by L. Wilder
Cotton looked over to me and asked, “Can you tell us anything about these men you saw? Were they wearing cuts, or did any of them have tattoos?”
“They weren’t wearing any leather, but one of them had a huge tattoo going down the length of his arm. I couldn’t really make it out… a snake maybe? He had a long, dark beard and several piercings… a big dude, but not like you. He was just fat. The other one was tall and skinny and had his hair greased back. Kind of slimy looking. And he had the same tattoo on his arm, along with another weird one on his cheek, just below his right eye. A tear or a star? I couldn’t really tell. The guy talking had a slight accent. He didn’t sound like he was from around here.” My knees began to quiver involuntarily as I remembered how those men looked at me with rage in their eyes.
“Do you think you’d be able to recognize them if you saw them again?” Maverick questioned.
“I think so. They’re pretty much burned into my memory.”
“Were these the same men you saw by your car?” Cotton asked as he reached in his pocket for his cigarettes. His eyes never left mine as he brought one up to his mouth and lit it. He took a long drag, taking it deep into his lungs. The smoke slowly rolled through his lips as he exhaled, waiting for me to speak.
“No. Those guys were different, so it was probably nothing, just a coincidence,” I explained. “I’m sure I just overreacted when I saw them at my car. I bet they were just after my laptop.”
Maverick looked over to me and said, “There are no coincidences, Henley. Clutch found a tracking device hidden in the undercarriage of your car. It was there for a reason,” he said firmly. Cold chills went down my spine as I thought about them hunting me down.
“We’re going to keep you here for a while, so we can keep an eye on you. Make sure nothing happens to you,” Maverick said.
“I really appreciate that, but I think I’ll be fine. That’s really not necessary. I’m sure that…” I started.
“It’s not up for debate, Henley. As Sergeant at Arms, it’s Maverick’s job to protect the club and anyone tied to it. You are staying here, under his watch,” Cotton demanded.
“Um… okay?” I agreed hesitantly. It was official. I was totally, utterly screwed.
Chapter 7
Maverick
“How do you think it went? Do you think she has anything we can use?” Guardrail asked me.
“Yeah, but she was still pretty rattled. Hopefully, more will come to her later,” I explained.
“You know she’s under your watch until we get our hands on these motherfuckers. She’s the only link we have to Skidrow’s murder,” he said, taking a drink from his beer.
The bar was quiet behind us. The news of Skid’s death was hitting us all hard. It was always tough when we lost one of our own, but not knowing who killed Skid was only making it worse. His murder had blindsided us. The need for revenge filled the air, making us all on edge.
“I won’t let anything happen to her,” I assured him. As the new Sergeant at Arms, I knew her safety would fall to my hands. That didn’t mean I was happy about it.
“That’s all I needed to hear,” he said as he stood up. “I need to go see about Dallas.”
Just hearing Dallas’ name made my chest tighten. The news of Skidrow’s murder had just about broken her. They’d been together for as long as I could remember, and everyone knew they had something special. Skid was crazy about Dallas. Hell, he couldn’t keep his damn hands off of her. He was always holding her and kissing her, every chance he got. He spent his life showing her what she meant to him, and he never once thought about straying. When their son Dusty was born with Down’s syndrome, they never skipped a beat. They loved both of their children, and their love for them seemed to make their relationship stronger, bringing them closer together. Skidrow brought them to the club several times a week, sharing his life with his children in every way possible. We all had a special place in our hearts for Dusty. There was something about seeing the world through his eyes that always brought a smile to our faces. He’s a great kid, and I knew he was going to be devastated by his father’s death. We’re all going to have to do our part to make sure he never forgets how much his dad loved him.
“Allie’s been with Dallas all afternoon trying to help her out,” Guardrail explained. Allie was his old lady. They met when Guardrail set out to find her brother, Tony. Guardrail’s plan was to use Allie to get to her brother, but he never thought he’d actually fall for her. He did, nonetheless, and Allie is the best thing that ever happened to him.
“Dusty doing ok?” I asked.
“I don’t think she’s even told him yet. She still needs some time to wrap her head around all of this. Hell, we all do,” he answered.
“No doubt about that.”
“Call me if anything comes up. I’ll be back later tonight to check on things.”
“No need for that. I’ve got it. I’ll call you if we need you,” I told him.
“Thanks,” he said as he crossed his arms. “Maverick?”
“Yeah?”
“Henley isn’t like the girls around here, and being at the club full time is going to be different for her,” he said.
“And?”
“Just give her a chance to get accustomed to it. You know, try being… nice,” he said. He turned and walked away before I had a chance to say anything in response. One of those slow, depressing country songs blared from the jukebox as I grabbed my beer and finished it off. I was sitting the empty bottle down on the counter when Cassidy walked in with Henley. Cassidy’s lips moved a mile a minute as she rambled on and on in Henley’s ear, but I could tell from the expression on Henley’s face that she wasn’t really listening to a word Cass said. I’d seen Henley a couple of times when she came around the club with Cass, but never really made an effort to talk to her. Never really felt the need. She wasn’t my type, if I even had a type. But now I was stuck with her until this mess got settled. Henley looked over in my direction and seemed to be caught off-guard when she noticed me looking at her. She held my gaze for a moment, captivating me with a soul-searching stare. I was almost disappointed when she turned away.
I watched as she nervously ran her fingers through her long bangs as she unsuccessfully tried to tuck them behind her ear. Cassidy continued to talk as Henley’s dark eyes anxiously skirted around the room. Unlike her sister, she wasn’t wearing much make-up, but then again, with her olive skin, she really didn’t need it. She was a natural beauty. When Cassidy pointed across the room to Boozer, Henley’s full lips curved into a smile as she held up her hand and gave him a bashful wave. Her cheeks turned crimson as she quickly dropped her hand to her side and began to fiddle with the hem of her vintage t-shirt. It was obvious she wasn’t exactly comfortable being here, but she would have to realize that we were here to keep her safe. Nothing else really mattered.
My attention was still focused on Henley when Cooter, one of our prospects, sat down beside me. He let out a deep sigh when his phone chimed with a text message. He grabbed it out of his back pocket and read it, cursing under his breath.
“Damn it. I can’t catch a break with her. I mean,” he whined. “I love her and all, but fuck.”
When I looked over to him, he took it as an invitation to continue with whatever was on his mind.
“I’ve done everything she’s asked me to do, and she’s still bitching at me. I’ve just about decided that you can’t make a woman happy,” he started as he motioned over to Cassidy for a beer. “She’s always on my case about something. It doesn’t matter what I do, it’s never enough.” He stopped long enough to take a drink from his beer before he continued. “I just can’t get away from it. You know? Every time I turn around, she’s calling to ask me… Are you okay? When are you going to be home? It never ends. You’d think she’d finally just give it a rest, but nooo! She just keeps at it. And it’s even worse when I’m home. When are you going to do this? When are you going to do that? Man, it just goes on and on.”
I looked down at my empty beer and wondered how the hell I got stuck listening to him ramble on like this. I raised my empty beer bottle and waved it in the air, letting Cassidy know I needed another one. When she placed my cold beer on the counter, I noticed Henley walking over to the back of the bar. As I watched her, I realized she was taller than I’d remembered, and I found myself wondering what she was hiding under that old t-shirt. I imagined her having one of those athletic builds some girls have without even really trying. She didn’t seem like the kind of girl who was into sports as she walked over toward our old Pac Man Arcade game. We’d pulled the damn thing out of some rundown bar downtown, and I hadn’t seen anyone even play it since we installed the thing.
“I’ve done everything she’s asked. Hell, I painted her damn bathroom three fucking times before she was happy with it,” he carried on, completely oblivious to the fact that I couldn’t care less what he was talking about. He took another tug of his beer before he continued, “At least she can cook. Man, she makes the best lasagna you ever put in your mouth. Never found anyone who could make it like hers.”
I tried to tune him out as I watched Henley start up the game. When she took the knob in her hand and leaned closer to the screen, her faded blue jean shorts rose slightly, showing off her sexy, long, tan legs. My eyes were zeroed in on her hips swaying from side to side when Cooter’s voice pulled me back into his rant.
“You just can’t find a good Italian woman like her anymore. She’s one of a kind. I guess that’s why I put up with all of her shit. We only get one momma, right? What’s a man supposed to do? You know?”
Realizing for the first time that he was actually talking about his mother pissed me the fuck off. “I wouldn’t know. My mother died when I was a kid. I’d say you’re lucky to have her,” I told him as I turned my head away from him, ignoring whatever he mumbled under his breath. Out of the corner of my eye, I noticed Henley jumping up and down. Her hips jerked from side-to-side as she pumped her fists in the air, obviously celebrating her win over the game. Watching her made me feel lighter somehow, an unlikely diversion from the darkness that usually consumed me. After several seconds of prancing around in the corner, she suddenly stopped and slowly turned her head, peering around the room. Her lips pressed together as she checked to see if anyone had seen her little victory dance. When her eyes locked on mine, she bit her bottom lip. Her mouth slowly curved into a bashful smile as she shrugged her shoulders, acknowledging that she knew I’d seen her. I turned my head and looked away in disbelief.
I sat there for a moment, trying to clear my head, but I couldn’t stop myself. I don’t know what exactly triggered it… maybe it was that goofy little dance or her adorable smile, but she’d just done something no one has been able to do in months. Henley Gray just made me smile. Fuck.
Chapter 8
Henley
What was it about those green eyes that captivated me? It just didn’t make any sense. Of course, he was absurdly good-looking, with his shaggy brown hair and perfect body, but it was more than that. When I looked at him, I saw something I just couldn’t explain, and it made me want to know more about him. I wanted to know the demons he was fighting… why there was such hurt hidden behind those beautiful, emerald eyes.
“Would you like a beer or something?” Boozer asked me, being a gentleman as always.
“No thanks. I’m good.”
“How about a game of pool?”
“Trust me… you don’t want to play pool with me. I’m beyond terrible. It would be like Chinese torture to play against me. Besides, it’s been a really long day. I think I’m just going to go crash for the night.” I could see the disappointment cross his handsome face when I turned him down. I would’ve suggested playing a game of darts, but I was exhausted. I just wanted to crawl into bed and forget this day ever happened.
“Maybe some other time, then,” he said with a kind smile. “Just let me know if you need anything.”
“Thanks, Boozer. I really appreciate it.” I patted him on the arm and headed over to tell Cassidy that I was going to bed. She was clearing the empty bottles off the countertop as she talked to a couple of the guys sitting at the bar.
“How’s it going, Lee Bug? Haven’t seen much of you tonight. You making out okay?” she asked as she busied herself behind the bar.
“Yep. Hanging in.”
“Good. Sorry I haven’t been able to spend more time with you. I’ve been swamped over here. Ellie couldn’t make it in tonight, so it’s just been me all night.”
“Cass, I’m fine. You don’t have to worry about me,” I assured her.
“Can’t help myself. You’ve been through a lot today,” she said with concern. “I still can’t get it out of my head. Those guys could have…”
“Don’t. Nothing happened. Nothing is going to happen to me. I think it’s silly that I am even here. I should be home, waiting on my final grades to come in, not hanging out here with the Hell’s Angels.”
“Henley, don’t say shit like that! You know better than to disrespect these men, especially in their own damn clubhouse. You need them right now. They’re the only ones who can keep you safe, and you need to appreciate their…”
I held up my hands in surrender and said, “You’re right. You’re right. I’m a jerk. I’m sorry. I’m just tired. It’s been a hell of a day, and I just need to get some sleep.”
“Cotton had a couple of the prospects bring your stuff over from the apartment. I gave them the list of things you wanted, and they set up everything in your room.”
“Wow. Well, that was nice of them. I’ll be sure to thank them tomorrow,” I promised.
“And you should know…” she started, but paused to look around the bar before she continued. “I wasn’t going to say anything, but someone broke into our apartment. When the guys got there, the entire place had been ransacked.”
“What the hell? Who would have done something like that?” I knew the answer before the question ever left my lips.
“They didn’t say for sure, but I’m positive it was the guys that broke into your car.”
“What were they expecting to find in our apartment?” I asked as my heart began to pound nervously against my chest.
“You… or at least something that could lead them to you. Whoever these guys are, they seem pretty intent on finding you, so that’s why Cotton put Maverick in charge of watching over you.”
It was hard enough being here like this, but I definitely didn’t need Mr. Green Eyes watching my every move. He was always so damn serious with his blank stare and grim expression. It was like someone had just killed his dog or something. I don’t think I’d ever even seen the man smile, and now he was going to be watching over me. Crap on a cracker. Just being in the same room with him made me feel all awkward and nervous, and it made my palms sweaty just thinking about it.
“It’s his job, Henley. He’ll make sure nothing happens to you,” she replied.
“I will do what they tell me to do. But I don’t need a freaking babysitter, Cassidy. Especially not him.”
“Maverick will do whatever it takes to keep you safe. That’s all that matters. Even if you don’t like it, you’re going to have to make this thing work. It’s not going to be easy for either of you. You’re just going to have to make the best of it,” she said as she started restocking the bar’s coolers.
“Damn it all to hell,” I told her as I rolled my eyes. “Why did I ever leave the house? I should’ve just gone to bed and none of this would have ever happened. I wouldn’t have to deal with Mr. Grouch.”
“Henley, just do what he says. He takes club business very seriously, and it’ll only piss him off if you don’t do what he tells you,” she warned.
“Yeah… well, I’ll do what I can to not piss him off. Alright?” I said sarcastically. “I’m going to bed, mom. I’ll see you in the morning.”
As I started to walk out of the bar, I looked over at Maverick. He was sitting alone, drin
king another shot of whiskey. His elbows were stretched across the countertop as he stared into the empty shot glass. A part of me wanted to go to him… ask him what was bothering him, but I couldn’t get the courage to do it, so I just left.
I still didn’t know my way around the entire clubhouse. When Cassidy told me where my room was, I thought I knew exactly where she was talking about. I was wrong. This place was like a maze with all the doors and hallways, but after asking three different guys for help, I finally managed to find my room. When I opened the door, I was pleased to see that Cassidy was right. The guys managed to get everything I asked for and more. One of them even brought my favorite blanket from my bedroom. I took off my clothes and put on my favorite Game of Thrones t-shirt. When I crawled into bed, I was relieved to see that they even remembered to get the pillows off of my bed. I’m a little obsessed with them and knew I wouldn’t be able to sleep without them.
“Henley?” a man’s voice called with a pounding knock on my door.
“Hold on,” I answered as I got up from the bed and walked toward the door. When I opened it, Maverick was standing there with his overpowering presence and his beautiful, green eyes glaring straight at me. He didn’t say a word as his eyes dropped down, reading the words on my t-shirt or possibly checking out my boobs. I really couldn’t tell.
I cleared my throat, trying to draw his attention back to my face, and asked, “Did you need something?”
His eyes slowly meandered down my body, roaming over my bare legs. My feet shifted nervously as he continued to stand there, blatantly staring at me. His intense gaze burned against my flesh, making me pull at the hem of my long t-shirt. With a deep sigh, he ran his fingers roughly through his hair, and my eyes instantly zoned in on his waist. His faded blue jeans dropped low around his hips and with his arm lifted, it gave me a peek of his abdomen. My eyes widened when I noticed he had a very pronounced, very sexy V. Damn, I did not need to see that.
