Defiant Loyalty (Comanche Sons Motorcycle Club Book 2) Read online

  “What kind of a trouble?”

  “Her brother is trying to kill her.”

  “Some family, huh?” Mathew cracked his knuckles. “What’s the deal?”

  Chance told him some details, but he didn’t give too much information. This wasn’t his story. He felt an overwhelming need to protect Riley’s privacy. “We just went in to file a complaint, and the police will investigate it now.”

  “The police can’t do shit. A guy who has been clever enough to evade them for that many years isn’t going to come into their grip so easily.” Mathew began to pace. “You know that we take care of our people. Sure, she isn’t a part of our club, but you are. If you tell us that she is your old lady, we would be duty bound to protect her. We would give you men who would stay with you and her, and you know that some of our guys are battle hardened. They would make mincemeat out of any pansy who tries to take a bite out of her.”

  It was a tempting offer. Getting help from the club would ensure Riley’s safety. That was more important to him than anything. Chance was aware that if he took on this offer, he would bind himself to the club in more ways than one. If he got any help, he would be required to give support when they asked for it. Still, he felt inclined to say yes. The only reason why he didn’t was because he wasn’t sure what Riley’s reaction might be. If she realized that more people were involved in her life, she might run away sooner than she’d planned. He couldn’t imagine her being ok with this decision.

  He simply couldn’t do it unless she agreed.

  “I don’t think that will be necessary, Mathew. Thank you for the offer.”

  Hearing his words, Mathew scowled. Chance could see that he wasn’t happy. Perhaps he’d thought that if could convince Chance to accept his help, he would be able to have a greater say on his involvement with the club. Ever since he joined, Mathew was busy looking for ways to bind Chance more closely to their business. Perhaps he thought that an ex-army man was bound to be a big asset. Whatever Mathew’s reasons, Chance simply didn’t want to agree to any plan without first thinking about it and discussing it with Riley.

  For a few minutes, there was silence in the warehouse. Vaguely, Chance was aware that two of Mathew’s men moved in behind him. He tensed. These men were hard, and it wouldn’t be that easy to fight his way out.

  “You let me know if anything changes,” Mathew said with a nod.

  Chance breathed a sigh of relief. There was to be no fight today. “Thanks, Mathew.”

  He turned to leave. His gaze met one of the guys. A smile played on the other man’s lips. Chance really felt as if he’d dodged a bullet. “Chance,” said Mathew, causing Chance to turn to face him, “if you ever go the police again, I expect to hear it from you, not from someone else.”

  Chance nodded. “Sure, but they will come and investigate this matter further.”

  “That’s fine. As long as the matter remains limited to your girlfriend’s issues, we don’t have a problem. But we would prefer it if you didn’t get involved in anything yourself.”

  Chance didn’t like the ultimatum, but he didn’t have much of a choice. After he chose to join the club, he’d agreed to work according to their rules. It was silly to now make waves here for a girl who might not stay long enough for him to have a meaningful relationship with her, and he didn’t want to kick away his only means of income without a good incentive. “Sure, Mathew. It won’t happen.”

  He walked out and ran a hand through his hair, as he made his way out on the main street. Sometimes he wondered if he’d made the right choice in getting involved with this bike club. At the time he came in, it sounded like a great option. He loved to ride with them, and the money they paid for giving supplies to their bars was good enough to meet all his needs. Now, however, he felt a little suffocated within their ranks. They had their rules and regulations, and no one could go against them—even at the cost of one’s personal life.

  Still, Chance was reluctant to make the decision to move away. This wasn’t the time to do so. From the warehouse, he went to one of his suppliers of meat. He picked up the delivery, got a cab, and rode all the way to one of the bars that was owned by the club.

  “Hey, Simon. I’ve got your delivery.”

  Simon was old but still tough. He’d been a member of the club from its inception. “Thanks, Chance. You’re never late. It’s good to know that I can count on you. Hey, listen, did you hear any rumblings from the brass?”

  Chance sat on the stool. “What do you mean?”

  “There’s going to be a big change, boy. Not all of us like the direction this club is going. Ever since Mathew has become the boss’s right hand, we’ve had trouble after trouble. I tell you, we’re doing so well with the bars, what’s the point in getting engaged in deals that are bound to lead to trouble?”

  “What kind of deals?”

  “Shady work, boy. From what I’ve heard, Mathew is in talks with one of the gangs who operate out of Harlem. They want to take over some of the distribution of drugs, and there is a meeting set in a week to discuss the terms of the agreement.”

  Chance felt a prickle of unease. Drugs? He certainly didn’t want to deal with anything that shady. Sure, he’d become a little lenient about the law ever since he was thrown out of the army, but that was his personal business. He didn’t approve of selling drugs to young people who would lose their life because of it.

  “That’s not good, man.”

  Simon picked up a glass and wiped it. There was a determined gleam in his eyes. “It sure isn’t. I tell you, there’s something wrong with Mathew. Ever since he has taken over all this, he has been goading the boss into making the wrong decisions. Why is more money so important? We’re doing well enough to support all our members and that should be enough. I don’t want trouble with the law.”

  The boss, Rick, was the main head of the bike club. He was the founding member, and he was the one who recruited Simon and other old hands. Initially, they did nothing but ride the bikes, but slowly they opened a bar and then another and then another. The club had enough income from the bars to support the bike races and other things that they did.

  “Why don’t you talk to the boss?”

  “I’ve talked with him until I was blue in the face,” said Simon with a sneer. “There was a time when he used to listen to us, but now all he does is talk to these young boys, and let me tell you that they are not on the right path.”

  “What can we do about it?”

  “Oh, we’re already doing something. A bunch of us have gotten together and we’re holding meetings of our own. Soon, we will announce our plans.”

  Chance had heard about trouble, but until now he never knew for sure if it was rumors or if something was happening. “What kind of plans?”

  Simon leaned forward. “We’re going to demand a separation.”

  Chance ran his hand over the counter, feeling uneasy. He didn’t think Rick or Mathew would take kindly to the idea of some people separating away from the Comanche Sons. They liked the absolute control they wielded, and what’re more, they would never be willing to give up on the assets that the club had gathered over the years.

  “That’s a risky take, Simon. They would come down hard on you.”

  “We’re not wet behind our ears.” Simon put the glass down with such force that Chance thought it might break. “Do you think we can’t take care of ourselves?”

  Chance knew that he’d pissed off the old man. Slowly and sadly, Simon was pushed to the background as new blood came in and took over. Obviously, he didn’t like it. Chance didn’t blame him for feeling that way, but he also wanted him to be careful. Openly challenging Rick was going to invite trouble that they might not be able to handle. “You guys are strong enough, but these guys don’t play by the rules. They will do things that you haven’t even dreamt of. Just be careful.”

  “If we do that, will you come with us? We will take away one bar under our control, and we would like people like you to come and wor
k with us. You’re reliable and efficient, and best of all, you stay away from law-breaking activities.”

  “I would love to do that,” he said. Chance meant it. It would be nice to work with someone who wasn’t on the edge of getting into trouble with the law. “But I urge you to be careful, Simon. These people would do anything to maintain control. They are not going to give up easily.”

  Simon banged his hand on the counter. It was obvious to see that he wouldn’t back down so easily. Well, neither would the other side. Chance’s instincts told him that there was trouble brewing, and for some strange reason, he felt that he was right smack in the middle of it. “Don’t worry about us. We’re veterans of this game. If they think they can easily intimidate us, they are sadly mistaken.”

  “Good luck!” said Chance. He stood. Something in his heart told him that this wasn’t going to end well. He wished that he could do something about it. “Let me know if there is something I can do to help.”

  After he left, Chance picked up some other stuff and delivered them to the right places. He ended up at Riley’s bar. She was working the crowd. As always, he was amazed by her grace under pressure. No one could have looked at her face and figured out that she was under so much stress. She laughed and joked, smiled and flirted, and the people lapped it up. It was obvious that she was in her element. As he took his usual place, she flitted by.

  “Hey, handsome. How is it going?”

  It was easy to see that she’d already forgiven him for their fight. That was a good thing about her; she didn’t hold a grudge for long. Seeing her, the familiar flame of desire sparked in his heart. He wanted to take her in his arms and inhale the sweet scent that always enveloped her. With an effort, he managed to control his primal urges. “It’s all good, beautiful girl. Ready to come home?”

  She checked her watch. Her lips looked luscious and pink. He wanted to run his tongue over them and taste the recesses of her mouth, but he knew that he would have to wait. Public displays of affection weren’t his style or hers. “I’ve got another thirty minutes before my shift comes to an end.”

  “I will wait,” he said.

  She opened her mouth and then closed it. Something told him that things between them would go through a lot of ups and down before everything settled down. He still didn’t have a clue as to which direction their relationship would go, but he was willing to wait and see.

  It was all he could do given the current circumstances.

  Chapter Three

  Riley wasn’t happy living in Chance’s house. Not that she had some major problem with it, but rather she felt out of place in his home. He tried to make her feel comfortable, but she missed her kitchen, her bed, and the art supplies she kept stocked in her cabinet. When she moved in with him, she didn’t think to bring those with her. Her fingers itched to sketch. It was an activity that soothed her whenever she was stressed.

  He unlocked the door and ushered her inside. “What’s wrong?”

  Riley dropped her purse on the counter. She rolled her shoulders to ease out the tension that knotted her muscles. Ever since the attack, she had been on hyper-alert. Every sudden move startled her. Even in the bar, she felt uneasy, as if someone was looking at her. It wasn’t possible, of course. Her brother couldn’t be keeping an eye on her. She would have seen him if he’d come into the bar. This reaction was just normal terror and dread. Anyone in her position would have felt just as paranoid.

  “It’s nothing.”

  “Tired?”

  She hated that he cared so much.

  She loved that he was so concerned.

  When it came to Chance, everything both amazed and irritated her. More than anything, she was appalled by her reactions to him. He was the only man who managed to break through the barriers that she carefully constructed over the years. The longer she stayed with him, the more dependent she was on him. She didn’t like that feeling. It made her jumpy.

  “A little bit,” she replied. “It was a long night. There was a lot of people at the bar tonight, and I kept feeling as if they were discussing something important. A lot of times people actually became quiet when I went to deliver the orders. Something is up.”

  “You’re not far off in your estimate.” He filled her in on his conversation with Simon. She had the distinct feeling that he left something out, but since she had her secrets, she didn’t mind if he had his. Well, ok, so she did mind a bit, but she wasn’t in any position to protest. If she asked him to explain more, he might demand something from her that she wasn’t prepared to give. “There’s trouble brewing in the club. I wonder how long it will go on.”

  “Comanche Sons are not very patient. I bet they are going to explode and curb the resistance before those guys have a chance to line all their ducks in a row.” Riley took out a bottle of water from the fridge, filled her glass, and drank deeply. “I don’t think Simon and his friends have a chance in hell of separating. The assets are important to these people. They wouldn't let go without a fight.”

  “That’s exactly what I told Simon.” He moved in behind her. His hands settled on her back, and before she could protest, he began to knead her muscles. As his fingers moved over her sore muscles, she actually felt a gasp escape her lips. Until he touched her, she didn’t really realize how tense she had been. Her skin hummed under his fingers and she stretched, much like a cat. He pressed, and she sighed. It felt glorious. “I can bet that someone or the other is going to get hurt. I just hope it’s not Simon. That guy has been with the club for the past fifteen years. It would be a shame if he got nothing in return for years of loyalty.”

  The way his fingers stretched and pushed, she wasn’t able to concentrate on anything else. Her mind was blank. “Hmmm…sure.”

  He removed his fingers, and she felt the loss of his touch. The brief contact awakened desire within her body. She turned around and put her hands on his chest. Under her fingers, his heart beat, so steady, so perfect. Passion and need exploded in her gut and made her nearly dizzy. His lips captured hers in a kiss, and forgetting everything else, she focused on the way his mouth roamed over hers. A storm spiraled inside her veins, and she allowed it to spread deeper into her body. His lips were hot on hers, and his tongue danced against hers. She matched him stroke for stroke, feeling the excitement and pure pleasure run through her nerves. When he lifted her and carried her into the bedroom, she didn’t murmur a protest.

  Their lips remained fused together, as he set her on the bed. Finally, when she was down, he lifted his head and looked down at her. Their gaze met and held. There was so much passion in his eyes. She was lost in the midst of it. It almost felt as if he could stare deep into her heart and read every emotion. Putting her hands on his shirt, she fiddled with the buttons and undid them even as he continued to look at her. His control was remarkable. Sometimes he took her so fast that she was left breathless with exhaustion, and there were other times when he took long, delicious minutes to kiss and nibble his way over her body. Each time was different, exciting.

  “You’re beautiful,” she said.

  He shrugged out of his shirt. Seeing his hard abs, her pussy clenched in response, and she felt the moisture leak down and drench her panties.

  “Wasn’t that supposed to be my line?” he asked.

  She sat and with one sharp tug, she took off her dress and threw it aside. “I don’t really care. What I see and feel, I say it.”

  “And that’s what I love about you.” Since he was busy fiddling with the buttons of his jeans, he didn’t see her reaction to his statement. Love? Was he thinking along those lines? Riley didn't think she was prepared for such intense emotions.

  After stripping off his jeans, he also took off his boxers. The sight of his long, hard cock wiped all thoughts from her mind. She was now a willing victim of the desire that careened through every inch of her body.

  Reaching behind her, she took off her bra and then wriggled out of her panties. Riley was delighted to see his eyes glaze over as h
is gaze settled on her curves. Over time, their passion had not dulled. With each passing day, she felt more excited whenever she gazed at him. Naked, they stared at each other.

  Riley breathed. They were frozen in time. Since he seemed unable to move, she slipped off the bed and sauntered over. Now that he had awakened the desire, there wasn’t anything else she could do but scratch this itch. Each time she thought it would be her last. She wanted to move out and away, but he held her in some fiery grip that refused to relax. When she reached him, she gripped his cock within her fingers and felt it vibrate. He gasped and she closed her lips over his mouth. The kiss was hot and passionate, and as she tasted each nook and cranny of his mouth, she pumped his cock.

  Chance lifted his head and looked down at her. “You drive me crazy,” he breathed out the words.

  “Funny. That’s exactly how I feel.” She could feel his penis vibrating within her fingers. As she touched the tip of his penis, a bead of moisture leaked through. He was ready. She could feel it. As was she. Riley turned around and put her hands on the bed. Invitingly, she raised her hips and wriggled it. “Come on, tiger. Make me happy.”