Chapter 7
CHAPTER 7
W raith spotted Caroline at the bar and headed her way. As much as he loved hanging out at Inferno, he was eager to have her all to himself. Scoping out the area, he spotted Scythe stationed near the bar, keeping an eye on her. He paused when he got close to the other biker.
“You sent her?” Wraith asked.
“You’ve been a complete ass for weeks. I figured that meant something,” Scythe answered.
“Yeah. Thanks. I owe you one.”
“Hopefully, I’ll get to collect someday. I have to find my Little first.”
“My fingers are crossed for you. I’m out tonight,” Wraith told him.
“Lucien already found a replacement,” Scythe shared with a grin.
“You talked to Lucien?”
“Nah. Lucien is aware of everything that happens on his turf. I saw the assignments update an hour ago. Take a few days away,” Scythe suggested.
“I’ll do that.”
Without another word, Wraith continued toward the special woman at the bar. He’d wanted to go claim her a hundred times over the last few weeks but knew Caroline would have to decide to accept him as he was. As the days had stretched on, he’d lost hope. When he’d turned around to find her looking adorable in that hard hat, he’d been shocked. He’d had to lock himself in place to keep from hugging her.
He placed a hand on the small of her back. “Let’s get out of here,” he stated firmly.
“I’ve kept a good eye on her, Wraith,” the cheerful bartender said.
“Thanks, Sherry. I owe you one,” Wraith told her as Caroline slid from the stool to stand next to him. He pulled his money clip from his pocket and peeled off a twenty. “Does this cover her tab?”
“Way over,” Sherry said, waving away his payment. “I’ve enjoyed getting to chat with Caroline.”
Wraith placed the bill on the counter for her. “Have a good evening, Sherry.”
Turning, he wrapped his arm around Caroline and guided her to the door. “Where’s your car?”
Caroline waved a hand vaguely around the parking lot. “I don’t remember. I wasn’t thinking too well when I came in.”
“Let’s go find it.” He steered her toward the same side she’d chosen last time. Most people followed a pattern. “Are you hungry, Caroline?”
“I could eat,” she shared, staring up at him. “Wraith, I’m really sorry.”
“No more apologies, Little girl.”
“But….”
He interrupted her, “We both made mistakes. I don’t plan on letting anything get between us again.”
Caroline nodded and put her arm around his waist. “I missed you so much. I haven’t changed my sheets. They stopped smelling like you a couple of weeks ago.”
Her sweet confession went straight to his gut. Thank goodness she’d come to him. Wraith had driven to her condo several times before veering off track. Scaring her wasn’t an option.
“I’ve missed you too. Will you come home with me, Precious?”
“I’d like that. Oh! There’s my car,” she said, pointing ahead.
Wraith made a mental note to put a tracker in her car. Then, he’d be able to find it for her easily. “Wait for me to pull up over there and then back out to follow me. Drive carefully. The guard will take pictures and need to see your driver’s license.”
He hugged her close and kissed her hard, claiming her as his. To his delight, she rose on her tiptoes to get closer to him, looping her arms around his neck. When he lifted his head, she made a quiet sound of protest that went straight to his cock. Pushing the temptation to kiss her away, Wraith forced himself to step back.
“I’ll go slow so you don’t lose me. My house is close but down a country road from here,” he warned before jogging to his bike.
In a few minutes, they were on their way. Wraith took the road that circled behind Inferno and the warehouses. The fence line surrounding the latter went deep into the woods.
Lucien had invested in a ton of land when he’d decided to open the bar. Already, the MC leader had built an additional warehouse to expand. No one, other than the Devil Daddies, was aware of this settlement. He approached the gate and waited for Caroline to pull in behind him.
“Pirate, this is Caroline. She’s mine. Let her in when she comes,” Wraith told him.
Pirate nodded and snapped a quick picture of the front of his Little’s car, including the license plate. He’d take another picture of her and her license when she reached him. “Congrats.”
Wraith advanced a bit more and let Pirate finish adding Caroline to the approved list. When the biker on duty glanced back at him and waved, Wraith drove into the complex and headed for his cabin. It was quiet now. Most of the members were rolling into Inferno for an evening of fun. A few of his brothers were in camp, of course. They’d worked overnight shifts and were recharging.
Trying to see the place through her eyes, Wraith studied the complex. It reminded him more of a campground than a biker hangout. Sure, the Devils had bikes parked in different places and a big repair shop close to the entrance, but gigantic trees arched over the paved roads shading the wooden cabins they passed, giving the complex a tranquil feel. Strands of white, round bulbs illuminated the paths at night. Rustic and peaceful—it was an oasis hidden from view.
He pulled into his driveway and triggered the garage. After stashing his bike at the side of the large space, he waved Caroline to pull in next to him. He grabbed a remote from the drawer in his workbench and quickly added a tracking device to the clip. Walking to the driver’s door, he handed the device to her.
“Put this in your glove box. You hit the big button to raise and lower the door,” he told her.
“Oh, I won’t come here without you,” she promised, hesitating to follow his directions.
“This is safe ground. You are welcome any time. Go ahead. Put it in your glove box.” After she’d followed his directions, he opened her door and helped her slide out of the driver’s seat.
“Is that why that guy took pictures of me and my car?”
“Yes. Visitors are allowed only if a Devil has vouched for them.”
“This is your place?” she asked, looking around the neat garage.
“It is. Come in, Caroline. Let me make you some dinner and we’ll talk,” Wraith suggested.
“I’d like that, but I can help.”
“Not going to happen, Little girl. Daddy cooks,” he told her bluntly. She needed to understand from the beginning that he was in charge. Especially in his home.
“Okay. Maybe you’d let me set the table?”
“I think I could be sweet-talked into that.”
He led her out of the garage and to the front door. After twisting the knob, he pushed the door open. Wraith turned to Caroline and swept her off her feet. Before she could protest, he carried her into his home. He closed the door with his elbow before walking to his favorite chair.
“Wraith, I’m not a bride,” she said in surprise.
“You are the first woman I’ve brought home,” Wraith told her as he sat down.
“Really? How long have you lived here?”
“Three years.”
He loved the shock on her face. “What?” Her elbow struck him sharply in the ribs as she struggled to sit up straight. In self-preservation, Wraith wrapped his hands around her waist to boost her into position.
Caroline stared at him. “You haven’t had anyone in your house for three years?”
“I’ve had sex in that time period, Precious. I haven’t brought them to my cabin.”
“Why not?”
“The Devils decided when this compound first went in that we weren’t using it as a hotel. This is our home. Everyone is welcome to bring someone important here, but it’s not the place for flings.”
“I’m not a fling?” she asked.
“You are not. You’re my Little girl.”
“I can’t believe I screwed this up so badly,” she whispered.
“You were very brave to come to Inferno today. Crafty too, since you’d visited before.”
“You were aware I’d been there and let them turn me away?”
“Yes. Were you ready then to take me as I am?” he asked, studying her expression.
“Yes. Well, probably.”
“I wanted you to be happy, Caroline. It seemed obvious that having me in your life would create tension and problems. I didn’t want that for you,” he told her.
“But you were unhappy.”
“Yes.”
“You were going to let me go, so I’d be… happy?” she asked and then shook her head. “I think we both deserve to enjoy life.”
“Let’s set that as our goal. Now, I’m grilling steaks for dinner. How do you like yours cooked?”
“Medium rare.”
“The best way to make a steak. Now, mac and cheese or potatoes?”
“I love mac and cheese but only the kind in the blue box.”
“You’ll try my homemade dish soon, but I have a box stashed in my pantry,” Wraith admitted.
“Can I have a tour of your house?”
He immediately shook his head. “Too much temptation. Wander anywhere you wish, Precious. I’m not going to step a foot into any room with a bed with you until you’re fed.”
“We could skip….”
“Did you eat breakfast and lunch?” he asked sharply.
“No,” Caroline admitted.
“Dinner first. Go explore. I’ll get the grill fired up and the water boiling.”