The call finally comes in to the clubhouse that the NOMADS are getting close enough for us to leave and meet up with them. I haven’t been on any runs since the compound was attacked and our brothers died trying to protect Princess, Bethany, and Nightmare’s son. This isn’t what Saint had been hoping for, but any ride that’s over two hours’ time sounds good, especially not up north. We should make it to the spot Spider picked in around four and a half hours or so. The other brothers will chill for the night there after riding twelve hours, and we’ll continue back home.

It has all of us a bit on edge, knowing our club’s stretched thin right now. At least with Viking at the compound, he has a better chance of protecting them if anything does pop off. We’re supposedly at peace with the Iron Fists, but as far as they’re concerned, I don’t buy it. Nightmare’s counting down the days until something goes wrong and he’s able to burn the skin from Puppet’s body.

This trip isn’t about the Fists though. We’re on the road to meet up and collect a new brother. It’s been years since we’ve had anyone new around besides club sluts. The ones before them were the hybrids and prior to that was the NOMADS.

Most of us met Mercenary back when we went to Chicago to help the other club get set up. Other than that, I don’t know much about him. Supposedly, he’s a badass and will fit in better down here with our club. We seem to be the group of Oath Keeper delinquents in a sense, so that may be true, but only time will tell. We’re not the type to trust easily, so he’ll have to prove himself.

Saint may butt heads with him at first, but I hope not. He comes off as a bit of a dick to some guys; it’s just how he is. Now around females, that’s an entirely different story; they take one look at him and go all dreamy. His playful grin and a few raspy words have their panties dropping in no time. However, you notice he’s never hung onto one; he’s never found any he wanted to in the past.

The ride out there passes by smoothly, just as we were expecting, thankfully. In no time it seems, we’re pulling up alongside our other brothers. I think the run we did from Mexico years back was one of the worst we’ve been on. Most of us were injured in some way and completely exhausted. Not to mention the stress of not being sure if the cartel was following us. I’ll take a four-hour trip over that shitshow any day.

“Ex.” Nightmare greets our former NOMAD leader, Exterminator, first out of everyone else. He’s been close to the brother and our current Prez, Viking, for as long as I can remember. “Any issues?”

“Nah. Ride went by easy, nothing, not even the law around,” Exterminator confirms, appearing pleased with the quick trip. He’s always off riding somewhere whether it be just to feel the wind against his skin or to help run a new shipment of guns and collect a payout.

We’ve had so much drama these past few years it’s made some of us a little more cautious and observant when it comes to the longer rides. We definitely don’t want to return to California; it seems we have way too many enemies out that way. Shooting while riding and being shot at is not fun, especially in a state you don’t know jack shit about.

We all nod at Mercenary, welcoming him from our bikes. “Ready to get on the road, to your new club?” I speak up.

Normally I couldn’t give a shit how long we’re away from the clubhouse. Saint and I enjoy hitting up bars all over the place along with a variety of pussy, but there’s only one pussy on my mind at the moment. Jude has me in a rush to return and spend more time with her.

“Baby girl?” Saint questions while meeting my gaze, and I agree. He must be thinking of her too. Hell I can’t get her off my mind, no matter how hard I try. “Me too,” he concedes, confirming my suspicions. The bitch has both of us sprung apparently.

“Ready when you are,” Mercenary grumbles, the inky scruff along his chiseled jaw not doing much to hide the small cluster of alabaster scars skirting along the curve.

He’s partaken in his share of drama, no doubt. The man appears pissed off at the world, most likely exhausted from the ride and no break. He’s a beast, reminds me a lot of the other club’s Prez, Ares. This should be entertaining if he decides to be a dick to anyone. Half the club is testosterone-filled brutes and adding another could be a good thing or a bad thing.

Not that I give a shit what the brother looks like, I have Saint, after all, and now, Jude as well. to warm my bed. However, I can tell he’s the type that women will flock to, and Saint won’t be too keen on that. He may have Jude and me to preoccupy him, but he enjoys the attention he gets from his appearance. Not to be the best looking one in the club will do nothing but piss him off, and a bad-tempered Saint isn’t very pleasant.

With that thought, I glance Saint’s way and find him glaring in my direction. No doubt he saw me taking our new brother in and wasn’t amused by it. He’s territorial; he always has been. Not outright jealous, but just enough that you know his feelings about it. Next thing we know, Saint will be putting a curse or some shit on the brother during one of his sacrifices.

The last thing we need is a beef between brothers because I find them both good-looking. I would never let anyone know that. I don’t want to make them feel uncomfortable. Most of them I couldn’t look at like that anyhow; they’re too much like family to me. But Mercenary, well, he’s new...

“Nightmare? We good then?”

“Yeah, B will be waiting for me, no doubt. Fists are near here as far as we know, and the last thing I need is for my ol’ lady to slit their throats ‘cause they started shit with us again. I plan to kill the motherfuckers, but patience is our best bet right now, no matter how much I hate it.” He cracks his knuckles, with a menacing glower toward the road.

It never crossed my mind before, but I wonder if he’s having flashbacks of the whole situation. He was near here when he found out his son had been kidnapped and his ol’ lady was beaten to shit. I couldn’t imagine seeing Jude hurt like that. I’d want to rip the person that’s responsible apart too. I wish we’d been at the club that day to protect them.

We say our good-byes to the NOMADS, planning to see them in a few days when we have our get-together to welcome our new brother. In the meantime, they’re on their way to Alabama to pick up some more bottles of moonshine from Chaos’ son-in-law’s family ranch. I’ll admit I do miss the life of a NOMAD. I was considering possibly going back on the road with them if Saint agreed. But that was before a certain woman came into our lives and threw us off balance.

Nightmare, Saint, and I have no reason to delay our trip home any longer. We all have someone waiting for us, and the sooner we get back, the better, as far as I’m concerned.

They’re gone for half the day, but it seems like forever sitting around the clubhouse waiting. Thankfully Princess has put me to work with helping her prepare some food. I also assisted with getting the new guy's room cleaned and ready for him as well. It was nice to be needed and to be included in stuff that has to do with Saint and Sinner’s club. The people here are like a giant family, something I’ve never had.

My stomach is full of butterflies too; I’m kind of excited and nervous to meet the new guy. I’m the newbie around here, too, so I hope he’s nice. The others around here are friendly or else ignore me altogether. The women are catty bitches, besides the ol’ ladies. The club whores have been busy whispering all day about how he’s supposedly insanely good-looking. Who knows if they’re telling the truth though.

Not that it matters. Besides have they not seen Saint and Sinner? Those two are hard to pass up, and I’m perfectly content to stick with them.

Life has changed so much in the matter of a few days, and it’s hard for me to believe it. Saint and Sinner, along with their motorcycle club, are to thank for that fact, I suppose. One thing weighing on me, though, is not getting my online classwork completed this week yet. I don’t want to fall behind because in some classes it’s nearly impossible to catch up. I need to find someone around here with a laptop that I can borrow.

If I can do my assignments, then I won’t worry about them. Or about the possibility of losing my degree that I’ve been working so hard toward. It’s the one guarantee I have in life that I’ll be able to stand on my own two feet and get out of my mom’s trailer for good. Even if my relationship does continue with these men, then at least I’d have done something for myself. I can pat myself on the back because I went further than my mother ever did.

Saint told me to relax, and that’s exactly what I’ve been trying to do. It’s a relief if I’m honest with myself, not having to worry about everything like I was in the trailer. It’s refreshing to have someone around all the time too. I haven’t felt lonely or sad ever since coming here. Or hungry. These guys have so much food around this place, it’s insane.

That’s the scary part as well. What happens when I have to leave? Will going back home be harder than it was before? Especially now that I’ve had a taste of life outside the tiny town I call home that’s smack dab in the middle of nowhere?

Truth be told, I don’t want to find out. I wish deep down these guys will keep me here for as long as possible. And I want to live my life with them as crazy as that may seem. Then I’d like to forget about the absence of my mother and about the slimy men she paraded in and out of my life. I’ve heard that saying a time or two about wishing in one hand...hopefully, it’s not the same in this case.

I’m aware of how out of character it is for me, but I can’t find it in myself to care. Sinner was right about not caring what others think. It’s never been that big of a deal to me before, but even less so now. The feeling is freeing; I can finally live for myself here and not worry about anyone else. Being around Saint and Sinner is liberating. I’ve learned so much from them just in the time here alone, I can imagine what the future will hold with them at my side.

The deep rumble from multiple pipes grows louder, and Princess comes barreling into the kitchen. “They’re here! Hurry!”

You’d think her ol’ man Viking had left as well with the guys, but he stayed behind. She’s all pumped up to meet the new brother. According to her, you can never have too much family. I practically have zero family members, so I’ll take her word for it. I know one thing for sure, I want to see the guys so much, it’s probably unhealthy at this point.

“We could hide Jude in my room,” Odin suggests to Princess. His eyebrows wiggle and his grin’s full of mischief.

Her mouth falls open. “Hell to the no! The plan is to keep you alive, Odin. Those two would try to skin you if they thought you touched Jude while they were on a run. Plus, you don’t want to piss in anyone’s Cheerios before you get that VP patch you pant over so much.”

“It was worth a shot.” His playful gaze meets mine.

I wonder how much truth there is in what she says. Would Saint and Sinner care enough to go after another man like that? They claim to be killers, but it’s one thing to hear someone say it versus seeing it with your own eyes.

And for me, to boot. Am I worth that much to them already? I’d like to think so. However, I doubt it, even though they mean a great deal to me already.

Odin’s cute and pure trouble to some, I’m sure, and I doubt the guys would hurt him too badly. “I may be your age, but that doesn’t mean anything. Sorry, kid,” I reply with a touch of good-natured sass and draw an entertained snort from Princess.

Chuckling, he shakes his head. “Nah sugar, it’s not like that.” He winks. “I just enjoy fuckin’ with old men. Apparently, I’m not the only one...” His retort shuts me up quick.

It wasn’t unkind, just true and it’s a little unnerving that everyone around here has any inclination I’ve slept with Saint and Sinner. I don’t have any reason to be embarrassed as some of the women around here throw themselves at the men all while being practically naked. Still, I like my business being my own. And I didn’t just have sex with one guy, it was two. And another thing, it wasn’t just random, either. It meant something to me.

Princess notices the smile fall from my lips and comes to my rescue, “Anyone in their right mind would pick a man over a boy.” She pulls me into her, hugging me. “You’re just lucky enough to have a few of them chasing after you.”

Nodding, I brush the uncertainty off and let her lead me out to the main room. Odin follows along, tasked as Princess’ permanent bodyguard. He may be Viking’s younger brother, but there’s nothing small about him. I can understand why Viking trusts him so much. I wonder who will protect her once he does become the Vice President of the club. Maybe Blaze, Viking’s cousin would step up?

The other person I’ve come to associate with Princess is her best friend. They’re a hoot when they’re together too. “Where’s Bethany?” I’m yet to run into her today or her son Maverick.

“She wasn’t feeling well, so she’s waiting for Night at their house.”

“Oh, that sucks. Hopefully, she’s better soon.” I wonder what’s wrong. I’m sure if she were really sick, Princess would be sending stuff over and getting Maverick for her. She probably just misses her man, and I know exactly what that feels like.

“I hope so too. If I drag you into being my drinking partner, she may get a little jealous.”

“There’s no reason to be. I like both of you,” I admit, and her kind smile turns my way.

“You’re sweet, Jude. I’m glad those two troublemakers brought you home to us.”

“Me too.” She has no idea, I think to myself as those two troublemakers she just mentioned pile through the door. Home at last.

A massive man shadows their wake, appearing irritated with something. I wonder if anything happened on their trip. He tugs his leather gloves free, stuffing them into his back jeans pocket and fist bumps the men standing around, acknowledging each of them. They welcome him like an old friend, but through each greeting, his mouth never cracks into the resemblance of a smile.

Mercenary’s gaze eventually falls on me, and there’s pure ice in his irises. Through his penetrating stare, his feet carry him directly to my path, blocking my view of the other guys. He’s freaking massive compared to me. What is it with giant men around here? You’d think they were a football team or something.

He comes to a standstill peering down at what I’m wearing, making me question my lack of wardrobe. I know it’s nothing special, but it’s not like I’ve gotten to go shopping or anything. Maybe I should’ve asked Princess for something else to wear today. I’m not sure why I care in the first place. Maybe it’s just the thought of making a decent first impression. Saint and Sinner don’t seem to mind when I wear this though.

“Hi?” Staring up at him, I notice his chin dotted with small scars. I won’t lie; the ragged appearance is pretty sexy. I seem to have a thing for hard-looking men.

Are they from fighting or a crash maybe? They add to his “don’t fuck with me” attitude for sure. I wouldn’t want to come face-to-face with him in a dark alley. I can see why he’d come here; he has a certain appeal that fits in well with the other men around here.

“This the best you got?” he rumbles, waving his hand at me. “Guess it doesn’t matter since you’ll be naked soon enough.” He shrugs and his huge paw of a hand lands on my shoulder, “I’mma grab a beer, then you can show me my digs and welcome me properly.”

Pretty sure the sound I make is a squeak at his touch. Or maybe a gasp, like a tire going flat? How in the hell do I respond to something like that? I can’t, so I stand there like a fish out of water, moving my mouth. I’m sure I really look ridiculous, not forming an actual sentence in response.

Princess notices my discomfort and interrupts. “Uh, hi Mercenary, I’m Princess.” She’s not intimidated by the big guy one bit. Her hand shoots out, ready to shake his. “Yeah, so Jude’s not really here for that sort of thing.”

He ignores it, his mammoth paw still on my shoulder while the other fists at his side. “My bad; she property?”

My nose screws up, and my forehead wrinkles in confusion from his question. What the hell is he talking about? Last I checked, I owned myself. And it is his bad; he shouldn’t have assumed I’d be welcoming him in his room in any way. Especially after him being so rude about my clothes. Good luck with the women, guy; you’re going to need it.

“Well, not really.” Princess chews the inside of her cheek and drops her hand, then glances around for I’m guessing her ol’ man.

This whole situation has grown uncomfortable. I just want to greet the guys and get a glass of lemonade from Blaze. Maybe have him add some vodka, so I forget this ever happened. Mercenary doesn’t seem as convinced of everything, though, and this could be a problem.

“Then let me make myself clear,” he states, his voice a deep, commanding timbre. “I’m getting a beer.” He points to my boobs. “And then I’m fucking her. Maybe if she’s good at giving head, I’ll let her stick around and suck me off in the morning too.”

Princess snorts. Apparently this is his first run-in with the Ice Queen. She’s sweet, but she doesn’t take one ounce of shit from any of the guys. She tells it how it is, regardless. And I love her for it.

I have no freaking idea how to react. Sinner warned me that the club has certain rules that you follow around here. I just stand still and swallow, dumbstruck. This ginormous, gorgeous man just demanded that I let him fuck me, and frankly, I’m at a loss for words. He reminds me of a caveman, and it wouldn’t surprise me if his next line is, “Me man, you woman.”

“Brother, that bitch is on mine and Saint’s cocks; no one else’s.” Sinner steps to my side, crossing his arms over his chest.

It’s vulgar, but surprisingly, it offers me a touch of comfort having him beside me, defending my honor. If anyone around here wasn’t one hundred percent sure we’re sleeping together, well, now it’s been announced. There’s no room for speculation as he’s proclaimed quite clearly that I’m indeed not just having sex with one, but both of them. I’m sure my face is flaming as it’s suddenly way too warm in this room for me.

Saint appears on the other side and flings Mercenary’s hand off my shoulder. “She’s not a fucking club whore,” he declares with a scowl pointed in the new brother’s direction.

“I don’t see a motherfuckin’ property patch anywhere on her back. Is this how you do things down in Texas? Stake claim on bitches without putting your patch on ‘em?”

Sinner’s jaw tightens and flexes as he grits his teeth. His irises change to an obsidian hue, reflecting his annoyance. “We do things however the fuck we wanna around here. This is Texas.”

His hand lands on my shoulder in the same spot the other guy was just touching. “In saying that, it means don’t touch what doesn’t belong to you. I don’t offer second warnings,” he finishes, leaning over and plants a kiss on my temple. It’s more of a Saint move, but I enjoy it nonetheless.

He and Saint are in such a serious stare down with Mercenary, I’m a little concerned that I’ll be peed on next to stake a further claim. I wish this guy would get the drift and just back off. No such luck; this battle of testosterone means whipping out your dick to see whose is bigger at the moment, it seems.

“So, you two share with each other, but not anyone else, huh? Sounds like some stingy motherfuckers, but all right. I’m not that hard up for some pussy, Chi town gave it up easily. Besides, she’ll eventually come my way. If I’ll have her at that point, is another story.”

Saint straight up snarls, his body on edge with anticipation for a fight.

Viking makes his way over, noticing Princess’ shocked expression. He strategically places himself between the puffed-up chests about to throw down. “What’s the fucking issue over here?” he gripes, clearly not in the mood for anyone to argue.

“Not a fuckin’ thing.” Mercenary shrugs, meeting the Prez eye for eye. The guy has balls; Viking’s kind of scary, in my opinion. He has that craziness about him you don’t want to push, but it doesn’t seem to faze Mercenary.

Sinner addresses Viking. “Prez, let this pup know that Jude is mine and Sinner’s.”

I nearly snort at his request. I’m theirs? I like the sound of that, but at the same time, it almost leaves him in a gruff whine. I’d never imagined Sinner being someone to ask for something. He’s always struck me as the type to take and do as he pleases.

I guess Viking really is the boss around here.

“I’m not your goddamn babysitter,” he huffs glancing from Sinner to Saint and then turns back to Mercenary’s gaze. “In saying that, you have any clue who you’re pissing off right now? You know we were all NOMADS at one point, right?”

“I’ve heard.”

“Nightmare will light your ass on fire for a laugh. Saint and Sinner? Those crazy fuckers will string you up and Sinner will fuck with your head while Saint pokes holes in your flesh.”

Saint leans over, kissing my forehead kindly, making it hard for me to believe he’s capable of the things their president claims. Sure, he’s rough around the edges, but poke holes in the guy? I’m not one hundred percent sure I’d go that far.

Viking continues. “Torch,” he grunts. “That brother’s name tells all. Blaze, well, let’s just say my club has a thing for fire and sharp objects as well as our fists. I’m not getting in your shit, but don’t show up at my club, stirring the pot with the veteran members. Trust me when I say these fuckers are just as crazy as your ass is, or even more so.” he finishes, then tucks Princess under his arm and walks toward the bar, Odin hot on their heels.

Sinner’s brow rises, waiting for Mercenary to make the next move.

“Don’t take too long you two,” he mutters. “’Cause she’s just my type.” He flicks one last glance at me from top to bottom and then follows Viking to the bar to get that beer he spoke of.

Sinner meets Saint’s serious gaze and grumbles under his breath, just loud enough for me to make out his threat. “And you have a fuckin’ death wish if you think I’m going to let you have her.”