Chapter 9
Rider
I walked into Milo’s and started scanning for Colt. I didn’t see him at first, so I got myself a table and ordered a beer. My mind was racing with all the things they could ask of me. Questions Doc might have and stories I might have to tell him. He might quiz me on my knowledge of combat or ask for war stories to prove I would be an asset to their club.
I was dreading that part of the conversation if it came to fruition.
“Rider!” Colt said as he slapped my back. “Didn’t think you’d beat us here.”
“Everyone beats us here when you’re involved, Colt,” Doc said.
I grinned as I turned towards the man and shook his head.
“Rider. Nice to see you again,” Doc said.
“You too, sir.”
“Don’t do that ‘sir’ shit. You’re not in the military anymore. Doc’s just fine,” he said.
“Told you he’d try to be polite about this shit,” Colt said.
“Blame it on my military training,” I said with a grin.
“I see you got yourself a beer already. Hope you came hungry. I’m starving,” Doc said.
I eyed Colt, and he grinned at me before Doc started firing off some questions.
“Colt here tells me you’re good at some things.”
“Sure am. Again, blame it on the military,” I said.
“Can you fight?” Doc asked.
“Yep.”
“You know your guns?”
“Sure do.”
“Colt here tells me you’ve got this fun little knack for reading people.”
I eyed Colt carefully as the conversation took a turn.
“Been awhile since I’ve put it to use, but yes,” I said.
“Take your shot with me,” Doc said.
“With you.”
“Yep. Tell me what you can gather just from looking at me,” he said.
It had been a few years since I’d had to employ this tactic and I knew I’d be rusty. My eyes scanned Doc’s body… or at least what I could of him. I figured my fighting skills and my ability to shoot with deadly accuracy would be more useful than something like this. But if that was what Doc wanted to see, then it was better than recounting shitty war stories.
I took a few seconds to look him up and down before I cleared my throat.
“You’ve had a rough morning,” I said.
“With Colt, it’s always rough,” Doc said.
“Not what I meant. You didn’t get much sleep last night, and you ran into something this morning. The scuff on your jeans as well as your slight limp tells me that. You live in your own home and do your own yard work, judging by the mud and the grass seeds caked onto her boots. It’s probably therapeutic for you, though you don’t want to admit that because who the fuck admits they like gardening?”
A chuckle rose from Colt as Doc’s eyes held my stare.
“You don’t actually like the beer at this place, but you tolerate it because they give it to you for free. I can tell by the way you drink it. You bite back a grimace, and it takes you longer to swallow it sometimes. That usually indicates a nice person. Someone who is willing to make themselves uncomfortable for the sake of others. I’d venture to say that’s what got you elected President.”
“Anything else?” Doc asked.
“Do you want me to keep going?” I asked.
“Out of curiosity, yes.”
“You have a fading bruise on your neck, but you’re trying to cover it up. Means you’ve been in an altercation. Lately you don’t want anyone knowing about. Even though you smashed your shin against something, you’re favoring your other side. I’d venture to say you’ve got at least a bruised rib you’re trying to nurse. But with your size and attention, it means someone got the jump on you. Either in the dark, since you’re squinting at me to try and see me through the shadows, or it was someone you knew, so you didn’t brace for it.”
“Doc, is he serious?” Colt asked.
“We can talk about it later,” Doc said.
“No, if someone’s attacked you-”
“I said, later,” Doc said.
His eyes turned back to mine as I let out a deep sigh.
“Hell of a talent you got there.”
“Most people aren’t a fan of it,” I said.
“We got plenty of fighters and shooters, but we don’t have anyone who can read people like that. You’ve been hanging around here for the last couple of months, but you’ve been working in that mechanic shop for a while. Doing good work, by what Colt’s told me.”
“Glad I can make someone proud. I enjoy having a purpose,” I said.
“How would you like to shift that purpose? You know, putting your focuses on becoming a prospect?”
I brought my beer up to my lips to conceal the goofy grin I could feel spreading across my cheeks.
“I think I’d like that,” I said.
“Good. Colt, hand it to him.”
I looked over at Colt as he held out a leather cut he had slung over his chair. It was my size and tailored to me, and it had The Fallen Reapers logo on the back of it with a prospect patch on the bottom.
Holy shit.
I had my own leather cut.
I couldn’t help the smile that crossed my cheeks. I slipped my old leather jacket off so I could slip on my new one. Doc was grinning at Colt, and I was leaned back in my chair, and I was smiling like a fucking idiot.
“Looks good on ya,” Doc said.
“Feels good, too,” I said.
“Being a prospect lasts about a year. You’ll do all the shit the club does. Trips, jobs, security detail. The whole nine. We don’t do any hazing shit like some clubs do. It’s pointless, and we got too much work to do to make someone’s life hell for the fun of it. Plus, with you being ex-military, it’s about time you had a break.”
“Is it over?” Bruiser asked.
“Can we come out now?” Grave asked.
I watched as the rest of the guys came out from the pool shooting room and gathered around the table.
“I’d say it’s official,” Doc said.
“Oh shit! This is gonna be great,” Jax said.
“Want me to start the food and round of beers?” Fender asked.
“Hell yeah. It’s celebration time. We got ourselves a new prospect with a fun skill set we don’t have yet. We got the advantage with this one,” Doc said.
“Glad I can help,” I said.
“Set the table for one more guys,” Colt said. “I’m expecting a guest.”
“Who the hell you got comin’ around here now?” Bruiser asked.
The doors to the place slammed open, and we all looked over to see who it was. Colt’s smile was broad on his face as my stomach hit the floor. It was Zoey, in all of her beautiful glory, walking towards the table as the guys as the guys stilled around me.
Oh shit.
This wasn’t happening.
Holy. Fuck.
“Guys, I want you to meet someone you haven’t seen in years. She looks a bit different now, but you’ve met her before. This is my little sister Zoey. And she’s back from college.”
“Holy shit. That’s Zoey?” Fender asked.
“He’s joking. That’s not Little Zoe,” Bruiser asked.
“That’s your lanky little sister? Where’s her black eyeliner?” Jax asked.
“Traded it in for some bombshell lipstick and my natural red hair. You guys like it?” Zoey asked.
“Holy shit, girl. Get over here and give me a hug,” Doc said.
Zoey threw her arms around Doc as I tried to avert my gaze as much as possible.
“And this, Zoey, is Rider. He’s our newest prospect for the club. You met him a couple of times. He’s the friend of mine that enlisted in the military,” Colt said.
“Wait,” Zoey said. “You mean the one with the shaggy hair? The thin one that everyone teased about getting broken in basic?”
I swallowed my shock as her eyes widened and turned back towards me.
“You’re that Rider?” Zoey asked.
“Looks different now, doesn’t he? Didn’t think you’d recognize him after all these years,” Colt said.
The guys all rallied around her to give her a massive hug as they doted on how different she looked. And they were right. She looked dramatically different. I had a hard time recognizing her even now. But she was just now beginning to process who I was as her eyes raked up and down my form.
Her eyes were begging me. Silencing me with their nervousness before she finally turned her gaze to everyone else. She looked genuinely happy to see everyone. They were hugging her close and scanning her body. I could see Bruiser and Fender allowing their hands to linger just a little too long on her body. Colt smacked their hands away and gave them a predatory stare, but it didn’t stop the jealousy from ricocheting throughout my body.
And still, Zoey was begging.
Every time her eyes caught mine, she pleaded with me to keep my mouth shut. But she didn’t have to worry. I’d just been made a prospect with the club I’d considered family for a while now. I wasn’t going to do anything to ruin that for myself. But I couldn’t deny that I wanted her. I couldn’t deny that I felt like she was mine. The way our bodies had connected and the way things seemed to natural between the two of us.
It pissed me off that all the guys were hugging on her.
I was struggling. Pulled between two worlds I now wanted. The leather cut I was wearing felt good against my skin. It reminded me of the family I had found when I thought I was alone. But then there was Zoey. With her jaw-dropping curves and her sassy attitude. She took no shit from anyone, and she stood her ground. Independent and fiery, just like I remembered her. She was the kind of woman I wanted in my life. She was the kind of woman I wanted standing at my side.
But she was Colt’s little sister. My best friend’s fucking sister.
And she was now off limits.