Page 82 of Iron

“Sounds good to me,” Aurea said with a laugh as she rounded the desk and took a seat in the red chair. Feeling its power, she smiled. “I always wondered what it was like to be you.” She looked at me with a glint in her eyes, then winked.

“Did someone say party?” Royse called out as she sauntered into the room.

“And bikers?” Varda lit up with excitement as she followed in after Royse.

“This is going to be so much fun,” Rowan said as she looped her arm through mine. If it had been anyone else…

My brow went up as my eyes cut over to look at her. She ignored my cold, warning stare and pulled me out of the office.

She told me I was driving and I didn’t bother to correct her that there was no other option.

They chatted and giggled the entire way to the compound but I stayed focused on the road.

I pulled up and parked in the front part of the compound. I’d come to know this place well enough by now, but not all of it.

Mostly just the front room and the way to Iron’s apartment upstairs.

Tonight would be the beginning of changing all of that. I think that was what was getting to me. The thing that was causing this uneasy feeling my lower abdomen.

If you’d have asked me if I wanted to do this I probably would have said no. I wasn’t a people person, and I knew it. But I also understood that I had to take steps forward if I wanted to be with Iron.

That was when it hit me.

I wanted to be with Iron.

There was something about him that not only made me realize that I felt incomplete, but filled that new hole.

Yes, I loved him. That was hard enough to admit on a good day. Now that feeling had an explanation, in a way. I realized the reason I loved him. What it was that made me feel that way. Or at least one of them.

“It’s like watching a captive animal being set free,” Rowan said causing my head to turn to the side and look at her. The girls giggled but I didn’t find it humors. “Come on, let’s go find your man.”

This time she didn’t touch me, choosing to lead the way and hoping that I would follow behind her. The other girls were at my back keeping me from turning around. While I didn’t want to run, I did feel very… unsure… about walking inside.

We entered through the front door.

There were a good number of people around but I had seen it fuller before.

The air seemed to go silent the moment I walked in.

I knew I had this effect on people and I wanted to do nothing to change that.

I couldn’t help but wonder if it would once they realized I was here to be a part of this gathering.

“She doesn’t know what to do,” Royse whispered behind me.

“Approach it like you would if you were locked up,” Rowan said with a shrug.

“I’ve never been arrested,” I stated coolly while giving her a look that let her know I didn’t understand her point.

“Find the biggest, baddest motherfucker in here and throw down,” she clarified. “But maybe not fight. Just stare him down and stand your ground.”

“I don’t think that’s a good idea,” Varda said with a tiny giggle.

“Maybe you’re not wrong,” I said to Rowan as my eyes scanned the area until they landed on a man that I’d seen before. He was big, built like a fighter. I could see him as a club protector and he seemed to fit the bill. But there was something about him holding a baby that seemed to take away from all of that a little bit.

Whoever I was looking for, he wasn’t in this room. I wasn’t exactly sure who I was searching for, but I knew I’d know him when I saw him. And I had an idea forming in my head for when that time came.

“Ladies,” Charming said as he walked over with a cold beer in his hand. “Petra.” He held my gaze and gave me a respectful tip of his head.