Claimed By My Ex's Biker Brother

Chapter 7

Major’s POV

I looked at Haven through the open workshop door. She was still bent over the motorcycle, completely unaware that my attention had shifted from the bike to her.

My phone vibrated again. I pulled it out and read the message. [The Iron Vultures had moved closer to one of our businesses, and this time, they had been seen watching the place instead of simply passing through.] My jaw tightened.

Those bastards were testing us. I slipped the phone into my pocket and turned toward Aron. “Get two of the Enforcers to watch the south warehouse.”

He nodded. “What about the rest of the men?”

“Keep them at the clubhouse. I don't want anyone making a move unless I give the order.”

“Are you going there?” he asked, and I nodded. “I am.”

Aron looked toward Haven, then back at me. “Now?”

“Yes.”

He nodded and walked away to make the arrangements.

I turned back toward Haven.

She had straightened up and was wiping her fingers with a piece of cloth. The little streak of grease on her cheek was still there. I had the urge to wipe it away myself, but I stopped the thought before it went any further.

She looked up and caught me staring. “What?” she asked.

“Nothing.”

“You've been saying that a lot.”

I walked closer to the motorcycle and glanced at the engine. “You work too hard.”

She raised an eyebrow. “That's a strange thing to say to a mechanic.”

“Maybe.”

Her lips curved slightly.

That small smile was becoming a problem.

I shouldn't have been this interested in her already. I had approached her because I'd admired her strength from a distance for years. But now that she was standing in front of me, I was noticing things that had nothing to do with her being capable.

Her eyes. Her lips. The way her hair kept falling forward whenever she leaned over the bike. And the way she looked at me whenever she caught me watching her.

“I have to leave for a while,” I said.

Her expression changed. “Something happened?”

“Club business.”

She nodded, but her eyes stayed on mine. “Everything okay?”

“It will be.”

She seemed like she wanted to ask more but decided against it.

“I'll see you later,” I told her.

She looked at me for a second. “You will?”

I almost smiled. “Unless you plan on running away with my motorcycles.”

Her lips parted before she laughed. “They're mine now. You agreed to the deal.”

“Careful, mechanic.”

“Why?” Her brows raised.

I gestured, “You might start believing you own my club.”

She shook her head, smiling. “I only own the motorcycles I'm repairing.”

I stepped closer than necessary. “And what about the owner?”

Her smile slowly disappeared.

For a moment, neither of us spoke. I saw the uncertainty in her eyes, and something about it made me want to push further.

Instead, I stepped back. “I'll be back.” I turned before I could say something I would regret and walked toward my motorcycle.

I had barely started the engine when I glanced back. Haven was still standing there, watching me. I twisted the throttle and rode away. I needed to deal with the Iron Vultures.

But for the first time, I felt like there was something…or maybe, someone waiting for me when I returned—Haven.

~~~

Haven’s POV

I stood there for several seconds after Major rode away, staring at the road where his motorcycle had disappeared.

What the hell was that?

I couldn't explain why his last words had made my heart beat faster. Maybe it was the way he had looked at me when he said them, or maybe I was simply becoming too conscious of him.

I shook my head and returned to the motorcycle. I had enough problems already. The last thing I needed was to start thinking about a biker president I'd barely known.

Rayna eventually came over at that same moment. “You're staring at the road.”

I looked at her. “No, I'm not.”

“You were.”

My brows furrowed. “I was thinking.”

“About Major?”

I rolled my eyes. “About my work.”

She laughed. “You should see your face whenever that man is around.”

I ignored her and picked up one of my tools. “I need to get the rest of my things from Dad's house.”

Her smile faded. “Are you sure you want to go there today?”

“No, but I need my clothes and a few other things. I'm not going to leave my belongings there for them to throw away.” I answered, getting together the scattered tools.

“I'll come with you.”

I nodded.

A few hours later, we returned to my father's house.

The moment I stepped off my bike, I felt the same heaviness I'd felt that morning. I didn't want to be there, but I wasn't going to leave everything behind because my father had decided to no longer treat me as his daughter.

Rayna followed me toward the house.

I had barely reached the door when my stepmother came out.

She stopped when she saw me. “I hope you're not planning to stay here.”

I looked at her. “I'm only here for my things.”

“Good. Because you're not welcome here anymore.”

I laughed bitterly. “You don't have to worry. I already know.”

Her face tightened. “You always act as if you're better than everyone.”

I didn't have time for all that and turned toward the house, but her voice stopped me.

“I hope you don't come crawling back when things become difficult.”

I slowly turned around. “Why would I crawl back?”

“You've always needed your father.”

“No.” I shook my head. “I've needed somewhere to stay. That's different.”

Her eyes narrowed. Then she said the one thing she knew would hurt me. “Coming from the bad omen who couldn't let her mum catch some breath after her delivery,” and then she snorted.

My body went still.

Rayna immediately stepped closer.

I stared at the woman in front of me. “Don't.”

She smiled. “You know exactly what I'm talking about.”

“I said don't mention my mother.” My eyes were already gathering tears.

“Why? Because you don't want people remembering what happened?”

My hands curled into fists. “My mother died giving birth to me. How exactly could I have killed her?”

She shrugged. “Some things don't need explanations.”

I felt my chest tighten.

That accusation had followed me for years. My uncle had been the only person who never looked at me differently because of it, which was one of the reasons I had always considered him more of a parent than my own father.

“You've said enough.” I stepped toward the house.

My stepmother laughed behind me. “Go ahead. Run away like you always do.”

I stopped and looked back. “I'm not running away. I'm leaving.”

Her smile disappeared.

“And this time,” I continued, “I'm not coming back.”

I walked inside before she could answer.

Rayna followed me, and within the next hour, we had packed the rest of my clothes, documents and personal belongings.

When we stepped outside, I looked at the house one last time.

I didn't feel relieved. I felt empty. But beneath that emptiness was something else—A strange determination.

I had lost my relationship, my workshop and my home the same day. I could either let that destroy me or build something better from what was left.

I tightened my grip around my bag.

“I've got nowhere else to go,” I whispered.

Rayna looked at me. “You have me.”

I nodded, holding back the sob wanting to break through my throat.

For now, that was enough.

But as we rode away from the house, my mind betrayed me again.

Major's grey eyes appeared in my thoughts. The way he had stood too close. The way he had looked at me. And especially the way he had said, “What about the owner?”

I swallowed hard. I didn't know what was happening between us.

But I knew one thing: that I wanted him around me again, to inhale his cologne…and if possible, his human scent too.