Page 129 of Paladin's Hell

Chapter 41

Jayden

Seven weeks later

I sit in the clubroom waiting for Pal to join me. I’m at ease, sitting here alone. It seems most of my life has been spent amongst bikers, they don’t worry me.

Watching life going on around me, men laughing and joking with each other, I think back over the past couple of months. Yes. Moira had made me question my feelings, make me wonder whether I’d been leaning on Pal because he was safe? That I knew he wouldn’t hurt me? A child’s crush which I couldn’t shake off.

I had considered her words seriously. In Tucson the brothers had treated me like a niece or a sister, an almost familial relationship with a line I didn’t even think to cross. The obstacles put in the way of Pal and I being together almost doing the opposite, forcing us to fight for a future we knew was ours. I smile at the memory of our disastrous date at the Wheel Inn, an example of how overprotective they were, and how they wouldn’t leave us alone.

Here in Colorado, there are several handsome men in the clubhouse, and they certainly don’t regard me as family. I think there’s even a couple that if, before Pal and I got together, I’d shown any interest in, would have reciprocated. Runt definitely, for one. But I hadn’t felt an attraction toward anyone other than Paladin, my eyes and heart have only ever been for him.

Runt. Of course, what happened to him is club business. I don’t know the reason, but something had made him take off for almost a month. Four weeks ago, he’d returned. I’d been in the clubroom when he’d come in. It had been strange. When he’d entered, the room had gone silent, no one, it appeared, knew how to react. The brothers had stared wide-eyed at him. It had been Pal who’d stood up and approached him, holding out his hand first, then pulling him in for a man hug. They’d spoken quietly together for a few moments, while everyone else looked on. Then Pal had turned, his arm around the prospect’s shoulder, and had led him into Hellfire’s office.

A short while later, Runt had reappeared all smiles. The next thing I knew, he was being patched in.

“You okay, Jay?” As if my thoughts had summoned him, Runt walks over and sits on the chair opposite, puts his beer on the table and shows me the soda he’s brought for me.

I take it with thanks. “You ever going to get a proper road name?”

“Fuckin’ hope so,” he says, with a grin. As I examine him, I realise he’s matured. Maybe it was his absence, maybe something happened before he left, but he’s taking everything far more seriously now.

“What happened, Runt? Why did you take off?” I drink my soda as I watch him. He grins slyly, knowing how much I hate the words. When he opens his mouth, I say along with him, “Club business.”

Then he shrugs. “Prospects do anything, put up with all manner of shit to get their patch,” he says, obliquely. “Did what I had to, got patched in.” As I’m left wondering what he’d had to do to earn it, he changes the subject. “You coming on the run, Saturday?”

“Try to stop me,” I eagerly reply. It’s the run to Royal Gorge that was put off when there was trouble in the club. Sparky’s got it rearranged for this coming weekend. Which also happens to be my seventeenth birthday. I think a club outing is a great way to celebrate.

“I hear Hell’s persuaded Moira.”

I nod. He has. But they won’t be riding at the head of the pack. That’s another change that’s recently happened. Hellfire has stepped down from being the prez, Demon’s picked up those reins, having been voted in by the club. Thunder is doubling as sergeant-at-arms and VP for the moment. For some reason, the brothers are reluctant to jump into putting someone in Demon’s old role permanently, and want to take their time to decide who’s best.

“Hey, Doll.”

At Pal’s voice, I raise my head. He doesn’t disappoint, leaning over me for a kiss. Runt groans loudly, Pal flips him off as he sits by my side. Once lockdown was over, I’d moved permanently into his room. While I’d made up my differences with Moira, there didn’t seem to be anything stopping me from being with my man. Sure, until Saturday I’m still not officially of the age of consent, but no one’s going to report us to the cops. Not here. To me, it’s just an artificial date anyway. Three years ago, no one gave a damn that I was underage.

I wondered whether seeing Pal night and day was going to mean we get on each other’s nerves, but it seems to have done the opposite. I can’t get enough of him, love living in his room. Only last night we were discussing getting a place of our own off the compound.

“How was school?”

When Pal asks the question, I think before answering. Another area of my life where I’ve grown up. In Tucson it was something I had to do, I found it boring, a waste of time. Now I’m different to a lot of other students, focused on getting an education while I can. I’m thinking of a future, and Paladin’s behind me all the way.

“It was good, Pal.” I frown. “I’ll need to speak to Buzzard. Some math problems are challenging.” The treasurer with a good head for numbers has been helping me out.

One by one, all the brothers here have been good to me. Probably because I’m now resident in the club. I like to think they’ve all become my friends.

“She did good today,” Bomber informs Pal as he pauses on his way past. “She’s getting to be a good driver.”

Pal thanks him for collecting me from school. Yes, I’ve got a little car now which I love. I can’t wait to start driving on my own and being independent, though I don’t think Pal’s looking forward to it quite so much.

Suddenly I notice Runt’s eyes flaring, his attention caught by something behind me, I glance around where he’s looking and see Titsy and Sheila walking in. I don’t know why they bother wearing any clothes. Totally naked wouldn’t be much more revealing.

Pal’s noticed as well, leaning over and saying quietly, “Think that’s our cue, babe.”

It is. I don’t want to watch porn when Pal and I make our own in our room.

Stepping inside the door, I start to pull off my top.

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