Page 1 of Untouchable

CHAPTER 1

Ace

“UNWELCOME GUESTS”

My father always said there were two things everyone should experience before they die—driving a motorcycle down a highway to nowhere, and falling in love. I find peace in knowing he did both, but I often wonder if I’ll ever experience either. I spent most of my senior year repairing my old man’s bike, but couldn’t quite bring myself to get on it until just a few years ago. When I started it up for the first time with his old Drengr cuts on, I wasn’t on a highway to nowhere, my destination was clear from the jump. Nashville was in my sights, and everything I’d lost was in the dust behind me.

Lenny, the Drengr club president and my father’s best friend, welcomed me back with open arms and helped me get back on my feet. He helped me find a place near the club and co-signed on the lease so I could open up Ace Automotive, but his generosity didn’t stop there—he even gave me the spare room at the club, since there wasn’t anywhere at the shop for me to crash, until I can save up enough for a place of my own. I’m as grateful for him as I am indebted to him, but the thing I love most about Lenny is that he never makes me feel like I owe him anything. He knows he can count on me, and that’s insurance enough for him, I guess.

I finish up the ‘65 Mustang I’ve been working on for a week, pride filling my chest as I hear it roar to life. “Aha! Beautiful.” I rev the engine to ensure she’s ready to go, then walk to the front to close the hood before wiping the grease from my hands.

“Time to roll, boss.” I look at the clock as Mikey slides his jacket on.

“Where’s Ghost?” I’m about to hang the keys back on the wall when I hear his voice behind me.

“Here.” Ghost appears out of nowhere—hence how he got the name—and I nod to the car, tossing him the keys.

“Get Mrs. Morris’s car cleaned up real nice, then give her a call and let her know it’s ready.”

“Yes, sir.” I wash off in the bay sink and grab my jacket from behind my desk, throwing it over my grease-covered white T-shirt just as Bodine pulls up in his tow-truck with a bike on the back.

“Where you want it?” I look around the lot, noticing how full we currently are, which just means business is booming, and I’ll never complain about that.

“Drop it in the empty spot next to the garage. Ghost and Vinny are inside if you need them. We’re out. Better hurry up or your ass is gonna be late…again.” He nods, and I slide my helmet on, then I pull my bike out of the lot with Mikey right beside me.

When we pull up to the club, I notice a familiar ‘67 Chevy Impala parked out front. Being the only car amongst the line of bikes can only mean one thing—Katarina is back in town.

Club meetings are always a headache when we’re graced with her presence. Every man in this club—who isn’t the same age as her father—knows she’s off limits, and that only seems to make them want her more, meaning they don’t focus on shit when she’s around. They’re smart enough to keep their mouths shut around Lenny, but as soon as he’s gone, I’m left with an earful of every dirty thought that’s crossed their minds involving her.I’ve never been one to get caught up in the hype, mostly because Lenny was gracious enough to take me in when I had nowhere else to go, and being trusted as his VP isn’t something I’m willing to risk over having eyes for his daughter. So, I keep mine pretty much anywhere but on her. I cut the bike off, placing my helmet on the handlebars before adjusting the bandana, keeping my hair out of my eyes. When we walk through the door, my attention immediately pulls to the long legs, leather jacket, and blonde locks that occupy a booth near the back wall.

Katarina Andersen is undeniably gorgeous and nearly impossible to ignore with her long, golden hair and ocean eyes that are always set in a glare. She’s naturally fair-complexioned, but the sun kisses her skin every summer, giving her a glow that she flaunts in denim cutoffs that are far too short. I wish Lenny would realize what she’s doing to these guys and tell her to put some damn pants on, but to him, she can do no wrong. It was like that when we were kids, and while a lot of other things changed while I was away, that’s one thing that didn’t. She’s still the perfect little apple of his eye. Which is why her heeled combat boots are propped up on a table, while her sun-kissed skin draws the attention of every person in this bar.

“Settle down!” Her eyes snap in my direction, and I remind myself to pull mine away. The room falls silent at my command, just as Lenny walks into the room. He looks surprised to see Katarina before taking a seat next to her, smiling affectionately as he pats the top of her hand. The only time Katarina ever cracks a smile, as tight-lipped as it may be, is when her father is around. There’s a brokenness about her that I recognize, one that’s been present ever since I came back to town. It’s displayed itself differently over the years, but no matter her behavior, it all stems from the same place.

“Thanks, Ace.” Lenny nods, and I move to lean against the bar, keeping an eye on everyone as he gets down to business.“It’s about that time of year again, we’ll be hosting a family dinner here at the clubhouse in two weeks, and since we’ll all be together, we’re going to patch in the prospects.” The bar erupts in boisterous noises, full of barking, whistling, and fists banging against tables. “You guys know the drill. Everyone brings something, and if you can’t make something, for the love of Christ, just pick something up from somewhere. We don’t need to starve just because you’re trying to prove something, alright?”

Viper bumps Mikey’s shoulder. “Like when Mikey brought the mystery dish last year?”

“Fuck you. I tried really hard on that dish.”

“It looked like you threw everything that was in your fridge into a pan then jizzed on top of it.” Mikey flips Viper off, and I notice Bodine trying to quietly slide into a booth, late as always.

Lenny whistles to shut everyone up. “Not in front of Kat, alright?” Lenny warns them, as a collective“sorry Kat”is mumbled across the room. “Treasury, you’re up.”

“Bills are paid. Rides are funded.Almosteveryone’s dues are paid up.” Hank, the club treasurer, looks straight across the room at Bodine, who not-so-subtly sinks lower into his seat. “Otherwise, that’s all I got.” He closes the books, and Lenny stands up, his boots stomping on the old hardwood floor as he moves.

“Nothing else today, boys. Dismissed.” He looks at me as he walks out the door, and nods in the direction of Bodine, which was where I was headed anyway. I slide into the booth next to him while he’s cutting up with Mikey and Vipe. They all look my way, and I tilt my head with a questioning brow raised.

“Where’s the rest of your dues, Bodine?”

He clicks his tongue. “Ah, I’ll get ‘em paid, Papi.” He winks at me, and I roll my eyes.

“When?”

He shifts in his seat, lighting a cigarette. “Soon.” Smoke blows in my face with his answer. I chuckle humorlessly at the empty assurance.

I move to slide out of the booth, tapping my knuckles on the table. “Yeah, well try to get some money to the treasurybeforeyour ass lands at the strip club again. Or the corner of desperate and horny.”

“Aw, come on. If you’re jealous, just say so. You can come with us next time. Might do you some good to loosen that stick in your ass.” The idiots laugh as Bodine blows smoke my way with his lips puckered.

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