Somehow, I managed to roll onto my back beside Nikki so I didn’t crush her, but that didn’t mean that she wasn’t trying to figure out what the fuck had just happened. One minute my dick was getting close to a happy ending, and then I’m rolling over, not concerned with getting either one of us off. Over the years, I’ve learned to recognize the early signs of a vision, that way I can pull over if I’m on my bike or get somewhere safe when I’m in public, but sometimes those fuckers sneak up on me.
“I’m done, Nikki, go find someone else to finish you off.” I was rude. She didn’t deserve that, but my own frustration left my dick uninterested and anxiety coiling in my belly. I made a mental note to make it up to her later.
She left the room with a pout on her face, clasping her shirt against her chest so it was covered. I shook my head until all thoughts of Nikki were gone and the unease of another premonition not coming through settled in my stomach.
Something big was coming. I could feel it in my bones. I’ve had visions since I was a teenager; about the same time I had my first shift, I got a second present of seeing things before they happened. It wasn’t until years later that I had enough control of my animal to not shift mid vision. My leopard hated the defenselessness my abilities caused. They were a curse and a blessing. They kept us out of jail more times than I could count, but on the flip side of that, they left me temporarily paralyzed and had tension squeezing me from the inside out.
I took in a deep breath, trying to get oxygen flowing into my blood and muscles; to ease the tension that had built in my body. For whatever reason, some of my visions had left me blind over the last few months. I’d feel everything, every one of the signs that something was coming, and then—nothing. I’d have all the aftereffects of a vision but saw nothing.
Once my breathing steadied and my muscles relaxed, I rolled out of bed, grabbing my clothes and the dirty sheets before heading back to my room for a shower.
It was getting late, and the game room would be packed since it was a weekend. I wanted to be there in case my failed vision had anything to do with the club’s businesses.
The Dark Leopards MC South Texas had their hands in a few pies: a custom bike shop that hid both a chop shop and drug muling ring, a game room that cleaned our money, and a warehouse that held underground fights on the weekends.
Rumor has it; the police are looking for someone on the inside who’s tipping us off. But the truth is, we have a variety of gifts within the club that help us stay just out of their reach. They wouldn’t find anyone on the inside of the department because there was no one.
While the game room was for anyone, the real gambling happened in the high stakes rooms and at the fights. Our warehouse on the Northeast side of town housed the fighting ring. We’ve seen shifters and humans alike be beaten to a pulp, and they always come back for more.
I stepped into the hot shower, letting the water and soap wash Nikki’s scent off me. I hated smelling like another animal. It’s why I used the spare rooms when I was with the club whores. It was more my leopard that didn’t want anyone in my room. He’s a territorial asshole sometimes, especially where women are concerned.
After my shower, I dressed and pulled on my riding boots before grabbing my key from the dresser. My room was bare bones with a bed, chest, and a table I used as a desk. The bathroom was almost as small as the closet, but it worked. I stayed connected to the club at all times. When I took over as President of the South Texas Chapter, I cleaned house. Drugs and shifters didn’t mix; my predecessor didn’t care what the club was hooked on as long as they kept running the drugs.
That shit stopped when I took over. We mule or deal but using wasn’t allowed. If a brother got caught on drugs, they had to get clean. If they didn’t get clean, they were taken down. Shifters have to be in control of their animals at all times, and drugs take that control away. If they are out of their right minds, they risk exposing us all.
I moved through the club. Some of my brothers were sitting around drinking with girls on their laps, others just shooting the shit. The feeling of responsibility settled on my shoulders as I looked at them—my family. My leopard seemed to be calmer when the pressure was on. He needed the club, the members, and the responsibility that came with heading the original chapter of the Dark Leopards MC.
“Where you headed to, Pres?” Router was sitting at the bar, her back turned to it and she was facing the room at large. She’s one badass woman, with her Harley riding ways and gunmetal gray eyes. Router can hack anything in her sleep, though I have yet to see her shut down long enough to rest. Mostly, she works on her computers and pops fruit flavored hard candies all day. The fact that she’s even around tonight is unusual.
“The Spot.”
“Want some company?”
I considered her offer, wondering where it was coming from. “Sure, Router.” I hitched my chin for her to join me. Router is a different personality; she keeps to herself for the most part. Computers are her skill, and she keeps herself separate from the club even though she’s one of us. We headed outside and
