Chapter 6

In the smoke-filled interior of the Emerald City Overdrive's clubhouse, Hunter sat surrounded by the raucous laughter and boisterous conversations of his brothers. The air was thick with the smell of booze and leather, mixed with the sharp tang of cigarette smoke. He should have felt at home here among the familiar rough-hewn faces and the clatter of pool balls, but today, his mind was miles away, caught in the memory of his club visit last night.

The low murmur of conversation fell away as next to him, their President, Brick, stood up, his presence commanding immediate silence. The worn wooden table creaked under his palms as he leaned forward, his broad chest and tattoo-sleeved arms on full display.

Hunter might have glimpsed a line of ink on Ethan's body when he'd rolled up his sleeves, but he couldn't be sure. Some of the parts were vivid in his mind like he had them on tape playing on repeat in his mind. Other memories were hazier and more obtuse.

"All right, brothers," Brick's voice boomed, echoing off the concrete walls. "We've got important business to cover today. We're not just here to ride; we're here to make a difference, to set things right where the law's too slow or too blind to act."

"Hear, hear," murmured the group. Several of his brothers thumped the table with their fists, creating a drumroll.

"Enough, you fuckers."

At Brick's reprimanding tone the group settled—at least as much as a group of rowdy bikers could. He pointed a thick finger at a map spread across the table, dotted with various markers and notes. "First up, our ongoing fight against that human- trafficking ring. This scum is slippery, but we're on 'em. Max is trying to get inside, play nice with those bastards to gather intel." Brick's gaze shifted to Hunter. "And you're our ace in the hole. How's the digital hunt going? Any of these creeps slip up yet?"

Hunter rubbed the back of his neck, his mind momentarily wandering back to Ethan's piercing blue eyes, the way they'd seen through him, stripping away the facade of the tough biker. Shaking off the memory, he refocused on the task at hand. "It's tough, Brick. Most of these guys are ghosts, hiding behind layers of proxies. But it's only a matter of time before one gets lazy. When they do, I'll be there to hijack their connection, and then we'll have them by the balls." His voice carried a hard edge.

Across from them on the other side of the table, Rex leaned forward on his elbows and nodded. "That's right," he chimed in. "Hunter's the best we've got. If anyone can crack this, he can."

Brick smiled at Rex's endorsement and continued, "Then there's the issue with that farmer, mistreating his workers and animals. We can't let that stand."

T.J. slammed his hand down, the tattoos on his arms rippling with the movement. "That damn farmer, treating his workers and animals like they're dirt. I say we pay him a visit, let's find out how he would like to be on the receiving end of some of that shit."

Brick's eyes narrowed, considering the younger biker's anger. "We'll handle it, T.J., but we'll do it smart. We're about justice, not senseless violence. We'll start by gathering evidence, talk to some of the workers discreetly. Hunter, you think you can pull some records, find any dirt on this guy?"

"On it," Hunter replied, though his thoughts briefly flickered to how effortlessly Ethan had pulled him into a world of controlled intensity. He mentally shook himself and added, "I'll dig up everything he's trying to bury."

"And then there's the new community center." Rex redirected the attention to his pet project. "We've got most of the funds we need, and I've been in talks with the city about cutting through the red tape. It's a place for kids to go after school, keep 'em off the streets and outta trouble."

Brick grinned, a rare softening of his weathered features. "That's what I'm talking about. We're making a real difference. Hunter, I want you on this too. Your tech skills could help us set up some computer training programs, maybe get some of those kids on the right path."

Hunter nodded. "Absolutely. I'll start outlining some potential programs."

Half-turning in his seat, Brick addressed Slate. "Anything else we need to cover?"

Leaning against the wall with his arms folded over his broad chest, their Sergeant at Arms raked his gaze through the room with an unreadable expression. Slate's presence was quiet but imposing, a silent signal that the brotherhood's codes were being watched over with vigilance.

Slate shook his head, his voice deep and gravelly. "Security for the charity ride and the farmer situation is under control. I've got patrols set up, and we're ready for any trouble that comes our way."

Hunter appreciated the man's thoroughness. "Thanks. With you on it, I know we're solid."

Slate gave a brief nod, his gaze lingering on Hunter for a moment as if measuring him. "Just doing my job, brother. We keep the club safe; we keep the club strong."

As the meeting continued, Hunter found himself occasionally zoning out, Ethan's mastery and the memory of their encounter at Thorns & Roses creeping back into his thoughts. His hands tensed on the table, recalling how Ethan's touch had broken through his defenses, revealing desires he'd never fully acknowledged.

Brick's elbow jabbed him in the side. " You with us, man? You missed the part about the charity ride next month."

The table erupted into light-hearted jeers and laughter. "Probably daydreaming about some hot chick," one of the brothers teased.

Hunter forced a smirk, joining in the banter to mask his inner conflict. "Yeah, you caught me. Just planning my strategy for the ride. We're gonna make it the biggest one yet."

As the meeting drew to a close and the bikers began to disperse, Hunter remained seated for a moment longer, his thoughts swirling. Here he was the unbreakable vice president of the ECO, but in the quiet of his mind, he was still under Ethan's control, vulnerable and seen in a way he never had been before.

He stood up, shaking off the lingering emotions and the images of Ethan that clung to him. Walking out of the clubhouse, Hunter knew he had decisions to make, paths to choose. But for now, those deep blue eyes would remain with him, a secret etched into his soul. Leaving the clubhouse, Hunter knew he had work to do, both for the ECO and within his own conflicted heart. The challenges they faced were real and pressing, but so too were the personal revelations that he couldn't ignore. As he fired up his Harley, the roar of the engine momentarily drowned out his thoughts, offering a brief respite before the road ahead drew him back into the fray of life.