised by my question. Maybe that was a good thing?
“It started when I was a kid,” he began. “My parents wanted me to become a doctor since I was six years old. I never dreamed of doing anything else. They pushed me and my younger sister to be the best. Anything lower than an A- wasn't good enough for them.”
I fell into his eyes as he told me her story. I couldn't believe he was opening up to me so much. He was so damn sexy and was so captivating that it was hard to look away.
Hunter came over and set a beer in front of me, breaking my concentration.
Owen continued, “When I became a doctor, I thought I'd finally get the recognition I deserved. But my parents only pushed me harder. I cut off all contact with them and they left me with a huge load of student debt to pay off. That was a couple years ago.”
“Damn that sounds rough.”
Owen faked a smile. “Enough about my family. Tell me about yours.”
I was afraid he was going to say that. “I don't want to make tonight anymore depressing than it already is.”
“It's only fair. I told you everything about me. Your turn now.” Owen crossed his arms and gave me a smug look.
I took a long sip of beer. “I grew up in a trailer home with my mom and dad. I had a really good childhood. Hunter could attest to that. But when I was eight, I came home early and found my dad...” Don't get choked up, Ares! You're over it now. It's all in the past. I took a breath and continued, “My father committed suicide with a gun.”
“Holy fuck,” Owen reached for my hand on the bar.
“My mom couldn't handle it and sent me away to live with my grandparents. They lived a few blocks down from the Devil's Hellions MC and the rest is history.”
“I'm so sorry, Ares. That is so terrible. I can't believe I was complaining about my family when you went through all that.”
“Don't worry about it. It was a long time ago. Let's move on.” I waved Hunter over. “More drinks, bartender!”
Owen looked around the room. “Do you know where the bathroom is?”
I pointed to the back of the bar. He smiled and left. I downed my beer and thought the night was going pretty well. Just don't fuck it up, King.
“Mr. King, what a pleasure to see you here.” That voice was like nails on a chalkboard. I turned around to see the one face I hoped wouldn't be here tonight—my ex-boyfriend Skylar. He was my only boyfriend that ended years ago but he was obsessed with me. A tattoo of my name was permanently marked across his chest. Skylar loved walking around thinking he was my property.
“Not now Skylar, not tonight,” I said through clenched teeth, the anger in my belly already rising.
He pouted those lips that I thought used to be so sexy. Skylar draped an arm around me and kissed me on the cheek. I tried to shove him away but he was persistent.
He blew in my ear and whispered, “Take me home tonight, Ares. I want you to fuck me until I scream.”
I instantly pushed him away and then I saw him—Owen was standing ten feet away. He saw the entire thing. His head was slowly shaking side to side. I stood up to defend myself but he turned and ran off. I chased after him calling his name over and over again.
I caught up to him outside in the parking lot and grabbed his hand. “Don't go, Owen,” I yelled.
He tossed my hand away. “I'm only gone for five minutes and you already found a manwhore to keep you warm for the night.”
“It wasn't like that, Owen. Let me explain. He means nothing to me. Skylar is just an ex-boyfriend.”
Shit! Maybe I said too much.
“I knew it was a bad idea to go on a date with you.” I went for his hand again but he slapped me right across the face. “Don't touch me. I never want to see you again.” His words hurt more than my stinging cheek.
Owen rushed away and left me alone in the parking lot. I really fucked up this time. I went back into the bar with my head lowered. Hunter better keep the place open late because I'm going to need to drink for a long while.
Chapter Twelve
Owen
I thought Ares was different. But he was exactly like every other damn biker that I fixed up over the years. I couldn't believe I was so naive. How could I be so stupid? All men are the same—only thinking with their dicks.
I could barely see the sidewalk through my water-filled eyes as I tried to search for a ride home. It was late and they're weren't many cars on the road. It would be hard to find a taxi this late. My fingernails dug into my palms as I remembered that man with his hands all over Ares. I'd like to wring his neck out if I got the chance.
The rage inside surprised me. How could I be so angry when I barely knew Ares?
My hand still hurt from the slap I gave Ares. Was that too harsh? I didn't usually let my emotions control me like that. But it felt so damn good giving him hell. I'd slap him again if I ever saw him again.
I didn't want to scare Winona but I couldn't walk all the way home. I reluctantly took out my cellphone and dialed her number.
It took Winona over an hour to finally find me which I was thankful for because it gave me time to gather myself. I was always the strong and collected brother. I didn't want her to see me all broken down.
The first half of the drive was all silence. She knew my date had gone horribly wrong but she was too polite to ask about it.
“I'm sorry you had to drive all the way out here,” I said, finally breaking the emptiness.
“You kidding me? Gone with the Wind is a super long movie and I was on my fourth viewing. There's only so many times a girl can hear Rhett Butler say he doesn't give a damn. I needed the distraction.”
I blankly looked out th
e window at the passing streetlights. “I thought he was good for me, Winona.”
She reached over and took my hand, concentrating on the road. “I'm sorry, Owen. Do you want to tell me what happened?”
I didn't want to relive the experience so soon afterwards but I'd have to tell her eventually. “First he took me to the dirtiest dive bar I'd ever been to. The bathroom was co-ed and there was literally shit everywhere. I could only stand to be in there for a minute or two.”
I gave her the best smile I could considering the circumstances. “When I got back to Ares, his ex-boyfriend was all over him, kissing him and whispering in his ear.”
Winona's grip on the steering wheel tightened. “That motherfucker. I'm going to kill him.” Winona got so cute when she was deadly.
“I just ran out after that.”
Winona gasped. “And Ares didn't even try to chase you down?”
“Well he did, but his excuse was that he meant nothing to him.”
“Typical male.”
“I feel a lot better already from talking to you about it.”
Winona patted my thigh. “I'm your sister. I'll always be there for you.”
I leaned over and put my head on her shoulder as she drove. Winona turned into a Walmart parking lot. “Where are we going.”
Winona grinned. “This type of situation calls for two things: a big bucket of ice cream and a romantic movie to cry our eyes over.”
“That sounds perfect,” I replied.
“But can we forget the romantic movie. I think I've overloaded on those.”
I laughed so hard snot came out my nose. “Let's just do something else then. How about Wizard of OZ?
Winona nodded and grabbed my arm as we skipped to Walmart. “We're off to see the wizard, the wonderful wizard of OZ!”
Chapter Thirteen
Ares
My head was pounding and no amount of sheets over my head could protect my eyes from the blinding sun. I clumsily reached over to my nightstand and grabbed my watch. It was already two in the afternoon but it felt like I barely got any sleep. Time to finally get up.
I sat up in bed and the room began to spin. It took every ounce of power in my body to keep from hurling all over the comforter. After two deep breaths the intense headache calmed down. I realized that I wasn't at home but at the MC clubhouse in the spare room. What happened last night?
Fuck. Damn. Shit. Alcohol can really screw a man over. I needed to go apologize to Owen. See if I could fix the mess I made last night.
.I went downstairs to find Slade sitting at the bar nursing a beer.
“Rough night?” he asked, his head swaying back and forth. He was still drunk from last night and still going.
“You could say that,” I replied, sitting down next to him.
Slade cracked open a beer and slid it over. “Kill that hangover.”
The thought of more alcohol made me want to empty my stomach all over the bar. But Slade was right, this would get rid of my hangover. I shut my eyes and took a few sips, suppressing the urge to throw up.
“Feel better?” Slade ran his fingers through his long dark hair. Why he never got it cut was beyond me. But the girls go crazy over it.
I set the beer down and wiped my mouth. “A little. Do you remember what I did last night?”
Slade laughed. “You mean you don't remember?”
“I remember being with Owen and drinking a ton after he left.”
Slade laughed harder, choking on some beer. “Let's just say that you went a little crazy. Tried to pick a fight with anyone who walked by. Eventually Hunter had to kick you out. Took five of us to drag you out of there.”
Embarrassment flooded my cheeks. “Hunter is going to kill me.”
“Don't worry about it, we left him a big tip. At least you didn't get stabbed again.”
“Cheers to that.” We clinked our beer cans and continued drinking.
Dagger came over and draped his arms across both of us. “Pain said we have a meeting in an hour.”
“Better not be one of those boring financial meetings with Isaac. We don't need to know all that shit,” Slade said.
I downed the rest of my beer in seconds, hoping it would erase the memory of Owen. It didn't.
—
Pain slammed the gavel into the wood table. “I know everyone's busy but we need to talk about the Sacks County Annual Picnic.”
A collective groan echoed through the meeting room. Every year Mayor Jackson put on a big picnic to get Sacks county together. And every year, the Devil's Hellions MC donated a sizable contribution. It was the one time of the year that we could really make our presence known. To show the community that we were a force of good and not evil.
Pain turned to Isaac. “How are the coffers doing?”
Isaac licked the tip of his finger and flipped through pages. “We're down a lot from last year.”
Slade leaned over to me. “Told you it was going to be a financial meeting.”
Isaac sneered at Slade and continued, “We can only donate about half of what we gave last year.”
Pain nodded. “Well it's better than nothing. Hopefully some of the richer members in the community can make up the difference. Dagger, try Jonathan who owns the strip club and see if he wants to help out this year.”
Dagger nodded and took some notes.
One of the prospects knocked on the door and opened it up slightly. He must have been new because I didn't recognize him. We went through prospects pretty quickly around here. They tended to have a short lifespan.
“What is it?” Pain asked annoyed.
“Mrs. Thatcher is still here waiting.”
Pain rubbed his eyes. “I totally forgot. Tell her we'll have a decision in a moment.”
The prospect retracted his head and closed the door.
Pain folded his hands and began, “Mrs. Thatcher came to me this morning with a problem.”
“Mrs. Thatcher?” Isaac asked.
“She's the one that owns the coffee place on Main,” Pain replied. Isaac nodded. “Her husband has been a little rough with her lately. Her two black eyes and bruises confirm the story.”
“Why did she come to us and not the police?” I said.
“She doesn't want him arrested. Mr. Thatcher runs half of the coffee shop and she can't do it without him.”
“So what does she want us to do about it?” Big Mike asked.
“Just give him a little scare. Make sure he doesn't do it again. Normally I'd turn this over to the police but Mrs. Thatcher is willing to pay us for it.”
Isaac shook his head. “Even though we need the money, this doesn't feel right. We barely know Mrs. Thatcher and we've never even met Mr. Thatcher. I don't think we should start lending our services out like mercenaries.”
“You're overreacting,” Pain said, his fingers resting on the gavel. “She's a member of the community and needs our help.” Pain picked up the gavel. “Everyone in favor of helping Mrs. Thatcher?”
The Devil's Hellions MC raised their hands in unison except for Isaac. It was good for him to be cautious but I'd never turn away from a damsel in distress—especially one that is being beaten by man.
Pain pounded the gavel into the table. “Now that we have that settled. Mrs. Thatcher says her husband likes to hang out in the back of the coffee shop after it closes. Sometimes he has his buddies with him so we need to show up in force. Now I want it known that we are not to use lethal force. Got it?”
Everyone nodded. Slade cracked his knuckles and grinned. That man was a boxer in another life.
Pain smiled. “Good. We meet back here at nine.”
“I'll meet you there. I have some things I need to do first,” I said.
Pain hammered the gavel. “Dismissed!”
Chapter Fourteen
Owen
Working with rage at the hospital was not very good for the patients or the nurses. I yelled at the patients and was very short with the nurses. My date with Ares last n
ight had tapped a well of anger that I never knew existed in me. I was so stupid for agreeing to go out with him in the first place. Just because he was damn hot didn't mean I needed to drop my panties for him.
Royal Blood Complete Series Box Set Page 23