I wake up with a start, then remember I’m not sleeping alone. Glancing over at the woman in my arms, I pull her against my chest and she moans something in her sleep. Moonlight streams in through a space in the closed curtains, falling across her pale cheek.

She’s mine and she knows it.

And I don’t want it any other way. Sabrina adds a degree of complexity, uncertainty and chaos into my life, but she’s worth it.

Leaving her to rest, I get up, take a shower and head downstairs to call an executive meeting. We need a conversation about starting up a security team. Axe is already in my corner. That’s a given. The four of us assemble in the meeting room and work through the usual process before I put the item on the table.

“This is your one chance to have your say.” I open the floor to the others and relax in my leather office chair at the head of the table.

“What happens if she wakes up one day and dumps your sorry ass?” Tate asks, glancing up from the table with one eyebrow raised.

“The agreements aren’t with her,” I answer.

“They’re between the company we set up and the individual clients who hire us,” Axe tells the group and turns to Tate. “You should be asking how we can do something similar for our other charters. You’re the one with the tech skills.”

“Oh, like a franchise or chain? I’d be all over that. I’m not saying I’m down with a firm yes, but I can be persuaded.”

Cole adds, “I like the sound of no more time behind bars. Forget about prison food, I’m too old for prison ass. I much prefer my wife’s. I’m in.”

“And no more prison cock for Tate,” Axe adds with a grin.

There’s a knock on the double doors to the meeting room. Everyone looks around with curiosity because our members all know they’re not to interrupt us when these doors are closed. Unless it’s a life or death emergency. Everyone knows these rules. Even Cindy.

“Not now,” I shout, my mind still on the vote.

One of the doors swing inward, and Sabrina pops her head into the room. Fuck, I need to have her read a copy of the by-laws if she plans on toeing the line.

“We’re busy, Sabrina. It’ll have to wait.”

“Not if you’re busy talking about what I think you’re discussing. In which case, you’re all going to want to hear what I have to say.”

Tate mimics a whip crack noise. The rest of the men guffaw like it’s the best joke they’ve ever heard.

I’m not laughing.

Neither is Sabrina. She steps into the meeting room and leans against the wall with her arms crossed. Her face and body are all business. It’s sexy as fuck that she’s already pushing some boundaries around here.

Cole motions to her. “You’re already here, sweetheart. Enlighten us.”

“Thanks. I was on the phone catching up with Jordan. He sends his thanks, by the way. I got him while he was at brunch celebrating his new-found freedom, thanks to you. By the end of that call, he managed to wrangle over a hundred and fifty thousand dollars’ worth of security business for your startup. So, interested in hearing more?”

That statement gets all our attention.

“Go on,” I tell her and give her a wink.

“His friends know what he’s been through. A few of them want to make sure nothing like that happens to them. So that was just from talking to Jordan. I have several other potential clients I’m sure would be interested in your help. What I’m getting at, gentlemen, is you have the potential to generate a lot of legitimate business in a reasonably well-respected, growing industry. Mind you, much of it would be in Las Vegas, but it’s close enough. That’s pretty much it. I just figured you’d like to know that you’ve got some firm options available to you before you vote.”

Axe presses his lips into a thin line. I know that look. He’s fighting to hold back his excitement about this. “Sure,” he says. “That’s definitely helpful.”

“Great!” Sabrina steps into the doorway again and gives us a wave. “Enjoy the rest of your meeting, guys.”

I’m impressed. And hard as fuck. Who knew being proactive could be so fucking sexy?

That’s my woman.

No one around the table can ignore the potential and that’s it’s close enough to grab a hold of. My boys are just as bowled over that Sabrina went to such lengths to set things up for the club to make a smooth transition. She broke our rules coming in here, but no one gives a fuck about that anymore.”

“She’s got my vote…twice,” Axe says. He leans back in his chair and crosses his feet on the table, linking his hands behind his head. “We need more broads like her around here. They can take over while we play cards, drink until we’re shit-faced, fuck sack demons and go for a ride every now and again.”

“It’s a no-brainer, Si.” Cole is on board. “I’m old school and even I vote yes. Let’s step the fuck away from the weapons business…except for the ones we’re packing.”

“Sounds fucking good to me.” I turn to Tate. “Well, brother?”

Tate puts on an unreadable expression. Usually, the guy’s always wearing a psychotic smile, like he’s planning someone’s murder. I have no idea what he’s thinking now.

“Whatever I say, I’m still outnumbered, Pres. The vote can pass as it is, so why wait on me? I won’t make or break this venture.”

“You’re a part of our executive. This decision is too important to go by majority rule. We need this to be unanimous.” I hear my voice deepening on the tail end of the sentence. I hate admitting it, but we need his agreement. “Just spit it out, Tate.”

“To be brutally honest, I don’t like it, Pres. There are way too many unanswered questions, and it relies on a chick for a business partner. One with seriously powerful ties to the mafia. Loyalty and family go hand in hand, Si. But I see why everyone’s excited about taking this direction. Cole just got hitched, Axe has always been a pussy about doing time, and you…well, you’re responsible for all of us. When it comes down to it, I’m with you a hundred and ten. No matter what direction we take. I’d just like your girl to prove herself with cold hard service contracts before too long.”

“Does that mean you’re in?” I ask to confirm.

He nods. “That half a mil in cash she mentioned about the reward for Jordan would come in handy too. We should ask her back in here to walk us through how to claim that money.”

Axe gets up to call her but he doesn’t have to go very far. Sabrina’s a few tables away from the meeting room doors. Probably listening in on the voting. He motions to her with his index finger and she steps into the room again, leaning on the same spot beside the door.

“Yes?” she asks, looking at me.

I raise my eyebrows, waiting to give her a chance to explain herself.

“I was just, I figured I’d wait… Dammit, okay. I was snooping,” she admits. “Claiming the reward is pretty simple. I’ll find you his father’s contact information. Jordan will confirm your role in rescuing him. It’ll be a couple of weeks. On the other business, it’s just a matter of setting up a company, licenses for staff, indemnity insurance… it’s not as difficult as I’m making it sound. Don’t worry, I can help with the paperwork so you can start the gig with Jordan.” She backs away through the door. “And I’ll just get out of your hair right now.”

Tate gives her the thumbs up. “Sounds simple enough. I’m in too, boss.”

“Great,” I say once the doors are closed. “Okay, the final vote is unanimous. We’re moving on to greener pastures with the security business. Motion passed. Let’s ask the officers to weigh in on the vote and be done with it.”

Axe gives me a loud slap on the back that echoes through the room. “Time to celebrate going legal and shit!”

“Tate, as you were grumbling the loudest, and good with tech and websites and paperwork, consider yourself the de facto VP of business development. You can think up some options for company names while you’re at it. Meeting fucking adjourned.”

“No problem.” He gets up and heads for the door. “I’ll do us proud.”

“I’ll help, before he comes back with a bunch of fucked up names,” Axe heckles him as he follows him out of the room. “Beaver Dam Security is not an option, Tate. I don’t give a fuck that we live in this town.”

Cole waits for them to leave and stares at me as though he can read my mind. “I need a fucking drink.”

“You’re sure about this, VP?” I ask, locking onto his stare.

“I’m sure. Wouldn’t have given a ‘yes’ vote otherwise. It’s not about that. Look, we need a sit-down with the Mongols and Los Diablos. It was too fucking easy for them to fall in line with Giovanni and turn on us. We weren’t on the best terms with them, but hell, the Vasquez I used to know would have picked up the phone and warned us. The way I see it, Padrino may have run Giovanni out of town, but anyone can take his place. If we’re going legit, we need an understanding with both MCs. Call it a truce or whatever you want. The fighting has to stop.”

“I agree.”

“Your old man figured out how to keep the peace with them for years. They carved out the business lines and kept out of one another’s way. They’re bikers with a code just like us, and if anything, we should stick together, not tear each other apart for the highest bidder. I’m not saying what they did is excusable, right, or fair…but you got to admit, we’ve been at them just as much lately.”

“You make a valid point,” I tell him, picturing my mother with the gunshot through her arm. “Let’s put it at the top of the next meeting agenda. We can work on it hand in hand as we kick off the new business. And I’ll have a talk with Vasquez and Roman, but don’t expect miracles. That work for you, Cole?”

“It’s a start. Thanks for using your head.”

“I’ll make the order for our club to cease and desist all retaliation on the Los Diablos and Mongols at the meeting with the officers. The members won’t be too thrilled, so you have the job of explaining, as it was your idea.”

“Fair enough.” Cole pulls back from the table and starts toward the door but looks over his shoulder at the last second. “She’s good for you. Try not to fuck it up, all right?”

“Sure thing,” I grin.

Cole leaves to find his woman. I clear my head for a while, then exit the meeting room to look for Sabrina. I find her pouring coffee at one of the breakfast tables, making small talk with a brunette sack demon.

My world narrows on her. Sabrina fits into my world like she’s made for it.

I’m ready to do everything possible to keep her in it.