Chapter Nine
Harley
“ H arley!” Gabriel calls, walking in the door of his house where Ryker, Grayson, Cayden, and I are currently using his kitchen table as our schoolwork space.
Since we began online school, we started coming over here where it's quieter and we could use the entire table since most days we all worked together. Grayson is more like our personal tutor than anything else since he is finishing up his classes this semester. Whereas Cade, Ry, and I will be done in spring right before graduation. Which is about eight months away.
Well, that’s if I can get all of this shit down. Gray says I’m caught up and I’m doing exceptionally well for how much catching up I have had to do, but honestly, it’s been so much information I feel like I’ve only retained half of it.
I know I’m doing well since I have passed everything so far and I’m doing my last four classes now, but I probably can’t do any of the math I’ve learned. Not that it matters in the long-run. I doubt I will ever need to use what I learned in fucking trigonometry.
We all glance up as Gabe heads around the corner to the kitchen with a huge grin on his face.
“What’s going on?” I ask, standing up and walking to the opposite side of the kitchen island.
“I have something for you,” he beams, his eyes lighter than I have seen them in months.
After I told him everything about David and how I felt, our relationship changed. We have grown closer, and I think we are forming a bond. It scares the shit out of me and excites me at the same time.
But also after that night, Gabe has rarely ever been happy. He is always working to make this club the safest place it can be and makes everyone learn some kind of self-defense tactics.
He reaches into his back pocket and pulls out a white envelope, passing it across the island to me.
I eye it with curiosity as I take it from his hand and look it over. It’s addressed to me and says State of North Carolina, Department of Transportation above the return address.
Glancing up at Gabe with a raised brow, he nods and raps his knuckles on the countertop with excitement.
Ripping it open I pull out the paper, but I don’t read any of the words when I see what is with it. My fucking license . My fucking license with a motorcycle endorsement on it. Which means I can officially ride now.
Colton has spent months teaching me everything I need to know to ride, and Gabe has helped me learn to drive a regular car, so a month ago I was finally able to go take all the tests I needed to get my license and the motorcycle endorsement.
Glancing back up at Gabe, I bounce on my toes, eager to go on a ride.
“You can go. Sugar has a bike ready for you out in front of the club,” Gabe says with a knowing grin before I have the chance to ask. His eyes shine with humor and pride as he watches me.
Smiling widely, I bounce back over to the table and show the guys, who all give me soft smiles while Ryker exclaims, “Fuck yeah, babe.”
Grabbing my phone and jacket, I hurry around the table and peck Grayson on the lips, then Cayden, and lastly Ryker who hooks his hand around the back of my neck and draws out the kiss that is most definitely not appropriate to do with Gabe watching but causes me to clench my thighs together.
Pulling away, I hesitate, staring at Ryker, wanting to go for a ride but also wanting to drag Ryker back into the bedroom. He winks at me and mouths, Later, before he kisses my nose and lets me go.
I’m too excited to wait any longer. Taking off towards the club house, I head inside the back door and speed walk through the main room and out the front door, not even paying attention to anyone who might be around.
As soon as I step out the doors, I freeze mid-step. It’s not just Colton out here, but basically everyone else too. Noah, Axe, Presley, Nerds, Carly, and then Gabe, along with my boys, come out the front door right behind me.
Colton smiles at me and flicks his finger for me to come to him. “Ready to ride, darlin’?”
I smile and nod. He gestures toward the two bikes, and my eyes trace his and then land on a brand new Honda Rebel 300. It’s completely blacked out—engine pieces, frame, and bodywork are all a beautiful matte black. Even the exhaust system is blacked out, giving it a sleek look.
“What do ya think?” Colton asks. “We decided to go with the black-out style so it’s a blank canvas for ya if you ever decide to make any changes or customize it for yourself.”
“I—” My throat closes up, and I have to blink tears away, not wanting to cry in front of everyone.
Grayson steps in front of me and wraps his arms around my shoulders. I turn my face into the crook of his neck as he whispers in my ear, “Breathe, beautiful. I know it probably feels like a lot and is overwhelming, but they are doing this because they love you. Because you deserve it.
“And because this is what you should’ve had all your life. It’s okay to accept it. Don’t overthink it for more than what it is. They, we, all just want to see that breathtaking smile on your face all the time.”
“How do you always know where my mind is going?” I grumble against his neck before pulling back and taking in his mischievous grin.
He shrugs at me, a glimmer in his eyes. “It’s a gift.”
I chuckle and lightly slap his chest before pulling away. Turning around, I find Colton and Gabe a few steps behind us.
“Thank you. I–It’s a little overwhelming, but I love it more than you’ll ever know. It means the world to me.”
“You deserve it, Harley. You have shown us all how determined and strong you are over the last several months. Kicking ass to get caught up in school and taking the time to learn how to drive. I’m proud of you,” Gabe says.
He steps forward but hesitates for a second. Glancing up at his eyes, I give a slight nod, and he moves forward, wrapping me up in his arms. I breathe in his musky leather scent and slowly wrap my arms around him.
He hugs me more often now. He always asks for permission in some way or another, and I have never been able to initiate it myself, but I am coming to really enjoy his hugs. They make me feel safe and warm in a way I’ve never felt before, and it’s different than the comfort I get from hugging Ryker, Cayden, or Grayson.
Everyone tells me congratulations and to have fun on my first ride before heading back inside. The guys all kiss me and return to Rage’s to finish schoolwork. Gabe stays while we get ready to leave, and once I am straddling my bike, I glance at him, the question on the tip of my tongue, but he shakes his head.
“This is for you and Sugar. We will get to ride together many times in the future. Your first ride was always meant to be with your uncle.” He smiles fondly at me.
Nodding, I glance over at Colton. He grins. “Ready, girly?”
“Yes,” I breathe, nerves and excitement coursing through me.
Colton flips down his visor, and I do the same. Then a few seconds later, his voice comes through the small earpiece in the helmet so we can communicate. “Stay next to me, and if you need to stop, tell me, alright girly?”
“Got it,” I respond, and we head towards the gates and out onto the main road.
As we pick up speed, a smile takes over my face. After being locked up and constantly under watch for so long, riding gives me the essence of freedom. It makes me feel alive in new ways, sending a wave of exhilaration through my veins.
Being able to freely ride by myself gives me a sense of control that I think I have always craved. That I need. It gives me time to clear my mind and remind myself of where I’m at now in life, and it is nowhere near the same as what it used to be.
I have control. I have choices. Freedom. Strength. Power.
As we take a sharp curve heading further into the outskirts of Jacksonville, a thrill of adrenaline-fueled excitement sends shivers down my spine as I think of the risk that comes with riding.
A risk I enjoy taking because I can take it. It’s the most peaceful yet powerful feeling.
When we head out of town in the same direction the guys took me when we went to the beach, I let my mind clear and focus fully on the task of riding and having full control over the motorcycle.
Almost two hours later, we find our way back into Jacksonville and head towards Main Street. I’ve only been over here a handful of times but never really stopped.
Colton directs us to a diner on the end called, Hazel’s Soul . He pulls around the side of the building and into the back alleyway where we park and take our helmets off. “How do ya feel?” he asks with a big grin.
“Really good! I don’t think I’ll ever get over how amazing it feels and how freeing it is.”
“I’ve been ridin’ for a few decades, and it still clears my mind and gives me a sense of calm that sometimes is really needed.” He tilts his head at me. “How your legs feelin’?”
I open my mouth to respond as I demount but end up wobbling and have to grip the bike. “Woah. They are tingly and feel like Jell-O.” I chuckle.
He tosses his head back and laughs. “You rode for two hours straight. It’s impressive when you're new to ridin’. But your legs will probably be a little sore for a while.” He starts to walk around the building, waving me on. “Let’s grab a bite.”
Heading inside the small diner, we grab a rounded booth at the front right by the window. There are booths and tables that run along both sides of the walls from the front door. They lead straight back to a counter and what looks like a kitchen behind it. It’s small but very cute and homey.
“Is this the diner the club owns?” I ask, and Colton nods. “Raven works here, right?”
“Yeah. She should be workin’ today.”
A few minutes later, Raven comes out from the back and spots us, heading straight over with a large grin on her face. “Harley! Stone said you were going for your first legal ride today. How was it?”
“It was amazing. A feeling I never want to go away,” I say, beaming up at her.
She nods. “I don’t drive, but when I ride with Stone, it is always exhilarating.”
After she takes our orders and leaves the table, Colton turns to me and asks, “Are you excited to see Bri soon?”
“Yeah, I miss her. I didn’t really think it would bother me as much as it does, but I wish I could just ask her to move here permanently.” I fiddle with the napkin in front of me.
Bri and the guys came a few times over the summer for visits, but it’s now been a couple of months since I’ve last seen them. Brielle finally got her dream nursing job and hasn’t been able to get time off, and the guys have been dealing with changes at the gym that needed their full attention.
Colton inclines his head. “You could always talk to her about it. You know they love Jacksonville,” he reminds me.
I shake my head. “I don’t want to put that pressure on her. I would feel bad if she felt like she had to move here for me when she finally got her dream job in Virginia and is really happy there. But that doesn’t mean I won’t always miss her. I hope that after I finish school, I will be able to go visit her too. Well, after we get all this other shit dealt with,” I grumble quietly.
Colton sighs, “I know it’s hard to be patient, but you’ve just got to remember that Rage is taking precautions to keep everyone safe.”
“I know. I really do. But at the same time, I feel like we’re missing our opportunity to deal with Tammy. Like time is just passing us by while people are out there being trafficked or hurt by Tammy and whoever else. I was in that space for three years. I know I can’t relate to trafficking, but to imagine someone having the knowledge to do something and waiting months to do it while I was continuing to be hurt, that bothers me.”
Colton reaches across the table and takes my hand between his much larger ones. “Oh, darlin’, I can only imagine how that would feel and where your mind must take you. There is nothin’ I can truly say that will make it all okay, but I can tell you that Rage’s intention is to make sure that not a single one of us gets lost or hurt while we help them.
“Yes, they are goin’ through awful things, but Rage is doin’ his job as our club's president, and his job—which he already feels like he has failed—as your pops is to keep you safe, girly.”
“He hasn’t failed as my… He just he hasn’t failed. He didn’t know. That isn’t his fault,” I say softly, attempting to fight off the tears. Why do I always have to fucking cry?
“We know that, darlin’. But it’s different for him. I remember the turmoil he went through back then. He wanted to go and try to find her, but in the end, he thought he knew that she’d be better off without him draggin’ her back here.”
Colton clears his throat and glances down at our hands.
“He always tried to check when he could to make sure no one had found her or that she hadn’t come back. Then Killer came back from a weekend trip and said she was dead. That you were dead. That tore him apart. He–he went on a rampage. It was brutal. More brutal than the one he went on when Tammy broke his heart.”
Before I can say anything about that, he continues.
“If I had known, fuck. If I had even a fuckin’ inkling that she was my sister…” He trails off, his eyes misting over. The sight makes my heart ache.
I gently squeeze his hands. “I think we all feel like some part of things that have happened are our own fault. That there are a lot of what ifs we can toss around, but it doesn’t change anything. The only thing we can do now is keep moving forward.”
Colton grins at me. “You are wise, my beautiful niece. I’m pretty fuckin’ sure you didn’t get that from your pops.”
I shake my head with a chuckle. “No, just the hard-headed part is from him, right?”
“I have a feelin’ your mama wasn’t much better either.” He snorts.
After we eat, we head back to the club, where Ryker meets me at the door with a mischievous grin on his face.
“What—” I start to ask but get caught off as he swoops me up and flings me over his shoulder. Letting out a grunt, I growl, “Ryker.”
He chuckles and lightly slaps my ass. “You were gone too long.”
Pulling my hand back, I swing as hard as I can from my position hanging upside down and slap his ass right back.
“Did you just slap my ass?” he asks in between laughs.
“Are you going to put me down?”
“No.”
“Ryker.”
“No.”
“I’m going to kick your ass,” I huff.
“You can try,” he chuckles.
Before I can say anything back, he flings me back over his shoulder and sets me on my feet, grabbing my arms to steady me.
“What are we doing?” I ask, glancing around where we stand on one of the trails that we use to go for runs.
“We’re going to play a game.”
I raise a brow at him. “Oh? What’s that?”
He grins wickedly at me. “Gray and Cade are in the woods. I’ll give you thirty seconds to get a head start from me.”
“What? What am I supposed to do?” I chuckle nervously as my heart beats harder with a hint of excitement.
Ryker leans in close, bringing his lips to my ear, “Run.”
“But—”
“Thirty. Twenty-nine…”
Fuck. I spin around and take off down the trail. So much for asking what the fuck I’m running for. What’s their plan?
I shake my head at myself. I couldn’t care less what their plan is. The thought of knowing they are out here waiting, chasing, or watching me sends a thrill down my spine.
Fallen leaves crinkle off in the trees to my right, and I pick up speed without looking to see who it is. A second later, a black blur shoots out in front of me and circles around before getting up next to me and keeping pace.
“You here to help me, Bear?” I ask, and he pants and keeps running right next to my side.
I don’t see him often because this dog is obsessed with being out in the woods on the property. The only time I really get his attention is when we go for runs. He always seems to find us or comes running when Cade whistles and will run with us the whole time.
Deciding to see if any of them are watching me, I turn toward the clubhouse, planning to just go back inside and see what happens, but a voice behind me causes me to falter.
“You can’t get inside,” Cade says, amusement clear in his tone.
Spinning around, I keep slowly walking backwards while keeping him in my sights where he stands about fifteen feet behind me. “What does that mean?” I ask with a small smirk on my face, assuming he is fucking with me.
He shrugs but doesn’t move to follow me.
“Ryker didn’t tell me what exactly is happening,” I add, swallowing hard.
Cade smiles, and it’s stunningly terrifying. “All you need to do is run.”
Narrowing my eyes at him, I spin back around and sprint towards the club. As I approach the front door, it swings open and Noah leans the doorway, blocking my entrance. “Oh, princess, no escaping to the tower for you.”
“What the fuck are they doing?” I demand with a growl.
Noah just grins and shrugs. His eyes move to something over my shoulder, and without a second thought I turn and run towards the other side of the club and back into the woods. The trees here wrap all the way around the property, so there are acres to run through. My stomach flutters with nerves, as my heart pounds against my chest with excitement.
Bear keeps pace with me the entire time as we run through the trails and end up along the back fence line near the gate they never use. As I turn the corner that leads back up towards the club, I find Grayson leaning against a tree in front of me. I falter, and a shiver of desire runs down my spine at the predatory look in his eyes.
Grayson drawls, “When Ryker came up with this idea, I wasn’t a huge fan, but I have to admit, stalking you through the woods and watching you run with no idea of where we are or what we have planned is more exhilarating than I thought.”
I tilt my head at him. “And what happens when you get me?”
“Why spoil the surprise?” a voice whispers in my ear from behind me. Their warm breath fans across the side of my face.
Grinning, I give up on trying to figure it out and decide to just let them chase me. I give in to the part of me that is loving knowing I have all of their attention focused on me and not having any idea what they are planning. I push back my need for control and trust them.
Ryker
I watch from the tree I was leaning against behind her as Cade sneaks up and whispers in her ear and then she books it. Her fiery curls sway behind her as she sprints off the trail and farther into the woods.
I glance at Grayson and Cayden with a smirk.
“I think she’s enjoying this more than she’d ever admit,” Cade says with a knowing gleam in his eyes.
“Shall we go get our girl and do this thing?” I ask.
Grayson glances in the direction she went. “Still the same plan? All of us?”
I nod, and we all take off in different directions to form a circle around her and trap her. I catch up to her first, and I know she hears me coming because her steps falter and she slows slightly, assuming I am going to grab her, but I just keep a slow pace a few feet behind her instead.
She quickly glances over her shoulder at me, and that’s all the time it takes for Grayson to fucking leap down from a tree a few feet in front of her, landing on his feet. Fuck, that was hot.
Harley jolts at the sound and manages to stop inches in front of him. He smiles at her as she glances up at the tree. “You—what the fuck, Grayson?” she gasps.
He shrugs. “I used to climb trees as a kid. Guess it comes in handy sometimes.”
She shakes her head and then turns to run again but stops when Cade steps out from behind a tree. We all move in closer to her, and I see her gulp as she glances around. “I thought one person was supposed to catch me?” she questions breathlessly.
“Where’s the fun in that?” I tilt my head at her as I move closer. We all stand in front of her now while she backs up against the tree behind her. “Well, since we all caught you, I guess you’ll have to answer all of us.”
Her brows lower, and she scoffs. “You planned this? Answer what?”
“Hmmm, well, I actually have a different question first,” I say, stepping fully in front of her. “How wet are your panties right now?”
A red flush works its way up her neck to her cheeks, and she glances past me. I chuckle and take another step forward, pressing my body against hers. “Should I just check for myself?” I taunt.
She takes a hesitant step back, running straight into Cade, who grips her hips and leans in to whisper in her ear. “Are you going to answer him, baby girl?”
Harley shivers and then smirks at me. “I think you’ll just have to find out for yourself.”
Stepping to the side of her so Grayson can also move in closer, I slide my hand into her leggings and down to run my fingers over her panties that are fucking soaked. “Fuck,” I groan. Glancing at Gray and then at Cade, I say, “She’s fucking dripping.”
“Did being chased through the woods turn you on, baby girl?” Cade says, a dark smile coming over his face as his hands run up under her shirt until he reaches her sports bra. Pushing it up above her boobs, he grips them in his palms, causing Harley to moan and jolt against my hand, trying to find friction.
“Grayson?” I question, glancing at him. He pulls his eyes away from Harley and stares at me. “Want to eat our girl out?” I smirk at the redness spreading on his cheeks.
“Yes,” he rasps, as if he would like nothing better.
I gesture to the ground in front of Harley, and Grayson lowers himself to his knees. Hooking his fingers into her leggings, he pulls them along with her panties down to her ankles.
“Separate your legs as much as you can,” I tell Harley, who complies right away.
Running my finger down her slit, I slowly push inside her, moving in and out slowly as Grayson leans forward, grasping her hips and licking her clit above my finger. Harley groans loudly and grinds against us while Cade starts to work her nipples under her shirt.
Grayson starts to suck on her clit, so I push a second and then third finger in, moving them faster. Harley lets out a small squeal and grabs my arm and Grayson’s hair.
Her eyes fall shut, and we continue to work her up and up until she is ready to explode. Leaning forward, I use my free hand to grip her chin and bite her bottom lip. Harley moans, and the second our lips touch, she grinds herself against Grayson’s face and falls apart for us.
She opens her mouth, but no words come out, just moans as her body shakes.
“Ride it out,” Cade says against her ear before kissing and sucking on her neck.
Grayson sucks on her clit once more while Cade pinches her nipples and I kiss her while pushing my fingers in harder. Harley jolts against us and groans loudly.
“Fuck, fuck, fuck,” she hisses in pleasure.
A light sheen of sweat covers her face as she slowly blinks her sated eyes open at me. “You good, babe?” I smirk as I pull her panties and leggings back into place while Cade fixes her sports bra and adjusts her shirt.
“So good,” she breathes. Panting as she leans her head back on Cade’s shoulder, her brows furrow and she glances between Grayson and me. “I thought you had a question for me?”
“We do,” Cade murmurs in her ear, grinning. “Go to prom with us.”
“That didn’t sound like a question.” She chuckles, tilting her head back to look up at him.
He raises a brow. “I wasn’t asking.”
Grayson sighs and climbs to his feet, placing his hand on Harley’s hip. “Will you go to prom with us, beautiful?”
“But we don’t go to the school anymore,” she says quietly.
I cup her cheek, angling her head towards me. “We do, though. The online program is set up through the school. We could've done sports still, clubs, any school events, graduation, all of it.”
Her eyes widen in surprise. “Oh.”
“Is oh your answer?” I ask with a small smile.
Cade grunts from behind her. “I didn’t ask.”
Harley snorts. “I have never been to a school dance before. Or any dance. I don’t know, it sounds…” she trails off, seeming hesitant to want to go.
“Baby girl, do you want to get all done up in a pretty dress and have all three of your boyfriends—”
“Very hot boyfriends,” I tack on, interrupting Cade.
“—put on suits and take you out for the night?” he finishes.
“Yes,” Harley says quietly, biting her lip.
“Then we go. Trust us Harley. All you have to do is decide what to wear. That’s it. Then we will take you out and it’ll be a night to remember.” Grayson says softly.
Harley glances at each of us, that vulnerability she doesn’t show often shining through her eyes. The part of her that wants to let go and be a high school girl for once but feels like she can’t because of the life she has been given.
“Okay. We’re going to prom,” she says, a smile slowly blooming over her gorgeous face as her hazel eyes brighten with excitement.