Biker's Claim: A Bad Boy Romance (Demons MC) (Contains bonus book Cocked!) (4 page)

T
hat arrogant bastard
.

I was fuming as I got changed in the back room after work. Just ten minutes earlier, Clutch had risked my job by stepping in and intimidating a patron, and if my manager ever heard about it, I was done.

True, that guy was being a dick. There was no doubt about that. He was patiently telling me about how awful I was, and how he wasn’t going to tip me at all. I did savor the look on his face as huge Clutch, all covered in tattoos and wearing his Demons leather vest, came walking over to talk to him.

But I didn’t need rescuing. That asshole didn’t have to step in and handle that guy for me, because I was handling him just fine. Not everyone got to act like a huge brute and throw their weight around.

And yet part of me was totally thrilled by the whole thing. I savored that weak little asshole getting up and practically running away while Clutch calmly smiled at him. I believed every word Clutch had said when he threatened the guy, especially considering the things I had heard about Clutch.

Violent, deadly, dangerous, not to mention frustrating and attractive. Clutch was full of surprises. I was pissed off about this whole thing and worried that he was going to get me fired, but I couldn’t help but feel incredibly excited by everything. My pussy was soaking wet as I imagined Clutch taking me in the back room, shoving me up against the lockers and fucking me deep and rough, like the animal he was.

I got my stuff together and took a few deep breaths, calming myself down. I couldn’t be around him and thinking about what he could do to my body. I knew he had plenty of practice with all the women he brought home, and I had even heard from a few of his very satisfied conquests. But I wasn’t going to be one of those conquests, not now or ever.

I left out through the front and noticed Clutch was gone. My heart nearly skipped a beat until I saw him outside leaning against his bike, his arms crossed.

I went out there and headed toward him.

“Ready?” he asked.

“Yeah,” I said. He got on and I got on behind him, holding on to his body.

His ripped, strong body.

He didn’t say a word as we pulled out into traffic and headed toward the clubhouse.

I was frustrated and more than a little bit confused by the day so far. Out of nowhere Dad had given me a guard to watch over my safety, and that guard turned to be cocky, arrogant, and attractive. I knew Larkin thought I should try to do better than marrying another MC guy, but I never wanted to marry anyone.

Dad just didn’t want me to get involved with them because he knew what kind of guys they were. Rude and crude, they were all alike, except for Clutch, who seemed to be both like everyone else and a world apart from them.

We pulled up outside the clubhouse not too long later. There were only a few bikes parked outside, which wasn’t surprising. Clutch got off and nodded at me. “Here we are, your highness,” he said.

“I didn’t ask for this, you know,” I said.

“I know that.”

“Then quit pretending like I want you around.”

He smirked as I walked past him. “You want me around,” he said. “You just don’t realize how badly just yet.”

I ignored that comment as I walked inside. There were a few guys, mostly old-timers, sitting at the bar.

“Hey, Stonewall,” I said, patting the back of one of the oldest and well-respected members.

“Janine, beautiful as the day is long,” he said, just like he always did.

I smiled at his grizzled face, his gray hair. He was old but still strong, a very feared man.

“Jesse, Trace,” I said, nodding to the other men. They raised their glasses in salute.

I looked back at Stonewall. “Is he back there?”

“He always is, darling,” he said. “Never takes a day off, that man.”

“What would you all do if he did?”

Stonewall laughed. “Rebel, I bet.”

“Yeah, right. You’d beg for his return.”

He smiled, a little twinkle in his eye. “You’re probably right about that.”

“See you,” I said, heading back toward the office. I saw Clutch sit down next to the old-timers and get a drink out of the corner of my eye as I knocked on my dad’s office door.

“Who is it?” he called out.

“It’s me,” I said.

“Come in.”

I pushed the door open. Dad was sitting with his legs up on the desk, smoking a cigar. It seemed like that was all he ever did, though I knew there was a lot more to it than just looking tough. He was constantly making deals, balancing books, dealing with crises. There was always work in a gang as large as the Demons.

“Sit,” he grunted.

I took a seat. “Okay,” I said. “Time to talk.”

He frowned and took a big puff. “Can’t we just make some small talk first?”

“No,” I said.

“How was Clutch?”

“Dad?”

“Come on, just for a minute.”

I sighed. “Fine. Delay the inevitable.” I glanced at the wall. “Clutch was good.”

“Treated you well?”

“As well as a guy like him can.”

Dad raised an eyebrow. “Any problems?”

I shook my head quickly. “No, not at all. Clutch is great.”

“Good,” he said. “I wasn’t sure about putting you with a boy your age.”

“I’m not some stupid teenager, Dad. I can handle myself.”

“Maybe,” he grunted. “You’re right.”

I crossed my arms. “Enough. Talk.”

He sighed, leaning back in his chair. “Listen, I wouldn’t ask something like this of you if it weren’t important. You understand that, right?”

I chewed my lip. “Now you have me nervous.”

“Just listen.” He puffed his cigar. “You know about the war, about what’s happening. The Snake Spit and the Mezcals are allying against us right now. Meanwhile, the Rebels are nipping at our heels. The Rebels and the Snakes don’t get along anymore, but that doesn’t make us friendly with the Rebels, either.”

“I know all that,” I said, impatient.

“I’ve been discussing solutions to our problem with the council, and they suggested something that I am not in favor of, but it’s something that can work.”

“And this something involves me?”

He nodded. “Exactly. We need the Rebels as allies. We need their extra strength if we’re going to take on both the Snakes and the Mezcals.”

“How can I help? You know I’d do anything for the club,” I said.

He made a pained face. “Don’t say that.”

“It’s the truth. You’ve never asked a thing of me, but I’ve gotten so much from you all.”

“Please,” he said, holding his hands up, “stop. Listen to me.” He put his cigar out. “The leader of the Rebels, his name is Jetter. You know this story?”

“Sure. Everyone does.”

“Well, we want you to marry him.”

I sat back in my chair, shocked. “Are you serious?”

“We want to patch over the Rebels, make them a part of the Demons, but Jetter doesn’t trust us, and for good reason. He said only an important marriage could bring him back into our family.”

I gaped at him, at a total loss for words.

Jetter was notorious in the Demons. He had been one of the earliest members of the Demons, back when the club was small. Back then, the Rebels were run by a different guy. The Rebels and the Demons were rivals back then. Through some strange circumstances, Jetter ended up killing the old leader of the Rebels and taking his place as the president of the Rebels, betraying the Demons in the process.

He was a traitor and one of the most hated men in the club. And now my father, my protector, was asking me to marry him.

“Forgetting for a second that I’m not a piece of cattle,” I said, “why would you let me marry a scumbag like that?”

He sighed. “I don’t want this, Janine, but you’re the only one he’ll consider.”

“It’s his idea,” I said softly.

“Yes, it is.”

I couldn’t believe it. My father wanted me to marry a traitor and a piece of shit, all to get that man’s power on his side. Sure, the Rebels would effectively become the Demons and get patched over, but the price was going to be my freedom.

“You don’t have to answer now,” Dad said, “but understand this: If you say yes, it won’t be forever.”

I cocked my head at that. “Marriage seems like forever,” I said.

“It doesn’t always have to be,” he said. “Widows remarry all the time.”

I sat back, completely shocked. My father was now suggesting that I marry this man and eventually get him murdered.

I would do anything for the Demons. I would make almost any sacrifice.

But this, it was just so much. It was my freedom, my future, and eventually there would be blood on my hands. I’d never killed a man or even so much as caused someone to get hurt, let alone directly led to the death of my husband.

“What if I say no?” I asked.

“Then we forget it. We’ll find another way.” He leaned forward. “Janine, I don’t want this for you. I want you to say no. But if you say yes, I need you to know that I support you completely.”

I understood then. If I said yes, Larkin would murder Jetter as soon as the Rebels were patched over.

I shook my head. “This is a lot,” I said.

“I know. I hate that we’re using marriage so much lately. First Caralee and now you.”

“Could this really work?”

“I hate to say it, but it would. With the Rebels patched over, we’d be strong enough to win this war once and for all.”

I chewed my lip, taking that in. If we could end this war, that would mean no more Demons members dying, no more blood.

If I said no, and the war continued, would every dead member from here on out be my fault? I could do something about this war, really make a difference.

All I had to do was marry one of the most loathsome men in the whole area.

I stood up, head reeling. “This is why you have Clutch protecting me,” I said, “just in case the Snakes or the Mezcals hear about it.”

He nodded. “To be safe, yeah. I can’t see how they would, though.”

I nodded to myself. “I have to think about it.”

“Of course.” He shook his head, his face clearly pained. “I hate asking this of you.”

“I know, Dad.” I turned. “I’ll see you later.”

I left the office before he could say another word.

I could barely think straight as I left my father’s office and walked directly toward the bar. I stopped at the end and waved at TomTom. “Whisky,” I said. “Neat.”

He returned with a glass and I slammed it back.

“You on the warpath, girl?”

I looked over and Clutch was standing there, a concerned frown on his face.

My father wanted to marry me off like cattle to some scumbag, all to help out his club. He wanted to give me away, force me into a marriage of convenience, just to grow his own gang.

Sure, it would save a lot of lives, but at what cost? And to top it all off, he promised to kill my husband in the future, only putting more pressure and blood on my hands.

And I was considering doing it.

“Yeah,” I said. “Damn right I am.”

He grinned, that dangerous, sexy as hell smile, and I felt myself melt.

“Okay then. Let’s fucking do it.”

I
had
no clue what she talked about with Larkin in there, but as soon as Janine came out of the office, she was looking for trouble.

She slammed back whisky after whisky. I watched her cautiously as the clubhouse began to fill up. I took it slow, knowing that I was still on the fucking clock and responsible for the girl.

“So, what was that all about?” I finally asked her after she knocked back her fourth shot.

“Don’t you worry about it, tough guy,” she said, smiling and drunk.

“Not worried. Curious.”

“I bet you’re curious.” She waved at TomTom and held up her glass. “You’re a real curious guy.”

I grinned at her. “Must’ve been bad. Still pissed I have to follow you around?”

TomTom brought her a drink and she leaned over the table, smiling at me. “Maybe. Maybe not. What do you think?”

“I think you’re getting drunk because you don’t feel like dealing with the hard shit.”

She raised an eyebrow and then laughed. “Pretty on point for a dumb biker.”

“Careful there, princess,” I said, grinning. “Some of us dumb bikers are pretty dangerous.”

“Yeah. I’ve heard all about you. Clutch the enforcer.”

“That’s right,” I said.

“Big, bad man. Violent and dangerous. Dad used to tell me to stay far away from you.”

“You never really listened, did you?”

“I did and I didn’t.” She looked over her glass at me, a little smile playing at her lips. She was drunk, but she was fucking cute as all hell.

“How’s that?”

“We’ve talked. Flirted even.”

“Never let that go far,” I said.

“No, you didn’t.” She pouted. “Maybe you should have.”

“You couldn’t handle that,” I said, smirking. “I’d have you sweating and sore by morning.”

She bit her lip. “Maybe I’d like to be a little sore.”

“I bet you would, girl. You’d be begging for more of my big cock in no time.”

“You think so?”

“I know so.” I was fucking hard as hell, and I knew I needed to be careful.

She slammed back her drink and waved for another.

Janine was drunk, good and hammered. It was barely nine at night and she was already looking like she wouldn’t last too much longer.

Which was probably for the best. I had no clue what her father had told her in there, but it clearly had really fucked with her head if she was being like this. Only a few hours ago she was looking at me like I was the most annoying thing in the world.

Now, I was more than sure that I could have her moaning and sweating by the end of the night if I wanted.

But I wasn’t so stupid. I wasn’t going to take advantage of the girl I was protecting, whether she was the daughter of the president or just some random chick. I may have been a violent thug, but I wasn’t a piece of shit.

She finished off her drink and smiled at me, wobbling on her chair.

“Tell me, Clutch, where’d you get that name?”

“Used to ride bikes as a kid. Older kids made fun of me, called me Clutch. I kicked their asses and embraced it. Stuck from there.”

“Is that story true?”

I grinned at her. “More or less.”

“What about the other stories? Are they all true?”

“Depends which ones.”

“Is it true that you fucked three girls in the same night, all from the same family?”

I laughed and shook my head. “You hard about that?”

“So it’s true?”

“Not true,” I said. “It was four, and they were all cousins.”

She made a face. “That’s almost gross.”

“It wasn’t in a night, either,” I said. “It was in a single week.”

“That’s slightly better, but still.”

I shrugged. “They all heard about me and were curious. I can’t say no to a pretty cunt.”

“What about me?” she asked. “Can you say no to me?”

I grunted and shook my head. “Club comes first,” I said.

“Ah, there it is.” She leaned back, eyeing me. “For all your big talk, you’re still just a dog for the club in the end.”

I frowned at that, annoyed. “I’m not a dog for anyone.”

“Sure you are, little doggy. The club tells you to wag your tail and you wag away.”

“The club is my family,” I said. “They raised me when my life was fucked up, a lot like you, actually.”

Her face fell, and she looked down at the table, frowning. For a second, I thought she was going to get pissed at me. Instead, she looked up. “I’m tired. Take me home.”

“Fine with me.”

I helped her up but she shrugged me off. She walked a bit unsteadily toward the exit. I waved at the guys, nodding to Stonewall to let him know that I was good. Janine headed right outside.

I found her straddling my bike, barely keeping herself upright.

“You sure you’re good?” I asked her.

“Go ride,” she said softly, sadly. “I’ll hold tight.”

I looked at her for a second, nodded, and got on. She clung hard to my body as I pulled out into traffic.

Her words kept playing through my mind as I rode slowly back toward her place. She thought I was just a dog for the club, doing whatever they wanted me to do. Maybe she was just wasted and didn’t mean it, but it still dug at me.

Of everyone, I thought she understood me the best. We both found the Demons young and were practically raised by the club. I always thought she understood that, even if we never talked about it. I’d do anything for the club, because the club was my damn family.

And there she was, calling me a dog.

Didn’t matter. In the end, it didn’t matter what she thought of me. Sure, she was fucking gorgeous, strong, smart, and made my cock hard as hell just being around her, but none of that mattered. All that mattered was that I kept her safe and did my damn job. She didn’t have to like me.

I pulled up at her apartment, parked the bike, and helped her off. She was practically falling asleep, and I ended up having to carry her up the steps. I found her keys in her pocket, unlocked the door, and carried her inside.

I took her straight back to her bedroom and gently put her down on the bed. She stirred and looked up at me.

“Clutch,” she said, “my hero.”

“Yeah,” I grunted. “Your doggy hero. Woof woof.”

She made a face. “Don’t be mad at me. I had a bad night.”

“What happened earlier?” I asked her.

“Larkin wants to marry me off to the Rebels,” she said, drifting back into her drunken sleep. “He wants to patch them over. He wants to sell me like cattle. Moo.”

“What?” I asked her, since I hadn’t heard about this, but she had already passed out.

I looked down at her sleeping body and bit my lip. I found a blanket in her closet and tossed it over her, placing a pillow under her head.

I headed back out into the living room and sat down on the couch.

Larkin wanted to marry her off? I knew the club used marriage to solidify alliances sometimes, but it was pretty unusual. I couldn’t imagine Larkin would ever use that tactic with his own adopted daughter. He treasured that girl and protected her.

I kicked off my boots and turned the TV on. I figured I should stay over, make sure she was okay. Besides, I was her bodyguard now. I might have to sleep on her couch for the foreseeable future if this shit kept up.

I couldn’t tell if that was a good thing or a bad thing.

Although, the thought of walking in on her while she was changing sent my blood hammering through my veins.

There had to be a few perks of this shit at least.