Zeus (Cerberus MC Tennessee Chapter #5)

Chapter 1

Zayne

The relief I was hoping for doesn't come.

The slow ride up the mountains, my bike hugging every curve, should be enjoyable, but all I can focus on is my racing heart and the pressure in my lungs as the elevation rises.

What started out as a way to get a very small piece of my life back, something that I've been missing since high school, is now clouded in doubt. Pettiness has never been my thing, but knowing what, or should I say, who I'll be facing in mere moments was just too tempting to turn down.

I didn't make my life decisions based on who I knew would be at the house, but it did add a nice little cherry on top of what I'd hoped would be a very satisfying job.

My new position with the Cerberus motorcycle club came at the perfect time in my life, a time when I needed something I didn't even know I was missing.

The camaraderie and fellowship these guys are known for met me the second I stepped into the clubhouse to meet with Kincaid, the president of the New Mexico chapter and founder of the entire organization.

I was fully vetted before I could step onto the property, and although people digging into every second of my past wasn't the most comfortable thing, I knew it had to be done.

Cerberus has spent literal decades making people mad, people who wouldn't hesitate to seek revenge if they weren't a little scared of the fallout from the men and women who have dedicated their lives to saving people.

All those thoughts fade away as I slow down enough to make the wide turn onto the property.

Eyes turn toward me, reminding me that it's not just us out here.

Cerberus has bought two cabins in the Smoky Mountains in a very populated area just outside of Gatlinburg, Tennessee.

This little community consists of a half dozen or more very similar houses, mostly used for short-term rentals by tourists hoping to get a little fresh air and see a bear or two.

My ears pop, the sounds around me growing a little easier to detect as I park and turn off my bike.

There's no fanfare. There's no rush of people coming out of the main cabin's front door, but I guess that's for the best. I know they're expecting me.

I spoke with Hemlock, the president of this Tennessee Chapter of Cerberus, last week.

He seemed a little relieved when I told him I was going to ride in rather than needing a ride from the airport or bus station.

Cold air gusts around, chilling me to the bone. I don't think I have time to stand here and try to figure out whether it's just the weather sending chills up my arms or if it's the ghosts of my past warning me that this isn't the best idea.

I know they had to have clocked me the second I turned in, and the traffic in and out of this area must keep Casper, this chapter's IT specialist, busy.

With how things are set up in New Mexico, having their home base situated in a tourist-heavy area honestly surprises me, but if there's anything I've learned about Kincaid, it's that the man knows exactly what he's doing.

I pull in one last fortifying breath before walking toward the front door, feeling the eyes from a group of women at one of the other cabins facing this way practically burning into my back.

From the laughter and conversation coming from that direction, it's clear they've been drinking and are having a good time.

I'm shocked I haven't been catcalled as I lift my hand to ring the doorbell.

Despite this being my new place to live, it just doesn't feel right walking in like I own the place. Plus, the men inside are thoroughly trained and heavily armed, so it probably wouldn't be wise.

I don't know if it's the anxiety of just wanting to get it over with or what, but instead of waiting for someone to answer, I turn the knob and push it open.

A smiling woman stands before me, and I grin back at her.

I recognize her as Zara Hailey. She's the woman Hemlock nearly lost his mind over when he decided one day he was going to keep her.

As if the woman were a shirt he saw in the store and just had to have, he brought her back here and refused to let her leave.

Knowing that made me ask so many questions, but the way Kincaid made it sound, they were destined to be together. Once the dust settled, she was more than happy to be here with him.

The growl from my new boss tells me I either made a mistake by not waiting for her to answer the door, or he's less than impressed that she was going to answer it in the first place.

"What the actual fuck?" a familiar voice snaps when Zara steps out of the way.

My smile grows wider, even though there's a slight tremble in my hands, and my heart tries to beat out of my chest as I turn every ounce of my attention toward him.

"Long time no see," I say, wondering if everyone in the room can hear the slight waver in my voice.

The man seems to be trembling at the sight of me, and I know better than to think it's a tremor of excitement.

"You two know each other?" my new boss asks.

"No," the part of my history I never thought I'd face again growls.

Well, that just won't do. This isn't exactly how I planned to introduce myself, but it's better to find out early on whether these guys are going to have a problem with the man I am.

I spent too much time undercover, pretending to be someone I'm not.

I'll be damned if I'm going to do it in the place I'm supposed to feel most comfortable.

"Frankie and I used to suck each other's dicks in high school," I inform the room, waiting for the change in behavior from the men and women witnessing the situation.

Silence fills every crevice of empty space, but instead of disgust and lack of acceptance, I register it all as shock.

"You're gay?" Lark, a man I recognize from the dossier I was provided, asks, his attention on Frankie.

I swallow thickly, unsure of how things are going to go, because there was a little something in Lark's tone that I can’t decipher.

"I'm not gay," Frankie assures him, his hands clenched into fists as if at any second he'll rip my head off, and he's just trying to figure out the best time to do so.

I never expected the man to be happy that I'm here, but the denial has always rubbed me the wrong way.

"That's exactly what he told me right before he joined the Marine Corps and disappeared," I say, turning back to Zara.

Hemlock steps in close, pulling his woman to his side when I throw her a friendly little wink.

She rolls her lips between her teeth as if she has a million things to say, but she knows better than to say them in mixed company.

"I hope you had a safe trip," Hemlock says, his smile more a sneer than anything welcoming.

I know the look is a warning for me not to get any ideas about his woman.

"It was incredible," I say, shifting my weight from one foot to the other, doing my best to ignore the tension coming from the man ten feet away.

I want to get along with these guys, and even pretending to flirt with Zara isn't in anyone's best interest.

"The traffic on forty was pretty rough," I continue.

"It always is," Zara assures me.

"You rode your bike?" Hemlock asks. "What about luggage?"

"I have a few things on my bike, but the rest will be delivered within the next week. It's my understanding that I'll get started to work right away, but my style and what will be needed for the job aren't exactly the same. I figure I can grab that stuff in the next day or so."

Hemlock raises his hand and waves someone else over.

I grin when I see Casper. I recognize the man from multiple video chats I've had, preparing for my move here.

"Casper," I say, holding out my hand as he approaches.

"Zayne," the other man says with an easy grin, our hands clasping.

"Were you able to get the clothes he needs for this next job?" Hemlock asks.

"Yep," Casper answers. "I've already had them moved to his room next door."

"We talked about this before," Hemlock says, his arm around Zara's waist loosening some as if he no longer sees me as a threat to his woman.

I take a half-step back to give the two a little more room.

The man is intimidating as hell, and I've got no interest in getting on his bad side.

"You're in the other cabin like you requested. "

Zara's eyebrows draw together, but she doesn't question it.

With a slight tilt of my head, I offer an explanation because I don't want anyone to think I'm alienating myself from anyone here.

"Deep undercover is mentally exhausting," I begin. "When the job is done, it's best just to get reacquainted with yourself again before getting too involved with others."

"Makes sense," she whispers. "I can't even imagine the toll it takes on you guys. We're always over here if you need us."

"Thank you," I tell her with an easy smile.

I know the woman has become a mother hen of sorts, watching over all the guys here.

And I know there may come a time I'll take her up on it if I'm given the chance, but from the way Frankie is glaring at me from the other side of the room, I may not have a position here very long if he has anything to do with it.