“Diesel and I were just talking.” I shrug.
“About?”
“About being friends.”
“So you’re friends now?” she asks.
“Apparently.”
My phone buzzes, and my heart speeds up as I glance down at the screen.
D – Stop texting me.
I grin and respond.
M – You’ll come to love it, possibly even need it to survive.
D – No, I won’t.
M – You’re such a good friend. I’m so glad we had this talk.
D – You’re a pain in my ass.
M – I miss you too.
D – Go home, Killer.
M – Night, D
“You so have to stop smiling like that.” Skye laughs.
I can’t help it.
I’m in a good place.
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
“So, what’s bouncing this weekend?” Shay asks, as I hand her a coffee while on my shift.
“Working and chilling.”
“We will have to catch up Sunday or something.”
I grin. “Sounds like a damned good plan.”
“Perfect! Well, I have to go study. Call you later.”
She disappears out the door, and the little bell rings above it. I get back to serving coffee. I’m busy pouring a fresh cup for an older gentleman when a voice comes from behind me.
“Hey.”
I stand, with a huge smile, and turn to see Diesel standing, hands shoved in his pockets.
“Hey there.”
“What time do you finish work?”
“Are you asking me on a date?” I tease.
“Answer the question, Killer.”
I snort. “I finish in an hour.”
“You like bikes?”
“Like . . . motorbikes?”
“Yeah, motorbikes.”
“Uh, sure. Why?”
“You like racing?”
“You’re dropping a lot of hints. Want to tell me what you’re asking?”
His eyes might just dance a little, but he quickly covers it. “My dad is racing tonight.”
“Racing his bike?” I ask, impressed.
“Yeah, they race once a month down on the strip. They told me to bring you.”
I turn and walk to the counter. “You wound me.”
“You want to come or not?”
“Not until you ask nicely.”
“Mercedes,” he warns.
“You’re practically inviting me because your parents wanted you to. We’re supposed to be friends. If you want me to come, then ask me nicely.”
“Are you always so fuckin’ painful?”
“Your time is running out,” I say, refilling my coffee pot.
“Fuck me. You wanna come with me to the races tonight?”
I turn around. “Do you want me to come?”
He scowls at me.
“Stop scowling. It takes away from your rugged beauty.”
“Mercedes, I’m goin’ to toss you over the next table and tan your ass you call me a beauty again.”
I giggle.
His face softens. “Want you to come with me. When do you finish?”
“Aw, he can be friendly. I finish in an hour.”
“I’ll be outside.”
With that, he turns and walks off.
I can’t wipe the grin from my face.
~*~*~*~
“You came!” Jaylah cries, throwing her arms around me the second we enter the tent they’re all sitting under. It has a great view of the track.
“Diesel begged. I couldn’t say no.”
Diesel grunts and walks over to the cooler, grabbing out two beers.
“Come. I want you to meet my other son and all the rest of the gang.”
I smile and follow her over to where a group of people are sitting. It’s like looking at our group sitting together—Danny, Skye, Ava, Max and I. My heart warms. They’re not so different to us—not at all. Are all clubs the same? Does all the resentment and war happen purely because of stubborn pride and wanting to be the best? Deep down, are they all like this? Just a family doing their thing, loving on each other and being who they are without remorse?
“Guys, I want you to meet Mercedes, Diesel’s friend.”
They stop talking and look over to me. Gosh, they’re as attractive as their parents.
“This is my other son, Jack,” Jaylah says, pointing to a handsome guy around Diesel’s age sitting with his feet planted on the grass, his legs bent.
He looks more like Jaylah than Mack. His hair is dark, but not as dark as Diesel’s. His eyes are light, possibly green. It’s hard to tell from here. His skin is lighter but still has a soft olive glow. He’s leaner than his brother, but overall, handsome as hell. He grins at me. “Hey girl.”
“Hey yourself.” I laugh.
“These two rebels are Phoenix and Quinn, Ash and Krypt’s kids.”
I look to the twins and my eyes widen. Yes, they’re extremely beautiful. They’re identical, the only difference being that one has his hair cropped short, the other has his hair down to his shoulders. They look a good deal like Krypt, with their light green eyes, brown hair and big, stocky builds. They still have slightly boyish faces, which contradicts their size and makes me think they’re only in their early twenties. Possibly my age.
“Hey,” they both say in unison.
“Hey.” I wave.
“These two gorgeous girls are Molly and Matilda, Maddox and Santana’s daughters.”
I glance at the two girls and my breath is taken away. The oldest one, who I’m assuming is Molly, since Jaylah pointed to her when she said the name, is stunning. She is a gorgeous blend of her mom and dad—blue eyes, dark thick hair, olive skin. She’s slim, tall, and breathtaking.
“Hey Mercedes, nice to meet you.” She smiles.
“You too.” I smile back.
I look to Matilda, who is the spitting image of Santana. Dark hair, dark eyes, dark skin. She looks like mini Pocahontas.
“Hey!” she chirps, waving.
“Hey!” I call back.
“And this pretty little angel is Kaylee, Tyke and Pippa’s baby girl.”
I look at the gorgeous tiny girl sitting next to Jack. She’s probably the same age as Matilda, by the looks of it, maybe late teens and has the same russet-colored hair as her dad, but she has her mom’s beautiful, big eyes. She’s quiet in nature; it’s written all over her as she gives a small smile and waves.
“Hey.” I smile gently.
She smiles back, but doesn’t say much.
“That’s all of them. Sit, get to know them.” Jaylah urges, encouraging me over.
“You can sit here,” Matilda says, patting the grass beside her.
I go over and plonk down.
“You ever seen bikes race?” Molly asks.
“Nah, but I’m really excited about it.”
“You’ll love it.”
“Here,” Diesel says, coming back and sitting beside me.
“Hey D.” Molly grins. “Long time no see.”
“Hey Mol, how’s things?”
My heart flutters. She calls him D. Just like I call Danny. They’re all so much like us, it’s scary. It makes me miss my own family, and a huge part of me wishes I could tell them, but I can’t. I don’t know what the risks are yet and until I do, I can’t speak up.
“Good,” Molly says. “How’s bitch of the year?”
I glance at her and she mouths Maxine. I gag and she grins.
“Don’t be a cow,” Diesel says to her, but he’s glaring at me.
“What?” I say. “She is only being honest.”
He shakes his head and looks to Jack. “How’s work?”
Jack shrugs. “Shit, you know the drill. How’s college?”
“Shit,” Diesel says. “You know the drill.”
Jack grins at him.
Aw.
“So, you two go to college together?” Phoenix asks.
&nb
sp; “Yeah,” I say. “Though Diesel here wasn’t my biggest fan until I convinced him otherwise.”
“I’m surprised.” Matilda laughs. “No one can usually get in there.”
“He didn’t have a choice.” I smirk, nudging Diesel’s shoulder with my own.
“What’d you have to do?” Jack asks. “Drug him?”
“My charm and wit got the better of him.”
Diesel snorts, and everyone laughs.
“Why can’t you date someone like her?” Quinn rumbles. “She actually has a personality.”
I giggle.
“He likes them easy and cheap,” I tease.
“She doesn’t shut up,” Diesel mutters. “She’d chew my ear off in a day.”
I nudge him again. “You love it, admit it.”
“Never.”
They all laugh again.
“Hey sweetheart.”
I look up to see Mack staring down at me. “Hey Mack.”
“See you convinced him to let you come see us again?”
“It wasn’t easy. There were copious amounts of weapons needed.”
Mack chuckles. “Hey boy.”
Diesel looks to him. “Hey.”
“You doin’ good?”
“Good, Dad.”
“Come have a beer with me, bring your girl.”
Diesel looks to me, then stands. “Come on.”
I stand and wave to the others as I follow him over to where the bikers are sitting.
“Hey chicky!” Santana calls. “Good to see you again.”
“You too.” I smile.
“See you met the others,” Ash adds. “How’d that go?”
“They’re freakishly nice and attractive.”
She laughs. “I’m sure they’re over there saying the same thing about you.”
“I wish I was that attractive.”
“You’re fucking beautiful.”
That comes from Diesel. I look to him, my eyes wide, mouth open, and heart fluttering.
He grins, and my knees actually wobble. It’s utterly breathtaking—the most beautiful thing I’ve ever seen in my life. I would swear everything in my world stops and the only thing I can see, the only thing I can feel, is him.
“I finally got one over you and shut you up.”
I flinch. Then I grin to cover my shock. “Does that mean you didn’t mean it?”
He shakes his head. “It only lasted a second.”
“You called me beautiful. I think we’re best friends now.”
He looks up to the sky, clearly for calm.
“I think you’re beautiful too, Diesel. Even if you’re sometimes a jerk and you smell.”
Ash bursts out laughing and throws her arms around me. “Krypt, seriously, can I keep her?”
Krypt is grinning at us. “Yeah, why the fuck not?”
“Did I just get adopted into your family? Because I’m totally okay with that!”
Ash hugs me tighter and leans down, whispering, “Keep fighting for him, pretty girl. I haven’t seen him come that close to smiling in years.”
My heart breaks and flutters all at the same time.
I squeeze her, letting her know I get it.
Boy, do I get it.
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
“That was amazing!” I gush, as Diesel drives us home.
“Yeah, it’s awesome.”
“Your dad is my hero, seriously. How he can ride like that with one leg—epic.”
“I’ll tell him you said that.”
I look to him, and my heart melts. He looks so handsome leaning back in the seat, one hand on the steering wheel, chiseled jaw outlined by the moonlight shining through the window.
“What happened to him?”
He doesn’t look to me, but his body stiffens slightly. “Club attack. It was messy as fuck. He’s lucky he didn’t die. That was a long time ago.”
I flinch, because I get that. I get the club business and how it somehow manages to damage things at one stage or another. “I’m really sorry.”
He shrugs. “Part of the reason I don’t want to take it over.”
I want to push further, I’ve been wanting to for a while. Tonight seems like the right time to do that, so I carefully speak. “What’s the other part?”
He exhales. “It’s not me. That doesn’t make sense to most, but it’s just not me. I don’t want that life, but it’s more than that. I don’t want that life for me. It’s selfish, I’ve been told that plenty of times, but it’s the way I feel.”
It’s an understandable feeling.
“I think I’d feel the same.”
He glances at me quickly before focusing back on the road. “Not many people understand.”
“Well,” I say, staring out at the road before us. “I do.”
We both fall silent for a few minutes.
“Can I ask you something?”
His mouth twitches. “You’re goin’ to anyway, Mercedes.”
God, the way he says my name has my skin prickling. I shift and keep my eyes on the road.
“What’s the real reason you’re with Maxine?”
“I told you, she works for me.”
“That’s the thing that makes me believe you’re lying, she doesn’t work for you. She’s mean, and bitchy, and so fucking shallow. You’re so much more than that Diesel. You’re thirty times the person she is.”
“That’s exactly what makes you naïve, Mercedes. I’m not thirty times the person she is. If anything, I’m all of what she is and more. That’s exactly why she works for me.”
“You think you’re not good enough to get better.”
It’s not a question, so he doesn’t answer it.
Frustration bubbles in my chest, but I don’t push any further. I don’t want to ruin an amazing night, a night that has finally brought us a little closer together. I suck it up and calm my voice.
“Anyway,” I say softly. “I wanted to say thanks for taking me tonight. It was fun.”
He glances at me for a second, as if assessing whether I’m being genuine or not, before looking back to the road. “No problems.”
I smile. “I like your family.”
“They like you—so much so they want you to come to a cookout on the weekend.”
My heart swells. “Really?”
He flicks his gaze to me, then back to the road. “Fuck, I’ll regret it, won’t I?”
I lose all remaining frustration and grin. “Probably, but I’m coming.”
He grunts.
“Just admit you kind of like having me as a friend.”
He says nothing, and for a moment I don’t think he will, but finally he mumbles, “Yeah, Killer, I kinda do.”
My heart swells.
“Aw, we definitely just became best friends.”
“Mercedes?”
“Yeah?”
“Shut it.”
I shut it.
But I do it smiling.
~*~*~*~
“You’re going to a biker cookout?” Taj breathes, watching me pull on my jeans and black top before Diesel comes to get me in an hour.
“Yep,” I say, adjusting my top so my cleavage isn’t out of this world.
“Seriously?”
I laugh. Taj doesn’t know about my family being bikers; I think it would freak him out. No, I know it would. He knows my dad is scary, but he doesn’t know he’s part of a club. I’ll tell him one day, but the less people who know right now the better. A pang of guilt grabs my chest at that thought. I’m not ashamed of who I am, and I’m not ashamed of my family.
“Yeah, seriously,” I finally answer Taj, fluffing my hair.
“Aren’t you scared?”
I chuckle. “No. Why should I be?”
He leans in close. “Mercy, they’re bikers.”
“They’re also human beings.”
His eyes get bigger. “You’re scaring me.”
I giggle. “Don’t be scared. I’ll be fine.”
“You’re like f
our-foot-nothing. What if one throws you over his shoulder and takes you to his room and—”
“Taj, honey, you’re freaking out about nothing. Diesel will be with me. It’s fine.”
He crosses his arms. “You better call me every hour.”
I roll my eyes and finish up my hair. I’ve left it down in soft curls. It’s long and it’s thick, so it took me a while, but the end result is definitely worth it. I adjust my clothes again, and then find my favorite biker boots from my closet and pull them on. I look pretty awesome right now. Definitely biker babe. I’m more than familiar with the look.
“You look scarily at home in those clothes,” Taj points out.
“Maybe I am,” I murmur to myself.
“Come on. Let’s at least ensure you have everything you need before you go.”
“Taj,” I protest, as he leads me out of the room into the kitchen.
There we proceed to make sure my phone is charged, my purse is full, and I have pepper spray. That was his idea. I wouldn’t even know how to use the stuff.
Twenty minutes later, Diesel arrives. Taj lets him in, and they have an awkward conversation. I don’t pay any attention. My eyes are on Diesel. My breath’s stuck in my lungs.
He looks . . . stunning.
He’s wearing black jeans and a dark gray sweater. He’s got on his biker boots, like me, but aside from that, he looks like a finely sculpted god and not a biker son. It suits him. It makes him look sophisticated yet so utterly dangerous. The sweater defines his muscles, and I can see the outline of them beneath it. The neck is a soft V, showing the skin on his chest. My heart flutters.
He’s looking at me the same way I’m looking at him.
That look scares and thrills me at the same time.
“Hey,” he finally rumbles.
“Hey.” I smile, forcing my eyes away from his perfection.
“Ready?”
“I think so.”
I turn to Taj and smile. He gives me a nervous wave, and I can’t help but smile as I follow Diesel out the door. At least I know if a big, scary biker runs away with me tonight, Taj will find me. That thought makes me smile bigger, because it’s nice to have friends. Really nice.
“You nervous about tonight?” Diesel asks, opening his truck door for me.
I snort. “Why would I be?”
His brows go up. “You’re coming to a biker club.”
“And?”
He shakes his head. “Have you no fear?”
I grin. “I have a pretty good fly-kick.”