Ethan sat and mingled with his Chaos brothers at the bar in the Vibe. They were all there to thank Markus for giving both me and Destiny jobs. The Chaos Kings presence at the club was also meant to show the county that the Vibe was a legitimate gentleman’s club. Destiny filled me in on a bit more about Markus. In the past, he did make his money dealing in prostitution and drugs and was in prison for a few years. But he cleaned up his act as he served his sentence and started all over again and went legitimate. There was no organized crime involvement with the Vibe, and Markus worked with local law enforcement to keep his business safe.
I was in the dressing room, chatting with the other dancers, as Destiny got off the stage, hurrying through the door, wiping the sweat off her breasts and neck. “Day-um, Cherri! Who is that oh-so-fine Chaos King out there with the long dark braided hair? I’d like to find out if he’s hung like a horse!”
I stood in front of the mirror, making sure my barely-there little dress was in place before my turn on stage. I looked at Destiny, shaking my head. “Such things you say, my darling Destiny.” I guess nothing she said shocked me anymore. “That’s Spider. He’s the VP.”
“You think he’ll buy me a drink?”
Knowing Destiny now for a few years, she never acted tongue-tied around men before. So, seeing the gleam in her eyes when she spoke about Spider was adorable. “I’m sure he would. After all, you did help us all out by getting Marco.”
“Well, that was the least I could do! Marco had it coming. So did Kyle. I hope their dicks rot and fall off. “
Ethan’s eyes pivoted to me as he sat at the bar with Ratchet and Spider. Walking toward him with Destiny, I could see that he had a relaxed expression, and the side of his mouth lifted as we approached, arm in arm. Spider turned around, and his eyes met Destiny’s instantly. “Is it okay for Destiny to sit with you while I go up on stage next?”
Spider’s handsome grin lit up his face as he patted the empty barstool beside him. “Hop on up, Destiny. I’ll buy a drink.”
Destiny batted her eyes at him as she climbed onto the barstool, wiggling a bit, arching her back out so that Spider could admire her cleavage in a low-cut shimmering tank top.
I moved to stand in between Ethan’s legs. He wrapped his sturdy, robust arms around me, and he nuzzled his scruffy beard against my cheek. “You got any baby bibs behind the bar, darlin’? I’m going to have put one on Spider here in a few minutes.”
I giggled. “She wants to find out if Spider is well-endowed.”
Ethan leaned back, his brows lifting in surprise at what I just said. “So, you women do talk just as dirty as us men, huh?”
I winked. “We sure do, my biker man. And I don’t blush anymore about it either.”
Ethan smacked my ass hard, making me squeal. “Such a naughty girl…” he growled low. “Now, go up there and dance for me, darlin’. Show all these men in here that rosy mark I just left on that nice hot ass of yours.”
My tongue darted out and drew a wet path across his lower lip. I scooted out of his grasp and sashayed onto the stage. I danced to the haunting theme song from the show True Blood. The twangy guitar sound came through the speakers in beat with Jace Everett’s deep, sultry voice, and I performed hip swivels, hook spins, fireman spins and carousel slides around the silver pole.
I nudged Spider next to me, interrupting his and Destiny’s conversation. “There he is.” I nodded my head toward the man sitting alone at a table in the corner, wearing a hoodie. He followed the rules of the club and pulled the hood back once he sat down. I couldn’t make out his age because his jaw was covered with a full-grown beard and his hair was shaggy and messy, down to his shoulders.
Spider spotted him too and turned back to me. “Yeah. I see him. Same dude, huh?”
“Yeah.” I knocked back another shot of whiskey, watching the man watching Fiona on stage. I knew Fiona was safe at the Vibe, but I’d seen this man there several times before. He always came alone and left after Fiona danced. Just like I used to do at the Cheetah.
Wads of bills clung to Fiona’s hips and ass like a belt, strapped under her thong, as she sashayed off the stage. She headed down the hall to the dressing room, and the next second I was off my barstool, when the man in the hoodie got up from his chair, looked toward me first, and then turned to follow Fiona.
He was only a few feet from her, and I gripped his shoulder, slamming his back against the wall. He reached up, grabbing my cut and shoved me back toward the other side of the hallway. He knocked my back against the wall, and I didn’t anticipate that he could be as strong as I was, because my head was full of rage again, just as it was with Kyle. I swung at him, and my knuckles connected with his jaw. His fists came off my cut as he staggered back.
The sound of Fiona’s cry stopped both of us. Her eyes were wide with shock. The man reached up and wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth with his knuckles. He turned to Fiona and pulled his hood back.
She recognized him. She knew him. She rushed to him and threw her arms around his shoulders. “Seth!” He wrapped his arms around Fiona, burying his face in her hair. “It’s me, Fiona.” She began to cry, and so did Seth.
With my back against the wall, I leaned over to steady my breathing and pounding chest. At that moment, watching them in each other’s arms reminded me of my sister Gabby. I missed her. I raked a hand through my hair, shaking my head as I turned away.
“Ethan, wait!” I looked back at Fiona, to see tears streaking down the sides of her flushed cheeks.
I reached up and brushed her wet cheek with my calloused thumb. “Go talk to him, Fiona. I’ll be right here.”
She smiled as I left her with her brother and went back to the bar. I let Spider know who he was.
Spider chuckled, shaking his head. “You’re always thinkin’ with your fists, Gunner. You throw a punch, then ask questions later!”
* * *
Seth drove his car and followed us back to Fiona’s house later that night. I parked my truck in front of her house and leaned over to her, brushing my lips across hers. “You need some time alone with your bother. To catch up.”
I got out of my truck, walking around to Fiona’s side, but Seth was already there, his hands shoved in his pockets. That’s when I got a better look at him under the street light in front of her house. Seth had Fiona’s eyes, the same shade of pale blue. He looked to be in his early twenties, even with a full-grown beard. His blond hair was shaggy, down past his shoulders. I couldn’t make out his build because of the oversized hoodie he wore that was zipped up, but he matched me in height and strength.
I reached out my hand to him. “Sorry about that, man.” I looked at the corner of his mouth where the blood had dried.
He looked down and shook my hand. “It’s nothin’. I’m used to it.”
I let him open the truck door for Fiona. I gave her another kiss, got back in my truck, and drove home, leaving brother and sister together for the first time in years.
That night, Seth and I talked and cried as we held each other. He revealed some of our father’s abuse that I didn’t know about, but there was only so much he would tell me, and I didn’t press him. He obviously preferred to keep that buried deep down.
After I had left, things just got worse. Seth’s eyes held the unmistakable shadow of pain that I knew mine did. He’d always had such a boyish face with feminine angles to it, but now he had a full beard that made him look older. His blond hair was unkempt and had grown past his shoulders.
“I hated him. I hated everyone. There was nothing I could do but hitch it out of town. I’ve done things, Fiona. Things I had to do, just to survive on the streets. I made it up north to New York. I did some underground fighting to make money, so I could eat, or have a bed to sleep in. I’ve even shacked up with men! Men who gave me a bed to sleep in and food and nice clothes.” His voice was deeper than I remembered—so much sadness within his tone.
“I called back home to Mother when I could. And she fin
ally left our dear ole dad. She moved in with Aunt Cheryl. Father breathed to keep his black heart pumping. I don’t even think he had a soul, spitting out all those fucking bible verses to us! Mother told me he drank more and more, and then he had a stroke, and that landed him a nursing home. Now he’s lying in a bed full of his own shit and piss. People are tending to his miserable ass every day as he still breathes. And he’s already dead.
“I did what I could to protect you and Mother, Fiona.” Seth’s head dropped down, his hands combing through his shaggy hair.
I was on my knees at his feet, and I reached up, wrapping my arms around him. “I know, Seth. But you were just a child. And so was I. Children are to be loved and cherished and protected by their parents.” I pulled his hands away, so I could look into his eyes. “Seth, don’t blame yourself. Don’t blame others. It’s not your fault. The only one to blame is him. And Mother is safe now. I’m safe now. And now, you’re here—with me.”
Seth’s eyes were still sad, but his mouth lifted with a hint of a smile. He leaned down and scooped me up in his arms. They were so much more muscular than I remembered. He looked down at me, that sad smile still there. “You don’t need me around to be safe, sis. Looks like your biker boyfriend has it all covered.”
My biker boyfriend. I flushed and felt so warm and happy inside. “Yes; Ethan. He understands me. I’m in love with him. He cherishes me. Protects me. He looks at me as if I’m the most beautiful woman he’s ever seen. He’s a member of the Chaos Kings MC. They call him Gunner. He served in the Army in Iraq. His club is legitimate. They’re a family all their own, like a tribe. They’ve all made me feel welcome, and it’s where I belong. I belong with Ethan.”
“Good. Ethan’s strong right hook to my jaw just proved it to me.” He chuckled, making me laugh. “It’s really good to see you smile, sis. You look happy.”
“I am, Seth. And the icing on top of all my happiness is having my brother back in my life.”
* * *
Within a month, Seth felt more at ease and grounded. Ethan made him feel welcomed too. He introduced Seth to his club brothers, and Wez gave him a job working at his tattoo shop, Mad Ink, talking to new clients, setting up appointments and helping around the shop. Tanya was so kind and did a total makeover on Seth. She cut his hair and trimmed up his beard. And I saw the boy I remembered, who had to be a man to protect his family at such a young age. His face was more masculine, with an angular jaw, and his bright blue eyes appeared wiser.
He didn’t talk much, but he never really did even when he was young. He was much more introverted than me and liked to be alone most of the time. Trooper warmed up to Seth and followed along beside him like he used to do with me. I didn’t pry about his life before he showed up at the Vibe. I just hoped he would be willing to share his experiences with me someday.
We invited Seth to the clubhouse a few times, and he seemed to have a connection with Skully. Tanya had told me a little about Skully’s childhood as an orphan, bouncing from different foster homes until he turned eighteen. He’d also done some things in his past that he wasn’t proud of, but he wanted to be the best man he could be for her and for his son, little Jake, who looked just like him. Maybe Skully could sense this from Seth, that they both did what they needed to survive.
It was a very chilly November night as Ethan drove me home from our date at the movies. It was nice to have a date night, just the two of us, making out in the theater even before the movie began. Ethan’s warm hand glided up under my sweater as we kissed. He tugged my bra cup down, rolling my hard nipple between his thumb and forefinger. I sucked in a breath as he whispered in my ear as the beginning credits to the movie appeared on the screen. “I like feeling you up at the movies, my naughty little vixen.”
I giggled. We felt like two horny teenagers; Ethan left me wet and wanting him for two hours as I endured watching the movie. But he suffered too, as he shifted in his seat with a raging hard-on.
Ethan’s truck beamed its headlights through the dusting of snowflakes as he drove me to his house. And he drove a little above the speed limit, wanting to get me back to his place so we could finish what we’d started in the theater.
He looked over at me, with hunger in his eyes and a devilish grin. “Once I get you back to my place, I’m gonna wear that sexy-as-fuck body of yours.” I batted my eyes at him, trying to look innocent. But his eyes turned back to the road and his smile faded. “I’ve been thinkin’ lately, darlin’. About how I’m always taking you back to my place.”
My heart was floating above the clouds for months now, but at that very moment, my heart sank. “Are you bored with me?”
His eyes pivoted back to me. “God, no, Fiona! I’m never bored with you. Sometimes I wish I could keep you in my bed for days. How about you move into my place? I know it’s not much, but Ratchet’s basement would be enough for both us. Think about it, sleeping on your couch is probably getting kind of old for Seth anyway.”
My chest flushed with warmth, my eyes swelling with tears. He reached over, splaying his warm hand on my thigh. His brows lifted. “You like that idea, don’t you, darlin’?”
My hand covered his. “Yes, Ethan. I do.”
Fiona moved in a week later. We had Seth over and shared Thanksgiving dinner with Ratchet and Sam. Seth and I sat up in Ratchet’s living room, watching football and drinkin’ beers, while Sam and Fiona did their female bonding in the kitchen, fluttering around like little birds. They did a fantastic job cooking the turkey and all the fixings. We had a fun time, laughing. Just being around people I cared about made me remember my family and how I grew up. I had good memories of both my dad and mom and my younger sister, Gabby, even though she was a bit of a tomboy as a kid. Then one day, she just blossomed into a pretty teenager, with me fighting off the boys in high school before I enlisted in the Army.
I could only imagine what it was like for both Fiona and Seth growing up, with a cruel and hateful drunk monster for a father and a mother who couldn’t protect them. Seth didn’t say much, but he was a good brother to Fiona, only wanting to protect her like I did with Gabby. Whatever he had to do to survive on the streets alone and come back to Fiona alive, it was a good thing.
A few nights later, Chaos got together to pound down some beers and shots at the clubhouse. Everyone brought leftovers from Thanksgiving dinners to finish off, my brothers and the coven in jovial holiday moods. I just downed a shot of whiskey as Ratchet came in with Sam. She rushed over to Fiona standing by the jukebox with Tanya, whispering in their ears. Before Ratchet lumbered over to me sitting at the bar, he smacked Sam on her ass, making her jump and yelp. Ratchet cracked out a chuckle as Sam turned a shade of pink and the girls giggled.
“Pour me one of those, brother,” Ratchet grumbled, with a big grin on his face.
I poured him a shot and another for myself, handing him his. “What was that all about?”
Ratchet lit a smoke. “What?” He turned toward the women, then back to me. “Oh. That. It’s not my fault my ol’ lady is blushing. That’s Fiona’s fault.”
“And how is it Fiona’s fault? You’re the one who smacked Sam on the ass so hard everyone in the clubhouse heard it, asshole.”
“‘Cause Sam surprised me with a lap dance last night. And it was the hottest fuckin’ lap dance I ever got! But I might have given it back to her a little much. She’s walking all funny again. That’s why it’s all Fiona’s fault, brother—she taught my ol’ lady some sexy dance moves!”
I chuckled. So that was what Fiona and Sam were chirping in each other’s ears about that night Fiona danced on the pool table.
Ratchet raised his shot glass to me. “She’s been ridden hard.”
I knocked mine against his. “And put away wet.” We threw back the whiskey at the same time and slammed the glasses back on the bar.
“She amazes me, Gunner. After all the fucked-up shit she’s been through, she’s come out of her shell and shows me just how fuckin’ beautiful she is.”
“Yeah, Ratchet. She’s a badass little woman.”
I remembered Ratchet talking to me not too long ago about coming out of my shell, right there at the clubhouse bar. Everything was all bottled up inside me when I came back from the war, out of the Army, and back to civilian life. I struggled with rage and violent tendencies ever since. Then I found Fiona. The red-haired vixen whose soft touch and sweet, velvety voice calmed the pounding headaches. I wanted her the moment I saw her dancing around that pole at the Cheetah.
I started to think about my family back home in Maryland again, too, and I realized I missed them. A lot. I pulled my phone out, and headed out to the parking lot, telling Ratchet, “Gonna make a phone call. I’ll be back.”
I pushed the button on the screen on my phone that said “Home.” It rang a few times.
“Ethan?” Gabby answered.
“Yeah, Gabby. It’s Ethan. Happy Thanksgiving.”
I heard a huffy breath on her end. “You’re a few days late. You should have come over. Mom and Dad had all the family here for Thanksgiving dinner.”
“Sorry, sis. I’ll make it up to everyone. I’ll come by during the Christmas holiday.”
There was silence for a few seconds. “That’d be really nice, Ethan.” I heard her sniffle. “Mom and Dad miss you so much. So do I.”
“Yeah. I miss them too.”
“What about me? Your only fucking sister!”
“Dammit, Gabby. I miss you too.”
Some things never changed. Like our big brother, little sister bickering. “And I want you to meet my ol’ lady. I mean, girlfriend.” Girlfriend?
“I want to meet her too. What’s her name?”
“Fiona. She’s gorgeous and amazing.”
BOX SET - CHAOS KINGS: Chaos Kings Motorcycle Club BOOKS 1-4 Page 31