Claiming Mine (Unforgiven Riders MC Book 1)

by Amy Davies

  “No,” I state.

  “Why?” he asks again. I sigh.

  “Because I said so, Ace.”

  “Not good enough. We could be so fucking good together.” He winks at me. My heart is racing like a stampede in the jungle.

  “Because, I…” I stop myself. I suck in a sharp breath and my eyes snap to his. His eyes narrow and he tilts his head, taking in my words and my worried facial expression.

  “Because, what, Ana? And do not think of lying to me.” I can see he’s getting pissed. His fists are now at his sides and clenching repeatedly. He takes a deep breath and goes to open his mouth to speak, but a car door slamming has him spinning around and covering me.

  God, this man. He protects me without hesitation.

  I look over his shoulder and see a police car, then I notice two officers coming towards me. My breath catches in my throat. Oh no—Zarah. I step closer to Ace, and he wraps his arm around my waist.

  “Miss Ana Dawkins?” the male officer asks. I nod but don’t speak. Ace talks for me.

  “What can we do for you, officers?” They both look between Ace and me, and the female officer is probably thinking why he is with a plain-looking woman like me. Ace pulls me tighter when he sees the female officer sizing him up.

  “We have a Zarah Dawkins in the emergency department at hospital. She was attacked but she isn’t talking. She only speaks when she asks for you. We got your information from her hospital records.”

  “Oh, my G—” A sob breaks from me and my knees feel weak. Ace holds me to him, supporting my body.

  “I’ll make sure she gets to the hospital safely.” Ace’s voice comes from above me. I wrap my arms around his body and take some of his strength, before facing the officers.

  “How badly hurt is she?” I manage to ask.

  The female officer answers. “She was badly beaten. We are unsure of the full extent of her injuries. The doctors will explain better when you get there.” I nod and pull away from Ace. I need to get changed and grab an overnight bag for my big sister.

  “Did you catch the fucker who did it?” Ace’s voice is tense. My gaze snaps back to the three people standing at my door as I wait for the officers’ answer, and going by the look on their faces, I’m not going to like it.

  “No, we didn’t.”

  Ace

  I take my phone out of my pocket and send Dyson a quick text. He’s the club’s VP, and the son of our club president, Suede. He needs to know what’s happening. We’re a clean club, but we can also be a mean bunch of bastards when we need to be.

  And we don’t take too kindly to fuckers beating on women and kids.

  Dyson responds, telling me he will meet us at the hospital. I stand by the door, waiting for my woman to emerge from her room.

  Yeah, Ana is my woman, even if she doesn’t see it yet, or want it.

  She will.

  I know she’s hiding some shit from me, and I will find out what it is. Her sister, Zarah, knows what it is; I can see it in the way she so desperately wants Ana to be happy. Zarah has often tried to get Ana to give me a chance, and I’m grateful for it because I believe I can give her what she wants.

  Yeah, I may sound like a cocky cunt, but who the fuck cares. I can have any woman I want, but I want Ana Dawkins.

  A noise from down the hall has me turning to see Ana walking towards me with an overnight bag in her tiny hand. She’s changed into blue jeans that fit her legs perfectly, and a red sweatshirt with a white heart on it. She’s slipped her feet into a pair of trainers.

  As she gets closer to me and I take the overnight bag from her, I watch as she slips her handbag over her head. She picks up her phone and looks for her house keys, but I have them.

  “I have them, babe. Come on, let’s go and see your sister, yeah?” She nods silently, and my heart hurts for her. Zarah is not only her sister but her best friend also. They are extremely close.

  I walk her out to my bike and hand her the helmet, but she doesn’t take it.

  “You need to put a helmet on if you’re riding with me, baby.”

  “Then I won’t go with you. I’ll take my car. I can’t ride that, Ace,” she states. Yeah, that shit’s not going to fly. She’s riding at my back. End of conversation.

  “I’m taking you to see your sister, so get on the bike. You’re upset and you shouldn’t be driving. Now is not the time to be a brat.”

  Wrong fucking thing to say. Oh, fuck. The look on her face tells me I should have stopped fucking talking.

  “Seriously?” Her hands rest on her hips and I can’t help but chuckle. Her frown deepens but I leave her standing there and sling my leg over my bike.

  “Yeah, I’m serious. Get on the bike.”

  “Ace, I—”

  “Get on the fucking bike, Ana.” She snatches the helmet from my hand and tugs it on her head, before strapping it in place. She looks at the seat, then back to me.

  “What?” I snap.

  “How do I get on? I told you I’ve never been on a motorcycle before.” I shake my head at her, but I know I shouldn’t because she’s never been in the MC life. I need to set things straight with her.

  Since learning of my mum’s terminal illness, I’ve been viewing the world differently, understanding just how short life truly is. The things you love can be taken from you in a split second, so like fuck am I going to allow Ana to continue believing nothing is going to happen between us.

  “Place your hand on my shoulder and throw your leg over the bike. Put both feet on the pegs.” I point to the pegs and then the exhaust pipe. “And don’t touch that pipe, it gets fucking hot and I don't want anything to happen to those sexy legs of yours.” I wink at her and she blushes.

  There’s my shy girl.

  Ana listens to my instructions and climbs on behind me. She’s unsure of where to put her hands, so she gingerly rests them on my hips.

  Yeah, not happening, baby. Around the waist they go.

  I grip her hands and pull them around my waist, settling them on my lower abdomen. I bet she’s blushing up a storm behind me. My cock swells in my jeans at the thought of her pale skin, darkening to a sultry rose, and juicy when I get a hold of it. And that arse of hers… fuck me; my handprint will look sexy against her pale cheeks.

  I start the bike and rev the engine. My girl’s arms tighten around me and my cock takes notice of how close she really is. The fucker is sick and tired of being blue, but unless it’s Ana giving him relief, I’m not interested. Hell, I haven’t even fucked a club girl in nearly a year.

  I pull away from her house and make my way towards the hospital, which only takes nearly thirty-minutes. I spot where my boys are parked and pull alongside them. I kill the engine and climb off the bike, before turning to help Ana off. I wait until she’s solid on her feet before I pull the overnight bag out of my saddlebags.

  “Let’s go,” I say, taking her hand and pulling her towards the boys and the hospital door. Each of the boys nod and smiles at Ana. They are protective of her, just as much as I am, even though I haven’t officially claimed her as my old lady.

  We make it through the emergency department and the nurse tells us Zarah has been moved up to a room for the night. People move out of our way when we step off the lift at the ward where Zarah is being kept—people are always shit scared of us. They always seem to give us looks and a wide berth around town.

  “Zarah Dawkins’ room, please?” I ask the nurse at the nurses’ station. She jumps at the sound of my voice, and her gaze snaps to mine before scanning the rest of the boys. Dyson, EC and Batch are here with me.

  “Ummm, I don’t. I ummm…” she stammers.

  “Take a breath, sweetheart. Look at the computer and tell me what room Zarah Dawkins is in. Can you do that for me, darlin’?” EC’s voice is calming with a hint of flirtation. The pretty-boy bastard can charm his way into anything and anyone—and I mean anything and anyone; men included.

  EC is short for Eye Candy. He was given that
name when he was a prospect because he flirted with a female cop and got us off a minor drug charge. He got to get his dick wet a few times with her too. He’s a jammy bastard.

  “She is in room twenty-four,” she manages to say. Ana is still at my side, our hands locked together. I nod and leave EC chatting to the nurse. The boys are hot on my heels as we find Zarah’s room.

  “You okay?” I ask my girl when she hesitates at the door. She nods.

  “I’m just scared of how she will look. She’s my big sister, Ace. I know she’s supposed to look out for me, but I look out for her, too. I feel like I let her down. I should have sensed something was off with that guy earlier.” She looks down at the floor and my heart breaks a little for her. I use my forefinger to lift her chin, and bend my knees so we’re eye to eye.

  “None of this was your fault. None of this was Zarah’s fault. The club will handle this. You got me?”

  “No, Ace, you can—” I don’t let her finish. I pinch her lips together, halting her words.

  “I can and I fucking will. No one fucks with what is mine.”

  “But we aren’t yours, Ace!” Ana steps away from me and opens the door, not even taking a breath before walking inside to see her sister. Fuck my life, when is she going to get it?

  “Ace, you need to lock her down, brother. She’s getting bolder with you, which means now is the perfect time to claim her.” Dyson claps me on the back and walks into the room, Batch close behind.

  I follow the boys and see Ana lying in the bed next to a very battered and beaten Zarah. The anger coming from the lads is palpable. I can see the need for blood in their eyes.

  They hate seeing Zarah like this. Hell, they hate seeing my Ana hurting. Each of the boys step forward, one by one, and kiss Zarah’s forehead. They would normally kiss her cheeks, but they are bruised to shit.

  “Who did this, Z?” Batch asks her. She looks from Batch to Ana, and I wait for her to tell Batch to get lost, but she surprises me when she nods at her sister.

  “His name is Dan Cook. He works down at the DIY store next to the shopping centre.” Her voices cracks, and Ana pulls her closer, wanting to console her sister but trying not to hurt her at the same time.

  “What are your injuries?” Dyson asks her gently. She takes a deep breath and explains.

  “My face—obviously. He told me it was my face that got me in trouble with him, because I smiled at some random guy who held the door open for me at the pub. I also have two cracked ribs and the rest is only bruising. That's it.” She cuddles into Ana more, as if she’s her safety blanket.

  “The club is handling this, okay?” Dyson grinds out, the anger evident in his voice. He leaves no room for questions. The club will take care of this prick.

  “Okay. Do what you have to do,” Zarah whispers.

  “Zarah!” Ana yells. She rears back and glares at her older sister.

  “I’m sorry, Ana, but Dan hurt me. He told me that a slut like me always gets what she wants by opening her legs and smiling at a guy. That is why he beat me. Since when is a beautiful woman to be blamed for being herself? I am beautiful—well, I was anyway.”

  “Still are beautiful,” I snap.

  “Maybe, Ace, but thank you. No woman should be made to feel like a slut because she smiles at people to be polite, or for being beautiful.”

  “That is not what I mean. The police will handle this, Zarah. The club doesn’t need to get involved.”

  “They’re already involved, Smallie.” I’ve heard Z call Ana that nickname before at the café. It must be a childhood name.

  “How, though?” Ana asks. Even her sister can see where things are going to go with us; I just wish Ana could see it. But she will see soon enough. I’m sick of this chasing shit that has been going on between us. No fucking more.

  Zarah looks between Ana and me, and the boys chuckle. But when Ana snaps her gaze to them, they cough in an attempt to cover it up. Yeah, they know she has a mean streak when she needs to show it.

  The doctor walks in, and to say she’s a little shocked to see us is an understatement. Batch chuckles at her facial expression, the red blush giving her away. Her gaze snaps to his and her blush deepens.

  Yeah, honey, you're not the only woman who blushes around my brother.

  I turn my eyes back to my girl and her sister. Ana is climbing off the bed, so I step up beside her and wrap my arm around her waist, letting my hand settle on her hip.

  “How are you feeling, Miss. Dawkins?” the doctor asks Zarah.

  “I’m sore but I’ll live. When can I go home?” she asks. The doctor flicks through her chart and then looks at Zarah.

  “I would like to keep you in overnight at least. You took quite a beating. I really hope the police catch the bastard who did this to you. He needs a beating of his own.” The boys nod and Batch speaks up.

  “Oh, he will.” The doc, to our surprise, just nods in understanding.

  The Unforgiven Riders are known to the area and beyond, and not only in a good sense. We’ve had to throw our weight around a few times, but only when it was needed. Most of the older generation don’t like us because we own a few businesses around here they don’t fully approve of, but hey, we have to earn a living.

  “Get some rest, Zarah,” the doc states, and leaves the room, but not before casting one last look at Batch. Batch winks at her and she almost walks into the doorframe. The boys chuckle, and so does Zarah.

  “Zarah, EC will stay the night with you, for protection. I don’t think the fucknut will try and get to you again but I wanna be safe,” Dyson explains to her. I nod my head, but Ana is shaking hers.

  “I’m staying, Dyson. We’ll be fine,” Ana pipes in. Yeah, not gonna happen. She’s staying in my bed tonight, or I’m staying in hers. I need to keep her close, because this bloke might try and get to her since he knows where they live.

  “It’s done, babe. EC stays.” I growl when he calls her ‘babe’. Ana looks at me and I nod.

  “It has to be done, babe. You’re coming home with me tonight. I can protect you better at mine,” I tell her, leaving no room for arguments.

  “But—”

  “Enough. It’s decided, Ana. Can you trust me on this?” My voice is gentle but firm. I don’t want her to be pissed at me.

  She thinks it over but then nods, looking up at me with her sad, innocent eyes. It makes me want to lean in and kiss her, so that is what I do.

  I rest my lips on hers, and her sharp intake of breath lets me slip my tongue into her warm mouth, as I slide my hands down her sides and let them rest on her hips, holding her firmly to me. One hand slips down to cup her firm arse all on its own—honestly.

  I kiss my girl until we are both breathless.

  Ana breaks our connection and steps back. She brings her fingers to her mouth, then bits her bottom lip

  She shakes her head at me, letting me know she doesn’t want to kiss me again, but I don’t fucking care. That will be happening again, because kissing her has my cock hard as steel in my jeans.

  “Ace. We can’t—I’ve told you this before. Oh, God.” Zarah touches her hand and Ana leans close to her and whispers something in her ear. Ana’s eyes zone in on Zarah, and she nods. I frown at the sisters as they continue to talk, so quiet no one else in the room can hear them.

  “Let’s go,” Ana whispers, her shoulders slumped. I can only imagine Zarah has told her to go with me for her own protection, and also for Zarah’s peace of mind.

  I nod to the boys and walk towards the door, following Ana.

  “Keep me posted, yeah?” I say to Dyson. He nods.

  Each of the boys lean in and kiss Ana’s cheek, one by one. I clench my fists, but I see the boys’ cheeky winks at her. They know what they’re doing. I step up to Ana and place my hand on the small of her back, forcing her out of the room.

  We take the lift in complete silence, followed by walking to my bike with no words shared. I go to hand her the helmet, but stop, instead bending forward and
kissing her cheek, right over the spot where the boys kissed her.

  “Always last,” I say, before placing the helmet on her head and climbing onto my bike.

  Ana

  Always last.

  That’s what Ace always says after the boys kiss my cheek. I have no clue why. He’s so bloody alpha male about things. I bet he’s like that with all the women he sleeps with.

  My body shudders and my stomach revolts against the piece of toast I’m forcing down into my empty stomach. I’m standing in his kitchen, waiting for him to get off the phone with Suede, the President of the Unforgiven Riders.

  My worry for Zarah is knotting my stomach. I hate that this happened to her. We are more than sisters; we are best friends. So when she hurts, I hurt.

  I sip from my cup of hot tea and lean against the counter, appreciating the black marble worktop. I was surprised when Ace brought me here. I thought he was going to go to the clubhouse, where most of the men live these days. Ace’s semi-detached house is next door to Batch’s home.

  I walk over to the patio doors that lead out onto a very manicured garden. There aren’t many flowers like my own, but there are solar lights and two picnic benches, and a very large barbeque in the corner. The garden is big and connects the two houses together to make one massive garden.

  Before he took the phone call, Ace was explaining the house and garden situation. He and Batch wanted a big garden for when they settled down, so their kids could play together, and they could have large family barbecues away from the club.

  I feel arms wrap around my waist and tense up. I know Ace would never hurt me physically, but I can’t stop my body from reacting.

  “I would never hurt you; you know that. So why the tensing?” he asks, his warm breath on my ear.

  “I know you wouldn’t. But we can’t happen, Ace.” I pull away from him and he lets me. The frown on his face shouldn't be there. He’s too handsome to be frowning.

  Our eyes are locked in a war of want and need, but my walls refuse to come down just yet. My heart’s not sure it can take any more pain caused by a man.