Page 2 of Saige (Renegade Vipers MC #1)

One

Saige

I push a strand of my long, black, curly hair back behind my ear.

Sighing, I stare at the bed, trying to pick between two bikinis.

The clubhouse is throwing a huge birthday bash for Loki and me.

Stella had gone out and bought me a brand-new wardrobe, one that was more grown up and a little sexier, as she put it.

I laughed as I looked at some of the clothes now hanging in my closest. If that was a little sexier, I would hate to see what a lot sexier was.

I would probably be dressed like some of the club hoes.

Looking back at the bikinis, I realize I have to pick one.

Finally picking the green one with the little skulls on it, I put it on, then a pair of cut-off shorts and a Renegade Vipers MC tank top.

I put my hair in a French braid, put on a pair of sandals, and locking my room, head out to the common area.

As soon as I walk into the common room, Loki comes up and crushes me in a bear hug. "Happy birthday, BFF!"

Laughing and hugging him, I say the same back. "Now are we still on for tomorrow? I have everything set up, so if I have to sneak out I can."

"Yeah, everything is a go. I talked to Acer. He's closing up just for us."

"Yay! I'm so excited!"

Grange walks towards us saying, "Loki, Saige, you two need to be getting ready and getting your butts up to the lake.

Stella is going to have a cow if you don't get up there soon.

Everyone is already up there. Your dads are looking for you, the Nomads are here, and Pyro is going to drive Cotton or Tires to homicide. "

Laughing at Grange, we follow him out the door and get on the ATV with him.

The clubhouse is set on over two hundred acres of land and we have a big lake on the property.

The guys built a huge pavilion by the lake, with a large outdoor kitchen, bar, fridge, grill, and stove.

It has it all. There are even enough picnic tables to fit everyone.

Down closer to the lake are a couple of fire pits, and a beach area with sand for the kids to play and swim at.

They set up a rope swing and a dock. It’s one of my favorite places to go.

I always go to the huge weeping cherry tree that sits down by the shore.

After a ten-minute ride on the ATV we make it to the lake.

Laughing almost the whole way, because Loki and Grange are cracking jokes.

That’s nothing unusual. That was how Hoyt got the name Loki.

Growing up, me, Hoyt, and Cooper were all inseparable.

We were constantly getting into trouble, pulling pranks on some of the older brothers in the MC, and at school.

But at school it was a different story. The boys still goofed off and I did when I was with them, but I was kinda quiet when they weren't around.

It wasn't until Cooper turned seventeen and graduated that things changed up a little.

He and his best friend, Cotton, began to prospect after their four years in the Marines, and it didn't take long before they were given babysitting duty over me and Loki, who were in our senior year at high school.

Cotton wasn't one to joke around much. He seemed to hate me from the minute he saw me.

He was always short with me, and only talked to me when he had to.

Which broke my heart. I was in love with him and had been since I was fifteen. I sigh.

"You okay?" Loki asks giving me a little nudge.

I look up startled. "Yeah, I guess I got lost in my thoughts there for a minute. Sorry, Loki. "

We get off the ATV and he puts his arm around me as we look around. Everyone from the MC is here. Most of the Nomads, and even some of the Black Forest charter are here.

"Damn, Mom made sure they went all out for this didn't she?" he asks.

I barely smile as I look around. There're too many people here. I'll go crazy. I see our dads and Tires. Bumping Loki with my arm and nodding in their direction, we head that way, his arm still around my shoulders.

"There's my baby girl. Happy birthday, sweetheart!" Dad says as he kisses me on the cheek.

"Thank you, Daddy." I smile. Happy birthdays are given to the both of us by everyone in the group.

Even Cotton. Loki and I thank them all. They are all talking and joking.

I look over at Tires, asking, "Hey, do you need any help at the garage?

I can do the books, answer the phone, inventory, help draw up some designs or paint, whatever. "

"Are you serious, sis? I thought you wanted to make cakes?"

"Well, I can still make cakes and help you out. It's not like I’m going to open up a bakery or anything. I don’t know how well one would do. I... "

He looks at me like I’ve grown horns. " Sis, you draw better than I do! Stella had you make your own birthday cake, but she decorated it."

"You make the best damn cakes, bread, cookies, pies, and candy I’ve tasted. You’d do great with a bakery," Cotton states.

Surprised, I stutter. "O-oh, th-thank you. "

"Why do you want to help out at the garage?" Tires asks.

"I just need to get a little more money saved before I can put the down payment on the building for the bakery that I really do want to open," I reply with a grin.

"Yeah, you can help out some." He grins back at me.

"Saige, my darling!" Pyro draws out a scream as he comes out of nowhere, picking me up and swinging me around. “You look beautiful, my birthday goddess!”

Laughing, I smack his arm. “Put me down, you great big oaf.” Pyro laughs as he does, though he keeps his arm around my waist, holding me close.

He’s another one that’s close to me and Loki, causing a lot of mischief.

He’s great looking, tall, muscular, but not overly so, with blonde hair that he keeps dyed flame red in a faux hawk, and the deepest blue eyes you’ve ever seen.

You could almost drown in them. Pyro got his name the old-fashioned way, of course.

He loves to play with fire and anything that goes boom.

So he’s the go-to guy if there’s ever any need for explosives. Which isn’t often.

“Hey, are we all still on for tomorrow night? I went and bought a new outfit to wear just for you, my beautiful girl.”

I blush deeply.

Before I can get a word out though, Cotton asks, “What the hell do you mean, still on for tomorrow night?” Everyone looks at him. Loki and Tires are ready to step in if a fight breaks out, while Cruz and Stone exchange a knowing look.

I finally find my voice, but instead of answering Cotton, I look to my brother and dad, stating, “Loki and I were asked to go to Myst with Poppy, Lilly, and their guys. You know, the crew from school, to celebrate our birthdays. Loki is taking Sloane with him, and I didn’t want to be the only one without a date, so I asked Pyro if he would like to go with me.

That way I still have the two full patched members with me that you like. ”

Stone and Cruz both nod their heads. Tires is watching his best friend’s reaction to this .

“What’s it matter to you anyways, Cotton? You aren’t a prospect assigned to protect her at all times any more. She isn’t your girl or old lady. So why go off the way you just did?” Pyro asks, getting angry.

“I may not be assigned to protect her anymore, but I am VP of this club. Her protection is always important to me. She is my Pres’ daughter, my best friend’s sister, and my friend. And who the hell are you to question me?”

“Okay, guys. That’s enough. Pyro, if you keep this up, I won’t take you. I’ll ask Lynch to go with me instead.”

Cotton stands there smirking, while Pyro is looking thunderous.

Loki is grinning like he has won the lotto. “Sis, let’s go swimming before Stella hollers at us to come eat, yeah?” I nod and follow him down to the beach area.

There are several brothers and a few old ladies down here swimming, some of them watching kids, of all ages.

“Sai! Sai!” I look up as the cutest little girl comes waddling towards me as fast as her little legs will go.

“Hey, sweetpea! Have you been playing in the sand?” I pick her up and kiss her cheek, hugging her.

“Yeth. Momma saith that I can. I buil a cathle.”

“You built a castle? You’ll have to show me.

” I put her down and we follow little Bethany over to her castle and her mom, Beth.

Bethany had stolen my heart from the time she was born.

Beth and I are good friends, her dad is another brother in the MC, and I babysat Bethany while she went to classes to finish up her schooling.

We chat for a bit, then Tires and I go over to a spot by ourselves.

“There are just too many people here today, Coop. My anxiety is so high.” I melt into him as he pulls me to him and hugs me.

“That’s what I was afraid of. Did you take your meds to help ward off a migraine? I told Dad you may very well end up with one because of all of this.” He pulls back and looks into my green eyes, so much like his own.

I smile. “Yeah.” The last thing I want, or need is one of those vicious things to pull me under right now.

“Good deal. Hopefully it’ll keep you from getting one.”

“I don’t know, all the stress from Pyro acting like he is lately, Cotton acting like he hates me but still looking out for me, trying to get my bakery up and running. It’s getting to be too much.”

“I can talk to Cotton and Pyro for you.”

“Don’t you dare! I am a Farrell. I can handle them. If I feel like I need help, then I’ll come to you. ”

He grins at me. “Yeah, okay. Let’s get in the water.” He already has his swim shorts on and waits for me to strip down to my bikini. “Holy shit, Sis! Where did you get that? Has Dad seen it?”

“Um, no, not yet. It’s part of the new wardrobe Aunt Stella bought me. What’s wrong with it?”

“Nothing really. I’m just not used to seeing you in something that revealing, and you know that Dad will probably go berserk on Stella.

Hahaha. You look beautiful. You always do.

It just shows that you truly are a woman now.

And it means I might have to kick a few asses if these guys don’t put their eyes back in their heads!

” I smile and run into the water with him following me.

Cotton

I’m about ready to break this little punk’s hands if he doesn’t get them off Saige! And who the hell is he to question me like that! I may not be assigned to protect her anymore, but I’ll always protect her. Thank God Tires took her over to go swimming. Stone gives me a chin lift to follow him .

“What’s up, Pres?” I ask when we are a good bit away from the others but can still see Saige and Tires.

“Care to tell me what that was all about back there?”

Sighing and running my hand through my hair, I look at him.

“I honestly don’t know. I have so many feelings going through me right now.

The biggest one being rage when I see anyone touching her.

I don’t get it. I know I’m not good enough for her.

I’ve done things I’m not proud of, and I know she deserves better than me.

But I also know that she deserves better than that ass clown who is likely to blow himself up one day too. ”

“Cotton, I want to tell you something. God forgives us for our sins, all we have to do is ask. You must learn to forgive yourself as well and let go of this guilt, because it wasn’t your fault, Son.

There was nothing you could do. You have to believe that.

Now as for not being good enough for my daughter, I must disagree with that as well.

If you decide to follow your heart and go for her, I give you my blessing. But if you hurt her….”

I look up at Stone and nod. “Understood, Sir. Thank you. “

“Now let’s go and talk to Cruz and Lynch about that run we have coming up…. What the hell is she wearing?”

I look over to Saige as Stone explodes and all I can do is stare.

She is gorgeous. Standing there in a dark green bikini with skulls on it.

She’s covered completely where it matters, but oh man, her body is banging!

Just looking at her I am instantly hard.

I turn away and start counting in my head.

Finally, I hear a splash and I know that she’s in the water.

I walk over to Cruz and we go get Lynch.

I need to get my thoughts and feelings straightened out, and I sure as hell can’t do it while staring at her.