Chapter Eight
BELLE
It’s ten o’clock, and time is dragging tonight. I just want to finish my shift and get a good night’s sleep.
The crowd seems to be wild tonight—the music is blaring, and it’s packed with bikers from other visiting chapters.
I spot Blake, who’s already had a few too many and is on the dance floor with some whore attached to him. Not sure if it’s Honey or Lacey. Either way, they’re both skanks. It should upset me to see him with another woman draped all over him and kissing his neck. But it doesn’t. After our talk this afternoon when I explained what happened with Mikki, we both agreed we should calm things down for now, and I stressed that he needs to be seen with other women.
“Hey, darlin’, it’s a busy one tonight. Looks like it’s going to be an all-nighter. You might want to go sleep at a friend’s.”
“Ha, like I haven’t been around that before, Dad.” Pouring a beer, I slide it over to him on the bar where he’s taken a seat. He picks it up and skulls it, then slams it on the bar, sliding the empty glass toward me.
“Another, Belle.”
Hanging the dish towel over my shoulder, I pour him another beer and place it in front of him.
“Thanks, darlin’.”
“You got it, Dad.”
Getting back to serving, I ask Slick, another biker in the RBMC, what he wants. He orders a shot, and I pour it and hand it to him. He winks at me and slurs, “Baby, you’re looking extra hot tonight.”
“You fuckin’ got a death wish or something?” my father shouts at Slick, who is swaying on his feet. I should cut him off, but who am I to tell him to stop? I’m not his old lady, and I sure as hell am not his president. His old lady is probably in bed as she’s eight months pregnant. But that won’t stop him from cheating on her with another woman tonight.
These men are not the faithful type. I doubt that if Kathy married Slick, it would stop him from cheating on her. She doesn’t complain, though. It’s expected for these bikers to cheat on their women and for them to turn a blind eye.
I honestly don’t know what the attraction is. Do they like men who treat them like shit? Maybe that’s it—the fact that they treat them badly which makes them want them more? That’s just sick, in my opinion.
Their goal is to become an old lady to one of the members. This is supposed to mean that they are their only woman, and he is their only man, and there’s no sharing. Not in this club but maybe in other biker clubs. It’s the lifestyle—late nights, parties, alcohol, and who knows what else.
I’m aware that not all biker clubs are like this. I’ve been around other clubs and see some of the men who are drop-dead gorgeous and sexy as hell. Unfortunately for me, even bikers from other clubs are off-limits.
I have no idea why, but I didn’t want to argue with Dad. Some things are just not worth arguing over. At the end of the day, my dad’s words are law around here, and when he says something, he sticks to it.
I continue serving drinks for another ten minutes when I notice a man I’ve never seen before walk in with Shooter. They’re making their way toward my dad. As I continue to stare, I can’t help but notice how attractive he is. He’s wearing black ripped jeans, a tight black T-shirt, and a leather jacket. His hair is practically shaved on the sides, with the top a little longer. There’s just something about him that has me only focusing on him.
He doesn’t fit in here. He looks like he takes care of himself. He’s clean, muscular, and takes pride in his appearance. Something that you don’t see around here. And he’s not a biker. Winning.
Adjusting my shirt, I try to make myself look presentable. If I knew we were having company like him tonight, I would have worn something nicer, not this off-the-shoulder, ripped T-shirt I pulled on at the last minute.
As the stranger approaches, his eyes are on my father, but as he reaches him, his eyes shoot up into mine, and I notice the lightest blue eyes I’ve ever seen. It’s as if time stands still, and we’re lost in each other’s gaze. My mouth goes dry, and I can’t explain what I feel. I don’t think I’ve ever felt this way with just one look.
My heart beats fast, and I can hear someone talking to me, but I can’t look away from his stare. He has me mesmerized.
Then suddenly, our connection ends when Shooter taps my dad’s shoulder, and he’s forced to look down at my father.
My father smiles. Can you believe it? He actually smiles.
How does he know this man?
My dad points to the spare barstool beside him, and the stranger sits down.
“Darlin,’ poor this man a beer.”
Doing as he says, I reach for a glass under the counter and pour him a beer. As I slide it over to him, our eyes connect. And this time, I feel my knees turn weak. What the hell is going on? And who is this hot-as-hell man?
“Thank you.” I make out above the noise, and his attention turns to my dad. I wish I could turn down the music so I could hear what his voice sounds like, but that is not going to happen.
An hour passes, and I notice he’s only had one other beer, which I like. He’s not drinking as much as the other men, who are either drunk and passed out or acting like idiots. Occasionally, I feel his eyes on me, and when I look up, he turns back to my dad to continue their conversation. What could they have to talk about? I doubt they have anything in common.
Shooter is hanging on to his every word, and a few others have joined them.
A shiver runs down my spine, and I look up to see what’s giving me this sense of panic. Sitting in the corner of the bar is Mikki, staring at me. His look makes me uncomfortable, but I don’t show it. I just continue drying the glasses and placing them back under the bar.
Loud cheers carry across the room, and I look up to see who the guys are cheering that have just entered our clubhouse. It’s Lynx and Sue, the president and the VP of the RB’s North Bay Chapter. Lynx just turned fifty not long ago. He’s attractive for an older man and is quite muscular. Sue, the VP, has long black hair that’s always kept in a braid. He’s tall, and I’d say he’s in his mid-forties. His blue eyes are striking. I’ve never had deep conversation with them, but when they’ve spoken to me, they’ve seemed nice enough. Dad also said that the Montreal, Quebec Chapter would be coming here tonight, which means the party is going to get wilder. Not that it makes a difference from any other club party, but when a few of the chapters get together, there’s just no stopping how crazy things can get.
Turning to head into the kitchen to get more clean glasses, I find some in the dishwasher and begin to unload them. I sense someone behind me and whip around to find Mikki standing there, a little too close. My eyes widen, and I glance over his shoulder to find that he’s closed the door that separates the bar from the kitchen.
“What do you want, Mikki?” My voice comes out tough and stern, not exactly what I’m feeling on the inside. “Do you have a death wish or something?”
He smiles, revealing his disgusting yellow teeth. Raising his hand, he runs his calloused fingers down my cheek, and I pull back. He lets out an evil laugh.
He reeks of beer and cigarettes, and the combination makes my stomach churn. He has drunk too much, as always, and when he’s like this, it’s dangerous, and there’s no getting through to him.
He hasn’t been able to get me alone all day, but tonight he has, and he’s done it with my father just outside.
“Oh, sugar, I’m going to have some fun with you.”
“My father would kill you if he knew you were in here with me.”
He points at the door. “Your dad, pumpkin, is too busy being caught up in that fucker’s every word. It’s as if he’s put a trance on him or something.”
I know exactly who he’s talking about. I’d be in a trance, too, if he spoke to me.
“I saw the way you two were looking at each other. Do you want him, sugar?” he asks, leaning in further and sniffing the side of my head. I want to run, but I can’t. He’s caged me in. My knee comes up to hit him in the balls, but this time, he’s prepared for that move and protects himself. He yanks my hair and pulls on it, causing me to cry out in pain.
“Try that again, sugar, and I will have you on your knees with your mouth full of my cock.”
Oh God, I want to gag. Tears pool in my eyes, and I plead, “Please, let me go, Mikki. They’ll be looking for me. They’ll want their drinks.”
He lets out a laugh. “No, they won’t because guess who just turned up to take over your shift?”
Fuck! Fuck! Fuck!
“That’s right, sugar. Peggy is here.”
Just as I’m about to beg him to let me go, there’s a loud bang on the door, and I sigh in relief. Someone has noticed I’m missing. The door handle rattles as they try to open it, but Mikki has locked it.
Mikki releases his grip on my hair, and I stretch out my neck to ease the sting from his pull. He turns, pissed, strides to the door, unlocks it, and swings open the door.
To my surprise, it’s not Peggy or one of the members. It’s the stranger who has been talking to my dad all night.
“What the fuck do you want?” Mikki growls, his lanky body barely able to stand up with all the alcohol he’s drunk.
The stranger ignores his question and stares at me over Mikki’s shoulder. Anger radiates through him. I could basically see him tense up from the minute he saw me in here. His fists are clenched beside him, and those beautiful light blue eyes that were looking at me earlier are now dark with rage.
“Are you okay?”
“What the fuck is it to you? Get the fuck out of here, fucker.”
The stranger’s eyes leave mine and move to Mikki. Shit, he’s going to hit him. His fist is opening and closing like he wants to do exactly that.
“I’m sorry, I must have gone to the wrong door. I needed to drain the head.”
“Wrong door, fucker. Now leave,” Mikki growls.
His eyes flick back up to me, and he says, “Your old man’s asking for you. You are his daughter, right?”
Nodding, I step forward, leaving the glasses behind, and walk toward him. Mikki grabs me by the arm.
“We will pick up where we left off, sugar.”
Pulling my arm away, I say, “In your dreams,” then follow the stranger out of the kitchen. Looking around, my father isn’t anywhere in sight.
I turn to the stranger. “I thought you said my father…”
“I lied,” he replies, and his voice does things to me. It’s deep, husky, and sexy as hell.
“So how…”
“I saw Mikki follow you into the kitchen and shut the door. I had a feeling he was up to no good.”
Wow, this man doesn’t know me at all, comes to this club for the first time, and doesn’t realize that he’s just pissed off the club’s vice president. He definitely has a death wish. My heart warms at the fact he knew I was in danger and checked on me. Something no other has ever done.
“I’ve… I’ve…”
“You’ve what?” he asks.
“I’ve just never had anyone look out for me before.”
His eyebrows raise, and he smiles. “Belle, isn’t it?”
Smiling, I reply, “Yes, how did you know?”
“Your father told me. I asked who you were.”
My eyes widen. “You did? Did my father tell you to fuck off?”
He smiles wider, and goddamn, he has pearly white teeth, something you never see around here.
“Where did you come from?” I ask, feeling my cheeks heat with embarrassment. Why am I acting like a schoolgirl?
“I’m Seth,” he says, reaching out his hand to mine. I take it and shake it, and it’s as if electricity runs through me. Surprised, he looks up at me, and I realize he felt it too.
“Did you feel that?” I whisper.
A look of panic covers his features. “Sorry, I have to go. Your father told me to meet him outside after I supposedly had to go to the toilet. Nice to meet you, Belle.”
And just like that, he turns and walks around the bar, heading outside.
“Who in the world is that hot-as-hell man?” Peggy asks, and suddenly, I remember my shift is over. Turning to look back at the kitchen, I notice Mikki has left.
I might have gotten away from him tonight, but something tells me I won’t be able to keep him away for much longer.
I’ve considered talking to my dad about him, but he probably wouldn’t believe me. He’s known Mikki since he was young, and they’ve always been best friends. I can only imagine what Mikki’s response would be if my dad asked him about it.
Sighing, I let that go, grab my bag from under the counter, and decide to go to Pete’s tonight. Pete is the only person in my life I can call a friend.
I met Pete at the gym one day. At first, I thought he was hitting on me, but then I realized he was batting for the other team. I thought it was too good to be true—he was attractive as hell and had better hair than me. He said he had noticed me at the gym a lot and thought I looked lonely. He got that right.
To keep myself busy, I go to the gym almost every day, or whenever I get some time to myself or feel bored, and one day, Pete asked me to go for a coffee afterward. We hit it off right away. He made me laugh, which is something I rarely do, and we spoke about our pasts and what we want out of life.
Pete had a hard life. He comes from a very traditional Catholic family who is homophobic, so when he finally came out to his family, his mom and dad told him to pack his bags and leave their house until he sorted himself out. They didn’t want to know him. In their minds, they didn’t have a son anymore if that were the life he wanted to live.
My heart broke for him. Listening to how hard it was for him to tell his family that he was gay and finally had the nerve to tell them, they disowned him.
I know I haven’t had a good upbringing being raised in the club, but my dad has never disowned me or asked me to leave.
Pete had tears in his eyes when he told me his story but changed the subject when he noticed how sad it made me.
Usually, I wouldn’t tell anyone who my father is, but something about Pete made me want to open up to him. His eyes widened in shock, and his body language changed instantly. I explained how he had nothing to worry about and shouldn’t believe everything he heard on the news. Pete eased somewhat, but when I changed the subject back to him, that seemed to do the trick.
Ever since that day, it’s become a tradition to have coffee once a week and catch up. I’m so grateful I met him. He’s the only good thing in my life.
Walking through the crowded main room, I squeeze between people on the dance floor, ignoring people fucking against the wall or on the couch. I’ve gotten so used to this lifestyle that I don’t even blink an eye seeing naked people fucking in public.
Walking past the place the club calls Church, I hear my name being called out.
“Belle, get your ass over here.”
Taking a few steps back to look inside the room, I notice that it’s a full house in church tonight. I see my father in his chair next to the hot-as-hell man, Seth. Looks like the Montreal, Quebec Chapter arrived because Teller, the president, and Vicious, the VP, are in conversations with Lynx and Sue from North Shore. While Teller and Vicious are good-looking, Vicious is drop-dead gorgeous. It’s a pity he’s married—she is one hell of a lucky lady.
But even with these attractive men in the room, my eyes greedily want to look at one man who has captured my attention tonight, and that is Seth.
Knowing I need to focus my mind elsewhere, I take a few more steps to my dad and pass Blake on the way to him. It occurs to me that I haven’t spoken to him all night—probably for the best.
My dad waves me over, and I finally make my way to him. He grabs me by the waist and pulls me on his lap. “Dad, let me go. I’m not a little girl anymore.”
He laughs and points to Seth.
“Seth, this is my daughter, Belle, who I was telling you about.”
Seth looks up at me and smiles. “Nice to meet you, Belle,” he says.
“Likewise,” I reply, looking over my shoulder at my dad.
“Who’s this? Your new friend? Dad, are you trying to get another member to join?”
He laughs loudly. “Not Seth. He’s a bit too pretty for this club.”
The rest of the boys laugh around us, but my eyes are only on Seth.
This man is so fine.
How can I look anywhere else?