Page 12

Torrent

“Drift, that shipment is coming in tomorrow. We need to make sure we’re ready. No fucking mistakes.”

I drop into the chair at the head of the table, the worn leather molding to me like it was built for this weight, my weight. I lean back, arms crossed, my mind already racing through contingency plans.

Drift doesn’t flinch. “Nothing to worry about. Finch, Crab, and Riptide have it handled. They’re grabbing the shipment and bringing it back to Savage Steel.

Gideon will load everything into the second van and take the wheel.

Crab, Ganges, and Cetus will ride front and tail to the drop. It’s covered, Prez. Don’t stress.”

The title used to feel heavy. Now it’s second skin. Having Drift as my VP was one of the easiest decisions I’ve made since founding this chapter. He’s sharp, loyal, and thinks five steps ahead. The club’s pulse is strong with him watching our back.

“Good.” I nod once. “How are the custom guns coming?”

“Again, nothing to worry about.” He leans back, arms wide, like he’s lounging in his own living room. “Everything’s right on track.”

He shifts in his seat to face me, one brow cocked like he’s got something brewing. “So, you gonna tell me what’s going on?”

My gaze narrows. “What do you mean?”

He tilts his head like I’ve lost my damn mind. “With you and Tessa.”

Just her name in the air sends a fucking ripple through my chest.

My mind flashes back to last night. Her body trembling under mine, the soft way she whispered my name, the way she kissed me like I was salvation and sin rolled into one.

I’ve been with women. Slept with more than I should’ve. I’ve been in love before. But nothing, nothing, compares to what it felt like to be with her. There’s a fire behind her sweetness, a quiet strength that calls to something in me I thought had died with my past.

I shake my head slowly, a grin tugging at my mouth. “Nope. That’s none of your fucking business.”

Drift lets out a laugh as he pulls a cigarette from his pack, offering one to me. I take it, light up, and let the nicotine drag some of the tension out of my spine. But it doesn’t settle the thoughts.

“She’s everything I hoped she’d be,” I say after a long breath, my voice quieter now. “And nothing I expected. She’s under my skin, man.”

Drift watches me like he already knew that. Maybe he did. I’m not exactly subtle.

“I’ve never felt like this before,” I admit, letting the words fall. “And that’s saying a lot.”

Drift nods, blowing smoke toward the ceiling. “You deserve it, Torrent. You’ve walked through the flames of hell. It’s about time you got a taste of something good. She fits in, too. Everyone liked her at the party. She held her own. She’d make a solid ol’ lady.”

The laugh escapes me before I can stop it. “Yeah, she would.” I rest my cigarette in the ashtray beside me. “But I’ve got to ease her into this life. She’s tough, I’ve seen that. She can handle it. But she needs to believe she can. I’m not throwing her into the deep end before she’s ready.”

“She got any friends?”

I snort. “Not that I know of. I’ll keep my eyes peeled, though.”

We both laugh, but there’s truth behind the words. I’d give this woman the world if I could. And if that includes finding her a tribe of her own in this place, then I’ll make it happen.

The door creaks open, and we both glance up as Finch strolls in like he’s in charge. He throws himself into a chair and kicks his boots onto the table.

“What are you ladies talking about?” he asks with a grin.

I narrow my eyes and shove his boots off the table. “If I still wanna keep you as SAA.”

He bolts upright like I just threatened to skin him. “Shit, what’d I do?”

“You’re an idiot,” I mutter, but there’s no heat behind it. “What’s up?”

“I just finished that custom Glock,” he says, eyes gleaming with pride. “Thing came out badass. Was gonna lock it in the safe when I saw the Hellcat still sittin’ there. Thought you were giving that to Tessa?”

“I am.” I flick ash into the tray and take one last pull. “It’s staying safe for now.”

Because the time needs to be right.

Because Tessa’s not just some woman I’m fucking. I’m claiming her. And when I hand her that gun, it won’t just be for protection.

It’ll be a vow.

One I intend to keep.

I stub out the last of my cigarette, letting the silence settle for just a beat before I speak.

“Alright, enough of this love life shit. Go keep eyes on the shop. I want someone on-site and someone in the back watching the cameras at all times. I don’t like how quiet things have been lately.”

Drift nods without question, already rising. “On it.”

Finch doesn’t argue either, for once, and just says, “You got it, Prez,” as he grabs his keys and heads out with Drift.

I pull my phone from my pocket and shoot off a quick text.

Me: Picking you up after work. Don’t make me wait, pretty girl.

The reply comes seconds later.

Tessa: You miss me that bad already?

I grin to myself, thumb flying.

Me: You have no idea.

Tessa: ;) Can’t wait.

It makes something shift in my chest. Something warm and fucking real.

Hours pass, filled with the usual chaos. Checking inventory, finalizing drop logistics, signing off on work orders. But my mind keeps drifting back to her. I can still hear her laugh in my ears. Still feel the way her hands clutched at my back like I was the only thing tethering her to the earth.

By the time I’m parked out front of her job, my knee is bouncing with energy.

She walks out, spotting my bike before her eyes land on me. The smile she gives me makes it all worth it. Every second. Every scar. Every battle I’ve fought, just to still be standing.

“Hey, handsome,” she says as she slides onto the back of the bike, wrapping her arms around me.

I don’t say anything, just reach back, squeeze her thigh, and pull into traffic.

But I don’t take her home.

We ride through the darkened streets until Savage Steel comes into view, glowing like a beacon in the dusk. I feel her tense slightly behind me, but she doesn’t question it. She just holds on tighter.

We pull up, and I cut the engine. She hops off and looks around, brows raised.

“We're at Savage Steel?”

I nod, resting my hand low on her back as I lead her inside.

“Wanted to bring you somewhere important.”

We walk around back, and I take her into a door she hasn’t been before, the door to our clubhouse. As soon as we walk in, the sound of laughter greets us. The guys are in the lounge area. Drift with a beer in hand, Finch arm-wrestling Crab, Cetus watching and talking shit.

“Your clubhouse,” she whispers, looking around.

“Tessa!” Drift calls out, standing to give her a one-armed hug. “Look at you, showing up all pretty and shit. We were starting to think Torrent was keeping you all to himself.”

She laughs, as her cheeks turn pink. “He’s so damn bossy.”

“Oh, she’s the reason for your good mood,” Finch mutters, giving me a wink as he grabs another beer from the fridge and offers it to her.

“Damn good to see you again,” Cetus adds. “You made the last party feel like less of a sausage fest.”

Tessa snorts, settling onto the couch like she’s been there a hundred times. They talk to her like she’s one of us, like she belongs. I stand back for a moment, watching the scene unfold.

The way she jokes with them, the way they respect her without trying too hard, the way her eyes flick toward me every few seconds like she’s making sure I’m still close. It hits me deep in the chest.

She’s it.

And this? This is ours.

After a while, I lean down and murmur in her ear, “Come with me.”

She follows without question, and I take her through the door that leads to the back room where the guns are worked on. I go to the safe and punch in the code, the metallic click loud in the quiet room.

I open the door, reach in, and pull out the matte black Hellcat.

Tessa’s eyes widen slightly. “You’re trying this again?”

I nod, stepping closer, curling her fingers gently around the grip. “I told you this was yours. I meant that.”

She looks down at it, then up at me with a small, serious smile. “It’s not that I didn’t want it before, I just wasn’t sure what it meant.”

I close the safe and face her fully, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear.

“It means I trust you. That I want you protected. That I see you walking beside me, not behind.”

She breathes out, the weight of the moment settling over her.

“When do you want to learn to shoot?”

She looks at the gun in her hand, then meets my eyes with that familiar fire. “Tomorrow.”

I grin, full and unguarded. “Good girl.”

The next morning comes fast, and by the time the sun crests over the edge of the city, I’m already loading up the black duffel with everything we’ll need. The Hellcat, ammo, ear protection, and targets.

Tessa walks in just as I zip it closed, wearing those tight jeans and a fitted tee that makes my jaw clench. She has no idea what she does to me.

“You ready, baby?” I ask, giving her a once-over that lingers far too long on the curve of her hips.

She bites her bottom lip and nods, clearly trying to look confident. But I see the nerves behind her eyes. Not fear. Not of me. But of the weapon. Of what it represents.

I reach for her hand and tug her closer, pressing my mouth to her forehead. “This is about control, Tessa. You hold the gun, not the other way around. I’ll be with you every step.”

She exhales slowly, leaning into my chest. “Then I’m ready.”

Fifteen minutes later, we’re at the private range out behind Savage Steel’s compound. It's just us, no distractions, no spectators. The shooting lanes are well-maintained, the silence broken only by the occasional chirp of birds and the creak of old wood settling.

I set up the target and hand her a pair of protective glasses. When I turn to hand her the ear protection, my fingers graze the side of her neck. She sucks in a breath, her eyes darting to mine.

But I keep it together. Barely.

“Put these on,” I say, my voice already thick with something heavier than instruction.