Page 2 of Changed Biker Daddy

If it were up to me, the women would have been forced to stay at the compound, and they would stay out of trouble and out of the way. Being allowed to run businesses and run around the way Chase allowed them to only made them a nuisance, and I hated how they seemed to always get in the way. Now that they had gained unwanted attention, maybe Chase would finally listen to my suggestions regarding dealing with the women.

As we pulled up to the bookstore, I looked around at the tiny shop, wondering why anyone would bother with them in the first place. While I could agree with the fact that the bookstore seemed like an easy target, the shop didn’t even look profitable enough to be worth the trouble. In all honesty, it always seemed as though it actually lost more money than they took in regardless. The people who had been dumb enough to target the bookstore were just wasting their time regardless of it all.

The bell jingled over my head as I opened the door, and I saw exactly what Chase had explained to us. About three or four men, all dressed in baggy clothing that seemed customary for the small color gangs. They wandered around the shop, looking lost and clueless as they walked around the shop, indicating that they were about as literate as they were smart about choosing such a pointless business in order to get some quick cash. The leader, a short, tan man with shaggy black hair turned to look at us as we entered the shop.

“Shop’s closed,” he grumbled, staring at me as he spoke. “Get the hell out of here and get lost.” Laughing, I shook my head at the tiny man.

“Is that any way to talk to the owner of this shop?” I asked, bluffing in order to protect the woman in the back as well as the woman who had asked Chase to let her open this shop. Immediately, the man threw back his head and laughed.

“You own this shop?” he asked, annoying me with the way his laughter mocked me as he spoke. “Right… Then I’m the president of the local book club.” Smiling politely at him, I chuckled.

“If that’s the case, then I suppose you could have been a bit kinder to my employee,” I commented, and I saw the color drain from his face. “Now, what’s this I hear about you wanting to talk to me?” Rather than responding, the man looked around at the other men around him, looking for backup.

As I had expected, the other men that had arrived with the quivering, pitiful excuse of a man before me were otherwise occupied with the other men I had arrived with. Eric and the others in my crew were towering over the other men, terrifying them as they stood there throughout the rest of the shop, and, as I had hoped, the opposing forces were more focused on my crew than their leader. Seeing the hopeless look wash over the man’s face, I couldn’t help but smile.

“I’m waiting,” I reminded him, crossing my arms across my chest as I stared at him. “What was so important that you had to threaten my employee in order to get my attention?” Seeming to drop the tough guy attitude, the man shook his head.

“Oh, that?” he asked, taking on a different tone as he forced a nervous smile at me as he spoke. “That was just a misunderstanding. I never actually threatened her. I was just saying that it was important we talk to you. We wanted to see what kind of… Um… Um…” The man’s confidence had shrunk completely, and he wasn’t even a husk of the man who had tried to turn me away when I arrived at the shop. “You know what? It’s not important. I assume that you have a lot of work to do.” I scoffed as I rolled my eyes at the man.

“I see,” I breathed as I leaned closer, staring the terrified man down as I chuckled at how pitiful he was. “Well, I suggest you tell your friends and anyone else who might be curious about this shop and their affiliation with the community is strictly confidential, and I don’t appreciate anyone joking with my staff the way you did.” He started to protest, but, when I held my hand up, motioning for him to keep silent, his mouth clamped shut. “Now, I suggest you get the hell out of here and never bother coming back.” Immediately, the man nodded in response, and he took off towards the door of the shop.

As soon as they saw their leader racing for the door, the other men followed his example, seeming eager to get out of the shop and away from the other members of my patrol group. As they made their hasty escape, I couldn’t help but chuckle at the way the other men laughed and joked about the way they escaped the shop. As soon as they were done, I turned towards the back room, where I knew the woman was hiding.

“You mind telling Chase I got this taken care of?” I called out as I looked for the woman. Before I could continue, she popped her head out and smiled at me despite the fearful look on her gentle, naive face.

“I will,” she said as she stared up at me. “Thank you.”

CHAPTER THREE

Kiera

Now that everything was over, I was still frightened and in shock even as I stood there before the man who had been sent by Chase to save me. Of course, I recognized him from the compound, but that wasn’t why I was afraid. I was afraid because that was Bradley, one of the meanest men on the compound.

All the women at the compound preferred to keep their distance, and it was for a good reason. Bradley was a jerk who constantly fought with the other men on the compound, and he was known to mistreat the women on the compound when they got too close. In fact, he had recently tried challenging Scott for Amanda, the newest arrival to the group, and Chase and Adam warned that, if he misbehaved any more, he would be out of the group. Knowing that he was on a thin line with Chase meant that every woman at the compound preferred to keep their distance regardless.

Bradley was a tall, strong man, just like every other man on the compound, but, with his red hair and green eyes, he stood out from the other men. Everyone called him either “Carrot Top” or “Fire Head,” and he hated it. His temper flared as much as his hair, and that’s what got him in trouble more often than not.

As scared as I was of him, even I had to admit that he was a fine specimen of a man. If he didn’t frighten me so badly, I might have considered dating him if he ever asked. He looked as though he could have snapped me in half with as much ease as he could have beaten Miguel. Smirking down at me, he raised an eyebrow at me.

“Are you alright?” he asked, a hint of teasing in his voice as he spoke. “There’s no reason to be afraid any longer. Those men are gone, and I highly doubt they’ll be returning any time soon.” As frightened as I was, I knew I had to say something. Mustering my courage, I smiled as I held my head higher in the air.

“I’m fine, all thanks to you,” I reassured him, trying not to let my fear show anymore. If there was anything that drew his attention to someone, it was fear. “Thank you so much for coming to my rescue.” Seeming satisfied by my statement, he chuckled and stretched, showing off his massive muscles.

“All in a day’s work, my friend,” he said, his voice both vain and annoyingly pompous as he spoke. Looking me up and down, his eyes seemed to undress me as he stared at me. “There's usually no need for thank you’s, but, since you seem to be offering…” Before he could finish his statement, Eric stepped up and cut him off.

“I think it would be safer for you to head back to the compound,” he informed me as he stepped between Bradley and I. “We might have scared them off for now, but I think it would be safer to get you to the compound in case they decide to come back.” Bradley colored in annoyance as he stared at Eric, but Eric didn’t seem to notice. “You want me to give you a ride?” Deciding that, since Eric had Beth, he was the safest option out of all the men, I nodded and gave him a gentle smile.

“Yes, please,” I answered, thankful to get away from Bradley and the strange glint in his eyes as he watched me. “Thank you so much, Eric.” Eric nodded as he looked back at Bradley, who seemed to be annoyed at the fact that Eric had interrupted him.

“I’ll take her on my motorcycle to the compound,” he volunteered, not giving Bradley a chance to protest as he spoke. “I’ll fill Chase in on everything and be back as soon as I can. I would expect a call from Chase soon in order to tell you what to do from this point.” As much as Bradley looked as though he wanted to tell Eric off, I already knew that he wouldn’t.

Eric was Nathan’s right hand man, and Nathan had been Daniel’s right hand man long before he died a few years ago. Even though Nathan and his men had spent so much time away from the rest of the group, all of them were considered higher ranked than most people who had stayed at the compound after Daniel’s death. This also meant that Chase valued their opinions the most out of everyone.

I had only been with the group since Daniel died, having been sold to Chase and the group to pay for my parents’ debt after Daniel died. Thankfully, I was only seventeen at the time, so Chase ordered that no one was allowed to hurt me. Instead, I was allowed to stay in the kitchens with Rebecca, tending to the physical needs of the other members in more dignified ways than some of the women. When Joyce betrayed us, Chase gave me the chance to leave, but I chose to stay, having made friends with Rebecca and Sarah.

Bradley stared Eric down, looking as though he wanted to challenge Eric’s suggestion and take over the situation. However, Eric didn’t budge as he stared back at Bradley, waiting for Bradley to challenge him. After several minutes, Bradley gave up and nodded in response as he stepped to the side.

“The boys and I will watch over the shop until we receive orders from Chase,” he agreed before looking at me, the expression on his face changing to make it seem as though he was looking at a red stain on a white carpet than a woman he had been paying attention to before. “Are you sure that it’s wise to waste time and take her to the compound? Chase may have her come right back.” Rather than rising to the bait, Eric shook his head calmly at Bradley.