Page 64 of Shadowed Obsession

Chapter 13

Liza

Sitting at the bar watching Charlie work her magic with the big, bad biker boys of the Aces High MC was something special to witness. She had them eating out of her hand and laughing as she poured more beer and whiskey than anyone should ever consume. She was entertaining me, because when I woke this morning Tango was nowhere to be found. I wasn’t sure where he’d gone, or when, since I didn’t even register him coming back into the room last night. Once he left me all turned on to go see what Iceman wanted, I helped myself out and then fell off to sleep. It took me a couple hours to even come out of the room to look for anyone, because I was still leery about wandering around the compound – or whatever they called this massive place – on my own. The need for food was what finally broke my resolve and drove me down to the bar where I met Charlie.

When the door opened and Charlie stilled while all the men around us jumped up, I knew something strange was going on. “What’s happening? I asked as Charlie turned and shrugged before the man who I’d come to realize was like a surrogate father to her got up an went to greet the newcomers.

“Well, well, well, looks like the south is invading us, boys,” Shameless called out good-naturedly as he moved in to hug the first man in the lineup. The man in question had to be equal in height to Tango, at about six feet four inches, but that was where the similarities ended. This new man had silver hair and his well trimmed beard matched though it was interspersed with darker hairs too. His blue eyes were large, yet watchful. He was probably mid-to-late forties, but still fit as any of the younger men there.

“We had to come show you how it’s done, Shameless!” The man drawled in what I was certain was an exaggerated southern accent.

“Who did you bring along?” Before anyone could answer Shameless let out a surprised hoot of excitement. “Shit! This your boy? Damn, man, it has been a minute since I last saw you. Toby’s all grown up now.” The silver-haired man grinned with pride over at the younger version of himself as he slid to the side a bit, inadvertently giving me a better view.

“All grown up, and no need to be jealous, either. I’m sure there’s plenty of pussy to go around for you old dudes,” Toby stated before eyeing his dad. “You’re not included in that.”

The man scowled at his son. “Of course I’m not. Not a bitch alive on this planet that compare to your momma.” The son nodded at his father, obviously liking that statement. My attention was pulled elsewhere though as a sturdy mountain of a man came ambling over to me at the bar.

“Hey there, honey. You don’t look like the normal club fair they serve up around here.” His statement gave me pause, and the leering look he sent my way did as well. I cringed and slipped backwards, almost falling off the stool I’d been perched on. As I caught myself I managed to knock over the stool beside me thanks to my shaking hands. “Whoa, there little mouse,” he called out, gentling his tone a bit as he threw his hands up in the air to show he meant no harm.

Warmth at my back and the familiar smell of Tango’s intoxicating leather and spice combination worked to put me a little more at ease and calm my nerves. “Shit, she the house mouse your boys picked up?” The man asked.

Tango growled low in his throat causing the vibrations to rumble through his chest and into my back. “She’s no mouse, and she sure as fuck ain’t a BRAT either. Hands off, Val.”

Val’s eyes went wide at that. “Well, hell, didn’t realize you’d gotten yourself an old lady.” I started to protest, but Tango’s words cut me off.

“Not yet, but she’s mine just the same.” As Tango spoke, I reached out to grab my sweatshirt off the bar where I’d placed it when I came down. I didn’t like wearing it down here, because they usually kept it pretty warm in the place. Unfortunately, I also didn’t like showing off my scars so I was often in a conundrum as to what to do. Either way meant I was uncomfortable. When I went to grab my sweatshirt Val’s eyes tracked the movement and he reached out faster than a serpent striking prey to grab my hand.

“Son of a…” he hissed through his teeth as he took a better look at my forearm, marked as it was. “Someone is going to pay for this!” He demanded, and I didn’t understand the venom behind his words until Tango gentled my hand away from the man.

“Random will pay for that, and the other one,” Tango told him causing the man to glance down at my other arm that I quickly hid behind my back.

“You have nothing to worry about from me, girl.” Val turned and walked away. I wasn’t sure if I’d offended him, but honestly I didn’t care. Strange men, especially those wearing kuttes, still put me on edge. It was a response I couldn’t help.

“It’s okay, none of these guys would ever hurt you, Liza.”

“I know that you know all of them, and you think that, but I can’t help…” He pulled me close to him, and turned me so that my head was resting on his chest while his arms locked around me protectively.

“I know. I understand, and so do they. You’re fine. We’re here for you, and before long you’ll understand that this world is different from the one you were trapped in all those years ago. It’s not the same. The people aren’t the same. I promise, no harm will come to you here or at any of our chapters.”

I nodded against his chest. I knew that the men I had met here were nothing like the King’s Demons. There was no denying that. Still, I worked to even out my breathing and calm my racing heart. Another man walked up then who had a President patch on the front of his kutte above his name, Crusher.

“You must be Liza?”

Again, I nodded my head, but I also scooted out of Tango’s embrace while keeping him securely at my back, because I couldn’t do without the safety his presence provided me. “I am.”

“Good to meet you, I’m the President of the Tallahassee Chapter, and that idiot who just made you uncomfortable is my VP, Val. I promise, he meant no harm.” The man glanced over at Val who was having a somewhat heated discussion with Shameless. “I can assure you he feels angered with himself that he approached you that way. Val has a soft spot for women who have been taken against their will. One of his friends was also held captive for a while. She’s doing better now, but I would lay down odds that Val’s giving Shameless a heap of shit right now for not pointing you out immediately.”

I offered a weak smile then. “I hope not. Shameless has been wonderful to me.”

Crusher glanced over at Charlie behind the bar and then to Shameless. “I bet he has. He seems to be collecting surrogate daughters lately.”

I turned to see Charlie blushing just a bit and smiling over at the man in question. “I better go talk Val down from berating himself too badly.”

“Please, tell him it’s nothing personal, I just…” I started to explain myself, but Crusher cut me off.

“No need to tell us. We know. Val just forgot himself, and who might be here, that’s all. He’ll get over it.” With that the man walked off to go assuage his friend’s ego.

“I told you they’re all good guys, even the ones who seem a little more rough around the edges.”