Chapter Four – Warren
I rolled over, searching for the stunning beauty I’d brought to bed, and found cold sheets. I peeked and saw what my hands already knew: no one was there. My ears tingled as I listened for any sounds that she was still here – bathroom water running, refrigerator closing, or heels on the wooden floor. There were none, and against my better judgment, I laughed.
This entire situation wasn’t normal. I was the one that snuck out of the bed, not the other way around. I was used to clinginess and the tired reasons why we should continue spending time together. Or worse, tears when they see the face – the face that says there is nothing you can say to make me want to see you again.
I’d gotten very good at leaving girls when they brought me to their place and making it clear beforehand when I brought them to my place that we were only spending one night together. No more. No less. But I didn’t even think to give that speech to Red. And as I laid back down in my empty bed, I realized I didn’t regret that. I regretted waking up and finding her gone. I regretted I hadn’t gotten her number, or at least her real name. All I had to go by was a nickname – Red – which I gave her myself and her friend referenced her as “Ally”. Why had she left? It for damn sure wasn’t because the sex was bad. I knew what I was doing. No one could convince me of anything different. So what was it about her?
She was a girl, like any other girl before. At this point, I’d slept with so many women, I’d lost count. She was pretty, prettier than most, sure, but looks weren’t everything. Feisty, hell yeah, and I liked that shit. It made for the hottest sex my walls had ever seen, but I’d had hot sex before. She was just a random lay, a girl a biker like me would pick up in a bar. Right? There was no reason to even be thinking of this woman. She’d done us both a favor by leaving before it got weird and awkward. She was bolder than most, and good for her. I know the world would be a better place if more women were like her, but that was it, wasn’t it? I didn’t think there were any more like her. What were the odds I could track her down?
I sat up, frowning at my internal dialogue. Where was my head at?
That would be entirely too invasive. Why the hell did I want to find her again anyway? That was a guaranteed way to make her clingy. I knew I shouldn’t take advantage of a good thing. The best thing to do was keep an eye out for her, and if I ever saw her again, I’d make my move. Otherwise, despite my desire for the tightest pussy I’d ever had, I was letting her go.
I climbed out of bed, afraid of where my brain would go next. I stumbled to my feet and staggered across the barely furnished room to take my morning piss. I passed a hamper full of clothes and made a mental note to wash them when I got back home. I wasn’t much of a housekeeper, and usually that didn’t matter. I didn’t spend much time here. My home was with my club. I was either running a job, collaborating with Gus for a job, working on my bike, or drinking with the boys. I saw this place as much as the furniture saw a duster. I saw the thin layer of dust on top of the toilet and sighed. I needed to make some time to clean before it got too nasty.
My cell rang, and I grabbed it without looking at the ID.
“Talk to me.”
“Warren!” I could tell by the voice that Jerry was in good spirits. Which was good, considering he’d been in a rare mood for months.
“Yeah, Jer?”
“You still coming to work on my bike?”
“Yeah, man. I said I was.”
“I know,” Jerry said, moving around. “I was just checking. I figured you’d be balls deep in that redhead right now.”
I could tell he was fishing for details, but I was never one to kiss and tell.
“Did you have to toss her out this morning because she was crazy in love?” Jerry was teasing, but my skin crawled hearing him making fun of her. It was true: he was known for his stories about kicking women out, but most of the brothers had their fair share of struggles, which was the only thing keeping me from snapping on him.
I let my silence be my response. The silence sat between us a beat too long, helping him to realize I wasn’t amused. I really didn’t like him bringing her up because knowing she left before I woke up really bothered me.
“I’ll be at work soon,” I said before hanging up.
I couldn’t figure out if it was because it’d never happened to me before or if I really liked her that much. Either way, she needed to get the hell out of my thoughts. My bike was the best way to distract me. I took the long way to the clubhouse before pulling up to my other home.
The nondescript brick building didn’t scream biker, though everyone knew exactly what it was. It was no secret where The Bandits made its headquarters. There was a high fence surrounding the large building and the obvious presence of security and a guy manning the font gate. It was an unwelcome greeting for folks who didn’t belong here. The club took security and protection seriously. The garage beside it, however, was much more civilian friendly and didn’t have as many red flags because it was one of the best legal businesses the club had.
I turned on the lights, knowing Gus was probably in the back somewhere working or sleeping. He rarely went home anymore. The front was dark and cool. I turned on the lights, working my way to the garage, and waved at Jerry. He was across the way already working on his bike. I doubled back to the office to make sure everything was secure and nodded at my president as I passed by. His head was down as he looked over papers on his desk.
“Pres.”
“VP.”
Gus was my best friend, but he was my president first. Thirteen years ago, I’d been on the cusp of thirty and he was only a couple years older, but even back then he’d been a force to be reckoned with. He wasn’t our president at the time. We’d both served under Mitch, Ethan and Evan’s dad, for years before the man was killed, but it had never been a question that Gus was next.
I stepped into the sunlight, not yet scalding for the day, and took the offered beer from Jerry. It popped open loudly before I took a sip. Hanging with Jerry was easy. He wasn’t a talker, one of his best traits as far as I’m concerned, but we never had a problem or disagreement, unlike some of the other club members. He was a good man, hardworking and worked hard for The Bandits. If you kept your head down and got shit done, you were always good in my book, which meant Jerry and I were good.
Jerry didn’t rush me as I drank my beer, and when he could tell I was at the bottom of the can, he got my attention.
“You ready?”
“Let’s go.”
I lost myself in the work and decided now would be a great time for a break.
“You want some water?” Jerry was the type to work nonstop on his bike if you didn’t make him take a break.
“Yeah. That would be great.”
I walked inside and dug around in the ice box until I could pull two bottles from the very back. Ice cold water was great on a day like this. I briefly wondered what I would eat for lunch since I’d skipped breakfast. A loud rumbling interrupted my thoughts. I could see an ancient Honda pulling up to the garage before slowing, more like sputtering, to a stop. Then, like a vision, Red stepped out of the driver’s side door.
I smiled as I pushed through the garage door into the sunlight.
Well, damn. Fate wasn’t done with me yet.