Chapter 2
“Why’s there no fucking food in the fridge?”
Jesse Hellion asked the question out loud as he stared at the empty refrigerator in horror.
He stepped away and slammed the doors, then turned to the cupboards. Hardly any food was left there either.
What the fuck?
An empty kitchen in a biker compound was just asking for trouble. The crew ate a fuckton. And hangry bikers were the worst.
They always had homemade meals and snacks thanks to Rochelle. She was the crew’s cook and housekeeper, married to one of their oldest members, Nate.
“Rochelle’s sick with the flu.”
Jesse whirled at the sound of a familiar voice to find Xander standing behind him, his usual smirk in place.
Xander Layton was the randiest fuckboy of the Hellraisers Hellions MC, and the biggest pain in Jesse’s ass since, well, ever. Xander was built, gorgeous, and he knew he was gorgeous. The only openly bisexual member of the crew, Xander was never shy of female and male company. And he was smart. As their resident techie, the man had hacking skills that were scary AF. With dark blue eyes and long black hair, the man could have been a model, never mind a biker.
“Since when?”
“Since yesterday,” Xander replied and swaggered up to him.
“Why didn’t anyone tell me? I’ll go and see if she’s okay.”
As the resident medic, Jesse took care of the crew’s health needs. He’d even taught himself surgery, including how to remove a bullet, courtesy of their member Dante, a few months back. But his greatest love was his dogs, the ones he trained to guard their compound. Dogs were easy to understand and a hell of a lot more manageable than people.
Xander reached out and grabbed Jesse’s arm, holding him there.
Irritation and something much more dangerous, sparked.
Jesse locked eyes with those knowing blue ones and pulled his arm away.
“Text her first. She said she’s fine. She wanted to stay in isolation so no one else catches it. Especially Avery since she’s due in two months.”
“Rochelle’s due in two weeks! And I need to make sure she’s all right,” Jesse snapped and started to walk out of the kitchen. He turned at the last minute. “And go with Vanier into town and get some goddamn food before we have a riot on our hands.”
“You’re not the boss, Jesse. I don’t take orders from you.”
Jesse stalked back to Xander, until they were almost nose to nose. “Not yet. But someday. Better get used to it.”
“So cocky,” Xander replied and gave him a once over. “It doesn’t suit you.”
“But it suits you?”
“Course it does. The volume of my fuck buddies don’t lie. Wouldn’t you be in my boots?” Xander licked his lips and Jesse’s eyes caught on the movement.
No, look away.
“What are you two doing?”
The bellowing voice of Gage Hellion, Jesse’s dad, and the club’s president, startled both men.
“We got a sick, pregnant crew member and no fucking food! Jess, go check on Rochelle, and Xander, wipe that smirk off your fucking face and organize a food run.”
“You got it,” Xander replied and gave Jesse a mock salute before he sauntered out of the room.
His jeans were so tight, Jesse wondered how the guy could mount his bike without splitting them. The image of Xander’s perfect ass was not something Jesse wanted to picture right now. Or ever again. Well, that was unrealistic. Xander was always fucking someone at one of their parties, so everyone saw his naked butt on a regular basis.
“What are you waiting for, Jess? Go and see Rochelle,” his father demanded.
“I’m going,” Jesse raised his arms up in frustration. “I’ll just grab my medical kit. Even though I’m too damn hungry to think.”
“Missing one meal ain’t gonna kill you.”
Jesse knew better than to talk back to his dad, so he left the kitchen and headed out of the clubhouse.
His two oldest dogs, Madz and Ozzy, both Rottweiler/shepherd mixes, followed when he gave the signal. He walked back to his cabin, grabbed his medical kit and headed over to Nate and Rochelle’s. Their cabin was at the back of the compound. The longer Jesse walked, the hungrier he got. Even his dogs glanced up at him when they heard his stomach growl.
He gave them the command to lie down on Nate’s porch and knocked on the door.
A minute later, a rough looking Nate answered.
“Hey.”
“You got sick too?” Jesse asked as he slipped on a face mask and latex gloves.
“Yup. Fever, aching, exhausted.”
Jesse reached for his thermometer and press the start button, then inserted it into Nate’s ear.
It beeped thirty seconds later.
“101. Have you taken any medication?”
“Acetaminophen. An hour ago. It’s Rochelle I’m worried about. She’s got a cough and with the baby?—”
“Don’t worry. Let me check her out and we’ll go from there.”
Nate ran a hand through his dark hair that was now liberally sprinkled with grey. “This pregnancy shit is so fucking intense, man. Like what the fuck am I going to do when my kid actually arrives? Jesus Christ.”
Jesse bit out a laugh. “That’s a lot of fucks. Sounds like your nerves are worse than the flu.”
“You got that right,” Nate replied as he started back down the hallway.
Jesse chuckled and followed him, entering their main bedroom.
Rochelle gave a wave but barely moved. She was so pale that Jesse’s own nerves started to spark.
“Hey Chelle, I’m gonna take your temperature and then your blood pressure. Are you getting enough fluids?”
“Yeah, my stomach’s fine. It’s this fever and the aches. I’m too tired to get out of bed.”
Jesse took her temp, which was 100.5 and then her blood pressure. He checked her eyes, her pulse, and then used his stethoscope to listen to her lungs and her heart. He did the same with her belly.
“Well, the good news is that your lungs are clear, heartbeat is normal, and your fever isn’t dangerously high.”
“And the bad news?”
“Nate is also sick, so you’ve got two babies in the house.”
Nate whacked Jesse’s shoulder.
“Fuck off. If I wasn’t so sick, I’d kick your ass,” Nate growled.
“You guys just continue on with rest, fluids, and acetaminophen. Check your temp regularly. I have another thermometer I’ll leave here. Any shortness of breath or your fever spikes, call me. Day or night.”
“Will do, thanks Jess.” Rochelle offered a weak smile.
“And just so you know, Xander and Vanier are on a food run. Expect lots of frozen dinners and canned soup.”
“Oh God,” Rochelle held her head. “I don’t even want to know what they’re going to do to my kitchen.”
“Relax. We’ll use the microwave. And maybe the barbecue. That’s it.”
“Make sure someone cleans up every day,” Rochelle whispered.
Jesse grabbed his bag and laughed. “Right.”
A loud knock sounded out.
“I’ll get it,” Jesse offered. “I’m on my way out anyway.”
As he walked back out of the room and down the hallway, Jesse spotted Xander just outside the front door.
He was crouched down on the porch, petting the dogs, and speaking to them in a soft voice. Madz and Ozzy were mesmerized, giving Xander licks and pushing their heads into his hands for more scritches.
So much for guarding him from unwanted visitors…
Jesse opened the door and stepped out onto the porch.
“What are you doing here?” Jesse asked.
Xander stood up and met him eye to eye. “How are Nate and Chelle. Are they okay?”
“They’ll be fine. It’ll just take time and lots of fluids.”
“My kind of recovery,” Xander quipped.
“Does everything have to be about sex with you?”
“Yes. But that’s not the reason I’m here. I need you to come into town with me.”
“Why?”
“Gage told me to head to the diner to pick up supper. Sam already has the orders in.”
“I thought Vanier was going with you?”
“He’s back in his room, throwing up.”
“Shit, he’s sick too?”
“Yeah, but likely from a bender last night, not the flu.”
Jesse sighed and snapped his fingers at the dogs. Both sidled up to Jesse, tails wagging.
“Okay, let’s make it good and fast,” Jesse grumbled.
“That’s what he said.”
“That’s not a compliment, Xan.”
“Sometimes quick and dirty is all you need. Am I right?”
Jesse refused to make eye contact and instead, stepped off the porch and began to walk to towards the club’s garage.
“There’s more to life than sex.”
“Yeah, sure. There’s bikes, beers, parties, and video games. In fact, I just developed a new game. Want to help me test it out?”
“What’s it called?”
“Cornhole.”
“Excuse me?”
“You know, toss the beanbags in the hole?”
“That still sounds sexual.”
“Admit it, you want me.”
Jesse turned on his boots and shoved a fist into Xander’s chest. “Stop it. Don’t.”
Xander held his hands up and shook his head. “I’m teasing, Jess. Chill out.”
“Well, tease someone else. I ain’t in the mood.”
Jesse’s body was starting to like Xander’s flirtation too much for comfort. Not that Jesse was upset about the fact that it was a guy teasing him and not a woman. He’d had guys suck him off before. And he’d taken part in threesomes, foursomes, and orgies. Fucking random guys.
But not anyone he knew. And never a club member.
No fucking way.
They walked in silence the rest of the way and when they got to the garage, Jesse opened his truck. The dogs scrambled into the flatbed and Xander rode shotgun.
“How’s Dante doing?” Xander finally murmured when they hit the road.
“He’s all healed up.”
“And Sage?”
Sage was now living with Dante. Another club member had succumbed to monogamy. She’d helped them wipe out the Carnage crew a few months ago after a turf war broke out. Her own brother had been involved with Carnage and had played a part in their sister Rosemary’s death. Jesse didn’t know how you ever recovered from that betrayal but Sage, with the support of Dante, was doing all right.
“Pretty good all things considered. She and Dante seem happy together.”
“Never would have pegged him for a one-woman man. But I guess every dog has their day. No offense to Madz or Ozzy.”
“None taken on their behalf,” Jesse chuckled. “And I know what you mean. I guess shacking up is going around like this flu.”
“Can you vaccinate me?” Xander quipped.
“With a very long, very painful needle? Anytime.”
“I meant naturally. You know, with your magic jizz.”
Jesse nearly swerved into oncoming traffic. “Christ, where do you come up with this shit?”
“I’m multi-talented. Vers. I mean, versatile,” Xander replied with a dirty chuckle.
Vers? Jesse flushed so hot that he wondered if he was the one who now had a fever.
Everyone had witnessed Xander topping lots of men and women. But Jesse didn’t know that he also bottomed. An image of Jesse pounding that perfect ass of Xander’s came out of nowhere. Fucking hell.
“Let’s talk about something else. Like the Krypt Crew in Drumheller,” Jesse suggested, desperate for a change in topic. “I hear they got a new drug they’re manufacturing. Cheaper and stronger than ecstasy. Cheaper than anything we sell.”
“Yeah, it’s a problem. I’m working with Wyatt on creating a pill that’s even more potent and a fraction of that cost but it’s not ready yet. And chemistry was only my minor. But Avery can’t help out like she used to now that she’s preggo.”
“It still blows my mind that I’m gonna be an uncle shortly. And Sonny, our enforcer, with a kid? I don’t know, man. That’s scary as fuck. I’m gearing up for a shitload of fighting.”
“I just hope it doesn’t change things,” Xander whispered.
“What do you mean?”
“Like the parties, the gun running, the bunker, everything.”
“They’ll just keep the kid away from all that. Until they’re old enough to understand. Dad did it with me and Avery and we turned out all right.”
“True. I just, I don’t know. It feels like so much is changing. Maybe I did catch something,” Xander paused and stared out the window. “You want to give me a full physical?”
Jesse sighed as they pulled into town and headed for the diner. “Conflict of interest. Sorry.”
“Hey, I think we’ve got trouble,” Xander stated.
“What?” Jesse glanced down the road and saw the bikes parked in front of the diner. “Shit, is that?—”
“Yup, speak of the devils.”
The Krypt crew had a lot of explaining to do.