Nothing says grounded like spending your Saturday morning sitting in your car outside a biker club.
Hunter texted me last night and told me what happened at The Shed. It’s been over a week since we were together at my new house. My dad hasn’t let me off my grounding, so I go to school, then come straight back home. My new home, which is something I have forgotten, driving back to my old home a few times on accident. I call that my auto mode. I start thinking about stuff, and next thing I know, I’m pulling into the driveway and realizing I made a mistake.
So, I couldn’t help last night when I found out the debt just got bigger. I hated that I couldn’t be there for Roman. I knew he would be beating himself up for what happened. It’s not his fault, and I want him to know that. I tried to call him, but he wouldn’t answer. According to Hunter, he’d locked himself in his room and wouldn’t talk to him or Jace, who was thankfully there to help.
The mechanic’s shop at The Sons of Death MC is open, and I can see some guys in leather cuts working on a silver sedan and a bike. I get out of my car and close the door. Taking a deep breath, I plaster on a smile as I turn toward the shop and make my way over.
I’m in my skinny jeans and a pink top, going with the power of looking sexy and cute. The questions I’m going to ask are ones I don’t think they are willing to hand out to just anyone. But maybe they will be willing to blab them to me.
The smell of motor oil hits me as I approach the open roller door. An older guy with gray hair and tattoos sees me first, and he clears his throat as he stands.
Grabbing a dirty rag and wiping his hands off, he walks over to me with a grin on his face. “Well, hello, little lady. Is there something wrong with your car?”
I smile up at him and twirl my hair around my finger. “No, I was just wondering if Pinkie was around.”
“Pinkie?” He scrunches his nose as he looks me up and down.
I flutter my lashes and nod. “Yeah, Pinkie. Is he here?”
I feel someone approaching before I see them. Another guy slowly comes up from behind me, and I turn, watching him. My heart starts to race.
He’s young—I would say in his early twenties—with a thin build, but the definition in his arms isn’t like Roman’s or Hunter’s. These muscles weren’t made in a gym; they’ve been made from hard work and lifting heavy stuff in the shop. Black tattoos cover his skin. No color at all. The one on his throat is a heap of skulls in a pile. Yeah, that’s scary but his lip ring is hot at the same time.
His green eyes don’t even blink as he comes closer. The way he stalks toward me makes me feel a little nervous. I now feel way underdressed.
I take a step back, and the older guy grumbles deeply, “Bones. Stop scaring the girl.”
Bones stops and blinks finally. He looks me up and down and nods. What the hell does that mean?
“Go and get Pinkie,” the older guy tells Bones. “Tell him he’s got a girl out here looking for him.”
Bones bites his lip ring and backs up a few steps, not taking his eyes from me until he turns. Fuck… why’s that so scary hot? I take a deep breath and look around.
“Don’t worry about Bones. Guy’s got a few screws loose, but he’s fairly harmless.”
Well, that’s not reassuring at all. I just nod and smile. He just watches me as he gets back to work, and I stand there, feeling out of place in the workshop.
Maybe this wasn’t the best plan. I didn’t really think it through for very long. But I need to get to the Amato family boss and ask them to give Roman a break.
The guys are still at Hunter’s; they’re too scared to leave. So, I thought if I could get the Amato Family address, then I’d pay them a visit and offer some money. Like ten grand to start, to get them off our backs for a bit. Yeah, it’s a long shot, but it’s the only thing I can think of right now. I hate how they have targeted Roman, and I need them to stop.
Only, I don’t have their address, and the only people that I know, that might are The Sons of Death. Hence, why I’m here early on a Saturday morning. They know Roman here. Pinkie does, at least. They lived in the same trailer park growing up, and a bunch of them turned out to support Roman at his dad’s funeral. And his football game.
“What girl? I don’t know some blonde chick—” I hear a voice and turn to where Pinkie stands with Bones. He pauses and looks me up and down. His brows rise when he recognizes me. “—Mila?”
I smile. He remembers my name too. “Hey, Pinkie. I was wondering if we could talk?”
Pinkie’s cute. Not drop-your-panties hot. Just cute with those dimples, and as he smiles at me, it’s obvious he knows it. He walks closer, and Bones lingers behind, tilting his head at me. My heart starts to race. There’s something about Bones that’s scary, intimidating, and hot all at once. It makes me want to run away but slow enough for him to catch me. Ugh, he’s not my type, but I want to know why he’s called Bones.
Throwing his arm over my shoulder, Pinkie turns me away from the shop and walks me over to my car. He lets me go and takes a step back, removing a packet from his back pocket and lighting up a cigarette.
“Is Romeo good?” He looks around and then back to me.
“Yeah, he’s okay.”
He nods and takes another drag, the embers glow brightly.
“I was just wondering if you knew the Amato family?”
He pauses for a moment then gives me a puzzled look. “And why would you think that?” He tilts his head, and I think I underestimated Pinkie. His name might sound dumb, but he’s not.
“I was doing some research, and I thought they lived in Ridgecrest, but I can’t seem to find their address,” I answer, not really answering his question.
His eyes narrow. “You don’t need to know shit about them. Just stay away. They’re not people you want to mess with.”
Ah, so he does know of them, at least. And I already know they’re not people I want to be around. It’s not like we went out of our way to mess with them. They included us in their mess.
“I’m just curious, is all. So, they do live in Ridgecrest?”
He takes another drag and purses his lips, not saying a thing. I don’t think he’s going to tell me anything, but I keep pushing.
“All I need is a street. Or a general area will suffice. I can find the rest on my own.”
Pinkie shifts his weight and glares at me. His nostrils flare as his jaw ticks. “That’s why you’re down here? Where’s Romeo? Does he know you’re down here, asking all these questions?”
I shrug. “No, he’s off doing football stuff, I guess. That’s all he does.” I’m hoping he’ll believe Roman is busy, so he doesn’t go telling Roman I’m here… at least, not yet. I need a head start.
He nods slowly but watches my face intensely. “That’s good. Zero has high hopes for him to go all the way—football, college scholarship, and all that stuff. So, don’t be messing with that. You’re good for him. Amato family is no place for you to be.”
Wow. Okay, I wasn’t expecting that. They want him to go all the way with football? I had no idea. I thought they wanted him to be part of their club, not go to college. I need to talk to Roman about this. About our future. Where we all see ourselves. For me, it’s wherever they are. But Hunter’s plans… I don’t really know anymore. We all know we will be together, but where?
“Tell Romeo that I say hi. Make sure you call him that.” Pinkie drops his smoke and crushes it into the dirt with his boot.
I half laugh. I’ve heard this nickname a few times before. Still, this sucks. I didn’t come down here to chitchat with Pinkie. Although, I’m glad I learned that they want him to go to college.
But Pinkie isn’t having any more talk about the Amato Family. He opens my driver’s side door, and I take that as my cue to leave. Great this was pointless.
“Well, thanks for the chat,” I say as I slip into my seat, defeated. I reach for the handle, but he holds onto the door, placing his chin on his arm.
“Mila. You’re good. Too good for the stuff you’re looking for. Leave it be. Go be with Roman. Forget the Amato family and whatever plans you have for them. Trust me. They’re not worth it.”
He pauses for my answer, and I nod. He takes that as agreement.
“You want a cherry sucker?” He pulls one from his pocket and hands it to me.
I chuckle. “That’s very random,” I reply, though I take it because I like cherry.
He laughs. “Nah, I carry them everywhere. I’m trying to quit smoking.”
I look to where he holds another smoke between his fingers and shake my head.
“Yeah, I know… old habits and shit.” He grins and shrugs. “See you round, Mila. Tell Romeo I say hey.” He closes my door.
“Fuck,” I mutter to myself. I pretend to look at my phone until he walks away.
I’ve Googled the Amato Family, and I’ve seen all the news articles. But an address? That’s not something that’s been disclosed. I’ve looked up buildings in the city they own or are known to frequent. But they’re so far from Ridgecrest, I don’t understand why they would come all the way here to bet on illegal fights. The Shed is over an hour’s drive from the city, so the whole thing seems odd to me.
If they’re this big mobster family like the news claims, then what are they doing threatening a sixteen-year-old boy to fix fights? And why are they even out here selling drugs to trailer scum like Roman’s dad?
I lean my head on the headrest and close my eyes. Think, Mila. Why would they come here to the fights? Who else knows about them? The Shed. They’re there every weekend. The owner of The Shed might have an address, but it isn’t open during the day, and the time I was there… well, I have no desire to go back.
So, that leaves me with nothing.
Knocking sounds on my window, and I scream out, “holy shit.” Almost jumping out of my skin. I duck and move away from the window only to see Bones staring down at me with those piercing green eyes.
I hold my hand to my chest as I right myself. He opens my door and I gasp. Fuck, he just opened the door. I need to lock my doors from now on.
He bends down so he’s looking at me directly. “I hear you want an address?” His voice is deep and raspy.
My eyes widen as I nod.
My plan will only work if every piece falls into place. Bones, the scary hot biker gave me an address. Said it’s about five miles from Ridgecrest in an upper-class neighborhood near Royale Academy. Said it’s a gated community and good luck getting in.
I told him, “I don’t give a shit. I’ll get in there.” And he smiled at me. I don’t know if he smiles much but it gave me chills and not good ones.
As I walk into the house, my phone dings, and I find a new text from my group message with Roman and Hunter.
Hunter: What are you doing?
Me: Missing you.
Hunter: Send me a sexy photo.
Me: Okay, get ready for a sexy photo.
I take a photo of my toe and the nice new color of nail polish on there, courtesy of Madison. It’s blue with sparkles. And what I said was the truth—I am missing him. He doesn’t have to know I’m busy trying to work out how to pay off the Amato family or that I’m about to ask Asher if I can borrow ten grand.
Roman: It’s my favorite toe.
I laugh.
Me: It misses you too.
Me: Love you both, gonna have a nap.
I’m not lying. I’m going to take a nap… eventually. Maybe tomorrow, if I’m still grounded. I’ve caught up with my class work, so I have nothing better to do, anyway.
Asher doesn’t reply when I knock on his door. I know he’s in there. I also know that Hunter punched him last week and it hasn’t changed anything between us. He has made it very clear he doesn’t want to be my friend, and trying to ignore my feelings for him is getting harder.
When he doesn’t answer, I press my ear against the wood. He’s in the shower; I can hear him singing. Fuck it. I open his door, sit on the end of his bed, and wait for him.
He opens the door to his bathroom and comes out with wet hair. His body’s damp, and the towel covering his junk sits low on his hips. He pauses when he sees me. “And what do I owe to this pleasure?” he drawls.
I cock my brow. “I need to borrow some money.”
He gives me a puzzled expression as he walks into his wardrobe. When he drops his towel, I can see his white ass. He glances over his shoulder and chuckles as he slaps one of his ass cheeks.
“I didn’t come in here to see that. I guess that’s just a bonus. But I need ten grand. In cash. Like, right now.”
He grabs his boxer shorts and steps into them before turning around. I tilt my head and he grins.
“I didn’t get to see the front,” I tease.
He chuckles deeply. “I’m waiting for when you’re ready to do something with it, until then, you have to wait.”
I grin. Smartass. “Well, I guess you’re gonna be waiting a long time.”
He pulls on a white fitted tee and then a pair of jeans. “I can wait.” He winks over at me, and I roll my eyes. This isn’t why I’m here.
“I need money,” I repeat, reminding him why I’m in his room to begin with.
“I don’t have that type of cash. We might look like we’re flush, but we aren’t. We get by. My college fund is all tied up with my dad. I don’t even know if it’s still mine. But if I had it, I would give it to you. The most I can get you is a grand.”
Okay, I knew it was a long shot asking him for that much money. I asked Asher because I know his dad is well-off and maybe he had a secret cash pile somewhere. Apparently not.
“You’re not even going to ask what the money is for?” That’s what really surprises me.
He shakes his head. “No, if you need money, it must be for something important. If you were going to tell me, you already would have. I assume it has something to do with your huge, blond boyfriend, but I’m not asking questions or judging anyone.”
Well… fuck. That’s sweet.
“I need cash, but I guess I can sell my car. They give cash, right?”
They sell cars and give cash on the same day. I swear I’ve seen ads on the TV like that, but I’ve never really paid attention. I wish I had. I needed to Google that. I grab my phone and start typing cars for cash when Asher sits down beside me. The bed dips a little, and I look at him.
“Walker has cash. The guy has a safe in his own bedroom. His parents are old money rich. He might lend you the cash.”
My mouth drops. “Do you think he will?”
“I’ll call him.”
