“I’m in,” Tank declared almost immediately.
Ritz leaned forward and put his elbows on the table. “I’m in, brother.”
I waited while others called out that they were willing to stay and commit to the rebuild until we got to the final ten.
“I’m staying,” Pop stated.
“Really? You too, Pop?” Marvel asked. “What the fuck is wrong with you guys? This shit isn’t club life.”
“Then you’re free to go,” I responded calmly. “You all have twenty-four hours to make your decision, and then we’ll begin reassigning positions and voting.” I ran my hand over the short length of my black beard. “I can’t promise those of you who stay that we won’t have hurdles, but I can promise you that I will put everything into making this club a success and do it giving us all what we want from club life. Freedom.”
With nods all around, I called the meeting to a close, wanting them to have time to make their final decisions, accepting I would probably lose more than I would keep.
I waited exactly twenty-four hours before I walked back into that room.
And met the stares of the twelve men who decided to stay.
Then I set forth building my new club.
Having no idea that in eight years, it would be threatened once again.
CHAPTER ONE
JOSIE
I ran my hand along my forehead while I drove down the deserted road toward town, a road I’d driven every day this summer to the camp I’d been hired to establish and run. When I’d been offered the job, I thought the town name of New Hope was a sign of my future, so I’d packed my things and moved to North Carolina, where I’d spent all my time building a camp for underprivileged kids. Tonight marked the last night for this summer. Our campers would be bussed back to their homes tomorrow, and we were set to begin school on Monday. I was proud of the work we’d done this summer, and hopefully, the positive results we’d seen over the past three months would continue throughout the school year.
I’d just rounded the bend onto the second stretch of road when something caught my eye. Along the side of the road stood a woman with her hands on her hips, looking under the hood of her car with the same look I’d imagine I’d have on my face in her position. Confusion. The closer I got, the more I realized that confusion was mixed with annoyance. Another emotion I’d be feeling if I was stranded on this road. I hesitated and almost kept driving. I was still new in town, considering all of my time over the past three months had been spent at the camp, so I didn’t know the locals well enough to stop and help, but when I noticed the very pregnant belly she was rubbing, my decision was made. Slowing down, I steered the car toward the side of the road and parked in front of her vehicle.
Stepping out of my car, I made my way back to where she stood with her eyes settled on me, and I smiled. “Hey.” I gestured toward her raised hood. “Need some help?”
She glanced back at the open hood before she faced me again and frowned. “That depends. Do you know how to fix cars?”
I smiled and shook my head. “No, unfortunately, I don’t, but I can give you a ride if you need one.”
She nodded, then reached up and slammed the hood down. “I’ll definitely take you up on that offer, considering it’s getting dark and my phone’s dead.”
It was the time at night when the sun had just kissed the horizon, not quite night but no longer day. I agreed with her, though. I wouldn’t want to be on this road when the darkness finally set in completely. I’d driven this road every morning and night in the dark, and it was a little creepy, to be honest. There was absolutely nothing out here except for a building that always seemed to have motorcycles parked in the lot in front of it. One time, I drove this road early enough in the evening that I saw huge bay doors open beside the large building that showed at least four or five cars parked inside.
I waited while she gathered her stuff from the front seat of her car, along with her keys, and locked the doors. We made our way to my car, and both slid into the seats before I turned to face her.
“Where to?”
“My brother’s in a club a few miles away. If you could get me there, that would be great.”
“Sure.” Smiling, I started the engine and pulled easily back onto the road.
“I’m Rebecca, but everyone calls me Becs,” she said. “I can’t tell you how much it means to me that you picked me up. I’d pretty much decided I was going to start walking right before you drove up.”
“I’d want someone to do the same for me if I was stranded, especially if I was pregnant.” I glanced at her and smiled. “I’m Josie, by the way. How far along are you?”
“Seven months.” She grimaced. “My brother’s gonna be pissed when he finds out I was thinking about walking back.” When she pointed at a building on the left, I wasn’t surprised, considering it was the only building I’d ever seen out this way. “You can turn into this parking lot. That’s my brother’s MC.”
Turning in, I headed toward the large building I’d seen and wondered about all summer. “MC?”
“Motorcycle club.”
I didn’t know much about motorcycle clubs except that I’d always heard they could be dangerous. Some of the camp counselors mentioned the MC, but I hadn’t paid attention. I was adjusting to a new town and a new job, so I didn’t have time for local gossip. Although, now I wish I would’ve paid a little more attention.
I pulled into a space a few rows behind the motorcycles and two pickup trucks. Before I could say anything, Becs turned my way, wearing a huge smile.
“Will you come in for a minute? Let me buy you a drink. You know, to thank you.”
I flicked my wrist. “No thanks needed. I didn’t mind. I’m padding my karma.”
She laughed. “Something tells me you don’t need any help with your karma.” She pointed at the large building in front of us. “Really, come on in. The guys are nice, and my brother will want to meet you.”
“Why would he want to meet me?”
“He’s a little protective of me.” She pointed at her pregnant belly. “Especially now. And he’ll want to meet the woman who was crazy enough to stop and pick me up.”
I laughed along with her, thinking I really just wanted to go home, but instead, I nodded my head, knowing it was good for me to meet new people and not only the ones I worked with.
Nodding my head slightly, I smiled. “Okay.”
“Great!” she exclaimed and pushed open her door before stepping out.
I did the same and followed Becs through the parking lot toward the door where she lifted her hand and waved at a young man standing beside the building, one foot propped up on the brick wall. He pulled the cigarette from his mouth when we approached and smiled.
“Hey, Becs.”
“Hey, Dozer. This is my friend Josie.”
He winked and lifted his chin, which I found incredibly sexy. “Hi.”
Becs leaned in close to whisper next to my ear. “In case you’re wondering, they’re all sexy like him. I think it’s a biker thing.”
She laughed and moved ahead of me to pull open the door, and I realized I actually wanted to see the men on the other side, curious now if it was a biker thing.
We moved into an enormous dimly lit room. A long wooden bar sat off to the left with stools in front, some of which were occupied. In the back corner of the room, off to the right, was a pool table with a few men and women playing. The rest was an open space with furniture where a few people were lounging. I squinted, not believing what I was seeing, but right out in the open, right in front of me and everyone else, a couple was making out. Her shirt was even off, and I was pretty sure her skirt was next. I quickly averted my eyes back to the bar, which seemed the safest place for them. I wasn’t a prude, but I also wasn’t used to watching a live sex show.
“Becs!”
I glanced toward the voice who yelled her name, as did she. “Hey, Bear.”
“Bear?” I mumbled. His name was Bear?
My eyes widened. “So your brother’s a bear?”
“Oh, definitely.” She laughed and looped her arm through mine, pulling me along with her toward the end of the bar where her brother stood, watching us. “This is my friend Josie.”
He was drying a glass with a towel, and his eyes ran slowly over me before they ever met mine. “Josie?”
I nodded, swallowing hard. I hated to admit to myself and would never admit out loud that I was completely intimidated by him. He was a massive wall of solid muscle. I could see the muscles moving in his arms when he put down the glass he’d been drying and picked up a new one, starting the process all over. His black hair was cut short, as was his beard, in a way that complemented his sharp features, but it was his eyes that had me entranced. They were gray. I’d never seen gray eyes like his before.
“How do you know my sister, Josie?”
Now that I knew this was her brother, I looked a little closer and noticed the resemblance. They shared the same black hair, but where his eyes were a cool gray, hers were brown. They were both very tall, but considering my height, everyone seemed tall.
“She picked me up a little bit ago off the side of the road where my car broke down,” Becs replied from beside me.
“What the fuck?”
I turned when I heard that growled from behind us and watched Becs’s shoulders slump before she also turned. “Don’t start, Race.”
Another strange name was all I thought while I watched Race narrow his eyes. “Why the fuck didn’t you call me if your car broke down?”
“Because my phone was dead.”
“Becs, Jesus, why the fuck have a phone if you never charge it?” Bear asked from behind the bar.
She rolled her eyes, moving so she could see both men. “Listen, I screwed up and forgot to charge it. Josie saw me, pulled over, and picked me up. Now if one of you could just get one of the boys to go get my car, I’d appreciate it.”
“You’re seven fucking months pregnant, Becs!” Race shouted.
Her eyes widened. “I know that! I said I screwed up. I can’t do anything about it now!” she shouted back, and I swear they went into a stand-off, both with their hands on their hips and their eyes locked on each other. Glancing back and forth between them, I couldn’t help but wonder if they’d been a couple at one time. No one could have that much animosity without having meant something to one another at some point.
Shaking off my curiosity, I motioned with my thumb toward the door even though I was pretty sure no one was looking at me. “I’m just gonna go.”
I started to move back when I ran into a hard body that I hadn’t realized had moved to stand behind me. His hand wrapped around my jean-covered hip and squeezed gently.
I stood perfectly still, unsure how I felt about a stranger’s hands on me, especially in what seemed an intimate way. Although, I couldn’t ignore the heat from his body or the fact that my own seemed to settle into his touch. Lost in my thoughts, I startled when I heard his deep voice above my head. “Knock it off, you two.”
Race’s eyes broke away first, and I watched as he seemed to have a silent conversation with Bear. He held out his hand toward Becs. “Need your keys.”
She pulled the keys from her pocket and dropped them into his open palm. He scowled one more time before he moved away and headed for the door, calling out over his shoulder. “I’ll take Dozer with me.”
Becs turned toward the two men with fire in her eyes but kept her mouth shut. I would have too if I was her. She hadn’t been wrong that he would be pissed, but she had been wrong that it would be her brother. From what I could see, no one was as angry as Race. I couldn’t see Bear’s reaction, but I assumed he nodded when Race began moving again.
He was almost to the door when Bear called out, “Race.”
“Yeah?”
I felt the rumble from his chest against my back while he spoke and turned my head so I could see Race. “If you’re taking Dozer, lock the door on your way out.”
He nodded and sent one last look in Becs’s direction, but when I glanced toward her, I noticed she’d averted her eyes.
Bear’s hand squeezed my hip before he moved away to stand in front of Becs. He wrapped his hand around the back of her neck and leaned down to talk quietly to her. I could hear him, but I didn’t think anyone else could. Actually, no one else even seemed to notice all the drama at this end of the bar.
“He’s worried about you, same as me, Becs. You can’t keep taking chances like this. You got a baby to look out for now.”
I saw her eyes shift toward me before settling them back on her brother. “I forgot, that’s all. Stop worrying.”
He smirked and stood tall. “That’s impossible.”
She rolled her eyes but returned his smile and then shot a look my way. “Hey, Josie. Sorry about all the drama. Now, let me buy you that drink.” She held up her hand before I could decline. “And don’t you dare say no.”
With a smile, I sat down on the empty stool two down from the end of the bar. Bear once again took his place behind the bar and lifted his chin my way. “What’ll it be?”
I didn’t care, knowing I wouldn’t finish it anyway, considering I was driving, but I’d already guessed I wasn’t getting out of here before Becs felt like she’d thanked me in her way. “Anything but beer.”
He smirked. “I could’ve guessed that.” He moved down the bar a short distance and pulled a bottle from a shelf, holding it up for me to see as he made his way back to where Becs and I sat. “Vodka and cranberry okay? I keep it around for this one”—he gestured with his head toward Becs—“when she’s not knocked up.”
She looked my way. “That’s true. I hate beer too. Weird, huh, being a biker’s sister and all? But I hate the taste of it.”
“Me too,” I agreed. “It’s too bitter.”
Bear quickly made my drink before setting it down in front of me. Turning, he grabbed a bottle of water from a small refrigerator and slid it in front of Becs. “What happened with the car?”
Becs proceeded to tell him how she broke down and where, finishing with me pulling over to help her. I wasn’t all that comfortable, but I couldn’t say I was uncomfortable either. It was more a feeling like I didn’t fit.
“You know why he’s pissed.” Bear’s gentle voice brought me back to the conversation.
“He’s always pissed.”
“Becs,” Bear started, but she held up her hand.
“I’m going to the bathroom. I’ll be right back.”
She moved from her stool, not looking back, and my eyes followed her toward the hallway that began at the other end of the bar. I didn’t know if I should follow her or stay put. It seemed like she wanted to be alone, but it was obvious she was upset.
Bear sighed, bringing my attention back to him. I took a sip of my drink before speaking. “She seems upset.”
“She is.” He ran his hand along the short hair of his beard. “Those two have been dancing around each other for years.”
“Should I go talk to her?” I asked.
He stared at me for a minute, almost until I felt uncomfortable, but then shook his head. “No, I will.” He tapped the bar. “Stay put.”
I nodded, but he was already walking away. Looking around, I noticed the same people all still having their own conversations and immediately felt awkward sitting at the bar alone. Done with socializing, I pulled some money from my purse and set my drink on top of it. I stood from my stool and took one last look toward the side of the long bar where Becs and Bear had disappeared but decided they had enough on their plates without worrying about me.
Moving the short distance to the door, I pushed it open and stepped outside into the darkness of night that had finally set in. Slipping my purse from my shoulde
r, I dug my keys out and started across the parking lot, only hesitating when I felt a tingle at the back of my neck. Walking a little faster, I was almost to my car when three men in leather vests, similar to the ones on the guys I’d just met, blocked my path. I had no idea where they’d come from, considering the entire parking area was well lit, so I could only assume they’d been hiding in the shadows behind a vehicle just waiting for me to get farther from the door of the building.
The biggest and the meanest looking one sneered. “Fucking perfect.”
I didn’t know what that meant, but I knew I was in trouble. With my heart beating fast, I dropped my purse and turned, running back toward the door of the building I’d just left. Boots sounded heavy behind me, and I ran faster but felt the heat from a body seconds before someone wrapped his big arm around my waist and slapped his hand over my mouth.
Lifting me off my feet, he turned and began carrying me farther into the shadows. I kicked my legs and jerked my body, bile rising in my throat when I saw we were heading toward the large bay doors on the garage beside the clubhouse.
No one would see us there.
It was completely dark.
He dropped me to my feet and flung me around before slamming me up against the side of a truck.
My chest heaved when he leaned in close. When he began speaking, I gagged at the revolting combination of alcohol and cigarette smoke. “I got a message, and you’re gonna deliver it.” He put his face so close to mine that our noses touched. “You tell those fuckers we’re coming.”
He moved his hand from my mouth, and I took a deep, shaky breath. He reached up with his hand and wrapped it around my jaw, pulling my head away from the truck. “What did I say?”
“You’re coming,” I whispered.
He smiled, his teeth brown and crooked. “Good girl.”
I exhaled heavily while watching him and thought that was it.
He only wanted me to relay a message.
I couldn’t have been more wrong.
End Game (Sinners MC Book 2) Page 2