My Inked Neighbor (Summit Hill Vipers: Mayhem Makers)

Chapter 7 Bullseye

I roll to a stop at an intersection and place my boots on the ground, keeping my bike steady as I wait for the light to turn green. The rumble of the motor nearly drowns out the obnoxious rap music playing in the car to my left. I don’t have a problem with rap. It’s just not my favorite type of music.

My gaze bounces around me as I take in the busy street. It’s a Saturday afternoon, and it’s the first hot day we’ve had since spring started. There are only a handful of clouds, and all that blue sky prompts me to start up my bike and ride without any destination in mind. Nothing makes me feel more relaxed than the wind rushing over my shoulders and the sun on my back.

When the light flips to green, I roll forward and lift my boots, gliding along the road as I pick up speed. For the next half hour, I lean into the ride and enjoy it. It’s one of those days when I’m craving a few beers and a smoke, but I quit last year, and I’m not trying to start up the habit again. It’s not easy with so many of my brothers around who still smoke two packs a day, but I promised Mags I’d stick with it. Up to now, I have, unless you count weed. Even then, it’s a social thing for me, not something that gains a stranglehold.

As I head toward Mags’s house, I spot someone kicking a bike on the side of the road. It’s not a Harley but a ten-speed, and it looks like the chain is hanging off. When I get closer, I notice it’s Xaden. He looks a heavy mixture of flustered and pissed. I can’t say I blame him. It’s getting hotter out, and draggin’ a bike home sounds like misery.

Guess I’m helping him out.

He sees me and waves as I pull to a stop a few feet from where he stands. “Hey, Bullseye,” he greets me as I shut off my engine.

“Hey, bud. What happened with your bike?”

“Goddamn chain,” he mumbles.

My gaze slides over the broken links and then to the back tire. It’s in worse shape than the chain. The rim appears bent. “What about the tire?”

“I kicked it.”

A chuckle escapes as I shake my head. “Yeah. I see that.”

“I need to get this thing home or in the fucking trash.”

He’s young to cuss, but hell, I did at his age. “Don’t say that around your sister.”

“Fuck?”

I nod.

“Yeah, I learned that lesson already.” He smirks and I can’t help grinning.

I like this kid. He’s honest and doesn’t bullshit.

“Well, I can’t fit shit on my Harley unless you’re ridin’ bitch.”

The look on Xaden’s face is priceless. “I’ll pass.”

I can’t help laughing. “Yeah, I’m gonna call for a cage.”

“Huh?”

“We need a truck for that bike. One of my brothers, probably Cash or Zoo, will help us out.”

I dial Cash first, and he doesn’t answer. He never blows me off, which means he’s probably balls-deep in some sweetbutt right now. Zoo answers on the first ring when I call him next.

“Hey, Bull. Whatcha need?”

“Need to haul somethin’. Can you bring a cage to this address?” I ping my location.

“Sure. Give me twenty.”

Zoo ends the call, and I turn to Xaden. “My club brother Zoo will be here soon. He’ll drive to Mags’s house, and I can help you haul that bike into the garage. I’ve got a shit load of tools and shit I keep in her garage.”

Xaden’s eyes widen. “You’ll help me fix it?”

“Of course.”

“Thanks. I didn’t know how I was gonna tell Xi I messed up my bike again.” He sighs. “She works too much as it is. She’ll think she needs to work more to pay for it.”

His affection and concern for his sister are sweet. It’s obvious that they’re close.

“That’s because she’s a good older sister and provider.”

“Yeah.” He smiles. “You like her, huh?”

I don’t see any reason to lie to the kid. “I do.”

“Just don’t fuck it up or hurt her.” He takes a step closer, staring into my eyes. “I’ll kick your ass if you do. Don’t care if you’re a biker or not.”

He’s serious. This kid is fucking awesome. If I had a younger brother, I’d want one like Xaden. I don’t know him well, but both times we’ve spoken, he’s handled himself and the situation with confidence. He’s bold like his sister, but where she hides her heartache and grief, he doesn’t seem to have the same issues. Maybe it’s because she’s been his rock.

But Xiara didn’t have anyone to help hold her up when shit got rough. How do I know? Because I’ve lived through it. And right now, I fucking get why she’s pushing me away. She’s protecting Xaden.

Damn, Xiara is fucking fierce. Ol’ lady material, if I’m honest. And I’ve never wanted to put my brand on any woman before now.

“I hear you, Xaden. For what it’s worth, I’m tryin’ hard not to do it.”

He must believe me because he nods. Zoo pulls up in his truck a minute later, and we load Xaden’s bike. He rides with Zoo, and I follow them to Mags’s house.

An hour later, we’re tinkering with his bike, halfway through a pepperoni pizza, and so fucking in sync, it’s like we grew up together. The kid absorbs everything I’ve got to say, and I show him how his bike functions. We fix his chain and tire and then leave the garage.

“So, what position do you play?” I ask, remembering how I’d seen him carry a football more than once as he left his house.

“O-Line. Tight end.”

“You any good?” I ask, messing with him.

“I’ll let you decide.” He runs to his house, disappears inside, and returns with a football. “Go long.”

I haven’t played since high school. To say I’m rusty is an understatement. Xaden knows it, too.

He throws a pass I manage to catch, and I think he’s gone easy on me. When I tell him that, he doesn’t hold back, and I nearly slam into a tree with the next pass. It’s almost dark by the time I see headlights, and Xiara’s car pulls onto their driveway.

I see her walk our way a minute later, watching us throw the football back and forth. It’s nothing exciting, but she smiles. “Hey, Xaden. Bullseye.”

“Hey, Xi.” Xaden looks her over. “You seem tired.”

She doesn’t have a chance to respond before I speak.

“Xiara. How was your day, Beautiful?”

She blinks as I push the football into Xaden’s stomach, and he grabs it, observing our interaction.

“I, uh,” she stammers as if surprised I asked. “Okay. Long, to be honest.” She glances at her brother and frowns. “What happened to your shirt? Is that blood?”

He shrugs. “Probably. Crashed my bike.”

“Oh no! Are you okay?” Xiara searches him for injuries as he rolls his eyes. “Xi, stop. I’m good. Bullseye gave me a ride.”

Her attention shifts to me. “You did?”

“Yeah, Darlin’. Brought his bike back and helped him fix it.”

“Thank you. That was kind of you.”

“Wasn’t any hardship. We live next door to one another.”

“True,” she agrees, looking a little awkward.

And fuck me, it’s adorable.

“Are you hungry?” She’s asking both of us.

I’m not missing my chance to be invited to dinner. “Starving,” I answer as Xaden smirks.

We’re both full since we finished off a large pizza.

“Come on. I’ve got a roast in the crockpot.”

Xaden makes a face when she turns her back, and I know he doesn’t want any of the dinner she made. Neither of us is going to turn it down, though.

We don’t say a word about the pizza and clean our plates. It’s a silent agreement that we won’t allow Xiara to feel like her effort isn’t appreciated. Xaden clears the table and loads the dishwasher as Xiara sips from a glass of red wine. It’s so normal and easy it’s almost like I’ve been here numerous times before now.

My gaze sweeps over the black-and-white plaid tablecloth that matches the curtains on the window above her sink. There are minimal decorations, but it’s clean and spacious. Gray cabinets and black appliances give everything a modern touch. It’s so different from Mags’s place that I almost comment on it.

“Dinner was fucking fantastic,” I say, leaning back in my seat. “You’re a damn good cook.”

“I tell her that all the time,” Xaden informs me.

“It’s nice to hear.” Xiara finishes off her wine and smiles. “This is the first time I’ve felt relaxed all day.”

I’m surprised. It’s not been that long since she flipped me off and saw Heidi groping my crotch. She has to be curious, but she’s not said a word. With Xaden present, it’s unlikely that she will.

The only way I can get her to open up about anything, including the secret she’s been keeping, is to get her alone.

“Tell me something, Beautiful. You ever ridden a Harley?”

“What?” Xiara asks.

“You should come for a ride.” It’s an offer for more than my bike. “Right now, Babe.”

Xaden shuts off the water and dries his hands on a towel that’s draped over the handle of the stove. “Sounds fun, Xi.”

She gives him a look. “Too dangerous.”

“I bet Bullseye can keep you safe.” He turns to me. “How long have you been riding a motorcycle?”

“Longer than you’ve been alive.”

Xaden cuts his gaze at his sister. “You’ll be fine. I’ve got homework.” He pulls his phone from his pocket and starts texting while he walks to the stairs and ascends out of sight.

“Come on, Xiara. I promise you won’t get a scratch.”

She stands as I do the same, walking toward her. “Okay. One ride.”

It won’t be the only time she’s on the back of my bike, but I don’t say it. “Go change. Jeans. Long sleeves. Boots. Gotta protect all that pretty skin, Gorgeous.”

“Okay. Give me a few minutes.”

I wait as she rushes off, taking her empty wine glass to the sink and rinsing it before placing it inside. There’s nothing else to clean up since Xaden loaded the dishwasher. The crockpot is too hot and needs to cool. It occurs to me that this is what I’ve been missing. I never cared about little things like plaid curtains in the kitchen, a hot dinner made and ready when I walk in the door, or fucking the same woman every night for the rest of my life.

And one night with Xiara and Xaden isn’t changing that, but it’s making me consider what I want for the future. I’m thirty next month. And hell, I’ve got a good life as an enforcer. My club and Mags are my family. I don’t feel like I need anything else.

My gaze roams the house as I leave the kitchen and head to the front door. It’s fucking nice. Homey. With little touches like folded blankets, plants, and shit, I don’t expect to fill me with warmth, but it does. Xiara does, too. It’s that same feeling I can’t seem to shake when I stare into her pretty, light-blue eyes.

And fuck me, she’s got me reconsidering everything.