2. Rogue
ROGUE
The commotion out front draws me out of the back office of my club and I run into Hayze, my VP, who tries to explain what’s going on while I walk out into the bar area assessing my crew’s stance around the female sitting on her knees.
The green-eyed redhead is trying to be brave but as I close the distance I can see her fear pulsing on the side of her neck, while she swallows, awaiting the demands of my men.
My protective instincts kick in.
We may be the most notorious and feared crew in Tucson, Arizona but our mission, it’s sound. And outlaws or not we’ve always defended those who need to be protected in our city, especially those under the roof of my club, no matter how they got here.
I heard everything the doll said to my men, Hayze’s explanation on how she got in and her explanation to my crew loud and clear.
They may be right, and they may be wrong about the woman but she sure as shit doesn’t look like a threat to me.
One of my crew standing over a kneeling woman who’s half scared to death can be intimidating as fuck.
No matter that the little green-eyed doll may be a honey trap to get her hooks into one of our crew. There’s something about the redheaded lady’s eyes as she sits on her knees that tells me her plea is for real. No one is this fucking good of an actress.
I walk to my crew who’s circled her, knowing they’re just protecting me, our mission and everything we hold dear, but still it’s pissing me right the fuck off. “Move.”
They part, allowing me to walk through their circle and get to her. The green-eyed beauty stays kneeling on the floor, at the complete mercy of my crew because just yet, there’s nowhere else for her to go.
Her eyes meet mine as she shifts her attention to me, those bright eyes staring into mine as I assess the redheaded beauty and the situation the Royal Bastards now find ourselves right in the middle of.
“You’re with the Scorpions, Angel?”
She swallows, the action of her throat keeping my attention and my dick’s attention on that and nothing else.
The green-eyed doll shakes her head. “I’m not with them, but they claim me.
They make me dance and were getting ready to sell me.
I ran.” Tears stream from her pretty little face and she swipes them away.
“I’m sorry that I came here, that it will make trouble for you with the Scorpions, but it was the only place left to run.
They were right behind me across the street in that alley. I saw your sign and… ”
Just the fact Angel knows running here, involving us, makes trouble between the two clubs tells me she knows a hell of a lot more than any young woman on the street running would ever be able to know. That right there doesn’t sit well with me or my men but I still don’t think she’s a plant.
My crew looks antsy. It’s clear they want to make an example of anyone the Scorpions send into our club.
No matter that this young woman does not strike me as someone working with the enemy.
There’s something about her softness, a girl from uptown look, innocence despite the fact she finds herself on her knees in an outlaw club.
But if the fucking Scorpions were right behind her, they’re gearing up, gathering forces and it’s not going to be long before they come knocking on our door if what she says is true and they really do want her back.
“Grab your weapons boys. I can smell the fucking stench of the Scorpions on the other side of that door.” It won’t be long. The minute I’ve given that order I unholster my own gun and catch the sawed off that Hayze tosses over to me.
“Take Angel to the safe room.” An armored room that no one can escape, and no one can get into without my key once locked. “That’s where we’re going to hold the green-eyed doll until I get answers.”
A quick look around tells me that half of my crew is all in and half are pensive, knowing exactly what holding property of the Scorpions in our club could mean for her and for us. A couple of my men look at me like I’ve given them an order they don’t understand, and maybe they don’t.
I get it … maybe a few years ago I would have felt the same way, but now, I know more than I did so many years ago. “I said get her into the safe room and guard that fucking door.”
Not one of my men will defy me but I know my men, and like it or not, many of them don’t look too pleased with the order I just gave. Because every single one of my seasoned men know what it means. The war that’s been brewing between the two one percenter crews in Tucson Arizona is about to ensue.
A gesture of heads says all will obey and defend on my command.
At a time when we know the Scorpions could be blasting through our door any minute demanding that we give back what belongs to them, every single one of my men do as I ask.
It makes me fucking proud of my crew but that pause, their uncertainty about her initially cost us fucking time.
My eyes scan the line of my men, watching as each of them follow my orders, one of my best taking the green-eyed beauty by the arm to safeguard her per my orders and walking her toward the stairs.
My Sgt at Arms will protect her while we take care of the Scorpions, no matter what he thinks about the lady who raced into our club looking for help, or that it means another reason for the Scorpions to make a play. He walks her across the club because he and my men are loyal as fuck.
But the Scorpions must want this doll back pretty fucking bad. They burst through that door sooner than anticipated, getting off a round of shots before taking our fire in return.
We were almost ready for the fuckers, with men positioned behind the bar.
They pump rounds of lead into the swarming Scorpions and then load up time and time again.
Hayze and I aim our sawed offs at the perpetrators while drywall, old wooden banisters, and tables alike crumble under the entourage of flying bullets that spray the Royal Bastards’ club all to hell.
But still we stand our ground, and one by one, round after round, the Royal Bastards pick off the Scorpions and watch as they drop to the floor.
“She’s been hit. I’m taking her downstairs!” my Sgt at Arms yells.
Fury races through my veins as I pump off a flurry of additional rounds at the fucks who all came for the same green-eyed girl.