“What are you doing up so late?”
“Watching the hot guy. We on for the club tomorrow?”
“Does your dad know you’re going?” she asks hesitantly.
“Fuck no.”
“Then yes, we’re on. How are you going to get out from under him for the night?” she asks.
“Dad doesn’t run every aspect of my life. I have been in this apartment for how long and he still doesn’t question me. He thinks I live over by one of his guys still,” I tell her. She laughs into the line knowing that has been my biggest lie so far.
“I can’t believe he doesn’t know yet. I mean what the fuck, Harls.”
“Dad doesn’t check up on me much. He calls but he’s got a lot going on with the club. I can basically do what I want, when I want. I just need to watch my own ass and that’s what I’ve been doing. So, we’re going out tomorrow night,” I tell her. Dad has too much with the club to be focused on what I do. I know at one point he had a prospect watching me but that was years ago. Once I turned twenty-one he backed off a little. How does a father not know his daughter moved across town? It doesn’t bother me since we barely get along as it is. Dad wants me right under his nose and I want my freedom. I don’t even know who my mom is, but from what I’m told she was nothing but a club whore my dad happened to impregnate. Not that I give a shit, but growing up in the club was far from usual. I hated going to school and hearing the stories of a normal life. I didn’t get a chance to have that life.
“I have that new red dress you can wear. It’ll look hot on you with your skin tone,” she says happily. If I hadn’t met Angel through the club I would have been lost. She’s been my best friend since we were kids and now we’re inseparable.
“Oh, with those thigh high black boots. That will be killer,” I tell her as I keep my eyes on the man. He’s leaning against his punching bag, out of breath from his workout I’m sure. Then something strange happens. He lifts his head and almost as if he can sense my eyes on him he turns around. I quickly shut the light off and slink down in the bed so he can’t see me, barely catching a glimpse of his face and laugh.
“What? What happened?”
“He almost caught me,” I giggle into the line.
“The hot roof guy?”
“Yes! Do you know how embarrassing that would have been? Oh my God, Angel.”
“Then stop stalking the man!”
“Define stalking. I just like looking at him,” I inform her.
“Yeah, that’s all it is. You watch for him – daily and watch him without letting him see you, that’s officially stalking him, Harls.”
“Whatever. It is not. I need to go to sleep. Dad wants to see me in the morning, and I don’t feel like dealing with him if I don’t get enough sleep. Love you,” I tell her.
“Love you back.” The line goes dead and I take the chance to peek back out the window. The man has gone back to his work out and I let his perfect body lull me to sleep.
Chapter Three
Devious
Club shit is club shit but her? She isn’t. And she’s sneaking out on her dad. This is the perfect opportunity for me to get close but not too close. Opting to leave my cut behind, I stroll into the club she and her friend just entered in a white t-shirt that hugs my chest, a hoodie, and a pair of jeans that hang low on my hips. I know I can get the reaction I want but I also need to keep my distance. Touching her would mean death or at least a war for me.
“Why are we here?” Bend, one of my guys, asks.
“I’m lookin’ for someone,” I tell him. He chuckles and I choose to ignore him as I scan the crowd for her.
“Why don’t you just talk to her?” he asks like it’s the easiest thing in the world. He knows I have a thing for a girl; he just doesn’t know who she is. If he did, it would certainly change everything.
“Why don’t you shut the fuck up and follow orders?” I snap at him before ordering a beer. Bringing it to my lips, I survey the room for any of her dad’s men, but I don’t see any. Just like I thought, she was sneaking out behind his back. She’s in the middle of the dance floor, dancing with her friend, Angel. Yeah, I know all about these girls. Both twenty-one years old, both of their dad’s members of the goddamn Lowlife MC. They got the lowlife part right. I can’t stand the sneaky fuckers myself. They are always trying to find a way to steal someone else’s hard-earned money. We don’t make shit the legal way but that doesn’t mean it’s open for theft. We work hard moving drugs and guns around this city, and to have these little fucks come in and try to steal what doesn’t belong to them is just like a slap to the face.
“Goddamn,” Bend hisses as I follow his gaze. He’s looking at her. My Harley.
“Keep your fuckin’ eyes where they belong, Bend.”
“That’s her?” I nod my head, and he whistles. “Fuck, prez. That is one fine piece of ass.” I nearly turn around and punch the motherfucker right here and now, but I know that would cause a scene that we don’t need. Instead, I ignore him and watch her dance with her friend. I’m not the only man with his eyes on her. There are plenty here that think they are going to touch what doesn’t belong to them. They just don’t know yet that she belongs to me.
“Be right back,” I tell him
