Claimed By The Biker King

Chapter 6

Ryan

"Expand the west side by another twenty feet," I said, tapping the blueprint spread across my desk. "If we're hosting the tournament here, I don't want riders complaining about space."

David that was standing across from me nodded immediately.

"Yes, Sir."

Our club had hosted smaller races before, but this was different. This tournament would officially put us on the map. More riders. More money. And if it went well, we'd be hosting annually.

"The barriers need replacing too," I add recalling k was supposed to tell him. "And I want the supplier contracts finalized before the end of the week."

"Understood."

"Anything else?"

"Actually... yes. We got an update on Carter Kelvin."

Rhea's father.

"The last confirmed sighting was in Nevada." He glanced down at the tablet in his hand. "A small town outside Carson City."

"And when was that?"

"A month ago."

A month. Which meant he could be anywhere by now.

I cursed internally.

"Keep looking. Expand the search radius. Check every contact he had. Every business. Every financial record."

David nodded. "I'll get on it."

He began packing up his tablet to leave when he paused. "Have you heard the news, Sir?"

“What happened?”

"The new girl."

"What about her?" I asked pretending not to be interested in what he had to say. David is one of the club players I was close with. He's smart and trustworthy. Just like his father who worked for my father. Unfortunately, David father passed away after a brief illness even before my father death.

"I heard she had a race with Mr. Luke last night."

That made me pause but I didn't look up neither did I say anything. David burst into laughter.

"She beat him."

My head snapped to him.

My brother? One of the best riders in the club?Beaten by a woman who claimed she only used her skills occasionally?

Interesting. Because the more I learned about Rhea Carter, the more questions appeared.

What exactly was she hiding?

The first time I met her, I thought she was just another angry woman with a sharp mouth.

Now? I wasn't so sure.

"Ask the other guys to gather for a meeting." I said instead in a cold tone. He quickly regained composure and bowed down then left.

Silence fell in the office. My gaze drifted toward the window, staring at the morning sun illuminating the room.

Every time I thought I had her figured out, she gave me another reason to reconsider.

A slow frown settled on my face. What exactly are you trying to prove?

The thought stayed with me as I signed the remaining paperwork on my desk. Once I finished, I closed the last file and stood.

It was time to officially announce Rhea's position on the coaching team.

When I got to the training area, the guys have already gathered. And right in the middle of them was Rhea. Luke was standing beside her.

"Oh please." Rhea was saying. "You're just upset because I embarrassed you."

Luke pointed at her. "We're having that race again."

"Anytime."

The confidence in her voice earned another round of laughter.

Something tightened unpleasantly in my chest. I didn't like it. Yes I don't know her but I didn't like how quickly she'd settled in.

Didn't like how comfortable she suddenly looked standing beside Luke. Didn't like the fact that my brother was smiling at her like they'd known each other for years.

The entire training area seemed to shift when they saw me approached.

One by one they all bow in respect.

Rhea and I held each other eyes for a moment. And I could've sworn she rolled hers.

Interesting. I shifted my gaze away and scanned the group.

"Everyone listen up."

The space went completely silent. Luke folded his arms across his chest leaning on the wall as he fixed his eyes on me already knowing what I was about to say. He had already tabled his disagreement last night and I have given him my final word.

Whether he likes it or not, I do what I see is fit for the club.

I placed my hands behind my back. "From today, Rhea will be joining the coaching team. She will be working alongside the other coaches to prepare riders for the tournament."

It was silence for the first few seconds before one of the guys spoke up. "What? She just got here."

"Boss, with all due respect, coaching team? That's too soon."

Voices overlapped. Confusion turning into open disagreement.

"She hasn't even been here long enough to understand how we operate. How can she coach anyone?" Another chirped in.

I raised a hand. Instantly, the noise stopped.

"This is not a debate. She's not here because she asked for it. She's here because I decided she is."

A few exchanged looks, unconvinced. While Luke scoffed.

I turned to look at Rhea. She was already looking at me. I wasn't sure what annoyed me more. The fact that she didn't look impressed...Or the fact that she looked like she expected this.

I faced the group again. "Training resumes in ten minutes. Anyone who has a problem with the decision can bring it to me privately."

**

I pressed the button on my car key and the SUV answered with a beep, headlights flashing in the quiet parking lot.

I exhaled, sliding the key back into my pocket as I head toward the driver's side.

Investor meeting.

That's where I'm headed. I've had too many meetings this week already, too many people telling me what the club needs, what it should become, what it lacks. Everyone has advice. Everyone has conditions.

And honestly, I don't have the luxury of rejecting help.

If Ravenstorm MC is going to become what I've planned. Something recognized and untouchable in the racing world, I need funding. Proper funding.

Which means swallowing my pride and sitting across a table from people I don't particularly trust.

I slide in and reached for the door handle to shut the door when the passenger door was swung open.

Rhea climbed in breathing hard. Hair a little messy completely unbothered by the fact that she had just appeared in my car like it belonged to her.

She pulled the seatbelt across her chest, and clicked it in. "Drop me off at my apartment. I need to get some of my stuffs." She said without as much as looking at me.

I just stared at her. "What exactly are you doing?" I asked.

She finally glanced at me. "I said drop me off at my apartment,"

For a second, I was stunned. The audacity of this woman. "You got into my car, without asking permission. And aren’t you supposed to be at the training ground?”

I left her with the boys barely up to five minutes ago.

She adjusted her seatbelt. Calm as anything."Oh, I had been calling your name and you seem to be in another time zone, so...As for the training, I got tired. They are all faking being nice.”

Well…obviously because they had their disagreement on her being part of their training.

I shook my head, dragging a hand down my jaw.

"Unbelievable."

"Can you just drive already?" she added, leaning back in her seat. "Let's go."

I looked at her again. For half a second, I seriously considered telling her to get out. I even opened my mouth to say it. But I didn't.

Instead, I ignited the engine and pulled out of the parking lot.

Silence settled inside the car for the first few minutes into driving before Rhea decided to disturb the quiet air. By reaching over and turning on the radio.

Music filled the space immediately.

My eyes flicked to her. "Try not to touch my things without asking for permission."

She scoffed. "Oh, excuse me. What exactly am I supposed to touch? The air? You expect me to sit here in silence like I'm attending a funeral?"

"You got into my car without permission." I snapped back suddenly getting irritated.

"And you started driving without asking if I was emotionally prepared for your personality," she fired back.

I exhaled through my nose. "This is going to be a long ride," I muttered.

"Finally," she said, leaning back. "Something we agree on."

Annoyance settled in, but I swallowed it down and kept driving.

A few minutes passed before something clicked in my head. I didn't even know where she lived.

That realization made me glance at her. She was staring out the window, completely zoned out as if she wasn’t the same person that turned on the music.

"You don't expect me to magically arrive at your apartment, do you?"

No response. Oh really?

"Rhea, are you listening to me?" I said through gritted teeth honking.

That finally got her attention.

She turned to me with a frown. "What?"

Unbelievable. Surely I should have sent her out of my car when I had the chance.

I sighed internally. "Your address."

“Maple Heights Complex. Apartment 4B.” I typed it into the map. Not really far from where we are currently at.

She's definitely something else,

I spoke again, unable to help myself. "Are you this naturally violent?"

"What do you mean?”

"The first time I met you, you were hitting a car. Breaking a window like an angry lion."

A small chuckle left her lips. "Oh, that. There are times you need violence for people to actually take you seriously. But honestly, I would've preferred hitting his head instead of his car."

That made my mind have an unwanted image of her swinging at someone's skull. I shook it off and pressed harder on the accelerator.

"Right," I muttered.

A while later, I slowed the car in front of a building an and killed the engine.

Rhea looked out the window. Then frowned. "Wait... why are we here?"

I unbuckled my seatbelt. "We're not going to your apartment," I said.

"Why?"

I stepped out of the car and closed the door behind me. She followed suit.

"We're going shopping," I answered, walking toward the entrance of the boutique. "I'm buying you clothes."

Behind me, I heard her voice rise. "What?!" Then she grabbed my arm, forcing me to pause.

"I didn't ask you to buy me clothes, I said take me to my apartment to get my things."

I looked her from head to toe. Nah not good at all.

"If this is your way of dressing, then we need to fix it."

Confusion flickered over her face. Before she could argue again, I grabbed her hand and pulled her with me inside the boutique.