Chapter 5 - Beast
I can't fucking believe my mother actually bought it.
I expected her to see through our charade in seconds. She's always had a sixth sense for my bullshit, but instead, she's embraced Jenny with open arms, practically planning our wedding before dessert was even served.
Standing in the entryway watching my mother hug Jenny goodbye, I can't take my eyes off the way Jenny's black dress hugs her curves.
Even in the modest lighting of my mother's hallway, I can see the silhouette of her stiff nipples pressing against the fabric.
Is she as turned on as I am? Because my cock hasn't stopped throbbing since she climbed on my bike, her thick thighs pressed against mine, her soft tits against my back.
My dick strains painfully against my jeans, and I have to adjust myself discreetly while my mother fusses over Jenny. Christ, I've been half-hard all through dinner, especially when I put my hand on her thigh and felt her subtly spread her legs wider. The memory alone makes me throb.
I'd give my left nut to know if she's wet underneath that dress. To slide my fingers higher, past the edge of her panties, and feel if her pussy is as slick as I imagine. To sink to my knees and taste her, lick her until she screams my name. Not Beast, but Derek.
Goddamn, I'm in deep fucking trouble.
I can't do this. This is just pretend. Just a favor to get my mother off my back about settling down.
Jenny is Tank's sister. Tank, the Vice President of the Savage Riders, my best friend, a man who once broke a prospect's jaw for making a crude comment about Jenny when she called the clubhouse looking for him.
"You take care of this girl, Derek," my mom says, breaking into my inappropriate thoughts as she pats my cheek. "She's special."
"I know, Ma," I say, and that's not a lie. There is something about Jenny that gets under my skin in ways no woman has before.
"It was wonderful to meet you, Elaine," Jenny says, her voice carrying a warmth that seems genuine. She's a good actress. Too good.
"You'll come back Sunday?" my mother confirms, still holding Jenny's hand.
"Wouldn't miss it," Jenny promises with a smile.
And that's the worst part of all this. We've agreed to come back for Sunday dinner, just two days from now, extending this lie even further. I hate deceiving my mother. She deserves better than this, better than me.
We finally say our goodbyes, with my mother insisting on sending us home with leftover pot roast and the remainder of the apple pie. As we step out into the cool night air, Jenny carrying the containers and me holding the door, my mother calls after us:
"Remember what I said, Derek. Treat her right!"
I nod without turning, feeling the weight of the deception heavy on my shoulders.
Jenny and I walk in silence to where my Harley waits at the curb. I secure the leftovers in the saddlebag, still aware of every move she makes, every breath she takes.
"That went well," she finally says, her voice soft in the night. "Your mom is really sweet."
"Yeah," I agree, turning to face her. "She likes you."
"I like her too." Jenny looks up at me, her green eyes catching the streetlight. "She raised a good man."
The compliment is unexpected and undeserved. I'm not a good man. Good men don't fantasize about fucking their friend's sister. Good men don't lie to their mothers about relationships.
"We should head back," I say, clearing my throat and reaching for the spare helmet.
I'm about to hand it to her when my phone vibrates in my pocket. I pull it out, surprised to see Tank's name on the screen. For a second, I consider not answering. What if he somehow found out where we are? What we're doing?
But I'm Beast. I'm not scared of anything or anyone, not even Tank's overprotective brother routine. I hit accept.
"Yeah?" I answer, keeping my voice neutral.
"Where are you?" Tank demands without preamble, his tone tense but not angry.
"Out," I reply vaguely, glancing at Jenny. She looks concerned, mouthing "Is that Tank?" I nod.
"With Jenny?" he asks, and my blood runs cold for a moment until he continues. "Look, we'll talk about what the fuck you're doing with my sister later, but right now you both need to get back to the clubhouse."
The tension in his voice registers, pushing aside my guilt. "What happened?"
"Iron Eagles hit us. Drive-by. Broke some windows, shot up the bar. No one's seriously hurt, but Chaos took a graze to the arm and Rookie caught some glass in his face."
"Fuck," I mutter, adrenaline immediately flooding my system. "Everyone else?"
"Accounted for. Luna's here patching up the guys. Amelia and Anna are secure in the panic room. King's organizing retaliation. I need every man back, including you."
I straighten, shifting mentally from Derek to Beast, from the son and fake boyfriend to the enforcer. "We'll be right there."
"Good. Bring my sister directly here. Rage is still out. He went to pick up his kid from the sitter. Keep your eyes open. These fuckers might still be in the area."
"Got it," I say, already calculating the fastest route back that avoids open areas where we'd be vulnerable on the bike. "ETA ten minutes."
"Make it five," Tank says, then adds, "And Beast? We will definitely talk about why you're out with my sister later."
He hangs up before I can respond, which is probably for the best since I don't have a good answer.
Jenny's watching me with wide eyes. "What's wrong?"
"Iron Eagles attacked the clubhouse," I say, handing her the helmet. "Everyone's okay, but we need to get back now. Your brother wants you safe inside."
"Oh my God," she gasps, taking the helmet. "Amelia and Anna—"
"They're secure," I assure her, already swinging my leg over the bike. "Luna's there too, treating the injured. Just some minor wounds."
Jenny nods, quickly securing the helmet and climbing on behind me. This time when her arms wrap around my waist, there's nothing sexual about it. Her body is tense with worry.
"Hold tight," I instruct, starting the engine. "I'm taking the back roads. If you see anything suspicious, tap my right shoulder twice."
I feel her nod against my back as I pull away from the curb. Despite the seriousness of the situation, part of my brain still registers the feel of her pressed against me, her thighs gripping mine. My cock, which had started to soften with the news of the attack, responds right away.
I push the physical distraction aside, focusing on scanning our surroundings as I navigate the dark streets of Blackwater Falls.
The back roads are emptier, with more cover from trees and buildings, but also more places for ambush.
I keep my speed high but controlled, one hand ready to reach for the gun holstered under my cut if needed.
My mother will be safe, I tell myself. No one outside the club knows about her connection to me.
I've been careful about that from day one, always keeping my visits discreet.
The Iron Eagles have no reason to target her.
Still, I make a mental note to have Shadow drive past her place tonight, just to be sure.
We make it to the clubhouse in seven minutes, pulling into the lot to find it eerily quiet.
The exterior lights are off. Tactical decision, harder to target what you can't see clearly.
I spot two bikes missing from their usual spots: Shadow's and Steel's.
Already out for recon or retaliation, most likely.
I kill the engine and help Jenny off, noting the tenseness in her shoulders, the worry in her eyes as she removes the helmet.
"Stay close," I murmur, placing a hand at the small of her back as I guide her toward the entrance.
The clubhouse door opens before we reach it, Tank's massive silhouette appearing in the doorway. He ushers us inside quickly, locking the reinforced door behind us.
The main room is a mess. Shattered glass from the windows and bar mirrors litters the floor. Bullet holes pepper the walls and furniture. The smell of gunpowder and spilled liquor hangs in the air.
"Jenny," Tank says, pulling his sister into a brief, tight hug before holding her at arm's length to check her for injuries. "You okay?"
"I'm fine," she assures him. "What about Amelia and Anna?"
"Safe room, like I told Beast. Anna's scared but unharmed. Amelia's with her." Tank's eyes shift to me, and I brace for the interrogation about why I was out with his sister, but he simply says, "King wants you in the chapel. We're planning the response."
I nod, glancing at Jenny. "You good here?"
She nods back, still clutching the helmet to her chest like a shield. "Go. Do what you need to do."
I hesitate, not wanting to leave her, which is fucking ridiculous because she's safer here with Tank than anywhere else.
"I'll check on Amelia and Anna," she says, already moving toward the hallway that leads to the secure room.
Tank watches her go, then turns to me. "We'll talk about where you two were later. Right now, we've got Eagles to hunt."
"Understood," I tell him.
I'm in deep shit with Tank. I'm lying to my mother. We're in the middle of a gang war. And yet all I can think about is getting Jenny naked and buried balls-deep inside her.
Fuck my life.
I follow Tank down the narrow hallway toward the chapel, passing the common room where Luna is picking glass out of Rookie's cheek with tweezers, her nurse's focus unwavering despite the chaos around her.
Chaos sits nearby, arm freshly bandaged, knocking back whiskey straight from a bottle that somehow survived the shooting.
The scene brings back memories of two weeks ago when Luna patched up King after the Iron Eagles ambushed him and Luna at her grandmother's house. This war's been brewing ever since Vulture lost his brother to King's hand five years ago, but the attacks have escalated rapidly in the past weeks.