by Lily Harlem
He wrapped his arm around her waist. “English too, just my sort. A delicate little rose for me to de-petal.”
“Fuck off.” She elbowed him in the ribs.
He laughed and tightened his grip on her.
She twisted and managed to push away. Her hands landed flat on a third person’s chest.
“You okay, hen?”
She looked up.
Mason.
Thank goodness.
She bit on her bottom lip as a shudder went through her. “Yes.”
“Is this your friend?” Bearded Guy asked.
“We don’t want trouble.” Mason nodded at the bar where the six bottles of beer waited on a tray. “We just want a quiet drink.”
Chapter Fourteen
“You ordered a lotta drinks for one friend,” Bearded Guy directed at Olivia.
The flash of menace in his eyes gave her a nasty taste in her mouth.
“She’s got more than one friend.”
Bearded Guy looked over her shoulder then did a double take.
Olivia turned.
Lucas stood at Mason’s side.
They each wore an expression of grim determination, their lips tight flat lines and their eyes narrowed.
The bikers were big and intimidating, but there was something about the twins that oozed power and confidence. With their super-short, white-blond hair and their t-shirt sleeves rolled up displaying ink on pale skin, they definitely gave the impression of being tough as nails.
Mason spun his thumb ring in a complete circle then rested his hands at his sides, the way Lucas was. Only they didn’t seem resting; there was something unnerving about the stance. It reminded her of the snake on the island about to strike. Energy and control was stored up in their bodies, ready to be unleashed.
“What is this? A fucking double-vision convention.” Bearded Guy laughed.
Neither Mason or Lucas spoke.
“Freaks,” the other guy said. He slid his arm around Olivia’s waist and pulled her flush with his torso. He smelled of stale sweat. “You stick with us, sweetheart, you’ll have much more fun.”
“Bloody hell, you moron. Get the fuck—” She pushed at him, but he was already gone.
His head snapped backward and he staggered against the bar, knocking an empty glass to the floor.
A single drip of blood ran from his nose to his top lip, leaving a shiny scarlet track.
Lucas lowered his hand.
The guy wiped at the blood then stared at his stained finger.
“Oh, you motherfuckin’ idiot. You don’t know what you just did.” Bearded Guy threw a return punch at Lucas.
Lucas dodged to the right, and his attacker lumbered forward, crashing into a table and sending a chair skittering sideways.
“Take it outside!” the barman yelled, frantically ringing a brass bell.
Olivia dodged as the other guy aimed an uppercut in Mason’s direction.
Mason wrapped his arm around her waist and pulled them both well out of harm’s way.
A second table skidded, hitting the wall with a loud whump.
“Outside. Outside,” the barman yelled, still ringing the bell. “Before I call the fucking cops.”
By his reaction, Olivia reckoned fighting was a regular occurrence, but that didn’t make her want to be involved any more than she already was.
“Fight! Fight!” Several other bikers had stood and were crowding around. A couple of them clapped and whooped.
“Get the hell out of here.” The barman pointed at the door. “Now.”
“You’re gonna fucking get it.” Bearded Guy jabbed his finger toward Lucas.
Lucas said nothing.
“Or are you too fucking scared to go outside?” He moved close, spittle collecting in the corners of his mouth.
“Not scared.” Lucas shrugged. “Not one bit.”
“Well you should be.”
Mason released Olivia and stepped up next to Lucas.
She was aware of a new set of arms around her waist.
“I’ve got you, babe,” Evan said, his lips touching the shell of her ear. “But what the fuck is going on?”
“Those two bikers decided I’d make a nice date for them.”
“And the twins weren’t happy about the idea, huh?” He kind of chuckled.
“You could say that.”
Bearded Guy jabbed his thumb over his shoulder. “Lead the way,” he said to Lucas.
Lucas glanced at Mason, then turned his back on the huge biker.
In a sudden rush, everyone in the bar flooded outside. Evan tugged her with him.
She blinked in the bright light as the crowd circled the twins and their two opponents. The food she’d just eaten rolled in her belly, and she hoped she wouldn’t be sick. The last thing she wanted was for Lucas or Mason to get hurt on her behalf.
And it would be because of her.
She squeezed Evan’s hand.
“It’s okay. They’re okay,” he whispered. “Have faith.”
“Si, si. I take bets. Come to me.” Raul span into the circle, holding up several dollar bills. “Who will win? These very big, strong bikers who punch as if they are elephants, or the twins from Scotland just visiting on a little holiday and still with very white skin? Good odds, two to one, come to me? The twins win I keep money, home team wins, I double yours.”
“Fuck yeah!” a man to his right said. “Easy money. Thirty on Dev and Max. No contest.” He slapped dollar bills into Raul’s hand.
“Make mine a fifty.” A guy to Raul’s left added to the cash. “Go, Dev. Go Get ’em.”
“I fucking will.” The bald guy, Dev, wiped his bleeding nose on the back of his hand.
“Too damn right,” his partner, Max, said, then spat on the ground.
A tremble went through Olivia, starting in her feet, going up her legs, her spine and over her scalp, making the hairs on the back of her neck stand up.
“Bloody hell.” Evan blew out a breath. “I can’t believe Raul’s doing that.”
Olivia stared at Raul as he bounced amongst the crowd taking money. He paused and shoved a handful of notes into his pocket then carried on collecting.
“The twins better fucking win,” Harry said, coming to stand next to Olivia and Evan.
“Yeah, ’cause we can’t afford to double no one’s money,” Evan said. He looked at Harry.
Harry flattened his mouth into a tight line. Something unsaid went between them.
“They will win.” Olivia crossed her fingers. How the hell had this happened? How had it come to this? They were just having a drink and some food in the sunshine.
“Whatever happens, babe, we’re gonna have to get out of here quick,” Evan whispered. “Okay?”
“Yes.” She nodded.
Max suddenly lunged for Lucas, head down and charging like a bull.
Lucas skipped to the right, light on his feet and graceful.
Max grimaced and turned, this time throwing forward a punch. Dev joined in, both of them ganging up on Lucas.
As Lucas ducked then threw a sharp kick at Max’s kneecap, Mason took out Dev’s feet.
Both big bikers hit the dirt, their heavy bodies causing a small tremor over the ground. Max grunted in a low, growling way.
But they were up in seconds, lumbering bodies hunched and their cheeks red.
“Happy to call it quits,” Mason said, holding out his hands.
“Jerk.” Dev dragged his t-shirt off and slung it to the side. It landed in the face of one of the crowd. His chest was heavily tattooed, as was his back. His belly was soft and his nipples big and pale. He dug into the pocket of his faded denims and dragged out something metal. He slid it onto his knuckles.
“Dirty bastard,” Evan muttered.
“What is it?” Olivia asked.
“Knuckle duster. It’ll cause some real damage if the twins don’t dodge it.”
Dev swung for Mason.
Mason leaned back, the hard metal missed. He th
en snuck in a fast, sideways jab, which caught Dev on the soft dip of his temple.
Dev staggered, as if the blow had disorientated him.
Max raced forward, arms flying, throwing hits into the air around Lucas and Mason.
Both men twisted and bobbed, avoiding the wildly flying fists by stooping and leaning. They made it look easy to evade being struck.
The crowd were going wild, jostling each other, heckling and jeering.
Dev rallied and joined in with Max, trying to catch Mason with the knuckle duster.
Mason darted close to him, caught him with an uppercut, then took out his feet.
Again Dev hit the floor, this time hard on his back with his legs jarring upward and his head bouncing. He didn’t move.
Max paused for a second and stared at his friend. His cheeks were bright red, and sweat had collected on his brow. “You cunts,” he roared and raced forward.
He flew a punch at Mason, who ducked, but then got lucky and caught Lucas in the face.
Lucas’ neck jerked, and he took a step back into the crowd.
They shoved him forward again, but already he’d refocused. He gritted his teeth, the tendons in his neck strained, and his biceps looked fit to burst. He raced forward, both hands poised in front of his face.
Mason circumnavigated Max, then stopped behind him.
Lucas fired the first punch out, catching Max square in the sternum. He followed it with a face punch, the same as the one he’d just taken.
Max staggered back into Mason, who shoved him forward into Lucas’ next punch.
This one took him down and he dropped to his knees, his big bulk hunching forward.
The crowd seemed to hold their breath as he slowly, so slowly, tipped closer to the ground. Eventually, just before his nose touched the earth, he collapsed onto it, arms out to the sides and eyes closed.
“The winners,” Raul shouted, stepping over the two prostrate men to grab Mason’s and Lucas’s arms. He held them aloft and grinned manically as he shook them.
Lucas had a cut on his right eyebrow; a trickle of blood dribbled down to his cheek.
“He’s hurt.” Olivia pressed her fingers to her lips.
“He’s okay,” Harry said. “Evan, why don’t you go get on the bikes?”
“Good plan,” Evan said.
Evan tugged Olivia away and led her quickly across the lot. “I know you’re an independent sort and probably want to stay, but right now, we need to put some distance between us and this damn bar.”
“I agree.” She grabbed her helmet and slammed it on. Shoved her key into the ignition. Getting away from the Full Throttle Saloon was very sensible.
“They might follow us,” Evan said, revving his bike. “We’ve just taken out two of their mates and a load of their cash.”
“We should go through the town,” she said. “There’s a police station there. Any trouble, we can stop outside.”
“Good plan, babe.”
He headed out of the lot, and as Olivia accelerated behind him, she spotted the twins, Harry and Raul, all strolling purposefully away from the crowd.
Evan came to the main road and turned right. He kept the speed fast but steady, and within a few minutes she saw the rest of her guys coming up behind.
The town was quieter than earlier. She kept an eye in her mirrors for the bikers following them.
But none did.
They drove past the police station.
Once on the edge of town, they stopped in a small layby, which had the advantage of being well screened from the road by tall poplar trees.
“You okay, Lucas?” she asked, manoevring her bike next to his. She turned it off, dismounted and removed her helmet.
“Yeah.” He tugged at his helmet, then touched the split on his eyebrow. It was shaped like a small lightning bolt.
“You’re bleeding,” she said with a frown.
“Not much.” He swiped at the blood on his cheek.
“He’s had worse.” Mason laughed. His cheeks were pink and he was grinning. He looked like a guy pumped up on adrenaline. “Man, that was a close shave.”
“Keen to pick a fight, huh,” Lucas said, rolling his eyes at his brother.
“Hey. You punched first.” Mason held up his hands. “Nothing to do with me.”
“Aye, well.” Lucas huffed. “He touched my woman’s arse and he’s not on the list of those who are allowed to do that.”
“Too fucking right he’s not,” Harry said. “Good call.”
“Big fuckers though.” Evan dumped his helmet on the seat of his bike and slammed his hands on his hips. “Can’t say I’m sorry we had a couple of black belts on our side.”
“Yeah, a bit of muscle and a bit of know-how paid off.” Harry grinned and shrugged out of his jacket. He seemed as if he’d enjoyed the whole thing too. “Took the attention off me for once.”
“Damn right.” Mason rubbed his hand over his head. He then stopped dead still and looked at Raul. “What’s the count?”
Raul, who was standing by his bike, plucked first one wad, then another from his pocket. “Let’s see.” His mouth stretched into a grin and he began to flick down the notes, slapping them onto the seat of his bike.
Everyone crowded around him.
Olivia stuck close to Lucas, worrying about his cut. An engine she could fix, flesh and blood she wasn’t so good at.
“Ciento doscientos trescientos diez, veinte treinta.” Raul smacked his hand over the top and grinned. “Three hundred and thirty dollars.”
“Fuck! That’s brilliant.” Mason rubbed his hands together. “More than fruit picking.”
“Yes, but there was a cost.” Olivia frowned at Lucas. An ugly purple swelling was growing by his right eye and sending a dark arc beneath it.
Mason wrapped his arm around her waist. He nodded at Lucas. “I’ve seen that guy with both eyes black, split lip and bruised ribs.” He paused. “Oh, and a broken wrist and collarbone.”
“Lucas.” She shook her head. “All karate?”
“Mostly. But not all.”
She guessed he was talking about the bullies. “Ah, okay.”
“So, we’re eating for the next few days,” Evan said.
Olivia stepped away from the bikes and leaned over a splintery fence. A meadow led down to a river, and a lush weeping willow hung low over the gently bubbling water.
Beyond that, a building rose from the trees.
Noble Dawn Hotel.
Some of that money belongs to Lucas.
The thought came to her like a thump to the chest. He deserved what he’d been hoping for.
Her.
And he was more than entitled to a percentage of the cash.
She turned and placed her hands on her hips.
“I have a plan,” she said, her gaze settling on Lucas. “A really good plan.”
Chapter Fifteen
All five men studied her. They each had an expression of curiosity, except for Lucas—it was as if he knew the time had come.
“How much do you reckon a room in that hotel costs?” She gestured over the fence.
“Oh yeah, I noticed that earlier.” Evan nodded. “About a hundred dollars, looks pretty nice.”
“Yes, I thought so.” She stepped up to Lucas and very gently touched her finger to his chest. “And I figure we can spare that.”
A heavy silence hung in the air.
She stared into Lucas’ eyes. They were full of emotion, passion and desire.
“Sure we can spare that.” Mason clasped Lucas on the shoulder. “Hell, if it wasn’t for this guy we wouldn’t have got outta there. Not only that, our woman would be biker bait right now.”
She shuddered. That didn’t bear thinking about. Max and Dev had been creepy and boorish, definitely not her type.
“I’m good with it,” Raul said, counting out a hundred dollars. “Leaves me plenty to win big in Vegas.”
“It’s a couple of days before we hit Vegas, buddy.” Harry laughed
. “We need to eat.”
“But I need a few hundred for the high rollers,” Raul said with a frown.
“Knowing your entrepreneurial skills, there’ll be more than a few dollars spare when we arrive, Raul.” Harry smiled. He looked at Olivia and Lucas. “Go have some fun. We’ll camp here for the night.” He gestured over the fence.
“Yeah, those guys aren’t going to follow now, and we’re hidden from the road back here if they do drive past.” Evan clicked open his storage box. “And after that big dinner and long drive, I’m knackered.”
“Shall we leave our bikes here?” Olivia asked Lucas.
“Aye. It’s not far to walk.”
She went to her own storage box and opened it. She pulled out the first-aid kid and dampened a wad of gauze from her water bottle. “Best clean up your face, otherwise we’re not likely to get a room. They won’t want hooligans in there.”
“I resent that. I was taking care of my woman.” He grinned.
“And I appreciate it.” And she did. There was something pretty damn sexy about having two super-tough boyfriends ready to fight for her.
She carefully wiped the blood from Lucas’s cheek. It had dried a little and took a bit of rubbing, but at least it had stopped bleeding.
He stood stock still, allowing her to care for him.
When she was done, she brushed her lips over his. “Are you sure you want to spend the night with me?” she whispered.
“Absolutely.” He paused. “I want you so bad it hurts.”
She smiled. “We’ll soon fix that.”
After grabbing some fresh clothing from her storage box, she waved goodbye to the guys, who were busy setting up the tents. “Sleep well.”
“Si, we’ll think of you two having fun on a nice soft mattress,” Raul said then winked as he shook out his sleeping bag.
“Early start though,” Harry said, tightening a guide rope. “So don’t laze around in the morning. Get your asses back here.”
“We will.” Lucas took her hand, and under his breath he muttered, “When we’re good and ready.”
She giggled and squeezed his fingers. She’d been fantasizing about this time with Lucas and being his first. He was so damn sexy, and although he was quiet, his inner confidence and wisdom seemed never ending. He fascinated her and she wanted to be as close to him as she could be.
