Hatch (Dogs of Fire)
Page 6
“I’m hoping to find me a sexy biker to fuck me against the wall,” Sierra said.
“Sierra!” I admonished. “You promised you’d be good.”
She grinned. “Oh, I plan to be.”
I rolled my eyes. “Good lord, woman, behave.”
“No. What does your brother say?”
“Well behaved women don’t get shit done,” I said, sliding lipgloss onto my lips.
She sighed. “I wish your brother was single.”
I smiled. “A lot of people do.”
“Are you sure he’s committed to Olivia?”
I laughed. “Honey, not even Liv can run from Tristan, and believe me, she’s tried. He is totally devoted to her.”
Sierra sighed. “I want a man like that.”
“You’ll find one,” I said.
“Does Tristan know you’re going to Smiley’s without ‘protection’?”
“He won’t care.”
“That’s a no,” she retorted.
“I’m twenty-four years old, I don’t need to tell my brother anything.”
“Um, okay, sure, we can play it that way,” she said. “If he finds out, though, I’m playing dumb.”
“It’s fine. I know Smiley. He’ll watch out for us.” I faced her again. “I’m ready.”
“Good. I already called for a car.”
We headed outside and the ride share was already waiting for us. The bar wasn’t far, but the driver wasn’t sure about leaving us. “This is rough place,” he said in broken English.
“We’ve been here before,” I said, pushing open my door. “Thanks, though.”
Sierra followed me out and we walked inside, met at the door by a giant of a man.
“IDs.” We handed our IDs to him, then he glanced at us, handing them back. “You sure you’re in the right place?”
I smiled. “We’re good.”
“You run into issues, you let me know.”
“Okay, thanks.”
Moving through the crowd, we sidled up to the bar and Smiley walked over to us. “Hey, beautiful.”
“Hey, Smiley,” I said.
“Does Doc know you’re here?”
“What’s with everyone thinking I need to tell Doc everything?”
He smirked. “Well, you be careful.”
“We will,” I promised.
“What can I get you?”
“Shots,” I said. “Patrón, please.”
“Put it on my tab,” a guy from our left said. He was creepy looking, his slicked back hair giving him a greasy look, and I planned to stay as far away as possible.
“No, that’s okay,” I said.
“I insist.”
I sighed. “I appreciate it, but it’s really okay.”
“Bitch—”
“Don’t call her a bitch, asshole,” Sierra hissed.
“There a problem here?” a tall, sexy as fuck biker asked. He had his arms crossed, so I couldn’t see the patch on his cut, but it could say Satan’s Devils and I wouldn’t care. Lordy, he was pretty. Blond hair, a little longer on top, fell onto his forehead and drew focus to his eyes, which were almost an ice blue. He had a full beard and I ached to run my fingers through it.
“What’s it got to do with you?” Greasy demanded.
“Oh, I don’t know, Stimpy, maybe because you’re harassing my woman and she just got here.”
“Oh, shit, Orion. Sorry, man. Didn’t realize she was with you.” Stimpy raised his hands and walked away.
Orion focused on me. “You good?”
“Yes. But you didn’t need to do that.”
Sierra leaned in close and without looking at her, I knew she was swooning.
“I know your brother, Raquel, I did need to do that.”
I forced myself not to react. “My brother?”
He smiled and I nearly lost my mind...and my panties.
“Doc. You know, the president of the Dogs of Fire Savannah.”
“How could you possibly know Doc’s my brother?” I asked. “I’ve never met you.”
He leaned against the bar, now fully facing me and I craned my head to look up at him.
“My old man’s the president of the Primal Howlers. I’ve known your brother for a while.”
“Yum,” Sierra breathed out, for my ears only.
Orion pulled out his phone and swiped his finger over the screen. “I’ve got a picture of you from your Christmas party last year. I never forget a face.” Handing me the phone, I saw the photo from the charity event the club put on every year, handing out presents to the foster kids in the area. I was standing beside my brother and laughing. I think he’d made some inappropriate joke right before the picture was snapped.
I frowned. “Translation: Doc sent you this to keep an eye on me.”
He slid his phone back in his pocket. “I plead the fifth.”
“I’ve been here several times and I know Smiley well, so how come I’ve never seen you?”
“Because I didn’t want you to see me.”
I narrowed my eyes. “Have you been stalking me?”
“You can stalk me,” Sierra said. “Anytime.”
Orion grinned at her. “I’ll keep that in mind.”
“Patrón,” Smiley said, setting shot glasses in front of us and pouring tequila into them.
Orion gave him a chin lift and Smiley nodded, refusing to take my credit card.
“I’ve got this,” Orion said.
“Um, no, you don’t,” I countered.
He chuckled. “Like your spunk, sweetheart, but your money’s no good here.”
“So, we can drink as much as we want?” Sierra asked. “For free?”
“Go for it.”
“Challenge accepted,” she retorted, and Orion smirked.
I shook my head. “Sier—”
“Before we drink too much to care,” Sierra said. “Will you introduce me to your club members? Just in case I want to go home with someone...”
I groaned. “Sierra, seriously, put it back in your pants.”
“You wanna come sit with us, you can,” Orion offered, nodding to the tables where several of the Primal Howlers were congregating.
“Yep,” Sierra answered immediately. “Show me the way to the testosterone.”
She headed toward the group and Orion turned, but I grabbed his arm and he faced me again. “She’s impossible when she’s drunk, so I don’t want any of your guys taking advantage.”
“They won’t.” Orion smiled. “But what about you?”
“What about me?”
“Are you impossible when you’re drunk?”
I shrugged. “You’ll have to get to know me better to find that out.”
“I like a challenge.”
“You think that now, but give it time,” I retorted. “You’ll change your mind.”
He laughed as he led me to his group.
“Holy shit, Raquel?”
A tall man rose to his feet and grinned. He looked like Orion, only his hair was darker.
“I feel like I’m at a disadvantage,” I grumbled. “Do y’all know who I am?” Everyone at the table nodded and I groaned. “Just when did Doc put the edict out to watch me?”
“Two years ago.”
“Really?” I ground out. Right before I moved to Colorado. Of course he did.
“I’m Sundance,” the man said, shaking my hand.
Orion chuckled and nodded to the man who was towering above me. “Sundance is the president.”
That made sense. Orion looked just like his dad.
Indicating the man sitting in the chair next to Sundance, Orion said, “That’s Rocky, our VP, next to him is Moses, our Sergeant, and the two practically fuckin’ in that chair are Mozart and Nellie.”
Nellie pushed off Mozart’s lap and reached her hand out. “We don’t get out much.”
I smiled, shaking her hand. “It’s nice to meet you.”
“You too, sweetie.”
“Has anyone ever climbed
you?” Sierra asked Sundance. “I got an A in my mountaineering class, in case you were wondering.”
Sundance dropped his head back and laughed. “You wanna climb me, baby, you feel free.”
“See what I mean?” I glanced up at Orion. “That’s after one shot.”
Orion grinned. “It’s all good. She’s safe here.”
I nodded. “I appreciate that.”
* * *
Orion
Doc’s baby sister was a fuckin’ knockout in person. This could be a problem. Jesus Christ, her petite, curvy body could bring me to my knees and I’d happily genuflect for as long as she wanted me to.
When she and her friend walked in, I recognized her immediately, and knew she might be in trouble when Stimpy approached her. What came out of my mouth after that, was done while I was obviously in some kind of fugue state, because I’d never declared anyone as belonging to me, and certainly not in a place as public as Smileys.
Goddammit, that was not my smartest moment.
Because now she was marked as mine.
And I liked it.
* * *
If you liked the sneak peek of Primal Howl, you can order it HERE!
Piper Davenport is the alter-ego of New York Times Bestselling Author, Tracey Jane Jackson. She writes from a place of passion and intrigue, combining elements of romance and suspense with strong modern-day heroes and heroines.
She currently resides in the Pacific Northwest with her author husband and two kids.
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