Page 3 of Claimed By the Bikers

Lizzy appears as if summoned and gives me a quick tour. Kitchen, storage areas, employee entrance, and break room. She explains the POS system, shows me where cleaning supplies are kept, gives me a Wolf’s Den T-shirt and mentions that I’ll get more tomorrow. I thank her and head back outside.

Walking back to the motel carries a different energy now that I’ve established my cover. The sun is starting to set, painting the mountains in shades of orange and purple. I’m right on track for this job, and it’s only day one. I pass an elderly man walking his dog, and he tips his hat to me. Two teenagers ride by on bicycles, laughing about something one of them said.

Back in my room, I retrieve the prepaid phone and dial my handler’s number.

“How’d it go?” Ben’s voice comes through the phone, accompanied by the sound of loud chewing that makes me wince.

I kick off my boots and sit on the edge of the bed. “I’m in. Got the job, start tomorrow.”

Crunch. Crunch. Crunch.

“That was fast. Any complications?”

“Ben, could you please put whatever you’re eating away? It’s disgusting.”

“Sorry.” I hear rustling, then his voice comes back clearer. “Been working around the clock, haven’t had time to eat. This is the first meal I’ve had in twelve hours.”

I soften slightly. Ben’s been my handler for three years now, through four different assignments. He’s the closest thing I have to a friend in this job, always looking out for me, always making sure I have what I need. “Just…next time, maybe finish chewing before you pick up the call?”

“Deal. Now, complications?”

I think about Atlas Bishop’s storm-cloud eyes and the way he seemed to catalog every word I said. “None so far. Cover’s holding.”

“Good. Now, about the wire. You need to start wearing it tomorrow night.”

I groan and fall back on the bed. “You know I hate wearing that thing.”

“It’s for your own safety, Natalie. If something goes wrong?—”

“Nothing’s going to go wrong.”

“Famous last words. Look, I know you prefer going in clean, but these guys are dangerous. The wire stays.”

I sigh, knowing this argument won’t end well for me. “Fine. But I’m not wearing it every shift. Only when I think I might overhear something useful.”

But that’s a lie, and we both know it.

“We’ll discuss parameters later. Speaking of which, I’ve been doing more research on Wolf Pike. Interesting place. Apparently, the town has a reputation for unconventional relationship dynamics. Multiple men sharing one woman, living together as families. There are significantly more women than men, but it’s more about the culture they’ve built there. Old traditions, I guess.”

“Alright, Ben, what exactly am I supposed to do with this information?”

“Loosen up, Agent Natalie Hayes. You’re not supposed to bring your uptight ass for this job.”

“Jeez, you had to go with my government name.”

“Ember Collins is a fun loving, sunny twenty-four-year-old. You’re not doing her justice.”

“Of course I am. I just don’t have to pretend with you.” I pull off my socks and wiggle my toes. “You’ve known the real me for three years.”

I can practically hear him rolling his eyes. “Fine, whatever. I have to go. Someone’s on the other line.” His voice grows serious. “Remember what we talked about after the Nathan situation. Keep your head clear, keep your distance. Don’t let the lines blur.”

I end the call and immediately remove the battery, tucking both pieces back into their hiding spots.

Nathan.

Ben had to bring up Nathan. Two months pretending to be a couple in Seattle, investigating a money laundering operation.

We made it a bit too real, having sex at every chance and acting like a couple even when no one was watching. Only to find out after our job was over that he’d had a fiancée back in Chicago the whole time.