Page 12 of Biker

Fuck. This isn’t good.

“Send Wrenley our love,” Rites says softly and gives me a look like he wants to jump on his bike and head that direction.

“I’m sure Prodigal will love that,” Purgatory shoots back with a chuckle. “I just wanted to keep you all in the loop.”

“Thanks, Dad,” Sparks signs off before hanging up.

We all look at each other for a moment as this turn of events sinks in. I share a look with Monk, even happier that I shot Cherry down without leaving any room for her to question it.

I’m not a religious man, but I send some good fucking thoughts to Sioux and Wrenley. If they need anything, we’ll be there.

The mood in the room has taken a turn and I know just how to bring it back around. We can’t do shit about what is going on thousands of miles away.

“I met someone,” I blurt, and all eyes turn toward me, most of them widening in surprise. “Her name’s McKenzie and after church I’ll be going to pick her up for the party. She’s mine. I’m claiming her.”

“Well, shit,” Spark drawls before barking out a laugh, the rest of the room joining him.

CHAPTER 6

McKENZIE

I’m not sure what I expected and was trying to keep an open mind while not making assumptions about the Devil’s Saints MC and what a party at the clubhouse would be like, but this isn’t it. I mean, it is in some ways considering the amount of alcohol flowing, but the way I’ve been welcomed wouldn’t have been my prediction for meeting Porter’s brothers for the first time.

The clubhouse is kind of amazing in and of itself. It’s in an industrial area but set a little bit apart from everything else. The historic red brick building used to be a giant warehouse or plant or something that is shaped like a “U” with the parking lot in the middle. The entire thing is fenced in with a guard shack manned by a prospect. The common room has preserved all the historic elements of the building while modernizing it with clean lines and industrial touches.

I’m kind of impressed with how inviting it is. And clean.

I wasn’t surprised to find one section of the common room full of games and toys for the boys. There’s a gamer area, a few pool tables and even a foosball table and a few pinball machines. It’s like a man cave on steroids. Which is exactly what I would have expected, the huge screen TVs which border on offensive included.

The bar looks like it belongs in an early 20thcentury apothecary and has been refinished with a whole lot of love. It’s beautiful and I’m a little jealous of it.

All the guys I’ve met have been super inviting. They’ve greeted me with big smiles on their faces and none of them have looked down at me nor do they look at me strangely when they find out I’m a librarian. I had steeled myself for a little derision because it does seem a little odd for a librarian and a motorcycle club Road Captain wo runs a garage to be together, at least on paper.

It’s working for me and I’m almost relaxed here.

Almost.

I haven’t been able to shake the feeling of being watched since I got here. Yes, the brothers have been looking at me curiously, but this is different. Whoever is keeping their eyes on me would rather strangle me than greet me. I can almost taste their hostility.

I glance over my shoulder to find a woman with bright red hair staring at me like she’s about to send daggers my way with the force of her glare. Normally when I’ve been confronted with someone regarding me with this level of hate, I would try and diffuse it with kindness, but my gut is telling me it’s not going to work this time.

I turn back around and smile at Nero as he gives me a chin lift and hands me a Manhattan. It’s been kind of a whirlwind and I wasn’t going to say no to the beer that was offered earlier. It was good enough for me and I didn’t want anyone to think I was a snob.

“I have to say, you do make the best Manhattan I’ve ever had,” I compliment the rather large and intimidating man.

He graces me with a smile, and I get the feeling it’s not something that happens often. I don’t know why, he’s gorgeous when he smiles. It’s none of my business though and I bite my tongue so I don’t tell him he should smile more. It probably wouldn’t go over well.

“I didn’t make it tonight, just to warn you in case it’s not as good,” there’s a mischievousness in his voice. He points over to the bar. “Tonight, Chris is the prospect on bar duty.”

I take a sip of my drink and smile. “Not quite as good,” I assure Nero as Porter tightens his grip on my hip, tucking me into his side with a hint of possession. I try and keep my face neutral instead of letting how much I like it show. I look around the main room of the club house and quip, “It seems he’ll have his hands full tonight.”

Porter barks out a laugh and kisses my temple. “You’re not wrong, Starlet.”

I grin at him and feel those eyes boring into me again. I look at the fake redhead out of the corner of my eye and take in her outfit. She’s barely covered, and it makes me a little uncomfortable.

Porter filled me in about the club angels and it’s clear she’s one of them just by looking at her. It’s one thing to know about them, but it’s another thing to be confronted with them. Nero and Porter chat a little bit, but I’m finding it difficult to concentrate on their conversation.

One of the things I noticed right away is that there are a lot more men in the room than women. I understand it because Porter let me know there are only a few old timers who have old ladies and the generation in charge of the club now hasn’t started to settle down. The old timers come out for rides, but they don’t spend as much time around the clubhouse as they used to.

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