“As long as we’re all clear.” Axle bared his teeth in a smile that looked like anything but. “I’m gonna check on Reb and make sure we’re ready to ride tonight. I don’t know about you, but I’m in the mood to kick a little ass.”
Axle took off in the direction of Reb’s office, leaving me alone at the bar with Maverick.
Mav snorted into his coffee. “You really know how to make shit complicated, kid.”
“You have no idea.” Between the problems with Amber, our coming meetup with Ruslan, and the threats from both Tank and Axle, my day had taken a nosedive.
“But Tank is full of shit. If I had a daughter, I’d be happier than a two-peckered puppy if you became my son-in-law. I’m proud as can be with how you turned out, Hunter Kincaid. You’ve come a long way from that scrawny, silent teenager who dogged my steps back when you lived in my neighborhood. I watched you handle taking care of your grandma last year while prospecting with the club and holding down a full-time job. You’re just the kinda guy anyone here would want dating their daughter.”
I ducked my head as I felt my face heat. I couldn’t say anything to that. I wasn’t exactly used to people singing my praises. Really, my grandma was the only person in my life who’d seemed to give a shit, and she was gone now. But hearing all that from Mav? I suddenly felt like I could do anything.
Except apparently reply to his compliments.
But Mav didn’t need me to say anything. He tipped his coffee cup at me and continued. “You just gotta decide if she’s worth the aggravation from her family. Because that’s what this is—her family putting their big fucking noses where they don’t belong.” Maverick paused as he looked away with a little laugh. “That reminds me of the time back when I first started dating Sarah. Did I ever tell you about that?”
I shook my head while I walked around the bar to take a seat next to my old friend. Apparently we had some time to kill, so I settled in to hear a story about Maverick hooking up with Sarah back in the day.
Chapter 11
Bam
There was nothing on this earth like riding in a pack of bikes with my Brothers. We roared down the interstate toward Howl in a thundering herd with Reb at point, me in the middle with Axle, Tank, and Maverick, while our road captain, Bumper, took up the rear. Cars and trucks moved out of our way because they knew we owned the road.
My euphoria didn’t last long. Before I knew it, we rolled into the parking lot at Howl, which was unsurprisingly quiet for a Sunday afternoon. My eyes scanned the deserted lot as we parked our bikes next to the front door in a display of ownership. I counted two luxury cars and an SUV that was a dead ringer for the one Ruslan tried to give Amber weeks ago.
I swung off my bike and grabbed Amber’s backpack and my Ruger 9mm from my saddlebag. Setting the tongue jar down on my seat, I checked the magazine and the slide on my handgun then shoved the pistol into the small of my back where I could reach it later if need be. The other guys did the same as we converged on our meeting points. I carried Ruslan’s “gift” in my hands. We’d all been given our assignments back at the clubhouse. Maverick and Bumper took off for the rear exits. The rest of us waited until they were in position, and then we pushed through the front door.
The club was empty and silent as we walked inside. We knew we wouldn’t have the benefit of surprise, since the place was wired with surveillance cameras from the street out front to the parking lot and everywhere inside. So instead of storming the building looking for Ruslan, we stood just inside the entrance doors and waited.
Not even a minute later the doors on the other side of the room opened and two huge guys wearing suits approached.
“We closed.” The guy on the left muttered in heavily accented English. I recognized him from our last visit.
“Like we give a shit,” I retorted. I knew Axle was supposed to be the one to talk, since he’d established a rapport with the Bratva, but I couldn’t stand passively by. It’d been my job to keep Amber safe. “Get Ruslan. Now.”
The chatty guy exchanged a look with his friend before the friend nodded and disappeared through the doors again. I could feel my Brothers shooting me looks, but no one said a word.
After a few moments, the doors slammed open again and Ruslan appeared. “This better be good. We open in two hours. I don’t have time to deal with biker shit right now.”
“Are you fucking kidding me?” The words came out of my mouth before my brain even registered that I was talking. “You send a fucking tongue to our girl, and you think we’re gonna take that shit lying down?” I threw the jar at Ruslan’s feet. Glass shattered as the tongue flopped out and landed inches from his polished dress shoes.
Ruslan’s men jolted at the explosion of glass, but it was the look in Ruslan’s eyes that had my fingers itching to reach for my gun.
“She belongs to you?” Ruslan asked with dead eyes.
“She’s club property.” Axle growled. “Has been since she was born. And we don’t appreciate bastards like you sending her threats. She’s a fucking kid who deserves better than to be dragged into your world. And we’re not leaving here until you get that through your thick head.”
Ruslan crossed his arms over his chest and glared at us. “I didn’t see a ring on her finger.”
“Seriously?” Axle drawled. “You know how shit works in our world. We’ve claimed her. Fuck, we claimed her the day she was born. She’s ours. Back. The hell. Off.”
Ruslan smirked. “She’s not wearing a ring. Seems to me like maybe we should let her decide. We’re not talking about a child here. She’s a woman who can make up her own mind.”
“She did,” I barked. “She came over to my place this morning terrified outta her fucking mind because of the crazy shit you sent her. She doesn’t want to be with you. She’s with me.”
“I seriously doubt that she’d choose you when she could be with me,” Ruslan scoffed. “And she asked for the gifts I sent her. She wanted to know what’d happened to her father’s killer. I can’t help it if you don’t have the goods to keep her satisfied.”
“BACK THE FUCK OFF!” I shouted as I whipped my pistol out from its hiding place and pointed it at that cocky fucker’s head. “She’s my girl. She fucking cried because she’s scared of what you’re gonna do. You did that to her. She’s terrified of you. And if you don’t back the fuck off, it’ll be your brains painting the back wall over there. You get me now, malchik?”
“Whoa, whoa, whoa.” Reb held up his hands as Ruslan’s guards drew their guns in response to mine. “I think we all need to calm down here for a second. It sounds to me like we’ve got a little misunderstanding on our hands.”
“You’re gonna have a little blood on your hands if you don’t calm your boy down.” Ruslan sneered as he kept his hands in his front pockets. “I’m done with your insults and your fucking disrespect. If you punks don’t leave now, it won’t be my brains painting the walls.”
“I think you’re mistaken,” Reb drawled in the coldest voice I’d ever heard him use as I kept my gun trained on Ruslan. “I’m the one done with your fucking disrespect. We’ve asked you to back off, we’ve told you Amber is club property, and Bam here has fucking claimed her in front of you. We’re the ones who are done. You’ve got exactly thirty seconds to call your dogs off and apologize for the fucking disrespect you’ve shown me, or you’re gonna have a goddamn war on your hands.”
Ruslan glared back at Reb, his brow low over his eyes. I held my breath as we waited to see what he’d do next. After five heartbeats, Ruslan gestured for his guys to lower their guns. I kept mine pointed at Ruslan’s forehead.
“Bam,” Reb barked. “Put it away.”
It burned like hell, but like a good little soldier, I dropped my arm to my side, keeping my gun pointed at the floor. And not at Ruslan’s head like I really fucking wanted.
Ruslan tilted his chin.
“It wasn’t my intention to be disrespectful. I know my father values the alliance we have, and I trust that it is still in place.”
Reb jerked his head in a tight nod. “As long you stop harassing Amber. The kid has been through enough over the last year. I don’t want her tied up in this shit. She no longer knows you exist. Got it?”
“You have my word that the harassment toward Ms. Bennett will end.”
I narrowed my eyes over his choice of words. If he didn’t believe he’d been harassing her in the first place…Fuck. Nothing was over with this fucker.
But his contrition seemed to pacify Reb as he nodded again. “Okay. We’re done here.”
I couldn’t believe Reb was eating that line of bullshit. “Reb—”
“We’re done.” Reb barked. “Ruslan, let Ivan know that I’m good for the meet-up on Friday.”
“I will tell him.”
Reb waved a hand and the guys backed out the door. We might have a tenuous alliance, but none of us were stupid enough to turn our backs on those crazy fuckers.
I had a lot to say to Reb, and judging by the looks the guys were giving me, the feeling was mutual.
Axle started toward me. “If you think for a fucking second—”
“Ax.” Reb barked. “Not here.”
Axle sneered. “This can’t fucking wait.”
“The hell it can’t,” Reb retorted. “I’m not standing around here a second longer than we need to. Give Mav and Bump the all-clear. We’ll take care of the rest of our business back at the clubhouse.”
Axle shot me a disgusted glare, but he texted Mav and Bumper that the coast was clear. I could feel the stares of the other guys while we waited. But I didn’t say anything. I just stood there with my arms crossed over my chest. Once the guys came around the side of the building, we got on our bikes and got the hell out of there.
The entire ride back to the clubhouse my mind kept repeating what I’d said to Ruslan in front of the whole fucking executive board of my club. I’d claimed Amber.
Claimed her.
What the fuck was I thinking? I couldn’t really blame it on the heat of the moment because those words had to come from somewhere. Was that really how I felt about her? I mean she was hot. And sweet. And so fucking sassy it made my hands itch. Sometimes I just wanted to grab her and spank her ass until she admitted that she was mine.
What the fuck?
I let off the throttle a little as that last thought floored me. I wanted her. I wanted Amber to be mine.
Before I could wrap my brain around that new revelation, the guys in front of me pulled into the gated parking lot of the clubhouse. I pulled in alongside them, put the kickstand down, then swung off my bike, ready for anything they’d give me.
“Not here.” Reb commanded. “We handle our business inside.”
No one said a word, but Tank and Axle loomed behind me as we silently filed into the clubhouse and followed Reb down the hall to the meeting room. He took a position at the podium alongside Axle and Tank, while I stood in front of them, ignoring the chairs behind us.
I clenched my jaw as I waited for the ax to fall. And I didn’t have to wait long.
Tank didn’t wait for Reb to start. He leaned toward me and pointed a finger. “I said this morning, and I’ll say it again: I don’t know who the fuck you think you are, but you do not fuck with club property. We need to get some shit clear if you wanna keep on wearing that patch.”
“Who keeps their patch isn’t fucking up to you, Tank.” Reb glared menacingly at his friend and board member. “This is my meeting. I’m holding the fucking reins. Back. Off.”
Tank didn’t look away from me or I from him, but he tilted his head slightly and shut his mouth.
“Bam,” Reb barked.
My eyes slid to him.
“Was that all heat-of-the-moment bullshit, or do you intend to claim Amber for yourself?” Reb leaned casually against the podium, but his intense stare belied his laid-back body language.
“I-I think—”
“You think?” Axle laughed harshly. “Are you fucking shitting me? This is serious fucking business. You can’t just fucking think you want her. You gotta know, man. If you think we’re gonna sit here and let you play fast and loose with Amber’s fucking heart—with her goddamn reputation—you’re a dumber fuck than I thought.”
I nodded tightly. He was right. I needed to get my shit together.
Axle opened his mouth to continue, but Reb cut him off.
“We’ll give you a day. Think about what you want. If you wanna claim Amber then, we’ll listen to what you have to say.”
“I don’t care what he has to say,” Tank retorted. “There’s no way he’s good enough to claim my best friend’s little girl. What the fuck are you thinking, Reb?”
“I’m thinking that I’m the goddamn president, and this shit is up to me to handle. We’ll discuss it tomorrow. Everyone’s a little amped up from the fucking Mexican standoff we just had with the Russians. Once we calm down, we can talk about it then.”
“Technically you need three sides for a Mexican standoff,” Maverick cut in like it made a difference. Or anyone cared.
“I don’t give a shit,” Reb all but shouted. “You know what I mean. We’re gonna wait for twenty-fucking-four hours because I said so. Now I’m gonna get me a beer and then find my woman. Meeting adjourned.”
We all stood there silently when Reb stomped off toward the bar. The other guys sent me menacing looks as they tried to intimidate me. Which was kinda hard to do, given that I was inches taller than all of them except Tank and outweighed most by at least twenty pounds.
Tank used his height to his advantage as he loomed over me. “Don’t think this is over, kid.”
“I stopped being a kid long before you knew me, Tank,” I sneered. “I can take whatever you’re willing to dish out. Just let me know the time and place.”
“I think here and now sounds good.”
“Tank!” Reb barked from the doorway. “What the fuck did I say? Goddamn stubborn assholes. Tank, come grab a drink. Bam, maybe you need to go home and think through your options. Because if you’re leaning the way I think you’re leaning, you need to decide if it’s worth all this hassle. If you claim Amber, these aren’t the only people who’ll have an opinion about it.”
Axle gave a harsh howl of laughter. “Fuck me, can I be there when you tell Brittany? I think that’ll be more fun than the beat down I plan on giving you. She has a way of unmanning a man that’ll make your balls crawl back inside your abdomen.”
Gulp. Like I didn’t have enough to worry about as it was.
Maverick clapped a hand on my shoulder. “Life sure has gotten more exciting since you got your patch, Bam. Mafia and tongues and threats to your balls. You sure know how to live.”
I was beginning to have my doubts about that. Shaking my head, I sighed. “I’m gonna head home. Got a lot to think about.”
“I’ll follow you.” Tank smiled menacingly at me. “Sounds like the girl needs a ride home.”
“The woman can decide for herself. She came to me when she was in trouble, and I’ll be the one to take her home when she’s ready. You all need to back the fuck off. We clear?”
“Crystal. Give Amber my best.” Tank muttered. “Let her know Uncle Tank is thinking of her.”
“Me, too,” Axle tossed in.
“Tank,” Reb barked. “Drink. Now. You, too, Axle.”
My teeth ground as I walked out of the building and to my bike. I’d fought like hell for the right to call those guys my Brothers. The fact that most of them were threatening me wasn’t surprising. I’d stepped over a line. A huge line.
But it still pissed me off. They were treating me like a fucking kid. Like I was still a goddamn prospect. I’d bled for the club and earned the right to be called a
fucking Brother.
Strapping my helmet on, my mind turned over the clusterfuck I’d gotten myself into. I’d claimed Amber in front of a Bratva brigadier and my fucking Brothers. I had a hard time understanding what the hell I’d been thinking, but one thing was clear: When someone—anyone—threatened the woman under my protection, I’d go after them until one of us was fucking dead or dying.
Now I just had to tell Amber about the mess I’d made and that she was right in the fucking middle.
Chapter 12
Amber
“Oh my god, I can’t take it anymore,” I groaned as I threw a pillow at the man sitting on the couch next to me. “Give me the remote. Come on, please?”
I tried batting my eyes at Hatchet like a wounded puppy, but judging by the snort he made, it wasn’t as effective as I’d hoped.
“I sat through more than half of Legally Blonde and didn’t say a word. I think you can watch Fight Club with a little less bitching.”
“ ‘Didn’t say a word?’ You ‘didn’t say a word?’ ” My voice rose in volume until I was shouting. “You wouldn’t stop groaning and sighing until I handed over the remote halfway through. It was like watching a movie with a constipated basset hound.”
“And I didn’t say a word. Come on, Amber. That was the most vapid, boring movie I’ve seen in my entire life. If I could, I’d get that hour of my life back. Reese Witherspoon owes me that much.”
“Then write her a letter. I’m sure she’d love to hear from you. But I’d rather you watch Fight Club with your bros because, speaking as someone who got a tongue in a jar delivered to her, I’m over the violence. I can’t watch another bare-knuckle fight and still keep my pizza down.”
“Oh shit!” Hatchet grabbed the remote and turned the channel before handing the remote to me. “I wasn’t thinking. Sorry, babe. Here, you pick something. I swear I’ll keep my grouchy thoughts to myself. I think the second Legally Blonde movie is on HBO.”
All his fumbling kindness made me smile. The guys were actually pretty sweet once you got past their grumpy, macho exteriors.
Rough Ride Page 12
