Chapter 8
CHAPTER EIGHT
Eazy
The scent of bourbon and burning wood from inside lingers in the air as I step outside, the heavy door creaking behind me as it swings shut. The bar is packed, alive with laughter and the clinking of glasses, but I need a break from the chaos to breathe. I’m trying to clear my head because thoughts of Noelle have occupied my headspace most of the night.
The cold bites at my skin as I lean against the bar’s exterior, welcoming the chill to seep into my bones. I let the quiet wash over me and fish a half-empty pack of cigarettes from my pocket.
The parking lot light flickers outside the bar, casting a ghostly glow on the pavement below my feet as I stand by the entrance. I cup my hands and shield the flame as I light the tip of my cigarette. The flame dances as it catches fire. I inhale deeply, the smoke curling upward, merging with the cold night air. I hear the laughter echoing through the bar’s walls as my eyes scan the lot.
My thoughts drift back to Noelle and the possibility of a threat following her to our small town. I knew trouble was on her heels before taking her in and offering Noelle and her brother refuge. I take another drag, the smoke filling my lungs, and exhale slowly. Flicking the ash from my cigarette, I watch the snow fall softly from the sky.
But there is more to it than helping Noelle and her brother stay safer—much more.
The woman has a hold on me I can’t explain or deny. Noelle stirs feelings I haven’t felt before.
I’m content with my life and not being chained to one woman. At least, that’s what I keep telling myself, yet the more I think about it, the more it feels like a lie. Noelle’s path crossing with mine is no accident, but it’s unpredictable, and that alone weighs heavily on me.
I crush the cigarette under my boot, watching the embers die against the snow. I take a deep breath, feeling the cold air slice through the uncertainty that has settled heavily on my shoulders, and push off the side of the wall.
Whatever battles lay ahead, one thing remains unwavering—I will keep Noelle, Zack, and the club safe.
I take a deep breath before heading back inside, where warmth envelops me like a thick wool blanket.
Inside the bar, the mood is alive with energy. Laughter and shouting compete with the music blaring as a jukebox in the corner belts out a classic Johnny Cash song.
I glance around, surveying the scene. My brothers, solid as the bikes they ride, laugh, drink, and shoot the shit playing games of pool as the patrons mingle, talking and dancing among themselves, smoke curling from the half-lit cigarettes, spiraling toward the ceiling.
As I move deeper into the bar, I catch sight of Noelle, serving drinks for those thirsty for a taste of the freedom of a Saturday night. Her chestnut brown hair swings as she moves, catching the light and making her presence more magnetic. She serves drinks at a men’s table, winking to Bradley, a young man who works for the timber company here in town. I know him and his old man well. They cut me some good deals on lumber when I was having my home built. He’s an honest, hardworking man, but not a damn bit of it lessens the reaction I’m experiencing now. A jolt of jealousy streaks through me as he shoots her a smile, looking her over with interest. I clench my fists hanging at my sides, trying like hell to refrain from strolling over there and slamming his face into the whiskey-stained table, claiming Noelle right now.
“You good?” I feel Brewer’s hand grip my shoulder, but I don’t reply. He follows my murderous stare aimed at Bradley. In my peripheral vision, I see his amused grin, and it adds fuel to the fire in my chest. “Come on, brother. Let’s get a drink to douse those flames.”
Needing the distraction, I pull my attention away from Noelle and join my brother at the bar, where Rooster places an unopened bottle of whiskey in front of us with a couple of shot glasses. Brewer pours a heavy hand of liquor into each glass.
I lift the drink to my lips and tilt my head back. A river of warmth flows through me as the whiskey slides down my throat, battling the cold churn of jealousy coiling in my gut.
“Why fight it?” Brewer’s voice breaks through the haze. “Hell, you’ve already moved her and the boy into your home. We all know you want her, so go fuckin’ claim her.”
The whiskey does nothing to dull the sharp edges of my frustration. I scan the room, my eyes landing on Noelle, who is making her way toward the bar. The muscles in my jaw tighten again to keep my feelings at bay as she steps beside me to retrieve another order of drinks.
“The atmosphere in this place is electric tonight,” Noelle exclaims as she gracefully gathers her long hair and twists it into a carefree bun. I find myself unable to look away as she takes a deep breath, turns, and flashes me a radiant smile while balancing a tray full of drinks. As our eyes meet, a force takes hold, almost overpowering my determination to remain seated. And by the fire in her eyes, I can tell she feels it, too. Noelle goes silent, severing our connection. With a confident stride, she navigates through the lively room, making her way to the far side of the bar.
“Fuck, brother. You two need to deal with those flames before they engulf the whole bar,” Brewer exclaims as he downs a shot. “I need to find pussy to take home after dealing with that.”
I’m on the verge of telling him to shut the fuck up when my attention shifts to the entrance. Five men swagger into the bar, instantly altering the vibe in the room. Their smug expressions make it clear that trouble might be on the horizon. And by the looks of it, these fuckers are already intoxicated. I keep my eyes on them as they make their way over to an unoccupied pool table.
“They could be trouble,” I mutter to Brewer, sitting at my side. He follows my line of sight and keeps his eyes on the group, too.
Laughter erupts from the group, followed by the loud thud of fists hitting the table. “Let’s get some service over here,” the larger of five, with a bald head and brown beard, bellows.
One of the motherfuckers, reaches out and grabs Noelle by the wrist, yanking her toward him. “Come here, sweetheart! Let’s have some fun,” his loud voice carries over the music.
A fire ignites in my chest. Before I can process it further, I’m moving, my boots thudding against the floorboards. Brewer is behind me, and my other brothers are closing in.
“Hey, motherfucker,” I shout, my voice razor-sharp, cutting through the noise of the bar, chatter and laughter dying instantly.
The man holding onto Noelle locks eyes with me. “What’s your problem, asshole?” he taunts, squaring his shoulders.
“You, motherfucker.” I step closer, feeling the heat radiate off my skin.
“Mind your business, biker!” Another dumbass steps forward. He clenches his fists, and his eyes narrow aggressively. Brewer reacts, and his fist catapults forward, connecting with the man’s gut.
The guy doubles over, the air expelling from his lungs in a harsh gasp, and he staggers back, eyes wide with shock. Grabbing him by the collar, Brewer yanks him back and drives a knee into the ribcage. Before he can recover, Brewer throws him against the wall.
My attention never leaves one particular motherfucker. I draw in a breath, absorbing the adrenaline coursing through my veins.
The bastard who has yet to release his hold on Noelle smirks. Noelle tugs to break free, but the fucker tightens his grip. The standoff fills the room with negative energy, and people start filing out. In a flash, the man holding onto Noelle shoves her to the floor and lunges at me, fists raised. I sidestep, dodging his clumsy attack, but he quickly recovers.
“You’re dead,” he snarls, then spits at my face and comes at me again.
My fist connects with his jaw, sending him back into the wall. Grabbing him by the hair, I drag him back to the pool table, then proceed to slam his face into the top rails, hearing his nose crack. Relentless in my assault, I continue ramming his face into the wood until the felt playfield begins to turn red with his blood. Shouts and curses fill the space around me as my brothers brawl with the other men.
“Torin!” Noelle’s voice breaks through my foggy rage. Releasing my hold on the bastard, I let his limp body slump to the floor. Turning, I catch sight of Noelle, her eyes wide with fright from behind the bar, and that feeling—feral and protective—takes over. I move across the bar toward her. “Are you okay, baby?”
Noelle nods slowly. “I—I…” she stammers, and I notice her hands trembling.
“I will never let anyone hurt you,” I promise.
“It happened so fast. I didn’t know what to do. I froze,” she whispers.
“Come here,” I say, my voice steady, and pull her into my chest, her warmth seeping deep beneath my skin, closing around my heart and calming the chaos inside. And at that moment, I know she is mine .
I glance back at the chaos, my brothers herding the five men, shoving them toward the door, two of them carrying their busted and bloodied friend who made the mistake of putting his hands on Noelle. “Show your faces around here again, you’ll be leavin’ in body bags,” I threaten.
They don’t need to be told twice. I see the fear on their faces before they flee out the door into the night. Now, only my men remain as the bar is empty.
I look back at Noelle. “Get your things. We’re leaving.”
Noelle doesn’t budge.
Charlie walks over and leads her away. “Come on, girlfriend.”
I wait for the women to disappear into the breakroom at the back of the bar before facing my brothers. “Shut it down for the night, Brewer. Poet and Wire, make sure those pieces of shit leave town.”
“You got it.” Poet pulls a thick jacket over his shoulders and heads out into the cold with Wire close behind him.
Rooster runs a hand through his hair as he strolls in my direction. “That’s one hell of a way to claim a woman,” he shouts, his words causing Tech and Brewer’s eyes to fall on me.
“Never thought I’d see the day,” Tech piles onto Rooster’s statement.
I don’t deny the truth in their words.
I’m falling hard and fast for Noelle.
Charlie and Noelle reappear, wearing winter gear and bags slung over their shoulders. After a brief whisper session followed by a hug between the two women, Noelle walks toward me, and I tuck her into my side and walk outside. The bar door swings shut behind us with a heavy thud, and the crisp Montana air fills my lungs on our walk across the parking lot to my truck.
I open the truck’s door and help Noelle in. “You good, baby?” I let the words roll off my tongue, hoping she senses the tenderness behind them despite the violence that unfolded moments earlier.
She slides onto the passenger seat. “Yeah. I want to get back to the clubhouse and check on Zack.”
I close the door, walk around the front of the truck, get behind the steering wheel, start the engine, and turn the heat full blast. “We’re not going to the clubhouse.” I shift the truck into gear and roll out of the bar lot. “You and your brother are coming to stay with me. I can’t have you two at the clubhouse long term.”
Her gaze flicks to me. “But Zack,” she exclaims.
“Zack is fine. He’s with my mom at my place.”
“A hotel room will be just fine for me and Zack,” Noelle pleads.
“I told you that I will protect you and your little brother. My place is just as safe, if not more so, than the clubhouse.” I glance over, catching her stunning profile in the glow of the dashboard lights. Noelle is a survivor. One look at her, and you can see the fight she has. I admire that about her. I let silence shroud us momentarily before asking, “Tell me more about Zack’s father.” I’m hoping she will open up to me with it being the two of us.
Her voice quivers as she speaks, “I didn’t want to shoot him, but I had to protect my brother. I walked in on the bastard beating the shit out of him. I wasn’t about to see him get away with it again. How can you do that to your child?” Her voice gets stuck in her throat as emotions bubble to the surface.
My gut tightens at the thought. “You did what you had to. I respect that.”
“Yeah, well, now I have to look over my shoulder every second of the day.” Noelle turns her head, peering through the passenger’s window. “It’s not the life I want for Zack. He deserves better.”
“He’s alive and has you, baby.” I turn the wipers on when it begins to snow.
The weight of the conversation lingers in the air, heavy with unspoken words as we drive down the long road leading to my home—a cabin nestled in a thicket of trees.
I park, step out of the truck, and stroll to the passenger side, opening the door. The cold presses against us as I lead her onto the front porch. Noelle looks around, taking in her surroundings.
“You can get a better look once the sun comes up. Come on, let’s get out of the cold,” I say. The moment we step inside, warmth engulfs us.
I kick off my boots, leave them beside the front door, and shrug off my coat before helping Noelle out of hers and hanging them on the wall hooks. Following my lead, she removes her boots and places them beside mine. I take her by the hand and lead her into the living room, where we find my mom sleeping in the recliner, covered by a quilt, in front of the fireplace.
“Um, does your mom live here with you?” Noelle raises her brow.
I let out a low chuckle. “No, baby. She has her place on the backside of my property, a small one-bedroom cabin.” I keep her hand in mine and start walking. “I want my mom close, but not that close.” I lead her quietly down the hall to the spare bedroom I set up for her brother. The room is dimly lit, the nightlight casting shadows on the walls. Zack is curled up under a blanket, sleeping. Noelle stands in the doorway, watching him for a beat.
“Come on,” I say, leading us to the end of the hall. Then, I push open the door to my bedroom. “You’ll sleep in my room,” I say, and she investigates.
Noelle looks at me, her eyes searching mine, a hint of hesitation surfacing again. “What about you?”
I rub the back of my neck. “I’ll crash on the pullout in the living room.”
“This is too much, Torin. I don’t know how to thank you.” Then Noelle steps closer, bringing her body against mine as she raises on her toes, her lips hovering dangerously close to mine.
“You sure, baby? ’Cause once I taste you…”
“I’m sure,” she whispers.
The instant her soft, warm lips meet mine, a surge of electric energy courses through my entire body, setting every nerve ablaze. Kissing her feels like returning to a place I never knew I’d been missing. As we finally part, both of us are left breathless, and I can sense my heart thumping against my chest.
Our eyes lock, and in that moment, we both comprehend there’s no going back.