Page 6 of Quadruplets for the Vipers

They fuss over me as we leave, driving in a fancy SUV to the club that’s to be my new home. At least for as long as I’m useful to them, anyway.

***

The building looks exactly as I expected, a typical slice of American debauchery. An unassuming façade—the only indicator of what’s inside being the multiple motorcycles parked out the front and the small group of tattooed men and women smoking who greet the Prez and his old lady as we walk inside, not hiding their naked curiosity at my presence. I could swear one of the women even hissed at me. The windows are blacked out, so I get my first glimpse into the Steel Vipers’ nest as I walk through the front door.

The bright sunshine is swallowed by the gloom of the bar, which somehow feels smoky, despite the no-smoking sign on the wall. I’m surprised at how many people are there. I’d always imagined biker bars to be nocturnal, but several patrons are drinking at the bar and sitting in booths, eating lunch, greasy hamburgers, loaded cheesy fries, bacon pancakes, andother cholesterol-heavy meals that aren’t for the faint of heart. I suppose if they aren’t afraid of riding fast on death traps, getting into fights, or bending the law, then a little bit of greasy food isn’t going to scare them.

I don’t see Axel as I look around, and I feel more disappointed than I ought to. I have to remind myself why I’m here, and it’s not to make out with hot bikers or get moon-eyed over some guy. Just as I’m telling myself that, Zeus and Donna walk over to the bar, and I come face-to-face with the drop-dead-gorgeous guy behind it.

He has movie-star classic good looks with perfectly symmetrical features, but this is offset by the fact that nearly every inch of skin on display is covered in tattoos, including his shaven head. The intricate pattern snakes down his neck, along his broad shoulders, chest, washboard stomach, and down the lean muscles of his arms. I can only assume that under his jeans and the parts of his body not covered by his open leather vest, there are more. The effect should be too much, almost intimidating, but it suits him perfectly. He wears them like a second skin, as if they’ve always been a part of him, waiting to emerge.

“Knox, meet Leah, our newest waitress.”

“Not the usual type we hire,” Knox comments casually as he glances from me to Zeus and back again. “Nice to meet you, Leah,” he says with a slow smile, his hypnotic blue eyes rendering me dumb.

I realize then that I’m taking far too long to respond, and quickly thrust out my hand. “Nice to meet you, too, Knox.”

He takes my hand and places a kiss on the back of it. I almost yelp in surprise and pull it back, scalded, although thelast thing I want is to move away. Thankfully, that seems to be the right thing to do as Zeus immediately barks out a stern warning.

“Hands off this one Knox or I’ll chop your fucking nuts off.”

Knox holds his hands up in mock surrender. “Just being polite, Prez,” he says cheekily, his eyes glinting with mischief as he looks at me.

“I’m serious, Knox… that’s an order,” Zeus growls.

“Understood,” Knox replies seriously.

Zeus glances at me, he doesn’t need to warn me. I know exactly what he’s reminding me of. My contract states that if I have any intercourse at all before the pregnancy is confirmed, the deal is off, and I don’t get a penny. He doesn’t need to worry about that. Even though Knox is drop dead gorgeous and I ended up making out with Axel back at the Sugar Shack that was totally out of character. I’m here to do a job, not hook up with sexy bikers.

Zeus and Donna continue to introduce me to various members of the club, most of whom are old or otherwise unattractive. Thank god, I don’t think I could manage more than two hotties walking around the place like sex on a stick. I can feel Knox watching me the whole time. He’s perfectly professional when we return to the bar for him to show me the ropes, so maybe I’m imagining it.

After a few hours, Donna announces that she will show me to my room and leads the way through the back of the building to the small community of houses behind where certainmembers of the club live. I’ll be staying in Zeus and Donna’s house with them, no doubt, so they can keep an eye on me.

Their house is homely with more of a woman’s touch than I anticipated. Zeus might be the president of the club, but it’s clear who’s the boss of their household. Donna gives me the tour, pointing out the kitchen and living areas first before heading upstairs. There’s a simple nursery already made up in anticipation of the baby they hope I will give them. The sight makes me feel a little queasy with the weight of their expectation and hope resting solely on my shoulders, and I’m grateful we don’t linger.

My room is simple, but to my eyes it’s heaven. There’s a double bed with a soft quilt and two big fluffy pillows, a bedside table with a lamp, a wardrobe, a dresser, a television, and a small ensuite with a shower.

“It’s nothing fancy…” Donna starts apologetically.

“It’s perfect,” I reply truthfully. After living in my truck, it’s like a palace. “Thank you, for… well, I guess for trusting me with something so important and giving me the opportunity,” I add a little awkwardly.

It’s an unusual situation, but I really do feel a little like they’re my fairy godparents who have arrived at the perfect time in my life and provided me with the lifeline I so desperately needed. I was one hungry day away from giving in and becoming a working girl. Not that I have a problem with stripping or prostitution, but it just isn’t for me.

Sex is… complicated—for starters, I don’t have the confidence. Plus, the thought of my grandfather back home in Nebraska, if he knew how my dreams of stardom had turned out… I can’t bear to think of how heartbroken he’d be. He thinksI have a regular slot as a nightclub singer, which was what I always wanted to do. If he knew I was working the bar he’d want me to return home. But to do so would feel like the ultimate failure. Even if I know I’m never going to be a famous singer, or even a paid one.

“No, thank you. After we lost Levi… well, it was a sad time for us,” Donna says, brushing away the evident pain of their loss. “To be able to have a grandchild, some part of him, it means the world to us. Now, you rest up. If you need anything, let me know. I’ll let you know when dinner’s ready.”

“I can help? Or don’t you want me to work in the bar?” I ask, not wanting to feel useless or unhelpful, I’m unaccustomed to being waited on.

“No, definitely not, the best thing you can do is rest—we wouldn’t want to do anything that might harm the baby,” she replies, acting as if I’m already pregnant.

If anyone had asked me a month ago if I’d be praying I was pregnant, I’d have laughed in their face.

“Okay, thanks, Donna,” I reply as she leaves, giving me a final, grateful smile.

Despite my excitement at no longer having to live out of my truck, I wasn’t sure how I felt about living with them. I was worried about whether or not they’d be constantly monitoring me, watching for every little mistake I made, concerned for the unborn child inside me. Right now, I’m feeling grateful. Not only do I have an actual bed to sleep in and a roof over my head, but Donna and Zeus seem like genuinely nice people. Everyone I’ve met so far seems nice —maybe a little nonconformist—but certainly no different from the people I worked with and served at the Sugar Shack.

The other reason it’s probably for the best that I’m staying right under their noses is that it also well and truly stops me from giving in to any temptation. I take a cold shower and try to banish the thoughts of my steamy kiss with Axel, and Knox’s piercing blue eyes, mentally undressing me. How had I gone from swearing off men for life, to finding two I couldn’t get out of my mind in only just over a month? I didn’t think the hardest part of this job would be steering clear of sexy bikers.

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