I Dare You To Meet Me
Chapter 21

…Friends are the family we choose Tasha…

…You are not alone kitten, you will always have someone to trust me…

…This is Reykon, he’s the one responsible for keeping me alive…

…You’re the best boxer Niko, I’ve never seen you lose…

…I don’t have a good feeling about this fight, please let’s just go home…

…That was my grandfather’s bike, it was the only thing he left me, but my father sold it to buy more beer, I need it back, you understand right?….

…And tonight’s winner is Nikolai “Nightmare” Orlov!…

NIKOLAI, WATCH OUT…

…What were you doing on Friday night, miss?…

…Young Orlov has been declared dead on his way to the hospital, we are very sorry for the loss…

…No, no, no, no, no…

…Nikolai, don’t leave me, don’t you do it too…

…Niko…

…Niko…

…NIKOLAI…

-Tasha, wake up!

My eyes open and I stir in the arms of the person who is holding me. Sobs come out of my mouth but my eyes don’t shed a tear, I feel my heart pounding in my throat and sweat soaks my body.

-Niko, where is Niko, I need to see him. I say desperately.

-Tasha, breathe, it’s Hunter, you were having a nightmare.

Slowly I become aware of my surroundings again. The white walls of the room my father gave me in his club, the lack of light telling me it’s still early morning. The huge man full of tattoos who is hugging me while wearing only pajama pants. The fact that I am practically naked.

All of that gets pushed to the background when my best friend’s smile comes back to my mind. F**k, I was dreaming about Niko, but I would never see him again. He left with my family, when he said he wouldn’t leave me alone.

The feeling of abandonment I feel makes me collapse little by little, and without thinking my arms return Hunter’s embrace, clinging to him like I’ve never clung to anyone in my life.

-Nikolai is dead, he left me, he left me when he promised me he would never do it, he left me-. I started to babble, Hunter tensed with my words but only held me tighter while one of his big hands caressed my hair.

-Shhh, calm down, he wouldn’t want to see you like this because of him, beautiful. He tells me in a soft voice that I have never heard before.

-How do you know, you never met him. I say a little defensively.

-No, but if he was someone you loved so much, I’m sure he did too. And no one wants to see their loved ones suffer.

I nod my head buried in his neck, because he’s right, Niko wouldn’t have wanted to see me like this.

No one had ever pulled me out of the clutches of a nightmare, for the simple fact that no one was around when I had them. But Hunter had done it, he was in my room hugging me while comforting me.

Which reminded me…

-Hunter?

-Tell me precious.

-That I hadn’t left my door locked? I say glancing at the entrance and seeing it half open. The tattooed man tensed in my arms and I separated myself to be able to look him in the eyes. And I almost got lost in those deep onyx-colored pools.

-You were screaming Tasha, I thought something was wrong and you needed help, I kicked the door open and broke the lock, even with the crash you didn’t wake up. You were tangled in the sheets and screaming, over and over again, that’s when I realized it was a nightmare and I almost didn’t think I could wake you up. You scared the hell out of me, little girl.

I give her a small shaky smile.

-Thank you for waking me up, it’s been a long time since I woke anyone up because of my nightmares, I’m sorry for the inconvenience.

He shook his head and his hair flew everywhere, I resisted as best I could the urge to pull it back. But my fingers itched to see if it was as soft as it looked.

-My room is the one across from yours, I had the door open because I wanted to talk to you as soon as you came out, I couldn’t sleep and I was just lying there staring at the ceiling. That’s why I could hear you, don’t worry about anything, you are not a bother.

He says and I know by that he means our discussion earlier. I nod and a sort of peace settles between us. That is, until we are both aware of the short distance of our bodies and our lack of clothes.

-Tasha…

The biker says with a grunt and I can see that he is becoming aware of my nakedness, and though embarrassment runs through me, I make no attempt to cover myself.

-What, I don’t think I’m the first woman you’ve seen Hunter’s breasts.

I say frankly and watch him let out a caveman growl and close his eyes tightly.

-F**k Tasha. Since you’re already better I’ll leave to let you sleep.

He says as he pulls away from me and the absence of his body heat makes me shiver.

-Don’t go. I say out of the blue as I watch him walk towards the door and I close my eyes thinking about the stupid thing I have said.

-It’s not right for me to stay. He says and I know he does it thinking that he doesn’t want to take advantage of the situation.

I swallow nervously.

Okay Tasha, you’ve started this, now finish it.

-I’m not telling you to do anything, just, me, I don’t want to sleep alone, please…”.

I say that last thing in such a low tone that I don’t think he hears me. My eyes are fixed on my hands while I play with my fingers unable to look him in the face. F**k for sure he’ll think I’m a slut or a brat.

And my heart breaks a little bit when I hear him open the door and his footsteps, walking away. A long sigh escapes my lips as I let my back drop to the mattress.

Great Tasha, you just blew it, why did you have to tell him you didn’t want to sleep alone. Congratulations, you are officially the biggest idiot on the planet.

But the sound of wood opening makes me sit up again, ignoring my mind.

Hunter walks into my room, closing the door as best he can behind him. He is now wearing a t-shirt and has the t-shirt he was wearing today in his hands. A small smile curves my lips as he walks in my direction.

-He raises his arms. He orders and like a little girl I obey him and let him put it on.

Did I just obey a biker’s order, right after I asked him to sleep over with me?

Damn, it was most likely all the fault of the tequila that was still in my system.

Yeah, that was definitely it.

-Let’s go to sleep beautiful. He says and pulls me to lie down on my bed.

My back is pressed against his chest, and his strong arms embrace me in a prison where I can’t get out, his face is buried in my head and I can swear he deeply inhales the scent of my hair.

-Hunter, I… The nightmares… I say nervously.

-Shhhhhhh, rest doll, I’ll take care of your dreams.

And his tender words melted some of the ice in my heart and with a feeling of warmth that I had never experienced before I fell asleep in the arms of this huge man who had me so confused.

F**k, I’ve only been here for a couple of days, I don’t want to see what’s going to happen for the rest of the year.

(…)

-The Prez will rip your balls off and make you swallow them if he knows you got in his daughter’s pants-.

That comment was the reason I would leave my comfortable sleep.

The arms that were around me and keeping me warm and comfortable suddenly left my body as well as the presence on my back, I just gave a dirty look to one of the twins who was standing at the foot of my bed and looking at us between amused and serious.

-It’s not what it looks like.

Hunter blurted out, but before he could explain himself, the boy fixed his eyes on me and spoke again, ignoring him.

-Your father sent me to look for you, I knocked on the door and it opened. I never thought the woman who seemed to hate us to death would take so little time to get into bed with one of us.

A grunt comes from the biker next to me and I see out of the corner of my eye how he annihilates the red-haired man with his eyes.

-Demon…”. He says in a low and threatening voice.

Ah, so it’s the other twin, I thought it was the one who had shown me my room, my mistake.

-What, it’s true, you can’t say I’m lying when I’m seeing them with my own eyes. The Prez is going to be shocked when he replaces out what kind of person his little princess is.

-Drew!” Hunter exclaims in annoyance as he jumps up from my bed.

But I stand up to put myself in the middle of the two of them, not caring much about just bringing my panties and his shirt to cover me.

-Look redhead, what you just saw was nothing more than a misunderstanding, Hell and I didn’t sleep together last night. And even if we had, that doesn’t give you the right to talk to me that way. I have all the freedom in the world to sleep with whoever I damn well please and neither my father nor you can say anything about it,” I tell him as I stick my index finger in his chest.

-I decide about my body and I don’t care what a stranger may think about me. But I can see that you love to spread lies everywhere you go, for example that thing about telling Hades that I was a murderer was really classy man- I was sure that he was the one who had told my father about Niko.

-So go, and tell him that you saw his VP asleep in my bed while he was hugging me, also tell him that I was almost naked, even though he is fully clothed. That doesn’t matter does it? No, I guess not, the deaf can’t hear but well he composes. I care very little about your opinion of me, but don’t talk to me as if you know everything about my past just because you got a couple of little sheets of incomplete information. And just for the record, I never said I hated them, I just don’t like them, and with such a nice reception from everyone you alone can imagine the reason for my distrust.

I finished my speech giving him a look of indifference while I turned around and went into the bathroom to take a shower. I needed to get the sweat and the tequila smell off my body. As I turned on the faucet I heard voices through the door, followed by a few curses and then the sound of the door closing.

My hands removed my panties and the biker’s shirt. I reflexively brought it up to my nose and inhaled his scent just as he had done with me last night.

Delicious.

I shook my head and dropped the garment next to my panties. Stop daydreaming Tasha. I jumped into the water and hurriedly washed my skin, erasing all evidence of last night. Even the biker’s scent that I still felt permeating my skin.

I got out after a while as I wrapped my body in a towel. Once in my room I saw how neither of the two bikers were around. I went over to my suitcases, (which I had not yet unpacked), and put on clean underwear. And just wearing it I set about putting everything away in the closet at once. For I had had enough of having to search for every little thing I would need among the luggage.

As I was putting away clothes, shoes, accessories and so on. I chose the outfit of the day. A leather skirt that came to mid-thigh, a white blouse with a round neckline and sleeveless, fishnet stockings, and my beautiful military boots. I left the clothes on the bed to put them on when I was done. And I was just doing so when the door to my room was opened for the third time in the last few hours.

-Tasha, your father…”.

But Hunter’s words died before they were spoken. He just stood there looking me up and down with a spark of desire in his black eyes.

Come on biker, if you saw me with less clothes on last night, you shouldn’t be so surprised.

-Did you lose something Hunter, or can I help you with something?

I say as I cross my arms and see him arching an eyebrow. Hell fixes his gaze on mine and smacks his lips, a gesture I replace most sexy.

-The Prez says he wants to see you downstairs in his office, and if you’re not there in two minutes he’s coming up.

He says, but his voice is low and husky. It makes my breathing quicken and my breasts feel heavy.

-Okay, get out so I can get dressed, tell him I’m coming.

He gazes at me again before looking at me with a wolfish grimace.

-Are you sure I can’t stay, I’m enjoying the view?

-I imagine so, but no, outside. I roll my eyes at her heartbreaking tone.

-Princess…

-Get out! I say to disguise my lack of self-control towards this man.

He just nods and doesn’t take his eyes off me on his way out of the room. Finally I’m left alone, and I hurry to get dressed.

Lest another biker gets the idea of coming to visit me.

I brush my long hair and think it’s time I cut it a little. I don’t put on makeup because I don’t have the time or the mood. And finally I go out to look for the bitter man who claims to be my father.

As since I arrived, several brothers look at me as I walk the halls of the club, but I just ignore them. Only one of them manages to turn me on with his gaze, and he is not among them.

I finally get to the office, and it seems that this is the place of misfortune, because every time I go into it I always come out fighting or angry.

…Just let it flow and don’t let their words affect you, people feel important when they realize that their words have power in you….

Darren’s advice comes back to me, and determined to lead a day without negative emotions I knock firmly and only enter when a forward is heard.

The scene is the same as yesterday. My father at his desk AND the redhead I now recognize as Drew sitting in front of it, only this time Hunter is leaning against one of the walls of the place with his arms crossed and his gaze lowered.

-Good morning, I thought you wanted to talk to me.

I say in a calm tone and I can read the surprise on the faces of the three men. The distrust in Hades’ face.

-Sit down Tasha, our discussion yesterday didn’t end as it should have and I need to apologize for it.

I make my way to the chair as I answer him.

-Are you talking about how you accused me of being a murderer, or are you apologizing for breaking your word and digging into something that didn’t concern you, either way, don’t worry, past tense, everything is fine.

I say and sit down as I cross my legs. My father looks at me with arched eyebrows and disbelief painted all over his face.

-I’m sorry for my words Tasha, but I needed to know for the safety of the club.

-Yes yes yes yes yes yes yes, the club always comes first, isn’t it?” I say sarcastically and I notice how he tenses up, “Don’t worry about it Hades, I already told you everything is fine, I’m going to live here for a year and the last thing I want is to be getting along like cat and dog with you. I finish and he nods carefully as if measuring how true my words are.

Well, I’m very serious, I don’t want to get gray hair from stress, I’m too young and beautiful for that. Now that didn’t mean I would have a relationship with him, I just want to keep the party peaceful.

-And if you really want to know what happened, I’ll tell you, because it doesn’t affect me at all if you know. Nikolai Orlov is the boy who is dead. He died of a cerebral hemorrhage from a bad blow to the head during an illegal fight in the Russian underground. He was my best friend and my brother. Our friendship was known to everyone who lived in that f*****g house home and I was the first choice for questioning when his body was found. Hence the f*****g police search, but they found no evidence of anything so I was declared innocent and left alone. The killer was never arrested and the case was just closed as another case of a rebellious teenager losing his life in a fight.

I tell the story in a bored voice even though inside I want to start sobbing and ask Hunter to hug me again like last night.

The three men look at me with wide eyes and all have the decency to look away looking embarrassed.

-I’m sorry. My father starts but I interrupt him.

-Don’t be, his death had nothing to do with you, and it’s a matter that has already been settled. Did you want something else or can I go now?

My father gives a sidelong glance to the human torch and the onyx-eyed biker before looking at me seriously.

-Drew told me that he found you in a very compromising way with Hunter this morning, so I sent him to look for you.

He says and I arch an eyebrow while tilting my head.

-What do you mean, I can’t allow one of my men to approach you like that just a few hours after meeting you, a young lady like you should be treated as such and….

-First of all, nothing happened between me and your VP, he heard me having a nightmare and he stayed with me because I asked him to, he never tried to get out of line and if he did, I know how to defend myself. I already explained it to your Intelligence Officer but now I am telling you. Secondly, you give me all this lecture as if I were still fifteen years old and a virgin ignorant to s*x- A low growl is heard but I ignore it and continue- I assure you that if at some point I feel like f*****g it won’t be with one of your men and it definitely won’t be under this roof, so stay calm. Anything else or I can go to breakfast now?

My father’s face is a poem, he is completely blushing up to his ears along with the twin sitting next to me. They both have a look of dismay on their faces but a spark of annoyance crosses my father’s eyes.

-With whom… You don’t know what, I don’t want to know, I’ll go to jail for years if I hear that answer. One last thing before you go, yesterday a guy came and left a sheet with an address in your name, he said that because of politics he couldn’t deliver it here so they left it as close as they could-.

He handed me a piece of paper and I took it with a smirk.

-Thank you, see you.

And without waiting for any answer I left the office and headed for the kitchen, where several bikers were already sitting at the tables having breakfast.

Redhead number two saw me and motioned me to sit next to him.

I didn’t hesitate to do so, he and Theodoro were the only ones who had treated me well since I arrived.

No sooner was my butt sitting in the chair when I already had a plate full of scrambled eggs, sausage, fruit and sweet bread in front of me. I didn’t see who put it down but I guessed it had been one of the sweet asses that wandered between the brothers as they waited on them.

I was enjoying my meal with a pleasant chat about motorcycles with Drey when through the door came his brother, Hunter and my father.

And even though everyone stops for a second to say hello, I go about my business. Anyway, I had already seen them this morning.

The seat to my right is empty, but soon a body fills the place, out of the corner of my eye I can see Hunter’s huge body sit down, a plate with twice as much food as mine appears and he devours it without saying anything.

The red-haired man is no longer talking to me, as he is engaged in an argument with his twin who sat in front of him. I’m almost done with my plate when the tattooed man decides to speak to me.

-So you weren’t with one of your father’s men, eh, it’s not what it looked like last night when you came in drunk.

He says in a casual tone, but I see him and notice how he doesn’t look at me while he says it.

-I told you I wasn’t drunk, dazed maybe, but I didn’t get to that point. And no, I really don’t want to hook up with a club member, having an affair with a biker is the last thing on my list of things to do.

This time he does look at me and the annoyance can be read in his features. Is he mad that I told him we’re not going to have anything, does he want to sleep with me that badly?

-Well, I don’t think any of the brothers would want to take a little princess as Old Lady, so you’re right not to mess with any of them.

Although I was annoyed by the cynicism in his voice I couldn’t help but ask.

-What is an Old Lady?

-It’s the title we give to our women here. It is our idea of marriage, when a brother replaces the woman he wants to spend the rest of his days with he gives her his vest with a patch with her name on it and the girl in question becomes his Old Lady. That’s what we call them instead of wife.

He tells me and totally indifferent continues to eat. I nod and think to myself, did my dad give mom a vest, I guess so, because no one calls her by her name at the club. Kore I think they call him. I’m curious about the nickname but I don’t want to ask.

-If Hades asks I had to go out, they can dial me anything, I would give you my number to give him but I saw it in the folder with my information so I don’t think it’s necessary. Provecho-.

I get up from the table with intentions of going to get my truck to talk business with Trenton.

Maybe what I proposed to him was alcohol induced, but I was sober now and I was sticking to my idea of acquiring the bar. I needed something to keep me busy this year.

A hand held me back as I walked away.

-Where are you going? Hunter asked in an angry tone and loud enough for the twins to look at us curiously.

What a bipolar man, I’m tired of him.

-I told you last night that where I went and when I went was none of your business. And I keep my word, so I’m not going to tell you anything.

I drop my arm and walk to my room to get the keys and the keys to the motorcycle that were in the pants that were left on the floor the night before.

Then I fly out of the clubhouse and using the GPS on my cell phone I arrive at a parking lot where I ask for my truck. The teenager in charge takes me to the place and tells me that everything is paid for and that I can leave.

I get in the Jeep and enjoy the new car smell. I put the key in and vibrate the engine. Immediately the control center comes to life and welcomes me. It takes me a couple of minutes to get everything set up so I can drive it, but when I’m ready I don’t hesitate to accelerate with caution.

F**k, I was definitely a motorcycle girl, not a car girl.

Praying my memory wouldn’t fail me I drove down the same streets I rode the previous afternoon. And after several minutes where I thought I was lost I arrived at Trenton’s bar, which I now read was called “Hell”.

Very appropriate.

A relieved sigh came from my being when I saw my bike safely parked. Trenton told me he would take care of it but I didn’t believe him.

I turned off the truck and got out playing with the keys.

I walked up to the entrance and knocked when I saw it was still locked.

Of course it’s closed Tasha, no bar opens at ten in the morning.

I knocked more insistently and a shadow came to open the door. When America saw me, he removed the latch and let me in.

-Tasha, what a surprise to see you here so early.

She says and I see her in her sports clothes.

-I’m sorry America, did I wake you up? She hurries to shake her head.

-No no no no, I was cleaning up a bit, you know, to finish before opening.

I nod in understanding.

-Your dad?

Her brown eyes look at me curiously, which makes me think that her father didn’t tell her anything about what we talked about last night. Curious.

-In his office looking at some papers. Do you need anything?

-I’m here to talk to him.

-If you know where it is, you can come in, but if you don’t, I’ll take you there.

-I know where it is, thank you.

I feel the blonde’s gaze on my back the whole time as I walk towards her father’s office. Who knows what the little girl is thinking about me right now.

I arrive at the place and knock and then walk in. Trenton is cursing as he looks at some papers and grabs a beer.

-Isn’t it too early to drink? I ask amused.

The blond raises his head and looks at me in surprise.

-Tasha, I didn’t think I’d ever see you again. He says honestly as he tells me to sit down.

-Why, yesterday I told you I was interested in doing business with you and you told me to come today, so here I am.

The man shook his head as he put down the papers and focused on me.

-I thought what you were saying was because of the tequila you had been drinking, but I can see it’s not so.

-Why does everyone think I was drunk,” I say as I roll my eyes, “It’s okay that I wasn’t in all my senses but I never lost my way. Besides I would never get drunk enough to make a bad deal.

-So your proposal from last night still stands,” he asks as he rests his arms on the desk and looks at me very seriously.

-Of course. I pay all the debts on the property and invest enough to remodel it and attract more customers. In exchange, I become co-owner and I keep thirty percent of the profits generated by the bar from the time it reopens.

-Are you sure about what you’re saying? You don’t even know the total amount of the debt yet. Apart from the money that will have to be invested to make everything as good as new. It’s not a small sum, girl.

Trenton says to me as he looks at me, but I just cross my legs as I look around the place.

-Money is no problem for me Trenton. If the bar needs it they’ll have it. I don’t care about the amount.

He is silent for a few moments before I turn my attention back to him and replace the same chocolate eyes of America watching me as if I were an apparition of destiny.

-Who are you and why are you doing all this? He finally says. I smile reassuringly at him to give him confidence.

-My name is Natasha Kozlov, and I will be your partner if you want me to be. And I do it because I need it as much as you do. I will be in this country for a while and I need the work. I pay off your debts and I earn an investment. It’s a win/win deal.

The blond lets out a sarcastic laugh as he leans back in his chair and folds his arms as he looks at me.

-A girl when looking for a job applies for a job as a waitress or something like that. She doesn’t buy a bar. She says with an amused tone that I mimic.

-Well, I’m not a normal girl, do we have a deal or not?

Trenton looks at me gratefully before standing up and extending his hand in my direction.

-We have a deal, Miss Kozlov.

I stand up and shake it too.

-Call me Tasha, it’s been a long time since anyone called me by my last name.

-In that case, you call me Trenton, too. From today this bar is also yours and you can dispose of it as you wish. When do you want us to draw up the contract?

-I’ll call my lawyer and tell him the terms of our deal. He will get in touch with you and sort out the whole money issue. Expect his call tomorrow at the latest.

-You are really not a normal girl. He says as he laughs and I join him.

-If you only knew. I reply with a shrug.

I finish discussing one detail or another with the blond before I leave and let him get organized. I go downstairs and run into America and Darren who are cleaning the place. The blonde is sweeping while the green-haired one is shaking the tables.

-Tasha, what are you doing here?” the boy asks when he sees me, I smile and shrug my shoulders.

-It’s a surprise, you’ll replace out when it’s all over.

He and America share a glance and look at me with a slight distrust.

-Oh come on, it’s nothing bad, I swear.

I promise but they still don’t believe me.

-Darren, can I ask you a favor? I say and he nods.

-Anything. He answers confidently.

-Do you know how to drive? He nods. -Perfect, right now I have to go somewhere, but when I come back I have to take my bike. Now I can’t leave my Jeep here, can you drive it while you follow me to where I live?

The red-haired man looks at me with his mouth open.

-The Harley Davidson and the green truck that are worth more than my house that are parked outside are yours? he asks and his incredulous tone makes me laugh.

It is being a good morning after all.

-Yeah, can you help me with that?

-Of course I can, I promise I won’t scratch it.

-I hope so, otherwise I’ll castrate you. I say half jokingly, half seriously. But at the end smiling.

I say goodbye to both of them and get out to get in the van and go to see my mom’s lawyer friend.

I need to ask him to fix the papers for the bar.

(…)

In the end it didn’t take as long as I thought it would, it was only four in the afternoon when I returned to the bar. The place was closed and I assumed it was because Attorney Seitz had already talked to Trenton and told him not to open it until we remodeled it.

Even though the doors were closed, Darren and America were sitting on the sidewalk waiting for me. I pulled over and approached them.

-What are you sitting here for?

-Waiting for you, obviously,” said the blonde in a sarcastic tone.

-I noticed, but you could have done it inside,” I say while I look at them amused.

-We didn’t feel like it,” says the boy while shrugging his shoulders and I smiled, “Hey, America came up with the idea of the three of us going out at night to show you the city, and I thought it was a good idea.

I thought about it for a second and loved it. It really seemed like an eternity had passed since my last outing.

-I asked and they both nodded, “Okay, you guys can come with me to drop off my bike and then the three of us can go in the van. I ask and they both nod -Perfect, try not to fall too far behind-. I say and throw the keys to Darren to drive.

The boy catches them on the fly and they both head for my truck. Darren obviously in the driver’s seat and America in the passenger seat.

I for my part get on my bike and make it roar. Darren purrs the Jeep in response and I give them a smile before accelerating and setting off back to the club.

I try not to accelerate too much so they don’t lose me, and so the time passes quietly until we finally arrive. A couple of bikers are outside the club as usual. They looked at me again as if I was a freak and even more at my friends who parked next to my bike and got off while gawking at the place.

-A little more and they get flies. I tell them amused and they both look at me with astonishment.

-Tasha, do you know where we are, it’s the Black Ravens clubhouse, do you understand it’s dangerous here? The red-haired man says to me with a frightened timbre and I laugh.

-Oh come on kid, you work in a bar, you can’t tell me you’re scared of a bunch of guys getting together to drink. I really don’t know why I was so amused by their reactions. They both shake their heads.

-No no no no, this is very different from dad’s bar. Tasha, the MC’s have a lot of power in the streets, and this is one of the most respected, what the hell are we doing here? America comments and looks very nervous giving suspicious looks to the bikers who now ignore us while smoking a cigarette.

I shrug my shoulders.

-I want to change my clothes, will you come with me or stay here? The two of them start stuttering and now I laugh as if my life was at stake.

Their faces are really photographic.

-Okay, don’t get in trouble. I don’t know them at all yet but I’m pretty sure they don’t like strangers too much.

I wink at them and walk towards the entrance. No more than a few seconds pass when hurried footsteps follow me and I can see how the guys are glued to me looking all around with a mixture of amazement and fear.

I walk quietly through the bar, glancing around, I can see my brother and other members of my father’s trusted circle quietly enjoying life with sweet a*s company.

None give me more than a sidelong glance. Not a sign of life from Hunter or my father.

I signal the boys to follow me to my bedroom because I don’t have a good feeling about leaving them at the bar for a drink. My first experience in that place was still fresh in my memory and I didn’t want my new friends to experience it too.

Nobody stopped us all the way, although they gave me strange looks. The blonde and the green-haired guy stayed quiet during the ride, probably too scared to say the wrong thing and start a fight.

When we got to my door I noticed how the lock was still broken and made a mental note to mention it to someone so they could fix it.

The three of us went into my room and I closed the door as best I could to give us some privacy.

-Do you live here? America asked although it sounded more like affirmation. I grimaced.

-I just moved in, as I told you, I’m new to the country. I answered calmly as I sat on my bed.

-I thought MC’s didn’t have female members. Darren says looking at me and I shrug again.

-I really have no idea. I just got here and I don’t belong to the club. Now they both look at me confused.

-Well, if you’re not a member, then you should wear a brother’s patch. Because this place is too nice to belong to a sweet a*s. Says the blonde and I throw a pillow at her.

-Wrong again, I’m not wearing anyone’s patch, nor am I a sweet a*s. I’m here because of the Machiavellian play of a worthy adversary. I am family to a member. I really don’t want to tell them my story and have them pity me, but from the look they give me I know they are not pleased with my vague response.

I sigh heavily.

-You could say that my father is the President of the place and I am obliged to spend some time with him before I can return to Russia. There, that’s all you’re going to get out of me. I tell them as a warning but they are too busy looking at me as if I have just grown a third eye.

-YOUR FATHER IS HADES?!

They both shouted and I just nodded as I stood up.

-Yeah yeah yeah yeah, hey it’s not that big of a deal don’t be like that, and I don’t want to know how the hell you know his road name, where are we going, do I need to put on a bathing suit or are we going to party, or are we going to walk around town?

I say serenely as I open my closet and make several combinations in my mind.

-Tasha, you can’t just blurt out information like that and then just change the subject. Can you tell us more details? F**k, my head is like a blender right now.

Darren says and I grimace still with my back to them.

-It’s a long story that I don’t feel like telling right now. I promise I’ll explain it to you sooner or later, but right now I just want to get out of this place and do something fun. So please let’s concentrate on our exit, shall we?

I turn my head to look at them, they both turn to look at each other and sigh in surrender before nodding.

-It’s not our place to insist that you tell us things, you’ll tell us what you want when you’re ready. You’re right, the night is ours and we’re going to make the most of it.

His words warm my cold heart and I know I will become good friends with this pair.

-Thank you little blonde, now tell me, do you think this blouse will make my breasts look saggy?

I tell her showing her an electric blue blouse with a deep V-neckline. She denies while smiling.

-Some college buddies told me about a club a few minutes from here. Darrel and I thought it would be fun to go. We’re always at a bar, but we never really enjoy it, so I think it’s time to experience it from the other perspective.

She says very excited and I smile tenderly at her. F**k this girl reminded me of myself before the tragedy.

-I think it’s perfect, but hey, are you sure they are old enough to enter? I tell them very seriously, I don’t want Trenton to accuse me of getting his daughter and his employee drunk.

I’m twenty-three, but America is only nineteen. But that’s okay, I’ll make sure she doesn’t have anything more than a soda. Darren says as he gives a serious look to the girl who gives him a scolded dog pout but ends up nodding.

-Okay, I’m twenty-one so it’s all good, are you both going to be dressed like that?

I ask them and they both shrug their shoulders as they look at their outfits.

-What’s wrong with that, the bar patrons are dressed anyway.

America says and I beckon him to come closer.

-You can really tell they haven’t been out enough. I analyze my entire closet until I replace a red mid-thigh length skirt and a long sleeved black bodycon blouse that left my neck, shoulders, and collarbones visible. I hold out the garments to the blonde, “Here, try these on, I’m sure they fit you well, tuck the blouse into the skirt.

She takes them with hesitation.

-But what am I going to do with the shoes?” she asks doubtfully and I look at her tennis shoes with a grimace.

-Try on some shoes of mine that match,” I tell her and she nods and bends down to start choosing.

I turn to look at the green-haired man. She’s wearing black jeans ripped in several places with some tennis shoes of the same color, a basic gray t-shirt with a round neck without prints and a sweatshirt.

-You look good like that, just remember to leave the sweatshirt in the Jeep, so you look less dirty.

Darren looks half offended but nods. The blonde is still looking at my shoes like she’s making the decision of a lifetime. So I go ahead and grab some black shorts that barely covered my a*s, a silver top made of a metallic mesh that showed my back. It tied behind my neck and fell loosely into a loose, plunging neckline between my breasts. Obviously I couldn’t wear a bra with it.

I headed for the bathroom and hurriedly changed. When I came out I could see how the little blonde seemed to have decided, (finally), on the only heels I had. She smiled at me and went into the bathroom to get dressed as well.

Darren looked me up and down and let out a whistle.

-Mother of mine, I’ve never seen such a beautiful woman. I winked at him as I reached over and grabbed my new high top boots, I couldn’t wait to wear them.

-Thank you, you’re not bad yourself. I tell him and he just smiles and shakes his head.

I walk over to the desk where I left my hairbrush and brush my hair away from my face.

I move the brush and pull my hair, apparently I had tied up the top with a few little hairs caught in it.

-Hey Darren, can you help me? I ask.

-Sure, what do you need? He comes over to me and I turn my back to him as I lift up my hair.

-Undo the knot and redo it, I caught my hair by accident and it hurts.

Darren hurries to do as I tell him. And when he’s done he reaches down and fixes my hair.

-Thank you. I thanked him.

-You’re welcome, beautiful. He replied with a wink.

We both smile at each other but someone clears his throat from the door that I didn’t hear when it opened because the damn lock was broken.

The figure of a very annoyed Hunter glared at us from the doorway.

-Am I interrupting?

He asked with irritation and his body denoted tension while sparks flew in his eyes. All of him screamed danger, and at that moment I understood why Hell was his road name.

And when those coal-colored eyes saw me so angry I knew I was in trouble.

Oh oh…