Page 1 of Striker's Foul
CHAPTER 1
STRIKER
The wind blows against my face as we ride toward town from the clubhouse. A new bar and grill opened a couple of months ago. We watched it being built. It’s on a piece of land that was for sale at the same time as ours. As a club, we decided not to purchase it since it didn’t have the same amount of surrounding acreage as our compound. Several of the Shiver of Chaos MC guys come here for dinner. They’ve said it’s got a good atmosphere.
Our clubhouse has a bar, but it caters to bikers, while this place is meant for everyone. My former team leader, Julian Black—Commander, as we call him—has had dinner here several times. I don’t really want to be here, but as the VP of our club, it’s my job to step in when the President can’t. He’s only been back from his honeymoon for a week and is still busy proving to his wife that she’s his. They got married in Vegas, and I’m happy for them, but I honestly hate seeing people happy in relationships.
I haven’t been in one for a very long time, and I doubt I’ll ever be in another one. My last one was such a clusterfuck that I ended up in the military and never saw her again. Her family claimed she’d accused me of rape, and they filed charges against me. In the end, I had two choices. Go to jail or join the military.I was a poor kid from the wrong side of the tracks, but I wasn’t stupid. I joined the Army and never looked back.
Gambit, my best friend and now President, didn’t want to return to where he lived before the military. So we settled in Eastport, Rhode Island—the place I grew up. The town that threw me away years ago doesn’t even recognize me now. Only a few people remember me. My parents are both long gone. My mom died while I was in basic training, killed by a jealous John. My father was killed in a prison fight.
I have my own money now, and I’m no longer that skinny, too-tall soccer player. I’ve grown into my long legs and bulked up. Men are scared of me, and women want to be with me. If only they knew my secrets, but I don’t share those often.
I pull up in front of the Austin Bar and Grill and kick down the stand on my Harley-Davidson Fat Boy with dirty ape hangers. It’s my favorite of the two bikes I own. The other is a Fat Boy Softail Thunderbike, but I can’t get as relaxed on it as I do on this.
Looking around, I see the parking lot is empty. They haven’t opened yet. There aren’t even any staff vehicles parked off to the side. As I stretch my legs and back, two more members pull up and park next to me. I walk toward the side of the building and see a new BMW SUV parked near the back. No one else is around. Years on a black ops team taught me to stay alert for anything.
I’m here to apologize after a couple of our patches got into an altercation last night and caused some damage to the place. Gambit wants me to handle it and offer to cover the cost. That’s why Cowboy, our treasurer, and Grim, one of our enforcers, are with me.
Grim’s a mountain of a man, bigger than me in both height and build. He stands at almost six foot eight, while I’m six foot four. Cowboy is about six feet tall. What he lacks in size, hemakes up for in abilities. I trust both of them to watch my back, same as any of my brothers.
“Let’s get this over with,” I grumble.
I hate doing shit like this. The fuckers who caused the damage should be the ones apologizing, but Gambit put them on lockdown until they cool off. Apparently, they both have a crush on the owner, and he was worried about her handling them on her own.
We make our way around the sectioned-off outdoor seating area toward the front door. A sign posted by the entrance says the property is protected by Andreason Black Security. Well, that’s good. That probably explains why the bouncers had our guys out before things went too far.
“Yeah, I want to get back so I can watch some rodeo,” Cowboy says with a laugh.
I just shake my head. He’s clearly joking. He gets offended when people assume he’s into cowboy shows or the cowboy network. He says he walked away from the ranch life years ago.
“Sure, just like I have to go lift weights,” Grim adds.
I stop before opening the door and look between the two of them. “Are you assholes okay today? When did you decide to become tag-team comedians?”
“Ha ha, very funny,” Cowboy says as he pushes past me inside, and I follow him in.
A large bar dominates the center, with an open kitchen off to the left. On the right, a glass wall stretches up to a closed-off upstairs. The offices must be up there. The whole center is open to the ceiling, with large wagon wheel lights hanging down.
Tables are arranged around the room, and a stage sits at the back for live entertainment. The bar gleams with polished wood, evidence that it’s well cared for. High-end alcohol lines the hanging shelves in the center, while house bottles aren’t visible.I notice several local microbrewery beers on tap alongside the usual well-known brands.
My eyes are drawn to a petite woman at the far side of the space. She’s wearing dark blue jeans that hug her curves, cinched with a leather belt. A matching denim vest leaves her midriff and back exposed. Soft music plays throughout the restaurant.
“Hey, Julian, if that’s you, come give me a hand and stop staring at my ass,” she says with a giggle.
Her voice has a soft but firm Texan twang. Something about it tugs at the back of my mind. But the fact that she used my former team leader’s name really throws me off.
“Not Julian,” Grim says, his deep voice rumbling.
Her body tenses, then relaxes as she bends down to see us. I take in her long chestnut-brown hair, wide baby-blue eyes, and full lips before I’m in motion.
“What the fuck you want with Julian, babe?” I bark, already knowing who she is.
She teeters on the ladder, so I take the last few steps quickly to steady her. My hands grip her hips, and without thinking, I pull her down and set her beside me. Her shocked eyes flare wide, making them look even bigger than usual. Her mouth parts, and I want to kiss her. It's been almost sixteen years since I last saw her, but my body reacts like it was just yesterday.
“Luke,” she says my name and steps back, but I move with her.
Amelia
