Page 6 of Atlas (The Chaos Demons MC #6)

Atlas

I wake up to the smell of burnt toast and cheap coffee drifting through the thin walls.

Light filters in through the grimy curtain, casting a weird yellow hue across the room.

Kasey’s already up, sitting cross-legged on her bed, scrolling her phone like she didn’t just spend the night in a damp room with a stranger.

“You sleep?” I ask, rubbing a hand over my face.

She shrugs. “Enough. You snore.”

“You hungry?” I ask, standing and stretching. My spine cracks like a firework.

“Yeah. But if this place serves real tomatoes over tinned, I’m out.”

We head down to the dining room. The wallpaper’s peeling and the chairs wobble when we sit, but the coffee’s strong and the toast looks edible. Kasey stabs at her breakfast with her fork like it insulted her.

“Where’re we going today?” she asks, not looking up.

“Clubhouse. Straight through.”

“And then what?” Her tone’s light, but her grip on the fork tightens.

“You stay under protection until your sister figures out what’s next. That’s all I know.”

She nods slowly. “You always do what you’re told?”

“No,” I say, sipping my coffee. “But this time, yeah.”

She chews in silence, then glances over at me. “My dad used to be in some crew. Nothing official. Small-time. Then he got into the harder shit. Smack. Trafficking. All of it.”

I watch her closely, letting her speak at her pace. “He used to lock me in my room when he had ‘visitors.’ Told me if I came out, I’d end up like my mum.”

I clench my jaw. “Where’s he now?”

“Don’t know. Don’t care. But someone’s been asking for me, someone he knows. Saying I stole from them. I didn’t. I swear.”

“I believe you,” I say, and mean it.

She picks at the crust of her toast, not meeting my eyes. “You know, I didn’t think anyone would actually come. When my sister said she was sending someone, I thought maybe she was just trying to make me feel better.”

“She did more than that. She sent me .”

Kasey finally looks at me. “And you’re the best of the best?”

I grin. “Do I need to be?”

She nods. “Maybe. If they find me.”

“Then I’m the best of the best. No one’s gonna get to you whilst you’re under the Chaos Demons.”

She gives a satisfied nod. “You’re lucky, Atlas,” she says, pushing to her feet. “I like you. There’re not many men I like or trust.”

“What makes me different?” I ask, chucking some cash down on the table. She eyes it, glancing around to see where the waitress is. I grab her wrist just as she’s about to take it. “Don’t even think about it,” I warn. “If you trust me, then know you don’t have to steal anymore, kid. I’ve got you.”

She grins. “Kid?” she repeats, following me outside. “Interesting choice of words when you’ve spent half the time trying to avoid looking at my tits.”

I keep my eyes fixed forward as she rushes to walk beside me. “You don’t have to do that anymore either,” I add.

“What am I doing?”

“Using sex to distract me from seeing you.”

“I didn’t mention sex,” she says, hooking her arm through mine. “But if you wanna go there, we don’t need to check out until three.”

“Does all that usually work?” I ask.

“Are you asking if men usually fall at my feet?”

“I’m asking if you offer yourself so openly just to get out of embarrassing situations.”

She unhooks her arm. “I wasn’t embarrassed you called me out for wanting to take the money,” she snaps defensively. “That waitress wouldn’t have given two shits.”

I stop, turning to face her. “You think?” I ask. “And what about the tenner tip I threw on top that’s rightfully hers?”

“I doubt she’d miss it.”

I scoff. “Cos she wants to work in a greasy spoon for minimum wage, on her feet all day, just so you can come along and rip her off.”

“Relax, I didn’t even take it,” she hisses.

“A word of warning before we get back to the clubhouse—don’t bite the hand that feeds you.”

“You sure you don’t have kids, cos you’re acting like a dad right now.”

I drop the keys in the checkout box and head for the bike with Kasey hot on my tail. “Maybe if you had someone act like a dad before now, you wouldn’t be stealing money off tables.” I throw my leg over and hold out a helmet for her.

She takes it with a smirk. “Can I call you daddy?”

I shake my head in irritation. “Get on the damn bike.”

The engine’s hot between my thighs as we roar down the final stretch of road leading to the clubhouse. The second the place comes into view with bikes lined out front, smoke curling from the firepit, and someone revving in the garage bay, something in me settles.

It’s messy. Loud. And home.

Kasey shifts behind me, arms tightening around my waist. She hasn’t said a word since the petrol stop an hour ago. Maybe she’s tired. Maybe she’s finally thinking instead of performing.

I kill the engine just outside the front doors. A few of the guys glance over, eyebrows raised when they spot the girl sliding off my bike.

“Who’s the brat?” Fletch mutters under his breath, nudging Grizz beside him.

Kasey hears—of course, she does—so she straightens her jacket, tosses her hair, and gives them both a slow, sugary smile. “Hi, uncles.”

Grizz nearly chokes on his smoke.

I nod towards the clubhouse doors. “Go inside. Left corridor. Find Axel. Don’t touch anything on the way.”

She rolls her eyes but obeys, hips swaying more than necessary. The kid’s exhausting.

I turn towards the others. “She’s under protection. Axel’ll explain the rest.”

“You sure about this?” Grizz mutters. “She looks like trouble.”

“Yeah,” I reply, watching her disappear through the door. “But she’s our trouble now.”

The guys fall silent. Because when you say that— ours —it means something.

Inside, the place smells like leather, beer, and testosterone. Kasey’s standing in the hallway, staring at a wall covered in framed photos and yellowed newspaper clippings. Some of the headlines are flattering. Most aren’t.

“Cozy,” she murmurs as I lead her through the common area to Axel’s office.

He’s already waiting, leaning back in his chair, phone to his ear. He ends the call and tosses it onto the desk, his eyes cutting to Kasey immediately.

“You’re smaller than I expected,” he says.

“Thanks,” she says dryly. “Most people open with hello .”

Axel smirks. “You’ll fit in just fine.”

He glances at me. “Ride okay?”

“Smooth. No tails.”

“Good. You’ve got two hours before Fury takes over. Thought you could use the rest.”

I nod but don’t move. “She stays in a guest room?” I ask.

Axel raises a brow. “Where else would she go?”

Kasey folds her arms. “You gonna frisk me for weapons, or do we pretend this is a sleepover?”

“She’s fine,” I mutter, already tired.

Axel watches her a beat longer then tosses me a key. “Room at the end of the hall on your floor. She’s under lockdown, but no handcuffs . . . unless she asks .”

Kasey grins. “Kinky.”

I groan and lead her out.

The room’s clean but bare. A twin bed, chest of drawers, a lamp with a broken shade. Nothing fancy, but it’s safe. And for Kasey, that’s something.

She perches on the edge of the bed, suddenly quieter. Almost . . . shy.

“Will it be like this every day?” she asks.

“What?”

“Being watched. Locked down. Treated like a liability.”

I lean in the doorway. “Only until we know you’re safe.”

She nods, shrugging. “Still beats my old life.”

I study her a moment. “You did good. Back there, on the road.” Her head lifts. “I know you’re scared,” I add, “but you held it together.”

She swallows. “Thanks.” It’s the first time she’s not come back with her smart mouth.

I turn to leave but pause. “Kasey?”

“Yeah?”

“No more stealing. No more mouth when it’s not needed. And no calling me daddy .”

She laughs, not her fake, flirtatious one, but something real. Lopsided. Honest. “Okay, dad ,” she says under her breath.

I close the door behind me, shaking my head.

Anita

Two days have passed. Two whole days, and I’ve heard nothing from Atlas at all.

Tessa barges into the office holding a pile of files. “These are all up to date,” she says, dumping them on a chair. She pauses, eyeing me suspiciously. “You have that look in your eye,” she says. “You’re thinking about him.”

“About Anthony,” I say, adding a wistful smile.

She narrows her eyes further. “No, Atlas.”

I scoff, trying to throw her off. “I am not. Anthony suggested we book a mini break, so I was thinking about that.”

“A mini break?” she repeats. “Where to?”

“Tuscany.”

Her eyes widen in surprise. “You hardly know him.”

“I know,” I utter, my words sounding defensive. “He’s not whisking me away right now. It was just an idea.”

She lowers into the seat beside the files. “Don’t you think it’s a bit weird? You’ve been on two dates—”

“Three,” I correct.

“And now he’s offering you weekends away.”

“It’s just how them sort of guys do it,” I say with a shrug.

“What kind of guys?” When I don’t reply, she laughs. “You mean rich guys?”

“Business types,” I mutter.

“Is that why you refuse to admit how you really feel about Atlas? Because he’s not running his daddy’s company and handing out free mini breaks with every fuck?

” I almost gasp aloud at her words. It’s not like her, but she’s clearly irritated, so I stay quiet.

“Anita, you’re my friend and my boss and I love you. But seriously, what are you doing?”

I straighten. “You’re right, I am your boss,” I say firmly, fixing her with a hard glare, “and you’re out of line. I suggest you go back to your desk.” The words hurt me as much as they do her and she instantly leaves, closing the door gently behind her. Fuck.

It’s almost six by the time I finish up, and I’m not shocked to see Tessa has already left without saying goodbye. I’ll make it right with her tomorrow when I’m feeling less moody.

I start my car, and it stutters before jumping to life. It wants to give out on me, I know it. Then an idea forms, and instead of heading for home, I drive towards the Chaos Demons’ garage, just in case it’s still open.

My stomach lurches as I turn down their street to see the shutters still up and the lights on. I pull onto the forecourt and turn off the engine. The thought of seeing Atlas fills me with excitement. We’ve had many evenings in this garage, me bent over someone else’s car, sometimes even in it.

I smirk as I climb out and head towards the office. My hand pauses on the door at the sight of a young female sitting in the office chair with her feet on the counter, and sitting on the counter facing her, with his back to me, is Atlas.

She spots me before I can turn away, so I push the door open and step inside. “Evening, welcome to Chaos Cars. How can I help you?” Her voice is syrupy sweet, and she’s clearly mocking in tone as she eyes Atlas with a cheeky glint.

“I told you, kid, you don’t have to overdo it,” he says, his voice gravelly deep as he turns to face me. He stiffens slightly. It’s subtle but I notice.

“You’re back,” I say, the words slipping out before I can stop them.

“I was gonna call round tonight,” he mutters. His body language is off, like he doesn’t want me here in his space, and I wonder if the young girl staring back and forth between us has anything to do with that.

“I have car trouble,” I say, glancing behind me at my car. “It keeps making a funny noise when I start it up. I think it’s going to die on me.”

“We’re fully booked,” says the girl, tapping her pen on her chin.

My eyes meet his, and he gives a slight shrug. “I was about to close up,” he says, “but I can take a quick look.”

I’m already shaking my head and backing out the office. “Don’t worry, I’ll try another time.”

“I can book you in,” the girl offers, standing to grab the large book off the desk. I notice her cropped top and lack of bra immediately. Younger. Prettier. More fun. “I’ll call to do that,” I mutter, turning on my heel and rushing out.

I breathe the fresh air in deep, as I fumble with my keys.

“Wait.” His voice is deep and commanding, but I keep my back to him. “I’ll look at it,” he adds, stepping beside me and plucking the keys from my hand.

I watch as he climbs into my driver’s seat and starts the engine. It makes the whirring sound, and I relax slightly, pleased it doesn’t look like I lied to be here. He turns it off and tries again. “You been okay?” he asks, not looking at me.

“Yeah. You?”

He nods. “Busy.”

“I can see.”

He glances up at me, his eyes slightly narrowed like he’s trying to work out the meaning behind my words. “It sounds like the starter motor,” he adds, turning the engine off and stepping out. He drops the keys in my hand. “I can order the part.” I nod. “And if you’re free later, I can stop by.”

The office girl is watching us through the window, her arms resting across the desk like she’s fully invested in us. “New girl?” I state, nodding past him.

“Kasey,” he says.

“Is she a club girl or . . .” I trail off.

“No,” he says simply. I wait a beat, hoping he’ll explain, but when he doesn’t, my stomach ties in knots. “So, later?” he asks.

“I have plans,” I mutter, throwing my bag across to the passenger side.

“You came all this way with some bullshit story about your car. Don’t pretend you don’t wanna see me, Nita.”

I bristle at his words. “I was passing and saw the light on. Thought I’d ask you to check it wasn’t more serious,” I say.

“Hey, Daddy, we going home or what?”

Atlas stiffens at Kasey’s words, rolling his eyes and shaking his head. “Ignore her. She’s trying to piss me off,” he mutters.

“Enjoy your evening,” I almost whisper as I slip into the car.

Atlas braces himself in the doorway, leaning down to look at me. “When can we talk, Nita?”

I start the engine. “There’s nothing to say,” I mutter.

“You heard me before I left, right?”

“Jesus, Atlas. Stop pushing me all the goddamn time,” I snap. “Go fuck the new girl. She’s got her tits out especially for you.” I begin to back out, and he steps back. I slam the door and pull off at speed, instantly regretting my childish words. I groan out loud. Fuck.