Chapter 2
TWO
Her eyes fluttered open, and she gazed up at the shadow cloaked ceiling.
She smiled, stretching slowly, satisfaction pushing back the pain of the full body ache that made her groan. It wasn’t the first time in the last week she’d woken up with a body that felt like she’d gone two rounds with Tyson—and it wasn’t a bad ache, either. It was the ache of someone who’d been thoroughly loved, several times, in the night.
At the memory of the night before, Nadia couldn’t stop the full body thrum, the heat and pulsing need that moved through her.
James has been a giving and dedicated lover, making sure there wasn’t an inch of her he hadn’t worshiped with his tongue, hands, and lips. And when he’d finally thrust inside her?—
She shuddered, her nipples peaking as they tingled, eager for a hot, wet mouth to suck them. God, how was this her life; sleeping in a bed she shared with a man she’d dreamed up and brought to life—because there’s no way he wasn’t conjured from her deepest fantasies.
The day she’d met James, she’d been stuck on the side of I-81, in danger of getting windswept into the ditch by the big rigs flying past on the two-lane highway. She’d left her house that morning to grab a swatch of material the event coordinator, Janice, needed for a dress fitting that afternoon at Emerald Greens, where she worked. She was doing the woman a favor, and Janice would owe her big time because Nadia hated traveling on the highway, and that morning she’d loathed it even more when her right front tire blew out.
She’d been standing there, panicking, looking up “How to Change Your Tire” videos on YouTube, when a deep green truck slowed to a stop behind her. Of course , she was wary—she was a single woman on the side of the road without a way of escape. The only reason she wasn’t ducking into her car to hide was because it was a busy highway, which meant plenty of witnesses if the person behind the wheel decided to do something hinky.
She wasn’t a religious woman; having spent to many years living with unanswered prayers, but that day, she’d prayed to whoever was listening that she didn’t die, and that the person in the truck was her roadside savior.
She was not prepared for who slid out of the truck?—
Jolted by the sounds of shuffling outside the bedroom door, Nadia sat up in the bed and stared at the door. She was in the clubhouse because she’d been invited to a party the night before to celebrate the club VP, Patriot, claiming his girlfriend as his ol’ lady—she’d been happy for the couple, but she had no idea what any of it meant. Also, she wasn’t really the party kind of person, but because James had asked her to come, she couldn’t say no. She wanted to be with him, and he wanted to introduce her to his friends—err, brothers—so she’d gone to the party.
When they’d first started dating, James had been a little…hesitant to explain about the MC, not that Nadia cared that he was in an MC, especially since she only ever heard good things about the Unchained. James had explained that his road name was Locust, and that he was the club Enforcer, and that his job was sort of like club “security,” meaning he made sure the brothers were protected from their enemies and each other.
Knowing all that—about James and the club—she’d been nervous about the party, but she went anyway, because she wanted to be with James.
Boy, had she been shocked. She’d expected drinking and loud music, what she hadn’t expected were the naked women, the public displays of sex, and the acrid scent of pot that blanketed the air.
When James had asked her what she thought, she’d been honest. He’d been her third lover, her first “real” boyfriend—the other one didn’t count—and she’d never been one to party much. She’d gone from high school to working full time to make ends meet, so she’d never had the opportunity nor natural inclination to “let loose” like the women she’d seen the night before.
James had laughed, then dragged her behind him to a couch in the corner, where he held court all night. He’d chatted with his brothers, shooed away naked women looking to slide onto his lap, and he threw back several bottles of beer. The whole while, Nadia watched. She’d sipped her one bottle of beer and observed everyone else. She knew that if she really wanted to be with James—and she really did—she would have to get used to the lifestyle. The Unchained MC were well known in NEPA, and she knew she should feel honored to be a part of their “celebrations,” even though she had no idea what all the nakedness had to do with celebrating Patriot and his ol’ lady, Cilla. She’d said as much to Locust, but he’d smirked, rolled his eyes, and finished his next beer.
Once the party died down, James had led her to his room upstairs, where he’d made love to her twice before they’d crashed.
Now, she’d woken up without him beside her. She didn’t like that feeling of abandonment that had immediately hit her, because she knew he hadn’t actually left her; he was her ride, and, well, he just wasn’t like that. He was probably in the clubhouse somewhere. It was early morning, so he probably left to let her rest, knowing she needed it. He had kept her up late last night.
She smirked at her thoughts and rolled out of the bed.
After emptying her bladder and taking a quick shower in the en-suite bathroom, she dressed in a change of clothes she’d brought in a small duffel; James had wanted her to stay the night, and she hadn’t been to room before, so she’d agreed. She wasn’t sure if his room at the clubhouse was where he actually lived, or if he just crashed there; they spent all their time together at her place, and it hadn’t really bothered her until right then. Though, seeing his place would make things seem more official between them.
Checking her hair in the mirror, she gave herself a once over.
Big hazel eyes set in a round face. Round cheeks. Freckles splashed over the bridge of her long, thin nose. Hair the color of dirty straw pulled back into a messy ponytail because she didn’t want to take the time to dry it, then braid it. The rest of her wasn’t all that great to look at, either; she was plump in all the wrong places, big tits, fat ass but a smallish waist. No, she wasn’t a looker—not like the women from the party last night, but there had to be something about her that was good enough, because Locust had taken one look at her and had fallen for her. That’s what he’d said when he’d first asked her out on the side of the highway after helping her put on her spare tire.
Never in her life had she taken such a risk as she had when she’d agreed to go out with him.
That was five months ago.
Since then, she’d fallen so hard, she was surprised she didn’t have bruised knees from where she landed. She’d never been happier than she was in that moment, having finally been introduced to the place and lifestyle that meant the most to James. It was the next natural step in their relationship. And the step after that was introducing him to her family….
If her wayward step-brother ever came home…. He’d been gone three years already, having taken off after leaving her with a note, a lousy excuse, and a heart full of ache. She hadn’t heard from him in over eight months, and even then, it was a text asking for money. She’d sent it to him via PayPal and hadn’t heard a word since. It wasn’t a surprise, though; Elijah was too much like his father—a nomad with a penchant for losing money quick. If he wasn’t playing tables at the casino, he was placing bets on horses at the adjacent track. And losing. Elijah was a charmer who couldn’t say no to a “good tip,” which often left him broke, owing money, and begging Nadia to “lend him” some cash. Lend? Right. He hadn’t paid her back yet. And yet she still gave him something when he called asking for it.
Yeah, she was a sucker, but he was the only family she had left. And she had the cash to give, so why not give it?
The year Elijah took off, she’d won a jackpot on her first and only time at the casino. She’d gone there to attend a bachelorette party for one of her co-workers, and she’d left $3 million dollars richer. A natural planner, she’d kept the knowledge of the win to herself, then set out to plan the best way to invest her money. She’d moved out of the trailer where she’d been living, moved to Pennsylvania from New York, bought a house, bought herself a reliable new-to-her car, then put the rest in savings. Realistically, she didn’t have to work, but she enjoyed having a purpose, something to do that fulfilled her need to “thrive.” So, once she was settled in PA, she got a job at an exclusive golf course resort, Emerald Greens. She’d been hired as a housekeeper initially, and in the three years since had risen through the ranks to the front desk manager—aka, the head concierge. She loved the people she worked with, she enjoyed interacting the with the club members, and she didn’t mind the hours. The worst part of it, though, were the Botox Barbies; the wives of the rich members who seemed to make it their life’s work to order her and the other staff around. They made ridiculous demands, were never happy with anything, and didn’t bother hiding the fact that they were banging the golf instructors and the maintenance men.
God, how had her thoughts spiraled so quickly? Rolling her eyes at herself, she left the mirror behind and checked the clock on the bedside table. It was just after 7 AM. Usually, on a Saturday, she’d still be asleep, but she was too excited about spending the day with James, and getting to know his club brothers.
She opened the door and headed down the corridor to the stairs. At the bottom of the stairs, she noticed the main room that had been crammed full of people the night before was all but abandoned now. There was one guy at the bar nursing a mug of bitter smelling coffee, and another guy watching the morning news on a massive TV by the couches where she and James had hung out last night. The guy at the bar was wearing a different leather vest—kutte—than the Unchained, but he seemed friendly with the club.
James wasn’t there, so she figured he’d either be in a meeting—what he called Church—or in the kitchen; the man loved his bacon and eggs. Smiling to herself, she took a moment to remember where James had said the kitchen was during his brief tour the night before.
Turning the corner from the bar area, she headed down another corridor and saw the swinging door to the kitchen. It was cracked, the wood warped at the top, keeping it from shutting all the way.
She heard James’s voice, and her tummy flipped just at the sound of it; it was rich whiskey, slowly poured over melting ice. She shuddered, remembering that voice rasping against her mouth and neck the night before, telling her how beautiful she was, how tight and hot her pussy was, and how he couldn’t get enough of her….
Reaching out to push the door open and go greet her man with a good morning kiss, she was stopped in her tracks by another man’s voice.
And his words.
“…you hit that yet?” a voice she recognized as Cluster’s asked. Nadia cocked her head, wondering who he was talking to and about.
“We aren’t talkin’ about that, brother,” James replied, making Nadia’s breath catch. They were talking about her ? She blinked. Well, at least he hadn’t answered Cluster’s crude, inappropriate question. What she and James did was private?—
“Yeah, I can see by that look on your face that you did— fuck . Man,” Cluster hissed, “you are one tough motherfucker, taking one for the team like that.” The man chuckled, the sound grating against her suddenly tautly strung nerves.
What was he saying? Taking what for the team? What team? For a moment, Nadia’s chest grew tight, her thoughts spiraling. No…they couldn’t he talking about her and James.
Suddenly, her skin felt too tight for her bones, and her clothes felt too thin, like they didn’t cover enough; they weren’t thick enough to protect her, shield her.
Hide her.
James grunted, probably from Cluster slapping him on the back as was his usual method of communication among the brothers. She’d met Cluster a couple of times because he’d come to her house to talk to James about club business, which usually meant James would take off to deal with said business. To her, Cluster always heralded a less than happy ending to her evenings.
Cluster spoke again, his words mean, “ I couldn’t do it, and I fucked Marci. That bitch was as loose as Mel—and that woman had six kids! You banging that Nadia chick…you get hazard pay for that, brother?” He laughed, like he hadn’t just said something that tore a piece off her soul.
A slow, coiling realization took form in her mind. A chill shot through her, making Nadia shudder, even as her skin heated with embarrassment. They were talking about James…having sex? With her ?
But why? Her throat worked to swallow but her mouth was dry.
“I did what had to be done, brother,” James said, effectively making Nadia’s breath actually stop.
He did what had to be done? He did her …because it had to be done… she had to be done….
What the hell did that mean?
Why is he saying those things?
Cluster snickered. “You find anything yet?”
“Nah, there isn’t much in that ugly little house of hers—and I’ve looked.”
Ugly? He’d said it was cozy…that it fit my personality….
What did that mean? Also, he was searching her house? What was he looking for? She had nothing to hide from him.
She’d bared her freaking soul to him—and her body, she’d hid nothing from him. She’d made herself utterly vulnerable to him, because she’d trusted him. She’d loved him.
How did I get it wrong?
Again.
This time…she’d truly believed it was real, that he was real. Bile rose and burned the back of her throat, and the urge to puke rode along with it.
How could I have been so wrong?
Nadia pressed a trembling hand against her racing heart, the flesh beneath her palm growing cool as the blood pooled in her feet. She shook her head slowly, unwilling to believe what she was hearing…what James was saying. She had to be misunderstanding, mishearing—that’s what she got for eavesdropping, right? Maybe it wasn’t what it seemed like.
“She have anywhere she might be keeping his things?” Cluster inquired.
“I have no idea, brother, but I’ll find out. If anything, she’s been using the money. No mortgage, new car…. She’s not flashing the cash, but no one can afford an Audi on a receptionist’s salary.”
She wasn’t a receptionist; she was a freaking manager—and she made good money! And he knew that! She’d never hidden anything about her job or her income from him, and he’d shared about his job as a mechanic, and how he made good money fixing up bikes.
Where was this derision and mockery of her job coming from? It was like one thing after another, one nail after another, pounding into the coffin now holding her dying heart.
Swallowing down the burn of tears, she urged her feet to move away from the door, but they remained glued in place.
Another snicker from Clusterfuck made her wince. “Seems suspicious. Brother, now that you got her addicted to that dick, she’ll tell you whatever you want to know, might even tell you where that fucker of a brother of hers hid the Bone Dogz money—which is now our money. No woman who looks like her would ever risk losing a man who gets as much ass as you do. You make her think she got you locked down?”
She couldn’t be hearing what she was hearing. Bile slithered up her throat once more, filling her mouth this time, coating her tongue.
This can’t be happening….
James heaved a sigh, like he was carrying a heavy burden. “She called me her boyfriend yesterday—I nearly gave up the whole thing right then.” They’d been cuddling on her couch, and she’d been talking excitedly about “meeting more of her boyfriend’s club brothers.” He’d smiled at her, not once making her think he didn’t want the label. Or maybe he was just that good an actor. “I ain’t boyfriend material, and I especially wouldn’t claim her as a girlfriend. Now, ass on the side I call when I get desperate enough for a wet hole, maybe, but I got to be real drunk first. Learned my lesson about that last night.”
Last night? She swallowed, her mouth and throat suddenly too dry and yet too moist, like a bog in a post-apocalyptic wasteland. Last night he’d downed seven or eight beers. At the time she’d thought he was just having a good time, letting loose, celebrating with his club brothers.
But…he’d been getting drunk.
On purpose.
“Usually have to use a little blue pill to get it up for her?”
“More like a pilsner.” They both chuckled at that, like they hadn’t just ripped her heart out of her chest and pissed all over it.
“What’s the next step?” Cluster asked.
“I brought her last night because I hoped she’d get drunk and let something slip—maybe where her brother is hiding or something about the money. No such luck—the prude barely finished the one beer.”
He knew she hated getting drunk! At this point, all his words were shards of glass, slicing away at her already tattered self-respect. She’d been fooled, betrayed—how pathetic was she to think a man like James would actually want to be with her? And he capitalized on her starry-eyed fantasy of the charming alpha male who fell for the damsel in distress, saving her, then seducing her.
“Fuck, brother, I don’t know how you deal with her. She’s got to be cold and dry as fuck in bed.”
“Not going there with you, Clusterfuck. I’d rather not relive that shit, if you don’t mind. I fuck her because I have to in order to stick around. Once she gives me what I need, I’ll dump her, bathe in a vat of acid, then come here, get drunk, and fuck someone who actually knows how to pleasure a man.”
A kaleidoscope of colors flashed before her eyes, and Nadia realized she hadn’t been breathing. Dragging in a breath, she slumped against the wall near the crack in the door, her head spinning.
The man she loved, the man she’d fallen so hard for, had tricked her. He was a liar. A deceiver. He’d targeted her because he and his club wanted something from her. Something her brother took from them.
Money.
Once again, it came down to money. Money her brother apparently stole from someone associated with the Unchained MC. How could he be so stupid?
How could she be so stupid? It wasn’t the first time someone had befriended her, acted like they cared about her, because they wanted a hand in her wallet. It was the first time, however, that it wasn't her money they were after. But there wasn't really a difference, was there; James had still presented himself as someone who was interested in her, but what he was really after was cold, hard cash. For the first time in three years, she hated that Lady Luck had shined upon her, because she didn’t feel lucky, she felt cursed.
The MC wanted their money, they saw that she owned her house and had a newer car, and immediately assumed she had something to do with whatever the hell her brother had done. So, they sent in a sleeper, someone to seduce her, spy on her, violate her privacy, fuck her into compliance, and—once they learned where her brother had hidden their money—he’d drop her, not giving a shit about the devastation he’d leave in his wake.
God, she had to get out there!
Pushing off the wall, she stumbled back toward the stairs, to Locust’s room, and grabbed her purse and duffel bag, one she’d packed because she was so freaking excited to spend the day with her “boyfriend.” She internally sneered that word—it was a falsehood.
Locust—like hell would she use his real name again—and the Unchained wanted her brother, but she had no idea where he was. And, from the last time she’d heard from him, and he’d asked for money, she could assume he didn’t have their cash. More than likely, the casino had it.
What the hell am I going to do?
She didn’t have the club’s money, she didn’t know where her brother was, and?—
Nadia didn’t have time to think about it, she needed to leave, get home, change the locks on her doors—because like a too trusting fool, she’d given Locust a key—and then she’d curl into a ball, and die inside.
Then she’d figure it the fuck out , just like she did every time life handed her grenades painted to look like lemons.
It took her six minutes to get back downstairs. Using her cell to order a Lyft, she hurried through the common room, thankful that Locust was nowhere in sight, and that the two men in the main room had disappeared.
Nadia ran from the Unchained MC clubhouse, praying she’d never had to step foot inside it again.