Lyon's Crew

by Alison Jordan

   PROLOGUE

  I wasn't expecting her, I guess that's why she blind sided me, totally unexpected at a time when I had all but thrown in my hat and said fuck it.

  I'd been playing the field for a while now, was tired of it, I was looking for something more, something was missing. I'd come close once but thank God I escaped that nightmare, turns out she was more interested in status and all that other superficial bullshit.

  So I'd taken a step back, taken myself out of the game, there just wasn't anyone in my circle that came close to what I was looking for, so I'd decided unofficially to hang it up.

  I was thirty two and I guess my biological clock was ticking, if such a thing even existed for a man.

  That's when she sidled into my life, no big splash, no fanfare, that wasn't her style, and maybe that's how she did it, how she wrapped herself around my heart so effortlessly.

  She was a complete enigma, totally opposite from every woman or girl I'd ever been with before. Shy, quiet and sweet as fuck.

  Chapter 1

  My boy Jared had been going on for weeks about his childhood friend, some chick named Kat that was moving here from Arizona, why the hell anyone would want to move here was beyond me, but her dad was here supposedly and she was coming to live with him.The way Jared talked I imagined some timid little thing afraid of her own shadow, the way he made it seem like he'd spent their summers together protecting her from everything.I didn't really have time for that type, they usually just got on my fucking nerves with their simpering asses. Always afraid to try new things.

  Jared was dying to bring her to meet the crew when she landed, I wasn't too jazzed about it, but it was his deal so, whatever.

  "So Colton I was thinking."

  "What were you thinking Jared?" I tightened the front wheel of the beauty I was working on. A chopper for some Hollywood hot shot who would probably total the shit in less than a week. Shit, it was his seventy five thousand down the drain why should I care?

  I looked back at Jared when he didn't answer right away.

  I had a cool relationship with my guys, not only were they part of my riding crew, but most of them worked for me building top of the line bikes.

  I knew enough to keep one separate from the other, I took a lot of pride in the product that left my showroom, if someone wasn't pulling their weight they were gone, luckily that wasn't a frequent occurrence but it has been known to happen.

  "Why don't you give Kat the job as receptionist, you haven't found anyone to fill the position so far and I think she would be perfect."

  "I don't know man, the way you talk, I'm not sure she would fit in here."

  "You won't know until you try, come on, what'll it hurt?"

  "Let me think about it okay, I'm not making any promises." I wiped the oil off my hands as I looked over my handy work.

  "Good enough, thanks man, I just know she would be perfect."

  "You got the hots for this chick?"

  "Who Kat, nah, she's like my sister man, I just feel I have to look out for her ya know."

  "Okay, I hear you, when's she coming again?"

  "She'll be here in a couple days, I'll bring her around either way for you guys to meet her."

  "Sure Jared, I'll get back to you before then, if anything I can always give her a trial run."

  He trotted off with a grin, I'm pretty sure he thought it was a done deal, we'll see, like I said, I don't have time for timid little girls.

  My crew was a rough and rowdy bunch, I'm the only refined motherfucker in the bunch and I'm no prince.

  That fucker rode my ass for the next day and a half until I wanted to bitch slap him just to get some peace and quiet.

  Yes we needed a receptionist, the last one was trying way too hard to get fucked and I never shit where I eat, so bitch had to go.

  If I'd been remotely interested in hitting the skins I might've broken her off a piece before sending her on her way, but nah.

  I wasn't too into the ridden hard and put up wet type, unless I was the one doing the riding.

  I'm not as fucked up as I sound, at least I tell myself not, I come from a refined family, money, prestige, the whole nine yards, for some reason around year sixteen I decided to break the fuck out.

  I said fuck you to the preppy schools and Harvard medical that was glaring me in the face and decided to pursue my own joy.

  Thankfully I have a father who backs his kids above all else or my mom would've guilted me into doing some shit that would've made me miserable for the rest of my days.

  It didn't help that two years later my older sister Stacy decided to use her art major education to become a tattoo artist, I swear to this day my mom still blames me.

  Stacy is responsible for my tatts, her and her hubby Emory opened their open parlor where they did tattoos and piercings for high end clientele, so we've pretty much got the badass criteria cornered.

  I own my own bike shop, run a bike crew of hell raisers, while Stacy and Em paint and pierce the gang.

  We're not a real gang, we don't go around starting fights and stupid shit, I'm not exactly barbaric, we're more into raising money for a good cause, helping little old ladies fix their leaky roofs on the weekend, shit like that, but the reality is that shit does happen and sometimes that shit can end with someone in the hospital.

  We have rivals who don't like the way we rock, we could give a fuck, we're more guardian angel than hell's angels and the community loves and respects us.

  That doesn't mean we wouldn't fuck a motherfucker up or that we haven't, just that that's not what we're all about.

  We're not glory hounds,we just love to fucking ride.

  Now it's Monday and Jared is supposed to be bringing this chick by any minute for a meet, I still wasn't sure about this but Jared's a friend, what can you do?

  I heard his hog pull up outside and got up to go out there, no one entered the inner sanctum unless they were part of the crew.

  Jared was walking ahead of...something.

  His face broke out in a sappy grin when he saw me.

  "Colton this is Katarina."

  I watched her disinterestedly as he made the introductions before extending my hand for her to shake.

  Her hand was soft and small in mine with a slight tremble, I wondered what happened to make the little swan so nervous already.

  Granted my look put fear in grown men but she was here with one of my men, she shouldn't be afraid.

  Whatever, I didn't have time to placate some scared little virgin afraid of her own shadow.

  "Katarina."

  "Nice to meet you Mr. Lyon."

  I looked at Jared with a raised brow, I hope he knew what he was doing bringing this lamb into the Lyon's den.

  I couldn't make out much of her body, her tiny frame was shrouded in a hoodie that looked three times too big, her legs were encased in I guess...skinny jeans, and her feet shoved into what has to be the oldest pair of chucks I've ever seen.

  "Nice to meet you Katarina how are you enjoying your move so far?"

  She blushed, what the fuck, this chick was way too timid.

  I hope she isn't one of those retiring types who cries at the drop of a hat or at raised voices and shit, my guys will eat her alive, fuck, what the fuck was Storm thinking?

  "So Jared tells me you're interested in the job."

  "Yes sir."

  "I'm up here Katarina, look, if you want to work around here you're going to have to do better than this, these guys are rough customers, some of the people we build for are even worse, not to mention the people you have to deal with on the phone, you're gonna need to up your game."

  I saw Jared give her a nudge before she picked her head up and looked at me.

  "Can you handle that?"

 
"Yes...uh, ahem, yes sir, yes I think I can."

  She threw her shoulders back and lifted her head, behind her eyes there was some kind of war going on.

  I guess I was asking her to go against her nature, okay Jared was my boy she was his friend for him I'll give her one week, two at the most to get her bearings, if I noticed that she wasn't working out I would let her go, friend or no friend.

  "You can start tomorrow, come around eight so I can show you the ropes. It shouldn't be too hard, we have a spread sheet set up in the system already, our ordering system is organized, all you need to do is keep track of what's going out and how much we need to replace every week.

  All special orders go through me, no exceptions, if you have any questions about anything come to me, anyone bothers you, same deal. We clear?"

  "Yes sir."

  "And knock off that sir shit, I only like women I take to my bed to call me that."

  Her face almost exploded with her blush.

  Oh joy, I run a hard-core crew of badasses and I get stuck with Polly fucking Anna as a gal Friday. The fuck!

  Jared was grinning like a jackass as he led her out of the office to show her around. I heard the murmur of the guys' voices as they greeted her, I guess Jared had warned them of her titmouse attitude because there were no lewd remarks floating back to my ears.

  She might be timid as fuck but those eyes,...yeah, those eyes, fuck if she didn't have the most amazing eyes.

  * * *

  I wasn't quite sure what to make of Jared's boss.

  He's... I don't know, very intimidating, with his six foot three frame, bulky biceps covered in tattoos, chest well defined in his tight black T-shirt, he left me feeling confused and I guess... hot?

  I've never felt these things for anyone, not a real-life person anyway.

  I blushed just thinking about my guilty pleasure, my dark secret, the thing that made me burn.

  The part of me that has to remain hidden lest people think of me as a freak, or more of one anyway.

  Jared was all excited about me working here but I don't know, I'm not sure what working with Colton Lyon day after day would do to my equilibrium.

  * * *

  Jared showed her around, introducing her to the boys who seemed on their best behavior for a change.

  I hope he knew what the fuck he was doing for real, he'd pushed so hard for me to give her a chance but she seems... not one to fit in here.

  I heard a commotion outside my office and some rather colorful comments coming from the guys, shielded as humor of course, but I knew who had just shown up even before my door was opened.

  "Who is she?"

  "What the fuck do you want Jennifer, I told you to stop coming by here like this, unannounced."

  "Oh come on Colton, we're old friends, why can't I just drop in?"

  "Because I don't want you here, that ship has sailed, please move the hell on."

  "You know, you really should be much nicer to me, I might have some new customers lined up for you."

  She tried putting on her sultry act, yeah okay, that shit just left a bad taste in my mouth.

  "Not interested."

  That got her attention, since she was a mercenary little money grubbing whore it was hard for her to believe that everyone wasn't ruled by lust for money as she was.

  "What, what do you mean, you didn't even hear me out..."

  "If these people are friends of yours I'm not interested in them or their business, now get out I have to work to do."

  I turned back to the papers on my desk as she flounced out of the office in high dudgeon.

  Outside the door I heard her repeat her question as to who Katarina was, crazy psychotic bitch, she would be jealous of anything female, even a teenage girl who hid her body in men's clothes.

  "Step off Rossetti."

  That was Jared in protective mode, he'd better be, Jennifer would eat his little rabbit for breakfast.

  I was about to get up and go intervene but changed my mind, if she was going to fit in here she'd have to learn how to protect herself.

  * * *

  Chapter 2

  After Jared returned from running her home I called him into the office. I had a few questions I needed answered.

  He was still all smiles and excitement, which led me to believe there was more going on with them than he was saying.

  "What's up Colt, you wanted to see me?"

  "Yeah come in and sit down."

  I studied him as he sat across from me, his relaxed posture as he slouched in the chair.

  "You sure she can handle working around here Jared, this place is not your everyday run of the mill office."

  "Don't worry man, she'll be fine, just let her get settled in and she'll be a great asset I promise."

  "Why're you so into this girl, I thought you weren't interested like that?"

  "Nah man, she's like my kid sister, it's just, she's had a hard time lately and I just want to look out for her ya know, we've always been tight, our fathers are like brothers man."

  "Okay, if you say so, I heard you getting into it with Jennifer before, how'd that go?"

  "Seriously, what did you ever see in that tarantula bro, she's like toxic."

  "Don't I know it, you think if I knew she was schizo I would've gone there, you know these women, they show you one face when they wanna get their hooks into you and then when you least expect it they turn into blood sucking leeches."

  "Did she scare your little friend?"

  "Nah, Kat's not as much of a wimp as you seem to think, she can hold her own..."

  "Coulda fooled me..."

  "That's just for now until she finds her way, but trust me, Kat's an okay chick and she knows bikes."

  "What do you mean knows bikes?"

  "She used to work on my first ride with me in the summer when she'd come to visit, I even taught her to ride when she was like fourteen."

  "So what's her family situation and why isn't she in school?"

  "She finished high school, she's taking some time off before college."

  There was something there, the way he shifted his body when I asked, changed his whole persona, what the fuck could be the issue with school?

  "Alright man, if you're sure we'll give it a shot, how's she getting here in the mornings?"

  "I'll bring her until her truck is ready, her old man and mine are still working on it, should be another week at the most."

  "As long as she has a ride."

  I let him go since there was nothing more to discuss, plus I had shit to do, I had clients coming in later to pick up their shit and two new bikes to get started.

  I put her out of my mind for the rest of the day as I went about my busy schedule, a bike shop was a noisy ass place with men doing six different things at once while calling out to each other for different parts and tools, nothing like the showroom where the finished product was showcased.

  Jennifer might very well have had a line up of clients with deep pockets but like I'd told her, I didn't want any part of them if they were her buddies, her circle was just not my cup of tea.

  Social climbing socialites who had nothing better to do than cause conflict and mayhem at every turn, mama's boys with their two hundred dollar haircuts and their whiny asses, no thank you, my bikes were for riding not showpieces.

  At end of day we went our separate ways since it was a Tuesday, riding day was usually the weekends unless we had something special lined up, most of my guys had families that they needed to get home to.

  That was one of my only stipulations, any man with a family had to put in the time, if you neglected your family I couldn't expect anything good from your ass, so you had to show me that you were man enough to man up.

  Most of our activities were family oriented, unless we were going to kick some ass, then we left the ladies at home, a fight was no place for a female, and women's rights could go fuck them self if they thought differently.

  I had about ten God children because we're a cl
annish bunch, the women were close, they were always planning shit, everything revolved around food, I guess that's what happens when you have kids.

  I paid my guys a better than decent wage because I could afford that shit and because they deserved it.

  Any one of them knew they could come to me at any given time for help because that's how I roll, some of the wives even called me when their men weren't doing their shit, I have a mother and two sisters, fuck that, no one in my crew was screwing over his old lady on my watch.

  If a dude wasn't holding up his end of the bargain and couldn't be talked into seeing the error of his ways, he was out, if the wife stayed with him, that was on her, if she decided to cut the dick off, the rest of us looked out until such time as she got back on her feet.

  Thank God we'd only had to do that twice, but a couple of lawyers in the crew were good at getting those women what they needed for them and their kids out of the scumbags so it was all good.

  Women weren't cast out just because their men were out, once a part of Lyon's Crew, you were family, man, woman and child.

  My phone rang just as I was about to climb on the back of my Dodge Tomahawk V10 bike.

  "What's up mom?"

  "Is that any way to answer the phone son?"

  "Hello mother, how are you today?"

  "Smart ass, are you coming to dinner or not?"

  "Is today Tuesday, and did you not make my favorite roast and potatoes?"

  "You know I did Colton, now what time shall I expect you?"

  "How does seven thirty sound, that'll give me enough time to get cleaned up."

  "Sounds lovely dear, are you bringing anyone?"

  "Like I've told you every time you've asked that question since I was twenty one, no, now stop pushing, when I meet someone you'll be one of the first to know."

  "That doesn't make sense, my friend Charlotte, you remember Char, you know she likes to dabble with the cards though she shouldn't, well anyway she swore to me that you were going to meet the girl of your dreams today."

  "Sorry to disappoint you and Madame Laveau but no such luck."

  "I don't know why I listen to Char in the first place, her predictions never hardly ever come true, though there was that time..."