“Make sure to keep it flowing,” John told Hudson.
Hudson grunted.
“Is there somewhere I can sit?” I asked, looking around the room.
“You can set up shop over there,” he replied, pointing to a table.
“Thanks.” I stood up and the whiskey hit my knees. They buckled and I went crashing to the ground. John gripped my arm in a flash and pulled me back up.
“Maybe she should take it easy,” he told Hudson.
Hudson grunted again. He didn't say much.
I flushed with embarrassment. How could only one drink get me so tipsy? I walked over to the table, making sure to steady myself. My head was fuzzy but I felt amazing.
“Let me know if you need anything. I'll be in the back room,” John said.
I nodded and sat down at the table. Everyone in the room was looking right at me, watching my every move. This place was so intimidating. I cursed Mr. Capshaw under my breath. This had to be punishment for being late.
“Everyone! This is Charlotte. She's doing a paper on us for college and she's going to be hanging around for the next couple days. Make sure she's welcome here.”
I flushed crimson and gave a little wave, sinking further down below the table.
What was I supposed to do next? I didn't want to interview anyone yet. I took out my notepad and began recording what had happened so far. My notes were pretty sparse. There wasn't really much to report. At least this was more interesting than the Anime Club.
I glanced around the room, focusing on the small details. Everyone seemed at ease—not a care in the world. Did anyone have a job? Did they just hang out here all day and drink?
The front door opened and in came another WOA member. My heart skipped a beat. This one was different: brown hair down to his shoulders, a little scruff under the chin, and a long scar over his right eyebrow. He wore the same clothes as the other members: a wife-beater, a WOA leather cut, and baggy jeans; he made them work to his advantage.
This guy was hot as hell.
“Did I make it in time, guys?” he said with his arms outstretched in a v-shape.
“What took you so long?” the guy who helped me outside asked him. He had a Sgt-at-Arms patch on his cut.
“Well Wyatt, you know how it is when the cops are chasing you.” They clasped hands and flexed their forearms. They could be barbarians if we lived in a different time.
“Damn Liam, you escaped them again?”
Liam nodded.
“One of these days they're going to get you.”
“Not in this lifetime.” They both heartily laughed and slapped each other on the back.
Liam sat at the bar. “How's it going, Hudson? Get me a drink.”
Hudson pulled out the same bottle of whiskey and poured him a shot. Liam knocked it back and slammed the glass upside down on the bar.
Liam threw a glance at me with his dark blue eyes, piercing my soul. My heart stopped and the blood in my veins froze. He was walking towards me!
Chapter Four
Liam
Adrenaline still coursed through my veins as I parked my bike at the MC. The cops weren't close to catching me, but all it took was one mistake and I'm headed back to the slammer. There was no way I was going to waste another year of my life sitting in a cell. If worse came to worse, I'd use my nine millimeter. I set my bucket helmet on my bike and went inside.
Jail was hard. Harder than most of us tough criminals want to believe. The cops charged me with carrying a concealed weapon. The judge wanted to make an example of me and gave me a year. I thought I could handle almost anything but sitting inside a tiny box for entire year can do crazy things to a man. I had to do some things in there to survive that I'm not proud of.
Never again.
Wyatt greeted me and gave me the usual talk about the cops putting bracelets on me one day. Over my dead body.
Out of the corner of my eye, I spotted someone new. She wasn't the usual fare we got here at the MC: shoulder-length brunette, brown eyes, and innocent. You can tell the difference between the bad guys and the good guys—she was a good girl.
She had a gravity about her that pulled me in. I didn't even wait to ask who she was before I found myself walking her way.
“Name's Liam,” I announced. Talking to women was like second nature to me. I could strike up a conversation with anyone.
The woman stared up at me from the table, not saying a word. I couldn't tell if she was frightened or just didn't care. She closed her eyes and gulped. “I'm Charlotte.”
Her voice was heavenly. I glanced down at her cleavage and felt a pang of desire in my pants.
I shook her hand and felt a jolt of electricity zap through me. A feeling I'd never experienced before. I'd been with a lot of women; too many to count. But this one was different.