AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Chapter 1
Hannah
I parked the rental SUV outside the Watering Hole and took a deep breath, taking in the line of motorcycles parked just outside of the front door. The aging red brick building had neon signs hanging in the window, and the sound of laughter and loud voices flowed from the open front door.
Just get the story and get the hell out.
Flipping down the visor, I double-checked my appearance. My makeup was minimalistic, airing toward the professional side, with just enough to highlight my thin nose, thick lips, and bright blue eyes. My ashy blonde hair was pulled back in a half updo, and it went well with my loose black blouse and light wash boyfriend jeans.
Why did Vinny send me for this story?
I pushed open the door, slipping my cross-body bag over my shoulder, and let the door shut. I had no idea if I was going to stand out or not, but I’d interviewed enough rough characters over the years to know that I could handle being the odd person out.
“I.D.,” a large, broad gray-headed bouncer asked at the door.
“Of course,” I mumbled, digging out my wallet and holding out my license.
“You’re a long way from home,” he chuckled at my Texas driver’s license. “And you don’t look like you’re thirty.”
“Thanks,” I said to him, giving him a smile and slipping through the open door. Stale smoke and alcohol hit me like a freight train as I took in the dive bar of sorts. It had a few pool tables and dart boards and appeared like a typical dive establishment...
Except every male patron had a vest on.
Yikes.
I swallowed hard, keeping my head and shoulders up. I knew the worst thing I could do was act like I was nervous. Besides, I was just here to get a scoop on the outlaw biker lifestyle. It’s not like I was pressing into all the legality issues that were happening in SoCal. My phone vibrated in my pocket, and I pulled it out, seeing a text from my boss.
Rosie knows you’re there—find her before you go talking.
I liked the text then searched behind the bar for the owner, who happened to be a good friend of Vinny’s. I knew they were about the same age, being somewhere in their late forties—and Rosie had bright red hair.
“You look lost,” a gruff voice said behind me.
I spun around, seeing a tall, blonde-headed biker. “I’m actually just here trying to find Rosie.” My tone was light and nonchalant—the total opposite of how I felt about the intimidating middle-aged guy. He was sort of handsome, but the lack of emotion in his coffee-brown eyes made my stomach roll.
“Rosie, huh?” he retorted, appearing to look past me to behind the bar somewhere. “My guess is she’s in the back somewhere. What do you need from her? You a friend or something?”
“Something like that.” I was careful, already seeing the curiosity piqued in his face as he raked his eyes down my figure. I didn’t have the edgy biker look of the women who were scattered across the joint...
And that was being made more apparent by the second.
“I’m Nitro,” he held out a hand to me. “VP of the Silent Kings MC. I don’t know if you’re aware, but you’re in a biker bar, honey.”
Ah, charming asshole. Of course.
“Thank you for the information,” I forced an amicable laugh, wishing that I could pull up the list of clubs that I was supposed to steer clear from. For some reason, a red flag was going off in my mind—but he was clearly open to talking. “I’m working on a piece for the Pacific Press about the outlaw motorcycle life in the here and now, so I’m just hoping to get some insight into that.”
His face went hard. “So, you’re a nosey fucking reporter here to dig around? If you weren’t such a lady, I’d be spitting in your face right now.”
Ouch.
“I’m not here to dig around in the gray areas.” My voice felt rushed. “It’s strictly a lifestyle piece. It’s mostly just fun, you know, give the readers something exciting and foreign to kick around.”
He narrowed his eyes, clearly not believing me. “Andhowdo you know Rosie? Because there’s no way in hell that she’d be okay with some little snooty-nosed reporter coming in here.”
“Well, my boss, Vinny Lewis, happens to be good friends with her—and this is supposed to be a neutral zone,” I added, hoping that my knowledge of the way the cubs worked would work in my favor...
And buy me time until I found Rosie.
