by Lila Rose
I wanted what Stoke had with my mum.
What the prez had with his woman.
What Cody, my closest mate in the Hawks MC brotherhood, would soon have with bakery girl if he got his shit together.
I knew Mimi was pissed at me for the way I treated her, even though I’d been nice in the way I let her down. I wasn’t going to walk away from helping her when she needed it.
Eventually she’d get over whatever she felt for me. If she still did feel something more than hatred for me.
I mean… I was a catch, but I knew, no, I felt, I honestly wasn’t for Mimi. She had someone else waiting for her in the future.
Damn, I sound like a clairvoyant.
Raising my gaze to her brother, I lifted a brow, waiting to see if he had any objections. He nodded once. “I will allow this, for the club’s sake, since you all have taken care of Mimi for so long.”
“Thanks.”
“No, I won’t allow it. Ruin is…. He’s annoying and… a pig.”
“Harsh, babe, but true. I ain’t the cleanest person when it comes to bedrooms.” I grinned down at Mimi, who was still scowling, but I could feel Wolf’s gaze burning into me. What was this guy thinking?
“Mimi, if this is what Talon wants, then allow him to come for his sake. We do not need the motorcycle club worrying.” He knew I would have followed no matter because Talon had given me the go-ahead. It was good he knew not to mess with our club. Showed he was smart.
Mimi bit her bottom lip. She looked back to me. “Can’t it be anyone but you? I’d even take Griz, and he scares me.”
“Has he hurt you?” Wolf demanded.
When Mimi didn’t answer right away, Wolf took it as a yes. He went to grab for me, but I dodged to the left, only I didn’t see how fucking fast he was as he brought his leg up in a kick to the arm. I stumbled back into the wall, and his hand wrapped around my neck. I punched him in the gut. A noise escaped through his lips, but he didn’t drop his hold. I went for the kidney. He blocked it with his knee and punched me in the fucking side.
“Stop,” Mimi called. She pressed into her brother’s side, holding his arm where his hand was still wrapped around my neck. Only it wasn’t too tight, more holding me in place. “We…. Look, it was between Ruin and me, but it’s fine.” She stepped back with a small smile on her face. “Besides, I’m sure you’ve taught him a lesson.”
“Have I?” Wolf asked darkly as he leaned into me.
“Sure.” I smirked. If we weren’t in a diner, I would have given him shit back and kept this going to see who would come out on top.
He moved away, dropping his hand, then walked out the front door. Mimi grinned at me as she swept by, following her brother.
She enjoyed seeing me get roughed up by her brother, even though I gave my own back, but honestly, I didn’t give a shit. I deserved the beatdown for being a dickhead to her in the first place. Though, her brother had better not get an idea he could do it again. I’d have him on his back in seconds.
Jesus, I have to watch what I think, because that sounded sexual. I snorted internally at my choice of words. I supposed he was a good-looking guy, but fuck that, dudes just didn’t do it for me.
Stepping out the door, I met them at the car. “We’ll head back to the compound. Mimi and I can grab some shit, then we’ll hit the road. That is, if you’re not too tired, Wolf? Do you need a nap? That scuffle made you look ruffled. You need some beauty sleep?”
“It’s nice of you to think I’m beautiful, but I’ll be fine to drive.”
I jerked my head back. “I did not call you beautiful,” I insisted, incredulous.
“I think you did,” Mimi added, looking to be having far too much fun.
“I so fuckin’ didn’t.” Both smirked at me. “Christ, whatever. Let’s just get there and on the damn road.”
The sun was rising as I stalked off to my ride. Annoyance hissed through me, no doubt because of lack of sleep. At least the coffees I’d had would give me a nice buzz for a few hours, until I could get more in me.
I didn’t have a clue what would happen in Melbourne. I just had to make sure I’d be alert. Already, I didn’t like the sound of Mimi’s family. The brother seemed okay, since he tried to kick my arse for his sister’s honour, but I wasn’t trusting him yet.
Even though I was heading into shit on my own, I had brothers, close friends in the Caroline Springs charter. I’d have help in a matter of moments should I need it.
Just sucked Coyote couldn’t make the trip with me. But he had a store to run and a woman to claim. Other brothers would easily cover my shifts at the job site. I’d been working in construction since I turned eighteen and loved the hard work. Though, it’d be good to have some time off, since it’d been a while. But with no idea what my time off would involve, I couldn’t wait to see exactly what I was up against.
Chapter Two
Ruin
The ride took over an hour. When we pulled up to a huge gated property and saw what was behind it, I couldn’t believe my damn eyes. What type of fuckin’ gang did Wolf control? By protecting Mimi, had I jumped right into more shit for the Hawks MC?
I shook my head and followed them through the gate after it opened. The prez wouldn’t have allowed me to come in the first place if he didn’t already know what type of crap Wolf was involved in. I trusted that.
A whistle slipped from my lips when I took in the mansion in front of me. Two people waited near the door, but you had to climb a shit ton of steps to get to them. I got off my bike after parking next to Wolf’s car and removed my helmet. I didn’t love leaving my Harley out in the elements. I’d have to see if there was a free spot in the massive ten-door garage at the end of the house. They couldn’t have filled it with vehicles. Then again, as I took in more extravagant shit around me, I wouldn’t be surprised.
With my saddlebag in hand, I stalked over to Wolf and asked, “Got a place for my ride in that garage?”
He nodded. “I’ll have someone take it in if you’ll give me the keys.”
I stared at him. He had to be fucking kidding. No one touched my girl but me.
“He’ll need someone to show him where to put it, but no one is to touch it but him,” Mimi explained, and then she just had to add, “Bikers see their rides as their women. Well, a woman they would want to keep forever. Meaning they’re very protective over them and would kill if any harm came to them.”
It was true, but she could have said it without the dig.
“Very well.” Wolf waved to the man waiting on top of the steps. He looked like he was in his sixties, but he jogged down those stairs like he was forty. “Katon will show you to the garage. Katon, Ruin is a guest. Please assist him in storing his ride inside.”
“Yes, Taro-sama.” Katon bowed at Wolf. It was obvious I’d arrived at a place set back in time with maids and butlers… or Mimi’s family was so rich they probably wiped their arses with a five-hundred-dollar bill. “This way, sir,” Katon said.
“Ruin. It’s just Ruin.”
“Of course.” He bowed.
Wolf smirked and guided Mimi towards the front door. “We will see you inside.”
I gave him a chin lift and followed Katon over to my bike. “Ah, Katon, no disrespect, but can we cut out the bowin’? I ain’t used to it. Unless it’s somethin’ you were ordered to do, then go for it.”
Katon’s lips twitched, but he nodded and waited for me to set my bag back on my ride. I handed him my helmet while I steered my ride towards the garage.
“Guess the family has owned this place for a while?”
“Yes, sir—excuse me, Mr Ruin.”
I sighed. “No mister, Katon. Just Ruin.”
Katon smiled over at me. “To answer your question, the Takahashi family has owned this house for generations. It wasn’t until fifteen years ago when it became their permanent residence instead of the one they have in Japan.”
Yep, they were filthy rich.
“Have you been with them a while?”
<
br /> “Ten years.”
“That’s a while.”
“Taro-sama hired me. I am honoured to serve him.” Taro, that was Wolf’s real name. I’d heard Mimi use it.
Loyal. Got it. He wouldn’t dish out any juicy details on his boss.
Still, I could find out a few things that weren’t going to give too much away, and he wouldn’t feel guilty for it. “Is it only Wolf who lives here? And what’s with that thing you say after using his name?”
“The whole Takahashi family does. Taro-sama’s father and mother. Taro-sama’s two uncles and their families. As well as trusted guards and workers, but they’re situated in their own wing. Sama means leader or master. When Taro-sama took over, he offered the choice to call him Wolf or Taro-sama. I prefer the formal title.”
Huh. Hoped Wolf wouldn’t get his panties in a twist when I didn’t call him master. “What types of businesses?”
His lips thinned. He pulled a device out of his pocket and pointed it at the garage. The doors slid open.
“They have many.”
I had a feeling he wasn’t pleased by some of them. I walked my ride into the garage and whistled at the large number of kickarse cars.
“Colour me impressed,” I told Katon, who just smiled in return. We made our way back out, and Katon closed the door after us.
At the front door, Katon turned to me. “Please remove your shoes, and I will lay them in the cabinet near the door.”
“What?”
“Your shoes, please remove them. We do not wear them in the house.”
I slid my boots off, and Katon picked them up before he opened the front door just as an intense voice hit me from the large entryway. “You bringing her here shames the family. She left, became a whore—”
“Whoa,” I called out when I saw Mimi flinch. “Watch what you’re fuckin’ saying.” I stopped beside an older guy standing in Wolf’s face. Katon had made himself scarce. Shit, I probably should have done the same, but I didn’t like the situation and wasn’t running from it if I could stay and help.
“Who is this?” the man demanded as his judgemental gaze ran over me.
“Jiro Oji-san, this is Ruin, a friend of Mimi’s and a guest of mine.” Jiro, whoever the fuck he was to Wolf and Mimi, screwed up his face, and I knew a rant was about to come, but Wolf got in first. “You need to remember who is in charge of this family, Uncle. I will not have Mimi and my guest disrespected.”
Jiro, their damn uncle, snarled, “It was the worst choice your father has ever made, leaving everything in your name. You will dishonour this family, and I won’t stand by to watch it.”
Wolf’s hands clenched at his sides. “What are you saying, Uncle? Because the next thing out of your mouth had better be that you’re leaving and taking your family with you. If you mean war between us, because I will fight, I will not back down and fold to your ways, then prepare to lose everything you love.”
Holy fuck. Wolf wasn’t messing around, and shit, the way he talked and stood up for Mimi had me wanting to have his back through it all. For Mimi’s sake, I’d fight at his side.
The uncle ground his teeth together, glaring at Wolf. “We will see what the outcome is in the end.”
Wolf’s upper lip lifted when he growled out, “Yes, we will.”
Jiro turned and stalked off, heading down a hall, and I had a feeling he wasn’t going to back down anytime soon. What would be his next move though? I didn’t trust Wolf, but my damn warning bells were ringing loudly when it came to the uncle.
“Taro, you shouldn’t have done that,” Mimi uttered.
“Bullshit,” I commented.
They ignored me, and Wolf glanced down to his sister. “They have dominated our family for too long. Controlled in ways I would never. It’s time to stop, and the sooner they realise I won’t fold to their barbaric ways, the better.”
“But, Taro, they’re… lethal.”
Wolf grinned, and if anything, it was a wolfish one. “So am I. I promised you that you had nothing to fear coming back, and I will honour my words.” He tucked a strand of her black hair behind her ear. “Things will change.”
“I fear for you.”
He smirked. “You have nothing to worry about. I have protection, and you know I can take care of myself.”
She nodded, frowning. “I know, but still, maybe it wouldn’t have escalated if I hadn’t come home.”
Wolf cupped her cheeks and squished them together a little. Christ, it brought a smile to my face because it was something I’d do to my sister. “It was going to happen no matter what. I will not allow you to think this is your fault. It’s not.”
Mimi glared and pushed her brother’s hands away. “I’ll think how I want to.”
Wolf smiled and curled his arm around her shoulders, moving them down the opposite hall to where the uncle headed. “Of course you will.” He grunted after I heard a slap and then he laughed down at Mimi. “All I mean is that you’re smart, Mimi. You got away. I should have, but now I’m neck-deep, and honestly, I wouldn’t want it any other way, because I get to be the one to clean this family up.”
I followed after them and thought they’d forgotten I was even there, so I said, “You two do know I’m still here, right?”
They both glanced over their shoulders. “You’re like a pest I can’t get rid of,” Mimi said.
Wolf chuckled. “I would call him a pet, at least.”
Narrowing my gaze, I shot them the middle finger. “I ain’t either. I’m here as a favour. Now, feed the guest and show me to a damn room to crash in for a bit.”
“Are pets always this demanding?” Wolf questioned his sister.
Mimi snorted. “I think it’s only Ruin.”
Clenching my jaw, I bit back my retort and let them have fun at my expense, since it looked like Mimi was enjoying herself and that was better than the pinched brows she’d had.
“Come, pet, I will feed you and bed you.”
Mimi giggled while I choked on my own spit and started coughing.
Was Wolf gay?
Was he saying he wanted to take me to bed?
Women found me attractive, but men as well? Hell, my ego inflated over the knowledge. Not that I’d go there with a guy. Pussy was my thing, but it didn’t mean I didn’t like knowing men found me appealing too.
“Great, you’ve made his head swell even bigger now,” Mimi said as we entered a kitchen.
“Hmm? How so?” Wolf asked, dropping his arm from around Mimi to move over to the refrigerator.
“He thinks you find him attractive and want to take him to bed.”
That was an admission, right, that her brother was gay?
Wait, how did she read me so well? Christ, it was like my sister Nary’s ability to read me. I never lied to her, because she’d sniff it out in seconds.
Laughter burst into the room, and I glared over at the culprit, crossing my arms over my chest.
Wolf wiped at his eyes and used his free hand to slap the bench. “Sorry.” He chuckled. “I haven’t laughed that long in a while.” He grinned at his sister. “Is he really so vain?”
“I’m standing right here,” I barked.
“Yes.” Mimi nodded to Wolf.
“Hey, you don’t know me enough to say that shit.”
Mimi rolled her eyes. “Come on, all the girls know you love the attention when they fawn over you.”
“I never remembered you being so outspoken before.”
Mimi shrugged. “I’ve realised you’re more like a brother to me, and I’m always real with Taro.”
“I am not like a brother to you.”
“What, is your ego taking a hit now you know I’m not attracted to you?”
I scoffed. Mimi was full of shit; she still found me hot. “You still like me.”
They both stared at me, lips twitching.
Fuck me. I did sound vain. “Whatever.” I glared.
Wolf started taking dishes out to lay them on the counter opposite from
where I stood, with Mimi standing close. After I heard the door close and a throat clear, I looked up from the mouth-watering dishes and into Wolf’s amused gaze.
I didn’t want to ask, but I had to open my mouth. “What?”
“If it would make your ego better, I could bed you, even though you aren’t my type.”
I was everyone’s type, dammit. I snorted. “Don’t go doin’ me any favours. Besides, I ain’t into guys like that…. But, for curiosity’s sake, what is your type?”
Of course, they laughed at my expense once more.
Groaning, I waved a hand in front of me. “Don’t bother. I don’t care, since I know I’m everyone’s type. Can we just fuckin’ eat?” I reached over and pulled a bowl close, wondering what in the fuck had I got myself into. Yeah, it was good Mimi was being herself around me and no longer seemed to want to throw daggers my way every second, and that she wasn’t into me. But I wasn’t sure I was going to survive their teasing or stop myself from looking like a self-centred, vain dickhead if we were here for another day or two.
Chapter Three
Ruin
When I walked into the dining room for dinner, still with no shoes on, I paused. Wolf sat at the head of the table with a woman on his lap, draped over him. He smiled up at her like she was his first course.
Didn’t he say he was gay?
Now I was just fucking confused. Hell, maybe he played both ways. If I had a thing for dudes, I’d do the same since it gave me more options of people to fuck. It was a smart decision on his part, really.
“Sir,” Katon said from my side. He’d come to get me from my room, stating dinner was ready to be served. Wolf and Mimi had shown me to the room early, and I’d tried to get some shut-eye, but it hadn’t worked. Instead, I’d jacked off in the shower, then called a few people to catch up.
Rolling my eyes, I asked, “What’d I say, Katon?”
His smile was small. “Ruin, if you would head to the end of the table and sit beside Taro-sama, I will let the servers know everyone is here.”
I actually didn’t want to sit down at the damn table, since there were twenty-odd too many people for my liking. If this was what family dinners were like here, I didn’t want to be a part of it, but I was damn starved once more.