13. Tempe

13

Tempe

When we get back to the Twisted Kings compound, Havoc doesn’t take us to the neighborhood like I expect him to. Instead, he pulls the truck to a stop outside the clubhouse.

The lot is empty compared to when I first arrived here in the middle of a party. The few bikes and trucks are parked under a canopy at the side of the building.

“I thought we were going back to the house.”

Havoc swings his door open to climb out. “We will, but Steel thought you might be hungry.”

He walks around the truck and opens my door. The aroma of a grill filters through the truck as I undo Austin’s seat belt, and he hops out of his booster seat.

“Burgers?” Austin jumps out of his seat.

“And hot dogs,” Havoc answers.

“Yes!” Austin jumps up, landing in his superhero pose .

“Are our bags okay out here?” I glance at the back of the truck.

“It’ll be fine. The compound’s on lockdown to outsiders right now.”

The mention of a lockdown should probably make me feel trapped or nervous, but instead, I grab Austin’s hand and feel safe for the first time in a few days.

Havoc leads us through the clubhouse, and it’s eerily empty. Apart from a few guys playing pool, everyone is out back. The large glass doors that look out at the empty desert at the back of the clubhouse are wide open, and it’s a warm day. It’s the perfect time of year in Vegas, when you don’t have to hide from the sun because it’s not yet scalding.

People are everywhere, laughing, barbecuing, and enjoying themselves.

I recognize a few of the men, but many others are new faces. The same goes for the girls walking around in bikini tops like it’s the middle of summer.

There are multiple grills going, and music blasts through the speakers. Everyone is relaxed like it’s a big family get-together. I almost feel like I’m an outsider intruding, but deep down, there’s this strange familiarity, and maybe I’m recognizing my roots for the first time. Seeing a side of what the club offers that extends beyond whatever illegal activities they take part in.

Out here there’s comradery.

Security.

Family.

Maybe I’m starting to understand the appeal .

“A pool.” Austin bounces up and down, tugging my hand.

I follow his gaze to a patch of grass in the distance, where a little blonde girl is splashing around in a kiddie pool.

“Please, Tempe. Can I go play?” He squeezes my hand. “Please. Please.”

I glance down at his T-shirt and shorts, wishing we had a bathing suit. But when I look up to find the other kids aren’t in swimsuits either, I’m thankful.

“Go, have fun.” I lean down and give him a kiss on the forehead.

He darts away, running across the yard to meet the other kids at the pool, and I see Pearl sitting in a lawn chair beside it. She waves at me before going back to the book she’s reading.

“I didn’t realize anyone had kids,” I say to Havoc.

“Most of the guys don’t.” Havoc points to the blonde girl making room for Austin in the pool. “But that’s Legacy’s kid, Bea. She’s a sweetheart.”

Austin sits down in the water facing Bea, showing her his cape. He still refuses to take it off. And it’s a reminder that no matter how comfortable he seems to be around the Twisted Kings, he still has his guard up after everything that happened.

“Tempe.” Luna pops up from where she’s sitting in a lawn chair. “You’re here.”

She jumps to her feet, pulling her purple hair into a ponytail. As she walks over to me, she ties a knot in her T-shirt, hugging it to her stomach. It’s roomy, so her arms swim in it. And it has the words “Good Game” in graffiti font across the front.

Havoc slips away as Luna walks up, making his way over to where Jameson is sitting, drinking a beer. He and a couple of other guys are laughing at something Soul said while Reina is propped on the arm of Jameson’s chair, smiling at him like he’s the center of her universe.

It’s strange seeing him in this environment, where he’s not Jameson.

He’s Steel. Their leader.

His men surround him, and women watch him from every corner of the yard. He demands the attention of the entire party while sitting back and not having to ask for it. No matter where he is, they all seem to take notice.

Jameson takes a sip of his beer, and his gaze moves to Havoc on his approach before catching mine from across the yard.

His stare lands like dynamite inside my chest.

Grey, stormy eyes.

An ocean in the middle of a hurricane.

It makes sense why women would lose themselves at sea for this man.

Turning my back on Jameson, I smile at Luna, trying to ignore the inevitable pull of his presence.

“You’re still here.” She pulls me in for a hug. “I thought you left.”

“We did, kind of. Steel moved us to his house for my brother’s sake.”

Her eyes widen as she looks from me to him. “His house? ”

“Yeah.”

“Where Pearl lives?”

My eyebrows pinch. “That’s the place.”

If it’s possible, her eyes get even bigger. “Good lord, girl, we need to get you a drink so you can tell me all about it.”

She snatches my hand and drags me toward the outdoor bar. The moment we walk up, we’re each handed a beer.

Across the lawn, Austin is still playing in the pool, and he’s now soaking wet. But at least he’s laughing.

“Spill,” Luna says, clinking her beer bottle against mine. “You’re living with him?”

“It’s not how it sounds.” I laugh, realizing she’s making way more of it than there is. “We can’t go back to my house right now, so he’s doing us a favor.”

Luna hums, smirking at me.

“I’m serious.”

“Oh, I’m sure you are.” She bites her lip, playfully mocking me. “It’s club business . Of course. You be sure to keep me updated on how that pans out.”

I roll my eyes, trying to ignore what she’s insinuating. It’s clear Jameson doesn’t let many people stay at his house, but she’s making it something it’s not. Something it can’t be.

Glancing over my shoulder, I see Jameson is standing now, talking to Havoc. Reina has taken his seat and is pretending not to be watching his every movement. I’d judge her, but I’m no better, staring at him from across the yard .

I take a sip of my beer and try to cool my thoughts. A man is the last thing I need in my life right now. Especially a biker.

If I’m going to build a more stable life for Austin, I can’t be chasing love like my mom did. Things are complicated enough without adding lust to my problems.

“It’s different around here today.” I look around, pausing at where Austin and Bea are still playing.

The two of them have squirt guns now, and they’re in a battle with a couple of Jameson’s men. One must be Legacy because Bea is using him as a shield. He has the same dark-blond hair and bright-blue eyes she does.

“Yeah, it’s calmer around the compound when the guys are in lockdown.”

“It’s nice.”

She nods.

“All done.” I jump as someone stops at my side, and when I turn, I see Ghost looking down at me.

He’s so quiet, I never hear him coming. And even when he’s in the room, it’s almost like he isn’t.

“What’s done?”

“The cameras at your house. We’ll know if anyone else shows up from here on out.”

“Thanks.” I’m not sure why he’s reporting to me when I didn’t ask him to do it.

“Hey, Ghost.” Luna smiles, the faintest blush climbing her cheeks when she breaks the silence. For all of her usual confidence, she looks nervous for the first time since I met her. “I gathered all the footage you were looking for from Sapphire Rise. It’s in a drive for you. ”

“Thanks, Luna.” He nods.

They stare at each other for a moment, and I feel like I’m standing in the middle of something. But then Ghost’s phone pings, and it splits his attention. He pulls it out, glancing at the screen. Then he disappears in Jameson’s direction without another word.

Luna watches him leave, gnawing at the inside of her cheek.

“What was that all about?” My eyebrows pinch.

Her focus snaps back like she’s coming out of a trance. “What? That? Nothing.”

“Nothing?” I repeat, smiling and taking another sip of my beer.

Luna sighs. “Really, nothing. Ghost is Ghost.”

“Meaning?”

“He wouldn’t notice me if I danced around naked in front of him.”

“I highly doubt that.”

She frowns. “I’m serious. Any girl who’s tried with him has been shot down.”

“Have you tried?”

She takes a sip of her beer, not answering.

“I take your silence as a no.”

“I don’t want to make it awkward. Ghost is the one who brought me in here. He helped me during a tough time, and now he’s mentoring me through my tech classes.” She sets her beer down on the bar, dragging her thumb through the condensation. “These guys get a bad rap for the things they do, but they do a lot of good as well. Like taking me in when I needed it and giving me a place to crash so long as I helped around the clubhouse. It’s not just bikers and prostitutes like the world seems to think. We’re a community. I can’t risk losing it over a little crush. If Ghost wants something, he knows where to find me.”

“I respect that.” I lift my beer, and she clinks hers against it. “Now give me some of that confidence, please. I could use it.”

“Like you need confidence.” Luna slides closer, nudging me on the arm. “I heard you nearly knocked Steel on his ass when you met him. You’re a badass, Tempe.”

My face pinches. “Let me guess, Ghost told you that?”

“Don’t worry, he’s not a gossip.” She takes a drink. “He just tells me things.”

“Because he doesn’t like you.”

Luna smirks, glancing over at Ghost for a split second before turning back to me. “That’s beside the point. Ghost said you’re tough as nails, which is a lot coming from him. How did you learn to fight anyway?”

“Self-defense classes in high school.” I wave my hand up to the gash that cuts through my eyebrow. “My mom didn’t always have the best taste in guys. After one did this, I figured I should learn how to stick up for myself if she wasn’t going to.”

Luna stares at my scar, almost looking like she sees herself in it. “Maybe sometime, you can teach me a few things. If you don’t mind, that is. These guys look out for us, but they won’t always be there.”

“Of course.” I squeeze her hand .

Unlike the majority of the clubhouse girls, who look at me like I’m an outsider—an enemy trying to steal their men—Luna treats me like a friend.

“Starting a fight club, wildfire?” Jameson’s voice comes from behind me, and it makes me jump.

I spin to find him leaning against the bar watching me.

“Find me later, Tempe.” Luna winks, walking away at Jameson’s interruption.

“So?” His gaze moves to my scar, and I wonder how much he heard. “Self-defense classes?”

“Any girl hanging out with bikers should know how to throw a punch. Just in case.”

Jameson hums, amusement playing in his gaze, and I appreciate that my fiery side doesn’t scare him.

“Maybe I’ll have to stop by and check it out then.” He smirks.

Stepping closer, I scan him over, wetting my lips as we lock gazes again. “I could use a target to show ’em how to take someone down. You volunteering?”

“You want to fight me, Tempe?” Jameson leans closer, brushing my hair off my cheek and leaving a path of pure fire in its wake. “Think you could take me?”

“Maybe.” I shrug, playfully. “Guess we’ll have to find out.”