Page 4 of Chaplain

Shaking myself from gloomy thoughts, I weave my way toward the member's rooms, ready to call it a night.

I've got prep work to do tomorrow before Eden arrives. I might as well be sharp for it. Though as I crawl into my bunk, sleep eludes me for hours. I can't stop picturing that fierce gaze and hearing that quick laugh. Wondering what dress her dress covered and how it'd feel to run my fingers underneath.

Finally, I drift off dreaming of a girl who's nothing but trouble for me yet occupies every fucking corner of my mind.

3

Eden

The throaty rumble of my uncle's Gran Torino echoes down the street as we pull up outside the Dark Angels' clubhouse. I take a steadying breath and grab my tech bag before stepping out onto the curb. No matter how many times I've seen them, those motorcycle logos on the compound walls never fail to quicken my pulse.

Luca meets me on the sidewalk, clapping a hand on my shoulder. "Ready for this, kid?"

I lift my chin, hoping I look more confident than I feel. "Born ready." He smiles knowingly and ushers me toward the entrance. Once we reach the door, I pause before opening it. "You know," I turn to Luca, who's smiling like he's the one with the new job. "You didn't have to drive me. I'm going to hold my own here."

His grin turns soft as he brushes my bangs off my forehead. "I trust these men with my life." He gives me a playful head shake. "But not with my most prized employee. This visit is just a little extra insurance so everyone knows who you belong to."

As annoying as it is, my cheeks heat at the severity of Luca's voice.

"Besides," Luca starts, reaching over my head for the door. "It won't hurt to make an appearance before leaving town."

I've barely set foot inside when I spot Diesel across the club room, leaning casually against the bar. Our eyes meet with that now familiar jolt of electricity.

Luca crosses the room and greets Diesel with a back-slapping hug. "Brought your tech expert back, all setup and ready to crack some skulls."

Diesel's lips quirk. "Skulls might be overstating it. Information gathering only, alright?" His glance at me carries a hint of warning but also amusement.

I offer an innocent shrug. "I'll be on my best behavior, Girl Scouts honor."

"Somehow, I doubt you were ever a scout," Diesel replies, chuckling. "Come on back, I'll show you your new office. Ronnie's in the chapel," he says over his shoulder to Luca.

Diesel leads me down a dim hallway, his hand resting lightly on my back. The subtle contact sends little sparks dancing across my skin. I try not to focus too much on the warmth of his palm through my shirt or the play of the muscles in his forearm. But I'm only human.

As we move, I can't help but notice the faded paint on the walls and the worn carpet underfoot. The clubhouse may not be much to look at, but it's home to the Dark Angels, and I can feel the weight of their history and traditions everywhere I go.

I glimpse Diesel's face, noting the day-old stubble darkening his jaw. Faint shadows under his eyes make me wonder if he slept as poorly as I did last night. I feel an involuntary pull low in my core, a desire to smooth away the marks of that restlessness from his gorgeous face.

Staying detached around this man will be more challenging than I'd hoped. Not when the brush of his fingers ignites my skin, even through layers of clothing. I can only imagine what more purposeful contact might do.

I quickly push that enticing thought aside, my heart already racing and my cheeks still hot from Luca's words. I have a feeling Diesel might be my biggest challenge yet. One I should avoid at all costs. Though I can't deny part of me is eager to give it my best shot and see what irresistible secrets might come spilling out.

No matter how hard I try, I can't stop focusing on where our bodies touch as the hallway narrows to a single closed door.

When I stop at it, Diesel reaches around me and turns the knob to reveal an impressive tech office. One wall is covered with shelves of servers, all buzzing in unison. Against another wall sits a large desk outfitted with multiple monitors, specialized keyboards, state-of-the-art processors, and a gaming chair I can sit in for hours without feeling muscle strain.

The level of detail in this room is impressive, and I can't help but feel a mix of gratitude and nervousness, knowing that I'll be working with such high-quality equipment.

I let out an appreciative whistle. "Damn, you guys went all out. This is prime equipment."

Diesel nods approvingly, a pleased expression spreading across his face as he sees my excitement. "We aim to please. Luca wouldn't accept anything less than top-of-the-line. He picked most of it out himself."

"That explains a lot." I pick up the zero-day exploit kit. "How did you even find this stuff? It's only available on the black market."

"Your uncle made a list and demanded the best." Diesel leans one massive forearm on the filing cabinet by my side.

I trail my fingers over the expensive rigs, imagining the digital depths I can plumb with these. "I could get used to this kind of treatment," I muse aloud.

"I hope you don't."

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