"Liam, you got a call."Rolling out from underneath the car he was working on, Liam sat up quickly. His first thought was Denise needed help. Grabbing his cell phone, he saw he hadn't missed any calls from her, but that didn't mean that everything was okay. It surprised him that his hands shook as he picked up the shop phone."Yeah," he answered gruffly, fear making him sound more harsh than he had intended to."Liam?" the small voice that asked for him sounded thick with tears and heavy with fear.He wracked his brain trying to figure out who it was. This person knew him well enough to call him at work. "Mandy? Is that you?"She sniffed, and he could almost see the nod he was sure she gave. "Yeah."Being in a motorcycle gang, he'd not had much experience with kids at all, much less teenage girls. He waited a beat for her to tell him what she wanted. But when he realized it wasn't coming, he tried to soften his voice as he asked, "Honey, what do you need?"Tears started i
"Denise is back."Liam didn't want to admit that those words made him happy. He'd been worried about her. It wasn't a dangerous mission they'd sent her on. It should have been an easy in and out, but that didn't change his feelings where she was concerned. He didn't like using outsiders to do jobs that members of the club should do. Though he knew that since he'd claimed her in front of the club they would expect her to work for them – it still didn't sit well with him.On top of all of that, he now had to explain that her son was suspended from school. A doctor that did favors for the club had examined Drew once they got back to the clubhouse, and now the twins were playing out back with the other kids. The boy had been quiet for the most part since they left the school, and it had worried Liam. The doctor assured him that everything was fine.All talk stopped as Denise strutted through the front door of the clubhouse. The only time any of them had ever really seen her was when
Denise squirmed, uncomfortable. She had made dinner only to have her children decide they wanted to eat with new friends. After their day at school, she figured they deserved a little bit of time with people who wouldn't judge. This meant that she and Liam were left alone in his house. Because she'd already cooked, he'd decided to eat with her. It had been a quiet affair so far."Have I done somethin' to piss you off?" he asked, taking a bite of his baked potato.She looked up sharply. "No, why?""Since I talked to you earlier, you seem like you're either pissed off or scared of me." He shrugged, rattling his ice in his glass before taking a drink. He watched her closely. It was obvious she wanted to say something, but she held back. "You can say whatever you want to me, I won't be mad.""Are you sure?" she asked, playing with the food on her plate. "Because earlier, you went from a happy-go-lucky guy to looking like you could murder someone with the flip of a switch. It scares
"You'll need to wear this," Liam instructed, handing Denise a helmet.This was the first time the two of them had ridden his bike for pleasure, and she was a bit nervous. She put the helmet over her head and made sure to strap it at her chin. The night before, when he'd told her it was time for her to join the land of the living, she hadn't thought he meant so soon."This is going to be much different than last time, huh?" he joked."No, I loved those bullets flying past my head," she deadpanned.He got on and motioned for her to slide on behind him. When she did, he grabbed her thighs and pulled her so that every inch of their bodies touched."When you ride bitch, we touch."The tone of his voice sent chill bumps up her spine, and she gladly scooted up so that she could wrap her arms around his waist. She made sure to snake her arms under his cut, as close as she could get. The feelings of a new relationship made her want to be as close to him as she could. As they rode sh
Two days later, Liam sat at the clubhouse while the group tried to figure out what exactly Richard Joyce had to do with their rival's business. They had brainstormed since Denise had provided them with the intel. Deciding to take a few days to do some reconnaissance, they were now back to speculating about Joyce's involvement."What the fuck does he even do now?" Tyler asked, cracking his knuckles and frowning as he thought about the man that had once been their brother."Good question,' Liam praised him. "Steele, work your magic."The group sat back for a few minutes, allowing the computer expert to do what he did best. If there was anything in the world that could be found out about another person, Travis Steele would find it."Huh, what the fuck do you know?""Do share with the rest of the class," William said as he walked into the clubhouse and had a seat next to his son. He had been scarce since the evening he spent with Lauren, knowing that Liam would be uneasy about it
"Breaking news tonight at 6. Investigative reporter Meredith Rager exposes outlaw biker gangs in and around South Central Kentucky."Denise felt sick to her stomach as she sat with the group of bikers, and probably over half the town, ready to tune in for what was promising to be a big announcement. Tyler had let her know that he'd gone earlier to warn Meredith, to let the woman know that whatever she thought she knew was probably not the truth. Denise's heart sank when he told her that Meredith had blown him off. They hadn't been great friends, but Meredith had been a neighbor, and she genuinely liked the younger woman. This had bad written all over it."Doesn't seem like you did your job too well, brother," William reprimanded as he glared at Tyler."That woman is a bulldog. I did what I could. She's bound and determined to have her body sliced apart and stuffed in different dumpsters around the county. Who are we to stop her?"Liam knew by looking at his friend that not bein
"So, how's it going with my brother?"Denise's head snapped up from where she lay lounging on the screened-in porch with Roni. Since Denise had already been out there, that's where they had decided to stay."Good," she answered too quickly, her voice too high pitched.Like a hound dog on the scent of a kill, Roni sat up straighter, grinning wildly. "He's gotten to you, hasn't he?"She did not under any circumstances want to talk about this. Telling him that she hadn't had sex in thirteen years was embarrassing enough, but to tell his sister…she wasn't really down for all of that."Gotten to me?" she played dumb."Whatever. My brother is a good lookin' guy. I know that. The two of you in this house every night, I'm sure you've gotten…close.""First of all, we aren't in this house every night. I think we may have spent two nights in this house together, that's it. Second of all, I'm a mother. I take care of my children most of the time. There is absolutely nothing sexy abou
Struck stupid seldom happened to Liam Walker, but it sure as fuck happened when those words left her mouth."The dark side, huh?" he grinned slowly, the words flowing out like smooth bourbon.Her stomach fluttered as she looked into his blue eyes. They were warm with affection and something dangerous as he looked her body up and down. She realized that she stood there for him like porno flick brought to life."The dark side," she confirmed. "Although my dark side and your dark side might be two different things," she giggled softly.She watched, her eyes wide, as he grabbed her hand. Pulling her up alongside his body, he turned to face her.Reminiscent of their first kiss, his big hands framed her face and held her in place as his mouth bent down towards hers. When their lips touched, she brought her hands up to grip his biceps, hanging on for dear life. He invaded her personal space, crowding her against him as his mouth ate at hers. Arousal bloomed in her stomach, stronger
The temperature in the cab of the truck was downright frigid as Remy drove to Tyler's house to drop off Addie first. Tatum refused to meet his gaze and that flat out pissed him off. If she was going to give herself to another man and then have the balls to sit in front of him like this, she should at least have the decency to meet his eyes when he looked at her."Am I going to have to explain to Tyler why I'm dropping you off at one in the fucking morning?" Remy glanced in the review mirror of the truck, looking back to where Addie sat in the extended cab."No," she shook her head, looking about as tired and unhappy as he felt. "He's at the clubhouse. He and Mom had planned to stay and they took Caelin with them."Well, thank God for small favors, because the one person besides Liam he didn't want to face off with tonight, was Tyler."You're lucky I don't call him and tell him where the hell you've been. How could you let her go up there with him?" he questioned her, the irrita
Tatum's heart beat through her chest as she followed Gavin upstairs to a much quieter part of the house. Her mouth was dry – the result of her nerves, or the alcohol she'd consumed – she wasn't sure which. Her hand gripped Gavin's tightly, but she knew it wasn't because she was excited, it was because she wanted to yank on it, and stop him from leading her into the empty bedroom. Part of her wanted to put a stop to it, the other part wanted to go through with this so she could throw it in Remy's face. Those stubborn traits she'd inherited from her dad were alive and well tonight.She glanced over her shoulder, spotting Addie pulling out her phone and making a call. The worried look on her friend's face told her all she needed to know. Addie was probably calling in reinforcements and her time had suddenly become very limited."You feelin' good?" his deep voice questioned in her ear, causing her hair to stand up and goosebumps to appear on her arms. This time it was different than wh
Remy was in a piss-poor mood, had been since the night of the Christmas party and everything that had gone down with Tatum. He bit off the head of anyone foolish enough to ask if he was okay. He'd been eating lunch by himself, and overall had been a miserable fucking loner. Even right now, while everyone else was partying their asses off, his big date was being in the gym and beating the ever-loving shit out of a heavy bag. It was the only thing that seemed to calm him the last few days.Hearing his fists connect with the bag felt good, even if it was muted by the gloves he wore. His arms burned, his shoulders and back ached, his chest heaved, and sweat poured down his forehead and into his eyes; making them sting. The sting felt good though, because it distracted him from the guilt he felt for the way he'd treated Tatum. And that guilt was pressing down on him like he was trapped under a thousand-pound boulder.He'd felt every emotion on the spectrum since she'd walked out on him
Tatum's blue eyes took in the party-goers around her. In different parts of the room, she could see members of her graduating class, some kids that were now seniors, and a few college kids. God, this had never been her thing, she'd never found high school or college parties worth anything to her. She could see everything that went on at them and more, at the club parties. Plus, this was a mob mentality – everyone here went along with everyone else, and it was so boring. Nobody had any individuality. Normally, she'd have tossed the invitation in the trash can and not even thought twice about it. She would have spent the night at the club's New Year's party and have an actual good time with her friends and family.Tonight though, she was on a mission."Do you see anybody?" Addie asked as they surveyed the room.Tatum took a drink from the bottle of Strawberry Boone's Farm she carried in her hand. It was the bottom shelf stuff, guaranteed to get you loaded in the least amount of tim
Tatum had never felt anything like the all-consuming lust that blasted through her as soon as Remy grabbed her hip and pulled her deep into his body. She'd thought she had but damn, she was wrong. Her fingers grasped at his shirt, trying to ground herself in the feelings, when she felt his bare palms slip up under the hem of her dress. The sharp intake of breath, and the way he nipped at her lip indicated he'd discovered she'd worn a thong."Fuck, Tate," he moaned as he pulled his lips from hers.She almost cried as he abandoned her lips and smeared his mouth down her neck. She felt the sharp nip of his teeth down to the core of her body. It caused her nipples to tighten further against the lace of strapless bra, and before she knew what she was doing, she was rubbing up against him."Please, Rem," she gasped out when she felt one of his hands on her ass venture back over her hip, and closer to the wetness and heat she felt between her thighs."Has anybody touched you?" he grow
He knew the second she walked in, just like he'd known when she'd entered the bakery. Even seven shots of Pappy in, he could feel her, he knew she was there by the way the hair on the back of his neck stood up, the goosebumps he got on his arms and the way his dick stirred to attention. He wasn't sure what kind of hold Tatum Walker held over him, but it was strong, maybe dangerously so, like some sort of Jedi Mind Trick he'd never be able to resist. And dammit if his hand didn't shake as he took his next shot."Too much for you?" Drew asked as he noticed the slight tremble of the other man's hand.How did he tell the man sitting beside him, he was hard up for his little sister? Easy. He didn't."Nah, I'm good, but I gotta hit the head. Be back."Plan number two when plan number one didn't work? Run and hope she wouldn't follow. As much alcohol as he had consumed, he wasn't sure he could push her away this time. After all, he was only a man and he wasn't immune to the way she lo
He should have brought a date. Those were the first words Remy thought when he walked through the door of the clubhouse. It hit him like a ton of bricks, and all he wanted to do was turn around and head back to Cash and Harper's. Normally, he lived at the clubhouse, but he'd had dinner at their place tonight. He could relieve the babysitter watching Maddy, and he wouldn't have to worry about keeping his guard up.Couples were paired off, which meant anyone without a plus one would be inevitably thrown together. Looking up, he saw mistletoe was hung randomly around the room. Shit. Since he was the youngest, he seemed to be one of the few without a woman on his arm. Sure as the world turned, he'd find himself thrown toward someone tonight.Gazing around the room, he didn't see Tatum and for that he was extremely thankful. He'd been able to avoid her since the day at Harper's bakery, but it'd hadn't been easy. Not that she'd gone out of her way to be around him but they were in the sa
Remy told himself to slow down as he grasped her neck, hauling Tatum closer to him. He cautioned his lust-drunk body not to make a fool of itself. He warned his libido not to let this go too far. They were in the middle of the bakery, in the middle of downtown. Anyone could walk through that door from some dumbass off the street, to her brother, to her dad. But he couldn't stop, couldn't force his hand not to trail down her body and grasp her tight ass in his fingers. He wanted desperately to pull her lower half into his, wanted to shove his thigh between her legs and feel the heat he knew would be there. His tongue was forceful as it made its way into her mouth, testing how far she'd let him go.Turned out she'd let him go as far as he wanted to.His brain tried to warn him that this was progressing too quickly. It was getting too out of control, too fast. If he didn't watch it, he'd be picking her up and putting her ass first against the nearest wall. He was losing his mind, losi
Son of a bitch. Something in the way Tatum's gaze met his made him think he'd said those words loud enough she could hear them. But fuck, she looked amazing. Even more than she usually did. Tatum had been gorgeous for a long time, but with her hair in this new cut, she looked sexy, and almost… sophisticated. But this was Tatum. She'd never fully be a lady, not really. She didn't do dresses unless she had to, she didn't do caked on makeup, and she could hang with the guys – no matter how raunchy it got."Do you like it?" She asked again, this time looking much more unsure than when she'd started out. Very slowly, she ran her fingers through her hair, giving it a tousle.Remy cleared his throat, not sure how honest he wanted to be, but at the same time knowing he couldn't help but be honest. If he lied to her, she would know, and it would do nothing to help the situation they seemed to always find themselves in. The two of them always seemed to be either pushing or pulling at each ot