by Sophia Gray
A new fear tingled her spine. What if Lucas expected something like that from her? She’d never done more than give a kiss to her date in public. She couldn’t imagine doing something so intimate, so private, in front of the large group in the lounge.
As if sensing her worry, Lucas’s arm wrapped around her waist and pulled her close to him. “You’re gonna make yourself puke if you keep worrying like you are. This is a safe place, babe. Nothing will hurt you here.” He pressed a quick kiss to her temple just as two large men walked up to them. The baldheaded one she recognized. He’d been the one she thought was getting head at the bar. She looked past him, back to the corner, where a woman stood running her fingers over her bottom lip and glaring in her direction.
“Finally! Been waiting all night for you to show!” The baldheaded guy slapped Lucas on the shoulder and turned to Josephine. “You must be Josephine.” He gave her a handsome grin, one that mirrored but did not match up to Lucas’s, and gave her a little bow.
She tried to smile, but she could feel the woman’s glare harden on her. Her eyes went back over to the corner, where the short woman still stared at them. “Nice to meet you, uh…”
“Cutter.” His white teeth flashed as his smiled grew larger.
“Let go of her, Cutter,” Lucas growled when he didn’t let go of Josephine’s hand. He gave her a wink then dropped her hand, turning his attention back to Lucas. “What’s up with Cherry?” Lucas asked, nodding to the woman still giving Josephine an eerie feeling.
“Cherry? Nothing.” Cutter shrugged.
“I thought you agreed not to let her work the room.”
“She’s not working the room,” Cutter bit back. “She’s with me.”
“What do you mean she’s with you?” Lucas’s grip intensified around her waist. Who was this woman, and why would Lucas care who she was with?
“I mean, I’m taking care of her. Don’t worry, we’ll talk later.” Cutter gave Josephine a quick glance then turned to the guys standing next to him. Nearly as tall but not as built, the long-haired man stared at Josephine. “Jameson, you gonna say something or just keep staring all night?” Cutter slapped the man on his chest and laughed.
“Oh. Hi.” He found a smile and Josephine grinned back. He was clearly uncomfortable.
“Hi. Uh, Jameson, is it?”
“Brick. My real name is Brick. These assholes just call me Jameson. It’s a nickname.”
“Hey! Language!” Cutter smacked him again, and Jameson muttered an apology.
“Oh, don’t worry. Lucas curses all the time.” She laughed, and Lucas’s arm got even tighter. She laughed harder. “Well, you do.”
“Hi, Lucas.” The woman who’d been tucked away glaring at them appeared next to Cutter, wrapping her arms around him and pressing her face to his chest as she gave her greeting. Josephine could feel the tension seep into Lucas’s body at her appearance.
“Hey, Cherry.” Josephine watched his expression to gauge his thoughts. His jaw tightened, that little tick in his cheek she’d seen before when he was getting irritated. Maybe Cherry was his ex-girlfriend. Or his current that he gave up because Josephine had gotten pregnant.
“You haven’t been around lately.” Cherry turned her gaze on Josephine. “This why?” She thrust her chin in Josephine’s direction.
“Hey. That’s no way to talk to Lucas’s old lady.” Cutter moved his hand so quick, Josephine didn’t have time to guess what he was about, until his hand connected harshly with Cherry’s ass. She yelped at the force of his smack but didn’t seem otherwise affected by it. “This is Josephine.” He pointed to her. “Josephine, this is my girl, Cherry.”
“Your girl?” Lucas huffed.
“Does that bother you, Lucas?” The hope in Cherry’s voice and her eyes tore at Josephine. The girl obviously had a thing for Lucas. And although Lucas didn’t seem to have an attraction for her, he didn’t like her being attached to Cutter.
“Nah.” Lucas let go of Josephine, the chill of the room settling around her where his arm had been. “Just making sure I heard him right. ’Bout time you got yourself a guy.” Lucas turned kind eyes on the girl, and Josephine wondered even more what his connection to her was. She’d have to wait to ask, as it seemed Cutter had no intention of going away. Instead, he called over to the bartender, a younger-looking man with Prospect clearly labeled on his kutte, for a round of drinks.
“Coke for me, please,” Josephine told Cutter, who then looked at Lucas.
“Caffeine free.” Lucas gave a nod.
“I can have some caffeine,” Josephine interrupted when Lucas and Cutter started to talk again.
“No, you already had a coffee and a cup of tea today. No more.”
Her cheeks heated. She was a grown woman, and she could have caffeine if she wanted to. Deciding it best not to start an argument among his friends, she would put it aside for when they got home, then she’d tell him all about how his overhanded ways made her feel. Telling her she couldn’t have a regular Coke like she was some child wasn’t going to fly.
“They get a little protective once they claim a girl,” Cherry said, patting Cutter’s chest, then releasing him.
“Claim a girl?” Josephine gave Lucas a side-glance, found him busy talking with Cutter and Jameson, then turned back to Cherry, easing them away from the guys. “Like how you’re Cutter’s girl?”
“Yeah. It’s just their way. But Lucas, he’s a good one.” Josephine noted the sadness in her tone. The venom she’d been sporting earlier dissipated.
“Were you and him, I mean, is he—”
Cherry placed a hand on her shoulder and smiled softly. “We were never serious. Nothing really.”
“Cutter?”
“He’s a good one, too. A bit bossier than Lucas, though.” She rubbed her ass where his hand had smacked her and laughed. “But it’s kind of hot,” she whispered. “Come on, let’s go get a drink—full caffeine. I won’t tell if you won’t.” She linked her arm through Josephine’s and pulled her toward the bar.
The crowd simply cleared a path for them when they reached it. “Lucas will introduce you to everyone tonight, but they already know who you are.” Cherry did some quick introductions of the prospects serving the bar then ordered them their drinks. “So, how far along are you?” she asked.
Josephine touched her belly. “Am I showing that much?”
“No. You look great, but like I said, everyone already knows everything.” Her smile slipped a little. “Everyone loves Lucas, and they trust him with their lives. So, if he’s got someone attached to him, and she’s carrying his baby, everyone is gonna know about it.”
Josephine wasn’t sure how to take that, or Cherry for that matter. She wasn’t even sure what she thought of the entire club. Eyes were on her every time she looked around. She wasn’t sure who was more curious, her about them or them about her. It was almost comical. Before she could ask Cherry anything more, the doors to the lounge burst open and two men ran inside, panting.
“Oh, shit.” Cherry’s smile slipped away, and Josephine looked from her to Lucas. His jaw tensed, and he hurried over to the two men. He didn’t look happy.
# # #
Of course, Tweedle Dee and Tweedle Dumb had to rush into the lounge like their asses were on fire the first fucking time Lucas brought Josephine to the clubhouse. There was no mistaking how nervous she’d been to venture into the compound, and now he had these two acting like hell was about to break loose.
Getting to them first, Cutter grabbed Bear by the scruff of his neck, pulling him to stand up straighter. “What the fuck is wrong with you?” He gave the younger guy a shake.
“Clay is at the front gate.” Bear yanked himself out of Cutter’s grasp and straightened his shirt. “He’s demanding to talk with Joe.”
“We aren’t having this meeting now.” Lucas shook his head. Why would the VP of the Iron Rebels be standing at their front door? And he sure as fuck didn’t have any right to demand a damn thing. “Y
ou tell him we’ll reach out when we’re ready.”
“He said either we open the doors or he walks through them, either way.” Bear looked around at the crowd starting to build behind his captains.
“Fuck.” Cutter looked around. “Where’s Joe? He was supposed to be here tonight.”
“I’m here.” The low voice of their president was followed by his appearance. “What’s all the commotion?” Turning back to the room, he waved his hands. “Get back to your beer and your women,” he shouted, and for the most part, everyone did. Lucas caught a quick glance of Josephine sitting with Cherry, watching them with wide eyes. He smiled, gesturing with his hands that everything was fine, at least for the moment. She nodded back at him, but she didn’t look overly convinced. Smart girl, he wasn’t either.
“How many are with him?” Joe pulled his jeans up. He’d been losing more weight recently; even the belt around his waist didn’t help keep his pants from falling down anymore.
“Two prospects it looks like.”
“Fine. Walk his ass up here. I’ll see him in my office. Cutter, you and Lucas will stay in the hall with whoever the fuck he brought. Outside the office.”
“You sure, Joe?” Cutter stepped forward, only to be rewarded with a hard glare.
“I may have seen better days, but I am still the fucking president of this club.” Joe stifled a cough after his loud boast, and Cutter was smart enough to step back a bit and give him room. Joe jerked a finger at Bear, sending him scurrying back out, and headed toward his office.
Lucas signaled to Josephine to stay put and followed his president. Out of the corner of his eye, he noticed Cutter signal to Cherry, as well. “You two really a thing now?” he asked, only half curious.
Cutter shrugged and gave a nod. “You were right. She’s not a bad girl, just a little lost is all. Needs a firm hand.”
Lucas knew what he meant and almost felt sorry for Cherry. She was just a girl really, not much true life experience outside of the club. She’d come to them barely out of high school. Hell, Lucas wasn’t even sure what she did for work. Whenever he was at the club, she just seemed to be there.
“Yeah, I saw how you kept her in line when we walked in.”
“What? That blowjob? The girl is a freak for that shit. She loves when the guys see her doing it. That’s probably why she was always jumping your ass when the guys were around. The whole exhibitionist shit turns her on. That little blowjob was all her idea.” Cutter gave a confident grin. “She was a good girl today, so I let her have her fun. Got herself signed up for school.”
Lucas raised his eyebrows. “School?”
“Yeah. She signed up for some court-reporting program at the junior college in town. Twelve months of school then she takes a test.”
“You really do give a shit about her. Hell, last we talked you wanted to send her out back to the house.”
“Yeah.” Cutter rubbed the back of his neck. “That was stupid. When I talked to her, I realized I didn’t like that option too much. Then when you hooked up with Josephine, and Cherry finally got the clue that you were taken, she was different. Started talking to me, like with real conversations. I’m not sure where this is all going, but she’s calmed down. Not one word of being an old lady or hooking up with anyone else. Even when I told her she was mine, she didn’t argue or roll her eyes. She just smiled and said she’d like that.” Cutter laughed.
“She’d like that?”
“Yeah, like I’d asked her out to lunch or something. Anyway, it’s working so far.” He shrugged, then pointed down the hall were Bear showed up with Clay and two of his guys walking behind him.
“He in there?” Clay pointed to the door Cutter and Lucas were standing in front of.
“Yeah, he’s waiting for you. We’ll be waiting out here.” Cutter reached behind him and turned the doorknob, pushing the door open.
Clay nodded to both captains before walking into the office and greeting their president. Cutter shut the door once he got the okay from Joe and leaned against it. “Scamper off.” He waved at Bear, who did just that. A prospect would be stupid to open his mouth once given a direct order to leave.
“What do you think the prick wants?”
“We’ll find out as soon as they talk.” Lucas stuffed his hands into his jeans and leaned against the wall across from Cutter.
“So, you gonna marry that girl?” Cutter asked after several moments passed in silence.
“Marry? I could barely get her in here tonight. She needs more time. With her mom being so sick and the baby, she’s pressed too thin with stress. I’m not laying that on her. Yet.”
“So, you will, just not now. Good.” Cutter nodded, like he approved.
“What’s it matter? We don’t have to get married for her to be my old lady or for her to have my kid.”
“No, but it helps. Family is important. Making her your wife, making that kid legit—that’s the right move.”
“You saying my kid won’t be legitimate if I don’t marry her?” What the fuck did that mean? How many of their brothers didn’t have parents who were married? Some of them didn’t even know who the fuck their dads were.
“No, I mean, well, technically, yeah, but I mean, it won’t matter to any of us. He’s your son.”
“Or my daughter.” Lucas grinned. He hadn’t really considered having a daughter until that moment. “Shit.” His smile quickly dropped at the image of having a little girl.
Cutter laughed. “Don’t worry. If it’s a girl, she’ll have the whole club looking out for her.”
“That’s part of my worry,” Lucas admitted. Cherry was someone’s daughter, and look how he’d treated her—letting her blow him in the lounge or wherever the fuck she offered. He’d taken her to bed over and over again without any regard for her feelings. He told himself she knew what she was getting into with him. He’d been upfront that he wasn’t into relationships, but he couldn’t blame her for trying. Shit, Josephine wasn’t even interested in one either, and look what happened with them. “You take care of Cherry. Do you hear me?” Lucas stepped across the hall, getting closer into Cutter’s space than he normally would. But it was important. “You don’t treat her like a whore. No more public service.”
“Fuck, Lucas.” Cutter pushed off the door and straightened to his full height. “I told you that was her idea; she fucking loves it. I’ll take care of my girl how I see fit, and you do the same.”
“She’s not a whore.”
“I know that! What’s gotten into you?”
Lucas sighed and dragged his hand through his hair again, stepping back. “Fuck. I don’t know. I just…I treated her like shit. She doesn’t deserve it. She’s a good kid.”
“She’s not a kid either. Did you know she’s twenty-two? I kept thinking she was barely legal, and there she was, fully aged and ready.”
The door behind Cutter opened before Lucas could comment. Clay stepped out into the hall alone. Joe still sat at his desk, chin in hand, thinking. “Hey, rumor has it you’re gonna be a daddy.”
Clay cracked a smile as he maneuvered his way past Lucas and Cutter. “Let’s hope your president makes some good choices so your bastard won’t grow up without you.”
Lucas’s initial reaction would have been to throw his fist into the asshole’s face, but like it or not, doing so would have larger consequences than the club could handle, at least at that moment. The time would come when Iron Rebels would have to be dealt with in a more permanent manner.
“Get the fuck out, Clay.” Cutter stepped in front of Lucas and nodded down the hall. “Take your little pets with you.”
Clay stood still for a long moment, his hard stare burrowing into Lucas before he turned on his booted heal and stalked off down the hall. His little prospects trailed behind him.
“Get in here,” Joe barked once the Iron Rebels bastards no longer darkened the doorway.
Cutter and Lucas walked into the office, Lucas shutting the door behind him. “What did th
at prick want?”
“That prick wants to come to an agreement.” Joe pushed back in his chair, lacing his fingers behind his head, his expansive stomach stretching the limitations of his shirt. “He’s offering to take the medical marijuana business off our hands, running the shit along with everything else through our town. In return…” He gave a pointed look to both of his captains before they could start in with their complaints. And they had plenty to voice, once he was finished. “In return, we get two percent of the cut, across the board.”
Cutter let out a low whistle. “Two percent of everything?”
“Yeah.” Joe nodded. “Financially, it’s a sweet deal. That would almost double our earnings in that area alone. All we would have to do is let them have the routes, and we’d provide some protection here and there.”
