Page 7

Chapter

Seven

MAXIM

A man enters the clubhouse.

The first thing I notice about him is his clearly fake tan. It makes him look more orange than anything else.

“Can I help you?” I ask, approaching him.

“Yes. I’m Ed. I was wondering if I could join your gang?”

I laugh at his very formal word choice. “First, we’re not a gang. We’re a motorcycle club. And we welcome anyone to join. You would become a prospect, which is someone who’s in training, if you will. It’s someone who has to pay their dues and work their way up to becoming an official member. It’s not for everyone, let me tell you. A lot of cleaning up of bathrooms.”

“Oh, that’s fine by me. I’m used to getting my hands dirty.”

“Well, let me show you around first. Then you can decide if being a prospect interests you.”

“Thank you. Do you get a lot of people just showing up asking to become members?”

“Not a lot of people. It’s usually men who’ve heard about us one way or another. How did you hear about us? We’re not exactly in the news.” And that’s the way I like it. The fewer people who know us, the less trouble we get into with the police.

“I’ve seen the back of your jackets. Your logo. I was curious and came in. I’m looking to belong to a community, you know?”

“Well, this is definitely a community.” I nod at Sal, who’s on the couch, eating chips. “This is Sal. He’s our treasurer. Don’t let his stupid looks confuse you. He’s actually pretty good with money.”

“That’s true. A lot of people tend to think I’m stupid,” Sal agrees.

“Well, you can be.”

Sal laughs as he stands up and shakes Ed’s hand. “Nice to meet you. Interested in joining?”

“I am. I have a love of motorcycles. I’m looking for a community.”

“That’s what you’ll get here,” Sal says. “Maxim is a great president.”

“Despite him just kicking out one of our guys,” Josh grumbles, walking by. He’s one of the younger guys and was pretty close with Jasper.

“Josh,” I warn.

He holds his hands up and keeps walking. Good. He knows now I won’t hesitate to kick anyone out who’s giving me shit. Luna is upstairs with Rose right now, so I’m not worried for her. If I’m here, then the men know not to mess with her.

But when I’m not here …

I don’t want to think about it.

“Drama?” Ed asks, raising his eyebrows.

“Nothing to worry about.”

He points to the stairs. “What’s up there?”

“That’s where the bedrooms are. But there’s no need to go up there now. Let me finish showing you around.”

His eyes rest on the stairs a moment longer before following me. I take him around the common room, introducing him to the other men.

Once we’re done, I lead him outside. “So, take some time to think about it and?—”

“No. I want to join. I know it. But I do have a question. Do you have any women here?”

“Uh, yes, we do. Some like to hang around, but I believe in treating the women with respect. Don’t take advantage of them.”

“I have no desire to do that. I was just curious.”

“That’s good to hear. We need more good men around here. So, if you want to join, you can start as a prospect. See if you’re a good fit. Come back tomorrow. I’ll have a vest ready for you.”

“Can’t I stay a bit longer? Just to talk to the guys?”

I think of Luna upstairs and how I want to be with her. Shit. I shouldn’t want that. I shouldn’t be thinking of her at all. But I can’t get the sight of her orgasming on my bed out of my mind.

But I can’t go up to be with her and leave the new guy alone at the same time. “Sure,” I say. It’s better this way. I can use the new guy as an excuse to stay away from Luna.

There’s only one problem: She’s in the common room when Ed and I walk back inside. Rose is behind the bar, showing Luna how to pour a drink.

Ed stumbles.

“Woah.” I catch his arm. “You ok there?”

He nods then points to Luna. “Who’s that?”

“She’s …” Mine , I want to say. But Luna isn’t mine, and she can never be. “That’s Luna. But leave her alone. She’s been through a lot these past few days.”

“Oh, yeah? Like what?”

I study Ed closer. He looks a little too eager to see Luna. I don’t like it. But is that because of my gut instinct or because of what we just went through with Jasper? Maybe I’m fucking paranoid. “That’s for her to say. But come on. It’s the men you need to talk to. The men you need to impress if you want to become a member.”

I steer him away from Luna.

I’m not going to let any other man have her.

Even if it’s technically not my place at all.

“Another one of our gun shipments has been stolen,” Nikolai says as we meet up at his house. Dimitri paces around the small office while I lean against the wall. It’s the opposite of who we normally are. I’m usually more agitated, while Dimitri is always way too nonchalant. I think my brain is too preoccupied with Jasper and Jack and finding Luna’s God that I don’t have time to worry about the fucking gun shipments.

“Was it Anton?” Dimitri asks.

“It was. He left his calling card.”

“How?” I ask.

Nikolai sighs, and for a moment, I think he won’t say anything, but then he speaks. “The truck drivers’ faces were carved up. Anton loves doing that to people. Case in point.” He gestures to his own face and the scar that covers it. “I know now it’s Anton. Which means we have to find him fast and end him before things get worse. Before he tries coming for our wives.” That’s directed at Dimitri.

“I won’t let him get Evie.” Dimitri glances at me. “Lucky you, Maxim. You’re not married. You don’t have someone you love.”

My mind flashes to Luna, but I push her image aside. I don’t love her. I care for her, that’s true. But I’m not even close to being in love. I was in love once, years ago, but she left. Said the biker lifestyle wasn’t for her. I haven’t loved anyone since.

And it won’t be Luna because it can’t be.

“Can’t you ever say anything nice?” I ask.

“Oh, did I hurt your fweelings ?”

“Don’t make me punch you.”

Dimitri laughs and claps me on the back. “Lighten up, Maxim. Both Nik and I have more to lose, and you’re the one with the stick up his ass. We’re gonna find Anton and kill him.”

“The next time we have a gun shipment come in, I’ll have guards waiting to capture Anton. He can’t keep doing this and getting away with it,” Nikolai says.

“Sounds like a plan to me.”

Dimitri makes a funny face at me, and I push him to the side as I walk away. I give Ava, Nikolai’s wife, a nod as I head into the foyer.

“How are you, Maxim?” she asks, stopping me.

“I’ve been better,” I admit. “How are you?”

“I’m happy. But whenever I see you and Dimitri at the house, I get worried. I’m scared something’s going on. I’m scared it could lead to more people getting hurt.”

“People always get hurt in our world. It’s the way it is.” That’s partially why I need to stay away from Luna.

The thought of her getting hurt makes me more afraid than I’ve felt in a long time.

When I return to the clubhouse, I find Luna and Colin sitting on the couch, talking. He says something to make her laugh, and I feel a flash of jealousy.

Possessiveness.

I want Luna to laugh like that when we’re talking. But that’s ridiculous. I don’t own her. She’s not mine. I’ve just taken over her care until I can make sure she’s safe. Once I deal with Jack and find the man who kidnapped her, then I can let her go. I’ll set her up with an apartment of her own and give her money so she can have a fresh start.

And I’ll never see her again. It’s for the best.

But fuck, if I don’t want to go right over to her and hear her laugh at something I say.

“What’s on your mind, big boy?” Rose asks, wiping down the bar. Her eyes flick over to Luna and back to me, and a knowing expression crosses her face. “Ah.”

“What’s ‘ah?’ Nothing is ‘ah.’”

“Sure it isn’t. I’ve seen the way you look at her. It’s ok, you know.”

“No, it isn’t. Luna is innocent. I’d only end up hurting her.”

“Maxim, you’re the best man in this entire clubhouse, and you know it. Even sweet Colin isn’t as good as you are.”

“I’m not a good man. I’ve hurt people, Rose. Tortured people. Killed people.” Hell, I even tortured Nikolai years ago when we were enemies.

“I know. But you’re a good man when it comes to her.” She nods at Luna. “She’s lucky she has you.”

“No, she’s not. I’ll only end up hurting her. I need to deal with Jack and God, and then I can let her go.”

Rose snorts. “Sure.”

“You don’t believe me.”

“Of course, I don’t. You’re not gonna let that girl go, Maxim. But if you can't return her feelings, you will hurt her.”

“Her feelings?”

“Don’t be an idiot. Luna likes you. She’s always looking at you when you’re not looking. She’s looking right now.”

I glance over at her, and sure enough, Luna has her eyes on me. She quickly turns back to Colin. “Mmm.”

“She likes you. So, if you don’t like her in any romantic way, then yeah, you need to let her go at some point. But if you feel the same …”

“It’s just a crush. This is all new for Luna. Once she meets other people, she won't want to be with me. I don’t want her to like me just because I’m the first man she’s ever met. It’s not right.”

“Well, figure out how you feel soon. But try not to hurt her feelings. She’s too good for this world.” When Rose hands me a beer, I take a large gulp.

I need it, too, because I’m not sure how I’m going to process whatever the fuck it is I’m feeling for Luna. All I know is that it’s fucking complicated.

And I don’t like complicated.

LUNA

“I got you some more clothes,” Rose says, handing me a bag. Inside is a bunch of shirts and skirts and pants and dresses.

“They’re all beautiful!” I hug her. Rose feels so motherly. Not that I would know what it’s like to have a mother. But surely, I must’ve had one. I know babies come from women’s bellies. I wonder where my real mother is. I wonder if she’s even alive. If she even knows who I am.

If she would even remember me if I ever met her.

“I just thought you could use some new clothes.”

“I’m gonna go try them on!” I run into Maxim’s room and drop my dress to the ground. I look at my options and settle on a pretty light yellow dress. It’s so summery and dreamy. It reminds me of the beach.

I bend over to pick it up when the door opens, and Maxim steps inside.

He stops dead in his tracks. I can see his expression through my legs. For some reason, I don’t stand back up. It’s kind of funny looking at him from this upside-down angle.

“Luna, what are you doing?”

“Rose bought me new clothes!” I stand up and bring the yellow dress with me. “Isn’t it pretty?”

“You’re not wearing any clothes.”

“I have my bra and underwear on.” I don’t understand why he seems angry with me?

“I can see that.” His eyes flick down my body for just a moment before looking back at me. “You should put your dress on.”

“That’s what I was going to do before you came in here.” I slip it on over my head, and it fans out around me. Gosh, it’s so soft and beautiful. So much prettier than any of the clothes God ever gave me. “How do I look?”

“You look … beautiful. You’re beautiful, Luna.”

“God always told me I was beautiful, too.”

“I don’t want to talk about God.”

“Why not?”

“Because I hate that bastard, and I haven’t even met him. I hate that he kept you locked up your entire life. It makes me angry.”

“Angry with me?”

He blows out a breath. “No. Luna, why do you always ask me if I’m angry with you?”

“Because God would get angry when I wouldn’t do as he said. He’d scream at me.”

“I’m sorry you went through that. Have I ever screamed at you?”

“No.”

“So, you know I’m not angry. I was just taken by surprise that you were … naked.”

“Why? What’s wrong with my body?”

He runs his hand down his face. “There’s nothing wrong with your body.”

“But you sound troubled.”

“That’s because I just walked in on you naked!”

“You’re screaming. Are you angry?”

“I’m not screaming. I was just talking more loudly.”

“You sound upset. Why?”

“Because I wasn’t expecting you to be naked when I walked in, though I should’ve knocked. I’ll knock from now on.”

“Why does it bother you that I was naked? I walked around naked all the time back at the lighthouse.”

His expression turns even darker. What did I say that he doesn’t like? “Your God had cameras in the lighthouse, correct? He watched you?”

“Yes.”

“And you still walked around naked?”

“He never said it was wrong. In fact, he said the opposite. He encouraged me to be naked most of the time.”

“That bastard,” Maxim mutters more to himself than to me. “He knew what he was doing. He was watching you, Luna. Looking at your body. You might find your body innocent, but God didn’t. He wanted to look because he wanted to get off on you naked and your innocence. It’s fucking disgusting.”

“You think I’m disgusting?”

“I never said that. I don’t. Luna, why do you always interpret my words differently?” He holds up his hand. “You don’t need to answer that. I know why. God messed with your head.”

“Why are you upset? Please tell me.”

“I’m upset because you’re so innocent. Because you don’t think it’s strange to walk around naked. The reason you don’t is because God wanted you think that because he wanted to take advantage of you.” He steps closer to me and gently touches my arms. “Your body is not disgusting, Luna. You are not disgusting. You’re beautiful. I’m sorry I got upset. I’m just …”

“Just?”

“Dealing with how I feel, and it’s fucking with me.”

“How you feel?”

He backs away. “I can’t say more.”

“You promised to explain things to me.”

“And I will. When I can make sense of my feelings, you’ll be the first I tell. But for right now, I can’t say more, and I need you to respect that. And I’ll knock from now on. So, just tell me if you’re in the middle of changing.”

“Why don’t you want to look at my body? If you find it beautiful, then what’s the problem?”

“Because it’s intimate, Luna. It’s a sign of something more. I … shit. I don’t know how to explain it very well. It just has to do with years upon years of how people view sex and naked bodies. I’m glad you’re confident in your skin. I don’t want you to feel ashamed. You have no reason to. I’m the fuck up here.”

“What’s a ‘fuck up’?”

“When someone is a fool. An idiot.”

I wring my hands together. “I don’t think you’re an idiot. You’re so smart about everything.”

“No, I’m really not.” He sounds incredibly sad as he says it, and I don’t fully understand why. I never fully understand anything.

“You let me see your naked chest.”

“It’s different for men and women. It’s sexist, yeah, but it’s how society is run. That’s the best I can explain for now.”

“Ok, then.” Now, it’s my turn to feel sad and confused. “I’m gonna show Rose my dress since she picked it out for me.” I quickly walk past Maxim and leave him in the room. For the first time since meeting him, I feel awkward around him.

I just wish I understood why.

My first go-to is Rose.

“Maxim saw me naked and freaked out.”

She’s outside, smoking a cigarette (which I think is disgusting, but she says it helps calm her), and almost chokes on it. “I’m sorry. What?”

“I was changing, and he came in and saw me naked. He acted all weird. I just don’t understand it.”

“That’s because men are weird about women’s bodies. They either want us or hate us.”

“Maxim might hate me?”

“No, sweetie. I just mean it’s common courtesy to look away from a woman’s body if she’s naked and not your girl, you know?”

“No.”

“Ok, then.” She lets out a long puff of smoke. “Just trust me on this. Maxim probably liked what he saw a little too much, and being the gentleman that he is, he didn’t want to make you uncomfortable, and in the process, he ended up making you uncomfortable. That make sense?”

No, but I nod anyway. Rose is just trying so hard that I don’t want to make her think she’s not doing a good job.

A man I don’t recognize lingers by Colin as they help Sal with his bike. “Who’s that?”

Rose squints at the man. “Oh, that’s Ed. He’s new. A prospect like Colin.”

“I should go say hi. Maybe he’s nice like Colin is.”

“Be careful, honey. I saw him looking at you earlier, and I didn’t like it. It reminded me of how Jasper looked at you.”

“Oh.” I step closer to Rose. “Then I guess I’ll keep my distance. I don’t want to get hurt again.”

“Smart girl.”

But even as I keep my distance, I feel the man’s gaze on me. When I work up the courage to look in his direction, I find him watching me with the same hungry eyes that Jack and Jasper gave me.

I quickly run inside.

ED

Luna is so close to me and yet so far. It’s driving me fucking insane.

She’s supposed to be mine. She’s not supposed to be Maxim’s. I’ve seen the way Maxim lingers next to her. The way he keeps his eyes locked on her at all times. And when it’s not him, it’s Colin or that bitch bartender.

I need to find a moment when Luna is alone to strike. But that’s going to be hard with me only being a prospect. I’m not allowed upstairs, where Luna spends most of her time. But she has to leave at some point.

The question is: How do I get her alone?

And how do I do it without raising suspicions?

“Don’t look at her,” Colin says under his breath.

“Who?” Playing dumb is always smart. No one suspects dumb people. I’ve managed to keep Luna in my lighthouse for years. I just need to know how Maxim and his men found her. Who told him about her?

“Luna. She’s off-limits.”

“She definitely is,” Sal agrees from underneath his bike. Colin hands him a wrench. “Whenever I try to talk to her, Maxim swoops in and steals her away. You don’t stand a shot, buddy.” He rolls out from under the bike and looks me up and down. “Now, I’m an ugly fucker, I’ll admit, so I know I don’t stand a chance against Maxim. He could be a freaking supermodel. And you, my new friend, are definitely no supermodel.”

I stand up straighter and suck in my gut. So I could lose a few pounds. Who couldn’t? But it’s not like I’m ugly like Sal is. Luna is mine. Once she knows who I am, she’ll fall into my arms. I’m her God, after all, the man who raised her. The man who gave her food and clothes and comfort and everything you could hope for in life. She’ll worship the ground I walk on once she knows it’s me.

She won’t want anything to do with Maxim, that pretty boy.

“He’s not even that handsome,” I mutter, making Colin and Sal laugh.

“Oh, trust me. He is.” Sal stands up and wipes his greasy hands on his white shirt. The stains make his large stomach more pronounced. “Even an innocent, sheltered girl like Luna will choose Maxim over ugly fuckers like us. It’s just biology. I wish I could hate Maxim, but he’s so fucking nice that it makes it impossible.”

“Why do men like him get all the girls?” I raised Luna. I taught her everything she needed to know. So, why don’t I deserve her? Maxim doesn’t get to swoop on in and steal everything I’ve worked so hard for.

Colin laughs. “Because he’s handsome. There’s no other reason.”

Sal slings his arm around Colin’s shoulders. “You’re not so bad yourself.”

“Thanks, Sal.”

“Just messing with you.” He runs his greasy hand through Colin’s hair, messing it right up.

“Hey!”

“You got to earn your keep, my boy.” He turns his eyes onto me. “And you’ll learn, too. Don’t go after Maxim’s girl. He’ll kick you out of the club like he did Jasper, and Jasper was once one of his best friends.”

I don’t care if Maxim kicks me out or not. I’ll get to Luna before he can.

I’ll return her to the lighthouse where she belongs.

And I’ll claim her as mine.

JASPER

I find Jack in an upscale bar. It’s clear I don’t belong in a place like this with my jeans and leather.

It wasn’t easy tracking him down. I knew his home address from when Maxim looked into his past before we did the lighthouse job. It was just a matter of waiting and watching, and then I found him.

I followed him to this bar. It’s on a more even playing field than if we’d spoken at his house.

“Ah,” he says as I sit down next to him. “You’re one of Maxim’s boys, aren’t you?”

“Not anymore.”

“Well, isn’t that interesting? So, you’re not here to kill me?”

“No. I’m here to offer you a deal. You want Luna, right? That’s why you paid so much money for her.”

“I do want her.”

“I can get her for you. And in exchange, you pay me.”

“I already paid you for her, and you didn’t deliver.”

“That was Maxim, not me. You’ll find I’m an entirely different beast than he is.”

“Interesting.” He takes a sip of his drink. “And you can get her for me?”

I grin. “I can get her for you. But first, let’s settle on a price. I’m assuming you want her for her virginity?”

“Yes.”

“Once you’ve taken it, I want my turn with her.”

He thinks about it for a moment and shrugs. “Fine. How much do you want?”

“Whatever you were going to pay Maxim. I want it all. And then I’ll get her for you before Maxim can take her virginity for himself.”

Jack holds out his hand. “Deal.”

We shake on it.