Chapter One #2
“My name is Lyssa, like the asshat said, and I heard about your club from a friend. I know you helped Lilian when she ran from Dragon. Those guys have been hounding me for a while. I could have gone to my dad, but…” She shrugged a shoulder.
“If I’d done that, he’d have locked me in my room and never let me leave. ”
“Exactly how old are you?” Brick asked.
“Eighteen.”
I whistled. I knew I was older than her, but I hadn’t realized by how much.
My dick didn’t seem to care about her age.
I’d been hard as fuck since she’d walked in.
Although, if she was friends with Lilian, that meant she might very well be friends with the Devil’s Fury.
I wasn’t about to cause trouble with the other club by sticking my cock where I shouldn’t.
I heard the pipes on several bikes pull up outside.
When Saint, Zipper, and Grimm came inside, I knew I’d have to put the angel on hold.
I’d sit down and hear what she had to say, figure out how best to help her, but right now I had Dixie Reapers to deal with.
Whatever they wanted, I hoped it didn’t take long.
“Are you shitting me?” Saint asked, his gaze narrowed on the woman who’d moved up beside me. “Lyssa, what the fuck are you doing here?”
“Visiting?” She moved a little closer to me, pressing her arm against mine.
Saint’s gaze moved from her to me. I didn’t like the look one bit, and I was about to tear into him. Then his next words froze me in place.
“Torch know you’re fucking his daughter?” Saint asked.
Holy. Fucking. Shit.
Lyssa crossed her arms. “I’m not a kid, Saint. I can be with whoever I want. I don’t need my daddy’s permission. Or did all of you miss that memo when I packed my shit and left?”
“You were supposed to be in college,” he said.
“Torch know she’s here?” Zipper asked.
“He doesn’t,” Lyssa said. “And you aren’t going to tell him. Because if you do, I’m going to tell Delphine about the chocolate lava cake you ate without sharing any with her last week.”
Zipper opened and shut his mouth.
Grimm cocked his head to the side. “And how would you know about that since you’ve been gone for months?”
“I hired assassins when I was a kid. You really think hacking into the clubhouse feed is all that difficult?” she asked.
Wait. She’d what? I didn’t dare take my eyes off the three Dixie Reapers, but I definitely wanted to know about the assassins. Why had she hired them? And how?
“No more time with Wire and Lavender. They’ve ruined you,” Saint said.
“You’re not my daddy, or my old man. You don’t get a say,” she said.
“Thank fuck,” Saint muttered.
“As entertaining as all this is, I don’t think you asked for my help because Lyssa is here.
So why don’t you get a drink, take a seat, and as soon as I have her settled, I’ll hear what you have to say.
” I placed my hand at the small of her back.
I had no clue what was going on, but I’d find out before the day was over.
I urged her to the front door, keeping my hand against her. My steps didn’t even falter when Zipper decided to throw in a parting shot.
“Torch finds out you’re fucking his little girl, you better make sure you have a ring on her finger. And for fuck’s sake, don’t knock her up!”
I kept going and when we stepped outside, I looked down at her.
“We’re going to have a little chat as soon as I hear what Saint, Zipper, and Grimm have to say.
Until then, I want you to stay at my place.
Don’t even think of fucking leaving. I’ll make sure the Prospects know you aren’t to leave the compound. ”
“I’ve spent my whole life doing the exact opposite of what bossy men told me to do. Always hated having someone dictate what I could and couldn’t do.” She leaned closer. “But I kind of like it when you do it. Are you bossy in other situations too?”
“You’re like a little powder keg, aren’t you?”
She shrugged a shoulder. “I just know what I want and don’t see the point in denying it. Besides, I need your help. I wasn’t lying about that part. The fact my dad’s club showed wasn’t in my plans, but I can work around it.”
I pointed to my house. It was hard to miss.
After Charlotte had left, I’d decided to move out of the home we’d shared.
She may not have been in my bed, but I still couldn’t live there after she’d moved away.
I’d seen her in every room and thought of what might have been.
So I’d built a new home. The huge stone monstrosity sat back from the bend in the road.
“Door’s unlocked. Make yourself at home.
I’ll be there as soon as I’m done with business. ”
She flashed me a smile before going up on her tiptoes and pressing her lips to mine again. “Yes, sir.”
I curled my fingers into my palms so I wouldn’t be tempted to swat her on the ass. I liked her sass, and how bold she was. A little too much. I hoped I hadn’t bitten off more than I could chew, but only time would tell.
She climbed into a black Cadillac Escalade, gave me a little salute, then backed out and headed for my house.
I didn’t see Torch buying a car like that for her, so I was more than a little curious where she’d gotten it.
After I made sure she was doing exactly as I’d said, I turned and went back inside, wondering for a moment if I should have warned her about Bandit and Pirate.
“Thought Venom was coming,” I said as I joined the men at a table.
“He is. He should be here any minute. Had to pull off to take a call,” Zipper said.
“Then I guess we’d better wait for him.” I waved a hand at some club girls waiting off to the side. “Want any entertainment?”
Saint shook his head. “I’ve got an old lady at home.”
“Same,” Zipper said.
Grimm eyed the ladies but shook his head. “Venom won’t be long.”
Saint ran a hand through his hair and leaned back.
“I hope you know what you’re doing, Beast. There are only two things in this world that will make Torch lose his shit.
Anyone hurting his wife, or someone threatening his kids.
Tread carefully. I have no idea what you’re doing with Lyssa, but she’s not like the women over there. ”
I saw Brick and Drifter out of the corner of my eye, both placing their hands over their weapons.
I kicked my feet out in front of me and folded my arms over my abdomen as I eyed Saint.
“You’ve got balls, I’ll give you that. Walking into my house, disrespecting my woman, and giving me veiled threats? You want my help or you want a war?”
Zipper spit out his beer. “Your woman? Holy fuck.”
Sunlight poured into the clubhouse as the doors opened and Venom strolled in. “Thanks for meeting with us.”
I shook his hand and motioned for him to sit. “I was just getting acquainted with these three.”
“Lyssa is here,” Grimm said.
Venom gave a short nod. “I know. I’m glad.”
He knew? I wasn’t about to ask how. He’d either seen her SUV, or someone had tipped him off. Maybe the call he’d gotten on the way here? Which meant someone was most likely tracking her vehicle or phone. My money was on Wire.
“You’re glad, VP?” Saint asked. “You said we needed to go get her. Did you know she would be here?”
“Yes, I’m glad, and no, I didn’t know she’d come here.
” Venom sighed. “We’ve got problems. Or more accurately, Lyssa does.
Some little punk has been after her, but word is he’s part of the Mancini family.
There’s a site Wire ran across. The Mancini family is going to auction off women.
Some will become wives of men with particular tastes.
Others will go to brothels worldwide. Lyssa’s name was recently added to the list.”
“Torch received pictures of Lyssa. Some punk ass kid named Tony was trying to get in her pants, and she keeps rejecting him. Now he’s out for revenge.
Those pictures have been uploaded to the auction site and the description makes it clear she needs a firm hand.
Bidding has already started. She’s a bit old for the men wanting a wife, which means she’ll likely end up in a brothel somewhere. ”
“Over my fucking dead body,” I muttered.
Venom scratched at the beard along his jaw, his gaze intent as he watched me. Yeah, I’d said more than I should have, but one look and I already knew I’d lay down my life for that woman. I was so fucked.
“Since Lyssa is already here,” Venom said, “we just need you to keep an eye on her. But if you can spare anyone, we’d appreciate some extra hands.
The Devil’s Fury and Devil’s Boneyard have both agreed to help us find as many of the young girls as possible, but I wouldn’t be opposed to a few more men. ”
“Why drive all the way here? You could have just asked over the phone,” I said.
“We want as many men on this as we can get. Wire and Lavender are working as fast as they can on the computer end of things, but I want as many hands available for any rescue attempts as possible.” Venom folded his arms over his chest. “Look, you don’t have women here other than the whores, and now Lyssa.
Since she’s here, I won’t ask for much, but even one man could be a help.
As for why I came in person, I was heading to Lyssa’s next. You were on the way.”
I had to wonder, if Venom had been aware Lyssa was here when he’d pulled up, that had to mean someone had been keeping tabs on her location. Why had they planned to go any farther once they got here? Or had they just known she was mobile but not her destination?
“Prospect okay?” I asked. “Our club isn’t as large as yours. With Lyssa here, I don’t want any patched brothers or officers leaving and putting her at risk.”
“As long as it’s someone you trust.”
I yelled out for Iggy, one of our newer prospects. He hurried toward me and stopped by the table. “You need something, Pres?”
“These men need some help rescuing girls from the Mancini family. I want you to head out with them tomorrow and help wherever you’re needed.”
Iggy nodded. “I’ll be ready to go whenever they are.”
“Seven o’clock,” Venom said. “You got a place where we can crash for the rest of today? Been riding for two days trying to gather up a few allies. I’d planned to talk to you tomorrow, after we’d had a night to rest and let Wire have a little more time to do his thing, but that call on the way here changed things.
Now that I know Lyssa is handled, it’s one less worry. ”
“If you don’t mind the noise of the clubhouse, I’ve got a few rooms upstairs you can use,” I said.
“We’ll take them,” Venom said.
I tapped my knuckles on the table. “All right. I’ll have Brick get things set up for you. Not to be rude, but I have a woman I need to wrangle.”
Venom’s lips twitched. “Good luck. At least she’s not as wild as my Farrah.”
I stopped long enough to give instructions to Brick, then rode my bike back to my house. Although, if I’d have known about the sight that would greet me, I might have come home sooner.