Running Wild (Hell Ryders MC Book 1)

by J. L. Sheppard

  She sighed heavily, then dressed, intent on heading downstairs to make dinner. Tyler told her she didn’t have to cook for him, but she did. A little she could do to help he wouldn’t fight her on. Not to mention, without a job, it gave her something to do.

  As she headed past the living room, she scanned the area. She always did. She wouldn’t admit it aloud, but she was looking for Jace.

  Since they’d returned from New York, she hadn’t seen him once. As ludicrous as it sounded, it made her think he was avoiding her. She didn’t know why she felt that way, but she did. She’d hoped after he willingly comforted her something had changed between them. Maybe it was just her wanting to get along with the angry biker who wanted nothing to do with her. Maybe it was the inexplicable magnetic attraction she felt. Maybe it was all of the above.

  “Hey, Classy.”

  She turned, spotted Dash behind her, and smiled. “Hey, Dash.”

  He wore his cut, a leather vest with the club’s insignia on it. Tyler recently explained what a cut was. According to Ty, they all had one and wore them. Besides that, they all had tattoos with the insignia, a set of angel wings in flames with a skull in the middle. Under it read, Hell Ryders.

  Dash usually wore his cut without an undershirt, revealing not only his tatted arms, but several other tats on his chest, including the club’s insignia. “You makin’ dinner tonight?”

  “I am.”

  He rubbed his stomach. “Mind makin’ me some?”

  She crossed her arms over her chest. “Getting tired of take-out?”

  He smiled. “Nothin’ like a home-cooked meal.”

  She caught sight of Cuss moving toward her. The first thing she noticed, as usual, were his eyes. Right then, it wasn’t just the sapphire color, but the mischief she read in them. “You cookin’ again?”

  “That was the plan.”

  He grinned, turning on the charm. “Classy, I’ll give you a ride on my bike if you make me some extra.”

  She laughed.

  “She won’t be riding on anyone’s bike.” Tyler’s voice boomed.

  Turning, she spotted him at the end of the hall taking long-legged strides toward them. “It’s okay, Ty. I hadn’t planned on taking him up on his offer, and before you say it, I don’t mind cooking for a house full of bikers.” She faced Cuss and Dash, smiling. “But I’ll warn you, once I find a job, you’ll have to find someone else to make you home-cooked meals.”

  Cuss lifted a brow. “How’s that comin’ along?”

  “Um, well…unfortunately, I haven’t had any luck.”

  “I know the daycare center off of Main Street’s hiring. Don’t know if that’s your thing.” Cuss shrugged.

  Her eyes widened. “Really?”

  “Yeah, know one of the girls there. I can talk to her if you want.”

  It would be a great opportunity. She’d probably love it too. She always wanted to teach and work with kids, but she didn’t have experience. “I don’t have experience.”

  “You gotta record?”

  She shook her head. “No.”

  “Think you’re good then.”

  She smiled. She couldn’t believe her luck. Moments ago, she’d been worried about a job. Now, not only was there a chance she’d get a job, but that job would be something she would enjoy. “If you talk to your friend, I’ll make you dinner every night for a week,” she promised.

  “I’d do it for free, Classy, but I’ll take you up on that offer ’cause you’re a good cook, and I like home-cooked meals.”

  Smiling widely, she wrapped her arms around his waist, hugging him tight. He hesitated, but she didn’t care. She was a hugger, her way of expressing gratitude. “Thank you. Thank you. Thank you,” she whispered.

  He patted her back awkwardly. “Don’t start cryin’ on me.”

  She drew away from the embrace. “I’ll hold my tears, promise.”

  Grinning, he pulled his phone out of his back pocket, then made the call.

  ****

  Allie in another man’s arms, in his brother’s arms. Lucky fucking bastard.

  First time he sees her in days, and she’s hugging Cuss like he just handed her the world. Cuss patted her back like an idiot because he was too stupid to realize he held the world in his arms.

  Damn Cuss. There was something about the brother every woman loved. He couldn’t figure it out, but apparently Allie wasn’t immune.

  She never hugged him, and he’d roughed up her ex. He’d held her when she cried and tried to comfort her.

  Worse, her brother, Army, was standing there chuckling like it was hilarious, like Cuss was worth her.

  And lucky Trig, he witnessed it. It hurt worse than the burning ache he felt every time he looked at her and remembered she’d never be his.

  Trig needed to get the hell out of there before he did something he’d regret, like beat up Cuss or Army or both. He turned toward the wall, punched his fist through it, and walked away.

  Chapter Ten

  Mia took a sip of her drink. Her gaze narrowed on a brunette wearing a leather mini-skirt crop top, and clear stripper heels. The ensemble left little to the imagination. “She comes near my man again, and I’m going to slap the shit out of her.”

  Allie had only endured one Friday night at the compound before, but she’d began to refer to them as Friday Night Fiascos. A full house, everyone drinking, shooting pool, watching TV, listening to music, and trying to get lucky with the numerous half-dressed women strolling around.

  Mia, Lynn, and she sat toward the back of the living room at the bar lined with stools.

  Taking a pull of beer, Allie smiled, then turned her stool slightly to get a good look at the woman Mia referred to.

  “Sweetie, didn’t you see he wasn’t interested,” Lynn asked.

  “Don’t care if he’s interested or not. I don’t want her near him,” Mia sniped.

  Allie grabbed some chips and popped them in her mouth with the intention of hiding her smile.

  Mia and Lynn were two old ladies part of Hell Ryders MC. Mia, a petite brunette with curves and spunk, often called “firecracker,” had been part of the club for five years. Three of those, she’d been married to Stone. He barely spoke, barely moved unless he had to get Mia out of trouble, or so Allie heard. Lynn, a sweet blonde with pretty green eyes and a soft smile, recently married Wild, who never let her out of his sight.

  A week and a half ago, Allie met them. She’d been in the kitchen, keeping her promise to make Cuss dinner, when they’d entered and introduced themselves. Since then, they’d become fast friends. Both women had taken her under their wing, invited her to the mall, dinners, movies, and so on. She confided in them, telling them her brother had the tendency to get up in the middle of the night, leave, and not return for hours. She’d never asked him why, primarily because she didn’t want to butt into his life. He was almost thirty. Mia and Lynn told her it was club business and not to bother asking. He wouldn’t tell.

  “How’s the job?” Lynn asked.

  “I love it,” she said, honestly. “The kids, my co-workers, everything…I love it so much, I feel bad only making seven meals for Cuss. You know he’s the one who got me the job. He knows Tiffany, my co-worker. He talked to her. She called me that same night for an interview. The next day, I was hired on the spot.”

  “You can always make him extra meals. He won’t complain.”

  “I thought about getting him soap to wash his mouth out. He really can’t go an hour without cursing.”

  Lynn and Mia laughed out loud. She did, too.

  Mia took a sip of her drink. “What I really want to know is what’s the deal with you and Trig.”

  Nothing.

  Absolutely nothing.

  Before tonight, she hadn’t seen him for days. The last time had been four days ago, and it had just been a glimpse. She’d seen him heading into his room, two doors away from her brother’s. Before then, she’d seen him striding away after he punched a hole in the wall. Why?
She had no clue. The loud thud of the drywall cracking sounded, and she turned. By then, he’d been toward the end of the hall. Cuss, who’d been on the phone at the time, and Dash hadn’t reacted, as if it happened often. Ty called out his name, but he’d never turned.

  Tonight was the first time since New York she had a good look at him. It didn’t mean she hadn’t thought of him, didn’t mean her attraction had ebbed either. It meant he was avoiding her. The guys talked and when they did, he was mentioned, so she knew Jace hadn’t disappeared. He went to the garage and hung out at the compound with the guys. He just never did it when she was there.

  She sighed. “Nothing.”

  Lynn pressed her lips together. “That was a loaded nothing.”

  Mia smiled. “Is that why every time you sip on your beer he looks this way?”

  Her cheeks heated. “No, he doesn’t.”

  Lynn nodded. “Yeah, he does. I noticed, too.”

  “Maybe because he hates me,” she mumbled under her breath. To their disbelieving looks, she added, “I’m serious. I think he does.”

  Mia lifted a brow. “Why do you think that?”

  “Because…he…I think he’s avoiding me.”

  “Yeah, I’ve kinda noticed,” Lynn said, softly.

  “Exactly, so—”

  “He likes you. No other reason in the world why he’d avoid you,” Mia said.

  Lifting a brow, she asked, “What, are we in middle school?”

  “No, but you’re off limits. He probably thinks it’s better to stay away. You know, so he won’t be tempted.”

  “Um, I think you’re both putting too much thought into this. Besides, if he really liked me, wouldn’t he be trying…” She shrugged. “I don’t know…to be nice or something.”

  Lynn shook her head. “You’re off limits. Him going after you spells trouble between you and your brother, him and your brother, not to mention the club.”

  He avoided her because he liked her? She shook her head, trying to get rid of the thought. That sounded like something women told each other to make each other feel better instead of coming to terms with the fact the guy you crushed on had no interest in you. She wouldn’t say this to them though. “I’m my own woman, and I chose who I date. My brother and the club have no say in it.”

  Mia popped a chip in her mouth. “Know you’re new here, but there are rules. Remember I told you not to bother asking Army what he spends his nights doing?”

  She nodded.

  “This is like that. Army says you’re off limits. Prez agreed, which means, babe, you’re off limits. If Trig tried, he could get kicked out of the club.”

  “What?”

  “It’s as good as written in stone.”

  “But—”

  Lynn leaned in and whispered, “I’m hearing you have feelings for Trig.”

  “I…” Her cheeks flamed, but she denied it. “I don’t.”

  Lynn smiled, her eyes softening, then sipped her drink.

  “Take this piece of advice from me,” Mia said. “You two hit it off, before you announce it to the club make sure it’s solid.”

  Lynn shifted, her gaze went behind Allie. She smiled. “Here come our men.”

  Allie spun and spotted both Wild and Stone headed for them. Time for her to go. “That’s my cue.” She slid off her stool. “See you guys soon.” She smiled at them, then scanned the room. Her gaze gravitated toward the couch, the spot where Jace had been. He was gone. She waved at Dash and Bud, who’d finished downing shots, headed down the hall, and up the stairs toward her room.

  A woman moaned.

  Allie hadn’t meant to look, but unwillingly, she turned her head. The door wide open, so inevitably, she caught sight of them. She stood there seeing, yet unbelieving, frozen with her eyes glued to an image she knew she’d never forget no matter how much she craved to.

  Jace.

  Shirtless sitting up on the edge of his bed, his head angled back, eyes closed, lips parted. A dark-haired woman draped over him, kissing his neck, her legs wrapped around him. Her black leather skirt hiked up to her waist, his hands cupping her bare ass.

  Her heart clenched, squeezing in her chest so hard it hurt. Deep and searing her from the inside out.

  Jesus.

  How it hurt.

  And she didn’t know why.

  He wasn’t hers. He was a biker who couldn’t stand her. Single, free to screw however many scantily dressed women he wanted.

  Her brother warned her bikers did it often, and still somewhere deep inside, she held hope Jace was different. He wasn’t just a biker, he was the man who took his niece to dinner weekly, the man who’d roughed up her ex-fiancé, then held her while she cried.

  It was more than that, too. She wanted to believe the man who affected her in a way no other man ever had, the man in whose arms she’d felt safe couldn’t be anything like her brother described.

  She hoped, a fruitless emotion, she knew now firsthand. In one, single, earth-shattering moment with a mere glimpse, her hope crashed and burned.

  Her eyes brimmed with tears, helpless, hopeless, stupid tears she couldn’t hold back.

  He tensed, lifted his head, then his lids opened, and his dark eyes met hers. They widened briefly. For a second, she glimpsed something inside them, something she couldn’t quite put into words that somehow mirrored what she felt stirring inside.

  He had no right to show her, and she couldn’t stand to see it, so she did what she should’ve done long before. She walked in the opposite direction of her room. With each step, her chest tightened so much she couldn’t breathe. Bolting downstairs, she passed the living room, down the hall, and then into the garage and outside.

  The cool air hit her face, arms, and legs. She took a deep breath. It did nothing to soothe the searing ache inside her chest. She needed to forget, erase the image from her mind, but it would be as fruitless and worthless as the hope she’d held.

  She strode toward her brother’s SUV and leaned against the side of it. Only then, did she let herself blink. Tears drifted out of her eyes and cascaded down her cheeks. She was a bigger idiot than she’d thought, crying for a man who’d never been hers.

  “Babe?”

  Frantically, she wiped her face, turned, and spotted the last person she’d wanted to see. No, the second to last. Just her luck, though she could argue she’d been lucky to have gone weeks without seeing him.

  “Ripper.” He stood six feet away. His gaze on her face, instead of sizing her like a piece of meat.

  “Saw something you shouldn’t have seen. Didn’t Army warn you?”

  How the hell did he know? She held his gaze, not speaking.

  “I’ll take that as a no.” He shrugged. “It’s club life, babe. Not every woman’s like you. Some like bikers. Some like a lot of them. Some take whichever they can get their hands on. Some like others to watch and join in, so closing doors is optional.”

  Endless supply of sexually liberated women who wanted to be banged by multiple bikers a night? Yeah, Tyler should’ve mentioned it, especially given their open door policy. She would’ve been more careful. Had it been anyone else, she could’ve handled it. She just couldn’t handle seeing Jace with another woman. Her own fault.

  “See what I said is a surprise to you, babe, but that’s life here.” He took a step in her direction. “Think it’s more, too. You wouldn’t be out here in the dark cryin’ unless you saw someone you cared about…” He leaned in to whisper. “And I don’t mean your brother.”

  Shit. He read right through her. She swallowed.

  “Know Army warned you ‘bout us. Hell, if you were my sister, I wouldn’t let you near this place.” He nodded toward the garage. “Think you learned your lesson?”

  “My lesson?”

  “Don’t fall for bad boys.”

  Fall? As in love? No, she barely knew Jace. Still, Ripper made a valid point. She let her attraction sway her, make her believe Jace was different.

  “Is this you being
nice?”

  “I’m not nice. I’m a dick. Knew you were Army’s sister, and hit on you to make you uncomfortable and piss off your brother.”

  Her eyes widened. “Why?”

  “Told you, ’cause I’m a dick.”

  He’d been a dick then, but he wasn’t a dick. A dick wouldn’t go out of his way to talk to an emotional woman and warn her about bikers. Behind those dead eyes, there was a good man. No way in hell she’d tell him though.

  “Besides, needed to break you in.”

  “What?”

  “Classy girl like you, I needed to see how you’d handle it.”

  “A test? Did I pass?”

  He smiled. “Yeah, babe, you passed.”

  She chuckled, thinking it ironic how she’d made friends with the biker she’d avoided for weeks on the day she decided to get her own place.

  Tyler wouldn’t be happy, considering she agreed to stay with him until he finished remodeling his house, but now, she had no choice.

  ****

  Allie.

  Allie sat on his lap, her legs wrapped around his waist, her dark hair fanning his chest. The smell of her perfume around him, he cupped her ass. She pressed her lips to his neck and buried her hands in his hair.

  Allie.

  She moaned. No. Not Allie. A poor replacement because he couldn’t have the woman he wanted.

  Fuck.

  He needed to forget Allie. Staying away from her hadn’t helped, so he was being a guy, getting some tap who wasn’t her in hopes he’d forget. It just wasn’t working.

  One look at the red-stained lips, leather mini skirt, and corset, and it hit him he wanted Allie, and he couldn’t have her. All the taps dressed the same, wore the same lipstick, and said the same shit, too. None of them managed to turn him on wearing jeans, a blouse, and sandals because none of them were Allie.