Page 1 of Tempest (Dixie Reapers MC #21)

Tempest

The sight of Kasen sitting with an unknown man at the café across the street made my blood boil. I gripped the handlebars of my Harley Davidson Road King, knuckles turning white as I fought the urge to storm over there.

Who the fuck was this guy? I watched them laughing and talking like old friends. Every fiber of my being screamed at me to intervene, to protect what was mine.

But Kasen wasn’t mine. Not really.

I inhaled sharply, trying to regain control. My fingers flexed, itching to throttle something. Someone. The tension coiled in my muscles, ready to spring into action at a moment’s notice.

My eyes narrowed as the stranger leaned in closer to Kasen. Too close.

“Easy,” I muttered to myself, though the growl in my voice betrayed my inner turmoil.

I had no claim on Tank’s daughter, no matter how much I wanted her. How much I’d always wanted her, even when I shouldn’t have. But seeing her with another man awakened a primal possessiveness I could barely contain.

The roar of my bike’s engine would be so satisfying right now. A warning. A challenge.

I resisted. Barely.

My gaze remained locked on Kasen, drinking in the sight of her. The curve of her smile. The toss of her hair. Memorizing every detail as if it might be the last time I saw her.

Because if I gave in to this rage, it just might be.

Kasen’s laughter rang out again, a melodic sound twisting something deep in my gut. She leaned forward, gesturing animatedly as she spoke to the stranger. Her eyes sparkled with mirth, her whole face lighting up in a way I’d rarely seen.

“Damn it,” I muttered, my teeth grinding together. The sight of her so carefree, so open with this unknown man, felt like a knife to the ribs.

Who the hell was he? Some clean-cut pretty boy, by the looks of it. No patches, no ink visible. Nothing like the MC life Kasen had grown up around.

My mind raced, possibilities flashing through like gunfire. A boyfriend? A date? Just a friend?

Each option stoked the fire of jealousy burning in my chest. I shouldn’t care. Kasen wasn’t mine to claim. But logic had no place in the storm of emotions threatening to overwhelm me.

“You’re off-limits,” I growled under my breath, though whether I was talking to Kasen or myself, I couldn’t say. “Tank’s daughter. A club princess. Untouchable.”

But God, how I wanted to touch her. To stake my claim. To show this interloper and the whole damn world that Kasen belonged with me.

The rational part of my brain, buried deep beneath layers of possessive fury, knew I needed to take a step back. She wasn’t mine. But watching her laugh with another man felt like a betrayal of something I’d never even had.

As Sergeant-at-Arms, it was my job to protect the club and its family. Kasen was both. The urge to march over there, to drag her away from potential danger, rushed through my veins like wildfire.

I let out a soft growl, trying to reason with myself. This little prick wasn’t a threat. Too damn soft. I could probably break the fucker with one hand. I needed to keep my ass right where I was -- watching from a distance.

The consequences of overstepping would be severe. Tank would have my head if I made a scene over his little girl. And the club… well, they’d start asking questions I wasn’t ready to answer.

I tore my gaze away from Kasen, trying to focus on anything else. The café’s outdoor seating area bustled with life. Servers weaved between tables, trays balanced precariously. Laughter and chatter filled the air, a stark contrast to the tension coiled within me.

The street was no better. Cars crawled by in the mid-afternoon traffic. Pedestrians hurried along the sidewalks, wrapped up in their own little worlds.

All of it -- the noise, the movement, the life -- felt distant. Unreal. My entire universe had narrowed to a single point -- Kasen, who was completely oblivious to my presence.

My heart slammed against my ribs. I felt like a caged animal fighting for release. I gritted my teeth so tight I thought my teeth might shatter. This wasn’t me. I didn’t lose control, didn’t let emotions rule my actions. But something about Kasen…

“Fuck,” I growled, low and guttural.

I shouldn’t care. She wasn’t mine, had never been mine. Just a kid with a crush, off-limits in every way that mattered. But watching her now, all grown up and laughing with some stranger, it felt like a sucker punch to the gut.

My fingers twitched, aching to reach for a cigarette, anything to occupy my hands and calm the storm raging inside me. But I couldn’t risk losing sight of her, not even for a second.

Then it happened. Kasen leaned forward, her delicate hand brushing against the man’s arm. It was casual, probably meaningless, but it sent a jolt of electricity through my body. My vision tunneled, narrowing to that single point of contact.

“Jesus Christ,” I hissed, my heart thundering so loud I was sure the whole damn street could hear it.

The bike beneath me vibrated, responding to the tension in my body. I forced myself to breathe, to loosen my death grip on the handlebars. But I couldn’t tear my eyes away from Kasen, from the easy way she touched that man.

It shouldn’t matter. It didn’t matter. But try telling that to the green-eyed monster clawing its way up my throat.

My mind raced, weighing options. I could storm over there and show this nobody who he was dealing with. But the consequences…

“Fuck,” I muttered.

Tank would rip me apart if he thought I was sniffing around Kasen. No one dared touch his triplets. Hell, I hadn’t even been aware any of them had been on date before. Did he know where his precious daughter was right now? Who she was with? Would he approve of her being with someone like this kid?

But the sight of her, laughing and carefree, made my blood boil. What if this guy wasn’t what he seemed? What if Kasen was in danger? He didn’t look like he had enough muscle to do much harm, but that didn’t mean he wasn’t the brains behind some sinister operation.

I flexed my fingers, fighting the urge to reach for the knife at my belt. “Get it together,” I muttered to myself. “You’re the Sergeant-at-Arms, not some lovestruck teenager.”

The title sat heavily on my shoulders. I had responsibilities, a duty to the club that came before everything else. Even my own wants. Even Kasen.

But as I watched her lean in closer once more to the stranger, something primal roared to life inside me. My protective instincts warred with club loyalty, leaving me frozen in indecision.

“Goddamnit, Kasen,” I whispered, my voice rough with emotion. “What are you doing to me?”

I kept my eyes locked on Kasen and her companion, cataloging every gesture, every laugh. The way she tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. The slight tilt of her head as she listened. I was gathering intel, I told myself. Nothing more.

Suddenly, Kasen’s gaze swept across the street. Our eyes met, and the world seemed to freeze. Electricity sparked through the air between us, charged with unspoken words and hidden desires.

Her eyes widened slightly, recognition flashing across her face. I saw her breath catch, saw the slight tremor in her hand as she reached for her drink.

“Tempest?” I saw her mouth my name, barely a whisper.

For a heartbeat, I forgot how to breathe. Then the moment shattered as her companion said something, drawing her attention back. But the damage was done. My resolve crumbled like ashes in the wind.

Did she know? Could she feel this magnetic pull, this invisible tether drawing us together? I couldn’t confront her now, not with that unknown bastard sitting there. But later… later, I’d get her alone. I’d make her explain what the hell was going on.

My mind raced, plotting out scenarios. I’d catch her leaving the cafe, or maybe outside her place. Somewhere private, where I could let this simmering rage and confusion boil over without risking the club interfering.

With a sharp inhale, I made my decision. The Harley roared to life beneath me, a beast awakening. The engine’s growl matched the storm of emotions churning in my gut -- anger, jealousy, desire, all tangled up in a knot I couldn’t unravel.

I cast one last look at Kasen, committing her face to memory. Then, with a twist of the throttle, I peeled away from the curb, leaving nothing but the echo of thunder in my wake.

The wind whipped past as I tore through the streets, my mind a chaotic mess of conflicting thoughts. Kasen’s face haunted me, her wide-eyed look of recognition burned into my retinas. I pushed the bike faster, harder, trying to outrun the storm inside me.

The clubhouse loomed ahead. I pulled in, killing the engine with a savage twist. The sudden silence felt oppressive.

“Yo, Tempest!” Thunder called from the picnic table. “You look like you’re about to murder someone.”

I ignored him, striding toward the clubhouse door. “Where’s Tank?” I growled.

Thunder’s eyebrows shot up. “Inside. Everything okay?”

I shouldered past him without answering. The cool dimness of the clubhouse interior did nothing to calm the fire in my veins. I scanned the room, zeroing in on Tank’s hulking form by the bar.

“We need to talk,” I said, my voice low and tight. “Now.”

Tank’s eyes narrowed, assessing. He nodded once. “So, talk.”

I reached behind the bar for a mug and poured myself a beer, downing it in one go. Then I slammed the mug down.

“What’s got you so worked up?” Tank asked, his tone deceptively casual.

“Your daughter.”

“Which one?” he asked. “In case you forgot, I have three.”

“Kasen.”

Tank’s expression hardened. “What about her?”

“She’s out there, with some guy. Some nobody.”

Tank’s eyes narrowed. “And?”

“And I thought you should know,” I said, struggling to keep my voice even. “Didn’t look like the type to be in a club.”

Royal snorted into his drink. “Since when do you care about the girls’ social lives, Tempest?”

I shot him a glare that could have melted steel. “It’s called looking out for family, asshole.”

Tank stood slowly, his imposing frame towering over me. “Kasen’s a grown woman. She can see whoever she wants. Within reason. But I’d be fine if she never wanted to leave home.”

“But --”

“But nothing,” Tank cut me off. “Unless you’ve got a damn good reason why I should be concerned, I suggest you drop it.”

The challenge in his voice was clear. I clenched my fists, torn between spilling everything and keeping my mouth shut. “I thought you’d want to know,” I muttered finally, backing down.

Tank studied me for a long moment, his expression unreadable. “Thanks for the heads-up,” he said finally. “Now why don’t you go cool off? You look like you’re about to explode.”

I nodded stiffly, turning on my heel and stalking toward the door. I stormed out of the clubhouse, my boots echoing on the concrete. The sun beat down, intensifying the heat of my anger. I needed to hit something. Hard.

The newly built gym beckoned. I stripped off my cut, tossing it over a chair as I entered the stuffy room. The punching bag swayed slightly, taunting me.

I lashed out, my fist connecting with a satisfying thud . Again. And again. Each punch carried the weight of my frustration, my jealousy, my impotent rage.

Kasen’s face flashed in my mind. Her smile, directed at that stranger. My knuckles split, leaving smears of red on the bag.

“Fuck!” I roared, unleashing a flurry of blows.

I don’t know how long I stood there, pummeling the bag until my arms burned and sweat soaked my shirt. The pain in my hands was a welcome distraction from the ache in my chest.

“You trying to kill that thing?”

I whirled around, fists ready. Royal stood in the doorway, eyebrows raised.

“The fuck you want?” I snarled.

He held up his hands. “Easy, brother. Just checking you haven’t lost your mind completely.”

I turned back to the bag, landing another solid hit. “I’m fine.”

“Yeah, you look it.” Royal snorted. “This about Tank’s kid?”

I froze, then slowly faced him. “What?”

Royal shrugged. “You come in looking murderous, asking for Tank. Then you’re in here beating the shit out of that bag. Doesn’t take a genius.”

“You don’t know what you’re talking about,” I said.

“Maybe not,” he conceded. “But whatever’s going on, you need to get your head straight. We can’t afford our SAA losing his shit over some piece of ass.”

Red clouded my vision. Before I realized what I was doing, I had Royal pinned against the wall, my forearm across his throat.

“Don’t you ever talk about her like that,” I said, my voice more growl than anything else. I sounded, and felt, like a feral beast.

Royal’s eyes widened, then narrowed. He shoved me back, hard.

“Jesus Christ,” he muttered. “You’ve got it bad, don’t you?”

I turned away, running a hand through my sweat-soaked hair. “It’s not like that.”

“Bullshit,” Royal shot back. “Look, man, I get it. She’s hot. But she’s Tank’s daughter. You really want to go there?”

I slumped against the wall, suddenly exhausted. “It doesn’t matter what I want.”

Royal was quiet for a moment. Then he sighed. “Shit. You’re in deep, aren’t you?”

I didn’t answer. I didn’t need to.