Out Gamed

by Lila Rose

  “Gamer—”

  “Talon, Prez, respect, you have it all. But don’t come between me and my woman.”

  “What the fuck you—”

  I ended the call and turned off my phone.

  Jason whispered, “He’s gonna kill you.”

  “Yeah, I reckon you could be right.”

  “You should go into hidin’. Me ma has a spare room.”

  I smiled. “Thanks, brother, but I’m gonna see how this’ll play out. Won’t look good if he can’t find me to give me an arse kickin’.”

  He nodded. “True. I’ll try and get him to go easy on you.”

  “Thanks, brother.”

  “You’re a good man, Gamer. Taught me heaps.”

  With a chin lift in appreciation, I said, “Better get back to watchin’, Jase.”

  He gave me a salute. “Will do.” He spun around in his seat with a smile. Over his shoulder, he added, “It’d really suck if Talon kills you.”

  I chuckled. “Brother, I think I may just scrape by with Nancy and Zara at my back.”

  “Oh yeah, he listens to them most of the time. Well, mainly Wildcat.”

  I sure as fucking hoped he still did.

  Nancy

  The cafeteria was bustling with patients, family members, nurses, and doctors. In line to purchase some food, my phone rang. Pulling it out of my pocket, I smiled when I saw Zara’s name on the screen.

  “Hello, daughter of mine.”

  “Mum, listen to me really quick. I tried to stop him, told him to wait until you finished work, but he’s in a snit and on his way to you.”

  “Who?” I asked.

  “Talon. He’s worried Gamer’s taking advantage of you. He learnt Gamer was in town and knows he was here to see you. He called Gamer—”

  “Zara—”

  “I know, I know. I tried to tell him to mind his own business, but you know my man. He’s up in everyone’s life.”

  A murmur started in the sitting area. I dropped my head knowing it would be my son-in-law with his biker gear gaining the attention of everyone.

  “He’s here.”

  “Shit, I’m on my way—”

  “Honey, don’t worry. We’ll have dinner tomorrow night still, but I’ll sort Talon out today.”

  “Good luck.”

  “I won’t need it,” I answered, and hung up.

  The chatter got louder around me; it was how I knew he was close. Still, I stayed in the line and waited for him to find me. I wouldn’t get embarrassed to have my son-in-law there wanting to grill me. I didn’t care what people thought about who my family was, even when he looked like he could murder someone with a glare.

  “Nancy,” was growled out. I glanced over to see him in the doorway with his arms crossed over his chest and Griz standing at his side. “A word,” he bit out.

  I sighed. “I can’t right now. I’m in the line and if I lose my spot—”

  “Griz,” Talon ordered. Griz stomped forward, took my tray and with a hand on my back, he gently pushed me Talon’s way while he took my spot in line.

  “Fine,” I muttered, rolling my eyes. I was sure everyone around us was staring, wondering who Talon and Griz were to me. “Nothing to see here. Just a pain-in-the-butt son-in-law sticking his nose in where it’s not needed.”

  Griz chuckled behind me while Talon clipped, “Nancy.”

  Just to annoy him, I made my way over slowly. Once I was close, he took my arm and pulled me along behind him out into the eating area where more people stared. We kept going. I waved to a few nurses I knew. They seemed concerned, so I called, “It’s all right. He’s family.”

  When my eyes landed on Doctor Hendrick’s, I noticed how pale he was. He seemed more scared of Talon than he did Roman. Then again, maybe he just didn’t take notice of Roman’s vest that night.

  I wondered if Roman had had any luck finding out Hendrick’s secret. At least it was an excuse to call him later, other than to find out how Talon treated him.

  Talon stopped in a corner, far enough away not to be overheard. He dropped my arm, spun towards me, and crossed his arms over his chest, glaring down.

  I scoffed. “Don’t give me that disappointed look, son-in-law. It only works on the kids, not me. I also have nothing to be sorry for.”

  “Nance—”

  “No. Talon, I love you with all my heart. You’ve been a godsend for my daughter, but I won’t have you trying to run my life. I like Roman. I want to see where it goes with him. I know you loved Richard like he was your father and don’t want to see another at my side because of him, but don’t you think I deserve some more happiness in life? Even if it comes from another man.”

  His jaw clenched. “I didn’t know you were unhappy, Nancy.”

  Reaching out, I put my hand on his arm. “I wasn’t happy, but I made sure to try and be because I have a beautiful family. It wasn’t until Roman that I realised there was something missing. Something that could bring me more joy in life than my family.”

  “He’s club.”

  My brows dipped. “Does that mean there’s a rule against club members for me?”

  “You’re my mother-in-law. You deserve more—”

  “Pish-posh. Don’t pull that bullshit either. The men in the club are more and better men than others I’ve met. That’s because you’ve taught them well. I know you don’t want to hear this about a brother, but Roman is sweet, caring, and willing to see where this goes with me, at my pace.”

  A vein ticked in his forehead. “I don’t fuckin’ like it, Nancy. You could get hurt.”

  My heart softened, and I knew my eyes had when he looked at me. He started to relax. “I know I could, my son-in-law. However, it’s a risk I’m willing to take in my life.”

  “Jesus, woman, just think for a moment longer before you sell your heart into it. He’s younger. He’s—”

  My hand came up in his face. “First, do not call me woman. Second, he is younger and that’s a worry I’ll bear, but he’s proven himself, in my eyes, to be serious about me being an older lady. Also… Griz and Deanna, Warden and Emerson. We won’t be the only ones with an age gap. Lastly, have some trust in us, Talon. Whatever Roman and I have growing won’t interfere in the club.”

  “I just don’t want to see you get hurt.” His jaw clenched again. It was sweet how much he cared, but I knew a big part of it would be because he saw it as me moving on from Richard. Those two had a bond so big it was amazing. I didn’t like hurting him by starting something with Roman, but I had agonised over it so much myself. Finally, I knew life was worth living and loving as many people in it as you could before God chose it was your time to pass.

  “Thank you, my handsome son-in-law. Richard would be proud of you taking care of me, but he would also want me to do what I want, and right now, it’s me giving a chance to Roman. If things don’t work out, it won’t be the end of the world. I’ll know it wasn’t meant to be. It may hurt, a lot, but I can take it, Talon. I can take it because I know I have so much support at my back.”

  His nostrils flared. “Fuck,” he snarled. “Okay.”

  I tried to hide the smile, but I couldn’t. “Glad to have your permission to do what I want to do in my life.”

  He nodded. His lips twitched before he tipped his chin up and looked over my shoulder. “That fucker starin’ at you, he a problem?”

  I glanced over my shoulder to see Hendrick quickly look away. “No. He’s an idiot. Besides, Roman’s already onto it.”

  “Good.”

  Griz stepped up to our sides. “Your tray’s on the table, Nancy.”

  “Thanks, handsome. How’re the monsters?”

  Griz grinned. “Good.”

  “I’m glad,” I said, patting his arm. I faced Talon again and told him, “You’re not leaving without laying one on me, son-in-law.”

  “Christ,” he muttered. Yet he still leaned in and kissed me on my cheek.

  “Before you go, will you promise to leave Roman alone?”


  He laughed; it was kind of dark. “That’s the thing, Nancy. He’s Hawks. I’ll be makin’ sure he knows what’s right.”

  “Talon—”

  “See you tomorrow night for dinner,” he said before stalking off with Griz.

  Well, I think I sort of won. Which made me smile.

  Chapter Eight

  Gamer

  “Would you come here for a club family day?” I asked with my fucking heart in my throat. It was a big step, a big deal. I wasn’t sure if Nancy would know, but you only brought women you were serious about to club family days.

  “Me?” she whispered into the phone.

  I forced a laugh. “Yeah, I don’t hear anyone else on the line.”

  “Tomorrow?”

  “Yeah, darlin’. You’re not workin’, right? I got your schedule you sent me a couple days ago right in front of me. Unless, fuck, do you have somethin’ else planned? You goin’ somewhere with your girls?”

  “Um, no, I would like to come, if you’re sure?”

  “I’m sure, Nancy.”

  “Okay,” she breathed. Yeah, she knew family club day was important.

  “While I got you on the line, I got some news about that dickhead doctor.”

  “Is it bad?”

  Laughter erupted out of me. “Nah, darlin’. Just fuckin’ weird, which is probably why he doesn’t want it to get out.”

  “What is it?”

  “He goes to a club every now and then.”

  “A club? That doesn’t sound weird. Although, is it a sex club?”

  “Nope. It’s a cross-dressin’ kinda club. The dude likes to wear women’s clothes as he gets on stage and mimes to songs.”

  Her laughter drifted down the line. “No wonder he was looking scared when Talon showed and practically dragged me out of the room—”

  “What?” I snarled, gripping my phone tightly to my head as anger reared inside of me. President or not, no fucker touches my woman like that. “He manhandled you? What the fuck for?”

  “Roman,” she said in a tone that made her sound like she was pleased, yet like I’d said something funny. “Relax, it wasn’t as it sounds. He’s worried about us. As in you and me. However, we talked it out. He understands I want to see where things will go for us. He’s just worried I’ll get hurt. Especially with you being younger—”

  A growl left my lips. “You don’t need to worry about anythin’ with me. He doesn’t need to get up in your grill about this shit between us. I’d damn shoot myself before hurtin’ you in any damn way. I don’t fuckin’ look at anyone but you, Nancy. Fuck the age gap. It shouldn’t be between us because to me, I don’t goddamn see one.”

  All I could hear was her breathing on the other end.

  “Nancy?”

  “I-if you were here, I would kiss you,” she said softly.

  Christ.

  “Then I wish I was there, darlin’.”

  “I’ll see you tomorrow, Roman.”

  “Tomorrow, you want me to drive up and pick you up?”

  She laughed. “No, I’m pretty sure I can manage to drive down there. Um… do you live at the compound?”

  Fuck me. It was then I wished I didn’t, wondering if she wanted to stay the night. I didn’t offer, thinking it was too soon.

  “Yeah, I do. Have since I got in, but I’m lookin’ for a place to settle.”

  “It’s okay. I was just wondering. I can understand not wanting to move out of a place that’s convenient for you. I’ll be there around ten. Is that all right?”

  “Sounds good, Nancy. See you here.”

  “Yes. Bye, Roman.”

  “Later, darlin’.” Ending the call was getting harder and harder each time. Fuck, if I had all day, I’d stay on the phone with her. Somehow glue it to my head. Hell, I was going overboard with thinking that. But the point was, I’d listen to her all day.

  Standing, I started for the door when Jason called, “Nancy’s comin’ tomorrow?”

  “Yeah, brother. You gonna be here?”

  “Sure will.” He grinned. “My woman’s lookin’ forward to it.”

  “Good to hear. You two still goin’ strong?”

  “Always will. She’s it for me like it sounds like Nancy is for you.”

  “That she is, Jase.”

  “Good. I thought you were into men to start with because I never saw you hook up, but now I know you were just waitin’ for your special someone.”

  Chuckling, I nodded. “Yeah, I was waitin’ for my special someone.”

  “Hell yes to it finally happenin’.”

  “Damn right.”

  And there wasn’t anyone or anything to stop me from claiming Nancy in all the ways I wanted. It was getting to a time I’d need to make some decisions, not just yet, but damn soon, and I didn’t see myself in Caroline Springs much longer.

  Just had to pray to everything there was to pray to that Talon would have me in the Ballarat Charter in the future.

  The next day I stood out the front waiting for Nancy. The place was already packed with family members getting shit ready for the cookout that’d probably last all day and into the night. I may have been out there waiting for a while, which caused me to get some strange looks from some of the guys, until I told them I was waiting on Nancy. Then their looks changed into understanding, and they smirked in a teasing way.

  It was only Texas, Dodge’s nephew, now really his kid, that said shit. “Gamer and the older lady gonna get it on.” I started for him, but stopped when Dodge’s hand covered Texas’s mouth and dragged him into the compound.

  Apparently, Texas was just like Dodge when he was in his teens. A smartarse. Though, ever since Dodge took over as president of this charter, he’d grown a hell of a lot.

  “I think it’s sweet,” Romania, Dodge’s niece and yet daughter, said as she skipped alongside Low, Dodge’s woman.

  “It really is,” Low commented with a huge-arse grin.

  Just when I was going to reply, I noticed Nancy’s hatchback pulling into the car park. I caught her wave and grinned like a fool already on my way over to her. She parked, got out, and I sucked in a sharp breath when I saw she had her hair down. She slung her bag over her shoulder, closed her door, and then opened the back door.

  Then I got to her. She glanced up from her back seat to me as I wound my arms around her waist. “Fuck, you look stunnin’. Love your hair down, darlin’.”

  She straightened, turned, and her hands slipped to my chest. “You do?”

  “Oh yeah.” I nodded.

  “How much?”

  “A fuckin’ lot.”

  She glanced around. “Are you willing to show me how much with a kiss? Or is that too forward? I’ve been wanting to kiss you since the last time I did, and seeing you doesn’t help that want go away, and there’s no one around—”

  My lips landed on hers. Her hands climbed to around my neck while I slid one hand from her waist up and straight into her long, thick, and fucking gorgeous hair. I growled into her mouth when she opened for me under my teasing tongue.

  We tasted each other. She whimpered, and I sucked it down into me, enjoying the sound, the feel of her.

  Pulling back after a quick touch again of her lips against mine, I warned her, “Never care who’s around. You kiss me when you want it. You need my mouth, it’s always there for you.”

  “Okay, Roman.”

  “Good.” I watched as I ran my fingers through her hair. “Fuckin’ like silk.” I looked forward to the day it’d be splayed out on my pillow.

  “Has anyone told you how good-looking you are?” she asked.

  Grinning, I shrugged. “A few, but no one as important as you.” I tugged on her hair, and blood pumped right to my cock when I witnessed her eyes flare in heat. “You like your man’s looks?”

  She licked her lips, as if still coming down from that one hair pull. “Yes,” she whispered.

  “Hmm.” I kissed her neck. “Enjoy knowin’ you think I’m all right for you.
”

  “W-we should head in.”

  “You gettin’ shy on me, darlin’?”

  “Yes, no… in a way, um, I like you playing with my hair is all. If we don’t move inside, then the back seat of the car looks good to fool around in, but then we’d squish the treats I made for you.”

  “For me?”

  “Well, yes and everyone.”

  “You cooked thinkin’ of me eatin’ them?”

  “Yes?”

  My smile wasn’t to be contained. “Takin’ care of me without even really knowin’ it. You’re fuckin’ amazin’, Nancy Alexander.”

  Her eyes warmed even more. “So are you, Roman Power.”

  “Right, I’m wantin’ to get these treats in to try, but I’m also thinkin’ of foolin’ around now.”

  She tilted her head back, neck stretched as she burst out laughing.

  Joy.

  There it was in her voice, in her eyes and body as she held onto me while she couldn’t contain her mirth.

  Joy. She had it and I gave it to her, but I also had it because she gave it to me.

  Nothing could make me happier in that moment.

  She slapped my chest gently. “You’re crazy.”

  I grinned. “Yeah, I am.” For her. I glanced in the back seat. “Jesus, Nancy, how much you think I can eat?”

  Again, she was cackling. “I said it’s not all for you.”

  “I don’t like to share though.”

  “Well, you’ll have to in this case.”

  “But no other case.”

  Her smile was shy. “No.”

  “Deal then. Now kiss me, and we’ll get this shit inside.”

  She got to her toes, wrapped her arms around my neck and did so smiling. A moment later, she lost her grin as she looked at my lips and leaned in. “I like kissing you, Roman.”

  “I know the feelin’, darlin’,” I said, just before our mouths pressed against each other.

  Coming up for air, I asked, “You crashin’ in town tonight?”

  She nodded. “I was going to stay at Josie’s while she’s out of town.”

  “Good, wasn’t sure how long today will go and didn’t want you drivin’ back.” I shifted back after a kiss to her neck and leaned in the car grabbing as many trays as I could so she wouldn’t have to take much. “Though, I’m gonna offer, but you don’t have to take it, and I’m not offerin’ to get somethin’ out of it. You’re pace, darlin’.”