Chapter One

Bear

I hated venturing out into the city. Always made me feel like there was a target on my fucking back. My true identity was buried so deep even facial recognition software couldn't find me, but since I'd been in my twenties, I'd spent my life running. The government saw to that.

What I thought was a service to help my country turned into a killing spree on the order of genocide. I'd disobeyed my orders but ended up on a Terminate with Extreme Prejudice list. Rocket, the closest person I had to a friend, had brought me to Riviera Beach, Florida, where I'd taken up with the motorcycle club, Grim Road. The club's history was long and distinguished in hiding men like me. I'd been here ever since.

It was nearly midnight on a Saturday. The streets weren't exactly teeming, but several bars were open, which was where most people were this time of night. Some headed home. Others milled about enjoying the evening air. It wasn't cool by any means, but the night brought in a breeze from the ocean that wasn't stifled by the heat of the sun during the day. This was my favorite part of the night.

"You lookin' for somethin' in particular, or just wishin' you could go back and change your life choices?" Ringo, our enforcer, sidled up next to me, handing me a beer.

"Thanks," I said as I popped the top and took a long swig. "Just thinkin'. Ain't much for bein' out of the compound."

"Oh, I know. Which is why I followed." The other man gave me a half smirk, half smile.

"Right. That, and Lemon probably told you to have my back."

He chuckled. "Little witch is certainly big on that kinda shit. But no. You'll be happy to know I did this all on my own."

I gave him a side eye. "Really. You tryin' to keep me honest? Afraid I'm out to betray the club?"

Instantly, Ringo's whole demeanor changed. "Hey, now. Jumping to conclusions there, Bear?" Ringo raised an eyebrow. "Of all the men in this club, you'd be the last one I'd accuse of betraying the club or anyone in it. Fully expected Rocket to make you his VP. I'd have supported that."

I snorted. "No way in fuckin' hell I want that job. Besides, Lemon is much better suited."

"Ain't sayin' she's not. Just sayin' I was surprised when Rocket didn't put your name in the hat for the job long before Lemon came on the scene."

The two of us headed down the sidewalk. Kind of felt like we were patrolling the area. There were several bars and clubs here, and some of them weren't altogether safe. A couple times a week, I'd taken to walking up and down the strip. I wouldn't say I was looking for trouble, but I wasn't opposed to stopping trouble if it found me. The self-imposed job got me out of the compound as well as extended some measure of protection to the community which pleased the VP to no end. I wouldn't exactly call the city our community, but I got the impression that's what Lemon wanted it to be. Crush and Byte worked continually to strengthen all our identity covers. Rocket wasn't opposed, so I took this as my due diligence. I was doing my part, however quietly, to set an example to the other members. It's how I did things.

"He offered." I shrugged. "Not my thing."

"Oh, really." The bastard smirked, and I wanted to beat the shit outta him, but restrained myself. Barely. "Was that before or after you corralled us all and put the idea of voting Lemon in as VP, or after?"

"Well, I wasn't gonna do it. Someone had to, and she was the best choice. You look me in the eye and tell me who else in Grim would be doing a better job than Lemon, and I'll volunteer that bastard."

Ringo chuckled. "Right. I'll get on that. But you have to promise you'll be the one to break the news to Lemon."

I snorted. "Not on your fuckin' life. Girl might be small and young, but she's vicious like no man I've ever met. You tell her your own Goddamn self."

We stared at each other a moment before Ringo's lips twitched. Once that happened, we both broke down into chuckles. Neither of us would be suggesting a replacement for Lemon.

The conversation eased something inside me. Like I knew Ringo had my back or something, where always before I'd kind of felt like I was on my own in the middle of a crowd. Yeah, I knew if I were really in trouble, outside of a mission, I could count on my brothers. Always had. But it was different now.

"Thanks, man. I think I needed that."

"For what? The reminder that a little five-foot-nothing girl is making a better vice president than you?"

I snorted. "No, dumbass. The laugh."

Ringo grinned. "Wait till I tell Lemon you were wanting to replace her."

"Whoa. Not cool, bro. Besides, it was you who brought it up. And I will totally throw you under the bus if you start that bullshit."

God, it felt good to banter with Ringo. I'd had that kind of atmosphere a couple of times on jobs for the CIA, but it was never as relaxed as it was now.

I took a deep breath and rolled my head, easing some of the tension that always seemed to be there when I ventured too far from the compound. It wasn't that I was scared. It was more like I felt like someone was watching. Just waiting to make a move.

I could handle myself in an ambush. Fuck knew I'd been in that situation before and had come out on the other side. Worse for wear maybe, but the other guys fared far, far worse. Always.

Ringo snorted. "Glad to be of service, brother."

We continued down the street. The sound of people partying or generally having a good time filled the night. Each time we passed a bar, the scent of alcohol hit us. Occasionally someone would be smoking a joint or a cigarette and those scents would blend in as well. Passing a strip joint brought the cheap perfume into the mix.

I was about to suggest we go inside one of the strip clubs, just to pass the time with something different when I spotted a woman making her way down the sidewalk. Something about the way she moved was just that little bit off. She glanced behind her, then straight ahead. She hesitated, then continued moving.

"What's goin' on there?" I asked the question more to myself than to Ringo, but the other man zeroed in on the woman immediately.

"Not sure. Could be she's just lost."

"Right," I agreed, though I wasn't so sure. Something about her posture wasn't right. "Could be."

"Uh-huh."

We both continued forward but at a slower pace. Grim Road MC wasn't a secret club, per se. The club was known to the locals, just not where the clubhouse was or who any of us were beyond our road names. To everyone around us, we were simply another motorcycle club in the area around Palm Beach. As such, we wore our colors proudly. So, when the girl got closer to us, and we slowed down, we wanted her to know what we were.

I stopped while Ringo turned slowly around in a circle with his hands out, letting her see the emblem on the back of his vest proclaiming him a member of Grim Road.

She let loose a little sob and ran the rest of the way to us. To my complete and utter shock, instead of stopping when she reached us, the girl threw herself into my arms, wrapping her arms tightly around my neck.

And I'll be Goddamned if my whole body didn't come alive. Lust I'd never even dreamed about punched me in the dick before sucking me into its mouth and making me hard as a fucking pole. The scent of her was like something out of a dream. Fresh spring flowers and a dash of cinnamon. She was slender, but I could feel every single one of her slight curves against my big body. She was so small I could easily wrap my arms all the way around her with room to spare. Unfortunately, instead of moaning and finding my mouth with hers, she trembled in my arms. I didn't think it was from desire. Her mouth at my ear was a sinful promise. Until she spoke.

"Angela," she whimpered. "I need Angela."

"Hey, sweetheart," I said loudly. "Missed you, too." I chuckled, swinging her around happily. What I was really doing was putting my body between her and the two men I now saw following her.

I didn't acknowledge the men. Instead, I strode down the sidewalk with her still in my arms. Ringo had my back. If he couldn't discourage the guys, I could get her far enough away she could get inside to the relative safety of a bar or club. Then, I'd help Ringo help these motherfuckers have themselves an accident.

When I rounded the corner with her, I set her on her feet, but kept hold of her hand. Everything inside me rebelled at the separation. I wanted to pull her solidly against me again but needed to make sure I had one hand free if Ringo needed me. Stepping from behind the wall, I eyed Ringo. He stood where I'd left him, but the men were already gone. Ringo took slow looks around the area as he backed toward me. I gave a low whistle, and Ringo turned and hurried in my direction.

"Get to the bikes." Ringo's order was delivered in a crisp voice. "They didn't keep following after you picked her up. You spoke and they backed off. Still don't want to take a chance."

"To Knox's place?" I knew we couldn't take her to the compound. Not without precautions. If the guys had truly backed off, she wasn't in immediate danger. If they hadn't, we'd reevaluate when we spotted them.

Ringo nodded. "I'll be on your six. Just gonna let Rocket know what's goin' on and that we'll call him when we know more."

I grunted, but tugged the woman with me and hurried to my bike. I snagged the helmet strapped to the back of my bike and shoved it on her head. Instead of waiting while she climbed on, I lifted her and set her on the back. "Feet on the pegs." I put her foot closest to me where I indicated and trusted her to do the same with the other one. Once I'd climbed on, I tugged her arms until they were around my waist. I wanted to tell myself it was for her safety. I mean, it was, but it was also because I wanted her mashed up against me. Needed it. Craved it. "Do not let go of me. Understand?"

"Yes." Her voice was soft and breathy, and she trembled. "Aren't you going to ask me any questions?"

"Yep," I said as I started up the bike and took off. I had plenty of fucking questions. Starting with how she knew the club's safe word for the women and what she expected to happen next. But not until me and Ringo were sure we were in a safe place with no immediate threats. Then we'd get to the bottom of this and find out what the woman expected to happen next. Because, if I had my way, once whatever threat she was facing was eliminated, I intended to get to know her a lot better.

* * *

Olivia

I clung to the truly massive biker in front of me like my life depended on it. And I mean fucking huge . Guy towered over my five-foot five frame like I was a child. He had at least a hundred and fifty pounds on me. The phrase I'd dropped on him had started a chain of events I knew I'd regret. Probably for the rest of my life, even knowing the rest of my life probably wasn't going to be very long. Lord knew this guy could break me in half with little more than a thought.

We rode through the back streets, taking several twists and turns. I thought there might have been a few double backs as well. In another situation, I'd have been having the time of my life. Not only was there a thrill riding on the bike, but the man…

He was big. Muscled. Tattooed. And, oh my God, he smelled wonderful . Cedar and sandalwood. And gasoline. I could feel the muscles of his abdomen rippling beneath my hands where I clung to him. In another world, without all the shit I was getting ready to bring down on his club, I could see myself trying to keep his attention focused on me. Being wrapped up tight in his arms had been the safest I'd felt in a very long time. It only lasted a few seconds, but the effect was profound. I'd do anything this man wanted. Follow wherever he wanted me to go. But that could never happen. Even if I knew he wouldn't take me over until I was a shell of myself, what I was about to do to his club would forever negate anything there might have been between us.

As if a man like this would ever want a woman like me. No. He'd want someone strong. Someone who fought for what was right, no matter the consequences to herself, instead of a little girl clinging to something toxic and dangerous just because it was familiar. Guess which one I was. Spoiler alert: it's not the former.

It wasn't until the other biker pulled up beside us and gave some kind of hand signal that we headed in a direction with purpose. The streetlights gave way to a darker, narrower road, and we seemed to disappear in the night.

A few minutes later, we pulled into the driveway of a ranch-style house with a porch running the length of the front. I didn't get a great look at it because it was too dark, but the windows were lit up from the inside as if someone was already there. The big biker drove straight into the open garage. The second both bikes were inside, the door closed, and they shut down their rides.

"Rocket, Lemon and Dom are already here," the other one said. "Inside."

Neither man spoke to me, but the one I'd thrown myself at helped me off the bike before taking my helmet. Then he took my hand and led me inside the house.

The second we entered the living room, Lemon moved in my direction. I'd never met her but there was no denying who she was. She was the harder version of her sister, Apple. Lemon narrowed her gaze at me. "I know you. You're Apple's friend. Liv? The one she told me she was worried about." She looked me up and down, taking in my appearance. "What happened?" I wasn't sure if she was talking to me or not, but was saved from asking with the big one, the one I'd rode here with, answered her question.

"She was being followed by two guys in suits. I first thought feds. They had that cheap, tired-looking suit thing goin' on, but coulda been the standard creepers." He shrugged. "Ringo showed his colors, and she ran straight to us."

"I got Crush lookin' at the camera feeds," the other one, Ringo, added. "He'll nail ‘em down."

"Good." The man with Lemon nodded. "Now." He turned his gaze to me. "Do you know who we are?"

I nodded my head slightly. "A motorcycle club. Apple said it's called Grim Road. But other than Lemon, I don't know who anyone else is. Or anything." I spoke softly even as I trembled. I was so fucked. Even though this situation wasn't of my own making, I knew when it all came to a head, these people would probably kill me. OK, no probably about it. Hadn't Mr. Black told me these people were killers? They'd even killed innocent women and children! He'd said that one of them had even gone so far as to kill entire villages in third world countries where they'd been deployed. Just for amusement. Yeah. I was as good as dead. It was just a matter of time. I tried to think about those massacres when I steeled myself to do this, but I wasn't sure it helped. It probably made me as guilty as they were. So yeah. When they killed me, it would be no less than I deserved.

Lemon tilted her head. "Apple didn't tell you anything?"

"Only that if I ever got in a really tight spot, and I saw someone in a Grim Road vest, I could tell them I needed Angela and they'd know I was in danger."

"Good. OK. So, this is Rocket." She hiked a thumb toward the man beside her. "He's mine, so no touching." She waved to the man next to Rocket. "This is Dom. He's our sergeant at arms. The other two? The big one's Bear, the little one's Ringo. Ringo is our enforcer, Bear's… Bear."

"Little one, Lemon?" Ringo gave her a side eye and an exasperated huff. "Really?"

She shrugged. "Comparatively speaking. Now, shut up. I'm talking." Had my situation been less dire, I'd have been amused. Not now, though. Because when the shit hit the fan, this woman would likely be the one taking me apart. "What happened?"

I shivered, wrapping my arms around myself. "They followed me out of the bar."

Lemon tilted her head. "You with anyone?"

"No. I work there. I was on my way home and was afraid they'd follow me and know where I live."

"If they let you get home," Bear muttered, but he gave me a measured look. Like he wasn't really buying my story. "They speak to you? Threaten you?"

"Just trying to get me to stop so they could talk to me." I kept my gaze down, my arms wrapped around myself, trying to stop the trembling. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to cause trouble. Or, you know, use a phrase I shouldn't have. Obviously, ‘Angela' was intended to set in motion things for an extreme situation, and I wasn't in that much danger." Right. If only.

"Sounds like you were in plenty of danger," Lemon said. "You did exactly the right thing. The guys assessed the situation and got you out of there. End of story."

A phone beeped and Rocket pulled out his phone and glanced at the screen. "Crush says the guys following you are CIA. Not even trying to conceal their identity." He frowned, then looked up at me. "You got any idea why they wanted you?"

It surprised me they were so cavalier about being recognized. I really thought they'd try to hide themselves given how they said this group would go to any lengths to avoid the authorities. "Maybe my dad?" It was as close to the truth as I could get without blowing things. Besides I was a shit liar.

"What about your dad? Why would the CIA be looking into your dad?" Rocket was all business. Lemon too. Both of them were entirely focused on me and it fucking terrified me. If Lemon was anywhere near as observant and intuitive as her sister, this was over before it began. "He into something to be on their radar?"

"I don't know. He's been in some trouble with taxes or something," I said softly, shrugging.

"Honey, CIA don't do tax shit," Bear rumbled. He was so close beside me I swore I could feel the heat coming off his body.

I started, stepping sideways to get away from him. I didn't really want the distance, but knew I had to keep it. I wasn't good at this kind of thing and my wits being muddled because of my attraction to him would get me killed.

Bear didn't allow the retreat. Instead, he took one slow, deliberate step closer, erasing the distance I'd put between us. I looked up into his face. His eyes seemed to bore a hole inside me with the intensity of his stare. This was someone I needed to be careful around. With my inability to lie worth a Goddamn and the way it felt like he could see into my soul, I'd be fucked before this even started.

"Back off, Bear." Rocket eased closer to the big man and put a hand on his shoulder. "She's frightened enough."

"She knows I ain't gonna hurt her." He didn't take his eyes from me. "You need to tell us everything. Finding out now is one thing. We're ready for it. But we find out you're bringin' a threat to us and not givin' us time to prepare? Well. That's totally different."

There was something in his eyes. Something that told me he was deadly serious. I could also see he was willing me to tell him the truth. Like it meant something to him if I told the truth or not beyond just keeping his club safe. No. This man wanted me to trust him. Which was something I could never do. Wasn't it?

For a moment, it was just the two of us. He looked into my face, placing a gentle hand on my shoulder to squeeze in encouragement. I wanted to believe him. To trust that he'd understand and not condemn me, and that he'd help me out of a really bad situation. I opened my mouth to tell him everything…

"I told you. I-I was scared of those g-guys following me h-home." I stumbled over my words. There was a doubt. One little doubt overriding my trust. What if…

I'd been told these guys wouldn't hesitate to kill me if they thought I was betraying them. While I had no doubt Apple believed they'd help me, I was scared to take that leap of faith. Not when there was more than my own life to think about.

The second I uttered the words, Bear's expression hardened and he stepped back. He didn't say anything else, but I could tell he was seeing through me. The thought terrified me. I took a shuddering breath, and hoped like hell it wasn't my last.