Twisted Steel: An MC Anthology: Second Edition by Elizabeth Knox (top 5 ebook reader txt) 📕

“I’m eighteen, I can make my own choices, and it’s not to say that he is the man I’m going to marry.”

The thought of Rogue being anything more than a crush has my stomach whirling with excitement and anxiety. I’m still young, and I’m sure there’ll be many more Rogues in my life, and I wish my mother would trust me.

“Your father was like that,” Mom says, gesturing with her chin toward the window when the sound of the engine rumbles from outside, and I fight the urge to go to the window to see him. “Young, beautiful, inked, and he had the tongue of a charmer. He could say anything, and I’d be putty in his hands.” I watch my mother settle on the bed. Her hands tangling in the soft material of her tank top. She doesn’t look at me, her focus is on her fingers as she speaks. “This life isn’t for everyone. I didn’t have a choice though. Your father barged into my life, making me fall in love with him before I had time to think.”

“Mom,” I say, moving onto my knees so I can get closer to her. “I’m not falling in love with anyone. All I wanted you to know is that he was there for me last night. Rogue saved me from being shot. If it weren’t for him, I am not sure what would’ve happened.”

My mother glances up, meeting my gaze. We haven’t really spoken about why Dad left or what happened between them to have him walk out without so much as a goodbye, and I have a feeling my mother knows the reasons, but she’s trying to keep me from the heartbreak of the truth.

“He’s a good guy,” I tell her. “At least, as far as I know. He could’ve left me there, could’ve hurt me in some way, but he didn’t. Just give him a chance.” Something unmistakable inside me shifts when I think about Rogue. When I think about his hands on me, his words filtering through the fear that gripped me, and how he looked at me, and I realize that as much as my mother doesn’t want me to like him, I do.

“Just be careful,” Mom warns. “That’s all I want is for you to be safe. And since we’re not sure who those people were last night, I’d like you to stay indoors when I’m at work. If, and this is a big if, you want to come with me to the club—”

“I’ll think about it.” I offer Mom a smile. “Perhaps I’ll see you later.”

“If you don’t want to come, text me. Then I’ll ask Rogue’s dad, whom I have yet to meet formally, if he’ll watch over the house. You don’t have to be there with him, or his son. Okay?” It doesn’t look like she’s going to let up on this, and I suppose I can’t blame her. Last night was scary, and if those men come back here, I don’t want to be caught in the crossfire of a war.

“Yes, Mom.”

“Promise me, Trin,” she says, her expression turning deadly serious.

Nodding, I wrap my arms around her neck and hold onto her. “I promise, Mom. I’ll be safe with them next door. I know I will be.” And as I say the words, I know I will. Call it gut instinct or whatever, but I’m convinced that the two new neighbors are going to be our saving grace.

6 Rogue

The men move into the room where church is held. I follow behind Dad. After telling him what happened, he called an emergency meeting with the rest of the brothers. Snake settles at the head of the table while each of us take our positions.

A loud thud of the gavel calls the meeting to order. Snake tips his head toward Dad, who then looks over at me. I didn’t want to be the one to tell them about what happened, but I know if I’m going to be respected in this club, I’ll need to step up.

I lean forward, meeting each man’s gaze. “Last night, I was out on the back porch talking with Trinity, who had come over to welcome Dad and me to the neighborhood. Since her mom was at work and Dad was here, I figured I’d see if she wanted to get some coffee.” I shrug, hoping they don’t notice the lie about coffee. I don’t want my dad knowing that I have any interest in Trinity, not yet. “We had only been talking for a few minutes when I heard the tires screeching as the vehicle made its way onto our street.”

“And you saw them?”

Nodding, I respond, “Sort of. I got a look at the Jeep, but I couldn’t make out the license at all because the shots came a second later, and I had pushed Trinity to the ground, covering her so she didn’t get hit.”

Snake’s luminous gaze narrows, as if he’s trying to gauge if I’m telling the truth. I keep my expression neutral because there is one thing I’m hiding from him, and it’s the reason I was outside with my little spy to begin with. He doesn’t need to know about us. About how much I wanted to claim her last night, to fuck her so she’d forget about those goddamned bullets flying at us.

“Do we have an idea of who the bastards are?” Snake questions, his hands fisted on the table, and I know he’s angry because this is Tawny’s daughter who was in the line of fire. As much as he doesn’t admit it, there’s something more going down between the two of them.

I glance at Dad, not knowing if I should say anything, but then he takes the lead. “There’s a guy who runs Satan’s Serpents. He’s had it out for Rogue for years, but . . .” Dad’s voice cracks, and I know he doesn’t want to talk about what happened, but if these men are going to