Page 21 of Protected By the Bikers Next Door
Harper’s eyes flash with fire, and I wonder what I said to rile her so badly. “You are not criminals! You are nothing like that. You are good and kind, and you protect people. You don’t kill innocent people.”
Surprised by her outburst, but pleased that she thinks so highly of me, I try to soothe her. “Of course, I know I’m not. It’s just that there are people who think all motorcycle clubs are nothing more than gangs of thugs.”
“Then we prove them wrong. When all of this is over, when we’ve found my stalker and had him put in jail, and you guys sort out whatever issue you’re having with this other club, we show people the real Shadow Pack.”
I feel overwhelmed with relief to hear Harper talking about the future. Does that mean there is one for us? Her confidence in me, her unwavering belief that I can fix everything, is both warming and daunting.
“That sounds like a plan,” I tell her with a smile.
“Ready to go, Prez?” Hawk asks, and I realize that the others have arrived while we’ve been talking, waiting for me.
“Sure.”
We quickly introduce Harper to everyone and then leave. Jenny is at school, we’ve got one of the prospects stationed nearby to keep an eye out for the stalker as usual. The school is aware of who can pick Jenny up and who can’t. She’s safe. Harper is safe. I trust these men with my life; I hope I can trust them with my woman. I made it perfectly clear in advance to the men that Harper is off-limits. I’d really hate to have to beat the crap out of any of them if they try anything funny.
“Remember what we talked about,” I say to them.
They nod, not even daring to look at Harper. They know she’s mine.
***
Bear, Hawk, and I arrive at the Rough Riders’ clubhouse a few hours later. My muscles are sore from the long ride, and I stretch as I climb off my bike, relieved to finally remove my helmet. The Rough Riders have been our allies for a long time. Whenever there’s trouble, we have each other’s backs.
“Wolf, Bear, Hawk, it’s good to see you,” Bruce, the president of the Rough Riders, says as we enter the dimly lit club.
Although it’s still early, they already have a few patrons in. A table of four sat eating breakfast, and one red-eyed drunk sat drinking at the bar. Bruce leads the way to a booth in the far corner, gesturing for us to sit.
A cute blonde waitress comes over to take our orders. I’m relieved that she’s too young to be the type to come onto any of us, and she seems relieved that we don’t try anything either. She takes our order, most of us opting for something hearty to eat after the long ride, and we also order a pitcher of beer to share.
By the time she returns with our food and a second pitcher, we’re already deep into discussions, having explained the situation to Bruce.
“So, this stalker, you think he could be connected to the recent skirmishes you’ve been having with Satan’s Sons?” Bruce asks.
“It doesn’t make sense if he is. Why target our new neighbor? She only became closer to us because of the notes,” Hawk points out.
“But you have to admit the timing of it is suspicious. Harper gets a stalker, and at the same time, Satan’s Sons startto cause trouble in our turf. Do you have any news about Satan’s Sons? Are they under the same president?” I ask.
“My intel tells me they still have the same prez. However, I’ve heard rumors that they’ve got a new business partner. Someone with a lot of money. Rumor has it this guy’s some sort of drug kingpin, even involved with sex trafficking. Is there any chance that your girl knows someone from Satan’s Sons, or has any criminal connection?” Bruce asks, scratching his chin.
I think about how Harper reacted to the mention of criminality just today.Surely a woman who’s so opposed to the idea of me having any affinity with organized crime couldn’t be involved in it herself?
“I don’t think so. But we don’t know much about Harper’s past. It’s possible, but I doubt it. I don’t think she’s been around bikers before, so I’m pretty sure she hasn’t got ties with Satan’s Sons. If she had I think we’d know about it.”
I feel like the puzzle pieces are there, I just can’t quite put them together to see the bigger picture.
Perhaps they’re not related at all. Harper’s stalker is likely just some freak, obsessed with her beauty and jealous of seeing her with me. The recent activity could be because of the new partnership Satan’s Sons have with some gangster. With the backup of a powerful criminal family, they’d feel untouchable.
It makes sense, and yet I feel like there’s a missing piece.
Chapter 11
Harper
I’m a mess. Officially.
It’s been two days since Wolf told us to stay at their place, and we still haven’t returned home. Even though the house is secure, I don’t feel safe there. Not while my stalker is on the loose. Wolf and I haven’t hooked up again since we discovered someone was watching us, and Wolf hasn’t made a move. Perhaps it just wasn’t very good for him, and he’s grateful for an excuse not to take things further. The thought is a depressing one. It was the most incredible sex of my life, but maybe for him it was just average.
I feel even worse when I wonder if I’ve thrown away something special that I might have had with Bear for a one-night stand with his best friend. I see the way he looks at me, and I don’t think I’m crazy to imagine that he may have been interested before. But not now. Since Wolf and I hooked up, he’s his same, aloof yet kind self, but he’s not as flirty. Hawk is an enigma, as always. I’ve no idea what he thinks of it all.
