She whirled around and saw him seated on a couch. “I’d prefer to sit here,” she replied, holding the back of the chair.
“I wouldn’t. Get over here.” His tone left no room for argument. Grudgingly she went over to the couch, sitting on the far end. “That’s a good girl.” He gave her a cocky grin, and she bit the inside of her cheek. “Now what can I do for you?”
She began by asking him basic questions, like how often he was at the clubhouse and the workings of the club. Of course he was evasive about the club’s business, but she’d known that would be the case.
“If the department wanted you to have a home away from the club, would you get one?” she asked as she jotted down some notes.
“If it meant I could have Chenoa with me, fuck yeah.”
“Do you have a girlfriend?”Whoa. Where the hell did that come from?
He stretched his long legs out. “Does the county wanna know, or do you?”
Crimson colored her cheeks. “The county,” she lied.
“I got a lot of women, but no one special… at least not yet.”
“How long have you and Mika been divorced?”The department doesn’t give a shit about that either. I’m so out of line.
“We were never married. Did she tell you we were?”
“She led me to believe you’d been.”
“Nah. I was sixteen when she got knocked up. I dropped outta school to work on a ranch full time to provide for her and Chenoa. We were planning to get married when she turned eighteen. I got my GED and the rancher promoted me to supervisor. I thought I had the bull by the horns.”
“And you didn’t?”
“I’ve learned when you have that feeling it means something’s gonna go to shit. I went over to her house one day and found her and my best friend fucking up a storm. I beat the shit out of him and walked away from her, but never from Chenoa.”
“That must’ve been awful.” She uncrossed her legs.
He shrugged. “It was a long time ago.”
“How did you end up in the Night Rebels?”
“I started the club about twelve years ago. I left Alina and went to Pinewood Springs, where I joined up with the Insurgents MC. I’d still be there if my mom hadn’t gotten sick. I left to take care of her, but I missed the brotherhood a lot. I called up Banger—he’s the president of the Insurgents—and told him that I’d like to start an MC in Alina. And here we are. We’re affiliates with the Insurgents.”
“And no doubt you’ve given yourself to thebrotherhoodwholeheartedly.” Her words came out harsher than she’d intended.
He stared fixedly at her. “Did a biker fuck you over?”
“What?”
“You’ve had an attitude toward me since we met at the hospital that first night. Lady, you don’t like bikers. Did you date one and he preferred his Harley over you?”
Her face reddened as she crossed her arms over her chest. “First off, my name is Breanna not ‘lady.’ And no, I didn’t date a biker. My father was one and he chose the MC, his Harley, booze, and women over his wife and four kids.” Satisfaction spread through her when she saw his face fall slightly.
He whistled softy. “Fuck…. It must’ve been tough growing up like that.”
“You think? Anyway, it’s in the past, but I do have a bad taste in my mouth when it comes to bikers.”
“I get it, but not all bikers are jerks like your dad. I’m a biker and I’m dying to have my daughter in my life full-time. There’re a lot of lousy dads and they’re not all bikers. I know. Don’t squeeze all of us out because of your old man.”
“We’re way off topic here. I’ve said too much. This interview isn’t about me.”
“You scared to talk about yourself? Why the fuck do you keep hiding behind your cool exterior? The way you kissed and responded to me last night told me what I already knew—you’ve got a raging fire inside you, babe.”
“That’s inappropriate.” She ignored him when he sneered and shook his head, glancing down at her clipboard instead. “Chenoa’s doing well so far. I hope she can stay clean. I know how hard this has been on you and Mika.”
