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I’m a member of the Devils Motorcycle Club and her family are the Angels. We’re supposed to be enemies, but if I’m being honest, we’ve been peacefully coexisting since the Angels started. And the hierarchy within our clubs is similar to a monarchy, the presidency passing to the oldest male son of the president. Problem with the Angels is they have no male heirs, so it passes to the husband of the eldest daughter. For the Angels, that is Julianna.
And my dear cousin Romeo? He’s the heir to the Devils. Hence the problem.
But Bella and I are just the cousins. Part of the court, so to speak.
“Why haven’t I seen you around before?” I ask, studying her through narrowed eyes. I would have remembered.
She shrugs and takes a sip of her margarita. “I work a lot and keep to myself. Plus we don’t usually hang out on the same side of town as the Devils MC.”
True. Vegas may seem small, but it’s a pretty big area.
“Where do you work?” I ask, tapping my ring-covered fingers on the bar.
“I’m a property manager.”
Of course she is. The Callistos are the masters of the local real estate industry, and own a lot of land and properties. They are never short on money.
“What about you?” she asks, giving me a once-over. “What do you do for the club?”
I wonder what she sees. Does she see the well-dressed, put-together guy, or the real man underneath?
The one with blood on his hands, and a dark soul.
After glancing down at my hands quickly, I look back up at her. “I’m Romeo’s right-hand man” is all I say, smiling to distract her and then changing the subject. “Can I get you another drink, or something to eat?”
“I’m okay for now, thank you,” she replies, licking the salt from her lips. “So you’re the Devils version of Victor?”
I’m the Devils MC enforcer. I do whatever I need to. I’m not afraid to get my hands dirty, and most of the time I’d rather it be me than anyone else.
Why?
The shit that affects other people doesn’t affect me. I don’t lose sleep over what I’ve had to do to earn my place in the club.
And I’ve heard about Victor, the man that’s rumored to be taking over the Angels MC by marrying Julianna. He’s not the man I’d want my future daughter marrying, that’s for sure.
I laugh. “No, Bella. I am nothing like Victor.”
She leans forward and smiles, then mouths the word Good.
Unable to stop myself, I lift my fingers to touch her cheek. “Do you want to get out of here?”
She arches her brow. “What have you got in mind?”
“I don’t know. Let’s go on an adventure. And don’t worry, I will get you home safely. You can trust me.”
I stand up and offer her my hand. She hesitates but takes it, and I lead her out of the bar and onto the back of my bike. It’s not lost on me that she’s the first woman I’ve ever let ride on the back of my bike, besides my sister. If my brother, Matthew, were here right now, he’d be giving me a lot of shit about it.
As we ride away, I feel a rush of adrenaline, and it has nothing to do with riding. Usually riding brings me a level of freedom that I can’t get anywhere else. It’s my church. It’s where I exorcise my demons and repent for my sins. But with Bella’s arms around me, it’s a whole new experience.
She holds on to my leather jacket, and there is so much I want to know about her. But it’s followed by a pang of sympathy. There’s nothing good that I could give her or bring to her world.
I’m pain and torture and darkness. I can’t show her that part of me. But I’m selfish enough to continue on.
I take her to my favorite place. It’s a quiet hidden spot outside Vegas, near Lake Mead, with a stunning view. It’s dark outside, but the moon on the lake gives us enough light to see where we are.
As I remove my jacket, then shirt, and start to undo my pants, her jaw drops open. “You’re going in?”
I grin, flashing my teeth at her. “Yes, it’s good for you. People do those ice baths all the time now—a little cold water isn’t going to do anything.”
