Priest looked at him. King shook his head again, mouth pressed tight.

  Nate came bounding down the stairs, and King showed him where the money was. Nate’s eyes grew huge.

  “I can eat forever on that!”

  King kneeled down to be eye to eye with his grandson. “You can always tell me when you need help. You know that, right?”

  “I do.” Nate gave him a big hug.

  “Who the fuck is Ms. Claire? When did you start tutoring, nephew of mine?” Priest asked Nate, looking through his back pack. “You guys get such cool stuff now, you know that? I never got to have this type of cool stuff when I was little.”

  “You shouldn’t say that word,” Nate said to Priest, giggling.

  “I need to get him to school, man,” King said distractedly, looking for his keys.

  Later, as King pulled up to the drop-off area at the school, he asked, “Do I need to talk to anyone about your account?”

  “Nah. I’ll let my teacher know I have money. She will let me go down to the cafeteria with it to give to the lunch ladies.”

  “All right, bud. I love you. Have a good day.” King reached over, smoothing Nate’s hair back from his forehead.

  “Love you too,” Nate replied as he got out of the truck. Stopping, he peered back at King. “Do you know where my mom is?”

  “I haven’t heard anything. I’m sorry. You okay, little man? You don’t have to go to school if you’re worried.”

  Nate shut the door and leaned through the window. “I’ll be okay, Grampa. She’s probably with some guy.”

  King let out a long breath. Shit is fucked.

  Chapter 4

  On the way to the clubhouse, King received a call. There was a fire in progress nearby, and as fire marshal for Myrtle Beach he needed to head over. Flicking on the emergency lights, he headed to the area of the fire. As he pulled up to the dwelling, he could tell the damage was significant. Getting out of his truck, he made sure the area was secured from bystanders, and checked if there were any injured. He noticed a family of four standing with the captain. One of his club brothers, Andrew “Romeo” Taylor, a paramedic and nurse, had just arrived. Romeo quickly gathered his bag and made his way over to the family. Knowing they were in good hands, King continued to the house—or rather what was left of it. Frowning, he stood back as the crew worked to put out the remaining hot spots. He knew they would have to pull down the ceilings and cover everything with water.

  King turned to see the family was finished with Romeo. The mother and father were now standing with a woman who looked familiar. On the way over he stopped at the ambulance first.

  “Brother,” he said to Romeo with an arm grip.

  His club brother responded, “Prez, not a good scene, man.”

  King peered over at the family. “They all right?”

  Romeo nodded, still observing the family. “Yeah. They were lucky. The smoke detector woke them. They got out and dialed 911.”

  King looked over at them again. Then it hit him.

  “Ms. Claire,” he murmured and frowned.

  “You know her?” Romeo asked.

  “Yeah. She’s Nate’s reading tutor.”

  “When did he start that?”

  “This school year. It’s made a world of difference. You seen Jade lately?

  Romeo snorted. “No. Why?”

  “She never picked up Nate from tutoring yesterday.”

  Romeo stepped back, tilting his head. “The fuck you say?”

  “Can’t find her. She isn’t returning phone calls.”

  “Prez, what are you…. Have you contacted Baron?”

  “And tell him what? He’s halfway across the world. He doesn’t need that on him. I’ve got Big Easy working on it.” Sighing, he rubbed his eyes and shook his head. “Catch you later, man.”

  “Later, Prez.”

  King made his way over to the family and Claire. He let the family know what the next steps would be and provided them his card. Claire asked them if they had a place to stay; they assured her they did. She gave each of them a hug and reminded them to contact her if they needed anything, as well providing them with her contact information and number for the Red Cross.

  King walked with Claire toward her car. “I feel silly calling you Ms. Claire. May I call you Claire or…?” he asked.

  “Claire is fine,” she responded.

  “So, Claire. Tutor, Red Cross, anything else you volunteer at?”

  “I may add some other worthy work. I’m newly moved here, so hard to say.” She smiled. “How is Nate?”

  “Good. We haven’t located Jade. He’ll be staying with me until we do.”

  Claire nodded, keeping her opinion of Jade to herself for which he was thankful. It had no place here. “Do you think you will need to file a missing person’s report?”

  King paused and looked at the ground. Making an internal decision, he looked back up at her with a feeling he could trust this woman as his grandson so clearly did.

  “I don’t think she’s missing. She has never taken to motherhood. She prefers to run around like she’s single since Baron—my son—isn’t here.” He lifted his head to face her. “Thank you for everything you’ve done for Nate. And I do mean everything. He told me about the sandwiches. If I had known….” He shook his head again. “It won’t be a problem any longer. He has money on his account, and I’ll keep track of that personally until Baron gets back.

  Claire smiled kindly at him. “I didn’t mind at all. In fact, I’m happy to. Cooking for one is not all it’s cracked up to be. I always make too much.”

  King huffed a laugh. “Yeah. I know what you mean. Claire, again, thank you for everything. If you ever need anything, all you have to do is ask. You are now a friend to the club.”

  Claire smiled and thanked him, then added, “I’m not really sure what ‘a friend to the club’ means? Don’t get me wrong. I’m happy to have made your acquaintance. Being new to town can be a lonely thing.”

  King pulled out his phone. “You have my number from before?”

  “Yep,” she replied and gave him her number.

  “Feel free to use it, anytime.”

  She grinned and asked, “How should I list you?”

  King tilted his head with a questioning look.

  “As Killian or as King?”

  He nodded in understanding. “King.”

  She smiled and then said, “Oh! I think one of your guys lives in my neighborhood.”

  “My guys? You mean someone from the club?”

  She nodded. “He wears a black vest like yours and has a bike. I believe he has a wife and daughter? He’s really big and has long hair?”

  King gave her an expectant look, waiting for more from her, smiling at her struggle.

  She paused and then laughed. “I guess you might have more than one person that fits that description?”

  He nodded with a smirk.

  “Okay… well… let me see,” she said, finger tapping her lip.

  “I think I might be able to narrow it down. Where do you live?” he asked.

  “The Sandy Dunes community.”

  “Ah, that would be Vicious.”

  She stepped back. “His name is Vicious?” she whispered.

  He watched her swallow and face pale. “Darling,” he said and put his hands on her arms. “He’s named that because of the dogs he works with. He’s a good man and has a gift. He trains dogs no one wants to for therapy and service as well as teach obedience classes. He’s also married with a young daughter.”

  She took a deep breath and nodded.

  “We are not the one-percenters. We are a club of veterans and first responders.” He explained the club’s mission. “Now that that’s settled, I have to go. Paperwork is on my schedule today. It was nice talking to you, Claire, and please call me if you need anything.”

  He turned and headed back to his truck. Once inside, he heard a throaty rumble from the street and saw a black Camaro driving by with Claire waving at him from the driver’s seat.

  “Huh,” he said, waving back at her.

  Chapter 5

  A few weeks later, school ended. King contacted Claire and discussed the possibly of tutoring some of the club’s kids a few days a week. Claire happily agreed and was pleased that King was giving her this chance. It really meant a lot to her, as well as giving her the opportunity to meet so many people—something that had been challenging to do since moving her life here.

  The small group had doubled over the past two weeks, much to her surprise. She was pleased that the parents wanted their children to receive additional help over the summer instead of sitting home watching TV or playing video games. Her opinion of King grew. His leadership of the club went further than she first thought; he cared about the families as well.

  She was laughing at something one of the children said when the clubhouse door opened, letting in the morning light. Claire and the children stopped what they were doing and turned to look.

  A tall man with broad shoulders walked in; he moved like a big cat in the wild. He had unruly black curls that reached his collar, pulled back from his face by sunglasses perched on top of his head. His eyes were golden, not a light brown or even hazel but gold, like whiskey. His trimmed beard with a little white going through it revealed straight white teeth as he smiled.

  “Uncle Declan!” Nate yelled.

  Nate ran to him. Declan hauled him up, hugging him.

  “How have you been, little man?” he asked, grinning as Nate animatedly told him of the latest news in his world. Declan looked over to the group, his eyes landing on Claire. “Who are you?” he asked bluntly.

  Claire began to answer him when Nate piped in, “That’s Ms. Claire. Remember, at Grampa’s you kept asking, who the f-word is Claire? She’s really nice.”

  Declan eyed her; the look on his face was completely feral. The side of his mouth pulled back into a grin.

  Claire sucked in her breath and pulled her button-down shirt-dress further down her legs and turned her focus back to the children. She walked around observing their work and provided praise. When Nate returned to his seat, Claire looked up to see Declan making his way to King’s office. Claire felt a shiver, then shook her head to clear her thoughts.

  ***

  King looked up and set his pen down. “Brother.” He stood up and gave Priest a back-slapping hug. “What brings you around this time of day?” He went back to his desk and sat down.

  “Since when are we a daycare?” Priest asked him.

  “I asked Claire to come and tutor some of the club kids. There’s nothing wrong with the kids getting tutoring and help with homework they might have from summer school. Hell, some of the kids are getting a jump start on skills they need to start school in the fall. Nothing wrong with it.” He sat back and waited. He knew the man well. Not only was he a club brother, he was blood.

  “She belong to somebody? She claimed?” Priest asked.

  “No,” King answered.

  “A woman that looks like that? Not claimed? What were you thinking? She is trouble, plain and simple.”

  “Trouble? How so?”

  “Looking like that? All prim and proper? You know how the boys will be. They’ll eat her alive.”

  “She isn’t here for club events or at night. Anyone asks, she is a friend of mine and of Vicious. She is also a friend of the club.”

  At this, Priest stopped pacing. “What did you say?”

  “She’s the reason I know Jade took off. Claire had Nate in after-school tutoring, and was the one to contact me when Jade didn’t show up. Nate’s been with me ever since you stopped by. The boy’s made immense improvements in school because he now has some consistency in his life. And anyway, just two weeks ago you were at my house asking us who the fuck is Claire. Idiot. End of discussion.”

  Priest sat in a chair in front of the desk. “How bad?”

  The subject of Claire aside, Priest wanted to know what was going on with Nate and Jade.

  “Bad enough, brother. If we are lucky, she won’t ever be back. I hope she skipped town for good this time. It will kill Baron, but she is poison for him and Nate.”

  Priest nodded, losing himself in thought, then repeated, “She’s trouble, brother.”

  The Claire subject was back on the table.

  King smiled. “Thank Christ I’ve learned over the years how to keep up with the way you think. Trouble for who?”

  “You fucking her?”

  King’s eyes went cold, his voice like ice. “You want to ask me that again?”

  “So, you are.”

  King exhaled a long breath, rubbing his hand over his face, allowing Priest this defiance. “No, there is nothing between us. We’re friends. That’s it.”

  “You want more?’

  King shook his head, never taking his eyes off Priest’s.

  Priest nodded at him, thoughts obviously being contemplated, rejected or thrown away. He then turned to see the man who’d been sitting quietly in the room during the whole exchange.

  “Ranger.”

  “Priest.”

  Priest sat back down beside his friend, held out his hand in greeting.

  “What do you think?”

  “About?” Ranger asked in his quiet Texas drawl.

  “Fuck you. You know what I am asking you.”

  “Sounds like you have a few things on your mind,” Ranger replied, a grin on his face.

  “Your loss, then.”

  “Maybe.” Ranger shrugged.

  “What does that mean? What aren’t you saying? You just got back in town like two nights ago. There is no way you’ve had a chance with her yet.”

  “Maybe not,” Ranger agreed.

  “Fucker,” Priest mumbled, getting up.

  King watched their exchange, then ordered, “Don’t leave yet.”

  “What now?” Priest asked, looking longingly at the door.

  “Ranger has news from the NC chapter. It’s not good. We were right. Drugs.”

  Priest looked at him in disbelief, shook his head and scowled. “What’s the plan?”

  “Hopefully, we will get this taken care of and cleared before that club and possibly all the clubs get a reputation.”

  “Honestly, I think it’s too late for that,” Ranger informed them. “Not sure if it’s internal or just a few who are skimming. They have local cops involved.”

  “Son of a bitch!” King roared. “This is not what we are about. We protect our own but not like this. No drugs, no prostitution, no gun trafficking. They know this.” King paused. His thoughts were running deep. He knew they would have to move on this. “Are the cops involved looking to bust them up or looking for a way to keep the drugs running?” he asked Ranger.

  Ranger pondered this. “Possibly both.”

  Chapter 6

  Fuuuuck, Priest thought to himself, as he walked out of King’s office.

  The kids were off doing their own thing while Claire put items back into a tote. He stared at her, his artist’s eye taking in her form. Long, dark brown hair pulled into a ponytail, tanned skin against her white dress accentuating her breasts and ass. Her hips were full. He groaned inwardly when she leaned over the table to reach for a runaway pencil. Priest looked over to see the prospect, Pretty, who was manning the bar, was also watching her.

  Son of a bitch.

  Priest walked up to the bar and smacked his hand on the top of it, making both the prospect and her jump. He watched her in the mirror as she whirled around, gripping the table behind her. The prospect paled as Priest stared at him.

  “Well?”

  “Right up! Here you go, Priest!” Pretty said as he hurriedly poured a whiskey and got out a bottle of beer, uncapping it. He slid both over.

  By now Priest had turned around and was watching Claire again. He slammed the shot, then picked up the beer, downing it quickly, never taking his eyes off her. She went back to packing.

  “Not bad,” a voice murmured from beside him. He turned to see his friend Ranger seated at the bar. It was well-known that since Ranger had joined the club, he and Priest often shared women. What was not known was that on one occasion, in a fetish club in Georgia, they had been intimate. Not as far as sex, but far enough.

  “Trouble is what she is.”

  “Believe that’s just your type, isn’t it?”

  “More like our type, lately,” Priest mumbled, looking over at Ranger, who was looking over his shoulder at Claire.

  “Is that where your mind is?” Ranger asked.

  “My mind is all over the place on this one.”

  Ranger smirked and shook his head. “Better have it on right with this one. She ain’t club trash. Not a hang-around.”

  “You just got here. How the hell do you know that?”

  “I’m not blind, you dick.”

  “When are you heading back to NC? Has your job here in MB started yet?”

  “Trying to get rid of me? So soon?”

  “Fuck you. Just answer the damn question.”

  They both shared a heated look. Ranger blinked and blew out a slow breath.

  “I got a few weeks before I start here with the MB PD. Also, not heading back to Georgia until this shit with the NC chapter is cleared up. And… she’s leaving.”

  “What?” Priest looked at him, confused.

  Ranger jerked his chin to the mirror. Priest saw that Claire was picking up the tote, getting ready to leave. Hopping off the bar stool, he made his way over to her.

  “Let me take that for you, Trouble.”