Chapter 12
Chapter
Twelve
WAR
Lying in the bed of the hotel room I booked, I glance over to the window, looking out at the clear blue skies of Phoenix.
When I left Cleo’s house with my heart hammering in my chest, my dick still covered in her cum, I came here and reluctantly showered off before coming to bed.
Last night was the first time in months, eight to be exact, that I slept all night.
I have zero desire to get out of bed right now, but I have a meeting with the president of the Rugged Skulls MC later. Tote told me that Racer is a fair man and will allow me into his territory to deal with my woman.
Cleo’s words scramble around in my head, her fear and confusion showing on her face and in her tone.
She is scared to be with me— something in her past has set her on a path where she does not trust other men. If I want her to believe in me—if I want Cleo to feel safe enough to love me—I need to show her that I am that man, not just tell her.
No grand gestures like most women like, just consistent truth. I’ll prove to her that the man I am now is one who would burn the world for her. A man who will leave his past in the past and make her my future.
In the last eight months, I have done some soul searching, along with talking with my parents, my brothers, and the Ol’ Ladies. They have made me see things differently, or it could be that Cleo is making me see things from a different light.
Cleo is stubborn and strong-willed, so I know that she will be a tough nut to crack. But there’s a fierce sort of satisfaction in the challenge. I’ll get to her.
She will be mine, and the whole world can try and stand in my way, but it won’t matter.
I smirk to myself, as I ride to my meeting, thinking of ways to get this woman under me, or hell, fucking riding me.
Let Cleo throw her walls up as high as she wants. I’ll scale every last one. No matter how many times she tries to push me away, I’ll keep coming back.
I want what is mine.
Because we do not know what the fuck could happen in the future, so ride it hard and fast and enjoy every second of it.
Lilian taught me that; I had just buried the idea of having another woman in my heart.
Arriving at the diner where I set the meeting, I smile seeing three bikes already parked up. This club does not worry me; Intel gave me some information on them and yeah, they are badass, but they will not cut me down for no reason.
Dismounting my bike, I hang my helmet and make my way inside. The bell chimes above the door, as some calls out that they will be right with me.
I spot the men in leather and denim, and to an outsider, they would look intimidating, the kind of people you’d stay the fuck away from, but I came here to say my piece and claim my woman.
The man in the middle is around my age, dark hair with facial hair to match. The other two flank him— one with dark hair with highlights, looking like a mean SOB, the other is blond and looks like a surfer that fell into fucking leather.
They look up as I stop next to the table.
“War, I presume.” The blond speaks first.
I nod. “Racer, thanks for meeting with me.” He nods to the chair, as the mean-looking one kicks it out.
“Tote reached out, saying that you would be in my territory but not on club business, but he didn’t say fuck all else. Want to fill me in on why you are here?”
I settle into the chair, lounging back and resting my arm across the seat next to me.
“Eight months ago, I was at a Halloween party at the Three Kings’ clubhouse. As you can see, I wear my nomad patch, but I was summoned by Harley to get my ass there to see family who I had not seen in a while, and you do not say no to an Ol’ Lady like Harley.”
Racer’s face does not change with my little humor; fucker has a solid poker face.
“Why did you go nomad?” the blond asks.
“You have me at an advantage.” I cock a brow at him.
He nods, with a grin in place. “I am Rogue; this is Savage.”
I give them both a chin lift.
“To answer your question, my wife passed. One minute she was there, the next gone. Didn’t even know she was ill.”
“Fuck. Sorry, brother,” Rogue replies to me.
“That is shitty, but death gets us all. All we can do is make the most of the time we have left. Sorry for your loss.” This comes from Savage.
Fuck, he is an odd ball. He looks at me with both sorrow and excitement in his eyes. That man has some demons in his head.
“Sorry for your loss, brother,” Racer speaks up.
“Thank you. It was eight years ago, but I was lost for years after. Then I go to the fucking party for Harley, and in walks the sexiest witch I have ever seen. All seductive and alluring, she cast a fucking spell on me without even looking or speaking to me.”
“I get it; fresh pussy is good pussy. What has this got to do with my club and territory?”
I look over Savage’s arms and smirk.
“That Cleo’s work?” I point to his arm.
All men look at me with suspicion in their eyes, making me smirk. Nice to see that she does have the club at her back.
“How do you know Cleo?” Savage asks, leaning forward, his forearms resting on the table.
“She is who I came here to see. She is my sexy witch.”
“I see. You know that Cleo is under the protection of the Rugged Skulls?” Racer pipes up, and I nod.
“Wouldn’t want it any other way, but she is also under the protection of me and the Three Kings MC. Eight months I have looked for her, so I plan on making my claim on her; I just need her to see things my way.”
This has both Savage and Rogue laughing.
“Oh, fuck, that is gold. You do know how stubborn our Cleo is?”
A growl slips free hearing him call my woman ‘ours.’
“She is not your anything; she is mine.”
“If you say so, man. Fuck me, this is classic. She will eat you for breakfast.”
“Oh, I know all too well what her mouth can do,” I snark off, and their smiles slip.
“You will not speak about her like that, fucker.” Racer inches forward, his fists settling on the table. “She is not a club girl. Cleo is a valued member of our club, and I will cut your tongue out if you speak of her like that again.”
I scoff, and relax my body, again showing that I am not going to pounce.
“I know she is not a club girl; she is my sexy witch, and I plan on keeping her.
She will have my respect and loyalty when it comes to our relationship.
I am not one to fuck around once I claim my woman, but she is my woman, so she is my business.
I came here as a courtesy because I came into your territory, but that will go out the fucking window if you stand in the way of me claiming my woman.
“Cleo is strong and feisty and will cut me down in a flash if needed. I respect her for that. What we had months ago was fast, hot, and hard, and fuck me, brothers, I want that again. She made me see things differently and I will not let that go. A spell was cast that night for me to find something I never knew I wanted, so I plan on keeping my grip on her tight, but not enough to hurt.”
Savage looks to Rogue and nods with a grin on his face. Rogue mirrors his expression; Racer though, that man is fucking cold inside.
“If she does not want to go with you, you fucking leave. Never look back. If she goes with you, and you hurt her, I will hunt you down with my entire club at my back, and we will take turns leaving cuts on your body. We will gladly watch you bleed out until the light in your eyes dims and you take your last breath.”
I stare at Racer, not showing any emotion. I am fucking good at hiding what I am feeling; I have had years of practice.
“Fuck me, Pres, that was dark as fuck,” Savage pipes up, then sighs. “I like it,” he adds with a creepy horror movie tone. “I second what Pres said but, fucker, I will add salt and acid to the open wounds.”
“Cleo means lot to us. Do not hurt her, man,” Rogue says.
I nod and get to my feet.
“If Cleo tells me to fuck off, I will go. It will kill me but I will do what she wants.” With that I leave, needing to find my woman and get her to listen to me when I say that we are fucking meant to be together.
I sound like a sappy, love-struck teen but fuck it. Life is too short to let love pass you by.