Morning sickness couldn’t account for the butterflies wreaking havoc in Josephine’s stomach. No, it had everything to do with being dragged to Lucas’s clubhouse for the night. The several weeks they’d been together, she managed to keep from having to go there. Lucas had been patient, but now he wasn’t asking anymore. He was ordering her to go with him.

 

When he first explained how traditional he was in relationships, she’d internally scoffed at him. She didn’t need him telling her what to do, and there was no way in hell she was going to give up her independence, even for him. But over the past weeks, he’d shown nothing but caring and compassion when it came to her. Mostly he was protective of her, making sure she got enough rest, ate enough, and made her doctor appointments. He hadn’t been pushy or overbearing at all, until he asked for the fifth time that she accompany him to the clubhouse for the evening. When she tried to come up with another excuse, he’d shaken his head at her. “You’re coming with me, no more excuses, babe. It’s where my life is, and you’ll have to come to terms with it sooner or later.” When he’d asked her what she was afraid of, she couldn’t readily admit there was anything like fear keeping her back.

 

Except there was. Fear she wouldn’t measure up to the other women there. Fear that she was getting involved with a life that didn’t have room for girls like her. But she couldn’t vocalize any of that, not yet. Because that would mean admitting she feared losing what she and Lucas had started to build. After a long shift at work, she felt revitalized the second his lips touched hers. Her body woke up the moment she laid eyes on him. She didn’t want to lose that, not yet.

 

“Everything’s going to be fine.” Lucas reached over and squeezed her hand. He didn’t take her on his bike anymore, stating he didn’t think it was safe enough with her being pregnant. She had tried to point out it was no less safe than before she was pregnant, but he’d given her a hard look and said no. They’d be taking his truck until the baby was born.

 

“I know.” She didn’t look at him, though. Her nerves were too rattled.

 

“They’re just people, Josephine.” His voice dipped.

 

“I’m not nervous that I won’t like them,” she clarified, finally looking over at him.

 

He kept one hand on the steering wheel and the other grasped hers in her lap. His hair was bound in a rubber band at the base of his neck, giving him a sterner look than usual. His chiseled features only seemed more intense in the low light of the evening. “What? You think they won’t like you?” He gave her a grin that was probably meant to calm her but only reminded her of how handsome he was. Any of the girls in his club would want him. Why should he be with someone outside that life? “Babe, that’s not possible. And, if anyone so much as looks at you cockeyed, they’ll deal with me.”

 

“You can’t go around punching people because they don’t like me,” she admonished.

 

“Who said punch? I said I’d deal with it.” His casual shrug did little to ease her nerves.

 

“What do you do exactly, as the captain?” She hadn’t asked him before because she wasn’t sure she wanted to know exactly.

 

“Well, we have a few captains. Each in charge of a particular thing. I handle meet-ups. When we have club business that needs to be discussed outside the organizations, I set up the meetings, handle the location of the meetings, that sort of thing.”

 

“So, you’re the club liaison?” That didn’t seem so bad.

 

He laughed. “Yeah, something like that. Only I’m not getting no tea cakes ready or bullshit like that.”

 

“You make sure it’s a safe venue and that both parties agree to the terms of the meetings?”

 

“Yeah, like that.” He gave a noncommittal grin.

 

She decided she knew enough about his club job and changed the subject to something he could be more open about and she’d be more perceptive to listening to. “And the garage. You work in the garage.”

 

“Yeah. We just started taking on work that isn’t bike related, like a real mechanic shop. That’s why I’ve been so busy this past week. Some guy came in with his 2013 Camaro Limited Edition and wants a full rebuild of his engine and some bodywork. Normally I wouldn’t touch it; limited editions aren’t a joke. But he was adamant, and he waved more cash at me than I could say no to.”

 

“Hmph, you like working with your hands.” She smiled at him over the expanse of the truck cab.

 

He laughed, gave her hand another squeeze, and then let her go. “Something like that.” He turned the truck into a driveway and drove them through a gate into what looked like a small compound.

 

She looked around at several buildings surrounding them and the people standing around in front of them. Not much different than when she’d driven past during her normal drive through town, but something was off; something felt different. Maybe because she was inside the compound? Because she was sitting in one of their captains’ truck, carrying his baby?

 

Her heart beat faster, and she needed to take several deep breaths.

 

“Hey. Hey.” He threw the truck into park and grabbed her, sliding her over to him and onto his lap. Between his size and the steering wheel, there wasn’t much room, but he made it work. “It’s okay. C’mon, relax.”

 

“I’m fine.” She tried to shove away, but he’d already captured her face with his hands and pulled her toward him. His lips crashed down on hers, taking away all coherent thought or worry. The only thing in the world happening at that exact moment was his kiss. She melted into him, feeling his warm hands on her face, his body pressed up against hers. The world could spin off its axis at that moment, and she wouldn’t even look up to see it happen.

 

When he pulled away, he grinned. “Now you’re better.” He pinched her hip and opened his door. Keeping her in his arms, he slid out of the truck and deposited her on her feet right in front of him. She quickly went about straightening out her dress. The little bump that was her belly was easily hidden with the light summer dress she’d put on for the night. Nothing too conservative but hid enough that Lucas stopped glaring at her when she came out of the bedroom. The man loved her tits—loved kissing them, sucking them, and pinching them, but did not like sharing them. Even when it was just the view he was sharing.

 

He tucked the keys into his jean pockets and checked for his cell phone before shutting the door. “God, you’re beautiful tonight.” He pulled her in for another kiss before linking their hands together and pulling her toward the largest building, where music was pouring out the front door, along with half a dozen women standing on the front porch smoking.

 

“Hey there, Lucas.” A few of the girls eyed Josephine as she was pulled past them. Lucas gave them polite nods but didn’t stop to introduce her.

 

Whatever she expected when she walked into the clubhouse, it was not what she saw. The lounge was set up in the same fashion as any other bar she’d been in. The center of the room was taken up by the bar itself—four counters full of people standing or sitting, waiting for their drinks. Bottles of liquor, top shelf stuff, all lined the shelves in the middle of the bar. Music played overhead, and couples were even dancing. Off in the back corner, a group of people played pool while others threw darts. She couldn’t even say the women were dressed any skimpier or sexier than the regular bars she’d been in.

 

What she didn’t see were people walking around with big guns strapped to their hips or fist fights taking place in the back corners, and there wasn’t a single woman bent over a table being rammed like she had imagined in her mind. Although, she was pretty sure one of the guys at the bar was getting a blowjob, but they were tucked far off in the back, behind so many people she couldn’t be sure.

 

A new fear tingled her spine. What if Lucas expected something like that from her? She’d never done more than give a kiss to her date in public. She couldn’t imagine doing something so intimate, so private, in front of the large group in the lounge.

 

As if sensing her worry, Lucas’s arm wrapped around her waist and pulled her close to him. “You’re gonna make yourself puke if you keep worrying like you are. This is a safe place, babe. Nothing will hurt you here.” He pressed a quick kiss to her temple just as two large men walked up to them. The baldheaded one she recognized. He’d been the one she thought was getting head at the bar. She looked past him, back to the corner, where a woman stood running her fingers over her bottom lip and glaring in her direction.

 

“Finally! Been waiting all night for you to show!” The baldheaded guy slapped Lucas on the shoulder and turned to Josephine. “You must be Josephine.” He gave her a handsome grin, one that mirrored but did not match up to Lucas’s, and gave her a little bow.

 

She tried to smile, but she could feel the woman’s glare harden on her. Her eyes went back over to the corner, where the short woman still stared at them. “Nice to meet you, uh…”

 

“Cutter.” His white teeth flashed as his smiled grew larger.

 

“Let go of her, Cutter,” Lucas growled when he didn’t let go of Josephine’s hand. He gave her a wink then dropped her hand, turning his attention back to Lucas. “What’s up with Cherry?” Lucas asked, nodding to the woman still giving Josephine an eerie feeling.

 

“Cherry? Nothing.” Cutter shrugged.

 

“I thought you agreed not to let her work the room.”

 

“She’s not working the room,” Cutter bit back. “She’s with me.”

 

“What do you mean she’s with you?” Lucas’s grip intensified around her waist. Who was this woman, and why would Lucas care who she was with?

 

“I mean, I’m taking care of her. Don’t worry, we’ll talk later.” Cutter gave Josephine a quick glance then turned to the guys standing next to him. Nearly as tall but not as built, the long-haired man stared at Josephine. “Jameson, you gonna say something or just keep staring all night?” Cutter slapped the man on his chest and laughed.

 

“Oh. Hi.” He found a smile and Josephine grinned back. He was clearly uncomfortable.

 

“Hi. Uh, Jameson, is it?”

 

“Brick. My real name is Brick. These assholes just call me Jameson. It’s a nickname.”

 

“Hey! Language!” Cutter smacked him again, and Jameson muttered an apology.

 

“Oh, don’t worry. Lucas curses all the time.” She laughed, and Lucas’s arm got even tighter. She laughed harder. “Well, you do.”

 

“Hi, Lucas.” The woman who’d been tucked away glaring at them appeared next to Cutter, wrapping her arms around him and pressing her face to his chest as she gave her greeting. Josephine could feel the tension seep into Lucas’s body at her appearance.

 

“Hey, Cherry.” Josephine watched his expression to gauge his thoughts. His jaw tightened, that little tick in his cheek she’d seen before when he was getting irritated. Maybe Cherry was his ex-girlfriend. Or his current that he gave up because Josephine had gotten pregnant.

 

“You haven’t been around lately.” Cherry turned her gaze on Josephine. “This why?” She thrust her chin in Josephine’s direction.

 

“Hey. That’s no way to talk to Lucas’s old lady.” Cutter moved his hand so quick, Josephine didn’t have time to guess what he was about, until his hand connected harshly with Cherry’s ass. She yelped at the force of his smack but didn’t seem otherwise affected by it. “This is Josephine.” He pointed to her. “Josephine, this is my girl, Cherry.”

 

“Your girl?” Lucas huffed.

 

“Does that bother you, Lucas?” The hope in Cherry’s voice and her eyes tore at Josephine. The girl obviously had a thing for Lucas. And although Lucas didn’t seem to have an attraction for her, he didn’t like her being attached to Cutter.

 

“Nah.” Lucas let go of Josephine, the chill of the room settling around her where his arm had been. “Just making sure I heard him right. ’Bout time you got yourself a guy.” Lucas turned kind eyes on the girl, and Josephine wondered even more what his connection to her was. She’d have to wait to ask, as it seemed Cutter had no intention of going away. Instead, he called over to the bartender, a younger-looking man with Prospect clearly labeled on his kutte, for a round of drinks.

 

“Coke for me, please,” Josephine told Cutter, who then looked at Lucas.

 

“Caffeine free.” Lucas gave a nod.

 

“I can have some caffeine,” Josephine interrupted when Lucas and Cutter started to talk again.

 

“No, you already had a coffee and a cup of tea today. No more.”

 

Her cheeks heated. She was a grown woman, and she could have caffeine if she wanted to. Deciding it best not to start an argument among his friends, she would put it aside for when they got home, then she’d tell him all about how his overhanded ways made her feel. Telling her she couldn’t have a regular Coke like she was some child wasn’t going to fly.

 

“They get a little protective once they claim a girl,” Cherry said, patting Cutter’s chest, then releasing him.

 

“Claim a girl?” Josephine gave Lucas a side-glance, found him busy talking with Cutter and Jameson, then turned back to Cherry, easing them away from the guys. “Like how you’re Cutter’s girl?”

 

“Yeah. It’s just their way. But Lucas, he’s a good one.” Josephine noted the sadness in her tone. The venom she’d been sporting earlier dissipated.

 

“Were you and him, I mean, is he—”

 

Cherry placed a hand on her shoulder and smiled softly. “We were never serious. Nothing really.”

 

“Cutter?”

 

“He’s a good one, too. A bit bossier than Lucas, though.” She rubbed her ass where his hand had smacked her and laughed. “But it’s kind of hot,” she whispered. “Come on, let’s go get a drink—full caffeine. I won’t tell if you won’t.” She linked her arm through Josephine’s and pulled her toward the bar.

 

The crowd simply cleared a path for them when they reached it. “Lucas will introduce you to everyone tonight, but they already know who you are.” Cherry did some quick introductions of the prospects serving the bar then ordered them their drinks. “So, how far along are you?” she asked.

 

Josephine touched her belly. “Am I showing that much?”

 

“No. You look great, but like I said, everyone already knows everything.” Her smile slipped a little. “Everyone loves Lucas, and they trust him with their lives. So, if he’s got someone attached to him, and she’s carrying his baby, everyone is gonna know about it.”

 

Josephine wasn’t sure how to take that, or Cherry for that matter. She wasn’t even sure what she thought of the entire club. Eyes were on her every time she looked around. She wasn’t sure who was more curious, her about them or them about her. It was almost comical. Before she could ask Cherry anything more, the doors to the lounge burst open and two men ran inside, panting.

 

“Oh, shit.” Cherry’s smile slipped away, and Josephine looked from her to Lucas. His jaw tensed, and he hurried over to the two men. He didn’t look happy.

 

# # #

 

 

Getting to them first, Cutter grabbed Bear by the scruff of his neck, pulling him to stand up straighter. “What the fuck is wrong with you?” He gave the younger guy a shake.

 

“Clay is at the front gate.” Bear yanked himself out of Cutter’s grasp and straightened his shirt. “He’s demanding to talk with Joe.”

 

“We aren’t having this meeting now.” Lucas shook his head. Why would the VP of the Iron Rebels be standing at their front door? And he sure as fuck didn’t have any right to demand a damn thing. “You tell him we’ll reach out when we’re ready.”

 

“He said either we open the doors or he walks through them, either way.” Bear looked around at the crowd starting to build behind his captains.

 

“Fuck.” Cutter looked around. “Where’s Joe? He was supposed to be here tonight.”

 

“I’m here.” The low voice of their president was followed by his appearance. “What’s all the commotion?” Turning back to the room, he waved his hands. “Get back to your beer and your women,” he shouted, and for the most part, everyone did. Lucas caught a quick glance of Josephine sitting with Cherry, watching them with wide eyes. He smiled, gesturing with his hands that everything was fine, at least for the moment. She nodded back at him, but she didn’t look overly convinced. Smart girl, he wasn’t either.

 

“How many are with him?” Joe pulled his jeans up. He’d been losing more weight recently; even the belt around his waist didn’t help keep his pants from falling down anymore.

 

“Two prospects it looks like.”

 

“Fine. Walk his ass up here. I’ll see him in my office. Cutter, you and Lucas will stay in the hall with whoever the fuck he brought. Outside the office.”

 

“You sure, Joe?” Cutter stepped forward, only to be rewarded with a hard glare.

 

“I may have seen better days, but I am still the fucking president of this club.” Joe stifled a cough after his loud boast, and Cutter was smart enough to step back a bit and give him room. Joe jerked a finger at Bear, sending him scurrying back out, and headed toward his office.

 

Lucas signaled to Josephine to stay put and followed his president. Out of the corner of his eye, he noticed Cutter signal to Cherry, as well. “You two really a thing now?” he asked, only half curious.

 

Cutter shrugged and gave a nod. “You were right. She’s not a bad girl, just a little lost is all. Needs a firm hand.”

 

Lucas knew what he meant and almost felt sorry for Cherry. She was just a girl really, not much true life experience outside of the club. She’d come to them barely out of high school. Hell, Lucas wasn’t even sure what she did for work. Whenever he was at the club, she just seemed to be there.

 

“Yeah, I saw how you kept her in line when we walked in.”

 

“What? That blowjob? The girl is a freak for that shit. She loves when the guys see her doing it. That’s probably why she was always jumping your ass when the guys were around. The whole exhibitionist shit turns her on. That little blowjob was all her idea.” Cutter gave a confident grin. “She was a good girl today, so I let her have her fun. Got herself signed up for school.”

 

Lucas raised his eyebrows. “School?”

 

“Yeah. She signed up for some court-reporting program at the junior college in town. Twelve months of school then she takes a test.”

 

“You really do give a shit about her. Hell, last we talked you wanted to send her out back to the house.”

 

“Yeah.” Cutter rubbed the back of his neck. “That was stupid. When I talked to her, I realized I didn’t like that option too much. Then when you hooked up with Josephine, and Cherry finally got the clue that you were taken, she was different. Started talking to me, like with real conversations. I’m not sure where this is all going, but she’s calmed down. Not one word of being an old lady or hooking up with anyone else. Even when I told her she was mine, she didn’t argue or roll her eyes. She just smiled and said she’d like that.” Cutter laughed.

 

“She’d like that?”

 

“Yeah, like I’d asked her out to lunch or something. Anyway, it’s working so far.” He shrugged, then pointed down the hall were Bear showed up with Clay and two of his guys walking behind him.

 

“He in there?” Clay pointed to the door Cutter and Lucas were standing in front of.

 

“Yeah, he’s waiting for you. We’ll be waiting out here.” Cutter reached behind him and turned the doorknob, pushing the door open.

 

Clay nodded to both captains before walking into the office and greeting their president. Cutter shut the door once he got the okay from Joe and leaned against it. “Scamper off.” He waved at Bear, who did just that. A prospect would be stupid to open his mouth once given a direct order to leave.

 

“What do you think the prick wants?”

 

“We’ll find out as soon as they talk.” Lucas stuffed his hands into his jeans and leaned against the wall across from Cutter.

 

“So, you gonna marry that girl?” Cutter asked after several moments passed in silence.

 

“Marry? I could barely get her in here tonight. She needs more time. With her mom being so sick and the baby, she’s pressed too thin with stress. I’m not laying that on her. Yet.”

 

“So, you will, just not now. Good.” Cutter nodded, like he approved.

 

“What’s it matter? We don’t have to get married for her to be my old lady or for her to have my kid.”

 

“No, but it helps. Family is important. Making her your wife, making that kid legit—that’s the right move.”

 

“You saying my kid won’t be legitimate if I don’t marry her?” What the fuck did that mean? How many of their brothers didn’t have parents who were married? Some of them didn’t even know who the fuck their dads were.

 

“No, I mean, well, technically, yeah, but I mean, it won’t matter to any of us. He’s your son.”

 

“Or my daughter.” Lucas grinned. He hadn’t really considered having a daughter until that moment. “Shit.” His smile quickly dropped at the image of having a little girl.

 

Cutter laughed. “Don’t worry. If it’s a girl, she’ll have the whole club looking out for her.”

 

“That’s part of my worry,” Lucas admitted. Cherry was someone’s daughter, and look how he’d treated her—letting her blow him in the lounge or wherever the fuck she offered. He’d taken her to bed over and over again without any regard for her feelings. He told himself she knew what she was getting into with him. He’d been upfront that he wasn’t into relationships, but he couldn’t blame her for trying. Shit, Josephine wasn’t even interested in one either, and look what happened with them. “You take care of Cherry. Do you hear me?” Lucas stepped across the hall, getting closer into Cutter’s space than he normally would. But it was important. “You don’t treat her like a whore. No more public service.”

 

“Fuck, Lucas.” Cutter pushed off the door and straightened to his full height. “I told you that was her idea; she fucking loves it. I’ll take care of my girl how I see fit, and you do the same.”

 

“She’s not a whore.”

 

“I know that! What’s gotten into you?”

 

Lucas sighed and dragged his hand through his hair again, stepping back. “Fuck. I don’t know. I just…I treated her like shit. She doesn’t deserve it. She’s a good kid.”

 

“She’s not a kid either. Did you know she’s twenty-two? I kept thinking she was barely legal, and there she was, fully aged and ready.”

 

The door behind Cutter opened before Lucas could comment. Clay stepped out into the hall alone. Joe still sat at his desk, chin in hand, thinking. “Hey, rumor has it you’re gonna be a daddy.”

 

Clay cracked a smile as he maneuvered his way past Lucas and Cutter. “Let’s hope your president makes some good choices so your bastard won’t grow up without you.”

 

Lucas’s initial reaction would have been to throw his fist into the asshole’s face, but like it or not, doing so would have larger consequences than the club could handle, at least at that moment. The time would come when Iron Rebels would have to be dealt with in a more permanent manner.

 

“Get the fuck out, Clay.” Cutter stepped in front of Lucas and nodded down the hall. “Take your little pets with you.”

 

Clay stood still for a long moment, his hard stare burrowing into Lucas before he turned on his booted heal and stalked off down the hall. His little prospects trailed behind him.

 

“Get in here,” Joe barked once the Iron Rebels bastards no longer darkened the doorway.

 

Cutter and Lucas walked into the office, Lucas shutting the door behind him. “What did that prick want?”

 

“That prick wants to come to an agreement.” Joe pushed back in his chair, lacing his fingers behind his head, his expansive stomach stretching the limitations of his shirt. “He’s offering to take the medical marijuana business off our hands, running the shit along with everything else through our town. In return…” He gave a pointed look to both of his captains before they could start in with their complaints. And they had plenty to voice, once he was finished. “In return, we get two percent of the cut, across the board.”

 

Cutter let out a low whistle. “Two percent of everything?”

 

“Yeah.” Joe nodded. “Financially, it’s a sweet deal. That would almost double our earnings in that area alone. All we would have to do is let them have the routes, and we’d provide some protection here and there.”

 

“Protection, like do the runs for them? And only get two percent, along with all the fucking risk of running that hard shit? Those assholes peddle coke and H, Joe. Fury Riders…we aren’t drug peddlers,” Lucas interjected. The backbone of their club had always been to protect their community. Not letting that shit flow through their streets had always been something they took pride in. Most of their kids went to the schools in town. If the Iron Rebels took those routes and had free reign to peddle their shit, coke and heroine would be readily available at all the schools. Elementary through high school. No way would Lucas let that happen.

 

His old man never would have allowed that shit. But his old man wasn’t around. He’d been VP when he was alive and had taken the club mostly legit with the garage. That was his old man’s work—giving them steady paychecks and something they could show to the public. No way he’d ever vote to let hard drugs run through town.

 

“I didn’t say I’d decided on it, so keep your panties out of a twist.” Joe sat upright.

 

“You’d have to bring this one to the table, Joe,” Cutter voiced softly. “This isn’t just your call.”

 

“No shit,” Joe shot at him, then started to cough. He held his hand out to keep either man from helping him, and they waited until the coughing fit passed. “Let me think on it. I’ll bring it to Church on Tuesday if it’s something I think we should go forward with. I won’t bring it up if I’m not in support of it.”

 

Lucas wouldn’t argue that point. Even if the club members wanted to jump on the offer, the only deals the president was required to bring forward were the ones he felt were in the club’s best interest. If he felt the deal was bad for the club, he wouldn’t bring it to the table, and everyone had to respect that. Hell, there was probably a laundry list of shit Joe never brought to them but never would he accept a deal or start something new without the vote of the board.

 

Lucas wouldn’t ask for more than that. “They don’t want a war; they want the marijuana runs,” he noted instead.

 

“Yeah. He said the idiots who jumped you and Jeff last month were working on their own. They had no club backing for that. Apparently, the little shit who stabbed you was damn near blubbering when he told Clay who he’d stuck. Fucking prospects don’t know their heads from their asses.”

 

Lucas didn’t bother responding. The Iron Rebels were stirring up too much bad blood. They weren’t a violent club, but no way were they going to let their members be attacked or insulted. That shit didn’t fly.

 

“Your girl out there?” Joe changed the subject.

 

“Josephine. Yeah, she’s with Cherry.” Lucas jerked a thumb toward the door.

 

“Cherry? You sure that’s wise?” Joe laughed.

 

“It’s fine. Cherry is fine,” Cutter nearly growled. Whatever had started between Cherry and him wasn’t a little dalliance, and that suited Lucas fine. The girl was too innocent to be turned into a club whore, no matter if she was the one instigating the change. She needed a steady man, and Cutter was better than most.

 

“Let’s go have a beer and table this shit for later.” Joe pushed out of his chair and walked out of the office, leaving them to follow him.