Page 10 of Bullseye
“Whoa.” Not my most eloquent moment, but still. I whisper to Harry. “She’s been here all night?”
While I try to figure out if this is the same woman who was at the shooting range, Seth seconds the nomination.
“I talked to Seneca for a bit.” Seth offers. “She’s never even driven a car before, just bikes. That’s…” He chuckles. “That’s pretty cool.”
Something about the way he says this makes the hairs on my arms bristle. Does he like her?
Some of the other guys continue on with a “third” and “fourth” of her nomination, but I’m too caught up to say anything. It should be that easy, but it never is. Harry has serious trust issues with women, and Nick’s leaving it up to him.
Despite it all, Harry’s a good guy and puts his own feelings aside to let Seneca in.
Watching her smile as she’s congratulated by the guys over her nomination, I can’t help but smile with her.
Shoot. I don’t need to be grinning along with her. I shouldn’t want her in this club. I shouldn’t want her, period.
Yet… I do.
Glancing down at the bar to collect my thoughts, I keep my eyes focused on the intricate patterns made by the wood grain finish. If she becomes a member, how the hell am I going to stay clear of her?
Letting my gaze lift, I find her again, taking in her tough-but-vulnerable biker image, and sexy-as-hell body. Despite my insane attraction, I’ll just have to force myself to stay away, because there’s no way I can bring her into my world. I can’t risk her safety now that Mikey and Tony are free.
A dull ache forms in my gut, and I rub at it with the side of my fist. Yeah, it sucks, but there’s no way in hell I can ever be with Seneca Villetrio.
Chapter Four
Wildfire
Here I go again. Stalking.
Tucked into a corner of Hoppa’s Taphouse with a domestic beer in one hand and a group of Steel Knights members forming a barrier around me, I don’t really have to worry about Avery spotting me. No one could see me hidden behind this wall of leather. Besides, he’s busy talking to some freakishly tall guy with a handlebar mustache and laughing, anyway.
Yes, I want Avery to notice me, but not until it’s the right time, and I have the upper hand. Like everything else I do in life, I’m going to go about this on my terms.
Besides, I’ve got an extra shot at getting nominated that I wasn’t expecting. These guys are pretty damn cool, and they’re asking real questions, wanting to learn more about me. Maybe one of them will nominate me.
Making a mental note, I commit their names to memory: Vil—easy. Punk rocker style, like me. Bucky, their road captain, older than the rest of the guys, with long hair that looks like it’s been windblown for so many years and just naturally flows down his back. Road Captain is someone I definitely want on my side. Not only does he do all the research for the trips, but he’s in charge when we’re on the road. He can decide who takes the trip, and who doesn’t… and who’s strong enough, or, in my case, expendable enough, to ride ahead into danger. Texas. The guy with the oversized cowboy hat. He’s quiet, and maybe not all that confident compared to the rest of these braggarts, but he comes across as really nice and supportive. And then, there’s Small Fry. Judging from the fact that he’s not much taller than I am, I’ll bet the guys gave him his nickname. I’d also put money on the fact that he spends a lot of time proving to the ladies that his height is the only reason they call him, “Small Fry.” Poor guy. And finally, there’s the young one, Seth, with the light brown, thick top-style hair and odd energy. He’s stoic and quiet but strikes me as a dormant volcano. I sure as hell wouldn’t want to be around him when too much pressure forms.
But he’s nice enough and seems really interested in finding out more about me. They all do. Too bad I can only tell them a version of my truth.
“Okay, Seneca,” Seth addresses me with a smile, exposing teeth almost as nice and straight as mine. Seems someone else grew up with some money. “Let’s say you could never ride a bike again…”
“What? No!” With a mocking gasp, I grab my chest and pretend to stumble backward.
The guys chuckle.
Grinning, Seth continues. “What kind of car would you drive? Think carefully. Your future is riding on this answer. A lot of these guys have strong opinions on this.”
“Well...” I chew the corner of my lip like I’m really pondering the question. Like the subject matter is insightful, or that it means something.Anything. Like it’s the decision as to whether or not Matt gets out on parole. The decision that comes tomorrow.
Pushing away my sarcasm that’s going to take me down a rabbit-hole of anger and resentment, I force a smile. I have to stay connected to the moment. I can’t help Matt if Mikey and Tony decide I should be dead. And to stay alive, I may need protection.
“What kind of car?” Shrugging, I hold my hands up and then let them drop. “I’d have to say I can’t answer that one.”
The guys look at each other. Disappointment clouds their hopeful expressions, and Seth’s brow furrows.
“Come on. You’ve got to have one car you can tell us.” It’s Texas. He nods his encouragement. Realizing that like Bucky, he’s a bit older than these twenty and thirty-something guys, I understand his place here. He’s not the “Dad” of the group, that’s Nick, but he’s certainly an older, wiser “uncle”.
I smile at him.
