Four
Veronica
There are people everywhere. Security at this event is going to be a nightmare. My attention is drawn to the loud sound of Harleys as the rest of the Savage Angels MC pulls into our camp at Sturgis. They climb off their bikes and there’s shoulder slapping, laughter and it’s quickly getting out of control.
“Bear! I need you to get those bikes moved away from here and on the other side of the buses,” I bellow at him. His old lady Sharon-Ann gives me a withering look and whispers something in his ear. Laughter escapes his large frame as he nods and she gives me a sarcastic smile.
I raise an eyebrow at her and turn around to find the security guards.
“You! Find the person you’ve been assigned to, now!” I say loudly to one of the security guards as he steps out of the bus.
“Yes, Ma’am!” He smiles at me and walks toward the first bus.
The other security guards follow suit and Kat stands beside me.
“Veronica, we are safe here,” says Kat quietly.
“Yes, and I intend to keep you that way,” I quickly reply.
“The Savage Angels are one of the largest MC’s in the country and my husband is the President of them. I’m safe. My band is safe. You need to relax.”
I turn to look at Kat, although she’s talking to me, her eyes are on Dane. He’s walking toward her, smiling and she practically melts at the sight of him. When he reaches her, his massive frame envelopes her and the kiss is enough to make anyone blush. I turn my head and see a group of women and a man on the edge of our camp, one of them has a dog on a harness.
Inwardly I sigh. Fans. Great. The VP of the Savage Angels, Jonas is making his way toward Dane and I meet him halfway.
“Jonas, how are we going to keep them all safe?” I nod toward the group of onlookers.
He frowns at me and looks at the group. “They’re keeping their distance. It’s a rally V. The Grinders are famous. People are going to stare. If you’re worried, you go over and warn them off.”
His green eyes light up when Addy and Ben get off one of the buses. “Talk to you later, V.”
Jonas is a good-looking man. Not as big muscle wise but still a hell of a physique.
“My name is Veronica,” I say acidly as he walks away.
He laughs, nods and keeps walking without a backward glance. I’ll say this for the MC boys, once they’ve made a claim on a woman they don’t appear to have eyes for anyone else.
I look back at the onlookers as they talk amongst themselves. Jamie, the drummer for The Grinders, steps off the bus and walks toward me.
“Hey, Veronica, how you doing?” Jamie has a shaved head and crystal blue eyes.
The onlookers grab onto one another and are obviously talking about him.
“We have fans here.”
“Fuck I hope so! Wouldn’t be much point in being here if we didn’t.” Jamie’s smile is contagious and I smile back.
“Where’s your bodyguard?”
“On the bus,” Jamie replies sheepishly.
“No, no, no! We agreed, we all agreed, none of you go anywhere without a bodyguard.”
“Jesus, Veronica, we aren’t in a war-torn country. Yes, things get a bit wild at these things but the MC’s generally keep the peace for the sake of the gathering. Otherwise it wouldn’t be on. Calm down, have some fun,” Jamie leans down and whispers, “get laid.”
My mouth falls open and I meet his eyes, he winks, the cheeky bastard. “I’m working and you agreed to have security or I’m pulling the pin on this right now,” I say forcefully.
Jamie holds his hands up in surrender and waves at one of the security team guys. The man jogs over to us.
“Veronica, meet Bruce, he’ll be sticking with me like glue from now on.”
I offer them both a tight smile and walk toward the onlookers.
Looks are exchanged between them and one of the women is talking to the one with the dog. The man eyes me warily.
“Hello. I’m Veronica Argent, associate manager to The Grinders. I take it you’re fans?” I say cheerfully with a big fake smile.
“Oh my God, yes!” one of them gushes. “I’m Charlotte, and this here is Laynie, Anna, Ellen and Gear.”
“Are you looking forward to hearing them play?” I ask.
“We can’t wait! We’ve been dying to meet Kat.” She leans in close and stage whispers, “Do you think it’d be alright if we said hello?”
Before I can answer, the biker, Gear, says, “No, it’s not fucking alright, Charlotte. I already told you that.”
I can’t help the look of shock that goes across my face over the fact this man has just answered for me. I have no problem speaking for myself.
“Actually, I’m sure they’d love to meet you all, follow me.” I smile at the one called Gear and he just shakes his head, clearly not happy with me or my invitation.
Internally I’m berating myself for putting the band on display like this, but I will not have any man speak for me. The women all trail along but the biker stays put, his jaw set and his eyes hard.
I stop and look at him. “Not a fan?”
“That’s Savage Angel territory. I shouldn’t be the first member of Kings of Korruption they meet.”
The women all stop walking, suddenly looking unsure. This hadn’t occurred to me, club politics. I smile tightly at Gear and look at the women.
“Give me a minute, I’ll be right back.” I’m in heels but I could climb a mountain in them and I’m quickly back at Kat’s side. “Kat, there’s some people over here I’d like you to play rock star for and say hello but they are obviously tied to another MC and are nervous about crossing into our camp.”
“As well they fucking should be,” growls Dane.
“Oh, stop it. They’re fans. I don’t care what colors they’re in,” replies Kat as she heads toward the women.
Dane reaches out and places a hand on her shoulder. “You’re not going anywhere without me.”
Kat gives him an exasperated look. “Fine! Come on, big guy, lead the way.”
Dane takes point with Kat and I trailing behind him. I glance up at the women and they look excited. Gear shakes his head and moves to stand with them, and I can’t help but notice the protective position he takes. He’s good looking in a rough sort of way. The way he’s looking at me right now causes me to run my hands over my hair smoothing it and to pull on my jacket.
Dane approaches the women but ignores them, eyes firmly on Gear. He holds out his hand and Gear grips it. “Dane.”
“Gear.”
Their greetings are brief but the handshake, even from where I’m standing, looks firm. The men size each other up and eventually break their hold.
Kat holds up a hand in a wave at the women and says, “I’m Kat. How are you ladies?”
She’s a trained professional, a rock star through and through, meeting the fans is something she’s done a thousand times. For the briefest of moments, the woman stare at her then they all talk at once.
I smile at them, give Gear a cursory glance, turn and walk back to the buses. I have a lot to organize before they perform. On my short walk back, Jamie and Jonas pass me as they head toward the small group. Jamie has a grin on his face and winks as he passes me. I shake my head at him and keep going.