“Why me?”

  “Because you’re the first person I’ve ever met that I feel might actually accept me for who I am now, not condemn me for who I used to be. I was not a good person—some might argue that I still am a terrible person.”

  “Well, you’re my savior, so I’ll never judge you for your past indiscretions. I will never pry. You can tell me what you want whenever you’re comfortable. I don’t put too much stock in a person’s past as long as they are a good person in their present life.”

  “Thanks, babe.” He kissed my forehead. “I want to keep you. A week doesn’t seem like long enough.”

  “We’ll see. I’m kind of liking it here,” I admitted. I was sick of running, and Vilas seemed like a pretty good place to be from what I could tell.

  “We need to get you to Crickett’s.” Trent started to get up.

  “What? Why? She was supposed to show me around and get me started with work today.”

  He shot me a stern look. “Sweetheart, sometimes we’re going to tell you to do things, change plans on you, not give you details, give you orders, and you’re going to just have to roll with it. If I tell you we need to go somewhere, there is a very good reason. Sometimes I will be able to explain—this is not one of those times. You have to just trust that I am doing everything in my power to always protect you.”

  Chapter 9

  Trent

  I hated that Sloan wasn’t at the garage. The day droned on with me constantly worried about everyone at Crickett’s house. I knew it was the safest place to be, but without me there to actually protect her, I was uneasy.

  After our last run to grab a repo, Red and I decided it was time to call it quits for the day.

  “You ready to head on over to the bunker, kid?” Red threw his cut back on and started to make his way to the back door.

  “Yeah, let’s lock up and head out.” Relief washed over me when I locked the last of the rolling doors and hit the light switch. I couldn’t get to Sloan’s side fast enough.

  Walking into the house, my heart felt a million times lighter. Sloan was sitting on the couch, chatting with Raine. They were giggling about something, happily chatting away.

  Her face lit up when she saw me. “Trent! I just felt the baby kick.”

  I sank down onto the couch next to her. “That’s awesome, babe.”

  Raine shot me a knowing grin. “Are there going to be any little Trents running around these parts eventually?”

  She fucking loved to give all of us a hard time. I just rolled my eyes at our queen. “Let me change her last name before you start asking us shit like that.”

  Sloan’s face turned every shade of red possible as she shoved my shoulder.

  I kissed her cheek. “Just a joke, love. Either of you need anything?”

  “If there’s juice, the baby would really appreciate it—oh, and bacon! See if Crickett has bacon!” Raine bounced a little as excitement emanated from her tiny body.

  “We’ll see what I can scrounge up. Sloan? Beer?” I squeezed her shoulder a little while getting up.

  “I’ll help you.”

  We walked hand in hand into the kitchen where Crickett was stirring a pot of chili. Her famous chili could make a cowboy cry, I was just that damn good. I could smell the jalapeño cornbread in the oven.

  “Damn, woman! That smells amazing.” I wrapped my arm around her. “How’re you holding up with everyone bombarding your place?”

  She waved her hand dismissively. “You know I prefer it when the whole family is together.”

  “The prego princess has requested bacon,” I stated, opening the fridge.

  “Bottom drawer on the right. I’ll fry some up for her right now. Gotta keep the baby happy.” Sloan reached down and grabbed it for me while I filled up a glass with apple juice.

  “Will you take that in to her?” I handed the cup to Sloan and she left without question after grabbing a beer for herself.

  “How’s she doing?” I asked Crickett.

  She cocked her head to the side. “She seems a little rattled, but she’s going to fit in here just fine. She likes you, I can tell.”

  “Yeah?” I leaned on the counter, twisting open my beer bottle with my forearm.

  Crickett nodded. “A woman like that doesn’t slum it for just any outlaw. Trust me, she’s a keeper.”

  “Should I tell her what’s going on?” I mumbled as low as I possibly could.

  Crickett pointed her finger at me. “You do not tell that poor girl anything. She has enough stressing her out right now. If she asks, deflect—you’re good at that.”

  “Yes ma’am.” I help my hands up in surrender. Crickett was right, but I just hated omitting things when people asked.

  Ryder walked up next to us. “How’d it go today at the shop?”

  “Same old shit. Nothing to write home about.” I peeled the label off my Coors Light bottle.

  “Do you think I’m overreacting?” Ryder glanced from me to Crickett.

  She shook her head. “Not my place. Trent, stir the pot. I’m going to check on everyone, make sure they all know where they’re sleeping.”

  “I don’t think you’re overreacting,” I finally answered, “I would probably do the exact same thing. It’s better to be safe than sorry.”

  Ryder looked deflated. His shoulders were slumped, his eyes were bloodshot, and he barely had any color in his face. “I just don’t know what to do. I want to get each and every one of those fuckers, but they’re just going to keep coming. How do we keep everyone safe and avenge Abel?”

  “Fuck if I know, man. Heavy the head that wears the crown.” I pointed to the patch on his chest. “Abel would be proud of you, you do know that, right?”

  He opened another beer, taking a long pull. “Sometimes I feel like it shouldn’t be me wearing this patch. Holt, Red, Jesse, you…I mean, out of everyone, I feel like I deserve it the least.”

  “And that is exactly why you need to be wearing it. We’re all worn and weathered. We’ve seen war, have more blood dripping from our hands than we know what to do with. You still have a fighting chance at doing something great with this club.”

  “Thanks, man. I needed to hear that.” He slapped me on the shoulder. “Also, that chick is pretty cool. Raine seems to really like having her here.”

  “I’m trying to convince her to stick around.” I couldn’t help the smile that spread on my face.

  “Well, if there’s anything I can do to help make that happen, all you have to do is ask.” He gave me a little wink and then turned to head back over to where Raine and Sloan were still planted on the couch.

  “Dinner time!” Crickett yelled, walking back into the kitchen.

  “Need some help?” I asked, handing her back the wooden spoon.

  “Get your butt in a chair at the table with everyone. I got this.” She turned off the burner and grabbed the muffin trays out of the oven.

  It was nice to have everyone sitting around the table. There was no talk about revenge, rage, murder, the shop, the bar—nothing. It was just a big family having dinner together. We laughed, told old stories, drank way too much, and ate even more.

  I looked over to Sloan as she snickered at something Raine said, and the lightheartedness of her laughter had me over the moon. Her cherry Cupid’s bow perked up, making her cheeks almost jiggle with elation. It was adorable. In that moment, I declared it my sole mission in life to never let that smile fade from her lips.

  After dinner, I walked up to Ryder and Red on the front porch. I sat on the railing across from where Ryder was smoking a joint.

  “Want some?” he offered.

  “Nah, thanks though man. Hey, I was thinking…” I trailed off trying to find the right words.

  Red chuckled. “That’s never a good sign.”

  I ignored him. “What if Red, Sloan, and I head back to the garage and sleep there? That place is damn near a fortress when it is all locked up, and it’s fucking crowded as shit in this place.”

  Ryder narrowed his eyes at me. “I feel like I should say no, but at this point, I’m too drunk and high to care what the fuck you do. Just don’t get yourselves killed. That’s all I ask.”

  Red heaved up from his chair. “Fuck yeah. Take me home or lose me forever.” As he started to dig his keys out of his front pocket, he stumbled a little.

  “Whoa there, big fella. How about I take Crickett’s truck and drive all three of us? We’ll come get the bikes in the morning. It’ll be better if our bikes aren’t out front anyway.”

  Ryder pointed at me. “Damn, good thinking. Remind me to keep you around, brother.”

  “You couldn’t get rid of me if you fucking tried, man.” I slapped Ryder on the shoulder before turning to Red. “You drunk ass, you’re going to break your damn leg if you get too close to those stairs.” I made Red sit back down so I could get Sloan and head back. I was fucking tired, and it was time for the day to end.

  “Hey love, you ready to go?” I put my hand on the small of her back as her soft doe eyes locked onto mine.

  “Go? I thought we had to stay here.”

  I smirked and shook my head. “I got us a pass to play hooky.”

  Raine grabbed my hand. “How fucked up is my husband right now?”

  I laughed, putting my hand on her arm. “I am pretty sure he is pretty far gone. It’s time for you to take him to bed.”

  “Fuck, that’s what I thought.”

  Chapter 10

  Sloan

  As the days went on, I grew more and more attached to all the members of the club. Raine had turned into the best friend I had ever had—how fucking sad is that? I had only known her for a damn blink of an eye and she was my best friend. I couldn’t understand how it was so easy for me to be that comfortable with everyone as quickly as I was. Things like that shouldn’t happen—they didn’t happen. It felt like I was in some weird TV show.

  Trent had turned into an addiction. He was so soft and kind with me, something I had never known in past relationships. There was something so different about him, even in the way he looked at me. I knew fate existed every time he smiled at me. It was all too serendipitous, and I kept waiting for the other shoe to drop. I couldn’t let myself get too carried away; it had only been a few days for crying out loud.

  “Your week is up.” Trent sat on the end of the bed in the tiny back room of the shop. He was trying to wipe grease off his hands with an old rag with very little luck.

  I stood in front of him, rolling my fingertips up and down his shoulders. “Yeah, I know.”

  “Have you decided what you’re going to do?” His tone was somber.

  “I’m staying,” I whispered in his ear.

  “Holy fuck, seriously?” He leapt to his feet, picking me up and twirling me around.

  “Did you really think I wasn’t going to?” I smiled down at his jubilant grin wrapped up in his arms.

  “I didn’t want to assume. It was ultimately up to you, and I didn’t want to pressure you either way.” He rapid-fired kisses all over my cheeks and down my neck as I giggled. He took his dirty thumb and smeared a little bit of grease across my cheek.

  I narrowed my gaze at him. “What was that for?”

  “You’re marked as mine—now you can’t change your mind.”

  “I wouldn’t have it any other way.”

  He started to set me down. “I have to go finish the tune-up on Red’s bike before he rips me a new one.”

  I gripped his shirt as tight as I could. “Not yet.” I bit my lip.

  He stumbled backward, knocking into his riding leathers and some of the old cuts hanging on the closet door.

  “Don’t tempt me babe.” He growled in my ear.

  “I’m not tempting, I’m asking for it.” I licked his lower lip before biting it a bit.

  “As you wish, darlin’.” Trent’s fingers weaved into my hair, pulling my lips down to his. Right before they connected, he whispered, “You have no idea how happy you’ve made me.”

  He pressed my back against the wall. I let my head roll to the side, exposing my neck for him to sink his teeth down into. His hot breath sent chills down my arms.

  He grabbed his pocketknife and with one hand pressing my shoulder against the wall, he leaned back, repositioning me so he could get to the bottom of my tiny jean shorts.

  “Don’t move,” he instructed.

  Before I could protest, his finger looped through the bottom of my shorts and he cut the worn fabric. My pussy was drenched on the spot. He undid his jeans and let them fall to the floor, revealing his erection, exposed by his lack of boxers.

  Without warning, he thrust right into me, making me cry out from the gloriously painful pleasure that coursed through my entire body. I gripped the sides of his cut as he fucked me against the wall, harder and faster than he ever had before.

  “Holy shit, babe. You’re dripping.” He bit down hard on my shoulder as a deep moan emanated from the back of his throat.

  “Fuck, Tre!” I yelled.

  He threw his hand over my mouth. “There could be customers just outside this door.”

  “It’s too good. I have to—” I cried out again, barely able to think straight through the euphoria.

  “Babe, I can’t hold this in.” He continued to push as far into me as he could while his body shuddered around me.

  My climax came on strong, sending me into a state of delirium. I panted against his chest, barely able to move.

  “That was incredible.” He set me down on the bed.

  I fell back with a sigh, wrapping my arms around my body. “I have never had that good of an orgasm in my entire fucking life.”

  “Get used to them babe. They’ll only get better.” He shot me a quick wink before rummaging through my bag of clothes. He tossed me a pair of jeans. “Sorry for ruining your shorts.”

  “I’m not complaining. That was well worth it,” I mumbled, still lying motionless on the bed.

  “I’m gonna go finish this bike up, and then we have to head to Crickett’s for dinner.”

  “Right on time.” Crickett smiled as Trent and I walked through the door.

  Ryder and Raine were already sitting at the table.

  “Need a hand?” Trent asked Crickett, but she just shooed him away.

  “Grab a cold on and take a load off. After you clean up that grime a bit.” She threw a dish towel at him and he made his way into the powder room to wash up.

  “Sloan? What can I get to for you to drink?” Ryder started to head for the fridge.

  I shrugged. “Whatever you’re having.”

  He grabbed three beers and opened them for us and refilled Raine’s glass of lemonade.

  “Thanks, babe.” Raine smiled up at her husband.

  “I’m staying,” I blurted out as I slid into the chair next to Raine’s at Crickett’s kitchen table. I couldn’t contain my excitement.

  She shrilled, “Yes! Oh my fucking God, best news ever!” Raine started to bounce in her seat.

  I put my hand on her shoulder. “I don’t want your child to be born with shaken baby syndrome,” I teased.

  “What has you two so smiley?” Crickett asked while setting a giant bowl of mashed potatoes on the table in front of us.

  “Sloan decided to stick around. She’s not going to leave. How fucking amazing is that?” Raine’s excitement permeated the air.

  “It’s nice to see our little family growing.” Crickett put her hand on my shoulder, smiling down at me.

  Trent and Ryder joined us, taking seats around the table. Collin followed suit a few minutes later, covered head to two in dust and dirt.

  “How’d it go at the bar?” Ryder asked as Collin washed his hands in the sink.

  “We should be up and running within the next day or so,” Collin answered.

  “That is amazing news, son.” Crickett finally sat down next to her son. “Now eat! Don’t let this food get cold.”

  Chapter 11

  Trent

  A Few Weeks Later

  “Babe.” I took a fist full of Sloan’s long dark hair, pulling her to me in the middle of the empty shop.

  Her round eyes locked with mine. “Yes?”

  “On your knees,” I commanded.

  She did as I asked right away. I yanked off her tight tank top and bra together.

  “I’ve been thinking about this all damn day.”

  I pulled down my zipper, released my hard dick, and slapped the head right against her lips. “Open.”

  Holding the back of her head with both of my hands, I forced my cock as far into her mouth as I could. I held it there until she gagged.

  “Too much?” I asked, pulling out slowly.

  “Never.” She wrapped her luscious lips around the head, letting her tongue roll gently over it.

  I leaned against the bike behind me, pushing her head farther down again. My dick twitched every time I heard her choke on me. I loved the feeling of the back of her throat.

  “Look at me, darlin’.” I snarled.

  Her eyes snapped to mine. She gurgled and spit as I fucked her throat harder and harder with every thrust.

  Tears started to well up in the corners of her eyes, making her mascara and eyeliner run down her face. Fuck. Yes. That was it—my trigger. I pulled out of her mouth and shot hot come all over her milky tits.

  She stayed on her knees, smiling from ear to ear.

  “Holy hell, Trent. That was hot as fuck.” She wiped her mouth with the back of her hand as she climbed to her feet.

  I pulled my shirt off, cleaning her up the best I could. “I was thinking the exact same thing.”

  Her face twisted into a yawn.

  “Let’s get you to bed, sweetheart.” I grabbed her clothes from the floor, gripping them in one hand. I scooped her up into my arms and carried her off to the bedroom we had been sharing for the past month.