STRIKE: Storm Runners Motorcycle Club 2 (SRMC) (18 page)

He started the engine and pulled out onto the road. Jack followed, and the three of them headed into the night.

CHAPTER 21

T
hey pulled through the gates that opened like magic as they approached. She realized one of them must have a sensor that recognized the bikes, but it was still an impressive sight.

As Tom drove down the long, winding road, she examined the grounds. They weren’t what she’d expected, which was something small and covered with packed dirt and broken motorcycle parts. Her own prejudice, she realized. These were lush and covered with trees and even a river that sparkled in the few lights that lined the drive. Through the trees, she could see the lights of what must be the clubhouse—they were blazing bright in the dark. But there were other structures too. Small homes dotted the property.

As they pulled up to the clubhouse, Grace felt her eyebrows wing up at the sheer number of motorcycles parked outside. Tom pulled up close to the house itself, passing many parked bikes, and pulled into a space near the front. The engine quieted and she unlocked her arms to release him, though they felt empty after.

“This is it,” he said. “I know it seems like a lot of people, but you’re safe here. Everyone has been vetted and no one knows you’re coming.”

“Will people…will they resent me being here?”

“You ever arrested a Storm Runner?”

“I don’t know, honestly. I guess it’s possible.”

“If someone recognizes you as a cop, we’ll deal with it. If not, you’re just a woman that I’m with and people will give you respect.” He took the helmet she offered him and perched it on the bike. “Don’t worry. I’m with you no matter what.”

To her surprise, he reached down and laced his fingers with hers. “You coming in, Jack?”

Jack looked up from his phone. “Yeah. I guess Anna is in there.”

“Anna?” Jack looked at Grace and nodded.

“She’s my wife.” His face softened as he said the word and Grace worked to keep the shock from her face. Jack wasn’t the kind of man she pictured as a husband—he was too wild, too gruff. Handsome, but untamed. Suddenly she was excited to go inside and see what kind of woman put such light in his eyes.

Jack opened the door and let Tom and Grace head in before him. Sound exploded out as soon as the door opened, hard rock with bass so deep the ground almost shook. She looked around Tom’s broad frame to see a raging mass of people dancing, playing pool or talking shit around a bar where one man gesticulated wildly.

“Do you want a drink?” Tom looked down at her. His eyes were different here and a smile tugged at the corners of his lips.

She started to refuse, then paused. “Actually, yes. Can I get an old fashioned—depending on the whiskey, I might want from fruit muddled in, too, if you have it.”

Tom grinned. “We have a fully stocked bar. Come on over and I’ll make you one.”

Moments later, she was perched on one of the black leather barstools, watching him blend the sugar, bitters and the splash of water he’d thrown in to help the process along.

“I pegged you as a tequila sunrise girl,” he said.

“Once upon a time, maybe.” She sat back, glad she’d erred on the side of skimpy and changed into a short black skirt and red halter. Some of the women partying around her were absolutely beautiful and she wondered how many had their eyes on Tom.
Not happening, ladies
. “But in my line of work, you get mocked if you order a girly drink after shift.”

Tom nodded, then slid some whiskey down the side of the glass to mix with the liquid at the bottom, then stirred and threw in some ice. “Try it and then tell me if you want the fruit.”

She sipped from the glass he handed her, enjoying the complex flavors of the whiskey. “No, this is perfect.”

“I thought you’d like it. I pulled it from under the bar—where we keep the good stuff.” His smile was so light and roguish that it helped chase away the stain of the day. She kicked back and crossed her legs, secretly delighted when his eyes traveled up them to the hem of her skirt. Tom’s body was perfect and her hands itched to slide up his shirt and touch the muscles that she knew lurked there—so it was nice to see that he was at least somewhat affected by her.

“Are you going to have one?”

“Not tonight.” Tom poured some dark soda into a cup and took a sip.

He nodded to another man, who walked behind the bar as Tom came around and pulled her out of her seat. “Come meet my friends,” he said.

“Everyone here is your friend.” They’d already been greeted so many times that she was forgetting names.

“Yes, but there are a few I grew up with. The other guys on the executive board of the club.” He nodded to one of the pool tables, and her eyes followed his gaze, scanning the room in the process. At least three people were committing illegal acts, but she wasn’t going to do anything about it right now. Not tonight.

So she focused on the men he pointed out.

“Brief me before we get there?”

“You already know Jack. He’s the sergeant-at-arms, which basically means he takes care of anything we need for the club that the rest of us don’t handle. The guy with Pepsi can is Crash—he takes care of the bookkeeping for the club.”

“I’m surprised you don’t.”

“I have my hands full with the bar. Always have.”

“And the other man?” The last man at the pool table was one of the most beautiful men she’d ever seen. Face of an angel and a body that would tempt a saint to sin.

“That’s Ace. He’s president of the Storm Runners.”

“You’re friends with him?”

“I was once, until I started acting like an asshole.”

“I doubt you were an asshole,” Grace said. He’d always been so kind to her.

“Trust me. These men have been more than patient with me since some shit got stirred up last year and I lost my goddamn mind.” He sighed, his smiling dimming. “Maybe one day we’ll be friends again.”

“Is that something you want?”

He looked down at her and thought of all the times in the past year that he’d punished Ace for Max’s will. Punished him because he knew he would take it and not hit back—most of the time. Because he couldn’t punish the people who were really responsible for ruining everything.

“Yeah,” he said. Her eyes were so beautiful, like molten gold. “Yeah, that is something I want.”

“Then I’m sure you’ll make it work.” He wanted to kiss her then, but they were already at the pool table.

Fuck it
. He pulled her hot body up against his and kissed her, deep and probing. When he moved away, she was shaking with arousal and if he didn’t think Grace needed time to decompress from the horror of the afternoon, he’d have taken her upstairs and spent the night driving into her over and over until she was satisfied.

“I’ve got next game if there isn’t a line,” he said, directing the words to Ace and stroking a hand over Grace’s silky hair.

“You sure you want to play?” Crash said, poking him with the butt of the pool stick. “Ace is running the table tonight and he’s kicking my ass.” Crash was normally the best of them at pool, and satisfaction shone in Ace’s eyes at his impending victory.

“I’m sure. If I lose, at least it’ll be a fair game. Not like playing at some of those pool halls in the city.”

“Who’s this beautiful woman?” Ace asked, inclining his head in Grace’s direction.

“This is Grace,” Tom said. “Don’t get any ideas, buddy. She’s all mine.” He felt her small hand entwine with his and couldn’t keep the smile off his face. “But you’re welcome to introduce yourselves.”

“I’m Ace. Nice to meet you.” Tom could see the surprise in Ace’s eyes and realized he’d been expecting her to look more like a cop than a goddess.

“I’m Crash.” Crash came around the table and offered Grace his hand. “Always nice to meet a lovely lady. Especially one I’ve heard so many great things about.” He waggled his eyebrows and Grace blushed, but still smiled.

“It’s good to meet you both,” she said. Tom looked at Ace and got the subtle nod before he crooked his fingers at the two women sitting on the loveseat near the table.

“Anna, Carly, this is Grace. She’s the woman I’m seeing.”

Anna rushed forward, arm extended. “It’s so great to meet you. I’ve never met anyone who’s had Tom as twisted up in knots as you have.” She snapped her mouth closed and looked at Tom. “Sorry, T.”

“It’s okay, goldilocks.” He wasn’t proof against her sunny smile. He put a hand on Grace’s arm and used his free hand to gesture to Carly. “That’s Anna’s best friend, Carly.”

“Hello.” She stood slightly behind Anna and waved at Grace, who smiled in return.

“It’s nice to meet you both,” Grace said. “Do you live on the property?” She directed the question to Anna, assuming she and Jack lived in one of the houses.

“No,” Anna said. “Hubs and I have a house a few miles away. Carly does, though.”

“They rented a cottage to me,” Carly said. She spoke quietly, her gaze on Ace, who smiled encouragingly before she continued. “If you’re not entranced by the pool game, you could bring your drink over and sit with us.”

“Do you mind?” Grace squeezed Tom’s hand and though he didn’t want to let her go, time with other women might help her distract herself from the storm of shit bearing down on her.

“Of course not.” He brushed a kiss on top of her head and let go of her hand, then watched her ass as she moved away and sank down into the chair next to the loveseat where the other women sat. Even as he took over the pool cue and talked a bunch of bullshit to his friends, he kept an eye on Grace.

_____

At first, she felt uncomfortable in the face of the obvious friendship the two women shared. Anna reached out and grabbed Carly’s hand, holding it tight while they got to know Grace. Once conversation flowed more freely, she let it go and Carly spoke more.

“I just can’t decide whether I want to add flowers or leave it as it is.”

“Add the flowers,” Grace said, charmed by the thought of small white flowers lining the border of the sitting room in the cottage Carly described. “They’ll be gorgeous and you obviously like to paint.”

“It’s relaxing,” Carly said, “but I won’t be here forever and I know the guys would paint over it, but I don’t want to make them do it.”

“They’d do it with smiles,” Anna said, rolling her eyes. “You know Jack would be there with a gallon of paint and a roller if one of us just asked him.”

Grace laughed. “He seems kind of scary when you first meet him, but you’re making me think he’s a big teddy bear.”

“Only if you’re Anna,” Carly said, pushing back her long, red hair. Her face was fine-boned and delicate with fair, pale skin and Grace couldn’t stop looking at her. Her beauty was quiet, but stunning, and she seemed out of place in such a loud, raucous group. Her bright green eyes sparkled as she looked at her best friend and teased her. “Otherwise he’s still a little scary.”

“Please,” Anna said. “Carly hasn’t been scared of him since the second day she met him. Her arm was injured and she made a slight sound when she moved it. He was next to her bed with pain medications, hot tea and cold water before I could move.” She rolled her eyes. “He’s basically putty in her hands, too.”

“He must see how much you love her,” Grace said, warming when Anna and Carly both smiled.

“That’s exactly it,” Carly said. “That’s also why they let me rent the house here for basically nothing.”

“What do you do for work?”

“I’ve been doing some test grading remotely and some freelance photo editing.” Carly looked down and her hair fell into her face. “I’m looking into getting something in Ann Arbor maybe, though.”

“Don’t,” Anna said, reaching for her hand again. “I want you here. It’s nice having you so close to me.”

“How does remote test grading work?” Carly looked up again, face clear, and launched into an explanation of what she did and how she did it.

_____

“She’s not going to say she’s a cop, is she?” Ace was watching the women so closely that he’d missed the break entirely. Every time Carly looked down or clenched her hands tight, Tom saw Ace’s fists tighten in response. Just when Tom thought Ace would go over and break up the conversation, Carly lit up and relaxed.

“No,” Tom said. “Not tonight. She had to kill a man today. She just wants to relax.”

“I’ll have to brief the club at church before it gets around. I don’t want people freaking out and starting shit with her.”

“You think that’ll happen?”

“You never know, so I’d rather come out ahead of it.” He slammed his cue into the ball and winced when it bounced off the side of the table, missing the ball he’d aimed for. “No one here is exactly comfortable around cops, but she’s your woman so they’re going to have to deal with it.”

“Thanks,” Tom said, sinking two balls in the side pocket. “It’s important to me.”

“Anything you need, man.”

“I know.” Tom waited until Ace looked at him. “I know. Look, Ace…”

“You’re not drinking,” Ace said, nodding to the soda.

“I have someone to protect.”

“That’s good.” Ace nodded and grinned when Tom missed his shot. Lining up his own, he managed to sink two before conceding the table back to Tom. “Jack says having a woman you want to protect makes a world of difference.”