Chapter One #3
I stepped out of the Bronco. My cats continued their symphony of displeasure from their carriers, probably plotting my demise for subjecting them to this travel nightmare.
The compound looked even more impressive up close.
The place might as well have been a fortress.
Police or not, there was no one getting in this place they didn’t want to let in.
There were several men and women about the area.
Most of them wore leather vests like Knuckles and Hawk had on.
The women were a mix of those with vests and those without.
“Holy crap, you guys have your own little city,” I murmured, craning my neck to take it all in.
Carrie laughed. “It’s the most wonderful place in the world.”
Before I could respond, the door to the main building swung open and a woman with a bright smile bounded down the steps toward us. Her blonde hair was pulled into a messy bun, and despite the tough-looking environment, she wore a floral sundress that somehow didn’t look out of place.
“You must be Ellie!” She grabbed my hands in hers, squeezing them warmly. “I’m Pippa! Carrie texted that you were on your way. We’ve got everything ready for you!”
I blinked, taken aback by her enthusiasm. “Um, thanks. That’s really nice of you.”
“Pippa’s our welcome wagon,” Carrie explained with a grin. “She makes sure everyone feels at home.”
“Which you absolutely will,” Pippa assured me, releasing my hands only to loop her arm through mine. “I heard about your little potion accident. Don’t worry, we’ve all had disasters. Though maybe not quite so” -- she sniffed delicately, her nose wrinkling --”aromatic.”
I felt my face flush. “Yeah, sorry about that. I’ll shower as soon as possible.”
Pippa and Carrie both grinned at me. “Don’t be sorry. What kind of witches’ brew isn’t smelly?”
“I was just practicing for Halloween. I like to make a bubbling cauldron and dress up and decorate. I just mixed up a couple things. I do it every year. It’s why I practice before I do it.
” I grinned. If they didn’t like my Halloween spirit, they could all kiss my whole entire ass. “The kids in the park love it.”
“Wait a second.” Pippa’s eyes widened. “That’s you? You do that every year, don’t you?”
“I do.” I couldn’t help but smile and bounce a little with enthusiasm. “Halloween is my favorite holiday. I go all out.”
“I always love the festival in the park. Your area is always the best. Especially your witches’ brew! It seems to make the whole place smell like autumn.”
“It’s just dry ice and some spices. And it’s not like it’s anything to eat. I just like the smoke and fragrance. I string up lights and have cookies and cupcakes out. And hot chocolate.” I smiled. “Nothing like a Halloween sugar high!”
We shared the laugh while the men unloaded my meager possessions from the Bronco. Hawk carefully extracted two of the cat carriers, holding them at arm’s length as if they might explode. Knuckles rolled his eyes and took the other. The cats still hadn’t shut up.
“This way!” Pippa tugged me toward the main building. “The girls are dying to meet you!”
“The girls?” I found myself relieved to know there were other women in the place. Not that I thought these people would hurt me, but it was self-preservation. So far, they’d shown me nothing but kindness and acceptance.
“The other old ladies. That’s what they call the women who are with members of the club,” Carrie explained as we entered the building.
Inside, the main floor opened into a large common area that looked like a cross between a sports bar and someone’s living room.
Pool tables, leather couches, a massive TV, and a well-stocked bar filled the space.
Five women smiled as we entered, moving forward to meet us as the guys took my stuff on to wherever I was staying.
I was kind of anxious to get my cats settled, but I wasn’t going to say anything to seem ungrateful to these people. I owed them. A lot.
“Everyone, this is Ellie!” Pippa announced. “She’s staying with us for a while.”
I expected cold stares or, at best, polite indifference. Instead, they all took my hand or gave me a hug of greeting as they introduced themselves. They didn’t falter even when they got a whiff of the stink.
“Hey. If it helps get the show right Halloween night, you do whatever you need to, honey.” Violet smiled. “If you’re interested in expanding, I know for a fact Caleb will volunteer.”
“Caleb… Harrington?” I looked around like I might see the young man.
“You know my son?” Violet eyed me curiously.
“Well, yeah. He’s been hanging out around my stand since I started helping with it, before it was all mine.”
“I mean, I knew he loved going to the park every day the week before Halloween, but I didn’t realize he was around enough for you to know his name.” Then she frowned. “He didn’t prank you or anything, did he?”
“Oh no! Nothing like that!” I shook my head, grinning. “Caleb’s a wonderful guy. Though, I want it known I’m on to him. He helps me because I pay him in cookies and cupcakes and he has to try every single one.”
“He does, huh?” Violet narrowed her gaze as she looked around the room.
“Yep.” I laughed. “Pretty sure he’d do it no matter what, though. He’s been doing my dunking tank. He’s really good at goading grown men into dropping twenty or thirty dollars trying to dunk him. He’s the best moneymaker we have.”
“Okay, now that I believe.” Riot stepped up beside Violet and dropped a kiss on top of her head. “See? I’m not the only one he bullies.”
“He doesn’t bully you, Riot.” Violet rolled her eyes at the big man. “You’re afraid of him, and you give in to his every whim.”
“Isn’t that bullying?” Riot looked genuinely confused.
“No, honey.” Violet patted his arm. “It’s much more complicated than that.”
“Yeah,” Riot grumbled. “No fuckin’ shit. Kid’s a master manipulator.”
“You’re just now figuring that out?” Pippa grinned.
“I mean…” Riot scratched his head. “Kid’s a…
he’s a dark horse.” His eyes widened with what looked almost like fear but that was hard to imagine.
“I’ll never forget that time I woke up and he was standing beside the bed.
Looking right at me. He didn’t move but I just knew he was gonna stab me in the kidney. ”
“To be fair,” Violet snagged his beard and tugged until he was looking at her. “You were in my bed without his permission.”
“He’s a kid, for crying out loud!” Riot threw his hands up in exasperation. “I don’t need his permission for any fuckin’ thing.” He sounded indignant. Then he stiffened, staring straight ahead, fear and dread dropping over his expression like a veil. “He’s behind me. Isn’t he?”
I avoided looking at anyone because I absolutely would not be the first one to break. Someone cleared her throat. Someone else coughed.
Riot heaved a sigh, then turned around. Caleb had his arms crossed, leaning against a post, his gaze fixed on Riot.
Caleb pointed to his own eyes with two fingers, then pointed at Riot with the same two fingers in an “I’m watching you” gesture.
“Fuck me,” Riot muttered. “Kid’s creepy.”
“Treat my mom right and you have nothing to worry about, big guy.” Caleb gave him a smile that was nothing less than a promise. You know. To make Riot’s death as long and painful as possible if he didn’t treat his mother right.
That was all the rest of us could take. Everyone burst out laughing. Especially Riot. Caleb just looked down his nose at the bigger man and smirked. And no. I have no idea how that worked given Riot was at least four or five inches taller than Caleb.
Caleb punched Riot in the shoulder playfully as he passed, grin firmly plastered on his face. Riot kissed Violet’s cheek before following Caleb outside.
“Come on,” Pippa said, looping her arm through mine. “Let’s get you settled. I think we even managed to scrape together a few changes of clothes for you. Make me a list of anything else you want. I’ll make sure you get it.”
My throat tightened unexpectedly. I couldn’t remember the last time I’d been surrounded by so many people who seemed genuinely pleased to meet me and really wanted to help me.
In most places, my quirks and obsession with Halloween made me the weird girl who didn’t quite fit in.
To say nothing of the cats. Who I needed to see to.
“Thank you,” I managed, blinking back sudden tears. “I don’t know what to say.”
“Say you’ll help us decorate for Halloween around the compound,” Pippa said, her eyes twinkling. “Carrie mentioned it’s your favorite, and us girls want to go all out with the holidays this year in celebration.”
“What are you celebrating?” I was curious about these people and wanted to know them better.
“Our very first holiday season as a family.” Carrie slipped her arm through my other arm. “Besides, we’d hoped you would be part of the celebration with us.”
My eyes widened. “Seriously?”
“Oh yeah,” Carrie confirmed. “We’re starting this party at Halloween, and it’s not stopping until after New Year.”
“Also…” Hannah, Knuckles’ woman, joined the group. “I’m volunteering everyone to help you at the park. Because, if anyone can bring in people to throw things at them before trying to drown them, it’s these guys.”
“What do you raise money for at the park?” Carrie smiled and tilted her head curiously.
“It’s the Halloween Toy Drive. We use the money we make from the dunking tank and my baking to buy toys for the Children’s Hospital as well as a local group home. They can also buy baked goods by donating any toy.”
“That’s so wonderful.” Hannah’s smile was positively radiant. “We’ll make this the best event ever!”
Pippa tugged me toward a hallway. “Come on. Let me show you where you’ll be staying. We’ve got a nice little suite prepared.”
We went to the top floor where the lift opened to a wide hallway.
As we rounded a corner, I nearly collided with a mountain of a man.
He stood well over six feet tall, with broad shoulders that seemed to fill the hallway.
Salt-and-pepper hair was pulled back in a short ponytail -- it would brush his shoulders if let free.
Intricate tattoos disappeared beneath the T-shirt he wore under his leather cut.
His eyes, a startling shade of steel blue, locked onto mine for a heart-stopping moment as he grabbed my upper arms to steady me.
I felt like someone had sucked all the air out of the room.
He was brutally handsome. Heavily muscled.
And utterly delicious. I wanted to eat him up. Or have him eat me up.
No! Bad Ellie!
“What the fuck is that infernal noise?”
Needle scratch back to reality. Yeah. He might be the ultimate eye candy, but apparently he was also a giant dick.
“That would be my cats.” I looked up at him sweetly. “All three of which I love with the fiery passion of a thousand suns, and I will not tolerate anyone saying bad things about them.”
“Cats.”
“Yep.” I kept the fake smile on my face, waiting to see what he’d say next.
“What kind?”
I shrugged. “The noisy kind?”
He looked like he was about to say something when all three cats in question escaped the room as Pippa opened the door. They didn’t run off. Rather, they circled my legs, meowing as they wove figure eights around my ankles. Lucifer paused to look up at the big man and hissed.
“Fuck me…” The man’s jaw tightened. He took a deliberate step away from my cats, scrubbing a hand over his mouth. “You’ve got to be fuckin’ kidding me.”
“This is Chains,” Pippa said, sounding amused. “Don’t mind him. He’s just superstitious.”
“Three black cats crossing your path is like a whole fuckin’ bunch of bad luck.” Chains muttered.
I couldn’t help it. I giggled. “That’s not how it works. Black cats are good luck in many cultures. They’re protectors.”
“This will be your suite, Ellie.” Carrie moved up beside me and grinned up at Chains. “Hey there, big guy.” She gave him a little finger wave.
He frowned. “Not cool, Carrie.”
Carrie shrugged. “It’s not my fault you’re creeped out by the creepy.”
“She stayin’ here?” He looked at the open door, then back down the hall, then back.
“Well, yeah.” Carrie frowned. “It’s the biggest in this group of buildings with the families, and I thought the cats would like the room.”
He huffed. “Fine. I’ll move across the hall.
” He narrowed his gaze on the cats at my feet.
All three now sat staring up at him with equally narrowed gazes.
“Creepy little fuckers.” Lucifer hissed and arched his back.
Chains actually paled and took several steps back before stopping and straightening like he just realized I’d caught him backing off from a house cat.
He pointed at Lucifer, like the cat would be intimidated, before turning and stalking back down the hall.
“Wait!” I called out to him before I could stop myself.
When he turned to give me an exasperated look, I had to bite my tongue to keep from telling him to go fuck himself.
“Don’t give me that look,” I said, pointing at him much like he had Lucifer.
“You don’t like us being here, stay away.
Why would you want to move across the hall if you don’t like my cats? ”
He glanced at the cats again and the sides of his jaws bunched as if he were angry. “I can keep an eye on the demon spawn from there.”
“They’re really sweet.” I smiled up at Chains. Lucifer hissed. “Except Lucifer. There’s a reason Lucifer is his name.”
“Uh-huh.”
“Like I said. If you don’t like them, stay away.”
“Nope. They need watchin’. I can see it in their eyes.” He seemed to be trying to stare down Lucifer. Not only did he not intimidate Lucifer one bit, I was pretty sure the cat’s unblinking gaze as he stared up at Chains unnerved the big biker.
“They are getting watched. I’m watching them.”
“Uh-huh. You need watchin’, too.” Chains met my gaze and held it.
And, oh, my God, the man had some seriously beautiful eyes.
And the crinkles at the edges said he wasn’t always cranky.
I could imagine those steel-blue eyes sparkling with laughter.
Or hardening in anger. Right now, I thought they were…
shadowed? Confused maybe. Like he had no idea how he got here and wasn’t altogether sure he wanted to know.
“I’ll do that better if I’m closer.” Without another word, Chains turned and stomped back down the hall.
“Okay.” Carrie looked from me to Chains’ retreating form. “Things just got interesting.”