2. Nate
two
Nate
H aving her arms wrapped around me is like nothing I’ve ever felt. She’s the first woman I’ve ever had on the back of my bike, and if she’ll have me, I’ll make her my old lady, and she’ll be the only woman to ride on the back of my bike.
I’m tempted to take the long way back to the clubhouse just so I can keep her arms around me longer.
If it weren’t for our club President, Savage, giving strict orders to return Piper’s sister, Phoebe, to the clubhouse, I’d do just that.
I’d drive around until morning and watch the sunrise with her.
My part of the plan was the easiest. Grab Phoebe from the trailer park while Phantom, Diesel, and Viper were in charge of securing Piper and her younger siblings, and Ghost picked up Piper’s other sister, Prue, from the strip club she works at as a waitress then return to the clubhouse with them.
My club brother, Phantom, has been working undercover as a member of the Sons of Decimation to bust a human trafficking ring they’re involved in.
Once Phantom learned that the woman Deadeye, the president of the Sons of Decimation, was dating had three daughters in their early twenties, all virgins, according to their mother, Deadeye knew they would each be worth a fortune at the illegal auction.
Saving the sisters from a fate worse than death was the assignment—I never expected the instant attraction I felt when I first saw Phoebe running through the trailer park, the sunset behind her making her deep red hair glow like an angel's.
The way her short, frayed denim shorts showcased her thick thighs, wide hips, and tiny waist had my hands itching to touch her.
Her thin white t-shirt was the best part of her outfit, with the name of my favorite 80s hair band, Warrant, written across her chest. 80s hair-band music is my guilty pleasure, thanks to growing up with a Gen X mother.
It’s a little ironic that I’m the third one of my club brothers to fall for these three sisters.
Phantom has made his feelings for Piper well known around the clubhouse, while Ghost has been a little more private about his feelings for Prue.
As part of his assignment, he’s been watching her at work for the last few weeks.
It wasn’t until Savage suggested giving him a break and letting one of my other club brothers take over watching Prue that the normally quiet Ghost blew a gasket, making his feelings for Prue clear.
A firm pat on my chest from Phoebe pulls me out of my thoughts as she lifts her hand and points to the right.
The lights from a nearby gas station flicker in the distance, and I know we aren’t far from town and the clubhouse.
She keeps pointing in that direction, leaving me no choice but to pull over and see what she wants.
I pull into the gas station parking lot and decide to fill up my gas tank while we're here. I pull up to a pump, cut the engine, and turn to look at her. “Do you need something, Angel?” I’m not sure why I call her Angel.
For some reason, calling her Phoebe doesn’t feel right, even though that’s her name.
“I need to use the bathroom.” Her soft voice floats over me, and I have to grit my teeth to keep from lifting her onto my lap and claiming her lips, something I’ve never done with anyone before.
“Here, let me help you.” I slide off my bike, wrap my arms around her waist, as I’ve been dying to do, and lift her off my bike. She turns to walk toward the gas station, but I grab her wrist and spin her around to face me. “Hey.”
“What?” Her beautiful green eyes fill with a mix of anticipation and fear.
“I just wanted to take another look at you.” I rub my thumb along her wrist, feeling her pulse race.
She bites her lip as if trying to keep herself from saying something, then shifts her gaze to where my name is stitched on my cut. “Sin.” She lifts her hand, tracing the letters with her finger right over my heart. Now it’s my turn for my pulse to race.
The longer we stand here like this, the more I want to race back to the clubhouse and make her mine, but I know it’s too soon to claim her. “Hurry up.” I let go of her hand and give her ass a little swat.
With a gasp of surprise, she gives me a smile that doesn’t quite reach her eyes, then rushes into the gas station.
Whistling like a damn lovesick fool, I pump gas into my tank, thinking about which house on our compound I’ll pick for the two of us. Right now, since I’m not married or have a girlfriend, I still live in one of the clubhouse rooms.
I finish filling my gas tank just as my phone rings. I step away from the pumps before answering. “Hey, Savage, what’s up?” I glance toward the gas station window, hoping to catch a glimpse of Phoebe, but all I see is the cashier and a couple of teenage boys inside.
“Where are you, man?”
“I’m just outside of town. Phoebe needed to stop at the gas station for a minute.”
“What are you talking about, Sin? Phoebe wasn’t at the trailer park tonight. According to her sister, Prue, Phoebe went to the auction to sell her virginity.”
“That’s not true.” I run my fingers through my hair in frustration. “Phoebe was running through the trailer park when the commotion started. She got on the back of my bike.”
“No, Sin. Whoever got on the back of your bike wasn’t Phoebe.
It’s been confirmed that Phoebe made it to the auction, and Lord has her and isn’t willing to give her back yet.
” Lord—Savage’s brother, who was also involved in an undercover investigation into the human trafficking ring—has been MIA for weeks.
How is he involved in this now? “Sin, are you still there?” When I don’t answer, he prods again, calling me by my birth name, “Nate, are you there?”
“Yeah, I’m here.” I walk to the gas station door and pull it open, needing to find out who my mystery Angel is. Whoever she is, she needs help if she’s running away. “I need to talk to her.”
“There’s no time. I need you back at the clubhouse now. I’m calling for Church.”
Damn it, I can’t skip Church. I’ll just grab my mystery woman and take her back with me. “I’ll be there in a few minutes.”
“Stay safe, brother.” Savage ends the call with his usual goodbye.
Stuffing my phone into the front pocket of my leather pants, I stride to the back of the gas station and bang on the women’s restroom door. “Come out. We need to talk.”
The door opens to reveal a surprised-looking older woman.
“I’m sorry, young fella, but I’m the only one in the bathroom.
” She blocks the entrance as I try to scan the three stalls.
“If you’re looking for that sweet young girl with the fiery red hair, she asked me to tell you thanks for the ride before she hopped out the window.
” She nods toward the open bathroom window, which looks just big enough for a person to escape through.
“She’s gone?” My heart aches at the thought of losing her after I’ve only just found her.
“I’m sorry, dear.” She rests her hand on my shoulder and leads me to the front of the store. “If it’s meant to be, you’ll see each other again someday.”
“Thanks.” I give her a weak smile, then leave the gas station and my mystery woman behind, returning to the clubhouse and my duties as a member of the Steel Souls.