Adversaries by T.L. Hodel

It was a normal night at the clubhouse. My brothers were all here, playing games and having a few drinks. General all-around fun that I should be taking part in. So, why was I sitting here staring at a half-drunk beer when there was a hot as fuck chick chained to my bed?

'Because you're a good man. You don't want to hurt that girl.'

That was the problem. I did want to hurt Naomi. Got hard as hell just thinking about it.

'Don't do this, Chase.'

"Go away, Sam," I muttered and drained the rest of my glass. The bitter liquid burning down my throat did nothing to wash away my guilt.

I didn't feel bad for Naomi–bitch deserved what was coming. I didn't want Sam in the back of my head when I did it. She was gone, I knew that, but that ghost was all I had left. If she saw what I'd become…

My fingers snapped at one of the prospects for a refill as I turned my attention to Beast. A group of members sat around him, listening intently to the story he was telling. His hands swung through the air, explaining some great feat.

Funny thing was, when you took time to think about it, the feat wasn't that great. Beast just had a knack for stringing words together. I'd heard every one of his stories ten times over and would still sit down and listen. I'd miss hearing that big fucker talk when I left this world.

A glass full of beer was dropped down on the table. I nodded at Reggie, the prospect who brought it and took a long swallow.

Naomi was just a small part of my plan. Her daddy was the key to breaking down the Reapers business enough that my brother would be willing to cut a deal. Give The Lost Souls back their territory and leave them alone. In return, my brother would get me.

'You can't leave them again. They need you.'

I glanced at the patches around the room. Some were tarnished with age, while others were crisp and clean. I'd only patched in three of those. Beast and Mannix built this club back up. They survived my death once. I'm sure they could do it again.

'They will, but what about…'

My gaze shifted to Tanner, who was a few tables away, watching Beast talk. The first time I saw his eyes, they were hidden under black and purple bruises. The kid was so dirty, I thought he had black hair. It took a week of constant washing before the blonde started to show.

My old man thought I was crazy bringing him here, but what could I say? I liked the idiot. Any twelve-year-old that tried to rob a man my size had balls.

I don't know how he wound up in that alley or what happened to him. Whatever it was, it was bad enough that he latched onto a bunch of bikers. Little fucker even followed me to Ashen Springs.

'And now you're going to leave him.'

Tanner smiled as two of the sweet butts whispered in his ear.

"He’ll be fine.”

‘The man I loved wouldn’t do this.’

“The man you loved died eight years ago.” I scrubbed a hand down my face and let out a sigh. “I don’t know who the fuck I am now.”

“You’re Chase Mathers,” Beast’s wife, Jaz, dropped down in the chair next to me, “the kid I used to beat up on the playground.”

I arched a brow at her. “Old ladies aren’t supposed to be in the clubhouse.”

“Careful, Spider,” she reached out and grabbed my glass, “I still have that hockey stick.”

That was a rough week. Not only did I get shit for having my ass kicked by a girl, but I couldn’t see out of my eye for four days. I learned my lesson, though. Never pick on an armed redhead. Jaz made daily visits to make sure I was okay and warned me not to pull her hair again.

We’d been thick as thieves ever since. Beast used to give her so much shit. Until her curves filled out, then he gave her something else. The other guys respected her so much that they gave her a road name. Claire was her given name.

“Besides,” She took a long swig of my beer and smirked. “I have to keep an eye on my man. Wouldn’t want these skanks getting any ideas.”

“Exactly why old ladies aren’t allowed in the clubhouse.”

“Just so you know,” Jaz leaned in and whispered, “my blender’s big enough for two sets of balls.”

I snatched my glass back and chuckled. She probably had that blender sitting on a shelf so Beast would see it every day. Sam wasn’t part of the club, and Jaz kicked my ass when she caught me with another girl…

I sighed and pushed past Claire. “What are you doing here?”

“Apparently, I’m saving your ass,” She growled and followed me into the kitchen.

Jax, cocked a brow at us from the living room where he was playing a video game.

I threw open the fridge and cracked open a beer.

Claire slapped her hands on the counter. “Are you just going to ignore what I saw in there?”

“You didn’t see anything.” She interrupted us before it could get that far.

My dick was barely out when Claire came busting in my room. The chick I was with didn’t even have time to lick the tip.

Claire flopped down and ran her pink painted nails through her red hair. “Why would you hurt Sam like this?”

My brows furrowed as I swallowed down my guilt. The entire time I was in the room with that chick, I could feel it burning through my veins, but I was doing this to keep Sam from getting hurt.

“That girl loves you.”

Fuck, that hurt. Way to twist the knife deeper.

I sighed and dropped my elbows on the counter. “Do you know what I did last night?”

“It better not have been that bitch,” Claire snarled over her shoulder towards the front door where my date had fled after the girl was slapped around, of course.

“I killed a man. Dragged him out to the swamp, slit his throat, and watched him bleed out. Sam doesn’t love me.” I pressed the bottle to my lips and let out a breath. “She doesn’t even know who I am.”

“So, tell her.”

I snorted. Yeah right. Tell the sweet down-home girl with morals that I sold drugs, ran guns, and sometimes killed people for a living. I’m sure that would go over well. Her brother was a cop who’d arrested my ass three times since I started fucking his sister.

“You’re an idiot; you know that.” Claire shook her head, “That girl already knows what you do. She calls me every day to make sure you haven’t been shot.”

What? Claire was bluffing. Sam didn’t know… Did she?

“If you want to lose the best thing that’s ever happened to you, that’s your choice,” Claire pushed off the counter and walked away, “but I can’t watch you do it.”

I stared at the door after she left, wondering if I could have it all. Could I keep my girl and my brothers without risking one? I didn’t want o give up Sam. Every time I closed my eyes, I saw her smile. No one looked at me like she did. I was the bad guy in other people’s lives, but to her, I was the hero.

“Don’t do it,” Jax called out from his spot on the couch. “That girl is too pure for our world.” He twisted his neck and looked back at me. “You’re just gonna get her killed.”

Jaz gaveme one of her pointed stares. “Beast says you took that girl.”

I rolled my eyes over at Beast and gritted my teeth. The fucker talked too much.

“What are you going to do to her?”

Whatever I want.

“Depends on her daddy.”

“Chase,” her small hand rested on my forearm, “Sam wouldn’t want you to do this.”

My gaze studied the concern sparkling in her bright eyes and then dropped to her tiny fingers clutching my arm.

“Sam’s dead,” I said, looking her right in the eyes, “because I took what I wanted.”

Sorrow poured into her expression as her brows knit. “Chase…”

“Don’t,” I growled and pushed the chair back.

The legs screeched across the floor as I rose and walked to the stairs. I could feel Jaz’s stare boring into the back of my skull as I left. It didn’t matter what she thought. It didn’t matter what anyone thought. I’d do what I had to do.

I creaked open the door, cautiously peeking in. One thing I’d learned about little Miss Queen Bee was not to underestimate her. I half-expected her to be standing behind the door with a lamp at the ready, but she wasn’t anywhere near the door.

I almost thought she’d escaped until I stepped into the room and saw her curled up on the bed.

My head tilted, eyes zeroing in on her chest, watching the steady rise and fall of her breaths. Testing her, I took a heavy step closer. Not even a twitch.

If she wasn’t asleep, she was a damn good actress. Then again, almost everything in her life was fake, including her smile.

I sat down on the edge of the bed and swept the hair off her face. What would that sultry mouth look like twisted in a real happiness? Had she ever known real happiness?

My hand slid over her shoulder and down her arm, pulling the blanket off her chest. She was so fucking beautiful, it hurt to look at her. Too bad she was such a cunt.

My eyes landed on her pert pink nipples. I lifted my hand and grazed my fingertips along the underside of her full breast.

Couldn’t be a cunt when she was asleep.

‘Don’t take her this way.’

“Why not?” I whispered while gently coaxing Naomi to roll on her back.

She was my prisoner. I could do what I wanted with her, and there was a lot I wanted to do. Suck on her perfect tits while I finger fucked that hot little cunt again. I wouldn’t fuck her yet. Not until the doctor called and gave me the go-ahead.

Most nights, I was drunk out of my mind, and God knows what I did. I may be an asshole, but I wasn’t that much of an asshole.

Once I got that call, though, all bets were off. I rolled my eyes over the curve of her hip. I’d never been a big fan of anal, but fuck me, I’d like to give that ass a ride.

‘Chase.’

I let out a long breath and tried to push the voice away. Sam couldn’t be here. I needed her to leave.

She didn’t.

‘You’re not this man.’

I tipped my head at the deep-set furrow in Naomi’s brow. Her lips were pressed together in a tight sneer as if she was fighting something in her sleep.

‘You should be protecting her. Not hurting her.’

That caused me to snort. “Yeah, sure.”

Naomi Prescott was the last girl that needed protection. People should be protected from her.

‘Look at her, Chase.’Sam’s sweet voice called out, ‘She’s just as broken as you.’