AllFreeNovel
Share Us
A couple miles down the road, Brick pulled the group over at a Buc-ee’s and everyone in the club surrounded the Bronco as the women got out. And they were women, not older girls like I’d first thought. The shy one shrank behind her sister when the men crowded around them both. We didn’t get into their personal space, but it was something that would have probably freaked any woman out.
“Jesus, guys, back off ‘em!” Iris, Sting’s ol’ lady, was going to be a great match for our president. “Are you trying to frighten them to death?”
Sting chuckled, watching as his woman went to my stowaways. “Better do what she says, boys. She’s a force of nature when she wants to be.”
Naturally, we didn’t need Sting’s OK to back off. The girls looked terrified. The braver one had a determined look on her face as she lifted her chin. “We’re not fragile. There’re a lot of you. And you’re all big.”
“Of course, you’re not fragile.” Iris took her hand and reached for the other one. “Everyone, this is Winter. Her sister here is Serelda.”
“You know them well, baby?” Sting stood close to his woman, but not close enough to spook the other two.
“No. But I’m looking forward to getting to know them.” She gave Sting a pointed look. “Why don’t we go take a quick break, then get something to eat for the road.”
“Sounds like a plan. Cyrus. Eagle. Top off the tanks, then get any business done you need to. Once the ladies are good, we’ll head on home.”
I nodded at Sting before following the women. We kept a respectable distance, but stayed close enough to keep everyone away if we needed to. It didn’t take them long in the bathroom, then all three of them headed to the food area. That took a little longer. It looked like Winter tried to coax her sister into getting something, but the other woman shook her head, refusing everything she offered.
“You notice the thin scars on ‘em?” Brick stood beside me, watching the women with his hawklike gaze.
“Yeah. Noticed. Even on their faces.”
“They got a story. We need that if they’re gonna stay.”
I turned my head. “They gonna stay?”
Brick shrugged. “Looks that way. Heard Sting talkin’ to El Diablo. Black Reign prez wasn’t surprised. Said Shotgun found where they snuck into your vehicle on their surveillance. El Diablo knows they’re with us of their own free will, so he’s willing to let things play out.”
“Any idea what they’re up to?”
“Not a clue. But before anyone gets any bright ideas, them girls ain’t no spies.”
That thought hadn’t occurred to me. It should have. “You’re sure about that? Wouldn’t put it past Black Reign to try to put a plant in our club.”
“I’m sure.” Brick glanced at me, then headed to the women. He snagged a pack of Beaver Nuggets and handed them to Serelda. She took the bag and looked up at him but didn’t say anything. He continued to stare at her until she nodded, and they all headed to the checkout.
I followed, wondering at the exchange between the VP and Serelda. The sisters might be twins, but I’d already picked out a few differences between the two. Not only mannerisms, either. The pattern of scarring was different as well. Serelda had far more on her face than Winter. I hoped Black Reign had disposed of whomever did this to those girls, or I was going to have to ask our president for permission to go hunting.
As I followed them, Winter looked back over her shoulder at me. Her lips parted, and her delicate skin flushed a becoming shade of pink before she turned back around and walked faster toward the checkout. I found myself smiling despite my dark thoughts. I’d bet my last dollar that girl was attracted to me but too scared to flirt. It was just as well. Though she wasn’t as young as Iris, she was still far younger than me. And obviously traumatized. The very last thing I wanted or needed was someone to babysit.
Even if that someone was the loveliest, most haunted creature I’d ever seen.
* * *
Winter
From the second the group from Iron Tzars rolled in, I knew this was what we’d been waiting for. They were the same as Black Reign in many respects, but for one very important fact. They had no idea what had happened to me and Serelda. There was no hiding the scars on the outside, but I’d hoped to at least try to conceal the ones on the inside. I didn’t think Serelda could, but she was trying. Of the two of us, she’d suffered the most. Because she tried to protect me.
Then I’d found Roman. He was a complete mystery. One I wanted to find out about. He was protective of his brothers and Iris. She’d taken up with the president of Iron Tzars, and he seemed to be good for her. Before they were even an official couple, he’d done his best to protect her. Not always so she knew about it, but he’d had a goal in mind. Winning her trust. He’d called in his club, and they’d hunted down the trafficking ring that had taken Iris’s sister and had brought her back. The tenacity and cunning they’d displayed in that one rescue mission told me this was where we needed to make our new home. The events leading up to us being in the middle of Six Flags over Truck Stop -- also known as Buc-ees -- loading up on enough junk food to feed an army, convinced me I’d made the right choice for Serelda and me.
Iris went with us to the bathroom and stayed outside the doors of our stalls, standing watch. Outside the bathroom, the guys stood watch. Once we’d finished, they all formed a protective ring around us as Iris encouraged us to get food. Serelda was too nervous to be interested in much, though I’d tried to coax her with foods I knew she’d like. It had all been for naught until the big guy they all called Brick handed her a bag of sweet, puffed nuggets.
At first, I didn’t think she’d take the bag, but she had. Brick had been gentle but insistent. Once she agreed to take them, he left us, heading to the checkout to wait patiently. Serelda had ducked into my side, and I’d put an arm around her. She was trembling, but I thought it was more from surprise than fear. I’d noticed her looking at Brick from the moment he’d entered the Black Reign compound. He was older, but built like, well, a brick wall. Solid. Strong. Tall.
Though I liked the possibility of him being Serelda’s protector, I still had no idea if he was the one for her. And I had my own problems to worry about. Because Roman had his eyes fixed on me since the moment I’d revealed our presence in his vehicle. I had no idea if it was distrust or interest he eyed me with, and I wasn’t certain I wanted to find out. One thing was for sure, though. I was drawn to him. To me, he felt safe. Appearances could be deceiving. If I’d misjudged him or his club, we could be headed into trouble.
Brick took care of the bill, and we walked back to the vehicle, which was parked in the middle of several motorcycles now. Two of the club members leaned lazily against the truck, but I could see they were alert and very aware of their surroundings. One more mark in the club’s favor. They took security seriously. Even in the middle of a place that was family friendly as they come.
“In you go.” Roman startled me as he came up behind me and Serelda. I gasped in a breath and met his gaze. His eyes were black as night, though his hair was lighter and liberally dusted with gray. Short and shaggy, his beard had silver at the sides and chin. Though much of it was still dark, he was mostly a salt-and-pepper mix. One I found comforting to look at. He wasn’t my age, though I was no young woman like Iris. I was thirty-five. Roman was probably pushing fifty. I’d thought it might freak me out since Serelda and I had been traumatized by older men, but it didn’t. And Roman might be close in age to those men, but he was nothing like them in appearance or manner.
