Outlaw MC: The Complete Boxset

by Ethan Egorov

  “My parents are rich and still bank roll my life, I just like being a lawyer. Helping people.” She shrugs.

  “Hm. Thanks.”

  “I mean, you came from corporate law. That must have been cushy.” She sips her drink and spins her chair around to face me fully. Neither of us have anything on schedule yet, cases I mean, but the bail hearing is in thirty minutes. Maybe I shouldn’t have this latte and get my heart rate up any higher than it needs to be.

  But I think of all this to avoid her question. Back in corporate law means back with Jason, I haven’t been able to separate the two yet.

  “Yeah, it was.”

  “So why leave? Did you get a sudden call to serve?” She giggles.

  I grin and sip more of the latte, vanilla which is my favorite flavor. “No, I just needed to leave. Personal stuff I guess.” I tell her. I feel like she sees right through it, I mean she is a lawyer after all.

  “I bet that was rough. I mean, this is a great gig and all but, I’m sure you know already.” She laughs.

  I nod, “Yeah, I know. Thanks for the latte. I have to start getting ready for this bail hearing and I don’t want to talk too fast.” I laugh once, setting the drink down and gathering my brief folder up.

  “No problem, good luck.”

  It would take more than luck to get me through this though.

  When I see Roland, all those thoughts from yesterday come forward. He is just as sexy and attractive, even behind bars and in the same clothes as yesterday. It is too early in the morning; all my defenses must be down because I succumb to conversation with him. It doesn’t feel like talking to other men, the ones that I am used to would only ask questions to make sure I could make them look better in front of their colleagues or friends. Jason did it, and it took me too long to notice. But Roland isn’t like that, his future is basically on the line and he’s asking me these things like it would better serve him, than to focus on his bail hearing. But I am a good lawyer, I can focus when I need to, even after looking in his cold gray eyes like they could set me on fire.

  But I should have known as much, before he asked the one thing that I hate the most.

  “No shit, you’re one of those briefcase wearing, snobby lawyers?” His voice rises, and his brows cinch like he is accusing me of being a theft, or even a murderer from the looks of it.

  I frown at him, and the half smile I was holding falls from my face. He pulls back as he realizes what he said was probably a dick move, but not too soon before we are called in to court. He has to stay behind bars while I argue at the stand, but I still feel like I am trapped right under his heat again. Still, I do my job and get him out on even less bail than I imagine, with the court date to be sent later. But by that point, I’ll already have found him a new lawyer. It just got too close, and I know enough about myself to know that I will make a mistake or something with him. I just got here; I can’t risk it.

  I am half out of that situation until he catches up to me, leaving the court room.

  “Look I’m sorry about what I said. Thank you for getting me out on bail.” He says in a grave voice, the deep part of his voice is better than the rough part, not like he smokes but like he has a natural brogue. It sends a shiver down my spine and I have to work hard to keep him removed.

  “Don’t worry about it. You’ll get a letter in the mail for your trial date. See you then.” I say shortly, needing to stay true to my word.

  It takes me and my stomping feet a short time to make it all the way back to our section of the justice building.

  “That was fast.” Kayla says to me when I get back.

  “That’s how I roll.” I force the joke.

  She laughs and I sit down to finish setting up my computer. It’s old, but it works well enough. My boss calls me into his ‘office’ and I think I have done something wrong already. Maybe he saw me flirting with a client, I have no idea.

  “You asked to see me.” I swallow. I’m not even intimidated by him; my old boss was a cutthroat legal shark. This man has been arguing misdemeanors for three decades.

  “Yeah, I appreciate you taking that case so late yesterday. You can get out of here if you want.”

  “Like leave?” I ask like I am stupid.

  “Yeah,” he chuckles. “It’s not that big of a favor, you don’t want to have worked too many hours this week anyway. I’m sure you know why.” He explains.

  I nod slowly, I forgot that government jobs adhere to over time laws, and I worked over fifteen hours yesterday alone.

  “Yeah, thank you. See you tomorrow.” I smile a bit, but I wonder what the hell I will do with the rest of my day.

  Kayla tells me the same thing, and that it’s why she leaves later but comes later too. Once I get the hang of things, I might choose the days I stay longer. I already have to come in on weekends so I might as well combat that.

  But on the way out, my mind strays back to Roland and what he said earlier. It pisses me off that he would be so judgmental but I think maybe I am just reading into things, hoping he hadn’t meant it.

  I am leaving the justice building, walking down the wide stone steps when a hand comes onto my shoulder.

  “What the—” I turn around fast, thinking someone was trying to steal my purse or something, but instead I just turn around to find Roland smirking down at me.

  “Sorry, didn’t mean to scare ya.” He chuckles and comes down on the same step as me, he is much taller than I imagined or felt when he was still in the jail room. I have to look much farther up and the beating sun makes me squint my eyes.

  “I… what do you want?” I cross my arms across my chest and feel his eyes droop there. But again, it doesn’t feel invasive, it just makes me feel hotter than the sun is.

  “Legal advice.” He stuffs his hands in his pockets and grins down at me.

  “I’m clocked out, I can’t help you.” I move to walk down the stairs and he lets me for a few before catching up to me. “What do you want? An answer to your incredibly invasive and judgmental question?” I snap. He is stopped in front of me on the stair below and still comes to just above eye level from me.

  “No. I can apologize for that though. I was mostly joking but I’m sorry anyway. And I want to thank you for today.”

  I pause, blinking at him. I look for the tell in him, for the lie. But I don’t find it. He is genuine about it, and it is clear too. Even a man like him, that is clearly not of the normal type and probably does do illegal stuff at some point, can be as genuine if not more than the cultured people I used to be around.

  “You’re welcome. But you aren’t out of the woods yet.” I tell him.

  His lips form a hard line and his eyes soften at me.

  “Yeah, I know. But you’ll still be my lawyer, though right? Or is it only for the first half of this thing?” He chuckles once. I tilt my head at him being so nonchalant about the whole thing. I mean I’m good, but not that good.

  “No, I… you’ll probably have a different lawyer.” It’s looking in his eyes and feeling this wave of warmth that convinces me, I can’t be involved with him at all. I can’t even be in the same room as him.

  “Oh. Shit. Well look uh, maybe you could give me a ride to the tow center then? Since you aren’t my lawyer anymore.” He grins, and I know I am really in trouble.

  “I can’t, sorry.” I shrug, feeling a little bad. I have never been arrested but I’m sure it’s frustrating knowing your car is somewhere out there and you can’t get to it. I’m used to city living, but I can already tell this place doesn’t have good ride share programs.

  “Paige,” he starts and I shake my head.

  “I don’t have a car anyway. Best of luck.” I reach out and pat his shoulder, half regretting it when I feel how solid and warm, he is, but I move forward.

  I step around him and take my first real breath when I get out of his space and I speed walk to the parking garage entrance. He doesn’t seem like the following type, so I know that he didn’t.

 
; Once I get in my car, I sit there listening to the radio for a while before I put the car in drive. It’s relatively early and I don’t know what to do with my day. My apartment doesn’t feel like home yet. I could find the mall and spend too much money, but there isn’t much fun in that either. I can’t rely on five figure monthly paychecks anymore. The only thing I did right was save, but that’s for a very rainy day. If Lauren were here, she would tell me to sit at a bar and flirt with the bartender, but I was never good at that either. A drink would be good though, and a chance to see more of the city.

  I pull off and go on the first route I find, taking the highway until I drop off to a smaller town twenty minutes outside of the city. It looks like something out of a film, the drive-ins and old roads, the buildings with old brick. It is as much knowing the city as I might find. The only place that looks interesting enough though, is this shady bar with old brick shambles and neon lights that are off right now. There is a mechanic’s garage near by it, with motorcycles under the pass. I frown that it reminds me of Roland and that’s why I get out of the car for this day drinking.

  Walking in the bar, there is low music playing on a stereo and it’s mostly empty. Two guys are in the back-playing pool, and one is behind the bar cutting lemons. He looks like something out of a teen movie, the older guy that’s somewhat hot but also normal. I’m old enough that those things don’t make me nervous anymore but it’s the new place in the middle of nowhere that slows my steps.

  I walk up the bar and sit, the guy sees me and smiles before laughing under his breath.

  “You definitely look like you’re from out of town.” He grins and sets a coaster in front of me.

  “I guess we can skip that part then.” I half smile.

  “What can I get for you?” He leans his hands on the bar and smirks, which looks oddly familiar, but I don’t know why. He has light brown hair and light eyes, and is wearing a leather jacket that—

  “Something acceptable for day drinking, so I can still drive myself home.”

  He nods, “Gotcha.”

  I watch him make something with light vodka and mostly fruit. I take a sip and approve; I can barely taste the alcohol but know it will help me relax a bit.

  “This is good.” I tell him.

  He chuckles, “Yeah, it’s my girlfriend’s favorite drink.” He explains.

  I nod once, glancing at the tv playing a hockey game. I don’t even know what season it is or when they come on but the small fights are interesting. The guy at the bar goes about his tasks and I just sip the sweet drink, it’s nice.

  But I keep going back to the emblem on his leather jacket, that looks just like Roland’s. I shake my head at it, thinking it is just something from a shop around here that everyone knows about. It can’t be that they know each other and my luck is just that bad.

  “Do all lawyers follow their clients around?”

  I guess it is.

  I turn slowly, finding the last person I expected to see.

  “What the fuck?” I mutter to myself, but he hears me and laughs. First a little bit, and then at the top of his lungs.

  I start digging in my purse to find cash and pay for my drink, however much it is.

  “Hey, relax, you don’t have to run out of here.” Roland steps up to me, and smirks that grin of his again. I moisten my lips and give him a funny look.

  “What are you doing here?” I ask.

  “I thought you didn’t have a car.” He accuses, and steps around the bar. The other guy comes back and it gives me time to think up a lie.

  “Hey bro, you came back already?” The bartender says to Roland. He nods at him and I look between them, they actually look related. What on earth…

  “Yep. Took a cab home and got out of those jail clothes.” He says. The guy at the bar hands him a beer that he twists off.

  He comes and sits next to me, boldly, but I don’t move. I don’t know why except I am entrapped by his gaze and warm pine scent, his cologne is unlike the fancy ones I have been around, it’s like the warm forest in the summer. And he did change, he still has that leather jacket on but underneath is a simple gray tee and dark jeans. His legs are splayed open and I try not to look at his crotch, but it is right there and very… full.

  I swallow and drink the last of my beverage.

  “You want another?”

  “No, I’m okay.”

  “Make her another one, Spence.” Roland says to him. The guy, Spence, just smirks and makes another.

  “Are you ordering my drinks for me now?” I purse my lips.

  “You’ve got a mean streak, Paige. Lied about not having a car, left me stranded. Now I can’t even sit in my own bar in peace. I’m trying to be nice.”

  I half turn and face him, smiling a bit. “Your bar? Is this your turf or something?”

  He licks his lips and shakes his head. “Sure. But I do own the place sweetheart, so it is my bar. Thank you for your patronage.” He tips his beer and takes a sip, holding his gaze on me.

  So much about that statement is shocking. But the fact that he owns the place? I don’t know anything about him at all, clearly.

  The second drink is dropped in front of me but I hesitate to drink it. I can barely get by with some of my defenses down.

  “You came here to let off some steam I suspect. So drink, I’ll leave you alone eventually.” He smirks.

  I eye him but take another sip of the drink anyway. But it is the look he gives me that sends the shiver down my spine. It pools between my legs and I cross them, but it doesn’t help the sensations dull themselves, and I focus on calming my breathing. I look over at his smirking face again and hold my breath. It’s the way he looks back at me that makes me wonder.

  “You aren’t actually leaving, are you?”

  5

  Roland

  As soon as I see that flesh of red, I go after it, trying not to body check anyone in my way. She moves fast, and I am slowed by being distracted by her ass in those pants, the way her hips fill out the material. I imagine how those legs would feel wrapped around me on my bike and it sends the tingling sensation right down my arm as I tap her shoulder, finally catching up to her.

  She is startled at first, and I hold back a laugh, but I guess coming up behind someone isn’t the best thing.

  “Sorry, didn’t mean to scare ya.” I laugh once and come down the step so I am at eye level with her.

  “I… what do you want?” She crosses her arms and narrows her eyes. But that’s the last thing I see before my eyes drop to her tits pressing the fabric, pushed up under her hands. I get myself to focus somehow.

  “Legal advice.” I put my hands in my pockets just so they have somewhere else to go.

  “I’m clocked out, I can’t help you.” She moves around me, but I stop her again, and she shrugs slightly. “What do you want? An answer to your incredibly invasive and judgmental question?” She snaps at me and I feel bad all over again for even saying it.

  But that was a split-second thing, I hadn’t thought it through at all.

  “No. I can apologize for that though. I was mostly joking but I’m sorry anyway. And I want to thank you for today.” I tell her. I’m being completely honest and that’s something I don’t even get to do often. At the club, I keep things from the guys and only tell them if I need to, when I need to. Even with my brother. With other women, I didn’t give them enough information to get attached to me from because it was better for everyone involved.

  But with Paige…

  It isn’t just because she is a lawyer, that I feel like I can’t lie to her. I just don’t want to.

  Her lips part and she blinks at me, thinking over her words. I think I have gained some ground but it just seems like she is set on not liking me. Maybe she’s the judgmental one and not me. But I can’t really talk, she met me when I was in jail.

  “You’re welcome. But you aren’t out of the woods yet.” She adds.

  My expression droops at her.

  �
�Yeah, I know. But you’ll still be my lawyer, though right? Or is it only for the first half of this thing?” I laugh once. She tilts her head at me and half smiles.

  “No, I… you’ll probably have a different lawyer.”

  I look her in the eye and she stares back.

  “Oh. Shit. Well look uh, maybe you could give me a ride to the tow center then? Since you aren’t my lawyer anymore.” I grin, using the last opportunity I can think of. I just want to spend more time with her. Outside of this place. It’s more than wanting to have sex with her, and I want to figure out why.

  “I can’t, sorry.” She shrugs and I know she is lying.

  “Paige,” I try to convince her but it is short lived.

  “I don’t have a car anyway. Best of luck.”

  She walks off and I don’t dare go after her, she might have pepper spray in that purse. But it’s hard, thinking that I have lost my chance. We don’t run in the same circles, so unless I hang around this dump, I won’t see her.

  It kind of sucks, but I can’t win every chick I go after. She has already done enough for me anyway; I’ll just have to replay her arguing my case for me until I can’t remember it anymore.

  The first thing I need to figure is how to get out of here though. I end up calling a cab with my phone half dead. Instead of going to the tow place, I go home, my bike will be safe but I feel like I am growing things from that jail house.

  I toss my cut and plan on using my spare one, stripping everything and dumping it in the hamper before I take a scalding shower. The hot water feels good against my skin, beating down my sore muscles. I wash my hair and spend extra time just under the spray of the water, pissed that this all happened in the first place.

  Because of that dumb ass cop that hates the club, I’m sure I will be seeing him again at some point, and I don’t want to end up in jail again.

  It has to be the Devil’s Princes. I think long and hard over it and that is the most reasonable explanation. Cops have hated us for a long time, but they never came after us because we keep the town safe just as much as they do. But if a rival club wants us out, they can pay off a cop. I have to talk to the guys about it, I can’t dodge a meeting anymore. It has to happen today.