Strike Fast: Prequal (Snakes Henchmen MC)

by Alivia Grayson

  Shepard explained how it would be best for my baby and me if I gave her to an older couple who could give her the world. I knew he was right. I was thirteen, how could I have given her what she needed? Even then I knew I couldn’t. I knew I had to give her away so she could have everything a baby needed.

  So, I sat with her in my arms as I wrote her a long letter explaining everything, why I couldn’t keep her, how much I loved her, how hard it was for me right then, and how I hoped one day we could meet again. I wanted her to know that I would always love her, and how I'd never forget her.

  Shepard told me it would be better not to put my name on the letter right then. That one day, my baby would come looking for me because her new parents would have his name. They’d tell her, my baby would find him, and he’d point her in the right direction.

  I cried, of course, when I handed her over to him. I sobbed, actually. I kissed her little cheek, breathed her in and told her how I would always love her.

  I wasn’t allowed to know where Shepard was taking her, who her new parents would be. I was simply told to get on with my life and make it a good one. Shepard and BlackJack, another member of the Snakes Henchmen, a kind of uncle to me, both kissed my head before they left.

  What Shepard told me about making my life good stuck in my mind, and I have worked hard ever since to do just that.

  “I’ve been doing okay.” I shrug while tucking my hands into my jeans pockets. “I miss her every day, but I know she’s better off with them.

  “I did well in school. Passed every exam I ever took, graduated top of my class, got into a good college. It seems I have a knack for numbers. I graduated early with my master’s degree.”

  “I’m proud of you, Sunflower. You didn’t let it break you.”

  “Nothing could break me, Shepard. I’m strong.”

  “That you are. Now get the hell over here and hug me.”

  I laugh and run at him. He catches me and hugs me tightly with a kiss to my head. God, I’ve missed him.

  “Daddy, who is this?”

  He lets go of me and lifts a little kid into his arms. He’s a handsome little devil.

  “Who’s this handsome young man?” I ask.

  “I’m VJ.” He tells me. “I just had my sixth birthday.” Six? God, he’s tall for Six. “And this is my daddy.” Oh, wow. Denise didn’t tell me Shepard had another son. “What’s your name?”

  “My name is Coral. It’s so very nice to meet you, VJ.” He giggles at me, and it’s so cute. “I had no idea you had another son.”

  “I’ve got two. Max is inside somewhere.”

  Two? Wow! He and Lynette have been busy. I used to imagine what their babies would look like because I always believed they’d have at least one when they finally realized they were meant to be together.

  “VJ and Max. He looks just like you.” He does, right from his dark hair color to his blue eyes.

  “That’s what my mamma says. Jett and Maxy look like daddy too, huh, Daddy?”

  “That’s right.”

  “She’s sexy, Daddy,” Oh, my god! I’m laughing. This kid is a ladies man already!

  “Oh, my god! He's such a charmer. He is so Jett’s brother!”

  “Someone mention my name?”

  I spin on the spot, eyes wide, smiling excitedly. Jett is coming towards me. He’s fucking huge! He’s bigger than his father. My best friend from across the street.

  I run at him, he catches me around the waist and spins me around. “It’s so good to see you!”

  “And you, short stuff.” He winks and sets me on my feet. Can’t believe he's still calling me that! “How the hell have you been?”

  His eyes slide up and down my body shamelessly. “Tate Jackson, are you seriously checking me out right now?”

  “No one calls me that anymore. It's Jett, and...”

  “Coral? Is that you?”

  Again, I spin on the spot. Another giant of a man stands behind me. I recognize him instantly. “Haiden!”

  “Tank.” Jett laughs from behind me.

  Tank. It suits him. Tank was my other best friend. The three of us had some fun when we were kids. Haiden – Tank – was my first kiss. We were twelve, and it was gross. Felt like I was kissing my brother. So I kissed Jett, same problem. My brothers they were since that day, they took care of me. After what happened to me, my parents moved me away, and I had to leave them behind, it broke my heart.

  “Get the hell over here!” I laugh, and he grabs me, hugs me, and I feel like I’m home. Home with my brothers. “This calls for a celebration!”

  “Bar?” Jett asks. I roll my eyes.

  “Bar.” Tank parrots back. “Get on the back of my bike, girly!”

  Bikers. They’re big bad bikers just like their father’s. I always knew it was coming. I'm proud of them.

  Snakes Henchmen MC Tennessee Charter clubhouse is a place I haven’t set foot in since I was twelve. I never thought I’d be here again. It's changed some in the last few years. It seems bigger, brighter. The building always reminded me of a ski lodge, all wood and open fire, huge bar, big pool table, and lots of friendly faces.

  Sounds crazy, right?

  I mean, these are bikers for Christ’s sake.

  They might have morals, but I never said they weren’t criminals in almost every other sense of the word.

  BlackJack spots me first. He’s sitting by the unlit fire with his wife, Taylor. “Well, look who's here!”

  “Uncle Jack!” I run into his arms, and it feels like I’m twelve years old all over again. God, I love him so much. Both he and Shepard have always meant the world to me.

  That might sound crazy because I was just a little girl when I met them, these big, bad biker’s. Dangerous men who a little girl should’ve been afraid of, but I never was. They loved me and cared for me as my father did.

  BlackJack holds me tightly for a moment before setting me back on my feet. “Look how beautiful you are.”

  “Old flatterer,” I slap his chest with a laugh before turning to Taylor and hugging her too.

  I remember a lot of the guys here, Cueball, Red, Ace, Hammer, Roman, although I remember Roman when he was still a prospect with the club back then. God, he’s filled out. He's also freakin’ gorgeous! Like, fit as. Muscles everywhere, biceps the size of melons, and those to die for green eyes against his tanned skin? He’s hot and then some.

  “Hey there, pretty girl.” He winks at me, and I blush. Literally like some damn teenager with a crush.

  “Hey, handsome.”

  He hugs me, and yeah, he’s crushing me with his massive muscles!

  “Back off, Roman.” Here we go, big brother’s getting all protective. I chuckle at Jett. He literally dragged Roman away from me.

  “Chill out, Jett, I’ve known the girl since she was a kid.”

  “Like that would stop you.”

  “It would actually! I ain’t gonna do anything after what she’s been through.” In laymen’s terms, he wouldn’t touch me with someone else’s after what happened when I was twelve. Doesn’t make a girl feel very good.

  This is the reason I could never tell any man what happened to me. Not one I’d date anyway. Not everyone here knows what happened to me, or at least, I don’t think they do. I hope not. Except for Shepard and BlackJack, the only other members that were around when it happened were Roman and Titus, Tank’s father, whom I heard was killed a few years ago. As far as I know, they’re the only ones who know. However, I can tell Jett and Tank do, too. Great.

  “Drink?”

  “Beer, please,” Jett goes off to get my beer. I kind of feel like the new girl in school, everyone staring, whispering, and now I feel self-conscious.

  My eyes catch the figure sitting at the far table. He’s sitting alone, even though I can tell the two “club whores” near the bar with dreamy eyes looking at him would give anything to be his for the night.

  Even though he’s sitting down, I can tell he’s tall from his frame. He’s b
uilt, not as big as Roman, but then most men aren't. He’s got light brown hair that dances between blonde and brown, stubble on his chin. I can’t tell the color of his eyes from here, but I get a weird feeling just looking at him.

  “Who’s that?” I tip my head toward the guy at the table nursing a half glass of beer.

  Tank answers me, “That’s Stryker. Stay away from him, he’s dangerous.”

  “He’s a biker, be a pretty shit one if he wasn’t dangerous. Aren’t you all?”

  “Touché.”

  “Is he always alone?”

  “He’s a quiet guy. Does what he wants, who he wants, when he wants. Isn’t much for socializing unless it’s called for.” He says nothing more just hands me the beer Jett just brought over. I take a sip from the cold bottle, my eyes still on Stryker.

  Stryker. I wonder how he got that road name and what his real name could be. Why do I even care?

  As if he knew I was watching him, his head turns in my direction, no emotion on his face, and he’s so handsome I think I just creamed my panties. Yeah, he’s that beautifully hot. God help me.

  Chapter Three

  Stryker

  I knew she was watching me. They always do. I saw her walk in with Tank and Jett, and I thought she was with one of them. Then I saw her jumping all over BlackJack and Roman, realized she must be someone to all of them.

  Won’t even pretend she isn’t the hottest thing I’ve seen in a long time. Fucking is fucking, pussy’s pussy. Any man can get it if he really wants it, every man in this place, unattached, is going to try getting in her panties. I can already tell she won’t be an easy one to crack. Good luck to ‘em, they’re gonna need it.

  I can sense her eyes on me. It sends a shiver up my spine. An actual fucking shiver! I turn to look at her, she blushes. She’s hot I’ll give her that. Not my usual type. I like brunettes. This chick is blonde. Long, loosely curled, blonde hair, blue eyes so deep you could swim in them. A body I can see even from here is the perfect mix of curves in all the right places.

  She bites her lower lip, trying to hide the flirty smile on her face as she looks at me. Can’t even help the smirk that creeps across my face. She's beautiful. I could do bad things to her given half a chance.

  She’s flirting with me, toying with her hair and smiling. I’ve never clapped eyes on her before. I wonder where she came from. She must be an old friend of Jett and Tank’s. I don’t do this flirting shit, but I can’t seem to help myself with this gorgeous creature. The mysterious beauty who’s name I don’t even know.

  “Hey, handsome.”

  I roll my eyes and turn to face Jill. I don’t think this woman knows the meaning of the word no. Every damn night she’s here she tries it on with me. I do not, have not, and will not sleep with this whore. Yeah, she’s hot. Brunette, brown eyes, long legs, toned and shining in the light. She’s quite pretty, but she’s been with almost every man in the club more than once, and this is huge. There’s over thirty of us in this chapter alone.

  I’m surprised the girl hasn’t got more diseases than a fuckin’ hospital full of disease-ridden patients!

  “What do you want, Jill?”

  She slinks up beside me, her body too close to mine. “I think you know what I want.”

  “Yeah?” I knock back the rest of my beer, my eyes on hers as she nods with a naughty smirk on her face. “Never gonna happen.”

  “Why do you always say that? I know you want me, all men do.”

  I take her hand from my shoulder and place it on her thigh. I hate being touched at the best of times, but by a whore like Jill? Gives me the fuckin’ creeps!

  “Keep your hands to yourself. Now, fuck off before I break your damn neck!”

  Her eyes widen as she lets go of a shocked gasp. I couldn’t give a fuck how it made her feel. The bitch needs to get the fuckin’ message that I’m not interested!

  “That was a bit harsh, don’t you think?” I don’t have anything against Ghost, he’s a good kid, but he’s one annoying bastard half the time.

  “No, Ghost, I do not think. You go there if you want, but leave me out of it.”

  I walk away from him and out of the clubhouse. I lean back against the wall and light a cigarette, taking a long drag. “Hi,” Comes the sweet voice of the blonde who was eyeing me in the bar.

  How do I know it’s her when I haven’t even looked at her? I don’t know. I feel drawn to her. I just know it’s her, I don’t even need to look.

  “Shouldn’t you be inside with the others?”

  “Just thought I’d come say hello. I’m Coral. It’s nice to meet you, Stryker.”

  Figures she’d know my name.

  I turn my head to look at her while I take another drag of my cigarette. She’s even more beautiful up close. Just looking at her, I get a churning in my stomach. It isn’t normal to have these feelings for a woman I’ve never met before. It’s not just lustful feelings it’s… I don’t even know. I’ve never felt anything like this.

  God, my whole body, feels wound up tight.

  I don’t say anything I just look at her. She smiles while folding her arms around her tight body.

  Goddamn, I can’t stop imaging her out of those damn clothes and naked under me.

  How in the hell is that normal?

  All right, it’s normal for any red-blooded male to imagine a woman out of her clothes, but this is different.

  “You don’t say much, do you?”

  I shrug my shoulders.

  I’m not much of a talker. There’s an awkward silence between us for a few moments. I know she wants me. I’d be a liar if I said I didn’t want her also. God, do I want her right now. My fucking cock certainly does.

  But I won’t go there. The girl doesn’t look like she’s ever slept with a man in her life. She’s too innocent for a man like me. I can’t even believe this girl is hanging around a damn clubhouse full of bikers.

  Does she not know what could happen to her?

  No. No man here would ever force himself on her. Shepard would kill that man then and there if he so much as thought about it. This club isn’t about hurting women. That shit is for lowlives. However, a girl like Coral in a place like this is free for any man to hit on, try to make his.

  Is that what she really wants? Bikers coming on to her left and right?

  But then, I imagine she’s someone special to Jett and Tank. I doubt they would have brought her here if she wasn't. Those two are fuckin’ crazy. If she’s with them, no man will dare look at her too long, or those two will take them out.

  “Well,” She says finally, “I’ll leave you alone. Sorry to have bothered you.” I don’t say anything, and she doesn’t wait for me to either.

  I groan and drop my head back against the wall behind me. That woman is trouble. I can see it now. God, help me.

  “I’m telling you all this only once,” Prez called church this morning. He has a bee in his bonnet about something or other.

  It turns out, Coral is off limits to everyone, and he means everyone. He finds out one of us so much as buys her a drink, and he’ll personally kill us.

  God, knows why he’s so protective of her, but he is.

  “That girl is like a daughter to me,” That explains that. “And I won’t have you motherfuckers so much as lookin’ at her in a way you shouldn’t. I promise you that you don’t wanna know what I’ll do if you go against me on this!”

  “We get it, Prez. No one will touch her.” Red can speak for himself.

  Okay, I would never go against my Prez, but I can’t deny that I’ve done nothing but think about Coral since last night. I’ve never been so hooked on a woman in my life before. I don’t do relationships, they don’t work. It’s all bullshit. I’ve never wanted a woman for anything more than one night.

  So why can’t I get her out of my head?

  Why did I dream about her last night?

  I dreamt about things I’ve never even wanted before.

  I’m losing my fuckin’
mind over a woman; I’ve only said a handful of words to since we met!

  “Stryker!”

  “Yeah?” Shit. I spaced out!

  “What the fuck is on your mind, boy?”

  “Sorry, Prez, just feeling a little out of sorts today. Didn’t sleep much last night.”

  “Dirty dog spent the night fuckin’.” Ace hasn’t got a damn clue. But they can all think what they want. If they think I was fucking the night away with some slut, they won’t catch on to the fact it’s Coral I want. I’m not in the mood to argue about anything right now. I want to get out of here and ride my bike as fast as I can.

  I need to get Coral out of my head before I do something stupid.

  “I don’t give a shit what you got up to last night, but we’re in church, you know to keep your fuckin’ mind on the here and now.” I nod my head. Prez is right. “Every man in this room has agreed to keep it in their pants where Coral is concerned. They’ve sworn to protect her with their lives. Will you give us the same grace?”

  “Aye, Prez.” Of course, I will. That’s a damn given. I swore to protect every woman belonging to this club the moment I was patched in.

  “Good.” He eyes me suspiciously. Never could get anything past Shepard. Just need to stay away from Coral, and everything will be all right.

  Good luck with that, Stryker. That girl will be the death of you. Literally, if you ever touch her.

  Chapter Four

  Coral

  I wish I hadn’t brought her here now, Denise has done nothing but drool over Stryker from the moment we arrived. It’s not like I have a claim over him, the man hasn’t said more than a few words to me since we met last week, but the fact is, I like him. I like him a lot, and I don’t want my friend coming on to him.

  Why?

  In case he likes her too and she’s the one who ends up in his bed.