Twisted Steel: An MC Romance Anthology

by Knox, Elizabeth

  “Hi, Dora. Hey, Lorna,” I call to them. Both women are friendly, they’ve known me since I was a baby. When my mother died, they all chipped in to help raise me, so they’re like the family I never had.

  “Hey girls,” Lorna grins. “A little dolled up there,” she remarks, waving her bright pink manicure at us. “Doesn’t have anything to do with those bikes that just pulled in, does it?” Her arched brow makes me blush, I can feel the heat on my cheeks.

  “Perhaps.”

  “Bad boys aren’t good for girls like you,” she warns.

  “Aye,” Dora chuckles, coughs when she inhales a lung full of smoke, then tells us. “Be careful of getting your hearts done by those bikers.”

  Shrugging, I settle on one of the opposite benches. “You’re both old ladies,” I tell her, meaning I know they’re each with a biker of their own. Seconds later, a door shuts and I hear deep voices coming from the house. It doesn’t take long for the men to emerge.

  Shadow is first, his dark eyes land on me, and something inside me shifts, as if a magnet is attached to us both and it’s trying to drag me toward him. A second later, when Talon walks out with his cocky swagger my stomach flip flops wildly and I’m confused at my warring emotions.

  For a moment, I picture having both men beside me, touching me, kissing me, but it’s Shadow who turns away and moves toward his bike as if I no longer exist. Furrowing my brows, I feel the tightening in my chest, but shake it off quickly and glance at Talon who’s sauntering toward us.

  “Hey, baby doll,” Talon grins when he catches my eye. My dad is nowhere to be seen, but Blade and Beast are following behind the younger men. Blade is Shadow’s eldest brother, and Beast is Kali’s dad.

  “Hi.” My voice comes out shy, and I admonish myself for sounding like a little girl when I’m trying to catch Talon’s attention.

  “Well, what do we have here,” he saunters closer, Blade following, but Shadow hangs back. I can feel Beast watching us with fatherly wariness, and I know the moment one of them makes a move, he’ll be all over them like a rash.

  “Want to give me a ride?” I ask him, finding courage from deep within my rather shaky chest. Blue eyes shimmer with interest and the corner of his mouth tips upward, and I’m afforded the infamous Talon smirk.

  His golden-brown hair is short but tousled in such a way that he looks like he’s just been running his fingers through it. He leans in closer, his mouth finding my ear and his hot breath coming in short spurts as he speaks.

  “I’d love to see you straddle my bike, baby doll,” he whispers, and every word is like a spark igniting my body.

  “Dad, can we go on a ride with the guys?” Kali’s voice breaks through the cloud of lust that’s so clearly hovering between Talon and me. And when he finally steps back, I’m trembling with nervous energy.

  “One hour,” Beast says, his eyes darting between me and his daughter. He wouldn’t deny us because the guys are Fallen Saints. I know for a fact if they were from any other club, we would be locked in my bedroom until they leave.

  Talon grabs his helmet and hands me a spare one, which I slip on. Thankfully, Kalista told me to loosen my ponytail or this damn thing would never have fit on my head.

  The moment I’m seated behind Talon, I wrap my arms around his toned torso. I feel the heat pooling between my legs as my fingers dance along every ridge of his abs. I’m not sure a short skirt was the best choice, and when I turn to glance at my father’s office window, I realize he’s not all that happy with me either. But he won’t come out and cause a scene.

  That’s not how Trigger works.

  My dad’s road name is one of the more frightening because he’s definitely not a man to mess with, and I have a feeling I may no longer be grounded because when I get back, I’ll be imprisoned until my final breath.

  2

  Talon

  I shouldn’t have taken Syren on my bike, but that goddamned short skirt and those amazing tits had me salivating to feel her pressed up against me. I’m not a good guy, and I’m not afraid to admit it. Time and again I’ve broken hearts, but I’m sure she’s heard of my rep. All the girls have.

  Doesn’t matter which chapter of the MC you go to because the warnings are clear. I’ve fucked a few women in every state and word gets around. I can feel the animosity coming from Shadow. My VP will not be happy about it either, but then again, he hasn’t made a move on her, so he can’t blame me.

  Her body is tiny compared to mine, and her arms are wrapped around me like a vise. She’s warm and soft, whereas I’m cold and hard, hard in more places than one. I’m not a huge fan of Miami, being down here always makes me homesick. I love the dry arid landscape of Arizona, but Shadow turns toward the beach, and I know he’s headed for the bar he loves to frequent when we come down here to meet with Trigger.

  It's a small shack of a place that serves the coldest beers in the city. The speed of our bikes and the roar of the engines have people’s heads turning as we pass by. It’s part of the charm, making sure everyone can see you coming from miles away. Or at least, hear you coming.

  Syren’s fingers dance along my stomach, and I wonder if she’s doing it on purpose, or if she’s just inexperienced, but I’m fucking steel behind my zipper by the time we pull into the parking garage that has walkways to the ocean.

  I help Syren off my bike and swing my leg over. Leaving our helmets on the seat, I lace my fingers with hers, which is a natural progression to whatever the hell I’m doing and lead her toward the bar.

  The moment we step inside, I breathe a sigh of relief. The air-conditioning chills us, and I enjoy the cool air. We find two empty tables which we pull together and all settle around it.

  Shadow leaves us, heading to the bar, without asking what we’d like to drink. I watch him for a moment, wondering what’s going through his head. I know the moment we get back to the house, he’s going to give me a piece of his mind.

  “So,” I finally turn my attention on the beauty who’s seated beside me. “Why are you running away from home?”

  She rolls her eyes, then straightens her shoulders before she speaks. “My dad is being an asshole,” Syren spews. I haven’t seen her since she turned sixteen and listening to her curse only makes my jeans that much tighter.

  “Why?”

  “He grounded me for going to a party. Now, I have to spend my birthday with my dad’s biker buddies and their old ladies.” Her nose crinkles at the thought and I can’t help but chuckle.

  Shadow returns with a tray of drinks, beers for us, and two sodas for the girls. “Perhaps you should listen to him when he warns you off bad things,” my best friend tells her as he settles in a chair opposite me. His dark eyes giving nothing away, but I know he’s not happy I’m taking an interest in her.

  Back at the compound, he warned me about Trigger killing me, but I have a feeling it’s my best friend who would pull a gun on me if I hurt the pretty girl beside me. Which begs the question — why didn’t he make a move if he wants her so badly?

  “Well, I’m grown up, I’m old enough to make my own decisions, and he’s being completely unreasonable. What is he going to do when I head off to college?” she tells us adamantly and I can’t help but smile. College wasn’t an option for me. I finished high school and walked out of the house I grew up in to find a better life.

  Both my parents were asshole alcoholics, and it was best I leave before I turned into my father. I vowed never to be like him, and in the seven years since, I’ve kept the promise to myself.

  Nobody knows about the vow I made to myself, not even Shadow. But he knew my folks, knew what they were like. We spent all our time at school sitting behind the bleachers smoking, it’s a wonder we both graduated. But even so, we stood by each other and no matter what, he will always be my best friend.

  “Perhaps he’d let you go to a college closer to home,” Shadow suggests.

  “She wants to go to New York,” the little blonde says. She’s tiny, almost pixie-l
ike, and with her sitting beside Blade, it’s a strange combination. Shadow’s brother is huge, and I can only imagine how he’d toss Kalista around like a rag doll.

  “I will go to New York,” Syren says adamantly. She’s confident in her choice, but I have a feeling Trigger may not be as welcoming to the idea of his princess being in another city, let alone another state altogether.

  “You know your dad will have a minor heart attack when you tell him,” Kali warns her best friend while I sip my beer. Shadow’s gaze lingers on the beauty beside me, and I wonder if he’s considering calling our friendship agreement up.

  When we were eighteen, we both liked one girl. She was heading off to college and I wanted to get one last fuck in before we patched in and sold our souls to the devil.

  When Shadow walked in with her on his arm, I lost my shit. We had the biggest fight over who got to have her, but in the end, we agreed no woman would come between us. Ever.

  It sounds archaic when I think back on it, but then I realize she liked us both, and she wouldn’t have refused either of us. But in the end, my friendship with Shadow won out.

  I would’ve suggested sharing her, but that’s not something he would do. Granted, I would happily do anything when it came to sex, but I know my best friend is more possessive over the woman he has on his arm.

  It’s been a long while since I’ve seen him happy, since I’ve seen him in love. I wonder if he’ll ever feel the way he did about his ex, Amelia. She was pretty, a girl who grew up in the lifestyle of guns and bikes. She knew what she was getting into, and they were together for two and a half years before she left.

  No goodbye, no explanation, she just disappeared.

  Since that day, he’s never looked at a woman like he’s looking at Syren. I attempt to catch his eye, but he doesn’t turn his attention to me for a moment. Instead, he’s focused on the conversation which has gotten away from me.

  “Are you going to be at my party?” Syren asks when I finally look at her again, trying to see what he’s seeing in her. Yes, she’s beautiful, and she’d be a great fuck, but I don’t know if a relationship is something I’m cut out for.

  Should I bow out? No, that’s not who I am.

  “Yeah, I’ll be there, baby doll,” I tell her. Leaning in, I allow my breath to fan over her ear while I whisper, “Perhaps you can wear something pretty for me, just like this little skirt that’s taunting me right now.”

  I sit back and revel in her shiver from my words. All I can think of right now is my fingers trailing up her thighs, finding her heat and plunging two digits inside her.

  “Let’s go.” Shadow shoves his chair so hard, it topples over with a loud crash. He offers a sorry to the owner before sauntering from the bar, leaving us to stare at his retreating form.

  Something certainly has gotten to him, and I know for a fact it’s my attention to Syren. Perhaps it’s time to talk to my best friend.

  “Stay here,” I tell her, then glance at Blade, who’s picked up on the tension. “Stay with the girls. I’m going to see what’s crawled up your brother’s ass.” I push up and chuckle to make light of the situation before I follow Shadow from the bar.

  3

  Shadow

  My body is tight with tension, but I can’t do shit about it. Perhaps I should take one of the club whores to bed and fuck her until I can’t see straight. But that’s not going to help the ever-growing tightening in my chest.

  Yes, I find Syren attractive. Yes, I would take her to bed any day of the week, but there’s something about her that scares me. She’s far too beautiful, too innocent, and I know the moment I get a taste of her, I’ll be lost to emotions I have no place feeling.

  Those same fucking affections had me falling for Amelia three years ago and she left. I’m not a good man, and someone like Syren needs that. She should have a guy who can care for her and treat her like the princess she is.

  “Hey, man,” Talon says, slapping me on the shoulder. I want nothing more than to be angry at my best friend, but I can’t be. He’s the one she’s sitting beside. He’s the one she chose.

  “What?” The word comes out more hostile than I intend, but he’s known me far too long to let it bother him.

  “Are you calling in the friendship pact?” His question stills me for a moment. Could I do that to him? It’s obvious Syren likes him, and if I did that, he’d brush her off which will only hurt her. I can’t hurt her.

  “No,” I bite out. My molars are clenched so tight my jaw aches. As much as I should call him out, I don’t. Talon could be good for her. No. He’s not, but I’m telling myself everything to keep my mind off wanting her.

  “Then what the hell is the problem, Shadow? I’ve known your grumpy ass for far too long not to know something’s crawled up there and it ain’t comin’ out.”

  Turning to my best friend, I pin him with a glare. “There’s nothin’ up my ass, and there never will be. I want to get back to the compound. I’m tired.” I spin on my heel and leave him burning holes in my back. I don’t give a shit what he thinks right now, all I need is to get out of here before he can say anything more. I pull my phone out of my pocket and hit dial on the one other person I know in Miami other than the guys at the club.

  “Shadow,” her purr comes through the line, and I smile.

  “Darlin’, I’m in town. You interested in getting fucked like a backscreen door?” I chuckle. It’s an analogy she came up with the last time I was down here. We meet up, we have some fun, and I leave. There aren't any strings attached and that’s what I need right now.

  “You know it.”

  I hang up and swing my leg over my bike and tug on the helmet. I know they’ll all soon follow, leaving the bar to go back to the compound, but I need time to think. And I do that best when I’m balls deep in my oldest and only female friends . . . with benefits.

  The engine roars to life and soon enough, I’m on the road, alone, like I want to be. My mind is replaying the very second that I laid my eyes on her. That tiny skirt she paraded around in didn’t help matters, because my dick is hard, and my mind is awash with filthy images.

  I try to focus on the road, rather than my raging hard-on as I make my way toward the one person I know will understand. Lyra was never one for being tied down. She was heartbroken enough times to know that love is fickle. When I met her, she was bartending at a local nightclub in Arizona. It wasn’t long before she moved down here and bought her own place.

  Whenever I found myself down here, I called her up. We’d catch up, drink some expensive alcohol, fuck, and then I’d say goodbye and she never asked for more. And I never offered. We knew what we were doing, what we were getting ourselves into, and that was perfect.

  It doesn’t take me long to pull up to the nightclub which I know is currently closed. She only opens the doors at nine, but she’ll open for me. I knock twice on the heavy, black door, and seconds later, it’s whooshing open and on the other side is the beautiful redhead.

  “What the hell has crawled up your ass?” Is the first thing she says to me the moment her big green eyes land on me. She’s nothing like Syren. She’s the complete opposite, and even though I hoped seeing her would clear my mind, it hasn’t helped any.

  “Fuck you,” I tell her as I push by and saunter into the dimly lit space of the club. The walls are all black, with red accents of color that pop from the faux leather couches. There’s a DJ booth sitting front and center against one wall, which is directly opposite the bar.

  A large dancefloor gapes empty, and I wish there were a few swaying beauties on it at the moment so I could get into this fuck buddy situation I’m walking into.

  “Seriously, Shadow,” Lyra says as she stalks behind the bar, grabbing a bottle of Jack and pouring me a double measure. “Drink this.”

  I take it gratefully and swallow it down, before slamming the glass on the counter needing another one as swiftly as the first one went down.

  “Are you going to tell me what’s wron
g?”

  “Nothin’,” I bite out, realizing my rudeness as the word slips from my mouth. “I mean, I just . . . fuck it,” I murmur before a sigh escapes my lips. Running my fingers through my hair, I pull on the dark strands, closing my eyes as I feel the sting against my scalp.

  “Is this about a girl?” Lyra arches her brow in question, her perfectly pouty lips pursed as she watches me. Green eyes simmer with recognition, and I know she knows it is. Can it be written all over my fuckin’ face?

  “What makes you say that?”

  She shrugs. “Dunno, just sayin’,” she smirks. “I mean, a man like you will always have girl troubles. Seems this one is getting to you, though.”

  She pours another drink and I swallow it in one gulp, gesturing for her to keep them coming. I wanted to see her to get my mind off Syren, but now all I can think about is the pretty raven-haired girl. And that’s what she is — a girl. Even though I know Talon doesn’t give a shit, he’ll break her, I can’t bring myself to do it.

  “Come on, Shadow, I’ve known you far too long for you to ignore me,” Lyra tells me something I already know. I feel like shit for this.

  “It’s Syren,” I tell her.

  Her brows shoot up to her hairline when I speak the name that’s haunting me. Lyra’s mouth falls open, then closes, speechless. It’s what would happen if I told my father I wanted to claim her as my old lady.

  “Talon and I came here to meet with Trigger, and she was there. It’s her birthday in a couple days, and she’s finally turnin’ eighteen.” When I meet those green eyes, I see the amusement shimmering in them. “What the fuck is so funny?”

  “You’re scared of an eighteen-year-old? A big, burly biker and he’s too afraid to go after what he wants.” Her taunt doesn’t help my sour mood, it only worsens it as I knock back one last shot. If I’m going to make it back to the compound, I can’t have more.