Biker's Librarian (Lord of Mayhem Book 1)

by Shyla Colt

  “It’s crazy how the two of you are weathering all this. Shooter struck me as the leaving type.” Hil looked apologetic.

  “I would’ve agreed with you that first night. But the truth is, he gave me my life back. Before him, I was going through the motions, afraid to actually put myself out there. The club was me dipping a toe into the pool. Meeting Shooter forced me into sink-or-swim mode. He sees the world in a completely different light, a simplistic view that makes happiness easy. It takes away all he pressures society places on you.”

  “Wow, not your typical biker?” Hilary asked.

  “I don’t know. Maybe they’re misunderstood.” Juliette shrugged.

  “Whatever it is, I’m grateful. Even with Peter looming in the wings, this is the happiest I’ve seen you.”

  Juliette paused, running over the time they’ spent together. It’d happened fast and unexpectedly, like lighting striking the sane, forming a one-of-a-kind, beautifully twisted glass creation that would never be duplicated.”

  “God, what if he doesn’t feel the same way?” Her throat tightened and her head spun.

  “I’m pretty sure he does. He looks at you like you’re the only woman in existence.” Hil rested a hand on her shoulder.

  Running a hand through her hair, Juliette smoothed down imagined stray pieces and took a deep breath. “What do I do if this falls through? I’ve never been so wrapped up in a man. Not even Peter.”

  “Love means taking risks. Even if it starts out well, people change and grow in different directions. Look at my parents. Forty-some years of marriage and he up and leaves my mom for a floozy secretary who’s half his age.” Hil shook her head. “We can’t know what the future holds. We can only live in the now.”

  Amazing how three words could fuck up your frame of mind. What she had with Peter hadn’t been love, not really. She knew that, but her heat and her body associated pain and heartache with the L word. It was a potent thing to fend off.

  “I allowed myself to think what happened wouldn’t affect me anymore, but it creeps up and pops out like a jack in the box at the most unexpected times.” Self-deprecating laughter escaped her lips as she accepted her emotions, pieced herself back together and calmed.

  “We all have triggers like that. Look at me. I’m afraid to trust a man enough to date him for an entirely different reason. I was an adult when my parents divorced, but it still dicked with my head,” Hil shrugged.

  “Thank you for never letting me feel completely alone.” Juliette leaned in and hugged her. “Now I should probably be getting back.”

  “Are you going to call Shooter and take some time off?”

  Stepping away from the tree and onto the sidewalk they began the walk back to the library.

  Chapter Eleven

  Juliette smoothed down her hair and stepped from the car. Today she planned on coming clean with her mother about Shooter. She would hit the roof, but too much time had already passed. She’d been dodging her questions about Daniel for weeks, her mom was running out of patience.

  She walked up to the front door and used her keys to let herself in.

  “Mom!” She inhaled the familiar smell of her favorite dish, chicken dumplings.

  “In the kitchen, honey.”

  Locking the door behind her, she walked into the kitchen and smiled. Her mother was timeless. Five-foot-six with kind, almond-shaped, brown eyes and an angular bob, the years had been good to her.

  “Hey, baby.” She placed the lid on the pot and turned to her with open arms. Bending down, Juliette hugged her mother tight, inhaling the floral perfume she’d associated with her since childhood.

  “Hi Mom.”

  “It’s good to see you stranger. Daniel must be keeping you busy.”

  “I know. I’m sorry. But this smells good!” Juliette made a display of inhaling the aroma of the food.

  “Uh huh.” Her mother shook her index finger back and forth. “Don’t try that weak distraction method. What’s been going on with you and the mystery man?” She narrowed her eyes. “Why haven’t I met him yet?”

  “I’d hoped to build up to this,” Juliette said wryly.

  “Just spit it out. You’ve held onto your secrets long enough. I tried to mind my own business, but I wasn’t born yesterday.”

  “I know. Thank you for giving me space.”

  “Dinner will be ready in about fifteen minutes. Let’s take this conversation to the couch.”

  She followed her mom to the brown suede sofa. Settling on the couch, they turned to face one another.

  What could she say about Shooter that wouldn’t send her mother into heart palpitations?

  “Daniel. Well he’s not like anyone I’ve ever known before. First off, he goes by the name shooter. A name he from his time spend in the Marine Corps. He rides a motorcycle and he co-owns a few businesses with friends that do fairly well. He’s the cliché. Tall, dark, and extremely handsome.”

  “I can tell by the look in your eyes and the emotions in your voice you care a great deal already. What I want to know is why you’ve kept him from me for so long.”

  “He and his motorcycle enthusiast friends have a… group.”

  “A group? Are you trying to tell me he’s in a motorcycle gang?”

  “No, it’s a club.”

  “Juliette, honey. What are you thinking?” The disappointed tone cut her deep. “This isn’t you.”

  “Mom, you’re not even giving him a chance.”

  “I can’t help but believe you knew I wouldn’t approve. That’s why you kept it from me for so long. Is he dangerous?”

  The weary look in her mother’s eyes twisted her guts into tangled yarn. If she worried about that now, seeing him in the flesh would only exacerbate the feeling.

  “Not to me.”

  “That wasn’t what I asked you.” The stern tone stiffened Juliette’s spine. She knew a ‘don’t test me’ voice when she heard it.

  “I don’t like this, Juliette. After months of not dating, this is the man you get involved with? It’s not you.” Her mother shook her head. “Is this really the type of man you should be getting involved with? You’re too old to be thinking with your lady parts.”

  “Mom! It’s not like that.”

  “Then tell me what it is because the picture that the name Shooter brings up is not a pretty one.”

  “I knew you’d be like this,” Juliette shook her head. “This I why I kept it to myself. He’s a warrior, an honorable man who lives by his own code. Unhampered by the rules of society, he protects those he cares about and lives simply.” Pride swelled in her chest. The thought made her insides quiver and her heart beat faster. A warm glow of happiness surrounded her, easing the sting of her mother’s negative response.

  Her mother crossed her arms and frowned.

  “Is that a romantic way of saying he’s flat broke but you plan on sticking with him anyway?”

  Juliette rolled her eyes, biting her tongue to prevent a blow-out between them. Their minds just didn’t work the same about some things. “No, Mom!”

  “What? I want to make sure he can take care of you.”

  “One, were dating not married, and two I take care of myself just fine, thank you.”

  “I know that, honey. But you shouldn’t have to do everything by yourself all the time.”

  They were back to the same played-out argument. Her mother seemed to think having a man would fix everything. Juliette disagreed. You had to be able to know you could make it on your own before you threw in with someone else. Or you’d always wonder about why you were with them, and hesitate and stay when you should walk away.

  “I prefer it that way, actually.”

  Her mother sighed. “You’re getting older and by now I’m sure you’ve figured out love is fleeting. What matters is security, the kind that ensures your wor
ld’s not going to come crashing down about your ears at any moment. You had that with Peter.”

  The hair on the back of her neck stood on end. Her mother hadn’t mentioned him since Juliette explained the breakup had been mess and one-sided and told her she didn’t want to talk about it. “He was never what he portrayed himself to be.”

  “No man is. He had power and wealth. Being easy on the eyes was an additional bonus. You’d be set for the rest of your life.”

  “And completely miserable. Why are you bringing him up now after all this time?” Mentally holding her breath, she waited for an answer.

  “I always assumed you were pining for him.” She shrugged. “Usually when someone doesn’t want to talk about a situation it’s because their heart is still in it.”

  “Trust me, I wasn’t.” Juliette frowned.

  “It’s never too late to reconnect. Maybe what you need is closure. Don’t use this new man as distraction. ”

  “I lost his number on purpose, Mother. When I said I’d be miserable with him, it wasn’t the dramatic ramblings of a girl who had her heart broken by her first love. Peter’s bad news with a capital B. He uses his wealth and power to hide behind, and Shooter could never be anyone’s replacement.”

  “What do you mean, baby?” Her mother tilted her head.

  “I really don’t want to talk about this. Just take my word. I’m much better off with Shooter.”

  Apprehension flashed in her mother’s eyes.

  “Is there something you want to tell me?” Juliette asked.

  “I ran into Peter a few days ago, unexpectedly. He asked about you and asked me to put in a good word for him.”

  Closing her eyes, she balled her hands into fists. Was he following her, or was this happenstance? Was she in danger?

  “Honey, are you okay?”

  “Mom, I want you to stay away from him. If you see him coming go the other way.”

  Her mother snorted.

  “I’m serious, he’s unhinged. Things ended badly between us and like the spoiled brat he is, he can’t let go.” As an only child, a part of Juliette lived to make her mother proud. Coming from that place she couldn’t tell her the truth about Peter. It was a decision she was comin to regret.

  “Juliette, you’re frightening me. Is he stalking you? Should we be going to the police?”

  “No, nothing like that.” She rested her hand over her mother’s. “He’ll get bored and move on once he sees I’m not interested.”

  “I’m sorry if I caused you any trouble—”

  “No, Mom.” She gave a dismissive wave of her hand. “This is all him.”

  Her mother smiled. “How about we eat? Nothing like a little comfort food to cure what ails you.”

  “Mom, I’m convinced your cooking could bring about world peace.” Once they stood, Juliette hooked their arms and headed for the kitchen.

  From the moment her mother had told her she’d seen Peter, the walls of the house began to close in. The thought of going home made her antsy. Peter appearing to her mother was a new violation. She put up a good front, feeding snippets of watered-down information about Shooter to her mother to get her off the subject of Peter, but her mind worked overtime. By the time she left her mother’s house, she was too terrified to go home. I need to do something he won’t expect. The next best thing to being with Shooter was being at this place.

  Making a U-turn on Fifth Street, Juliette headed for the south side of town. The houses got smaller and the large buildings turned into strip malls. She found herself at Shooter’s complex. If she couldn’t have the real thing, she supposed this was the next best thing. She sure as hell wouldn’t walk up into the M.C. by her lonesome. Not that she was afraid of his brothers, just extremely intimidated.

  After parking she made the walk to his apartment, her tension easing with every step. Once the door locked behind her, she removed her heels and moved into his bedroom. Stripped down, she pulled on one of the discarded white T-shirts lying across the bed. She pulled it over her nose, inhaling his lingering scent as she moved to the center of the bed. Snuggling beneath the sheets, she drifted off, grateful for the oblivion it brought.

  The jarring jangle of a phone woke her. The darkness in the room told her night had fallen. Reluctantly removing her arm from the Shooter-scented cocoon she’d been wrapped snugly in, she located the cell phone on the nightstand and brought it to her mouth.

  “Hello?”

  “Juliette! Are you okay? I was about to send the boys into your house guns blazing!”

  “Not there.” She cursed her sleep-thickened tongue.

  “Where are you?”

  “Your bed.”

  “Damn, baby. You say all the right things without even trying.” The worry drained from his voice.

  “Miss you.”

  “I miss you too, baby. Were you sleeping?”

  “Yeah.” Scooting into a sitting position, she wiped the sleep from her eyes. “I had dinner with my mom tonight, and I just couldn’t bring myself to go home.” He’d be pissed when he found out she hadn’t told him about Peter right away, but she didn’t want to worry him when he was handling what might be dangerous business. He needed to remain focused.

  “I like the thought of you in my bed better anyways.”

  “I bet you do.” She grinned. “I’m even wearing your shirt.”

  He growled, and she laughed. By now she knew what her man liked.

  “Tease.”

  “Hey! I deliver.”

  “Yes, you do.” The silken purr made her center ache.

  She cleared her throat. “How are things?”

  “Good, busy but I’ll be wrapping it up tomorrow and on my way home.

  Thank god.

  “Any recent developments?”

  “I got another flower, a single red rose.”

  “What does it mean?”

  She chewed the inside of her cheek.

  “Juliette.” His voice sliced like a knife. Sharp and bordering on angry, it was a demand for truth.

  “Mourning.”

  “The Fuck,” Shooter growled.

  “I know, I couldn’t figure it out either.” She cleared her throat and rubbed at her eyes, blinking as they adjusted to the darkness in his room.

  “I want you to stay at my place until I get home.”

  “No place I’d rather be.”

  “I like hearing you say that, baby.” His voice gentled and she smiled.

  He didn’t talk to anyone else that way. Her earlier reservations rushed to the surface. Does this mean he feels the same way?

  “Careful, you might come home and find all my things moved in. Tampons under the sink and pink razors might cramp your style.”

  “I could give a fuck less about what others think. I want you with me. If you moved all your shit in, I’d be ecstatic.”

  “You don’t think it’s too soon?” she whispered.

  “How is that?” Her voice shook. The time for clarification had arrived.

  “I’ve bene up-front with you from the start, Juliette. Why do you think I warned you away? I’m trying to move at the pace you need, but I’m already there.”

  “I’m there too.” She couldn’t say I love you out loud, not yet.

  “I don’t know what I did to deserve a woman like you, but I’m never letting you go. You’re mine now, Juliette Moore. When I come home I’ll remind you of that.”

  Her throat went dry and the witty comment she had planned fell by the wayside.

  “Cat got you tongue, baby?”

  Smug bastard.

  “More like a Shooter.”

  A husky chuckle came through the phone. “Get some sleep, baby. I’ll see you tomorrow.”

  “Night Shooter.”

  “Night Juliette.”

 
She drifted back to sleep with a smile on her face.

  Shooter

  “You happy to be back?” Moose asked leaning against the bar. The boys were unwinding with a small party at the club. It was the first time he’d been among them since he’d returned from his run. It felt good.

  “Yeah, I am.” His gaze followed Juliette as she stood in the corner with Boston and Nola. Every time they came to a club event she blended a little more seamlessly. Soon it’d be like she’d always been there. He like that thought.

  “She won’t disappear if you look away, you know.” A new voice came from his left.

  “Funny, Specs. What’s going on?”

  “I actually found something I thought you might be interested in.”

  He finished off his beer and placed it on the bar. “About Stant?”

  “Yeah, it’s taken me a long time to unravel the red tape. Whoever he had on this was good.” Specs face bore a grudging look of respect.

  Waving his hand, Shooter caught Juliette’s attention and gestured toward the office down the hall. She nodded and he turned to Specs.

  “Show me.”

  Leaving the loud music and crowded space behind, they entered the office. Specs removed a flash drive from his pocket and handed it over.”

  “It’s all there, man.”

  Plugging it into the laptop, he opened the file. “What am I looking at? “ Pulling up the folder, he clicked the different files, opening and minimizing, so they were all displayed.

  “Very expensive payoffs to three women each about a year apart during Stant’s time in college.”

  Shooter’s eyes threatened to bulge out of this eye sockets. “One-hundred thousand dollars a pop?”

  “I’m thinking the money came with a very carefully worded non-disclosure agreement,” Specs said.

  “There are the girls?” He enlarged their pictures. Each looked different, two brunettes, one blonde. Their height, weight, and facial structure varied. The only thing they had in common appeared to be their youth and humble beginnings. Fresh out of high school and away from families that struggled to put food on the table, they were ripe for the picking. Stant must’ve seemed like Prince Charming to their Cinderella. “The bastard’s been preying on young girls for a long time.” Shooter shook his head. Scrolling down, he found the girls’ current address.