Chapter 1
CHAPTER ONE
Twelve years later
Delaney
“Thank God you’re here. I was about to start ordering without you.”
I smile at my best friend Erica as she flags down the server.
“I’m five minutes early,” I tell her.
“I’ve been here for twenty, so sue me,” she hisses.
The server comes over, interrupting anything I might say.
We are at Trio’s, our favorite wing and burger joint, so I don’t need to consult the menu.
“Hi. My name is Trevor. What can I get you ladies?” the nice, young guy asks.
“How about your number?” Erica flirts.
The guy’s cheeks turn pink. “Um. I…”
“Stop it, Erica,” I chastise her. “Ignore her. She was dropped as a baby. I’ll have an eighteen-wing meal, medium, with ranch and fries. Oh, and a Coke Zero to drink.”
Erica pouts. “I’ll do the same, but with garlic parm instead of medium sauce.”
Trevor nods and hustles away quickly.
“You traumatized that poor boy. He looks barely eighteen.”
Erica rolls her eyes. “I’m helping him build his confidence. Now he knows a girl as hot as this might want him, so he can use that to his advantage.”
“You’re twenty-four. Maybe look for guys your own age.”
She smiles. “That’s no fun. The younger ones let you train them.”
“Enough about our poor server, whom you will be appropriate with.”
She salutes me. “Yes, Mom.”
“Good. So how’s work?”
She shrugs. “Same old shit. Stacey tried to get me in trouble with Ben again. I don’t know why she keeps doing that. It’s not like he can’t see through her shit.”
“Why doesn’t he fire her then?” I ask.
“Ugh, she’s his neighbor. She watches his cat when he goes on vacation.
Besides, he’s old school. Like sixty and acts like you’d imagine an old person to act like.
Doesn’t understand technology. Is a complete dick.
Makes racist jokes. Honestly, if I didn’t need the job so bad, I’d have put him in his place long ago.
I mean, just last week I climbed onto an eighteen-wheeler to look for the product the sheet said was there but was missing.
He started yelling at me, telling me that women shouldn’t do shit like that and to get down.
I refused, and we got into an argument. I am fully capable of doing anything a guy can do. ”
“Of course you can. You are amazing, babe. He’s such a jerk. If anything opens up at the school, I will let you know. I know you don’t want to teach, but you could do administrative work in the front office.”
She grimaces. “Not sure I want to be that close to crotch goblins, but sure. It has to be better than Ben. Moving on from me, is the dickwad still stalking you?”
“He’s not stalking me,” I say immediately, “but he is still calling. I haven’t answered.”
“Why don’t you block his number?”
I don’t tell her that I have twice already. He changes his number when I do. That will only have her thinking the worst. I don’t need her to get involved.
“He will eventually move on. He has to,” I mutter.
She shakes her head in disappointment. “You are too nice. He is going to be a problem for you. I’m telling you.”
I sigh. “Oh look. Trevor is coming back.”
She narrows her eyes. “Oh how noble you are until you need to change the subject.”
I smile brightly at her, giving her my best innocent look.
After Trevor drops off our drinks, she continues the conversation, not letting me off that easy.
“Babe, I’m worried about you. He could be dangerous.”
“I think you watch too many true crime documentaries,” I tell her.
“Or you don’t watch enough. I don’t want to be on Dateline telling them how you lit up a room. It’s so damn cliché, but with you, it’s unfortunately true. You’re too kindhearted.”
I reach out and take her hand. “I’m okay. He’s not dangerous. Just a little heartbroken. He will move on. I promise.”
She lets the topic drop.
The rest of dinner goes by smoothly with very little flirting with Trevor and no more mentions of my ex. After we pay, we walk out of the restaurant together.
“Let me walk you to your car,” Erica says.
“No way. I parked in the Jefferson garage that way. It’s out of your way.” I wave her off.
“Yeah, but you can drive me back to my car. I don’t like the idea of you walking alone.”
“Babe.” I hug her to me. “I am an adult. It’s five blocks. I will call you when I get there. We both know getting anywhere in downtown Pensacola on a Thursday gallery night is not gonna happen by car.”
It’s the truth. It’s a once-a-month event that draws a crowd. I only got a parking spot because I showed up early. Now that the event has started, traffic is going to be crazy.
“Fine, but I want to know you got there. I will do the same. No stopping and talking to strangers. Stay aware of your surroundings.”
“I will. Love you. See you later.”
I hug her once more before we part ways, each heading a different way down the street.
It’s a nice night out. The temperature is still cool despite spring being in full effect. A great night for a walk.
Or so I thought.
As I make it to the end of the ice cream shop next door, I see him. My ex.
Blaine Matthew Collins.
I used to think his douchebag haircut with the shaved parts on the side was sexy. I used to want to marry this guy.
That was all until two months ago.
“Blaine, what are you doing here?” I sigh.
“Getting ice cream. What are you doing here?”
I ignore his question and the fact that he isn’t even holding ice cream.
“Go away. I told you. We are done. I don’t want anything to do with you. You need to stop calling me. I don’t want the flowers. I want nothing when it comes to you. You need to get that through your head.”
He frowns as he steps closer. “Delaney, honey pie, we were good together. We are good together. You can’t throw it away because of one silly mistake.”
I snort. “So that’s what you call fucking your boss on her desk?” I ask.
My mood takes a nosedive as I remember that night. He had been working late all week. I was worried he wasn’t taking care of himself. He said they had a big case they needed to prepare for.
Stupid of me to believe him, really. He isn’t even a lawyer yet. He’s only a paralegal working to get his degree. Still, I bought the lies until I walked in and saw him fucking one of the partners on her desk.
The sad part is, he looked at me with concern, but he didn’t stop. He kept fucking her.
“I told you, I can’t tell her no. If I do, I will be done in law. She is going to make me a partner. You’re my girl. She’s just an obligation.”
I shake my head. “I have never and will never share. You knew that about me from the beginning. It’s why you didn’t tell me about this. You knew I would be gone. I will never trust you again. I don’t care what your excuses are, we are done. Now I’m late to meet my boyfriend, so I need to go.”
It’s a lie, but I know there’s a little dive bar a few doors down. I figure I can walk in there and he will back away. He’s a pussy, so he won’t want a confrontation.
“You were out with Erica. Don’t lie,” he says, anger bleeding into his voice.
“For an early dinner so I could meet my man after. Not that I owe you any explanations. This conversation is over.”
I brush past him, walking confidently down the street.
“Delaney, stop. Delaney, we aren’t done talking.”
I keep walking, ignoring his voice trailing me. I pick up my pace, not wanting him to catch me. Then the bar comes into view.
The hulk of a man standing outside is attractive. He looks like a biker, but I don’t even care at this point. I need Blaine to leave me the hell alone. I’m starting to wonder if Erica was right about him not being harmless.
The man puts a cigarette to his lips. It’s a disgusting habit, but beggars can’t be choosers. I only hope he doesn’t have a girlfriend. I don’t see a ring, so I make my decision.
Walking straight up to him, I grab his collar.
“Kiss me,” I demand.
Tank
Another day, another dollar.
It’s a saying I’ve heard a lot in my life. Not one I live by, but it still sticks in my head.
Probably because it’s all I have these days.
Working hard for the club. Making money the only way we know how. Running drugs and guns for the Medina Cartel.
It’s dumb as hell to get mixed up with a cartel. They are ruthless, but so far we have stayed on their good side. It helps that all of our dealings go through the Lotus MC. We only have direct contact with them if they have issues, which we haven’t had since we were brought on.
Still, the runs wear on a guy. Especially since I always offer to go.
Why wouldn’t I?
Mac has an old lady and two kids now. If I can keep him home with them, then I’m going to.
Gunner has Sloane, and while he does go on these runs as often as me, I’m trying to step up and take on that responsibility so he can spend more time with her.
As the enforcer of the club, I feel like it’s my duty.
Then you have our president, Smoke. He and his old lady have a kid, and fuck if I want to let him worry about other shit when he has that to focus on.
So I work myself to the bone to prove to them why I belong in the club. It’s stupid. All in my head even, but it’s what has been ingrained in me since I was a kid. I never feel like I’m enough. I never feel like I belong.
“You coming to take shots with us?” Jagger asks, nodding over to where Crow and Bear already wait.
“Nah. I’m going to smoke. I’ll be back.”
He nods, walking off.
I step outside into the cool evening air and pull out a cigarette. A bad habit, but one that helps calm me. I don’t have many vices, so I keep the ones I do have.
I’m pulling in a drag when I see movement down the sidewalk. Natural red hair greets me as I watch a woman march her way down the street.
“Delaney, we aren’t done talking,” a man yells out from behind her, following her.
Another bickering couple. It’s a shame, really. The woman is sexy as hell.
I let my eyes take her in for a moment before I look away.
She doesn’t deserve me ogling her. I know I don’t appreciate it when women do it to me.
Another side effect of a fucked-up childhood.
Then the redhead does something peculiar. She walks right up to me.
I don’t even know what to say as she grabs my collar.
“Kiss me.”
The demand goes straight to my cock.
I hold my cigarette out from her body as I lean in to kiss her. She’s not as tall as me, but she has some height on her, so I don’t have to bend my six-foot frame too far. Then my free hand comes up to her hip, pulling her closer as I kiss her like my life depends on it.
Fuck, it feels amazing. I know it’s the high of her demand, but I want to chase it. I want to feel more of it.
When she finally pulls back, I smirk down at her, taking a drag from my cigarette. She scrunches her nose in disgust, but the man has finally caught up, and he isn’t happy.
I might go to jail tonight for kissing another man’s girl. I can’t even be sorry about it.
I drop the cigarette and snuff it out with my boot.
“Delaney, what the fuck?” the man hisses.
She turns to him. “Blaine, this is my boyfriend. I told you I was meeting him. I don’t know why you are still following me.”
She keeps her hand on my chest, not moving her body an inch.
“Tank,” I grunt at the man, holding out my hand. “Nice to meet you, Blaine. My girl has told me a lot about you.”
I say it as if it’s a bad thing. I assume it would be if she were kissing random men to get this guy to take a hint.
I take in his appearance. He is clean-cut.
What kind of asshole wears slacks on a night out?
His button-up is crisp and clean. This man cares a lot about his appearance if his perfectly fixed hair is any indication.
I would think he is Navy or Air Force with the bases being so close, but this guy seems too arrogant to take demands from someone else.
He stares at my hand with disgust. I pull it back, placing it on her hip. I smirk when I see his jaw tighten.
Yeah, I don’t need to shake your hand. I got what you want.
“You’re hanging around with a thug? What has gotten into you? I know I fucked up, but you’re dating this guy? Really? You need to take a step back and look at what you are doing. I mean, he has tattoos on his face. You can’t even take him to work events,” he tries to reason with her.
My girl has other thoughts, though. She doesn’t get angry. She doesn’t yell at him.
She laughs. I mean, really laughs. It’s a beautiful sound that has a smile coming to my own face.
“Delaney,” he tries again, his voice lower this time. “Let’s talk.”
She shakes her head. “I already told you how I feel. You cheated. It’s been two months. I am done and will still be done two years from now. There is no universe in which I would take you back. I really need you to figure that out and move on.”
She isn’t cruel with her words. No, she’s stating facts.
“Yeah, well fuck a thug then. Hopefully he can handle your shortcomings. I mean, you’re stiff as a board and can’t even come. What kind of woman doesn’t come for her man? A pathetic one. Honestly, you’re saving me the trouble.”
I push the girl behind me and step toward him.
“Would you like to talk shit about my girl again?” I ask him, cracking my knuckles.
He has the common sense to look afraid now.
“This isn’t over.” He turns and stalks away.
Turning, I find the woman still standing there, looking tired.
“You want a drink?” I ask her.
She shakes her head. “I shouldn’t.”
I nod. “I could walk you to your car at least. Honest to God, I’m not a serial killer.”
She snorts, “That’s what a serial killer would say. Are you going to pick that up?”
She looks down at the cigarette butt I had left on the ground during our interaction.
Slowly, I shake my head no.
She purses her lips.
“Pick it up.” Her tone has changed completely.
Gone is the sweet girl who wasn’t sure she wanted a drink. In her place is a woman who isn’t told no.
My cock strains in my pants at her tone. It’s authoritative. I both love and loathe how it makes my body sing for her.
Without making her ask twice, I bend down and pick it up, tossing it in the trash.
“Smoking is bad, you know,” she informs me.
“I’m aware. So, are you going to come in for a drink or let me walk you to your car?”
She thinks it over for a moment before looking down the street where the prick disappeared. “One drink wouldn’t hurt.”
I motion for her to go in the door ahead of me, discreetly adjusting myself.
This is probably a terrible idea, but fuck, I’m doing it anyway.