Cruise (Bluff Creek Brotherhood MC #7)

1. Chapter One

Chapter One

J ason “Cruise” Park jumped at the crash from the front of the garage. His heart pounded in his chest until he reminded himself, he was safe on the Bluff Creek Brotherhood MC compound. He wasn’t overseas worried about if he and his team would come back from the next mission or at least, what was left of his team. He didn’t need to watch his back because he had Brothers in the MC who helped him. He concentrated on taking a few deep breaths to calm himself.

He and Slice, the only surviving members of the team he had led, had gotten out of the Army, and been lost. Adrift with no place to land and no idea how to find some peace.

Neither one of them had family. They’d picked up their motorcycles from storage and decided to ride the country until a better offer came along. They’d been riding not knowing what was next. Without a clear purpose and grieving the loss of their teammates, their brothers, they’d ridden through state after state, wondering what they would do next. He’d known he and Slice were heading toward a slope of depression that he wasn’t sure they’d climb out of.

Two weeks into their cross-country ride, War and Bear, two of the men they’d served with years ago, had called and extended an invitation to join them in Kansas at their motorcycle club compound. Cruise and Slice had only served with War and Bear a year before War and Bear left the Army to pursue careers in law enforcement. He hadn’t forgotten about them because War had kept in touch by sending Cruise’s team care packages and letters. He’d even given Cruise’s address to his mom, Regina. Regina, or one of her friends, had sent his team cookies like clockwork once every three months. Her little notes in the cookies had brightened his days.

Slice and he hadn’t even discussed the offer. They’d grasped the invitation like a drowning man clutching a rope and being pulled to safety. They’d decided to drop in and had ended up making it their home. It was the best decision they’d ever made. They’d decided to drop six months ago. Once they’d walked onto the compound, they’d ended up making it their home. It was the best decision they’d ever made.

The Bluff Creek Brotherhood MC had been more than they could have imagined - brotherhood, family and a place to belong. Slice was happy with the amazing food but Cruise had finally found a place to call home.

In the months he’d been at the MC, so many things had happened. He’d accepted the officer position of Enforcer. Cruise had always considered himself even tempered. Now he was Enforcer, he considered all the possibilities before teaching someone a lesson. The position blended his skills and filled a need the MC had.

He’d found he enjoyed working in the shop’s garage and even did his turn at their joint security gigs with Franks and Daughters Bail Bonds and Security. He’d watched on the sidelines as so many of his friends found happiness.

Of course, with the happiness came so many things including the craziness the women of the MC had about Christmas. It was two weeks before Christmas and the decorations continued to grow. He been voluntold he’d be helping decorate the orchard. Voluntold because he didn’t volunteer but it was made to sound like he did. Not that he’d ever tell the matriarch Regina, no. She was loving, kind and treated him just like she did her own boys. Her cookies had been the lifeline but being around her in person had changed his life. It was the first time since his mom had died that he’d experienced that type of love. He’d never been much of a cook but Regina had asked for his help a couple early mornings in the clubhouse. He’d realized about the third time he’d helped that Regina didn’t need his help. She was helping him process his grief about losing his team while he helped her make cinnamon rolls.

Slice had mentioned he had helped Regina in the orchard. Cruise would always miss his team but being here, with the MC and with Regina’s help, he was healing.

He was actually looking forward to his first Christmas since he enlisted not on a military base The clubhouse had a large Christmas tree and the fireplace mantle was decorated. And the Christmas food was amazing. Every time he turned around, someone was making different types of Christmas candy and cookies. He’d planned on keeping in shape after he left the Army but he didn’t have a choice now. If he didn’t want to pack on the pounds, he had to work out on a regular basis. The Bail Bonds had a gym but he also enjoyed running the compound. Trekking across the acres also let him keep an eye on their perimeter security which helped him sleep at night.

This year, the MC was adding a lighted sleigh tour through the orchard. Well, it would be a sleigh if they had snow. Otherwise it would be a horse-drawn carriage. It sounded a little hokey to him but he could see women and children loving it. They were an MC. Why weren’t they doing motorcycle rides underneath the lights?

He finished the job he was working on and got to putting away his tools. He wasn’t missing supper tonight. December had brought colder weather including snow and ice at times. It had warmed up last week so the ground didn’t have snow on it but it was cold. After being in mostly hot climates the last decade, he hadn’t been prepared for the cold of Kansas in winter. Regina’s chili and cinnamon rolls would warm him right up.

He might call the women of the MC crazy but he’d give almost anything to snuggle up with his own woman tonight and every night. He wasn’t even dating anyone so he didn’t see that happening. Heck, only one woman in the last five years had even caught his interest. Caught his interest wasn’t the right term. Grabbed him by the throat until all he saw was her was more appropriate.

Willa “Hurricane” Danvers had been stationed at the base his team worked out of and had rescued his men and him on multiple missions, flying her helicopter in and getting them out of danger. From the first time he’d met her, she’d blown away his ability to stay detached. She’d lived up to her call sign because having her in his life had been like a category five hurricane invading every part of his life and being.

Her no-nonsense attitude contrasted with her shining face when she laughed. He’d loved hearing her laugh and had worked hard to make it happen. She’d been a friend but he’d known deep inside, she could be so much more. Spending time with her had been an exercise in self-restraint.

She’d joined their group multiple times for meals on the base but at the time, he’d planned on being career military. Her plan had included getting out when her time was up and heading home. He’d seen too many long-distance relationships implode over the years and he couldn’t have handled that happening with Willa. She’d come to mean too much to him. Next to his teammates, she’d been one of his best friends. He’d been surprised he could have a woman as a best friend but Willa had blown in and broke down every wall he had.

She loved flying but she wasn’t planning on making her career with the Army. So, he’d wrapped his heart up tight and kept it friends only. She’d left the military two years before his career, his team and his dream of being career Army was taken from him.

If he’d known he’d be losing everyone but Slice, he might have pursued more with her. He’d been attracted to her. Heck, he had to work to not have a hard on around her when they were supposed to be only co-workers.

She’d been on his mind a lot lately. He was blaming Slice because Slice had been bugging him the last month about her. Slice was constantly saying Cruise should check on her.

Cruise knew if he really wanted to find her that he could ask his brother Scoop to find her. There wasn’t much Scoop and his wife, Sarah couldn’t find out but what if the unthinkable happened. What if she was happily settled down with a family? At least if he didn’t find out, he could still hold the dream of one day seeing her and telling her what she meant to him. He’d felt more for her from the brush of her arm against his than he’d felt when the woman at the party last week had felt him up in the hallway.

Maybe he’d consider having Scoop check on Willa if he still couldn’t get her off his mind after Christmas. The MC was depending on all of them to help with Christmas and if he knew where she was, he wasn’t sure he wouldn’t just hop on his bike and go to her.

He washed his hands at the sink and then headed in to supper. It was one of the things he looked forward to each day. Food that didn’t taste like sand and the comradery of his brothers in the MC, their women and whoever else showed up.

Cruise mopped up the last bite of chili with the edge of his cinnamon roll. He didn’t give a flying flip if he was using good manners. Regina’s food was something to savor every last bite of.

It had been a smaller group tonight with only Remi, War, Regina, Baron and Rascal joining all the unmarried guys.

“I’ll have dessert for when you’re done with your meeting.” Regina nodded at War. Nope, Cruise would not be smiling at War’s mama giving the MC president permission to leave the table.

“Yep, I’ve got some info we need to discuss. Meet me in council.”

Cruise stood up with the rest, walking his plate, bowl and silverware into the kitchen. Everybody helped clean up at Bluff Creek. He slid his items in the dishwasher and headed to council. An unscheduled meeting was unusual for them unless something had caught on fire, bullets were flying or something had exploded. At least, that’s what he’d heard. They’d had a little excitement since he’d come but not like during War and Remi’s courtship from the stories reminisced about.

Cruise dropped his phone in the holder outside the door to their room and took his seat. Slice dropped down across from him and the others trickled in.

War took his place and waited for Baron to close the door.

“We’ve got a little situation that I need to update you about. I got a call from a friend who is still in the Army. He wanted to update me on a situation and see if we could help. An officer who had previously harassed a female warrant officer has taken retirement. My friend was near him as he was packing. He made direct threats against her and basically said he’d be tracking her down. Unfortunately, my friend was sent out before he could contact her. Once he was back from field training exercises, he contacted her but it had been three weeks. My friend notified her about what was said and also gave her our information and us her information. It sounded like a bad situation, so Remi and I contacted her.”

Cruise’s nervousness grew as War talked. The itch at the base of his neck was warning him of impending danger. He’d never ignored it before and he wasn’t now. “Who is it?”

“Willa Danvers, call sign Hurricane.”

Cruise stood up, kicking his chair back. No, no, no. Not Willa. How could she have been dealing with this and never said anything? Was it while they were working together? When did it happen? He thought they were friends. Why wouldn’t she have said anything?

He wanted, no needed to punch something.

“Cruise, son, are you okay?”

Baron’s words and a hand on his shoulder pulled him out of his head.

“Who was the officer?”

War tilted his head, scrutinizing Cruise’s face. “Does she mean something to you Cruise?”

“She could if dumbass would quit denying what he felt for her.” Slice’s words had Cruise saluting him with his middle finger.

“Well, when we talked to her, she’d recently buried her dad. She’s all alone and heading here. A couple of the Texas Chapter brothers will be bringing her stuff but she’s flying her helicopter here. The building the bail bonds just had built is wide and tall enough to allow the helicopter to be stored. Jesse looked at helicopter dolly specs and is building one if she can’t find one to be here by tomorrow. Willa is leaving tomorrow, early in the morning.”

“Why won’t you say who the officer is?”

“Because I need to know you won’t go off on your own to take care of him. We’re brothers and we’ll handle it as brothers. Scoop and Sarah will start compiling information on him tomorrow. I’d like us to get some of the information first hand from Willa, too. We need to figure out where we can have her live. I think…”

“Wherever she is, I’ll be too,” Cruise pounded his fist on the table to make sure War understood.

“If you’d let me finish, I think there are three options. Option one, she could be in one of the rooms at Locks’ house. The steel doors and lock down options make it ideal. Option two, she could be here in the clubhouse. There would be more brothers to protect her but the clubhouse, although behind the fence, is closer to the road than Locks’ house. Option three, she could be in Winnie’s empty house. With Winnie’s house being behind Locks’ from the road, it offers a little bit of privacy but she wouldn’t have all the men at the clubhouse around. I think they all have positives and negatives. Any discussion?”

“I’d say Winnie’s or Locks’ house would be the best option. Since she’s stopping overnight at the Texas Chapter, it’s feasible he could connect her to our MC,” Slice suggested. “I agree although I think she’d be safe at the clubhouse too. I don’t care where I sleep so if she’s at Winnie’s with Cruise, I’m happy to guard outside.”

Cruise appreciated Slice having his back. He wished their Texas Chapter was closer. If it was he’d ride down to fly back with Willa. A need to ensure her safety beat inside him.

Speedy, Roam and Rascal had been quiet, not offering any advice yet. Cruise knew Speedy pretty well from working at the garage. Rascal was one of the originals who had taken Cruise under his wings and shown him the ropes. He’d also done one of Cruise’s tattoos for his fallen brothers. Roam, who also was a tattoo artist, had inked his Bluff Creek Brotherhood MC tattoo. Each was special to him.

“I agree that we should have Willa give us her say but I think Winnie’s old house would be perfect. Cruise wants to be with her. We could rotate two other guys on shifts around the house and on the compound on patrol. I’d have them vary their route so there isn’t any routine,” Roam suggested.

At least Roam understood, Cruise wasn’t letting Willa out of his sight while she was in danger.

“If we’re good, let’s get some rest. Once Scoop has some info, he’ll be sending it to all of you to review. We need to get this taken care of because with the sleigh rides, we’re going to have a lot of people in and out of the orchard. I don’t want them in danger.”

Cruise walked out of council knowing he wouldn’t be resting. He headed into the Clubhouse’s main room for a drink. He walked behind the bar, grabbed a glass and a bottle of whiskey and dropped into one of the recliners.

Willa was so strong and the thought of what she’d gone through, shredded his heart. He still remembered that exact moment he knew he loved her. They’d all been kicked back around a fire, relaxing in their off time. She and Slice had been arguing on the best movie. Willa was positive it was Dirty Dancing. Slice had told her no romance would ever be the best movie. His choice had been the A-Team.

Willa had looked over at him, asking for his opinion, trying to prove she was right. He could have cared less about the movies but he’d wanted to see the smile spreading on Willa’s face again. He’d agreed with her and she’d jumped up and done a victory dance. Her exuberance and love of life had him admitting he had more than friend feelings for her.

At the time, he’d known he’d be a lifer in the Army. In his core, he’d always known he’d protect his country and the innocents. Even though Willa embodied everything he wanted in woman, he’d shoved his feelings back down deep in the friend zone.

Now, the woman he dreamed of was in danger and he was going to do whatever he could to protect her and let her know exactly how he felt about her.