Prologue.
Harlequin
“Jinx!” Chance bellowed, making everyone jump.
I bit back a smile and turned towards Jinx. He stood by the clubhouse doors, looking completely puzzled. I could see him mentally checking everything off.
“Wasn’t me this time, I’ve not broken anything!” Jinx replied cheerfully. A chuckle escaped me before I could stop it. Jesus, I fuckin’ loved that man.
“You little asshole!” Chance yelled as he appeared in the doorway carrying… oh crap! In Chance’s arms was Olivia, wearing bright pink paint.
“Hey, I didn’t do shit!” Jinx shot back as Chance held Olivia at arm’s length.
“Were you asked to put the paint away?” Chance demanded as Olivia wriggled in her father’s grip with a grin. She was covered from head to toe, and I winced at the thought of getting her clean again.
“No,” Jinx replied.
Chance frowned, and then his expression grew angry. “Lying to me, boy?”
“What the fuck? No! I wasn’t asked,” Jinx exclaimed.
I straightened and headed towards them. In this, I could back Jinx up. “Pres, Runner was told to put them away,” I said as Chance glowered.
The big president of Hellfire MC looked at me for a few seconds.
“Runner claims Jinx was asked.”
“Runner’s lying,” I stated baldly. Worry creased Jinx’s brow as he bit his lip. He was a few years younger than me, and I treated him like a little brother. An annoying younger brother!
“Jinx?” Chance demanded.
“Pres, I don’t want to cause trouble…” Jinx said, and we both snorted. Trouble followed Jinx, and I grinned.
“Tell the truth because lying to your president is a punishable crime,” Chance declared.
Jinx swallowed hard and nodded. “It was Runner that Bear asked.”
“Get on with what you were doing,” Chance ordered and began walking away. We both nodded and headed back to mowing the lawn.
“Thanks, man,” Jinx said softly.
“Jinx—Runner and Clark have it in for you. They’re already on warnings, and if they can take someone else down with them, they will. They’re not what Hellfire wants in the club, and they know it. It’s only a matter of time before they’re bounced. Don’t let them drag you down with them. Stand up for yourself,” I said.
Jinx nodded. “I like it here.”
“Yeah, that’s obvious. Do as you’re ordered, keep your head down and do what you’ve been doing. Clark and Runner won’t be here too long, I can guarantee that,” I replied confidently. That was a pretty safe bet. Both had already received a beatdown. Runner for running his mouth when Willow and Fanatic movedinto their house. Clark for trying to buy Grey’s (Willow’s dead old man’s) Hog, despite being told no.
Both now held grudges. And now they’d lied to their president. They wouldn’t be prospects for much longer. Taking my own advice, I got on with the mowing. I wanted to keep my place in Hellfire and had no desire to lose it.
Chapter One.
April
“What do you mean, they’re laying people off?” I demanded as worry swamped me.
“Rumours are going around, and we’ve all been called to a meeting in ten minutes,” Macey said.
I placed my bag down. “This is bad, isn’t it?” I stated. That was an understatement. Shit, who’d have believed nurses would be laid off? Medical staff were always in need.
