Chapter Three

Talon

I woke up snuggled against the hot, hard furnace that was Mick. He’d woken me up with a slow, languid fuck before he had to leave for work. I’d given him a long sensual kiss goodbye before going back to bed, and now my body ached so deliciously I could hardly pull myself from the bed. The sheets smelled of us, and when I inhaled the pillow Mick slept on, a smile crossed my face. That musky sexy scent that was all him slid up my nose and straight to my brain.

I had some serious issues if I was already swooning over this guy who I didn’t really know much about. I knew he was hot and funny, and he fucked like a porn star. But I had no idea what his job actually was or what his motorcycle club did. Other than keeping cartel drugs out of Brently. Was that because they were good guys looking out for the community, or was it their attempt at squashing competition? I didn’t know, and honestly, I couldn’t think straight.

His sex had scrambled my brains, making it damn near impossible to make rational decisions. Add to that my feelings about losing my dad for a second time, and I felt more emotions than I knew what to do with. “And I thought leaving Damon and Abby was hard.” These were real emotions far beyond those I battled with just months before.

And I had no fucking clue what to do with them.

On top of dealing with these emotions, I had plenty of other things to do like settle into my father’s house. Or decide if I would settle into his house and turn it into my home. For the first time in my life I could do anything I wanted. I could sell the house, the land, the diner and head to places unknown to start over. Figure out my own dreams for once. Or I could stay in Brently and make it my next chapter. With Mick.

“No. With me.” I should have felt a bit crazy talking to myself while I dusted and cleaned out various desk drawers, but I had no one else to talk to. I couldn’t make this decision with Mick as a factor. Not only had I just got out of a relationship, but I had gained a father, a home and a business. All those things needed my attention. Now.

In the bottom drawer of what used to be Magnus’ desk I found legal papers and blueprints. I didn’t know what to do with them, but I couldn’t look away from the blueprints even though I had no idea how to read them. I spent an hour on them before getting dressed and heading to the diner. I now owned a freaking diner!

Luckily, things at the diner had been going well, thanks to Charlie who was the sweetest person around, and she had plenty of stories about my dad. She knew a lot about running the diner, but she wasn’t overbearing about my ideas. It felt nice to have someone to talk to, even if I didn’t know her well enough to talk about all the thoughts going on in my mind.

“Hey, Talon.” Charlie flashed a smile at me and nodded toward the back. “Go on and have a seat, I’ll bring coffee and menus.”

In the booth, I noticed Charlie already had some paperwork set up. Schedules and inventory sheets, invoices and all that stuff. For now, this would definitely be the start—at least—of my latest chapter. “Hey, Charlie, how’s it going?”

She slid in the booth and gave an affectionate roll of her eyes. “The morning rush is over, and I’m glad about it.”

I sipped my coffee while she showed me the ins and outs of running the diner. “Seems like a lot of work, but not more than I can handle.”

“You’ll do just fine, honey. Like you said, I’ll take care of the managing everything. Just ask if you want to know something. And you can handle the staffing, menus, and all that. We’ll be good together. You’ll see.”

“You really don’t feel like I’m coming in and displacing you, do you?”

“Not at all. Now I can take a day off once in a while.”

Shit, I hadn’t even thought of that. “If you need time off, just say the word.”

She nodded and gave a wistful smile as she looked off in the distance. “You’re like Magnus in that way. He was a rough man but sweet. Always thinking about others. He did what needed to be done for his club, but otherwise he was just a big ol’ teddy bear.” Sadness flashed in her eyes, but it was gone before I could be sure what I’d seen. “Never met a man like him who wasn’t quick with his fists, but your dad was special. One of a kind, really.” She gave me an assessing look. “You hanging around for a while?”

“Yeah.” The answer hadn’t been as clear just this morning, but it came out so easily, I knew it was the right choice.

“Good. I’m sure Mick will be real glad to hear it.” Charlie’s knowing smile unsettled me because it meant she saw something I wasn’t ready for anyone to see.

“We just met.”

“I’ve known Mick for five years, honey, and he’s never taken an interest in any of the girls like he has with you. And believe me, they all want him and make no secret of it.”

I’d seen that with my own eyes over the past week, but just in case I hadn’t, Nadine trotted over for another reminder. And a glare for good measure. “Stay away from Mick. He’s mine.”

The venom in her voice surprised me, especially since Mick had said he’d never even touched her. “Just because you let the guys use you as a cum dumpster, Nadine, doesn’t make any of them yours.” A brunette slid into the booth beside me with a saucy grin and a twinkle in her eye. “I’m Minx.” She thrust a hand out, studying me a little too closely. “You have his eyes.”

I blinked at the rapid change in conversation. “Me?”

“Yeah you.” She bumped my shoulder. “Magnus had eyes like melted nickel, all deep and gray and broody. Made him look scary as hell, but damn, he was one of the good ones.”

Charlie grinned and leaned in. “You’re right. The hair was a dead giveaway, but combined with those eyes, wow.” She snatched a napkin from the holder and dashed off.

Minx held a hand to stop my movement. “Don’t worry about Charlie, she’s a tough old broad. Loved Magnus with everything in her.”

I didn’t know how to respond. “I just wish I could have known him, for at least a day.”

Minx nodded, thick chocolate waves tumbling around her shoulders and stopping just before her impressive cleavage that exploded from a sexy leather vest. “You would’ve loved him. I was terrified of him at first, thinking I’d been rescued from one hell just to be taken to another. But he saved me, really saved me. No strings other than I had to live a good life.”

“How did he save you?”

“I’d been stolen from a park and put on a truck when I was thirteen. First, I ended up in a brothel house in Memphis and then New York, and I lost track after that. One day they put me in a truck with a bunch of others. For days we drove, and I’d been going through withdrawal because I’d been pumped full of drugs to keep me in line. That door opened and big ol’ burly Magnus was there with an inch-deep scowl and a soft soothing voice.” She shook her head and wiped away a tear. “He got CAOS to hire me as a bartender even though I was too young. I turned twenty-one two months before he died.” Her hand smacked against the table. “Fuck! I hate crying.”

“Me too,” I told her, offering her a soothing hand. It was so strange to hear all these people who loved and missed a man I never knew.

“What are you up to now?” Minx didn’t wait for an answer. “I’ll give you a tour of the clubhouse.” Before I could answer, she pulled me out of the booth and out into the sunny day.

***

They called it a clubhouse, but to me, it looked more like a compound. The last exit before the border lead right to a motel with an attached café. “That’s owned by the club and a few girls work there, but one of the old-timers run it.” Minx pointed to the various little buildings. “That outbuilding is basically a garage where they tinker with their bikes, though they don’t call it that.” She rolled her eyes and smiled.

“This is all CAOS property?”

“Yeah. They’re not bad guys, but they do have diverse interests that I won’t get into.”

I half listened to her rattle off details as we got out of the car and entered a plain square structure made of brick and cement. Inside was dark, mahogany and black leather everywhere. The only hint of color was silver and gold studs that dotted leather chairs, sofas, stools and the like. On one side, a bar ran from the door to the back wall. The other side held several pool tables and dart boards. Further back, a bunch of young guys sat around a table, beer bottles littering the top as they laughed and shot the shit. “Wow this is something out of a movie.

Minx tossed her head back and laughed. “That about sums it up. Come on, let’s get a drink and I’ll introduce you to some of the guys.”

I quietly followed her because there were too many guys here to make me feel comfortable, and some of them were very rough looking. Very. My head spun with introductions, and I knew I’d never remember all their names.

“Roddick here is the Prez, and that guy over there with the long greasy hair is Toro, the VP.” I smiled at Roddick but said nothing, he probably wondered who the hell I was and why I was there. “Dagger was here, but now he’s gone. He’s the Sergeant at Arms. That’s Rocky and Wagman, the Road Captain and the Secretary.”

“Nice to meet you.” I practically stammered, but these guys were huge and kind of scary. Not like Mick who was huge and…yummy.

“And finally, four eyes over there is Baz, the Tech Captain and the bulging biceps is Torch, the enforcer. They’re all nice as shit, some of the time.”

“Who knew Magnus had such a smoking hot daughter?” I was pretty sure that came from Wagman.

I froze as arms wrapped around me. “You look like someone dropped you off in the wild.” Mick’s deep voice vibrated in my chest, and I couldn’t suppress the shiver that went down my spine.

I laughed and leaned into him. “It feels like it. I thought these places were just made up for TV, but holy shit, this is all real!” The guys around me erupted in laughter, and a few of the guys stepped forward to share stories of my dad. Some didn’t, but I didn’t think much of it, maybe they weren’t close to him. Despite the tattoos, leather, and giant rings, Mick’s friends seemed nice.

“I’m glad you stopped by.” He pressed a gentle but forceful kiss against my mouth. “I hated leaving you this morning.”

“But you left me so happy,” I murmured against his lips before Minx pulled me away.

“You can kissy face later. Let’s finish the tour.” She stopped in front of oversized double doors with the CAOS symbol carved in it, one half on each door. “This is Church and no one other than the guys are allowed inside. Down this hall are rooms for prospects and any club members who need a place to crash.”

I peeked in the open door and a man with a scruffy blond beard stared at me while a woman was on her knees giving him a blow job. I couldn’t look away, but I didn’t want to look. “That the real reason for these rooms?” I wondered if Mick and I became something, would I have to worry about this?

“That happens a lot. Plenty of the girls here will fuck whoever will have them in hopes one of them will turn ’em into an ol’ lady.”

“Are you an old lady? What’s an old lady?”

“Hell no. I’m just an employee.” Her words said that, but the lingering look she shot at the hot blond talking to Mick said otherwise. He waved us over, and with a groan Minx pulled me forward.

“Talon this is Cash, we served together. Everyone calls him CJ.”

“Thanks for your service, Cash. Pretty cool name, too.” He smiled and took my hand, revealing bright green eyes and dimples.

“Says the chick named Talon,” he joked. “Your old man was solid. I knew him only for a little while, but his presence is missed around here.”

I didn’t know what to say, though I appreciated the sentiment. “Thanks.”

“You ready to get out of here?” Mick was already pulling me away before I could answer him or say goodbye to Minx.

“My car is at the diner.”

“I’ll give you a ride to your car, and you can owe me one later,” he growled and nipped at my ear. Mick slid his helmet over my head, kissing me hard as he fastened the chin strap. I knew I was in trouble this morning, but now I knew without a doubt I was in deep fucking trouble with this guy.