9. Nash
NASH
This woman.
The way she wholeheartedly talks about Saddle and her love for this town.
I expected the town meeting to be a shitshow, but it seems the guilty culprits who sold out don’t show their faces, including the mayor who “regretfully couldn’t make it.” Neither does Lanzetti, who was invited so the townsfolk could ask questions. Like the gutless wonders they are, nobody showed.
Most of the townspeople are against a giant resort.
We already have ample mom-and-pop run motels, and a lodge, as well as a ranch stay, with multiple cabins for the ultimate Saddle experience.
Some of these businesses are second or third generation.
Nobody wants commercialization in this small town, except the ones who are money hungry.
It would kill small businesses for one, and I’m still not convinced the Lanzettis are on the up and up.
I’ve been digging, but they have damn good lawyers.
“Just know, the Stiletto Riders will do everything it takes to keep this town as the Saddle we know and love,” Diamond concludes through the mic.
“I know others have sold out and left town with Lanzetti’s money, but there’s nothing we can do about that now.
Rest assured—this is my home, our home—and we won’t be shut out by anyone, no matter the price.
My loyalty is with all of you, and Saddle, as always. ”
Cheers and claps ring out, and I glance around the room. Usually, MC clubs are looked down upon. Feared. Sneered at. People cross the street when they see bikers coming. And a female MC? Don’t even get me started. But that isn’t the case in Saddle.
The people here love the MC, and that’s because they act with integrity—something I never thought I’d admit. The other hundred people gathered here this afternoon—Duncan included—can’t be wrong.
The more I’ve heard about Diamond, the more I respect her. She’s badass to the core, but she’s a good woman. She takes care of her own, and those who have no one else.
So far, she’s helped several women gain employment, start an apprenticeship or internship, or some form of education.
There are countless other success stories all over Texas and beyond.
Jade, one of her members, began a self-defense class a few months back and now teaches at the local high school—she came to town after surviving a trafficking operation, which the club singlehandedly took down.
Onyx runs the bar in town, Saddle Up, which employs several locals including Topaz and Garnet.
Pearl runs the Saddle Hop Café, she also helps on several committees, one of them being Tidy up Saddle a self-funded initiative which relies on volunteers to help reshape and renovate the shops with new frontages, interiors, and equipment.
They rally around when a business is struggling. The people of Saddle stick together.
It’s not that I don’t want to see the bad side of the club, but I’m struggling to see anything except the good.
Sure, I don’t agree with taking the law into your own hands, but I also understand why Diamond did it.
Those girls on that bus would’ve been put through the most hideous things imaginable.
Most—if not all—of them would be dead now if not for the MC.
Of course, I don’t show any of this on my face. My job here is to maintain peace and order, and that’s exactly what I’m going to do. Not that anyone here is going to protest.
“That was quite a speech,” I say later, when everyone is dispersing. My hand on her elbow, she looks down at it as I pull her aside, away from the small crowd still gathered. “Can we talk?”
We move off to the side.
“Next you’re going to say you’re proud of me.”
I smirk. “Are you always so cheerful?”
“I-I’m passionate about Saddle, that’s all.”
“I can see that,” I say. “I can feel it.” When she looks at me suspiciously, I elaborate, “When someone is passionate, there’s something untouchable about them. The whole room was encapsulated by your words. They respect you.”
“What about you?” she asks, her piercing eyes searching mine. “Because after you left the other day…” I wait for her to go on, then she lowers her voice. “Didn’t anyone ever tell you it’s rude to get a girl off and then skedaddle?”
I chuckle at her choice of words. “I was a little brazen.”
“You were horny, admit it.”
I glance around, but most of the people left behind are chatting among themselves. I lower my voice, too. “That was a given.”
“So, Sheriff, is that how you greet every new woman you meet, or is it just me who has that special privilege?”
This woman and her lip. “I wasn’t lying about what I told you. I concentrated on raising my daughter, it didn’t leave much time for a social life.”
“That’s too bad.”
I frown. “So, are you saying I’ve lost my touch?”
I’m rewarded with a smile. Her bright red lipstick would look good around my dick, but thoughts like that got us in trouble the last time. “Did I say that?”
“Maybe I have. Maybe I should go and entertain some of the women looking at us—”
She bites her lip, but doesn’t turn around to check. “I wouldn’t. Most of the single women in town are man-eaters.”
“But not you?”
She rolls her eyes, then holds out her palm. “Give me your phone.”
I blink in surprise. My eyebrows furrowing, I hand it over curiously. I watch as she goes to contacts, then adds her number in under Wildcat.
Handing my phone back to me, she says, “And that isn’t to be used for a booty call.”
I can’t help but feel a little smug. “No? What would it be for, then?”
“If you want to test the theory.”
I lift a brow. “Theory?”
“Shackles.”
My eyebrows couldn’t shoot up any higher, and I swear, all the blood drains to my cock. “You’re just reelin’ me in, aren’t you?”
Her lips curl into a small smile, and I almost reach my hand around to the back of her neck. Almost.
“We’re not a thing,” she reminds me.
“You’re sure about that?”
She doesn’t get time to answer before someone calls for her. That shouldn’t annoy me since we’re here for more important matters.
The last thing I see of Diamond is when she rides out of the lot, with Sapphire and Ruby next to her. Seeing her mount that motorcycle… I need to scrub my fucking brain clean. All I can think about is her mounting my dick.
When I pick Charlotte up after school, I’m still annoyed with myself. She rattles on about her day and what she did in class. I love hearing about her new teachers, and the new friends she’s making.
“Daddy?” she asks, that tone in her voice that sounds a lot like a Calloway woman and not a seven-year-old.
“Yeah, honey?”
“Some of the moms at school were asking if you have a wife or girlfriend.”
I glance sideways at her. Great. Good news travels fast. “Okay.” I palm the back of my head. “What did you say?”
I’ve never had to hide the fact Charlotte’s mom isn’t part of the picture, but I’ve also never told her the truth.
She’s too little for that talk, and I don’t want it to affect her confidence.
Charlotte hearing her mom didn’t want either of us isn’t a conversation I ever want to have while she’s small if I can help it.
“I said my mom left and that you’re not dating.”
My sisters haven’t hidden their disdain for Charlotte’s mother, understandably, but I’ve told them not to bad mouth her, either.
My daughter will learn the truth about her mom leaving when she’s old enough.
But that doesn’t mean Charlotte hasn’t picked up on things over the years.
She’s asked me what happened to her mom.
All I could say was she had to leave and that she loves her very much.
None of that was true, but I couldn’t break my daughter’s heart.
My sisters, who only live a few short hours away, and my mom help.
I’m forever grateful to them. In those early years, I was a wreck, but they all pitched in to help me raise her.
My dad, too, being the kind of man I aspire to be.
“Okay.”
“I told them you’re not dating because you just moved, duh.” She slaps her forehead, and I laugh. “They were asking a lot of questions.”
“Well, that’s lucky you’re my number one girl,” I say, giving her a grin.
She sighs. “Daddy? I think it’s time.”
I frown, not understanding. “For what?”
“For a girlfriend. I’m seven now. It’s okay. You don’t want to be alone forever do you?”
Sometimes I wonder what the fuck is in that cereal I give her.
I pinch her chin gently. “How about you leave all that grownup stuff to me, all right?”
“Fine, but if Sophie’s mom asks me for your number one more time, I’m going to lose it.”
I chuckle.
Seven going on seventeen, that’s my girl.