Page 2 of Heat (The Royal HArlots MC, Quebec City-Canada #1)
Chapter One
Anna “Diamond” Lovelace leaned back in her chair, staring at the faint grooves on her desk—the scars of a thousand restless moments just like this one.
She hated being cornered, and yet that’s exactly how she felt now.
Not by an enemy, not even by someone openly hostile, but by the very people claiming to support her chapter: the Royal Bastards MC of Montreal.
They said all the right things. Brotherhood. Solidarity. Shared goals. But Diamond wasn’t buying it. She’d been around long enough to know that help almost always came with strings attached. And her chapter didn’t need strings—it needed freedom.
Her chapter’s work was delicate, intricate, and most importantly, secret.
Moving abused women and children required discretion that only came from years of building trust with the right people.
It wasn’t a game of muscle or bravado. It was a game of shadows and whispers, of knowing when to act and when to disappear.
The Royal Bastards didn’t live in shadows—they stomped into rooms, all leather cuts and loud declarations of loyalty.
And now, they wanted a seat at her table.
Diamond ran a hand through her hair, her jaw tightening.
She couldn’t afford to offend them outright, not with the Casino Royal fundraiser looming.
The Bastards could help make the event a success, to boost the visibility of the cause.
It sounded good on paper—more eyes, more donors, more funds for the boys’ and girls’ houses.
But visibility was exactly what Diamond didn’t want.
For years, her chapter had operated under the radar, carefully avoiding the kind of attention that could jeopardize their work.
The last thing they needed was a group like the Bastards—no matter how well-meaning—drawing scrutiny.
And what if they took a deeper interest in the chapter?
What if their “help” turned into oversight? Or worse, control?
Diamond clenched her fists at the thought.
The Royal Harlot’s Quebec City clubhouse was hers.
This chapter was hers. Every contact, every safe house, every woman and child who’d slipped away to a new life—it was all built on her blood, sweat, and grit.
The idea of letting outsiders into that world, no matter how much they promised to stay out of her way, made her stomach churn.
Her mind flickered back to the last fundraiser, a quieter affair that had barely broken even.
The memory gnawed at her. She couldn’t afford another mediocre turnout, not when the boys’ and girls’ houses needed so much.
The Bastards’ involvement could tip the scales, bringing in more money than they’d ever dreamed of.
And yet, it still felt like a gamble—a gamble she wasn’t sure she wanted to take.
She let out a slow breath, her gaze dropping to the silver ring on her finger, engraved with the Royal Harlots’ emblem.
It was a symbol of her authority, her leadership, her responsibility.
It reminded her of the oath she’d taken when she founded this chapter: to protect those who couldn’t protect themselves, no matter the cost.
But what if that cost was letting the Royal Bastards in? What if their support came at the expense of the very independence that made her chapter so effective? She’d been there at the meeting that sealed their fate.
Diamond’s lips pressed into a thin line.
She knew what she had to do. She had to play along, at least for now.
The Casino Royal fundraiser was too important to risk alienating the Bastards outright.
But she would maintain distance from them, making it clear that, while their presence was appreciated, their involvement would cease immediately after the event.
Because if there was one thing Diamond had learned from her past, it was this: the only person she could truly count on was herself.
With no other choice, Diamond grabbed the phone and stared at the number scribbled on the weathered, sticky note.
The edges of the yellow paper were curling, a testament to how long she’d been putting this off.
Her thumb hovered over the keypad, but she hesitated, the weight of the call pressing down on her chest like a stone.
A sharp knock at the door snapped her out of it. Her hand jerked toward the receiver, instinctively ready to hang up before she’d even dialed. “Come in,” she called, her voice tight.
The door creaked open, revealing Nova, her VP, leaning casually against the frame. “You wanted to see me, Diamond?”
Diamond nodded, motioning her inside. “Yeah, come in. I’m making a call.” She held up the sticky note for Nova to see, the barely legible scribble catching the light.
Nova’s expression didn’t change, but her slight raise of an eyebrow said enough. She stepped into the office, closing the door softly behind her before taking a seat across the desk.
Diamond punched the numbers into the phone, each beep loud in the tense quiet of the room.
She pressed the receiver to her ear, listening to the dial tone buzz as her gaze drifted back to Nova.
Covering the mouthpiece with her hand, she asked in a low voice, “What’s the Prez’s name for the Bastards? ”
“Teller,” Nova answered without missing a beat, her tone even.
Diamond let the name settle in her mind. Teller. She’d heard plenty about him over the years—his reputation for being sharp, calculating, and not easily pushed around. Exactly the kind of man she didn’t want in her business.
The line clicked, and the dial tone was replaced by a deep voice on the other end. “Teller speaking.”
For a moment, Diamond froze, the words catching in her throat. But she forced herself to speak, her tone cool and measured, “Teller. This is Diamond, from the Royal Harlots.”
There was a brief pause, just long enough for her to wonder if he was surprised or if he’d been expecting this call all along.
Teller said finally, his voice carrying a faint edge of amusement, “To what do I owe the pleasure, Diamond?”
“The Royal Harlots are hosting a fundraiser event in two weeks,” Diamond said, forcing her voice to stay steady despite the tightness in her chest. “It’s a Casino night. They’ll be gambling, food, drinks, support clubs—both female and male. I’m extending an invitation to your chapter.”
The words felt heavy as she said them, the weight of her reluctance bleeding into her tone. She didn’t want them there, but it was necessary.
There was a brief silence on the line, broken only by the faint crackle of static. Then Teller’s deep voice responded, calm but curious, “Thanks. What’s the fundraiser for?”
Diamond’s jaw tightened for a second. Of course he’d ask. She could have kept it vague, but that wasn’t her style. She wouldn’t cheapen the cause by skirting around it.
“We’re raising money for an organization that supports homes for traumatized children,” she said. Her voice softened despite herself, the tension easing for just a moment. She couldn’t help it. The children were her priority, so she wouldn’t let personal feelings interfere.
“Kids, huh?” Teller responded, his tone shifting slightly, though she couldn’t quite pin down the emotion behind it. Respect? Interest? Something else?
“Yeah,” she said firmly. “The homes provide safety, counseling, and stability for kids who’ve been through hell. Abuse, neglect... things no kid should have to endure. The money we raise will cover essentials—clothing, food, security upgrades. The things they need to start healing.”
Teller was quiet for a beat, and Diamond wondered if he was weighing her words or just letting the silence do the work for him.
“That’s a hell of a cause,” he said finally, his voice steady but carrying a note of sincerity she hadn’t expected. “Count us in. We’ll be there.”
Diamond exhaled, though the tightness in her chest didn’t fully go away. “Good. I’ll send over the details.”
“Appreciate the invite,” Teller said, his tone edging toward something lighter. “Anything else we should know?”
She hesitated for a split second. There were things he shouldn’t know, but that wasn’t the question. “Just come ready to enjoy yourself. And keep your boys in line,” she added sharply, a bit of her edge creeping back in.
Teller chuckled softly. “Always do. See you in two weeks, Diamond.”
She hung up without responding, letting the receiver fall back into place with a click. Leaning back in her chair, she glanced at Nova, who was watching her with a neutral expression.
“Well?” Nova asked.
“They’re in,” Diamond said, her voice a mix of resignation and determination. “Now we just have to make sure they stay out of the things they don’t need to know.”
Nova smirked faintly. “You think they’re going to be a problem?”
“Aren’t they all a problem?” Diamond muttered. “But we’ll handle it.”
“When do you want to let the girls know?” Nova asked, picking up one of the many lists on the desk.
“Call a meeting for tonight. We’ll go over some of the last-minute things we need to see to and let them know about the Bastards.”
Nova gave her a nod and left Diamond to her list.
When the office door closed, Diamond let out a sigh. And with that, she shoved the sticky note aside and moved on to the next challenge on her endless list.