Page 77 of Taming Raptor

“Another thing to think about is that Sage is going to be sticking around. So, if you’re actually my sons, I’d like you to get to know her. I know you haven’t had a lot of interaction with her since your time here has been limited, but I’d like that to change if you’re willing. If she’ll agree to it, I want to marry her. Not that I expect you to be over the moon about that since you don’t really know either of us, but like I said—full disclosure. Fuck, I’m rambling, aren’t I?” I winced as I pinched the bridge of my nose in an attempt to stave off the headache that was creeping up on me. Then I gave them an apologetic smile, that was probably closer to a grimace.

“Damn, you sure know how to get even, don’t you?” Sam asked with wide eyes.

“Huh?” I uttered, dumbfounded.

“Well, I flew in here and dropped a bombshell on you, so it was your turn,” he explained in what I realized was a weak attempt at humor. Seth elbowed him and shot him a glare that made him look so much like some of my old pictures. It drove home the possibility that what I’d taken for Evan’s traits, could actually be mine. Christ, what a mindfuck of a situation.

“If you don’t want to know and would rather stick with what we believe, I will respect your feelings and wishes. You tell me how you want to proceed. If you need time to think about it, that’s okay too.” My knee bounced rapidly as I waited to hear what they would decide.

Seth’s side-eyed glance at his brother told me that he would defer to whatever Sam decided. Sam’s jaw ticked, but he lifted his chin. “What would we need to do?”

“You’re So Vain”—Marilyn Manson

After everything I’d been through—the threats, the attacks, the flight from the only place that had felt like home in my life, I was feeling cooped up. Though I moved into the clubhouse with Raptor of my own free will, I was restless. He meant well, but he didn’t want me to leave the property until he had answers regarding all the shit that had me fleeing Iowa.

Except he was gone—off with Phoenix to meet up with someone in town. And I was sitting here with my little private guard and a fortified eight-foot fence surrounding the entire property.

I needed a break.

Blade told me he would be off working in the back of the property where they were trying to clear trees and shit.

“Hey Torque, can you take me back to see Blade?” I asked the tawny-haired man behind the bar as I leaned on the surface and propped my chin on my hand. He was a probationary patch, but seemed like he was a solid guy. I was glad Raptor had him in his chapter. In fact, I liked all of the men in the small group so far.

“I’m sorry, but Prez was explicit that you weren’t to go anywhere until he got back.” While he did look apologetic, it did nothing to sooth my building irritation.

“I wouldn’t be leaving the property,” I argued, trying to smile to make light of it.

“I get it, but orders are orders,” he replied as he cringed a bit.

“Dad! I have a problem!” Torque’s son, Rhae shouted from the hallway. His wide-eyed gaze, paired with his rapidly waving hand gestures had Torque hauling ass after him.

Not sticking around to see what Rhae’s emergency was, I ducked out the door, closing it as slowly and silently as I could. For crying out loud, it couldn’t hurt to go for a walk to stretch my legs. Since arriving in Texas, I hadn’t been able to work out once. Unless you counted the workout I got with Raptor. At that thought, I snickered.

The week that had passed since we made up had been um… active.

I didn’t make it ten feet from the clubhouse before the sound of a couple of Harleys grew closer. The faint rattle of the front gate followed, and I debated running back inside or running around back. One of those bikes was Raptor, for sure. He’d probably have my ass for being outside alone, but I crossed my arms and stood my ground.

Sure as shit, he parked in front of me, killed the motor, and tugged off his helmet. Without a word, he hung his helmet from the handlebar. The cocked brow he sported as he observed me, might’ve been sexy as hell, but he certainly didn’t look happy. A thickness in my throat damn near choked me.

“Caught me,” I weakly admitted as I made goofy as hell jazz hands then wanted to smack myself for being such a dumbass. Why didn’t I just say I heard them pulling up and came out to greet them? Ugh!

He made quick work of dismounting, then stalked my way. Once he was practically toe-to-toe with me he grinned evilly.

“Going somewhere, are you?” His big hands gripping my sides, sent a shiver of longing through me.

With a bright smile and an exaggerated flutter of my lashes, I looped my arms over his shoulders. “Only into your arms.”

Raptor’s bark of laughter accompanied a shake of his sweat-soaked head.

Phoenix was shaking his head with a grin as he climbed off his bike. I’d been so focused on Raptor, I’d neglected to notice the third rider who had arrived with them. Previous boredom alleviated, I peeked around Raptor’s muscle-y tatted up arms.

“Who’s that?” I whispered as the third biker, with messy dark hair that hung in wet waves over his forehead, pushed his shades up to the top of his head. The movement brought attention to the tattoos that wrapped one arm and peeked out of the collar of his T-shirt. His blue eyes might’ve been stunning if they didn’t appear so hollow.

“His name is Memphis. Used to go by the road name of Soap with the Demented Sons up in Iowa. Been through some serious shit and his President reached out to Venom. I’ll explain more later. Thinking about taking him on as a probationary since they allotted us up to four,” he quietly explained as he glanced over his shoulder to look at the newcomer. With both of us looking at him, Memphis’s attention was drawn to us.

“You sure that’s a good idea? A man with eyes as haunted as that has nothing to lose. With you recently re-establishing the chapter here, you don’t need liabilities,” I observed. No, the club wasn’t my business, and their choices weren’t mine, but I’d been around their club long enough to know certain things.

He sighed. “No, but Snow was worried about him. He sent him down to visit their central Texas chapter, but he struck a deal with me when he found out I was down here. Venom and I both thought a change of scenery and a new purpose might be good for him.”

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