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CHAPTER NINE

TARGET

Killing the engine, I swing my leg over my bike, removing my helmet. Running my fingers through my hair, I take in my surroundings.

Sweat covers my skin as it is hot as balls out today. Sweat trickles down my back, and my balls are screaming to be freed and aired out.

Pushing through the door of Rugged Ink, the scent of the ink, blood, and body sweat hits my senses. When Rugged Ink became successful in Fort Lauderdale, thanks to Jace, and then Zeb and Lee joined the team, it was pushed to open one here and start a club franchise.

I am all for it because the tattoo shop brings in some serious cash, especially with Lucas, Cleo, and Victor. Those three are a fucking riot when they get going. Lucas brings in the college girls and some older ladies who want a try at having a young man please them.

Cleo is a busty chick with blonde hair with purple tips and is covered in tattoos. She is mouthy and most men love that and fall to their knees for her. Then there is Victor, who is our gothic man, his words not mine.

Long black hair that is pulled into a ponytail now and then. Dark tattoos cover his skin, black or purple nail polish covers his nails, and he wears eyeliner and fuck me, the freaking guys and chicks come in flocks to see him.

“Long time no see, brother.”

“I knew you would miss me.” I wink.

He laughs, waving me off, before bending back over the man lying in his tattoo chair.

“What can we do for you, Target?” Cleo asks.

“Hey, beautiful,” I greet her.

A deep growl comes from behind me, and I wink at Cleo.

Looking over my shoulder at him, I keep a smirk firmly in place. I rest my forearm on the reception desk, giving off a relaxed vibe.

“Can I help you, man?”

He glares at me with narrowed eyes, and I can’t help but chuckle. “You need to keep your fucking eyes off my woman.”

Dressed similar to me, in ripped jeans, biker boots and a fucking cut that I do not recognize, I eyeball the man, trying to get a read on him.

I arch a brow, turning my had to look at Cleo, who is glaring at the man enough that she could cut him at the knees.

“I am not your woman, for fucks sake, War. We have had a few nights together and yes you fucked me stupid, but you do not come into my place of work and claim me,” she yells at him, crossing her arms in front of her body.

“The fuck I can’t. It was me making you scream, my name you were calling out, and it was my cock that you came on,” he calls back to her, anger coating his voice.

Well, the man has a way with words and by the look on Cleo, she is liking the dirty talk.

“Okay, calm the fuck down, yeah. Listen, man, you do not come here and blast what you did to our girl in front of her clients.”

“She is mine—” he cuts me off.

I stand to full height, keeping my posture relaxed, not to escalate, but making it known that I will not back down.

Cleo looks behind me and I know that both Lucas and Victor have joined us. The fuckhead looks between us all, then glares at Cleo.

“Are you fucking these guys too?” he snarls.

“So what if she is? It is a fucking free country; she can fuck whoever she wants,” Victor growls from behind me.

“Jesus.” Cleo rolls her eyes. “I am not fucking them, not that it is any of your business. Just leave, War.”

“Man, I suggest that you listen to her. She is not one to mess with on her period, if you get me.” I here Cleo gasps, but the guys snigger behind me. “She turns into a banshee and will chop your balls off, and I mean not with a fucking blade, my man. A blunt object, if she can.”

“Oh, God. Shut up, please,” Cleo whines, but I keep the smile off my face.

“Fine. I will leave, but we will talk about this, sweetheart,” he says on a promise then leaves before anyone can say anything else.

“Woman, you need to stop letting jacked up men like that into your bed,” Lucas mutters.

I look to him and see over his shoulder his client was posed and ready to jump in if needed. When our gazes connect, I give him a subtle nod of thanks, then look to Cleo.

“Where did you find that one?” I make light of what just happened to ease the tension in the room.

She groans, leaning against the table behind her.

“We hooked up a few times, but there is just something about him that keeps calling to me.” Her eyes look sad.

“Why are you looking like he kicked your puppy, then?”

“I have some trust issues that I need to work through, and I am not sure he is ready for my kind of crazy.” This time she grins at me.

“Hey, now, we all have a little bit of crazy in us, babe. Plus he looks like a biker, so I am sure that he is used to some kind of crazy.” I wink, making her giggle.

She pulls her shoulders back, shaking out her body, smiling at me.

“Oh, believe me I know. I have been around the clubhouse, remember? You guys only fuck women who carry a truck load of crazy.”

“What can I say, the Rugged Skulls like to party on the crazy train, sweets.” I wink at her.

The club can get beyond fucking crazy when we party.

The shit I have woken up to could be made into another Hangover movie and make me millions.

I remember when Flame was missing half of his hair after one party, because he pissed off some hang around.

After calling her by some other woman’s name, when he fell asleep, she shaved his head.

Savage once woke up with a fucking sparkly dildo in his ass, while wearing a purple tutu. We still, to this day, have no idea what happened. We chalked it up to another party at the Rugged Skulls MC clubhouse.

We party hard because we work hard. When the Original Rugged Skulls started this club, they made it known that all members had to pull their weight, no slacking off allowed. They set up the businesses, and we have expanded on that, in honor of them.

Fuck, even Tank left his mark on the club starting Rugged Towage, which is run by his son-in-law Link and his brother Landon.

We are not only a motorcycle club, we are a family.

My head was not in a good place when I left the Army, and I was losing myself, and Ruth took the brunt of that, but the club pulled me from that black shitty hole and showed me that being home wasn’t all that bad and I could find myself again.

“What brought you here today?” Cleo’s voice breaks through my thoughts.

“I need to add to my back. Had some time so I came here to see if you had some space or if I needed to make an appointment.”

She flicks through the appointment book, then back to me.

“We are fully booked today. The guys and I are back-to-back. Victor has a three-hour space tomorrow. That any good?” I nod.

“Fuck yeah, book me in sweets.” She smiles, adding my name to the book.

I say my goodbyes, then walk down the sidewalk to the coffee shop that Savage’s cousin owns. Caffeine is a definite must right now.

“Afternoon, Target,” June greets me from behind the counter.

“Morning, darlin’.” I return her smile.

Stepping to the counter, I take in the tray of sugary goodness that I need in my gut along with a truck load of coffee.

“What can I get you, hun?”

“Damn, these look good, June. What to have. What to have.” I chant, bending at the waist to look in the display unit.

“My rhubarb bars are new. They go well with a coconut latte,” June says.

“When have you ever known me to have a fucking latte, babe?” She grins at me, as I tilt my head up to look at her.

She giggles and I wink, making her blush.

June is trans and so far, no fucker has messed with her. I also think that having people know that Savage is family keeps their mouths shut. We, and I mean the club, have supported her through her transition and helped open her cafe.

“Fine.” She waves me off. “It will still go well with a black coffee.”

“I will take three, plus three of those pink blob things.”

“They are my favorite ones. With a biscuit bottom, marshmallow covered in pink chocolate. My Pink Blooms.” Pride shows on her face when I look at her.

“I will take five then.”

“I would say you will pack on the weight with all these treats, Target, but I have seen how much you work out.”

I lift my up shirt flashing her my abs, making her cheeks tint pink more.

“You are a show off, Target.”

“You know it, baby. If you’ve got it, flaunt it. And you my sweet June, have it.” I bounce my eyebrows, making her laugh.

“You are also a big flirt.”

“Damn straight I am. Life is too fucking short to be serious all of the time.” Sliding my coffee across the counter to me, she boxes up my treats. “June, live the life that you want to life. As long as you are not mentally or physically hurting anyone, then fuck it. Be you, darlin’.”

“Thank you, Target. With Savage being a part of you club you all took me under your wings, and I will always be truly grateful for you all.”

“We will always have your back.” Taking out my wallet, ignoring the stern look June is giving me, I set a fifty on the counter, winking, then collecting my coffee and treats, turning to leave.

“You know this is going in the tip jar, right?” she calls after me.

Turning as I reach the door, I grin.

“I know, but you should not go short on profit for the club. You and the staff work your butts off. Later, darlin’.” Using my back, I push through the door, squinting at the sunlight.

Setting my coffee on a nearby table, I pull out my sunglasses. Setting them on my face, shielding me from the day’s sun, a familiar giggle catches my attention from across the road.

Walking with an older gentleman on her arm is my Madalyn. She is dressed in a floral summer dress that clings to her body like it was made for her, wedged sandals, and her hair is half up in a clip, the rest curling down her back.

A smile slips across my face, my body reacting to seeing her looking so fucking delicious. I will get her under me with my dick buried so deep inside of her, she will feel me for days.

What I felt for Ruth all those years ago is nothing compared to the shit that is swirling around inside me when I am close to Madalyn.

She brings out feelings inside of me that I thought had been buried in the sand when on deployment, but fuck me, here I am drooling over some chick that I barely know, but that only makes this thing between us so fun.

I stand watching Madalyn interact with the man, and the sense that they are familiar with each other sparks a plan in my head. I smirk at the them as they look in a store window, knowing that she does not know what is coming her way.

Oh, baby, this is going to be fun.