He lifts his shoulders and steers his truck into a spot between two trees. “Rock and Wrath found it. I wasn’t quite patched-in at the time. But it has everything we want. Living off the grid, away from people, no one in our business.”
Thinking of my cramped apartment, I decide Marcel must really like me to leave this woodland paradise and spend a single night at my place.
Of course he likes you. He’s risking pissing off his entire club by bringing you here, idiot.
That crazy fluttering in my belly starts up again the second he opens my door.
“I’m nervous,” I admit.
He gives me a reassuring smile and helps me down. We walk up the rest of the driveway hand in hand. There’s still enough time before darkness falls to make out the small details when we come around the corner of the clubhouse.
There are enough tire tracks to tell me the guys use it as a parking area. The large piece of wooden fence across from the clubhouse has a low stone wall in front of it overflowing with summer flowers. “Trin took up gardening,” he explains as if that will help it make sense. A row of shiny Harleys are parked in front of the wall. Finally, something I expected to find here. The two massive garages at the far end of the parking area also makes sense. Both have double-doors. Only one has a door open. Inside I make out more motorcycles and a few cars.
Tables and chairs are set up close to the clubhouse. Almost like an outdoor seating area at a restaurant.
Two paths on either side of the wall seem to stretch into the woods. Marcel points at one. “Rock and Wrath built houses out there for their wives. Murphy’s building one now.”
“Wow. How much property do you have?”
“A lot.”
A girl comes out from around the other side of the house, carrying twelve packs of soda, sets them on one of the long tables and starts dumping them into tubs of ice. She smiles and waves when she sees us.
I’d been preparing myself for a bunch of muffler bunnies to swarm around me and explain in intimate detail how well they know my boyfriend. But so far nothing.
“It’s still early,” Marcel says as if he’d read my mind. But when I look at him he shrugs. “It’ll get busier as it gets later.”
“I figured.”
“Rather you meet some people now while it’s not too crazy.”
“Thanks, I think.”
He wraps his hand around mine and leads me inside.
Inside is far from what I expected. All dark, gleaming hardwood floors, leather furniture—okay, that doesn’t surprise me—a huge Lost Kings MC mural taking up one wall. That doesn’t shock me either.
To my left, there’s a small, tidy bar that’s currently unoccupied.
What surprises me the most is the simple domestic scene in front of me. I recognize Hope and even her brawny husband. Another big guy, with almost black hair, is sitting next to them holding a baby. I’m pretty sure the baby is Alexa.
“Ah, shit,” Teller mutters. He pulls me over, stopping in front of the guy holding Alexa. “Who let you put your dirty mitts on my niece?”
The guy grins, flashing a remarkable set of dimples. He’s tatted up from neck to fingertips, playing airplane with a baby.
Pretty damn cute.
Alexa squeals and reaches for Teller as soon as she sees him. “Come here, baby,” he coos, taking her from his brother.
“You planning to introduce your girl, or do we need to do it for you?” the guy asks.
Teller places his hand on my lower back, gently pushing me forward. Ignoring his brother, he pushes me in Hope’s direction. “Rock, this is Charlotte. Charlotte, this is my president.”
Rock actually stands and holds out his hand, which takes me by surprise.
“Hi, I think we’ve actually met once or twice,” I babble like a moron, bobbing my head in Hope’s direction.
“Think so,” he agrees.
Hope waves at me. “Hi, Charlotte.”
Now, Teller’s ready to introduce me to his other brother. I don’t think it’s the SAA he warned me about. This guy seems too impish to be the club’s enforcer.
“Z, this is Charlotte. Charlotte, this is our VP.”
He also shakes my hand.
Teller lifts his chin at Hope. “Were you watching her while Heidi’s working?”
“Yes,” she answers in a teasing slow voice. “I didn’t realize Z was on the no-fly zone, though,” she giggles and her husband wraps his arm around her.
“Wrath with the girls?” Teller asks Z.
“No such luck, bro. He’s lurking around here somewhere.”
“Christ,” Teller mutters.
Hope pats the couch next to her. “Come, sit, Charlotte. I’ll protect you from Wrath’s Wrath.” She giggles again and I’m totally weirded out since I’ve only ever seen her in a professional capacity.
Rock shakes his head and nods at Alexa. “We were headed home with her once it gets busier.”
“I figured,” Teller answers.
I assume that’s Rock’s way of saying I’m on my own once they leave.
Teller takes the place next to me, still holding Alexa. He doesn’t do the “hey you’re a girl, hold the baby” thing, which only intensifies what I’m already feeling for him.
Hope passes him some small, square baby books and my heart melts as he flips through them with Alexa. By the easy way he handles her, it’s clear he’s not putting on a show for me.
This is the real him.
“Here,” Teller says, handing one of the books to Z. “Bone up on your reading skills.”
Z takes the book and smacks Teller on the head with it.
No one asks me about my uncle or his club, but everyone must know.
For the first time in a long time, I’m unsure of what to say. Someone flips on music. More and more people show up.
After a while, Rock and Hope share a look, then stand. Rock holds out his hands for Alexa, who’s fallen asleep against Teller’s chest. “We’re going to head home,” Rock explains. They gently make the exchange, careful not to wake Alexa.
“Night, Charlotte,” Rock calls over his shoulder. With his free hand, he steers Hope toward the front door.
While I felt a little awkward around Hope, now I feel even more exposed.
If I thought Rock was big, the blond guy walking in the front door is a beast. His wide shoulders barely fit through the door. Once he’s inside he surveys the crowd with a hard expression.
This has to be Wrath.
His face relaxes a fraction as Rock and Hope approach. Rock motions him closer and says a few words to him. Wrath nods and runs the back of his finger over Alexa’s cheek. Then he glances down and speaks to Hope. To my utter shock, she hugs him before following her husband out the door.
Once the president leaves, it’s as if the whole club knows. The music jumps in volume. The scent of pot drifts through the air. Girls appear out of nowhere.
It feels more like an MC party.
Wrath surveys the crowd again, hard expression back in place. Any one thing could be terrifying about him. His beard doesn’t cover the firm set of his jaw. The ink and muscles are plentiful. His size. But it’s his eyes that scare me the most. I can already tell he misses nothing. His gaze lands on Teller then slides to me. Even though he’s across the room, I freeze. “Jesus, I feel like a field mouse that a lion just caught sight of.”
Z laughs. “Start with that.”
The crowd parts for Wrath as he crosses the room, and no I’m not being dramatic. Teller wraps his arm around my shoulders and meets his brother’s challenging stare head on.
“Where you been, little brother,” Wrath asks, holding his hand out to Teller.
“Here. Waiting for your scary ass to show up.”
Z snickers and Wrath motions for him to shove down so he can take Z’s seat. Teller sits up and makes the introductions.
When he’s finished, Wrath lifts his chin at me. “You think wearing our colors is gonna make us forget who you’re related to, princess?”
And so it begins.
Yes, maybe I was trying to brown nose a little, matching my outfit to the same blue and gray of their club’s crown and skull patches. So sue me.
“I was hoping it might help a little.”
Wrath sits back and smirks.
“Been spending a lot of time with my boy lately.” He pats Teller’s leg, almost affectionately. “How’s Merlin feel about that?”
“Not too good.”
He raises an eyebrow and Teller shrugs. “She told me.”
Wrath’s arctic glare hits me again. “What’d he do? Ask you to spy on us?”
“Yes,” I answer honestly. “I thought your clubs were on good terms since you and Whisper were in business together for so long, but I guess my uncle wasn’t a fan of that either,” I say, deciding to be as open as possible.
His eyes widen and he stares at me for about a millennium and a half before saying, “Interesting.”
I’ve been so terrified of Wrath this whole time, I didn’t notice that Z’s also paying rapt attention to our conversation.
“When I told him I’d see who I want and wasn’t interested in getting involved in club stuff—”
“You’re with him,” Wrath jerks his chin at Teller, “you’re involved whether you want to be or not.”
“I’m starting to get that,” I grumble.
“You tight with Merlin?”
I roll my eyes at the stupid road name my uncle uses. “No.”
“He gonna come after my brother if he thinks you’ve been wronged?”
The question hits me hard and I have trouble breathing for a second. I sit up, a shaky smile forming on my lips to cover up my reaction. “He never has before, so I don’t see why he would now.”
Wrath, Z, and Teller are watching me so closely I squirm. “He did invite Teller to a club picnic tomorrow,” I throw out quickly to change the subject.
Z tips his head in Teller’s direction. “You should go.”
“I hadn’t decided yet,” Teller says with a noncommittal shrug.
Wrath finally seems to take mercy on me and turns his attention to the rest of the room. Teller hugs me to his side.
The girls multiply like fucking rabbits. Maybe that’s where the term muffler bunny came from. I snicker at my internal joke and Teller raises an eyebrow.
“Is there a direct shuttle from the strip club to your clubhouse?”
“Feels like it sometimes.”
Two girls in matching leather skirts that barely cover their asses lure Z away from us. Two more brothers take his place and Teller introduces me to Dex and Ravage. They’re both cool toward me and I can’t tell if it’s their nature or they don’t like having me here.
They both take off with bunnies a few minutes later.
Despite the thick gold band on his wedding ring finger, I assume Wrath will also find a bunny and get lost. Shit, I’m actually praying for it.
The next time he opens his mouth to ask me something obnoxious, I gesture to a fresh gaggle of girls coming in the door. “I’m sure you’d rather do other things than chat with me.”
Please go away. Please go away.
No, the jerk waves his wedding ring at me. “Thanks for the permission, princess. I’m waiting for my wife to get here.”
I glance up at Teller who shakes his head.
He’s true to his word. Doesn’t even look at the girls, except to make sure everyone’s behaving. A catfight breaks out and he’s quick to end it and task one of the younger guys with taking the girls home.
Jesus, at my uncle’s clubhouse, they’d probably throw down an inflatable pool, toss in some mud, and let the girls wrestle for the honor of sucking their dicks.
A tall blonde, wearing more clothes than any of the girls, except maybe me, walks in, Heidi behind her. Wrath wasn’t kidding. He practically pounces on her. Picking her up and carrying her over.
“I assume that’s Wrath’s wife?”
Teller nods. “That’d be Trinity.” He lifts his chin at Heidi. “Hey, sis.”
Heidi finally notices us and runs over, tackling her brother back against the couch. “You finally brought her.” She stands and wiggles her fingers. “Hi, Charlotte.”
Her burly boyfriend also picks her up and sets her in his lap. “You couldn’t wait five seconds for me?”
“I wanted to say hi to Charlotte.”
Murphy lifts his head as if he just noticed me. “Welcome, Charlotte.”
“Thanks.”
Wrath’s wife reaches over, holding out her hand. “Hi, Charlotte. I’m Trinity.”
She asks me a few superficial questions. Other than that, she’s focused on her husband.
“Have I met everyone?” I ask Teller.
“Where’s Sparky?” he asks Wrath.
Wrath shrugs and taps his fingers against his lips in the universal sign for smoking up.
Teller glances at me. “Is that your way of asking to see my room, Sunshine?”
“Maybe.”
He leans over and taps Wrath on the shoulder. “May I be excused now?”
“Fuck off with that shit,” he answers, laughter following his words.
He stands and pulls me off the couch with him. “Let’s go.”
“Did I do okay?” I ask once we’re in his room, hating myself a little for needing the approval.
“You did great.” He kisses my forehead. “Thanks for putting up with them.”
His lips seal over mine, distracting me from answering that I’d put up with pretty much anything for him.
CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT
The next morning, I wake in Teller’s room. We’d been so distracted last night I hadn’t looked around much.
By the way he’s kissing my neck and his hand’s gliding over my hip, I suspect we’re going to be distracted again.
“What’s with the shotgun on the wall?” I ask pointing to the gun anchored to the space above his bedroom door.
“It was my dad’s. Why?”
“You keep it there in case of a zombie apocalypse?”
He snorts out a laugh and sits up. “No. It’s the only thing he gave me, so—”
“Sorry.”
“It’s fine.”
My gaze lands on a photo next to the bed. Most of the pictures he has are of Heidi or the club. This one’s different. “Aw, is this a young Teller?” The framed photo of a young blond boy and an older man has to be Marcel and his father.
The corner of his mouth quirks.
“That’s my best memory of him. I had to have been ten or eleven when he finally let me go hunting with him. Heidi was a baby and my dad kept saying he wanted to get meat in the freezer, ya know?”
“Sure.” Heard that my whole life from the men in my family.
“Took my first deer that morning.”
“Wow, that’s awfully young.”
He lifts his shoulders as if it’s no big deal, then points to the corner of his eye. “Gun kicked like a bitch. I still have a small scar from it.”
I move in closer and plant a kiss near the spot he pointed to. He turns and catches me for a longer kiss.
“I used to ask my dad to take me hunting with him when I was younger.”
“Really?”
“He was going to…” I shake off the sadness threatening me. “After he died, I tried to get Uncle Chuck to take me, but he said that girls didn’t belong in the woods.”
He snorts. “That’s stupid.”
His answer surprises me. I expected him to agree. I’m not sure why. He keeps showing me over and over that he’s nothing like the men I grew up around.
He turns and flashes an impish smile. “I’ll take you.”
“Yeah? I don’t know if I could do it now.”
“Heidi never had any interest. She’ll eat it, but she doesn’t want to know where it comes from. She was a funny little kid.”
“I bet.”
Marcel nods at the photo. “After that, Dad said he felt better knowing I could ta
ke care of the family if something happened to him.”
“And?”
“And nothing. He split not that long after. Fucking idiot. A ten-year old getting off a lucky shot does not equal ready to take care of your mom and baby sister.”
He says it jokingly, but I can sense the pain under the words. I stroke my fingers over his shoulder and down his arm. “I’m sorry,” I whisper.
“I’m lucky. I’m not complaining. Met Rock not long after.” He snorts. “He’s been a better father to me than my own ever was.” He laughs again. “Even though he hates when we tell him that.”
“Why?”
“Makes him feel old I guess.”
“I can see that being annoying.” Something keeps fluttering at the edge of my tongue. “Your club…is different than the ones I’ve known. You’re more of a true family, not a business or a bunch of thugs who hang out drinking, fucking, and playing with their Harleys.”
“Why thanks, darlin’,” he says in a country-boy drawl, complete with cowboy grin.
“Don’t mock me, I’m serious.”
“I’m not.” He jerks his thumb toward the window. “You saw the garages out there, right?”
I shake my head, ignoring his teasing. “You don’t understand what it was like.”
His expression turns serious. “What don’t I understand?”
God, this is pathetic. I turn away from him. “I’ve never fit in anywhere.”
I expect laughter or some sort of disbelief, but instead he rolls me so I’m facing him. “What do you mean?”
“I don’t…I never fit in with the club side. Especially after I went to college. My uncle, he’d, you know, brag about me, but everyone else acted like I was too good to hang out with them now. It only got worse after I started law school.”
He squeezes my hand and waits for me to continue. “But in school, I never fit in with anyone either. Especially law school. Lots of them came from families full of other lawyers, some had parents who were judges, and here I was, this biker chick. No matter how hard I tried to fit into both worlds, I never belonged to either.” Of course after a while, I didn’t want to fit in with my uncle’s club and avoided it as much as possible.
“No one cares about that stuff here, Charlotte.”
I pick up my head and raise an eyebrow. “The club accepted Hope right away?”