Claiming the Knights (11 page)

             
“Until we meet again Raven,” he said, as he mounted his bike, and turned the engine over. He beckoned her with his finger. She took a step towards him and his bike. She was still reeling from what she thought was going to be a kiss, when he reached up, placed his fingers around the back of her neck, and pulled her to him. She went willingly.

             
As his lips met hers, she felt her knees start to cave, but managed to re-straighten them. He bit her bottom lip a little and when she gasped, he entered her mouth with his tongue. She had never been kissed like this. She was gasping for air and felt like a kid, not knowing what to do next.

             
He let go of her neck, but let her stay until she was done. She didn't want to stop, but she felt ridiculous and on display, just a block from her house, with her mom. She pulled away, and did her best to catch her breath.

             
“Thank you,” she heard herself say, as she started to walk away. She had to get some distance from this man. He was making her do bad things and she didn't know why logically.

             
“No, thank you Bella,” he said, and sped away.

             
Her head was spinning as she walked towards her house. She fluffed her hair and straightened out her clothes, so there would be no sign of her being on a bike.

             
She walked in the front door. “How was it?” Anne asked her.

             
“Well, he paid me way too much, a hundred bucks,” Raven told her, heading for her room, to avoid any other conversation.

             
“Well, I will be sure to thank him when I see him tomorrow. There is a bunch of club business going on, so they don’t want me to come in till noon tomorrow,” Anne said, as Raven closed her bedroom door.

             
Raven flopped on her bed, and text Meagan. Raven and Meagan had become close since her mom started working for the club several years ago. Scooter had done his best to keep Meg on the safe side of the tracks, so Anne was ok with the two of them being friends, even though Meg was now seeing Joe, one of the club members.

Raven: OMG just did a reading for one of the club guys.. not sure if he is a member... he took me for a ride and kissed me. Swoon AMAZING.

             
She put her phone down, pulled out the hundred dollar bill and smelled it, hoping it would have his scent, but it just smelled like money. She pulled up the front of her shirt, and there it was. The leather, and the amazing cologne he was wearing. She flopped on her bed, and grabbed her phone as it buzzed.

Meg: What guy, a name? Your mom know? She will flip.

Raven: Raw is his name. Mom is clueless. What do I do?

Meg: Raw? Who the fuck is that? I will ask Joe when I see him. Club biz tonite, will see him later. I will get back to you.

              Raven decided to take a shower and try to mellow out. She was buzzing from the excitement of the kiss, a fuckin' kiss. These feelings were hard to push down, and even harder not to tell her mom all about. If it was a college guy, or someone from work, she could tell her mom all about it. Not a club guy though, no way.

              Raw, Scooter, Drifter, and Dean were all at the head of the table. Raw has his own chair that was pushed away from the table, between Scooter and Drifter. Raw took no offense to this position in the room. It was all about respect, but since he was in on this important job, they were including him fully in the conversation.

             
The remaining Club brother's were seated in their spots, with the prospects seated away from the table, at the back of the room. Everyone was getting the basics of what was going on, because there was going to be a lock down when Raw and Drifter made their way up North. They wanted all the families safe.

             
Dean asked about Anne. He knew she wouldn't want to, but he thought for her safety, she and Raven should join the lock down. Drifter told him that he would talk to her about it.

             
The men hashed out a few details about the lock down, so all the guys could prepare their families, and then the four did some more planning, after excusing the others.

             
Everything was ready to go. The lock down would start the day after tomorrow and that is when Raw and Drifter would head up to North, with Raw on his bike, and Drifter in a rental car. They would wait for the hit, and then turn the tables. This asshole won't have a clue until they have him. They would pump him for info, and then take care of him. He would just disappear.

Chapter 7

             
It was 7 o'clock and Joe finally rolled into the driveway. Meg was anxious to ask him about this Raw guy that Raven had text about, so she could get back to her.

             
As soon as he walked in, she was hitting him with questions. “Jesus girl, let a man breath.” He hugged her and kissed the top of her head.

             
“So what is this guy’s deal? How is he at the club?” she asked him, after a few breathing moments.

             
“Well, he’s a hit man. Gonna take care of some club business, and the thing is, we have to go into lock down at the club while it's goin' down babe. That ought to be good and awkward.” He ran his hand through his hair. “Why you askin' about Raw?”

             
“Well, today Raven gave him a Tarot reading and then he took her for a ride on his bike, and kissed her,” Meg spilled to him.

             
“Holy shit, does Anne know?” He knew Anne was very particular about who she let around Raven and she made a point to keep her away from all the club boys.

             
“She knows about the reading, she set it up. But she doesn't have a clue about the ride, or the kiss,” Meg said.

             
“You tell Raven to stay the fuck away from him. He is a serious Nomad and she will just get her heart broken. He is just here for a week or two to take care of some shit, and then he is gone, back to the East coast, Chicago I think,” Joe warned her.

Meg: Joe said to stay away from him. He is out in a week or two and you wont see him again. I think he's tryin to say hes a playa. Oh and we are going into lock down.. are you?

Raven: Raw just text me.. wants me to make an excuse to get out of the house. Can I use you? I will be fine, dont worry. IDK about lock down. Mom doesn't like doing that.

Meg: Yeah you can use me. Jesus girl.. stay safe. I fuckin mean it. Call me.

              Meagan decided to stay quiet about Raven's plan, and went into the kitchen to make popcorn so she and Joe could watch movies.

             
Since Scooter and Joe had hashed things out, Joe was staying at the house with Meagan. Meagan was pretty sure that her dad was going to sign it over to her. Scooter had told her that he was looking for a better place for himself with Nik and the girls.

             
Playing house was fun, especially now that Joe didn't have to sneak around.

              Raven went out to the living room and flopped on the couch, trying to appear casual.

             
“Mom, Meg just called and she wants me to go have coffee with her. I guess she needs some girl talk. Can I take the car and go?”

             
“Is Joe going?” Anne asked, suspiciously. She was still shocked that Scooter was allowing it.

             
“No mom, girl time,” Raven huffed, just wanting to get out.

             
“Ok, just call if you are gonna be late. I will be up late. Don't have to be to work tomorrow till noon,” Anne said. “The keys are in my purse. Tell Meg hello for me.”

             
Raven couldn't get out the door fast enough. But as soon as she pulled out onto the street, her heart started racing and she started to question herself. What the fuck was she doing? Everything logical in her was screaming at her not to meet this man, at night. Hello, Joe had told Meg to tell her to stay away.  Not because he was dangerous, but because he would leave. Fuck it she thought. She stopped at the corner, pulled out her phone, and sent him a text.

Raven: I am out, where do you want to meet.

Raw: At the coffee shop, give me 20.

              She put her phone down on the seat and made a bee-line for the coffee shop. Once there, she threw a text to Meg.

Raven: Meeting him at the coffee shop. All is good. Thanks for the cover.

              She sat in the parking lot. The shop was closed. That should have been a red flag for her, but she just figured that they could sit in the car. Maybe make out. Butterflies hit her belly as she looked around, and listened for his bike.

             
A few more minutes went by and she heard the rumble. Looking around, she was trying to figure out where he was coming from. Then she saw the single headlight coming towards her from across the parking lot. Her heart raced as she saw him drive up. She popped the locks open as he approached the car.

             
He leaned down to the driver’s side window as she rolled it down with the button. “Let’s ride babe,” he said, standing up. He walked back to his bike to get her a helmet from the compartment.

             
She got out of the car, keys in hand. “I can't stay out too long. I thought we could just sit in the car and talk and stuff,” she suggested.

             
“You are how old?” he asked.

             
“I am 20, why? You making sure I am legal?” She laughed.

             
“No Bella Raven, I know your age. I don't kiss children. I just want to check if you are able to make your own rules,” he said, trying to push her into doing what she wanted to do, and not what her mom insisted.

             
He held out the helmet to her, and waited.

             
She thought for a moment. Her mom would flip the fuck out. But she was 20 years old and if things went bad, she knew that Meg would let her stay there. What the hell, she thought, as she hit the button on the key ring, locking the car.

             
They drove all over town and ended up at a small park by the river. He pulled into the lot, and parked the bike. There were a few people out walking their dogs and getting in last minute runs. They both got off the bike.

             
“Let us walk,” Raw said, as he took off her helmet, and put it away.

             
“Ok, never been here at night before. The river sure is beautiful.” She looked up at him and smiled.

             
“I don't notice river when you are here with me,” he says.

             
She realizes he is a very insistent charmer. She can't decide if he is being sincere, or if he just thinks that's what she wants to hear, so he can take things further. He is an odd soul and she could tell from his readings that he was not so easy to figure out.

             
“Well thanks,” she said, not really knowing how to feel, except maybe awkward.

             
He took her by the hand and they walked along the path in silence for a bit. She noticed that the joggers and dog walkers were giving them plenty of space as they passed, even when she shot them a warm smile. They would look away or down and move away. It was then that she looked at him, and realized this man she was walking with, looked mean and dangerous.

             
With his leather jacket full of patches, his piercings, his big leather boots, and his bald head, while walking this young girl down a path, at night, what they must think of the two of them. With anyone else, she would have been afraid for her life. But with him, she feels nothing but safe and protected from everyone, except him.

             
They come to a spot to look over the river and he pulls her close and puts his arm around her.  She looks up at him and he smiled back at her. He starts to close in on her for a kiss and she steps away.