Devils & Daughters (An MC Romance)

Chapter 1: Something About Shit & A Fan

"All the leaves are brown. And the sky is grey. I've been for a walk. On a winter's day." -The Mamas & The Papas, California Dreamin'

Jacko

3 Months Prior

Whiskey. Because no great story ever started with someone eating a salad... Chuckling softly to myself at that random thought, I strategically picked at the chicken on top of Sarin's colorful salad—a mix of greens, yellows, and vibrant reds—as her delicate footsteps padded down the hall carpet of the small apartment while she went to check on the boys. Maybe it was alcohol that the sign was referring to instead of whiskey. Fuck it, who the hell cares about hipster culture or that new pretentious shit stain bar that just opened up over in Southside Ramport? Who fuckin' cares if someone orders a salad or a drink, it's all just excuses to get people in the door and spendin' money on bullshit they don't need.

Popping another chunk of perfectly grilled meat into my mouth, I eyed the clock above the stove and grumbled under my breath, "Levi should've checked in by now... At least with a text message—even if it's some kind of ball bustin' shit that he enjoys sendin' when bored." This run was easy and there was no excuse for him missing a standard check-in. As my impatience grew, I drummed my fingers on the hardtop counter as I absentmindedly popped another piece of meat into my greedy mouth.

Sarin's soft footsteps amplified as she inched towards the small kitchen, and the closer she got to where I sat, the larger the snarl became that formed on her face. Her eyes swiftly gravitated between my chewing and the destruction I had done to her plate in her absence.

A low growl sprung from her sweet peach lips. "You hungry? I can whip you up something of your own before you head over to the clubhouse," she asked with an air of sarcasm as she violently loaded her fork up with a heaping pile of leafy greens. She's prolly envisionin' my face as she stabs that organic material over and over.

"Not really. I think I'm just in a pickin' mood." I eyed the clock again as my drumming escalated in tempo.

The frown on her face settled ever so slightly.. There was never any hiding how I truly felt when in Sarin's presence. "Is it nerves?" she cautiously asked, causing me to halt the drumming of my fingertips on the grey tiled countertop again. How the hell do i say what I'm feelin' without worryin' her? Sarin always worried when Levi took on gun runs.

"Prolly just stupid shit. Nothin' neither of us should pay much attention to..." I stood abruptly. "I'm gonna head out. I'll catch you tomorrow." I hesitated for a second when she looked up with those gorgeous honey-dipped brown eyes.

Stilling my quickening pulse, I leaned in to gently kiss her forehead. Softly grazing her skin, I held back the sigh that desperately wanted to spring forth from deep in my chest—from the same place where the million other sighs lay secret as they waited for me to get my shit together and really tell her how I felt.

Mentally chastising myself a little bit more, I adopted my signature cold façade and didn't give it a second mind. However, she saw through each little movement and her inked hand reached up to run along the side of my face. I couldn't tear my eyes away from the way the black shading of the rose softened in the fluorescent lights of the kitchen. Mesmerized by the way her eyes sharpened as my face inched closer, my lips parted, but the scrape of the barstool against the tile quickly snapped me back to reality. With a sharp clear of my throat, she retracted her hand swiftly and busied herself with her late dinner.

"I need to leave," I said as I strengthened my resolve and gave her shoulder a squeeze. I let the front door slam a little too loud on my exit and I cringed as I let out a heavy breath.