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Chapter 21

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Blaze

Church...

“What’s the deal with the Cartel?” Nightmare asks Viking. Everyone’s attention trains on the Prez to hear what he has to say.

He chugs some of his bottled water, briefly glancing around the table before gruffly answering. “We accomplished what we set out to do. We threw a wrench in their plans that they didn’t know was coming. That being said, we’ve learned that the fight with the cartel is never-ending.”

“What’re we going to do about that?” Odin speaks up.

“We’re going to do what we needed to do years ago. We’re going to keep fighting to protect what means the most to us—our family and club. We’re going to assist whoever we can in cutting the head off that southern snake. We caught a piece of its tail years back when we hit that heroin compound, and shit was crazy...this last job, we took chunks off its body. We need to keep chipping away until we get to the end and figure out a way to take out the cartel’s leaders. Then it’ll be maintenance work to make sure they don’t regroup to remain intact with another leader. Where one falls, another takes their place.”

Mercenary grumbles. “Since when is it our job to take care of this shit? We don’t get paid to do the government’s work.”

Vike’s brows jump, his glare pinning on the newer member. “We recovered three hundred sixty-two thousand dollars on this run. The boys and I found it at our cell we were hitting. According to Exterminator, what we find, we can keep. It’ll be split between the Nomads and both our charters.”

“Holy fuck,” Merc responds, and the prez nods.

Viking continues. “We aren’t being paid, but if we happen to step on a few million or anything else of value, we can be paid. Each run will be put to a vote, just remember that when we aren’t on our guard, our clubs can get hit with blowback. When we aren’t finding cartel dough to fill our wallets with, we’re running guns, moonshine, and whatever else we find, and chancing prison time. Both are dangerous, both have risks...it’s up to us to decide what the fuck we want to do to make our money.”

Smokey coughs out, “We’re looking at a sixteen-thousand-dollar payout from this run alone. That’s taking some cash away for the various families and other interests the club has previously voted to support. Each active member will get an individual sixteen-thousand-dollar chunk of cash, give or take a few.”

My mouth pops open; that’s a damn good surprise bonus.

Viking grunts his agreement, and the brothers’ moods seem to lift immediately.

The Nomads standing and sitting wherever they’ll fit, fist bump each other. They’re just as pleased with the news. The more cash they have, the more they get to ride off into the sunset and do whatever the fuck they want to.

The prez nods to Exterminator. He shifts, uncrossing his arms from his chest, and says, “We’ll take a little time off and recoup. I’ll keep up with my contact, and as soon as I know more, Vike will be made aware. The Nomads won’t be leaving the charters high and dry, we’ll be back up as much as you need us. You’re all taking a chance on helping us out down south, and we’ll repay in-kind. A frequent route for us moving guns is I-10, and if the cops are happy down there, then they stay off our backs.”

Viking gestures at the burly man again then moves on. “Next set of business is this school bitch.” His gaze trains on me. “You figure that out?” He knows as well as I do that his ol’ lady took care of the issue. I guess he’s not going to embarrass me in front of the brothers, though, and make it known. 

I nod. “She won’t be bothering anyone at school or elsewhere. You have my word.”

Torch chin-lifts in my direction and mutters, “Thanks, brother. Annabelle will be able to relax finally.”

I shrug it off and turn to Viking again. “I have something to say about her, though.”

His brow wrinkles, waiting.

“She’s mine,” I declare coolly. I flash a glance at Torch and Nightmare to see their reactions. They’re both stunned as they gaze at me like I’ve lost my head.

“Yours?” Viking rumbles. “As in?”

I nod. “I’m staking claim.”

He snorts, and Nightmare barks out, “That prissy bitch will never let you touch her in front of anyone.”

Torch mutters, “She’ll probably ask you to book an appointment or fill out a record sheet, then call the cops on your faded ass.”

“I’m not faded, dick,” I growl in return. “I want her, so I’m keeping her.”

“That so?” Viking asks. “You planning on letting her leave your room, or is this relationship going to be extra fucking twisted?”

My glare lands on him next. “I’ll let her leave. She knows the deal, and if she fucks up, I’ll remind her.”

He shakes his head, glancing at the ceiling, then sighs. “You know what? I don’t even fuckin’ care. You want her? Fine, fuck it. But if she fucks up and gets this club in some shit, you have to be the one to put her six feet under. You feel me?”

I concede. I already know it’ll never come to that. “I’ll handle her. She needed someone strong in her life to get her to calm the fuck down. Trust me, she’s chilled the fuck out. Still feisty and strong-willed, but she knows to lock that shit down where the club is concerned.”

He grunts, “Good.”

Saint grins. “I wanna see you fuck her, especially with the stories we’ve heard. You sure that bitch won’t be the one on top?” He mocks, and I roll my eyes, giving him the finger.

“Fuck off. She knows who the man is.”

Nightmare huffs, clearly not convinced.

“It may take a little while...but it’ll happen,” I defend.

“All right, then, fuck,” Viking mumbles and asks, “Anything else?”

No one speaks up, so he gestures to Odin that he’s calling an end. The gavel slams down, and he does his usual gruff bark of, “Get the fuck out!”

We pile out into the bar, and I can’t help but be a tad miffed at the brothers, not believing in my charm where Amelia’s concerned. They don’t know what’s transpired between us these past few weeks. I had her call in today and request another week of time off. She even lied to say she had a family emergency. There wasn’t one; she’s just not ready to leave our little world. I may’ve told her to do it and stood beside her to hear what she’d said, but she still did it. She could’ve told them anything in the span of the few minutes, but she told them exactly what she was supposed to.

She’s no longer my captive, even though she wants to pretend that she is. In reality, she could throw on some of my clothes and walk right out the main entrance, and I wouldn’t stop her. We have the video of her, and I know damn well she won’t allow it to jeopardize everything she’s worked for. She’ll keep it quiet and do as she’s supposed to, to avoid the repercussions.

I think it’s time to take it to another level between us. I’ve slept beside her for two weeks straight. I’ve fed her and fucked her delirious. Now, she needs to be put on the back of my bike. She needs to feel the vibration between her thighs and the wind in her hair. Afterward, she needs to be thoroughly fucked, so she realizes that it’s not something insignificant, that she truly does belong to me. I’m far too invested at this point; I don’t think I could allow her to leave me for good if she were to make an effort to. My twisted heart just won’t allow it. I want to keep her.

I will keep her...forever.

***

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“THAT WAS INTENSE!” Amelia exclaims, breathless and beaming a smile. We just got back to the club after our first ride together. She was glued to me, her body fit to mine like a glove. It was as if she’d meant to be there all along, and my chest had never felt so full having her arms wrapped around my waist as she’d clung to me.

“Yeah? You liked it?”

She squeezes my arm excitedly, irises glittering from her adrenaline. “I truly enjoyed it. I can understand why you all are so passionate about it.”

“Something you can see yourself doing on the regular?” I try not to get my hopes up too high, but I need to know if it’s a possibility.

“Oh, definitely. In fact, perhaps I’ll look at getting one of those scooter types.”

I immediately groan, my hand moving to my forehead. “Fuckin’ shit, woman, don’t do that.”

Her gaze flashes to me again, full of confusion. “Do they not do the same thing, only at a safer speed? I could get a matching helmet and a jacket. Maybe even fake leather if it’s a sensible color.”

“Christ...not just no, but hell nah. I’ll get you a good jacket, you don’t want fake shit cause it won’t hold up. As for the scooter, let’s just pretend that you didn’t say that. Damn sure don’t say anything of the sort in front of the brothers.”

“But I want to be animal friendly. I could just get some padding or something, right?”

I shake my head. “Babe, let me handle the biker shit, ‘kay? I’ll hook you up with what you need. As for the bike, you’ll ride with me.”

“But I was thinking of driving it to and from work...”

My brow wrinkles. “Like I said, you’ll ride with me.”

“What if I need to pick up my lunch?”

“Call me. I’ll make sure you’re fed.”

She huffs out a quiet laugh. “You plan to wait on me outside of this place as well?”

I shrug, ‘cause I’d been thinking of it. “Babe, it’s my job to take care of you.”

She starts to open her mouth to argue, and I hold up my hand to quiet her.

“Not ‘cause you can’t handle it yourself, but because I want to. I’m a fucking man, let me be a man for you. We already discussed this over and over.”

She stares at me a moment before finally nodding. “Does this mean you’re letting me go home soon?”

I shrug again, not wanting to admit that she can leave. I have enough on her that she won’t fuck with the Oath Keepers in the future, but I don’t want her to leave. It’s strange to admit, but I’ll actually miss her. I’ve grown so used to seeing her each time I enter my room, that it’ll feel lonely without her presence and mouthy stubbornness.

“Oh, Blaze!” she exclaims and wraps her arms around me. The hug surprises me for a beat before I turn and pull her into my embrace.

“Hm?”

“You’ve been different today.”

“How so?”

“Well, for starters, you gave me some clothes and took me out of your room. You let me ride on your motorcycle, and now you implied I may be able to leave soon. I miss my job and my bed.”

“Mine isn’t so bad, is it?”

She offers a tender smile. “No, it’s not.”

“I can sense a but in there.” I drop my arms and commence walking toward the main entrance of the clubhouse.

“Blaze, wait.” She reaches for me, her hand landing on my bicep, and I pause. She steps beside me again, reaching for my face. She turns my chin until I meet her gaze. “I still want to see you.”

My brows raise.

“You’ve become someone important to me.”

“Hm?” I grunt.

She grins. “I know, but it’s true. I care about you. We may be opposites, but I feel something here.” She places her free palm over her heart, and my protective wall completely crumbles where she’s concerned.

I turn to her, my hand carefully cupping her cheek. Leaning in, I whisper against her lips, “I feel it there too.” And then I’m kissing her like she’s my everything and she always will be. I don’t know when it happened, but at some point, things evolved, and I fell for the strong-willed woman. Pulling away, I admit softly, “There’s only one way I can keep you.”

“Anything...” she declares adamantly, and I chuckle darkly.

“I have to claim you...make you my ol’ lady.”

Her nose screws up. “Marriage?”

I scowl. “Hell no.”

“Oh.” She seemed opposed, but I can see her expression falter a bit. She wanted to hate the idea, yet she didn’t, not deep down.

“It’s more than that. Me claiming you means more than me putting a ring on your finger. You become my ol’ lady that makes you family to the entire club. There’s no turning back, we’re together for life.”

“Wow,” she sighs, and I nod. “That-that’s intense. And I’d be yours forever. You wouldn’t get bored and cheat on me or anything? It seems like a lot for a man to commit to.”

I scoff, wearing a disgruntled scowl. “That’s why we don’t claim a woman until we’re sure she’s everything we can’t live without. Fuck no, I wouldn’t cheat...some do, sure, but that’s not me.”

Her bottom lip wobbles, her gaze turning dreamy. “You think I’m everything you can’t live without?”

That’s what she heard? Not the rest? I shrug, reaching out to squeeze her hip. She’s in my oversized T-shirt and a borrowed pair of leggings from Jude. “I mean...I wouldn’t think about claiming you if I didn’t feel that way.”

A tear falls, cascading over her perfect flesh and then her mouth is on mine again, and she’s kissing me with so much fervor my cock grows rock hard. My jeans squeeze the fuck out of it. I move to scoop her up into my arms. I kiss her fiercely, walking to the clubhouse at the same time. I’m done fucking around.

Flinging the door open, not breaking our kiss, the heavy door bangs closed behind us. Amelia jumps in my grip, but I hold her to me, not letting her break away.

“Nu-uh,” I murmur, taking her lips, tugging them between mine to suck and nibble. My hands rake up her back until I get to the collar. I grab it with both hands and rip the fuck out of it. She moans at my savagery, rubbing her cunt against my abs. Shredding the material away until her back’s exposed, I walk to the closest table and lay her down. She stares up at me, eyes dilated and chest heaving. She’s so goddamn turned on, it makes me horny as fuck.

When I take her in, I immediately think that she’s absolutely magnificent. She’s different from anyone else I know, and it’s intriguing. She never bores me; she keeps me on my toes constantly. “So fuckin’ beautiful, babe,” I murmur.

She bites her lip, smirking, looking like a motherfucking vixen ready to consume her prey. I’m so enraptured with her I don’t realize the bar’s gone completely silent to watch us. There’re brothers and ol’ ladies all over the place, but I couldn’t give two fucks about ‘em.

A large hand smacks my back, and I flash a scowl in the direction it came from. Torch meets my glower with a smirk. “You gonna fucking claim the bitch or just tease us?”

I blink, letting his word register through my lust-induced fog and peer around the room. Everyone’s stopped what they’re doing, nosily staring at Amelia and me. I was far too ensconced with my woman to notice a room bustling full of people. Clearly, she’s not just another piece of ass to me; she’s my more.