Chapter 1

GRIZZ

Iscrub my calloused hands over my tired face and focus my eyes on Axel as he goes over last week's figures. "So, that about wraps it up," he says, running his fingers over the gavel. "Actually, one last thing." I inwardly groan. I've got shit loads to do today, and we've been in church an hour already. "Lex made a suggestion," he begins, and the brothers start to shift in their seats.

We all love the Pres's old lady, but she's been making way too many suggestions lately, from separating our recycling to holding bonding nights. "Just hear me out," he adds, sensing our protests before he's even spoken.

"Pres, no disrespect, but Lexi's last suggestion ended in Duke and Cash wearing face masks. Fucking face masks," says Smoke, and a few of us snigger.

"It was a damn pamper night," snaps Duke. "It's what we were meant to do."

Axel holds up his hands, and we fall silent again. "This is actually a good idea. Each of you will be assigned a club girl to watch over," he begins and groans erupt. "Look, Lex's got a point. It's a good way to keep an eye on everyone."

"What are we keeping an eye on the whores for?" asks Duke.

"Because they're people too," says Axel, shifting uncomfortably.

"Jesus, you need to get Lexi pregnant or find her a new fucking job," I mutter, standing. "We got better things to do than have pamper nights and watching the club whores."

Axel squares his shoulders. "Sit the fuck down, I haven't finished." I roll my eyes and flop back down in my chair. I might be pissed at his recent efforts to please Lexi, but I won't show him disrespect. "If we're watching them closely, they can't be sneaking off and giving information to our enemies, and fuck knows we got a lot of those lately. Not only that, but we don't know much about them, and if they're hanging around in our club, we should know everything."

"We know they're good at fucking and sucking, Pres. I ain't interested in much else," says Shadow.

"This club needs to feel more like a family," snaps Axel. "It don't feel like it did when I was growing up around here. So, you'll each be assigned to a woman and you'll do as I fucking say."

"And what exactly do we have to do?" I ask. "Because they're gonna think they're in line to becoming our old ladies the second we start showing an interest."

"We'll discuss it tomorrow in church," says Axel, slamming the gavel on the table to dismiss us. Before I can exit, he calls me back, and once everyone else has left, he sits back in his chair. "So, you wanna tell me what's going on?"

I tap my fingers impatiently on the large oak table. "Nothing."

"Now, I feel like you're trying to piss me off."

"I just don't get you," I snap. "You're the President, but every goddamn meeting ends with an idea from Lexi."

"Why's that a problem?" In truth, I don't know why it pisses me off, so I shrug. "You jealous?" he asks, smirking.

I sigh heavily. "I just don't want to sit with my brothers and put on a fucking face mask," I mutter. "I don't want to keep an eye on the whores."

He sits forward, looking me in the eye. "Brother, I'll be honest, I don't want to do that shit either, but when you get yourself an old lady?—"

"I won't," I cut in.

He sighs before continuing. "When you get yourself an old lady, you'll realise you do whatever you can to make them happy."

"Well, I won't be wearing face masks," I mutter.

"I just need her to feel . . . welcome. She's trying to find her place in this club, and when there are hardly any old ladies here to keep her busy, it's my job."

"Make some brothers take an old lady then, keep her busy."

He grins. "Are you offering yourself up as tribute?"

"Fuck if I am," I mutter, pushing to stand and heading for the door. "I've got shit to do. Don't bother me with any more bullshit from Lexi," I say as I pull open the door to find Lexi waiting. She arches a brow. "Lexi," I mutter, nodding in greeting.

"I take it you told him?" she asks Axel, and I stop to listen.

Axel smirks. "Not yet."

"Now what?" I ask.

"It can wait until tomorrow. Go finish your bar."

The new baris my pride and joy. It's a micro-pub with traditional furnishings and fittings I've restored myself. The club will use it to clean money, but out of all the businesses we have, it's my favourite. I've poured my heart and soul into it.

I place the last screw in the sign and climb down the ladder, stepping back to take it in. "The Bar," comes a voice from behind me. I turn, smiling at the sight of my neighbour, Danii. She runs the coffee shop next door to the bar, and while I've been working my arse off the last few weeks, she's been supplying me with coffee and bacon rolls. "It finally has a name," she adds.

"Perfect, right?"

She grins. "I guess so. I mean, we've been calling it that all along."

"Exactly."

"Coffee?" she asks. I give a nod and follow her into her shop. It's pink and girly inside, but as she explained when we first met, she wanted to make it hers, so she put her personality into it.

I take a seat and watch as she makes my coffee. If I was looking for the perfect woman for the back of my bike, she'd be it. She's gorgeous, with the body of a goddess. "Have you got a date for the opening yet?" she asks, turning and catching me looking at her backside. I sit back, and she smirks, placing the coffee down for me. "Cake?" she asks, lifting the lid on a fresh sponge. I give a nod cos she makes insanely good cake.

"A couple weeks, I reckon," I reply. "Almost done inside, and then I gotta have the pumps installed. My President needs to give the go-ahead and then I'm good to go."

"President," she repeats. "That's Axel, right?" I give a nod, and she returns a satisfied smile. "See, I'm getting good at remembering this stuff. Is he still loved up with . . . Lexi?" I nod again, and she fist pumps the air.

"A little too loved up if you ask me."

"Oh god, don't be one of those jealous best friends," she says, groaning dramatically.

I arch a brow. "I'm not jealous. I'm happy for him. Lexi is everything he needs, but she's got some crazy ideas and he jumps on them to impress her. Fuck, she had us listening to waterfalls and shit to try and relax."

Danii laughs. "Meditation?"

"Right, that's what she called it. You ever been in a room full of bikers listening to waterfalls?" I ask, and she shakes her head, still laughing. "It's not normal."

"I've never been in a room full of bikers full stop," she says. "I imagine it's a little intimidating."

"We're pussycats," I say with a wink. "Maybe you can come by one evening," I add, staring down at my coffee. "See for yourself." When I look up again, she's biting on her lower lip in that way she does when she's trying hard not to smile. "I mean, if you want."

"I'd like that. I'd like that a lot."

I take a bite of the cake, closing my eyes in appreciation. "Bring a cake. The guys will love you forever."

The following morning in church,Axel unfolds a piece of paper and clears his throat. "Okay, so yesterday, I told you about watching the club girls. Well, I've made up a list of who I'll be pairing you up with."

"Not this bullshit again," I mutter. "Pres, I don't have time to babysit, and what the fuck are we gonna do when they're working or with another brother? Are we meant to watch?"

Axel shrugs. "I don't know. I haven't thought about it." He begins reeling off his list, and when I don't hear my name right away, I know I'm in for some more bad news. When he finally says my name, I groan, burying my head in my hands.

"Don't say it," I hiss. "Out of all the girls, you give me the hardest one?"

"Man, she's easy," says Cash. "She don't fucking talk. I'll swap her for London. That girl's got a mouth bigger than the city she was named after."

"No one's swapping," snaps Axel. "I thought long and hard, and Fable needs someone with patience." A few sniggers erupt and I glare at the men until they quiet down. "The rest of you fuckers get out," Axel demands. "Let me talk to my VP." Once they've gone, I fix him with an unimpressed glare. "The reason I paired you with Fable," he begins, "is because I suspect her the most."

"Of?"

"Talking to the police."

I frown. "You suspect the fucking mute is talking to the police?" We have our own inside man, and even though Lexi is no longer working undercover for the force, they're still getting information on us.

"She's a select mute, meaning she picks and chooses when she talks."

"And I can tell you now, she isn't gonna talk to me, Pres."

"I chose you because I know you'll get her talking, brother. Women can't resist that cheeky chappie shit you've got going on." He slides a piece of paper towards me. "These are the shifts she's putting in at Zen this week. Maybe walk her home or something, find out where she's been hiding."

"Great, thanks," I say, sarcasm dripping from my voice. "Is there any other reason you think she's the grass, other than she doesn't speak?"

"She hasn't been staying in her room at the clubhouse."

"So? The women aren't obligated to."

"Where else is she staying, though? She's too mysterious for my liking, Grizz. I'm trusting my gut on this one."

"If you're so certain it's her, why are all the other brothers paired up with a whore?"

"I can't single her out, she'd be suspicious," he says with a grin. "Now, go and do some fucking work."

LUNA

I gently layIvy in her Moses basket right as there's a loud banging on the door. I groan when she jumps, opening her eyes. "Fuck," I whisper before cringing. "Sorry," I add, picking her up. My daughter might only be a few weeks old, but I've vowed to stop the bad language.

I pull the door open, and my older brother, Nathaniel, pushes past me, followed by two of his meathead friends. My heart immediately slams faster in my chest. Since having Ivy, he's been easier on me, but I'm expecting it to return to normal any day now.

I follow them into the kitchen, holding Ivy close to my chest, and watch as Nate raids my fridge. "Got any beer?" he asks, piling meat and cheese into his hand.

"No, you know I don't keep that stuff in the flat," I say.

He opens the ham I was going to treat myself to later and eats it right from the pack. "Start buying it," he says between mouthfuls, "for when I come round." I give a nod, even though I have no intention of doing so. Stocking my fridge with beer and too much junk food will result in him calling around a lot more, despite him having a room at Mum's flat, which is just a floor above mine.

I hate his visits, but mostly, I hate him. He's just like my dad—a no good, waste of space who loves himself so much, he finds it impossible to think anyone could find him a repulsive piece of crap. And on top of that, he uses threats and violence to keep me and Mum in check. He really is just like my dad. "You working later?" he asks.

"Yeah." There's no point lying. If he finds out, he'll make my life more of a living hell.

He slaps his mate on the back and gives him a grin, "See, told yah." He then looks in my direction again. "Danny here is gonna come over. See him right, would yah?"

"Clients have to book in," I say, shaking my head. "I can't just take walk-ins."

"Then book him in," he says, fixing me with a glare that tells me he'll lose his shit if I dare to push this. But since Thalia took over at The Zen Den, it's impossible for us to run our own client list.

"And all payments have to be made at the front desk," I add. "I can't do freebies anymore."

Nathaniel moves fast until he's in my face and I'm pressed against the wall. On pure instinct, I shield Ivy. "Then you better help him out now. Put the fucking brat down and get in the bedroom."

"Nate," I whisper, hating how my tone is pleading.

His mobile rings and he steps back, allowing me to breathe a sigh of relief. "What?" he barks into the handset. "On my way." He gives a nod to his friends and they file out. He gives me one last sneering look before following them.

I release a long, shaky breath and rush to lock the door. I really need to move out of this area to somewhere my family can't find me.

I've beenoff work for the last eight weeks. This is my first night back since having Ivy just two weeks ago, and although I know it's probably way too early to be having sex, Thalia has promised to give me an easy shift.

And so far, my evening has run smoothly, which is rare when you work in a brothel. Trust me.

By midnight, it's quieting down and I've just said goodnight to my fourth caller. I sit in the shared living room and relax back, praying my shift will end at one a.m. like it's supposed to. Thalia saunters over. "You heard what Axel's put in place?" she asks, filing her pointy nails. I shake my head. Since I found out I was pregnant at six months gone, I've spent less and less time at the clubhouse. "He's putting his guys on you ladies." I frown. "Apparently, it's all part of a new scheme that little miss perfect came up with. She wants the club to feel more like a ‘family'," she says, rolling her eyes and using air quotes.

The bell rings out on the front desk and she rolls her eyes for a second time then goes to attend to the caller. A minute later, she appears with Mr. Green. I give her my best desperate look, but it's obvious I'm going to have to take the smelly fucker because there's no one else around. "Fable is free, Mr. Green," Thalia says sweetly, and I know she wants to gag because his bad body odour is already filling up the small space.

"Actually, she isn't," comes a voice from the reception area. A second later Grizz, the Vice President from The Chaos Demons, appears. "I booked her."

I give Thalia a smug smile and stand. "There's nothing in the books," she snaps. "How many times do I have to nag Axel to remind you bikers that you have to book a slot the same as everyone else?"

Grizz ignores her and grabs my hand, leading me up the stairs to my room. Once inside, I offer a smile, because in front of these guys, I never speak. A doctor diagnosed me as a selective mute when I was fourteen. I'd stopped speaking back in school after being horribly bullied. I was facing all kinds of trauma at home and having no break from it in school was the final straw.

I find it much easier to talk to people these days, especially once I know them, but I do it for the mystery with these guys. They like that I don't talk. It also makes me popular amongst the club, although I've only ever slept with Grizz once, when he came out of prison.

I remove my silk robe, letting it pool to the floor. Grizz shakes his head. "I came to take you home, sweetheart, not fuck. Get dressed." I frown, so he continues, "I'm your new babysitter. Pres wants us to watch you ladies." I shake my head. I don't need a babysitter, and I certainly don't need a biker poking around in my already messy life. I haven't even told anyone about Ivy. "I can't take you home at one when you finish your shift, so I'll pay for an hour and get you home early, how's that?" Weird that he wants to pay me but not have sex. I shrug, and he hands me a roll of cash. "Get dressed," he repeats, turning his back and looking out the window.

Grizz hadno idea where I lived, so I had to write down my address. The rundown, three-story apartments were built back in the sixties and haven't had work done to them since. They're practically falling down, but since having Ivy, I've had no choice but to stay here instead of the club. I get off the bike and hand the helmet back to Grizz. He stores it away then removes his own. "I'll come up," he says, also getting off the bike.

"No," I say quickly, and his eyes widen at hearing my voice.

A smirk pulls at his lips. "Yes, Fable."

"It's just . . ." I hesitate, trying to think up a good enough excuse. "A mess."

He walks ahead of me, ignoring my comment. "You should talk more, Fable. You've got a sexy voice."

I sigh heavily and follow him. My ground floor flat might not look like much on the outside, but inside, I've made it beat expectations. So, when I unlock the door and catch the surprise on Grizz's face, I smile to myself but block the way so he can't get past me. Once he sees the babysitter, he'll ask questions, and that's the last thing I need. "I have to see the rest," he tells me, trying to take a step forward. I block his move again, and he frowns. "I'll leave right after, I swear."

The living room door opens and I inhale sharply as Jessica enters the hall with Ivy in her arms. "I tried to get her to sleep, Luna, but she's stubborn," she teases. When she sees my horrified expression, she hesitates. "Sorry, am I interrupting?" Before I can reply, she backs into the living room and closes the door.

I wince before deciding the best course of action is to ignore what just happened. I kick off my shoes and shrug from my jacket, avoiding his eyes.

"Who was that?" asks Grizz. The words clog my throat, so I say nothing, hoping he'll just leave. "Is that kid yours?" He shakes his head, complete confusion across his face. "Nah, you can't have a kid. It's tiny." When I still don't reply, he pushes past me and heads into the living room. I groan and follow.

Jessica looks up in alarm, almost wilting when she sees the large biker filling the doorway. "Whose kid is that?" he barks. Her eyes glance my way, and he shakes his head again, moving so I'm blocked from her line of sight. "Nah, don't look at her for answers. Is it her kid?" I don't see Jessica's response, but I can tell by the way Grizz freezes that she's told him the truth.

"What does she owe you?" he snaps, pulling out his wallet. I try and move past him, but he doesn't allow it. Instead, he stuffs some cash into Jessica's hand and tells her to get lost. I give her an apologetic smile as she passes, placing Ivy in my arms. She'll probably never come back again after this.

"Does the Pres know about this, Fable?" he demands, watching me as I lower my daughter carefully into the Moses basket. I shake my head.

"Luna," I say quietly. "My name is Luna."