Chapter 19

CHAPTER NINETEEN

Helena

Maddox has been setting me off balance these last few days. I didn't know which way was up or down. He was snatching me from kitchens and collecting his childhood friends to assist him in case Makarovich came chasing after me. Then, just before we left the bedroom, he told me that he'd had Dimitri call in a favor with the Volkov Bratva. How Dimitri knew who to call, he didn't specify, but supposedly, he'd found out that Makarovich was operating on his own. This was great news!

Maddox said the Bratva was pissed about Makarovich's involvement with trafficking too. He thought that their contact could get the auction shut down. He didn't have time to tell me the details but had some inside source. We hadn't even had time for me to tell him about what I had discovered with his books. I'd forgotten, and he hadn't asked, which I was now feeling bad about. Embezzlement was a huge deal, so I wanted to make sure that he had all the details.

Jillian and I had been prepping the bar for the last twenty minutes. Finally, it was down to just slicing limes and arranging the random stuff that got asked for occasionally. Being back here at the Open Road was like falling back in time. There was a rhythm and a cadence to how things moved.

"So, have you and Maddox done the deed yet?" Jillian asked, between the maraschino cherries and the margarita salt. She snapped the gum into a rounded ‘o' with her lips and blew a bubble.

"I'm not telling you that," I whispered back, even though the crowd's din already meant that the chance of being overheard was negligible.

"Come on, girl. I've been dying to know how that man is in the sack. If I'm not getting a crack at the real thing, which I'm obviously not," she raised an eyebrow at me. Then the least you can do is put me out of my misery."

Her words shouldn't have made my heart go pitter-patter like they did. Maddox was a great-looking man, and there had been no reason for him to be hanging around waiting on me. Still … looking over at the blond motorcycle god that he was, I still couldn't help but sigh.

"Stop that and spill the deets. Did you or didn't you?" Jillian demanded.

"Well, not yet. Not really," I hedged, adjusting the glasses on the counter.

"What does that mean?" Cocking a hip, she gave me another look and pointed a glass at me. "Details. I want them."

"The morning after I arrived, we had a little hookup in the hallway." The confession slipped out as I pinched a bit of salt between my fingertips. She waved her hand at me to continue, obviously to elaborate. "There might have been a little oral," I said, finally picking up a lime and sprinkling it with more salt.

Jillian waggled her eyebrows. "I'd go down on my knees for that man."

I was sure I'd be willing to be on my knees for Maddox Bishop in multiple ways. I gave a dreamy sigh, which Jillian didn't miss.

"Not that I wouldn't," I agreed, winking.

"Oh my god." Understanding glimmered across her face as she smacked a hand across her mouth. "Was it amazing?"

"Ladies, we have a guest incoming. Not that I give too shits, but Maddox does." Whitney was coming around the bar hot with his face screwed up in a frown. He'd been in a sour mood all afternoon, snapping at Amber and the kitchen staff even after he'd been told to lay off. I adored him, but it was enough for me to steer clear. My time at the club wasn't set, so I wouldn't be inserting myself into other people's business.

"Ten out of ten," I whispered behind Whitney's back. Jillian fanned herself dramatically.

The Cobras arrived in a group, thirty or forty men deep. The Open Road wasn't small by any means, but it already felt too small as they entered the area. I knew there were some bad feelings among some of the Brotherhood members and the Cobras, but the rules were crystal – no fighting tonight. Maddox had ensured everyone with the club knew the guidelines, but I could already see the mulish set of mouths as the other bikers marched in. There were chips on shoulders and history that went deep.

The Cobras were just like any biker group, though loud and proud. The jostling and posturing were almost funny as they came in. I loved people-watching, and the biker crowd was some of the best to observe. They had so many different personalities. Jillian elbowed me to get my attention from where we stood watching behind the bar.

"Is that the leader? Pike?" she asked, gesturing to a tall, dark-haired man.

"Yeah, that's him." He was no slouch in the looks department but looked a little intimidating. The guy was stocky with dark hair and tattoos, muscled, wearing just his cut without a shirt on. It was not a look I was typically into, but he did somehow make it look good. Sex on a stick, but he looked cold in the eyes and more than a little willing to stab someone in the back if he had to.

"He's intense but hot," Jillian whispered. I heard he's done serious time. Not that I care," she was quick to add. Plenty of bikers had brushes with the law due to the illegal nature of club life, but I wouldn't lie and say that you couldn't see the marks it left on a man. Pike was one of those guys who looked like he'd been behind bars.

"We celebrating or what fuckers?" Pike was raucous and loud as he threw his arms wide, drawing smiles and hooting calls from his men. Not to mention appreciative looks from the ladies.

"If you need me, Jills," I started, looking at Maddox.

"Yeah, yeah, yeah." She made shooing motions with her hands. "Go on."

Jillian and Whitney had been working the bar for a long time. I was extra and probably in the way at this point. Grabbing a few extra lime slices before I left and sprinkling them with salt, I moved to Maddox. He turned toward me, a smile tugging at the corners of his lips. "Hey, princess. I was wondering where you were."

I shrugged, offering him a small smile in return. "I was trying to finish up some last-minute stuff with Amber and Jillian that someone had kept me from earlier."

Maddox chuckled, running a hand down my side. "Someone should keep their hands to themselves."

"I like their hands, though." Thinking about all the things I could put his hands to work with made my panties wet.

"Is that right?" His hooded eyes smoldered as he dragged me closer and then moved the exact hands we were discussing over my side underneath my t-shirt, tracing my skin in small s-curves. We'd not had as much time today as I would have liked, but hopefully, that would be rectified later tonight.

"That's right," I affirmed, flickering my gaze around the room. It's incredible to see everyone coming together like this."

I'd heard Maddox's tone when he mentioned that he and Pike had come up in the foster system together, but there was something he wasn't telling me. I wondered how far he trusted him—how well he knew him. I wasn't sure I had any right to press him for information about his past friendships. My knowledge about Maddox Bishop was piteously small.

Maddox's expression furrowed, his eyes scanning over the floor before us. "Yeah, it is good. We needed this alliance with the Cobras if we would continue to grow in a couple of areas. Not having an agreement with them was a problem."

"Well, looks like you made it happen then," I paused. "Look, later, we need to talk. About what I found in the books."

His hand landed on my hip, hooking into one of the loops of my jeans. His gaze lingered hungrily on mine for a moment longer. "We can do that, princess. Anything you want."

The promise was there again, low and hot. I'm sure he knew that I was being serious. We had the finances to talk about, and I actually needed to talk seriously with him, but damn with his teasing. Two could play at that game.

"Anything Maddox?" I ran my hand inside his vest and under his t-shirt, enjoying the swift intake of breath. "I was thinking about earlier. Maybe we could continue that."

"Anything," he answered as I dipped my fingers slightly down to the tight band where his belt held his pants against his skin. Like the flutter of a dove's wings, I skimmed my fingers to trace the tight muscles that sketched an obvious six-pack at the edge of his pants.

"Who's this?" The voice from behind us took us both by surprise. I snatched my hand back quicker than if I had laid my hand on a hot stove. Then I was pissed at myself.

As I looked to see who had interrupted our moment, my heart stilled at the sight of Pike standing there. His eyes flickered between Maddox and me, and a smug grin played on his lips that I wasn't sure how to read.

"This is Helena," Maddox replied curtly, clearly unhappy about the interruption, his hand tightening on my hip as he straightened up. He shifted his body so that it was covering mine. He might as well have peed on me.

Pike's grin widened, his gaze lingering on me in a calculating way that confused me. "Ah, I see now. Well, Maddox, you always did have good taste." His tone was almost too smooth, and I could sense the underlying edge of arrogance that lurked beneath the charm.

I forced a polite smile, trying to ignore the uncomfortable knot in my stomach. I wish I had pressed Maddox a little more about his relationship with Pike and whether or not he trusted him. It was hard to know what vibe I was picking up from him.

"Nice to meet you," I hesitated but offered my hand in greeting anyway.

Pike took my hand, turning it over and peering at my nails; his grip was firm but not overly aggressive. "Helena." He seemed to consider for a moment, but I knew it was an act. "Helena Marsh, then, right? Roscoe's daughter?"

I raised an eyebrow, suppressing the urge to roll my eyes. "So? What about it?"

"I'm just asking." He winked at Maddox, which made my blood boil. "No reason."

"Do you want to hear some stories about baby Maddox?" he asked, instantly redeeming himself. I quirked my eyebrow.

"What kind of stories do you have?" This piqued my interest. I'd love to hear about Maddox's childhood. We'd barely had time to get to know each other at this point so that any stories would be good stories, in my opinion. My knowledge bank was woefully thin on knowledge regarding Maddox Bishop at this point.

"There are all kinds, good stories and bad stories. You'll be able to take your pick, baby Marsh."

"Ah, come on, asswipe. You don't need to spread lies," Maddox moaned. "Don't be a dick."

"Come find me later, beautiful. I'll leave you two lovebirds to it." His tone had a hint of mockery that set my teeth on edge, but before I could respond, he turned and disappeared into the crowd.

"Guy seemed interesting, but I can't wait to hear some baby Maddox stories." Biting my lip, I considered Pike. It was a dilemma but a tempting one.

Maddox's gaze was steely as he watched Pike's retreating figure. "That's Pike for you. I've known him a long time, or I used to know him. He always thought of himself as a charmer."

There were always guys that tried to talk big and act big. Pike fit well in that category of men. Someone careless with his thoughts and his actions. Even the way he walked in the world was with considerable energy and without a worry about the space he took regarding those around him.

"He's interesting, alright. When was the last time you saw him?" I asked casually.

Maddox's hand found mine, his touch reassuring as he gently squeezed it. "Four years ago — about when your father passed, but we didn't really talk." He frowned while he thought he over. "He approached me about the clubs working together. Your father never liked the Cobras much, or Pike for that matter," he laughed ruefully. "Pike always was an asshole. I hadn't seen him for years before then."

"You said you grew up together, though. In the system," I probed. "Right?"

"Yeah, baby. We did. I hadn't seen him for a long time before that, and I was in the service, so we lost touch." Maddox kept it light and vague. I heard words like ‘system' and ‘service'. Earlier in the day, he'd let slip that he'd been in the foster system with Pike, but he'd been reticent about explaining the details. My stomach had pitched thinking of Maddox in the system, and I think that was enough for him to cut the conversation off.

All things Pike seemed hazy to me, and inching again towards Maddox, I pressed a kiss against the edge of his lips, enjoying the crinkle of his beard against the softness of my lips. His inhale made me weak in the knees, so I did it again, dipping my tongue into the crevice of his mouth even though I had to stand on my tiptoes.

"That's right, princess. Give me your sunshine. I'll take it all."

"Nope." I darted away towards the bar. "That's all you get. I need to help Jills."

Leaving Maddox to his own devices was a good idea. It wasn't wise to get caught up in club politics or those sexy eyes of his. I could get lost in motorcycle dreams and the roar of engines. I'd only been here a few days, and already all I could think about was Mr. Bishop.

Helping behind the bar or running drinks was typically something I enjoyed anyway, so it was easy to join Jillian in the rhythm of pouring drinks or running food. It wasn't until I was stuck bringing beers to Pike's table that I remembered he promised a few stories about Maddox's early years.

"Here you go," I passed out the beers and started collecting the empties without being too obvious.

"Don't go, sugar," Pike said, his voice easy and low. "Come have a seat with us. It's a party, right?" Patting the seat next to him, he pinned me with an effortless look. "I owed you a story, right?"

"You absolutely do. A baby Maddox story." I was still on the fence about him, but I wouldn't pass up dirt about Maddox if there were some to find. When I was younger, and he was new to the club, he was an enigma. Nobody knew anything about him. Here was my chance. I wanted to collect every secret about him like they were shells along a seashore.

Jillian had slipped behind the bar and was chatting easily with Whitney, a rag slung over her shoulder. It was evident that I had a little time.

"Alright, I'll stay for a minute." Putting the tray on a nearby table, I sat, ensuring space between Pike and me without offending him.

Pike grinned, leaning back in his chair as he watched me settle beside him. His eyes roamed over me, a bit too interested for my liking, and I fought the urge to squirm under his intense scrutiny.

"The story?" I prompted.

"Right, the story. Well," he rubbed his hands together gleefully. "Would you believe that Maddox used to get bullied in this elementary school we went to? Something terrible. There was this pack of kids that was awful to him."

Pike was a natural storyteller. He was animated and expressive, with lit and expansive eyes. He was captivating, and I was immediately drawn in.

"They would chase him around the playground and call him horrible names. He'd hide in the morning before school, and then he'd hide during lunch and recess. I was new, and he told me about this pack of kids the week I came." Pike leaned forward then as if he were telling a secret. "Well, one of the kids was this big greedy fuck who first ate the lunch that his momma made him and then a hot lunch. Not only hot lunch but other kids' hot lunch — like Maddox's. Maddox got free lunch," Pike added. "Of course, after I came, that all stopped because we teamed up," he said as if sharing a secret.

By this point, I was hooked on the story. The Maddox I knew getting beaten up? What? This must be some horrible joke. I couldn't imagine him hiding from anyone … but Pike had me by the figurative throat by this point.

"So, poor little Maddox tells me his tale of woe as I roll into Morinrock Elementary, and we came up with a plan to get back at Jed Monroe, who was the leader of the little gang of jerks."

"What was it?" I asked with bated breath. "The plan?"

"One morning, we got to school early. The day before, we had spotted a dried-out flattened toad on the road and picked it up. Now, it was preserved—extra crispy and, I dare say, mummified. I would have found something better, but what can you do?" Pike said mournfully with an exaggerated shrug.

"A toad," I said, horrified.

"Yep, a toad. So we took it back to school and waited for Jed Monroe to get off the bus with his posse and put their lunch sacks into the bin. Normally, I would have stolen and eaten them myself."

This made me wonder for a moment about a few questions I'd like to ask Maddox later about what went on with their childhood and why they'd be stealing lunch sacks.

"Ok, and then what?" I prodded.

"When they went outside to look for us, we took his bologna sandwich out and slid the toad under the cheese." Pike smacked his hands together. "Just like that. Toad sandwich."

I clasped my hands over my mouth. "Oh my god, you did not."

"We did." The rumble came from over the shoulder, and a finger gently nudged one little dinosaur. I didn't even have to turn to know that it was Maddox. Pike's eyes remained fixed on the dinosaur as it swung. "Should have seen the kid's face when he realized it and bit into that crunchy dried toad."

"It was awesome," Pike agreed.