by Kasey Krane
I shook and growled as I came inside her. Cassie pasted herself to me. Her back against my front as I emptied into her. The most glorious feeling. I’d been thinking about this non-stop since we first met, every night that she slept beside me. It was amazing I hadn’t fucked her already.
And just like that, it was over. I was done and pulled out of her.
Cassie was still breathless, and she staggered away from me. She crossed her arms over her body, like she was ashamed of herself for some reason. Her features were softer now, and she looked worried.
“Bolt…I don’t want you to get hurt tonight,” she said. I stared at her. I wished I could reassure her, but I never made promises I couldn’t keep.
“Put your clothes back on, Cassie,” I said. “We have to get back.”
Cassie was mine. I’d claimed her as mine, but I didn’t know if it was the right thing to do. Our other circumstances hadn’t changed yet. She was still Chip’s sister. She’d threatened us with cops. I was still supposed to keep an eye on her.
We left her apartment and returned to the Clubhouse. Neither of us spoke the whole time. We both had a lot of things to think about. Maybe she’d change her mind about being with me too, I figured.
At the Clubhouse, she followed me up to the bedroom. I needed a shower. I needed to change. She remained silent as I went about my business. I knew the other guys would be ready and waiting soon. I’d have to part ways with Cassie shortly. What was this goodbye going to look like, now that we’d slept together already?
When I came out of the shower, she was sitting on the edge of the bed. She looked up at me nervously. She had her fingers clasped together tightly.
“Bolt, can we please talk before you go?”
Fuck. Talk. This was exactly the kind of shit I’d managed to avoid with other chicks all my life. But I knew Cassie deserved a conversation. She deserved my undivided attention.
“I’m listening,” I said.
She stood up and came toward me.
“Do you still hate me?” she asked, searching my eyes.
I wanted to tell her she was the most beautiful woman I’d ever met. “I’ve never hated you, Cassie.”
“But Chip…he ruined everything. He’s putting your life in danger. The entire Club’s life in danger. I thought you would hate me by association.”
“Chip’s actions have nothing to do with you.”
“But I threatened you.”
“You did what you thought you needed to do to defend your brother,” I said.
I was in the middle of changing while she stood in front of me, watching me closely.
“So what do you think of me now, Bolt?” she asked.
I stared at her. I was never good with words. I knew what I felt for her. It was more than desire. More than just wanting to fuck her. I’d claimed her as mine, didn’t want her going anywhere. I didn’t want any other man touching her. But how was I supposed to communicate all that in words?
“I want you to be my woman,” I said.
Her eyes grew wide and her shoulders heaved, then a soft grin was spreading on her face. She threw herself at me before I knew what she was going to do. She kissed my neck and I took her mouth into mine.
“That is exactly what I want too,” she said. “And I want you to come safely back to me.”
“I can’t make any promises to you, Cassie.”
Her eyes looked red, pinched…she was worried.
“I don’t…I don’t know what I would do if something happened to you, Bolt. I only just found you. How am I supposed to let you go?”
My hands traveled all over her, feeling the shape of her butt and her breasts.
“I am going to do my best to come back here in one piece.”
She smiled. It was a soft smile, but she was forcing herself to do it. “I feel so lost right now. With Chip and the house…and now your life is in danger. I don’t know what I’m supposed to do.”
I held her tightly in my arms. The truth was, I didn’t know what to do either. I hadn’t exactly felt this way about another woman before. I’d never felt a desperate need to return safely after a raid. I’d never had anything to return to. Now I had someone.
“Just wait. Stay close to Sophie, she’ll look after you. It’s all you can do.”
She nodded.
I kissed her forehead and she leaned herself against me.
“Just promise me there’s a chance of us having something close to normal. Whatever normal means in this world.”
I hooked a finger under her chin, lifting her face up toward me. Everything was happening so fast. I didn’t think I’d have a woman. Not Cassie. I didn’t think I could ever tame her, but here she was, in my arms with her shining golden hair.
“We will have our chance,” I said. “But right now, I have to go.”
She nodded.
We walked to the door together. Outside the room, I could hear the sounds of footsteps hurrying up and down, loud voices. The guys were getting ready for the raid, and I needed to join them.
As much as I wanted to, I couldn’t spend all my time with her. I had a job to do.
“Come with me to the bar, I’ll leave you with Sophie,” I said.
We went out together, walking at some distance from each other. I didn’t know how to break the news to the rest of the MC. I didn’t know how they would take the news. I’d just claimed the sister of the guy who betrayed us. It wouldn’t be an easy pill to swallow.
14
Cassie
This time, when Bolt left me with Sophie, the Clubhouse was nearly empty. The bar wasn’t busy at all. Other than a few regulars who didn’t officially ride with the MC, everyone else was preparing to go to the raid. So it wasn’t like Sophie and I were going to have our hands full, or have much to do at all.
The other girls who usually hung around the MC members and the bar were missing too. Clearly, they had no intention of hanging around here when the guys were gone.
Bolt walked me up to the bar where Sophie was filing her nails, and then without another word, he walked away. I stared after him, my heart leaping out of my chest. I wished I could follow him, wished he would just hug me before he left—but he couldn’t. He wouldn’t.
We hadn’t made it official to the Club, and now wasn’t the time to do it either. There were other, more important things to worry about.
“You okay?” Sophie asked when I sat down on a stool beside her. Maybe she’d seen the look of worry and fear in my eyes.
“I guess I am…I’m just…worried. For Bolt and the others. This is all my brother’s fault and I wish he hadn’t put their lives in danger.”
Sophie stopped filing her nails and looked up at me. “It is what it is. There is no point in you blaming yourself. Those boys know how to look after themselves.”
“But Bolt couldn’t guarantee that he’d return safely tonight.”
“No, there are no guarantees,” Sophie added. I stared at her, eyes wide with fear. I was fearful of losing Bolt, knew I was falling in love with him, and now he admitted that he wanted to be with me too.
Was it too good to be true? Was the Universe going to screw me over just when I thought I’d finally found someone I connected with?
“I didn’t think you would actually care what happened to Bolt and the others. When you got here first, you were pretty mad at everyone. You wanted to get your brother out of this place.”
I nodded. Even though it was just a few days ago, it felt like a long time. A different life. Now, I was someone else.
“Yeah, that was when I still believed my brother couldn’t possibly do something like this. It was before I actually got to know the people here.”
Sophie smiled.
“So what do you think of us now?”
“This is a brotherhood. It’s a way of life. A circle of trust and friendship and living by the rules. I can see now why it was so devastating that Chip would do something like this.”
“He must’ve been prett
y desperate,” Sophie said.
“He was an idiot. There were many other ways around the problem. He was just being stubborn and egotistical.”
I had to look away. I didn’t want her to see the pure dismay I had in my eyes for my own brother. I’d only spent a few days here and I already felt the power of the brotherhood. How could Chip betray that? What was wrong with him?
I could feel Sophie’s eyes on me.
“Is there something else?” she asked.
I blinked as I stared at her.
“What do you mean?”
“Is there some other reason why you’re worried about Bolt coming back safely tonight?”
My cheeks flushed immediately. I couldn’t stop that from happening. Sophie didn’t miss it either.
“I knew something was going to happen between the two of you! I knew it from the first moment I saw you two together.” She laughed and then reached for a bottle of vodka.
I was trying to suppress my smiles. Why did I feel so giddy and giggly right now? Like a schoolgirl with a crush!
“It’s only the start of something.”
“What did he say?” she asked, unscrewing the cap of the bottle.
“He said he wants me to be his woman. We…we…”
“Fucked?” she asked. She was pointing the bottle toward me. I guessed she wanted me to drink from it.
I was blushing again. Gently, I took the bottle from her and pressed my lips to its mouth.
“So, he’s claimed you? Didn’t think Bolt would actually do something like this. But I’m glad he’s found someone.”
I took a swig of the vodka. It was warm and stung a little, but it soothed my soul. Sophie was smiling. Was she happy for us? I was glad to see that she was pleased by the news.
“You do know you’ll have to make it official with Drax, right?” she continued, taking the bottle from me. She wanted a shot too.
“I don’t understand,” I said.
“If you’re going to be Bolt’s ol’ lady, you’ll need to be officially accepted into the MC. Drax will have to give his permission, since he’s the President.”
I gulped nervously as Sophie spoke. The more she told me about this detail, the more convinced I was that it wouldn’t happen. Why would Drax give his permission for me to be a part of this MC?
Me! Chip’s sister!
How could they trust me after I’d threatened to go to the cops? What would Bolt do? Was that why he seemed so withdrawn when he brought me here to the bar?
My mind was racing.
“Hey!” Sophie’s voice snapped me out of my thoughts. She reached for my hand and gave it a quick warm squeeze. “It’ll work out, I’m sure it will. Drax will come around. Bolt will make him.”
All I could do was nod, even though I didn’t know whether to believe it. Did Bolt want me that much? Enough to fight for me against his brothers? He had no reason to. I didn’t deserve it after what Chip did.
“Are you sure you want to do this?” Sophie asked.
We’d walked down to the door of the Black room. She had a key in case of an emergency. The guys trusted her, and I knew she was breaking their trust by allowing me to see my brother.
I had a feeling even Bolt wouldn’t approve of it if he found out.
I nodded.
We’d been talking for a while. Sophie had spent some time explaining the infrastructure of the MC to me, what everyone’s roles were, how well they worked together and what the code of conduct was.
I was impressed. I felt a sense of camaraderie toward them. I told her I wanted to see my brother and give him a piece of my mind. I hoped she would trust me enough to know I wouldn’t try anything funny.
Sophie said she trusted me. That if Bolt trusted me, that was good enough for her.
She used the key to open the Black room and I peered inside to find Chip sitting in the chair. He was in the same position as I found him the last time. He looked up, and even in the dim light, I noticed how most of his bruises were already looking faded now.
I glanced at Sophie who nodded, and I walked in.
“Cassie…what are you doing here? Why are you still here? I thought Bolt would have let you go by now.”
I heard Sophie shut the door behind me. I heard the lock. Chip and I were finally alone. This was exactly what I wanted from the start. Just a chance to talk to my brother in private—but the truth was, I didn’t care so much anymore.
“They couldn’t let me go because I’m a liability. I know too much, and I’ve seen a lot. They can’t let me go till all this is over.”
Chip’s hands were tied, but he lifted them up toward me. There was a grin on his face now.
“I would hug you if I could.”
I stood stoically at a distance from him. When I didn’t speak for a while, he continued.
“So, what’s the plan? I know the others have gone to raid the Silver Knights holding. Are we making our big escape tonight?”
I wished I could wipe the grin off my brother’s face. Did he even realize the gravity of the situation?
“Those guys are out there tonight, raiding the Silver Knights’ holding and trying to get back the shipment that belongs to them. They are risking their lives for this. Something that you are responsible for.”
I glared at my brother as I spoke. I wanted him to see how serious I was about this accusation.
The lightness in Chip’s eyes seemed to fade a little.
“What are you talking about, sis? Are you on their side all of a sudden?”
“You should be on their side too! You took an oath. You joined the Club. They are supposed to be your brothers in arms, and you betrayed them. Why? For the sake of some money?” There was venom in my voice and Chip shifted uncomfortably in his seat.
Maybe I’d never spoken to him this way before. Maybe he never thought I was even capable of it.
“They’ve stripped me of my patch. I don’t belong to the MC anymore.”
“And that is what you deserve.”
“I did it to save our family home, Cassie. Don’t you think that is worth it? The house we grew up in. The house Dad and Mom tried to build a family in. All those memories…the banks were about to take it away from us.”
“You could have said something. To me. I could have taken out a loan. Sold my business. The apartment. Found a way out of this.”
I moved toward him and Chip’s eyes narrowed on me.
“What happened to you? The last time I saw you, you were screaming bloody murder. You were on my side.”
“That was before I got to know these people. Before I witnessed their lives myself. You had no right to put their lives in danger, Chip.”
He clenched his jaws and looked away from me.
“So they got to you, huh? Who was it? Drax? Flash? Bolt? Who spoke to you?”
I froze up. My muscles stiffened. How would he react now if I told him the actual truth? That I slept with Bolt. His mentor. That I was his woman. That I was going to fight to be accepted by this MC.
“They didn’t have to convince me. Nobody did. I came to these conclusions myself.”
Chip was shaking his head.
“This is ridiculous, Cassie. You’re supposed to be on my side.”
“I am on your side, Chip. I always have been. I have spent my whole life defending you, trying to help you, being there for you. Even though you’re my older brother. You’re the one who should have been there for me.”
He glared at me while I walked to the door. I didn’t know what else I could say to him. It was too much. Our bond was broken, and it would take time and effort on his part to repair it.
“I’m going to go now. I hope you pray real hard that all those guys come back safely tonight and that they save the shipment.”
“Cassie, where the fuck are you going? Let me out of here!” he called after me.
I knocked on the door, Sophie opened it up immediately. She saw my deathly pale face and shut the door behind me. Chip was still yelling, but
I didn’t even notice.
“I think I’m going to go up to our room and wait for Bolt there,” I told Sophie.
She squeezed my shoulder and nodded.
“Yeah, you should. I’m going to find a bed and try and take a nap too. We’re going to have some long days ahead of us,” she said.
15
Bolt
We based our raid plan on the information Chip had given us and I was relieved to find he hadn’t lied.
We were staking out the eighth holding first, watching the Silver Knights working in silence in the dead of the night. According to the intel we gathered, they were about to organize a resale of the shipment stolen from us. It would result in them making some serious amount of cash.
The only thing we could do now was steal it back from them and make the sale ourselves.
Spike, Ghost, Flash and I watched in the dark while the rest of the team surrounded the holding area from their spots.
“Looks like the boy came through,” Flash whispered while we waited. We knew there wouldn’t be much of a point of raiding the holding cell now, not until they’d brought the shipment out in the open. That was going to be our moment to attack. That way, we wouldn’t be stuck indoors.
“Yeah, he didn’t fuck us around this time,” Spike commented.
I maintained a stony silence, keeping a close eye on the activities of the Silver Knights. I didn’t want to talk about Chip. I felt like I owed it to Cassie to not drag her brother through the mud over and over again.
There was some movement and we were on high alert.
The big crates of weapons were being wheeled out of the holding. A truck had been positioned right in front of the mouth of the cell. The crates were going to be wheeled in there.
Timing was key here. I sensed Flash getting fidgety. Spike shifted on his feet and I knew the guys were getting impatient. I held a fist up, giving the signal to them and all the other men watching—to hold up. We needed to be patient about this.
“Come the fuck on,” Ghost mumbled under his breath.
