Page 10 of Fox (Road Rebels MC 4)
“And you’re sure about this,” Hawk said.
“About as sure Mac is about keeping us all cooped up here ‘til this shit blows over,” Snake said.
“So… about seventy percent,” I said with a grin.
“Enough,” Mac said. “I get it. Everyone’s pissed because we live in the same space. I hear you. No stop bitching about it because it’s not changing until we can clean this shit up.”
“That lawyer’s been able to get them off of every charge thrown their way,” Hawk said. “I think Laiken and Snake are right on this. I think we should turn our sights on Daniel Carmichael.”
“Okay, but first we gotta establish some boundaries,” Talon said. “Maybe it’s just Gemma being pregnant and all, but I’m not willing to take anyone else other than him down. Does this Carmichael guy have a family?”
“From what Laiken’s told me, yes. A wife of almost thirty years and a daughter,” Snake said.
“We don’t touch women and children anyway, Talon,” Mac said.
“But we have put them in some crazy situations to get ourselves out of them. We don’t hurt them, but we’ve run over them a time or two to push our own agenda. I’m not willing to do that this time around,” Talon said.
“I’m with him,” Hawk said. “I think it’ll be easy to do this without threatening his family or anything.”
“They’re just threats,” Mac said.
“No threats. We don’t touch them. That’s the only way I go through with this,” Talon said.
“Fine. No familial threats. Any other pussy requirements?” Mac asked.
“If there aren’t any, I’ve got some pretty interesting news myself,” I said.
The floor was silent as everyone turned their heads towards me.
“Well, go on then. What is it?” Mac asked.
“I went out tonight to blow off some steam at Chester’s,” I said.
“Oh, shit. I haven’t been there in ages,” Snake said.
“They still got those fucking wings?” Talon asked.
“Their tap beer is awesome. I forgot that place fucking existed,” Hawk said.
“Focus assholes,” Mac said. “What happened at the bar, Fox?”
“I met a hot fucking girl, that’s what happened. Got along with her great and everything. That was who I was with when you called tonight,” I said.
“Oh shit. Fox almost got laid. No wonder he came in here all pissy,” Hawk said.
“At least he’s getting some. Gemma’s a dry well right now,” Talon said.
“That’s my fucking sister you’re talking about, you pussy piece of dick,” Snake said.
“Fox, what the hell does you almost getting laid have to do with any of this?” Mac asked.
“Well, I got along with this hot girl pretty well. Got her number and promised I’d call her,” I said.
“Is he serious about this shit?” Hawk asked. “Fox, look. We’ve got some important stuff to deal with here. Either get to the punch line or get off it.”
“Wanna know her name?” I asked.
The guys all groaned, but Mac’s eyes were hard on mine. I saw his cheek tick with a small grin as our thoughts synced up. He knew what I was about to say. I could see it in the way his eyes sparkled. I had just made this venture easier than fucking possible, and I was going to get laid in the process.
It was a win-win for everyone involved.
“What’s her name?” Mac said.
“What the fuck?” Snake asked.
“Is he really entertaining this shit?” Talon asked.
“Harlow Carmichael,” I said.
The room fell silent as the guy’s heads whipped back around to me.
“What the fuck did you just say?” Hawk asked.
“Harlow Carmichael. The girl I met tonight who I promised I would call. Her name is Harlow Carmichael.”
I could feel the tension in the room as Mac began to chuckle and shake his head. I felt my own grin creeping across my face as I eyed every man in the room. This was our ticket out. This was how we were going to close this fucking deal down. We had a way in that didn’t harm anyone involved, and we had an avenue to exploit without any familial threats going down. I knew that would happen to this club eventually. With the core members of the group getting selfish and fucking around without protection, it was only a matter of time before we pussied out. Became wimps who weren’t willing to do what was necessary to protect our own.
But I had a way to bail them out this time. So long as I got to say my piece about the whole thing.
I settled back into my chair and let the shocked silence roll over me. As the guys stared at me with wide eyes and unhinged jaws, I thought about Harlow. About how I would entice her into my bed and fuck her until her imprint forever etched itself into my mattress. I thought about those curves. How they molded to my body as she straddled my lap. Fuck. I could still feel her warmth against me. I could still feel her arms wrapped around my waist. I could still feel her cheek pressed against the swell of my back.
Now, I had a reason to call her back. Now, I had a reason to fuck her senseless. Now, I knew my stance on this entire thing.
Give the girl a run for her money, show her a good time, then use her to unthrone her father from The Devil’s Saints.
And if I played my cards right, I could even get her to agree to everything. I could get her to see what her father was actually doing, and I could turn his own damn daughter against him.
Holy shit. Thank the fuck for Chester’s.
Chapter 10
Harlow
My phone vibrating against the hardwood floor pulled me from my slumber. I groaned and stretched; my eyes were caked shut with sleep. I sniffled as I cleared my throat, my arm reaching around for the phone rattling on the floor. I could feel the brisk morning sun tapering through the blinds of my apartment, fluttering against my body. I picked the phone up in my hand as my heart thundered in my ears. Maybe it was him calling. Fox. To see how I was doing or to see what I was up to this evening.
But instead, it was my father.
“Hello?” I asked.
“Sweetheart, you owe me ten bucks,” I heard my father say.
“What?” I asked.
“Your mother and I had a running bet going on. She thought you would be up already, but I told her you had your own space and would create your own schedule. Clearly, I was right.”
“I can hear your grin,” I said.
“Good, because it’s there. How was your first night at the apartment?”
Lonely. Depressing. Late. Empty.
“It was what it was. I’m still a bit achy from yesterday,” I said.
“Have you started unpacking many of your things?” my father asked.
“That’s for after I get up and get coffee.”
“You got your coffee maker hooked up yet?”
“Nope. I’ll have to wake up long enough to drive and get something from somewhere.”
“You want me to bring it to you?” he asked.
“You’re not secretly outside already holding it, are you? Because I love you, but I know you didn’t call to check up on this apartment.”
“No, I’m not standing outside your apartment with coffee. Your mother stopped me at the door this morning. So sue me if I want to check up on my daughter.”
“I’m fine, Dad. But you do have to let go a bit. I literally saw you fourteen hours ago,” I said.
“I’m just worried. I’m your father. I’m allowed to be worried.”
“You’re just not allowed to bug me with your worry,” I said.
“Walk me through your day. You know, like we always do over coffee.”
“There’s no coffee,” I said.
“Just humor me, Harlow. Okay?”
“Fine,” I said as I sat up.
I drew in a deep breath, trying to wake myself up and keep my tears at bay. I couldn’t tell my father how I was actually doing. Because then that meant giving him some sort of synops
is of what happened last night.
And that shit was flying. Mostly because I was a terrible liar and he would pull it out of me like he always did when I was younger.
“I’ve got the long weekend to unpack, so that’s what I’m gonna do with it. I’m gonna get off this couch-”
“You slept on the couch? Why did you sleep on the couch?”
“Dad. I slept on the couch because that’s what I felt like doing,” I said. “Television, wine, food, and the couch. That okay with you?”
