by E. C. Land
“Then why is having this woman coming here any different. She’s moving here for her own reasons. From what I’ve heard, she will be staying in a little house not far from the clubhouse rather than in one of the rooms.” Damn if Tiny can’t be feisty when she wants to be. I’ll take it compared to the weeks of deviation. She took Chains being shot hard and refused to leave the hospital. Barely ate or drank anything. Just stayed curled up in a chair next to his bed.
“Tiny’s right, Nora isn’t staying at the clubhouse,” Ryder states, crossing his arms over his massive chest. I never have to wonder if my cousins and uncle are related to myself considering we’re all built close to the same in height and build. Granted I’m broader than them all, but we all resemble each other in some way. So much so that we could be brothers rather than cousins.
“Nora?” Tiny gasps, her eyes swinging to Ryder then myself.
“You know her?” I ask.
“Yeah. I know her somewhat. I wasn’t around her but a couple times when she came up with her friends. I haven’t seen her in a while. She’s friends with the ol’ ladies at Twister’s club. From what Izzy and Kenny told me, she had been shot, nearly died when Hades ol’ lady, Emerson, was taken. Then Mac was killed. Nora didn’t take that well,” Tiny murmurs the last part.
“Mac?” Chains inquires.
“He was a prospect for Twister’s charter. I don’t really know details of what happened, but I remember hearing the members at the original charter talking about it. Burner’s ol’ lady was taken the same day by some lunatic cartel guy.” My mind’s reeling with the information Tiny’s just given us.
“Jesus fuckin’ Christ,” I mutter under my breath.
“Fuckin’ hell. I need to get the fuck out of here. Get to the clubhouse. Has Fuse done a check on this woman?” Annoyance fills the air around us at Chains’ question.
“Yeah, but just so you know her brothers who are bringing her down. One of them is Levi. You remember him from when he’d come down for that one job?” Fuck me. He hadn’t told us that part yet. Levi is one scary motherfucker. Him and the rest of the men he works with. They have some company up in Virginia that deals in security and investigations but from what Ryder had told us they do way more than just what their title calls for.
“Shit, alright. Someone get the fuckin’ doctor, find me some clothes. I’m getting the fuck out of this shithole. No way am I going to be stuck in a hospital bed when this shitstorm starts to brew,” Chains growls.
Nodding, I head out of his room completely understanding where he’s coming from. I don’t know what it is, but the storm’s coming and when it does it’s a matter of whether or not I’ll have the patience to wait it out or not.
Either way, I’ve decided that it’s gonna be my job to deal with this woman. No fuckin’ way am I going to let whatever bullshit that will follow her touch our club. We may walk through the fires of hell but I’ll be damned if I’ll allow this woman to get us burned.
Chapter Two
Nora
Since the day I’d declined going out with Miles Granger again, my life hasn’t been the same thanks to him. Sure, it has always been filled with chaos considering I’m not the easiest person to get along with.
I know this, so does everyone else. Most of the members who are a part of the Devil’s Riot MC only put up with me for Emerson and the rest of the other ol’ ladies. Understandable as it is, they’ve been there for me when I’ve needed it as well. When that crazy bitch shot me in the bathroom of all places, they were there for me. Even when Levi, Dash, and Flynn were pissed as hell about it. Because of this I don’t hold it against them that I’m not their favorite person.
The fact I’m loud and can somewhat be obnoxious due to not having a filter in place. I simply speak whatever comes to mind, not caring who heard me or not. I grew up with three older brothers who have always been overbearing and refused to do anything girly such as playing with dolls growing up. If it wasn’t outside or something to do with videogames, they didn’t want anything to do with it. So, instead of playing with dolls and tea party sets, I drove them nuts, by following them outside into the mud pits and learning to throw mud pies at them when they told me to leave them alone.
Our mom even has a picture of the three of them trying to get me to climb down from a tree when I was four. I’d climbed up to prove to them I could do what they do. Too bad I couldn’t get myself down. Can you blame me though? I wasn’t even in kindergarten yet.
“Nora, this is only temporary,” Emerson whispers, breaking through my thoughts as she grabs my hand in both hers. I know she’s trying to be supportive, but being as stubborn as I am, I’m not taking too graciously to my choice being taken away from me.
I only nod my head in response as I keep my focus outside my window. Over the last five months my life went from just chaotic to complete chaos. Let’s just say that Miles didn’t take too kindly to me refusing to go out with him anymore. And being that I couldn’t outright say it’s due to all of the bad things you’re known for, I’d at first said that I wasn’t able to. Then I stopped taking his calls when he confronted me at Carson’s coffee shop. I’d stated I was just super busy between work and other things, that I didn’t have time for him right now.
He seemed to understand this, at least that’s what I thought until weird things started to happen around me. First were the phone calls with no answer on the other end. I ignored this and didn’t tell anyone. Second, the dead birds strung up around my front porch and hung from the trees in my yard. This I also didn’t tell anyone about. As freaky as it was it wasn’t anyone’s business. Third thing to happen was my house being broken into and used condoms laid all over my bed with my pictures among them. This I didn’t have to tell anyone; my brother, Flynn, saw this when he’d stopped by unannounced. The last thing to happen which is something else I didn’t have to say anything about because there was no way to hide it.
The attack.
Orchestrated by Miles, rather than him dealing with me himself he’d sent several of his men to do it.
According to one of the men, who’d beaten me, touched, and groped my body, Miles hadn’t taken too kindly to me, as they put it, dismissing him.
All of this brings me to now where I’m riding in the back seat of my brother’s truck, bags packed full in the back with Levi and Flynn riding up front. Surrounding us are several members of the Devil’s Riot MC and my brother, Dash, on their bikes.
It had been decided, I needed to get out of the area after I got out of the hospital. Between the club and my brothers, they took it in their hands and made arrangements for me to go stay in Louisiana for a while. Levi had called one of his old battle buddies from when he was in the military asking for this favor. Evidently this guy is also a part of a club that the Devil’s Riot MC have become allies with due to Tracker the VP at one of the other clubs. His ol’ lady is related to someone at this one.
I honestly don’t know. Don’t really care either. In fact, I’m fuckin’ pissed they’re making me move.
Sure, I understand their reasons, but they should have spoken with me about what was best for my safety, but nope, they took the decision from me. So here I sit in the back seat next to my best friend, who was riding with me for support, fuming and giving everyone around me the silent treatment. If I’d had my way, I wouldn’t be going to Louisiana, nope I’d be heading somewhere else entirely. Like the Bahamas or even the Greek Islands. Somewhere a hell of a lot further away from not only Miles Granger but my overbearing brothers as well.
“Nora, you can quit with the silent treatment now. We’ll be pulling into the driveway to your place in a minute,” Levi mutters. From what I’ve overheard so far is Ryder’s friend and a few other people were meeting us at the house to introduce themselves.
“Yeah, Smalls, lose the attitude,” Flynn says, leaning over the console to look over his shoulder in my direction. I notice him doing this as I turn my own head in his direction and shoot daggers at him.
>
“Not happening, it’s not your life you’re taking over, it’s mine,” I snap.
“Smalls, I suggest you also change your tune with all of us. If it were not for the fact you got mixed up with Miles fuckin’ Granger we wouldn’t be doing any of this shit,” Flynn growls as Levi pulls into the driveway and puts the truck in park.
“Whatever. You three are always trying to control every little thing I do. You know what? The three of you can fuckin’ butt the hell out of my life and leave me the hell alone. Stop being control freaks,” I scream before opening my door and jumping out. I slam the door shut in my wake. I ignore all the men staring at me like I were a lunatic as I stalk past them.
I’m sure they all got an eye full of the bruises on my face and the cut lashed across my cheek, I don’t care. Wanting to be alone, I walk around the house and start toward the tree line. Too bad my plan was foiled when an arm snags around my waist. I scream and try to fight against the steel band as it pulls me against a solid heated wall of a man’s chest.
“Easy there, Spitfire. You go that way without knowing where you are going, you might end up hurt or attacked by the wildlife. We got gators in these parts and they don’t have a problem taking a chunk out of you if you step on their tail.” Unable to move, I tilt my head in order to see the man the voice matches.
Holy mother grail of mankind.
This guy is hot.
I mean hotter than hot.
Too bad I was just about to swear off all men and their asshole ways.
Damnit.
Chapter Three
Breaker
I don’t know what came over me when I saw her, but I knew it was momentous. It’s like what Chains’ dad told all of us. When you see the one you’re meant to have you know.
I might not be ready to accept what all that shit means, but it doesn’t mean I’m going to ignore the instinct within me. Especially after seeing the cut and bruises on her face. I’m not sure what happened to her but I’ll sure as fuck be finding out.
First things first, keeping my little Spitfire from going off into the woods. In the dark at that. I’d chased after her when she’d jumped out of the truck and stormed off, all but stomping her feet as she passed Ryder, Chains, Tyres, and myself.
We’d gotten Chains discharged from the hospital a couple hours ago, even though the doctor wanted him to stay longer it was a moot argument. I’d driven my truck up to the hospital every day in an effort to try and get Tiny to possibly leave the hospital for a bit. This also was a moot argument, but I wasn’t going to have my bike up there only for the off chance she decided to go to the clubhouse.
The club has an unspoken rule among us all. No brother puts another brother’s ol’ lady on the back of their bike unless it is deemed an emergency situation.
Plus, I’ve never had anyone ride bitch with me.
When the little spitfire rounded the side of the house, I’d taken off after her to make sure she didn’t do anything stupid.
Shit, I was surprised at the fight she had put up when I’d first wrapped an arm around her tiny waist. What also surprised me was the fact I liked the feel of her pressed against my chest as I held her close.
“Um, you mind removing your hand from around my waist?” she snaps while narrowing her eyes on me which in turn causes me to grin. Even beaten she’s fuckin’ cute as hell throwing her attitude.
“Naw, I think I’ll keep a hold of you. You know in case you decide to go trekking through the woods. Don’t want you getting gobbled up,” I chuckle.
“I’m not going into the woods. Just let me go, you gigantic gargantuan.” At these words, I throw my head back and laugh.
“Spitfire, you haven’t seen gigantic until you’ve seen my cock. Now lose the attitude and calm your ass down. Let’s get you back around front and inside. Alright?” I don’t let her fight me on this as I turn us both back around.
“Who do you think you are?” my little Spitfire snaps as she spins in my arms to face me.
Fuck, if having her pressed up against me like this doesn’t feel good. Wonder what this would feel like if we were both naked and in my bed.
“Well ma tendre, I’m the man that’s gonna be in charge of making sure you’re safe here,” I declare, wiping the grin off my face in order for her to see just how serious I am about this.
“I don’t think you, you . . . you big ape. Let go of me.” Damn this woman doesn’t hold back with the sarcasm or name calling, does she?
“Not gonna happen. Let’s get you inside. Talk to your brothers and everyone else. Oh, and lose the attitude, Spitfire, or I’ll put you over my knee. I have no problem pulling your pants down and spanking your sexy ass red.” As much as I’m liking the attitude she’s got going on. She’s gonna have to reel it in. One, because I’m not about to have her showing my Prez or anyone else disrespect. Another being the fact my cock seems to like it a little too much. I don’t need to be in front of her brothers with a stiffy.
“Try it and see if you don’t end up with my knee in your balls. You might think you are hot stuff, but I don’t listen to anyone and I sure as hell am not about to take orders from your ass.” With that the woman does something I would never have thought she’d do. My little Spitfire drops to her knees and slips out of the hold I had on her.
Fuckin’ hell.
Standing up to her all but maybe five foot five, my little Spitfire turns on her heel and stomps back toward the house. You can almost see the smoke pouring off her.
Yeah, this shit is going to be fun.
Following her back up front, I stop directly behind her as she stands there with her hands on her hips, facing off with what I’m going to assume are her three brothers.
“You can go now,” she snaps.
“Nora, calm the hell down,” The one standing closest to Ryder says.
“No, I won’t calm down you jerk. You’ve done what you wanted to do, now go away, leave me alone. And when I feel like talking to the three of you, I’ll call.” Turning her attention from them she focuses on Ryder and Chains. “Hi, I’m Nora. Sorry to have landed in your lap. If you don’t mind, can I have the key to the house. I’d like to get situated and go to sleep.”
Smirking Ryder nods his head at the house. “It’s already unlocked, Firecracker.”
Firecracker?
What the fuck?
“Thank you,” Nora mutters then turns toward me. “Do you mind getting out of my way gargantuan?” she snaps.
“Nope, I don’t mind, Spitfire. But told you in the backyard and it seems your brothers have too, lose the fuckin’ attitude,” I state firmly, ignoring her glare but I do notice she doesn’t shoot back a retort. Only huffs as she steps around me and storms into the house.
“Fuckin’ hell,” someone says as I stare after Nora.
“Damn, if he didn’t do what no one else has,” another chuckles.
Turning back to the men, I find her brothers staring at me in curiosity.
“Levi, Flynn, Dash, this is one of my other nephews, Breaker. He’s the Sergeant at Arms for the club.” I hold my hand out to each of them as Ryder introduces me.
“Nice to meet y’all,” I say.
They don’t respond. Instead they continue to stare.
“Well, if you all don’t mind, I’m going to go check on Nora,” a woman I hadn’t noticed declares as she moves away from one of the members from the Devil’s Riot.
“Precious,” the guy who she’d been standing next to calls out. The woman glances over her shoulder.
“Don’t Precious me. I told y’all I didn’t like this plan. She’s my best friend,” she snaps and storms off after Nora into the house.
“Well, Hades, just think no more Triple P madness,” the guy next to the man I now know is Hades chuckles.
“Yeah I’ll be happy not to have to babysit the two of them to keep them out of trouble. The last time they got Jordan in on the action. You know what ended up happening?” Hades grunts.
“I w
as fuckin’ working that night. I know exactly what happened. Jordan took two-grand from someone because the stupid fuck decided to do double or nothing. We ended up having to throw four men out for not liking the fact they lost to a chick,” Levi grumbles from next to me.
Lifting a brow, I wait for an explanation.
“Our VP, Horse, his ol’ lady owns the bar they’re talking about and the company Levi works for has run security for Kenny since she opened the place. Nora, Emerson, and the rest of the clubs’ ol’ ladies love to find ways to make working there interesting. Let me just say this, if Nora’s at a bar and asks for a Triple P don’t let her have it. Otherwise you’re in for a pain in the ass night.”
“Can I ask what the fuck is a Triple P?” Chains asks in amusement.
“Pretty Pink Pussy.” Several of them say in unison.
Hmm that sounds interesting. I might have to see this in action for myself.
“Nice name for a drink. How about we continue this inside or at the clubhouse?” Chains suggests, rubbing a hand over his chest.
“Why don’t we leave a couple guys here to watch over the girls and go to the clubhouse? Bigger space,” Ryder says his brow furrowing at Chains in concern.
We both know his ass shouldn’t be up, let alone out here, but the man never fuckin’ listens.
“Sounds good to me. Let me just tell Nora we’re heading out,” Flynn states.
“I’d maybe suggest giving her a little bit of space right now. If the fact that she threatened my balls earlier doesn’t say anything then the fact you can literally see the steam pouring off her does. She’s pissed and needs to be alone.” Fuckin’ hell why did I just say that?
This shit isn’t happening.
It can’t.
Nora might be a spitfire, but fuck if I’m about to let her get under my skin.
Nope, not gonna happen.
