Trident (Mayhem Makers #53)

Chapter One

Saturday, 4 July 2020

Jacie

My face burned hot with embarrassment and frustration as the cute guy I’d been flirting with took off like his arse was on fire after my big brother, Taz, had growled something to him. Most likely a threat that involved bodily harm.

“I cannot believe I moved halfway around the world to be closer to him. How could he do this to me? And at my birthday party!”

Flick, my heavily pregnant sister-in-law, winced as she shrugged a shoulder, then wrapped the arm not cradling her rounded belly around my waist and guided me across the Charon MC clubhouse yard toward her friends. The ladies were standing only a meter or so from the rear entrance to the clubhouse, no doubt because they all seemed to be as pregnant as Flick, and probably didn’t want to be too far from the toilets.

“For starters, as you’re well aware, this ain’t your birthday party, sis. It’s a Charon and Satan’s Cowboys joint club Independence Day barbecue. Sadly, now that you live here in the States, you gotta share your birthday with Fourth of July celebrations.”

I also, apparently, got to spend my birthday surrounded by pregnant women to rub in the fact that, according to my brother, I wasn’t allowed to even talk to a damn man. Finding a man to settle down with and maybe have my own bloody family like Taz been able to do was definitely out of the question.

Trying to focus on the positive, I glanced toward the setting sun that was painting the sky a beautiful array of colors.

“At least it’s warm. July is winter in Australia, and it’s pretty much always rained on my birthday.”

Flick laughed. “Chances of us getting rain here in Texas, in July, is pretty damn slim, so no worries there. But seriously, Jacie, Taz is always going to see you as his precious baby sister. And he’s always going to want to protect you, especially at a party this big with so many single men here looking to celebrate.”

She didn’t need to say out loud that the biggest reason he was so up in my business was because he’d believed I’d been dead for the past twenty-three years. But while I totally understood why he’d be extra protective now he’d learned I was alive and well, it didn’t make it any less annoying.

“But I’m a grown arse adult! And I’ve been living here for over eight months now. He needs to get over it already. How the fuck am I ever going to have a life if he keeps this shit up?”

As I wondered if maybe I’d have to move away from Bridgewater and just come for visits, tears burned the backs of my eyes, but I forced them away, along with that thought.

Silk, who was the old lady of one of Taz’s best mates, Eagle, rubbed her hand over her large belly as she snorted out a short laugh. “Oh, honey, I hear you. Try growing up here with your uncle as the VP. You gotta get real sneaky if you want a sex life. On the upside, when a guy does stick around, you know he’s for real because no man is gonna put up with this many overbearing, overprotective brothers if they’re not damn serious about you. Welcome to being a Daughter of the Club, doll.”

When she gazed over toward her man, her expression softening and going all gooey, I turned away with a huff. It wasn’t fair that I had to be surrounded by all these loved up women when I wasn’t allowed even a chance to find the same. Zara, Mac’s old lady, who was, naturally, also pregnant, handed me a bottle of beer with a sympathetic smile.

“Only reason you got as far as you did with that prospect was because he’s a newbie. And you’re not wearing a cut.”

I screwed up my nose after I took a long swig of the cold brew.

“And that’s why I’m refusing to have a vest. Cut. Whatever you want to call it. I am not a Daughter of the Club, and I’m definitely not going to allow my brother, or any other man for that matter, to brand me as his property. No way, no how.”

I couldn’t understand why so many of the wives in the club happily let their men ‘patch’ them. Nope. That was not going to be my life. I was an all modern, independent woman. I even rode my own bike. No riding bitch behind some bloke for me.

Zara chuckled. “Babe, you’re a Daughter of the Club. You don’t need to be wearing the patch for that to be true. And honestly? Taz would probably be on your case a lot less if you agreed to wear one. Being property of a brother in a club is about protection, not ownership. It’s him declaring to the world that you’re loved and cared for.”

Rolling my eyes, I took another long drink. Beer was not going to be strong enough to get me through this evening. “Nope, I’m pretty sure it’s the ownership thing. And Taz wouldn’t need to be all over me like white on rice. Every man involved in the club would see that little patch with the heart wrapped in barbed wire on it, turn tail and run. Any bloke not in the club would see the Charon MC patch on the back and do the same bloody thing.”

After draining the last of my beer, I broke away from the women, tossing my now empty bottle into a trash can. “I’m heading in to get something stronger. Back in a bit.”

Maybe , I added silently to myself. With the weather being so nice, and the fact there were plenty of drinks and food out here, I doubted anyone would be inside. I could just claim a booth in the main room and drink myself stupid all by my lonesome in a dark corner.

Before any of them could stop me, I headed inside, wishing my girls Nevaeh, Mirabelle and Sparrow were here. The old ladies were great and all, but they were in a different phase of their lives than I was, popping out babies and settling down. Since it was becoming obvious I wouldn’t be joining them any time soon, I figured I’d focus on simply having some fun and messing around. And I was pretty sure Nevaeh, Mirabelle and Sparrow felt the same way. Well, after all the abuse and torture Mirabelle had been through, she was all about having fun that didn’t involve men at all, which was fine with us. We’d always take care of her. But sadly, my trio of besties were all on childcare duties tonight. If it hadn’t been my birthday, I’d have joined them in looking after all the babies and kids of the club and earning some cash. Instead, I was here celebrating my twenty-sixth birthday without my girl crew.

Making my way down the hallway, I shook those thoughts away. Next weekend would be my real birthday celebration. There was a massive book signing happening up in Dallas: “MMM: Motorcycles, Mobsters I’d guess five-one, maybe five-two. Long, wavy, naturally light red hair, pale skin with some freckles. She looked like a fucking teenager. All sweet and pure. But that mouth on her soon proved that idea wrong. She was no innocent angel. Although, considering she was both Australian and Taz’s sister, I really should have expected at least a little sass.

And fuck me, because if she’d been that sweet little girlie I’d first thought she was, I could have done what I’d originally intended to, then walked away. But not now. That spine of steel of hers tripped my switch in a big way, and I wanted more. My rock-hard cock throbbed in agreement.

When she set an unlabeled bottle of dark liquid down next to the other shit she’d gathered, I frowned at it.

“What the fuck is that?”

Since she hadn’t told me what she was making when I’d asked earlier, I had no clue. It wasn’t like I was a connoisseur of mixed drinks or some shit. Since I mostly just did shots with the brothers, I barely tasted any alcohol I drank. Most of the crap we had at the SCMC clubhouse was well quality and wasn’t worth fucking tasting anyhow.

She glared at me again. Fuck, that fire that flared in her blue irises did something for me too. The throbbing in my groin was getting uncomfortable, and if I didn’t think she’d throw a bottle at my head for it, I’d adjust myself, but self-preservation had me putting up with my dick hurting. For the moment, at least.

“Why are you still here bothering me?”

I gave her a sly grin, more than ready for our next round of banter. “Where the fuck did you think I’d be exactly? Especially since I’m still waitin’ on some answers.”

She tilted her head back, closing her eyes for a second before looking at me again with a huff. The movement pushed her tits up and drew my attention their way. As I thought about what color her nipples might be, what they’d taste like as I ran my tongue over each one, nipping them when they tightened up…

“Oh, for fucks sake. My face is up here. You want answers?” She lifted the unlabeled bottle. “This is simple syrup. Yes, it’s not clear like normal. That’s because I make it special. The way I like it. The way my dad taught me. And I’m making myself an Old Fashioned. Now you can go the hell away.”

Yeah, that sass of hers did something for me in a big way.

“Think I’ll stay right where I am and try one of those drinks you’re making myself. Why dontcha grab another glass and make me one too?”

When she clenched her fists against the bar top as she looked down at her feet, I barely resisted the urge to chuckle. A true redhead, her temper flared fast and bright. Making the most of her looking away, I adjusted my dick so it wasn’t pressed up against my zipper. My thin boxer-briefs hadn’t formed much of a barrier. Thankfully, she didn’t look back at me until after I got done. I could only imagine what fury she’d have spit my way if she’d busted me.

“What do I need to do or say to make you go the fuck away and leave me alone?”

“Why you want me gone?” I cocked my head toward the rear of the clubhouse. “From what I heard out there, you’re looking for some male attention tonight. And let me tell you, babe, I ain’t some pissant prospect. I’m not scared of your brother, or any other Charon, for that matter. So why you trying so hard to send me on my way?”

She froze for a few moments, just blinking. Guess she either hadn’t thought it through, or didn’t like I’d caught the earlier altercation in the yard. Sucked to be her, because everyone out there had caught that drama. Taz hadn’t exactly been subtle about ripping that prospect a new asshole for daring to touch his precious baby sis. I’d also heard how Animal and a few of the other SCMC brothers had proceeded to turn getting into her panties into a fucking game. They wanted to mess her up as much as possible, all in the name of getting even with Taz and his old lady, Flick, for what she’d pulled at our clubhouse a couple of years back.

That was something I wasn’t ever gonna stand by and watch happen to any woman. So, pretending like I hadn’t heard their bullshit, I casually strode off and followed her when she’d come in here. While I was with her, she’d be safe from my club brothers and their games. Since I’d spotted three of them come and go from the room so far and expected to see more, I knew I’d cop some shit later for cock-blocking them. But such was life. And a small price to pay to keep the little spitfire in front of me safe.

Although, when I’d followed her, I hadn’t expected to like the girl, uh, woman. Made me feel better that despite all her hissing and spitting, the fact that she hadn’t called her brother in, told me she wasn’t really all that upset with me hanging around. And I hadn’t missed her checking me out earlier. She liked what she saw and was feeling me. No matter what she tried to tell me or herself.

Wanting to break the silence, I nodded to the dark simple syrup. “Didn’t think you liked your dad. Why copy his favorite drink?”

Her head jerked up as she leveled a glare with so much heat in it, if I’d been a lesser man, I might have run away. Gotta love a fiery redhead.

“I hated my sperm donor. He murdered my mum and tried to kill me. Then came after my brother and his family to do the same bloody thing to them. I was proud to be able to help take that bastard out. I have never wanted a damn thing from that piece of shit.”

Straightening on the stool, I held up my palms. “Just a question, babe. You were the one who mentioned him.”

With a shake of her head, the fire left her gaze as she grabbed another glass, setting it beside hers before she started pouring various liquids into them.

“I meant my adoptive dad. The man who raised me.”

“But he didn’t take in Taz? I don’t get that. None of the stories I’ve heard about either of you has answered that one.”

Finished with the various bottles, she put them away before moving to add a scoop of ice into each glass. She grabbed for a jar of maraschino cherries and popped one into each drink before she set one in front of me gently.

“Your drink.” She didn’t remove her hand from the glass, even when I took advantage and slid my fingers over hers, loving how my calluses caught on her smooth skin, while I looked her in the eye as she spoke. “And I don’t know you nearly well enough to be giving you any of my family history. Especially since it’s clear it would just be added to club gossip.”

Having said what she clearly thought would be her final words to me, she pulled her hand away before focusing on doing a quick tidy up, wiping down the bar top, then grabbed her glass and moved out from behind the bar. Turning, I watched the sway of her hips until she slipped into one of the booths along the rear wall. She’d picked one deep in the shadows, clearly wanting to be alone. Shouldn’t have been a big ask since we were the only ones in here. The coward of a prospect who’d been manning the bar hadn’t returned, and with the weather being so nice, along with the fact there was food and drink outside, no one was hanging out in here.

That didn’t mean I slacked off in keeping an eye on the whole room, all entrances and exits. It’d been a damn long time since I hadn’t kept track of everything going on around me at all times. I’d learned that lesson the hard way a long damn time ago. It wasn’t one I’d ever forget.

When Animal came barreling down the hallway, I cursed. Looked like Jacie had gotten all the alone time she was going to get. It was either me or Animal, and he hadn’t gotten his road name because he rescued critters in his spare time. Taking a sip of my drink as I rose from the stool, I shook my head and took a bigger mouthful. Damn, this shit was good. Maybe I’d been missing opportunities to actually enjoy drinking all these years by just doing shots of cheap crap. They hadn’t taken her long to make, so it couldn’t be that hard for me to learn how, right? Might be nice to finish off a day with one of these out on my porch.

Be even better if she were there with me, making them for us both.

“Fucker.” I muttered under my breath in response to that invasive thought that had come out of nowhere. Like I suddenly had some sort of white picket fence fantasy for my future that I’d never wanted before.

I’d only made it a few steps toward her when Animal caught up to me, gripping my shoulder with his large palm to stop my progress. “Hey, Trident.”

While I’d monitored his approach, I hadn’t attempted to move out of his way. There was no avoiding this conversation, and I’d prefer have it over this side of the room, rather than in front of Jacie at her booth.

“What you doin’ with my little sweet butt? You pissed you got left outta our bet, old man?”

I took another mouthful of my drink before I responded. Letting the mellow flavor help level me out so I could resist the urge I had to knock my club brother out.

“She ain’t your anything, Animal. And she ain’t a sweet butt. You know full well I won’t allow you to chew up and spit out a Charon Daughter of the Club. Viper will have you by the balls if you do. We need this club and access to their bunker.”

I would have stepped in to save any woman from him when he was jazzed up like he currently was, but he wouldn’t understand that. The fact that our club needed the Charons on our side so we could use an old bunker on their land to help run shit through was something he should understand. Animal scanned the room until he spotted Jacie in her hiding spot, then he grinned like the fucking lunatic he could be. I turned to see her frowning our way.

“First up, she ain’t wearing no patch, so she ain’t shit to the club, and second, they’d never know it was me.”

I shrugged his hand off my shoulder, getting his attention focused back on me.

“You’re lying to me and yourself if you believe that shit for a second. She’s a brother’s sister. That makes her club property, regardless of what she is or isn’t wearing. You’re thinking with your ego, wanting to get even with Flick and her old man, Taz. To do that, they’d need to know it was you who fucked up his sister. You go through with this, and it’ll spiral outta control in a fucking heartbeat. You wanna be the one to explain to Viper why we can’t run our gear through their bunker anymore?”

He bared his teeth my way, an unnatural fire in his gaze that confirmed what I’d already suspected. He’d taken something and was tripping hard. “You just want her tight little pussy all to yourself. Selfish prick. Wait till I tell the others. Don’t want me to chew her up and spit her out? Fine. I’ll do it to you instead.”

Fuck my life. It wasn’t that I didn’t believe and follow the club’s rule of Brothers First, Brothers Forever, but Animal was way outta line here. The fact he was flying high on something didn’t help. Fucking drugs, man. I’d never touch them. They stole your control. I was doing more than just protecting Jacie. We’d been losing shipments left and right before we’d started using the hidden bunker here in Bridgewater to break up the runs. I blew out a breath and shook my head, not taking my gaze off my club brother.

“You might have the brute strength, Animal. But we both know I got more skill and can take you. You want me to hand your ass to you again? Tell me the time and place, and I’ll happily vent some frustration by knocking you down a couple pegs. But it ain’t gonna be in the middle of the Charon’s clubhouse, yeah?”

With a growl and his body vibrating with a rage I knew I’d have to deal with sooner rather than later, he spun on his booted heel and stormed back down the hallway. Watching him go, I took the final mouthful of the drink Jacie had made me.

Deep down, I knew this shit was already on a path that was gonna spiral outta control. While Animal was riding his high, he could do anything. The fact no one else had followed him inside after their earlier trash talk meant no one else was actually gonna play his game. But that was of little comfort. Especially with how my need to keep Jacie protected grew with every passing minute. I probably should just say something to Viper and Scout. Let the two presidents deal with this situation. But that’d have me branded a rat, something I’d never been. It would also have me cut out of the loop from that point on.

And I wasn’t allowing that to happen. Not for a second. Anything that might be a threat to Jacie was something I needed to know about. Because that woman was mine to protect.

At least, she was gonna be. And soon.