by Simone Elise
Chloe looked much like a deer in front of headlights. "I’m not planning on staying long. In fact, I'm just going to get changed and leave."
"Sammie, shouldn't you be getting back to mom?" If she wasn't thick, she would get the hint.
"No, mom was in the shower." Sammie twirled, giving me a wicked grin before turning back to face Chloe. "You know my brother is great with cars. Dan can fix everything and anything. You should get him to look at your car."
"It's fine."
"No really, it won't be a problem. The boys are still here for a while. Dan loves projects."
"It's fine."
"Well, you can't be without a car!"
"It was stolen so it’s best if I leave it where it is." Chloe blurted out. "But thanks anyway," she added, and then glanced at me. There was something in her eyes. I couldn't pinpoint what it was.
Sammie shot a glare over her shoulder. "You and my brother must really get on then. He loves stolen things."
"Sammie." I warned her.
"Your brother and I don't know each other." Chloe interrupted. "But he is really nice."
"Nice!" Sammie coughed. "One word to describe him and you pick nice?"
"What was I meant to say?"
"Smoking hot. The bad boy you always wanted. Seriously, my friends always choose Chase. It's the whole bad boy image that drags a girl in, not to mention the looks. Although all my brothers are good-looking, Chase has always been the favorite."
"And, with that said, you're leaving." I walked across the room, grabbing her wrist. She was a strong little thing and would fight me the whole time.
"If you get bored, Chloe, we are in the main house. Mom would love to meet you too," Sammie said over her shoulder as I dragged her out.
"She's really pretty," Sammie whispered at me as I opened the front door.
"I know. Bye." I pushed her out. Stupid little sisters. She was lucky I loved her. One day her big mouth was going to get her into trouble. Who was I kidding; her big mouth always got her in trouble.
"So, bad boy?"
I spun around. Chloe had her arms crossed and was watching me with a grin. Someone enjoyed the show.
"Don't know what she is talking about."
"You didn't take me as a bad boy; maybe a model or a pretty boy, but a bad boy? Really?" Chloe walked into the lounge.
I scoffed. "Model. Fuck that for a joke."
"Oh come on, you have the looks for it."
"Well, as long as you see me as good-looking. I guess I don't mind the insult."
Her cheeks blushed red and she sighed. "What time is it?"
"After ten."
"Fuck. I missed the bus."
"You don't even know what bus you were meant to get on. Why didn't you set an alarm on your phone?"
"I threw that in the creek. He could always track me on it." Chloe was having a panic attack. "Is there another bus?"
"Depends where you are going?"
"Anywhere."
"So, you're telling me you want to go anywhere but here?"
"Yes. Well, no. I want to put as much distance between me and someone."
"That someone that hit you?"
Her mouth shut and she just stared at me blankly. I knew I was pushing the limits. She didn't want to talk about what happened and I got that, but it seemed like everything she was doing was because of what happened.
"I just need to get out of here."
"How does Melbourne sound?" I was tempted, so bloody tempted. I was going to do it. I knew I shouldn't and I knew I shouldn't let this beautiful girl get mixed up in my world but I wanted it. I wanted her. One look at her and I knew she was for me.
"Is there a bus that goes that far?" She scrunched her cute little nose up, thinking about it.
"Not a bus, sweetheart." I walked across the room until I was standing in front of her. "Me."
Her face twisted in amazement, tilting slightly to the left as she just stared at me. Finally, as more time passed, she said.
"You are going to Melbourne?"
"Then Brisbane."
"And you want me to come? With you?" Her eyes were wild and alive as she just looked at me with amazement. "You don't even know me."
"And you don't know me, but you want somewhere to go, and I'm heading there."
"What, for business?"
A smirk graced my lips at the thought of that. "Sort of."
"Sort of? It's a yes or no question."
Was now the time to tell her I was part of a biker club? An outlawed biker club at that. Maybe she would bolt and run. I guess I couldn't keep it a secret forever, but I could delay it. Fuck it, I might as well tell her. I turned around and headed for my bags, finding my leather vest. It was covered in patches. The President patch was the one I was proudest of; the second was the 1%, which stood for my bloodline. I was the son of one of the founders.
I slid the vest on, feeling at home in it, seeing as I spent most of my time wearing it. It wasn’t often you would see me without it on, apart from on a run, which was when I met Chloe.
"You're a biker." Her words didn't hold judgment, and they weren't sharp.
I stood in front of her and watched her eyes run over my patches. She was taking it all in. Surprisingly, she took a step towards me and closed the little distance between us. Her fingers ran over the patches as she read and looked at each one.
"So, where is your home base?" Her eyes looked up at me. Her head tilting back.
"Home is here, but we travel from club to club to keep the order." I smirked at my own words. "It's kind of hard to explain what we do."
"Who is we?"
"My brothers, me and about twenty other members."
"So, you travel from club to club to keep them in line?" She smiled at me. "This is what your sister meant by the bad boy image, isn't it?"
Sammie and that bloody mouth. "Yes."
Her fingers gripped my vest, and she pulled in tight to me, standing on her tippy toes. "You still take me as a pretty boy."
"So you keep saying."
Her eyes sparkled with laughter, and she let go of me and laughed. What she was laughing about, I didn't know, but she found something funny. It was the most beautiful sound, soft and gentle, like her.
"You," she pointed a finger at me, "Are everything my parents told me to stay away from."
"How so?"
She started naming things on her fingers. "You’re charming, good-looking, an outlaw, have tattoos, and I'm pretty sure you don't do your taxes."
"Do you always listen to your parents?"
Her laughter dried up and she sighed. "No. No, I don't. In fact, their opinion means nothing to me."
I had her where I wanted her. She might agree to come with me. Was it a stupid idea? I had never brought a girl on the road with me before. It could bring trouble. I knew I would be introducing her to a life that was filled with less than appealing characters and I would spend every minute of my time making sure she didn't get into trouble with them.
"So, are you keen?" I was asking a strange girl to come with me. Yesterday, I wouldn't think it possible but, today, I was basically begging her. I was addicted to her, and I couldn't help but wonder what she would taste like. What would it be like to kiss those delicious looking lips?
She looked me squarely in the eye. "When do you leave?"
We hadn't talked about a date yet. We knew mom would want us to hang around for a while, so I hadn't put a date on it, but now it seemed that the date was important, so I came up with what seemed like the best option.
"By the end of the week."
"And you don't mind me coming?"
"Oliver always needs company in the van."
"Who's Oliver?"
"My youngest brother."
"Oh." She fiddled with her fingers, clearly thinking about it. My heart was pounding. I wanted her to say yes so badly. I could take her away from everything she was running from and I cou
ld keep her safe. My eyes flickered to the bruise on her cheek. There wouldn’t be any more of that. Not with me involved.
"You won't be in the way, and you can leave whenever you want." I added.
She looked up from her fingers. "I'd love to come."
Those four words sent my heart into overdrive. "Good."
"But I didn't pack anything. I don't have clothes. Hell, I don't even have a phone."
"You must have been in a hurry to leave," I blurted out. I wasn't thinking.
"I was," she said.
"Well, you can buy clothes in town." I reached into my back pocket, pulling out my wallet.
"No." Her hand went out. "I don't need money. If there was one thing I ran with, it was money. That I didn't forget to pack."
"Is it stolen?" I arched an eyebrow at her.
She huffed. "Maybe."
"Cards or cash?"
"Both."
"Cards would have been canceled by now. Cash would still be good." I couldn't have her using credit cards because whoever she stole them off could track her spending, which would lead them here.
"I should have got cash out of them last night," she muttered to herself. Her fingers ran through her hair. She seemed worked up about it, as if I was going to let her starve or worse, go without. I didn't know what it was about her, but I wanted to protect her as well as do a lot of dirty things to her in the bedroom.
"It’s okay, Chloe." I stopped her hand in her hair and gently pulled it out. "If there is one thing I have a lot of, it’s money. After all, who do you think paid for all of this? I don't let the people around me go without."
Her hand relaxed and her fingers linked with mine. She let out a long sigh.
"I don't like relying on anyone."
"Why?"
"Isn't that obvious?" she muttered, and her free hand went to her cheek, her fingers running over the bruise.
I reached out, taking her hand off her cheek and linking our hands together. The feel of her soft skin on mine caused my heart to start jumping.
"Chloe, I'm not going to hurt you and there are no strings attached to the money. My sisters would love to take you shopping, so just getting them out of the house is helping me."
Those sea-blue eyes stared back at me, and I could see the debate within them.
"No strings, Chloe." I reminded her, feeling like that was what was stopping her from leaping forward.
"Okay," she blew out. "But I have money for clothes and a new phone and I really don't want your sisters feeling like they have to babysit me."
Jess and Sammie babysitting, now that's a funny idea. I cracked a smirk just thinking about it. "Trust me when I say they will want to."
"Because they have never seen you with a girl before?" She arched a perfect manicured eyebrow at me.
"No and yes."
"Well, I guess I don't know the town, so it would be helpful."
"Good, it's settled. Now get dressed and I'll take you to the main house to meet them."
Her eyes were on our hands and I didn't know if she felt it too; that spark, that burst of excitement and that lust. Knowing I would have to be the one to do it, I gently let go of her, and I longed to just run my hand down her spine and have her curve into me.
"I should get dressed." She took a step back from me. "Thanks Chase, for everything."
"No worries." I put a smile on my face and forced myself to be happy for her even though my jaw was clenched and my hands were twisted into tight balls. I watched her walk away, and it was killing me.
I didn't know how I was going to do it, but I was going to earn her trust, and then I was going to get to feel what it would be like to be with her.
Chapter 3
Chloe's Point of View
I was nervous and when I get nervous, I lose control of my words. I either lose my voice altogether or I struggle to make a sentence. I was following Chase through the forest, and I hoped he knew where he was going because I would be lost by this point.
My jeans had mud up them and my t-shirt was still wet from last night. I should have washed them. I'm sure Chase would have let me use the machine but, like the shy girl I was, I didn't ask and now I was in dirty and wet clothes.
We came to a clearing and then I noticed a driveway. We walked up it. I should have been making conversation with the guy. Instead, I was busy watching my step, making sure not to fall.
"So, this is the main house." Chase looked over his shoulder at me. God, those green eyes.
"Your mom lives here with your sisters, yes?" I cleared my voice, trying to remember the details. His family was so large while mine didn't exist. I wondered if my mom knew I had left by now. The step monster would have filled her with lies. My small hands twisted into fists just thinking about it.
"You okay?" Chase's eyes were on my fists and then he looked me in the eye, concern on his face.
It wasn't him I was angry at. "Yeah, I'm fine. Sorry."
"Nothing to be sorry about and you're right, my sisters and mom live here."
We walked up the steps onto a large wooden porch. You could tell every detail about this house had been thought out, from the windows on the second floor to the front door itself. It was strong and made out of hardwood.
Chase didn't knock; instead, he let himself in, and I followed awkwardly. I felt like I was out of place as soon as we entered.
It was decorated with paintings and lush rugs. Open living and sunken floors. The couches looked soft and welcoming, and they were positioned in front of an open fire. The living room was sunken and there was a step up to the luxury expansive black kitchen.
"Mom? Sammie? Jess?" Chase called out, taking the small steps into the living room.
Immediately, you could hear movement on the second floor, and, soon enough, Sammie was running down the wooden staircase, followed by another woman.
"Chase, tell me Sammie's lying about a girl being at your place because I bet on it and I really don't want to lose my mon…" Her words dried up when her eyes landed at me.
Her black hair was cut at her shoulders, and it whipped around as she walked. Like her brother, she had the looks and those emerald eyes. She must be Jess.
Sammie smiled at me, but it was more of an 'I told you so' look on her face.
"Hi." I stuttered out and moved closer to Chase automatically, my shoulder touching his arm. "I'm Chloe."
Jess's eyes went from stunned to amazed, and she walked towards me with a hand extended. "I'm Jess."
I shook her hand. "I know. I've heard a lot about you two." I attempted small talk. Small talk was always good in these situations, wasn't it? I didn't know. I didn't have female friends or friends at all. I always avoided social situations.
"Oh, don't listen to a word he says about us." Jess defended herself and rolled her eyes. "He just thinks we are walking troublemakers."
I glanced at Chase, who was just watching them with a smirk.
"So, how was breakfast, Chloe?" Sammie stepped down into the living room. "Did Chase force-feed you because he does that to us all the time. Always going on about how we don't eat enough."
"Um no, he didn't."
"Says him who doesn't eat at all," Jess added. Then it looked as if a lightning bolt hit Jess as she clicked her fingers in Chase's direction. "So, Chloe is the reason for the big breakfast this morning?"
"I told you that," Sammie added.
"I have a favor to ask you two." Chase didn't even knowledge the breakfast remark. Did he really order breakfast just for me? I should have eaten more than two bites. I suddenly felt really rude.
"Ask away, but if this has anything to do with Harris, I'm not breaking up with him," Jess said and crossed her arms.
"Actually, I was going to ask you if you could take Chloe into town and show her the shops. She is coming with us boys when we leave this week, so she will need the essentials."
Sammie was jumping up and down. "Please tell me this
comes with your wallet because I've been dying for the new gym wear that's out."
"We would love to take her." Jess put her hand out and, as if it was an unspoken word, Chase put a card in her hand.
"Don't let her pay for anything."
My mouth dropped open. "I told you I had money!"
Jess gave me a knowing smile. "Around Chase, we all don't have money."
"But I can pay!"
"But you won't." Chase added and gave a pointed look at his sisters. "Of course, you two can go as crazy as ever."
"Oh, we know." Sammie grinned. "We will all be getting new wardrobes." She grabbed Jess's arm. "This means we can buy that new swimsuit!"
"Swimming in this weather?" I blurted out.
"We have an indoor pool." Sammie added for me and gave me a look that said no, she wasn't crazy.
"And a very good-looking pool boy." Jess smirked.
Chase grunted.
"I thought you had a boyfriend," I said openly to Jess. Harris? Wasn't it? Was I missing something?
"It doesn't mean you can't look." Jess laughed.
I wondered if her brother had the same terms. If he had a girlfriend, would he still be looking in other directions?
"We make him clean it topless," Sammie whispered in my direction. "Mom always tells us off for doing it."
"Rightly so," Chase butted in. "Now, are you two ready to go or what?"
"Depends." Sammie put her hands on her hips, all playfulness gone. "What are you doing today?"
Chase and Sammie were staring each other off and it seemed as if something else was going on that I knew nothing about. I watched them challenge each other off before Chase spoke.
"Club business."
"Fighting with him isn't club business," Sammie fired straight back at him. "Maybe you should just let this one slide."
"Don't get involved where you are not wanted, Sammie."
"I'm just saying."
"And I'm telling you. Mind your own business."
I hadn't heard Chase speak roughly or stern, so hearing him telling his sister off came as a surprise to me. It didn't seem in his nature to be hard, but clearly, he could be and was.
Sammie sighed and put her hands down. "Fine, issue dropped. I was just saying." She folded her arms and then looked at me. "So, where are you planning on going with my brother?"
