Chapter 2 Crow
The breeze was almost cool this early in the morning as I rolled to a stop at the four-way intersection, waiting my turn to cross.
There was more traffic than I would have thought, but it was a Monday.
Lots of unlucky motherfuckers rushing to dead end jobs and cubicles where they wished for the freedom men like me took without hesitation.
I’d never apologize for being an outlaw.
My phone chirped with an incoming text, and I yanked the device out, scanning the screen.
Unknown:
Bella Hart
A satisfied grin spread across my face as I added sexy Bella Heart to my contact list, pleased with myself when I altered her last name.
Me:
Hey darlin
Bella:
You look hot on that bike
My head snapped up, and I began searching the streets around me, looking for that sweet little redhead and her luscious ass.
I found her leaning against the wall outside the front entrance of IHOP, showing off her long tan legs and Chuck Taylor high tops.
Her dark red hair was gathered up into a high ponytail while sparkly animal print sunglasses covered those alluring green eyes I already adored.
Damn. She sure looked good enough to eat.
Me:
Not hot. Hungry
Not for food. I sure hoped she understood the innuendo.
Bella:
I’ve got something yummy for you
Me:
Tell me it’s you baby
Bella:
Come and get it
Me:
On my way
I cut off traffic as I swerved to the right and turned her way, gliding into the IHOP parking lot and to a graceful stop in front of the goddess I wanted to gobble up like my last meal. Shouldn’t have been thinking with my dick, but that was the head in control, and I wasn’t ashamed to admit it.
Bella pushed off the wall and headed my way after scooping up a plastic container from the ground. She smiled wide as she held it up, popping open the top. “Just for you. Biscuits, gravy, sausage, and a loaded omelet. Figured a big guy like you could eat a lot.”
“You’ve got no idea. I can really build up an appetite,” I drawled, winking as I reached out and dragged her closer. “You should come for a ride.”
She laughed. “Not the one you’re offering.”
“Then let me take you home. It’s the least I can do.”
“What about my car?”
“We’ll come back for it later. You can put the container in my saddlebags. I’ve got some grocery sacks in there if you want to tie it up so it doesn’t leak.”
“Okay,” she relented, securing my breakfast before she approached, giving me a doubtful look. “You sure this thing is safe to ride?”
“As long as I’m with you, hell yeah. But don’t ever get on another man’s bike, especially not one of my brothers. Okay?”
“Why not?”
“Because it means something in my world, and I don’t want anyone to mess with you.”
She contemplated my answer and then finally nodded. “Alright.” Bella hiked a leg up and stepped over the seat, lowering her ass down on the leather as she leaned forward. “Should I hold onto something?”
“Yeah, baby. Me. Wrap those arms around my waist. Lean into the turns with me. Hold on tight.”
“Like this?”
“Nope.” I reached back and tugged her closer until I could feel the heat of her core against my ass and her tits pressing into my back. “That’s better. You ready?”
“Should I worry about a helmet?”
I didn’t have one with me since I packed a bunch of my shit and stuffed it into the saddlebags.
Only had enough room for the food she gave me because I’d eaten what was stashed in there before I arrived in Las Vegas.
The rest of my stuff was on its way. Should arrive from California in about three days.
“Sorry, darlin’. I didn’t have the space since I arrived from out of state and needed the room for other shit. You keep close to me, and we’ll ride safe. I promise you won’t ride again without one. No worries, yeah?”
“Uh, okay, yeah. That makes me a bit nervous,” she confided, hugging my waist tighter as the bike rumbled beneath us.
“Don’t be. I’ll be extra careful.”
“TAKE A LEFT,” BELLA yelled close to my ear, her sultry voice rising above the gritty roar of my Harley’s engine and combining with the endless wind. “My house is the stucco with the red awning and all the trees. Fourth on the right.”
We slowed down and idled at the end of her street, pausing for traffic before I swerved to the left, heading toward number 1401 on the righthand side.
Perfectly groomed shrubberies, a Joshua and several black walnut trees, cacti, and even a banana tree decorated the front yard, trimmed with stucco pillars and connected by sections of pine fencing.
A large carport stood empty, awaiting the vehicle still parked at IHOP.
I’d take care of that once I dropped her off and returned to The Roost. The ranch-style layout was standard for the area, but I could tell there was plenty of room inside, indicative of the expansive windows that welcomed the sun’s bright rays.
I liked the look of the place with everything in its spot but still homey, the table and chairs on the porch facing the street and a pretty windchime tinkling in the warm breeze by the front door.
Seemed like a great place to put down roots and raise a family if that was what she wanted.
Good schools. Safe neighborhood. All the normal shit people wanted in life but not what an outlaw like me ever ended up obtaining.
Wistful, I rolled to a stop on the driveway and nearly sighed when she pulled away and stood.
“It’s a dangerous thing, ya know,” I began, watching her as she faced me.
“Oh?”
“I know where you live,” I joked.
“You do. And you have my full name and phone number. Everything you need to become a professional stalker.” Her lip twitched as she said the words, clearly amused.
Since she wasn’t in a hurry from my side, I seized the opportunity to reach out and tug her close, one hand curling around her hip as the other rested on the handlebar of my bike. “Let me have your keys, darlin’.” I didn’t explain why and wanted to see if she would obey me or question my motives.
Bella dug in the oversized purse slung across her shoulder and dangled them out of reach. “I know you’re being nice and having my car brought to me. It’s sweet, but if you put some kind of tracker on my baby, I’ll have to kick your ass.”
A laugh burst from my chest as I tugged her closer, pressing a kiss to her stomach over her t-shirt. At some point, she changed out of the tight tank she wore when I met her at the bar, and I missed seeing her full tits ready to burst from the material.
My head lifted, and I flashed a grin. “Not smart to tempt a biker, honey. We always rise to the occasion.” Yeah, I meant that multiple ways as my thickening cock was quick to agree.
“I can handle you,” she replied breathlessly as I let my hand wander, cupping that succulent ass of hers without hesitation. “You sure take what you want.”
“You have no idea,” I drawled, not the least bit unfazed. “Give me some sugar until I see you again.”
Bella bent at the waist, her face hovering in front of mine before she placed a chaste kiss on my cheek. Light laughter bubbled from her lips as she danced away, heading toward her front door. At the last minute, she turned, giving me a little rump shake. “I’ll be ready when you pick me up.”
Damn. This woman was perfection. Beauty. Brains. Humor. Sass. The whole fuckin’ package.
Ol’ lady material.
Fuck if I didn’t want her somethin’ fierce.
“For?” I asked, teasing.
“Our date, Mr. Crow of the Devil’s Murder MC. I’m countin’ on you to show me a good time.”
“No worries there, darlin’.”
“Oh, and you’re not getting lucky. No pussy for you until I say so. And that’s at least the third date. Before you get any ideas, you should know most guys don’t make it to the second date.”
I opened my mouth to give a snappy retort when she held up a hand.
“Baby,” she purred, running her hands over her curves, “This is worth it.”
Fuck me. I didn’t doubt it.
“Then I’ll have to charm you into that second date, Bella Heart.”
“We’ll see.” She tossed her hair behind her back as a gust of wind blew the long dark red strands in her face. “My car is the smokey gray ’69 Mustang with black racing stripes. Tell your prospect not to put a scratch on her or face my wrath.”
Hot damn. A car as sexy as the woman driving it. “Not a scratch,” I promised as she gave a little wave and then unlocked her door, disappearing inside without another word.
THE RIDE TO THE ROOST only took a few minutes since it wasn’t far, and I slowed to a stop at the gate, looking over the prospect with unruly tawny hair that stuck out from underneath his worn, faded hat.
The logo on the front was ours: Rook’s Towing & Recovery LLC.
A design my pops made on his computer after he took a class online nearly a decade earlier, and we never changed it.
The towing, repo, and recovery business was how we made legit income and helped funnel the cash from our other, less legal sources.
I stared at the kid’s patch, noting the clean t-shirt underneath his cut and the shiny boots. Someone kept tabs on him. Wasn’t sure who his sponsor was since it was the first time I had met this new prospect. Whipping off my shades, I gave him a stern look.
“You lettin’ me in or what, prospect?”
He glanced down at my cut, his eyes widening when he saw the patches and my name. That’s right, dumb fuck. I’m Crow.
“Uh, y-yes, of course, Mr. C-Crow.”
Fuck. This kid stammered his words like a virgin gettin’ her first sight of stiff dick.
I shook my head, snorting with humor as he rushed forward, opening the gate wide enough for me to roll on through.
I headed toward the clubhouse and the first spot—reserved for the president—and noticed the vacancy with a twinge of anger.
It wasn’t my bike that should have been parked there.
The space belonged to my father for as long as I could remember.
Never saw a single soul dispute that fact, either.
Even my grandad had given up the position by the time I was old enough to realize the significance.
Taking Rook’s space seemed sacrilegious.
I didn’t like it, but that wasn’t the point.
If I didn’t ride in here and park my bike where the president’s space was reserved, I was making a statement that would start a shitstorm.
As Rook’s son, I inherited the club, and my brothers expected me to take my place as their leader.
Didn’t matter what shit happened in the past. This was where I was meant to be and where I was meant to stay.
But oh, there was gonna be some ass-kickin’ tonight, and like Lucky Lou mentioned, I had it comin’.
Lifting my head high, I parked my bike, killed the engine, and rose, stalking my way to the front entrance and beyond. The familiarity of home hit me three seconds before all hell broke loose.
The first crack at my jaw came from the right.
Raven didn’t waste time, setting the tone of the evening as he let his fists fly, jabbing me in the gut after knocking my head sideways.
I barely had the time to blink before Hawk and Talon were on me, each brother gettin’ in some hits before I fought back.
Only took a few jabs to lay them out, nursing sore jaws on the floor as Carrion tackled me from behind.
I slung the big fucker over my shoulder and slammed him down on his back, jumping back as he kicked out.
Claw took a shot at my kidneys as I winced, spinning around to land a punch to the side of his head.
He stumbled as Swift and Jay closed in. Assholes didn’t hesitate to tackle me at the same time, and the three of us tumbled to the ground, fists pummeling into one another.
Falcon pulled them off me with a grin. “My turn.”
I dodged his fist, but he lifted his knee and caught me in the groin. Fuck!
Cuckoo showed up last, yelling at the top of his lungs as he dove into us, knocking my head back against the fuckin’ hardwood floors. My ears rang as I shook my head, sitting up in time to see his crazy-ass grin.
“This is for missin’ the funeral, brother.”
I didn’t flinch as he swung, only noting the rattle of my teeth as I slumped over, vaguely aware of Falcon’s grunt as I fell on him.
This was gonna be a long goddamn night.