Page 11 of Coveted By Cupid

One of the Mercy Ravens, a big dude with a mean-looking mug, watches our exchange. His scowl deepens the more he hears.

“This isn’t the time to get smart,” I holler back, trying to remain calm and not frighten her. I have not yet interacted with this MC and I don’t want my first time to involve this woman possibly being in harm’s way. “Come here.”

She shakes her head stubbornly. “No. Go away.”

Goddamnit!

The big biker narrows his eyes, turning to look at Vanessa. “Do you know this guy?”

“No!” she says, cocking an attitude. “He followed me all the way from Loveland. I’m just trying to get home.”

The entire crew faces me, ready to go to blows.

“Go straight home,” the big biker tells her. “We’ll make sure he doesn’t follow you.”

Vanessa pauses, looking between me and them, as if she’s finally picking up on the tension. “You will not hurt him, will you?”

My lips curl at the corners of my mouth, hearing the concern in her voice for me.

“Do you want us to?” he asks, deadpan.

“NO!” she blurts. “Look. He did nothing but follow me. I don’t want him or anyone else getting hurt over me.”

Awww. My bratty baddie actually cares about me, too. Makes me want to puff out my chest with pride, having this woman defend me.

“Vanessa,” I say, grabbing her attention immediately.

Her brow creases. “How do you know my⁠—”

“It’s okay,” I say gently, cutting her off. “Go home.”

The sooner she’s out of here, the sooner she’s away from the danger. Yet, these Mercy Ravens don’t seem to pose any danger—for her. They appear to be concerned about her well-being.

On the other hand, they want me gone.

Vanessa takes one last look between all of us bikers before riding out. She glances over her shoulder once at me, like she wants to make sure I’m okay.

Who would have guessed the piss and vinegar brat I was chasing actually has a soft side? Makes me like her all the more.

With Vanessa gone, the bikers turn their attention toward me.

The big one with the mean mug sneers at me. “You dare to come into our city, chasing one of our residents, and have the nerve to pull this shit in front of me and my crew?”

His crew? Ah, this must be their president—I believe his name is Atlas, if my memory serves me correctly.

“I wouldn’t call it chasing. More like I was escorting her home,” I say evenly, attempting to deescalate the situation, considering I’m outnumbered. “She took my help the wrong way.”

“The wrong way,” Atlas parrots, not buying a word I’m saying. “Well, let me show you the right way out of town.”

“No need,” I say, reading between the lines. “I’ll see myself out.”

I rev my engine, circling my bike around, and cruise in the opposite direction from where Vanessa went. It will only be a matter of time before I return, and I’m not leaving until I find her again.

CHAPTER FOUR

CUPID

Alittle over thirty minutes later, I’m back in Loveland, rolling up in front of Whiskey Wheelers—the bar I own and our club runs. When setting up our new chapter in this town, I decided we needed a front to hide our more seedy operations. A bar seemed like the easiest and fastest way to grow a legitimate business in a tourist hotspot.