Claimed by the Playboy MC President

A break

Thea’s POV

I shoved my clothes into my worn-out canvas duffel bag.

The moment I hit him still burned in my palm. Felix’s face. Stella’s bedroom. The look on both of them when everything finally shattered.

The zipper strained as I forced it closed.

Behind me, I heard movement in the hallway.

Felix.

His footsteps were fast and panicked in a way that almost made me laugh. It was pathetic. He really thought he could undo what I had already seen.

“Thea.” He called meonce.

I didn’t answer.

He said it again, louder this time.

I slung the backpack over my shoulders and reached for my leather jacket.

I turned before he could enter the room.

He appeared at the end of the hallway just as I reached the door.

He appeared at the end of the hallway just as I reached the door. For half a second, he looked like he might speak.

I didn’t give him the chance.

I stepped out into the night and slammed the door behind me so hard the windows in the frame rattled.

I walked then. Fast and Aggressively.

Felix cheated on me.

It repeated itself again and again, like my brain refused to accept that it had actually happened.

My grip tightened on the straps of my bag as I walked.

I didn’t even know where I was going.

Cars passed me with their windows glowing warm and slow musics, full of people who had somewhere to go.

But I didn’t.

I had nowhere to go.

So, without meaning to, I found myself standing in front of Sam’s shop.

The garage doors were shut, but soft, warm light leaked from the side entrance.

My throat tightened before I even moved.

Of all places in the city, this was the only one that didn’t feel like it could reject me.

I pushed the side door open and walked toward it without thinking too hard.

I heard the faint sound of metal clinking against metal.

Sam was still here.

Of course he was.

I knocked once on the glass door out of habit more than politeness, then pushed it open before I could lose my nerve.

He looked up immediately. “Thea?” His eyes moved from my face to my backpack in a single sweep, concerned. “What happened?” he asked.

“I…” I tried to speak normally. I really did. But my voice cracked halfway through the first word and that was enough to ruin the rest of it. “I have nowhere to go, Sam.”

Sam stood up immediately and narrowed his eyes slightly. “Did someone hurt you?”

I shook my head once. Then I forced myself to say it clearly. “Felix cheated on me…” I said. “I caught him with Stella. In her bedroom.”

Sam’s jaw tightened so hard I saw the muscle in his cheek flex. For a second, something sharp and violent flashed in his eyes, the kind of anger that didn’t belong in a small garage like this.

“That piece of garbage…” he muttered under his breath. “Do you want me to handle it?”

A part of me almost said yes.

A smaller, more broken version of me that wanted someone else to carry the rage so I didn’t have to.

But I shook my head. “No.” I replied quickly. “He is not worth it. I already… dealt with it… but.. I can’t go back there, Sam.”

Sam stepped forward and gently put a hand on my shoulder. "You did the right thing coming here, kiddo. You never have to go back to that house."

I looked up at him, unsure what he meant.

“There is a folding cot in the back office." Sam said, walking me toward the small room where he kept his paperwork. "It ain't the Ritz and the AC is loud, but the door locks from the inside. It’s safe. You can stay here as long as you need."

"Thank you, Sam..” I whispered, dropping my bag onto the floor. Exhaustion was finally sinking into my bones. "It’s only for two weeks. Once college starts, I will move straight into the dorms."

"Take your time. This place is as much yours as it is mine.” He replied softly. He tossed me a clean blanket from a storage bin. "Get some sleep, Thea. Tomorrow is a new day."

"Goodnight, Sam."

Once he closed the office door, leaving me alone in the dim light of a desk lamp, I sat down on the cot and pulled my phone from my pocket.

The screen lit up my face in the dark.

I needed to tell Clara. She deserved to know why her friend had vanished overnight.

My thumbs tapped quickly across the glass.

>>Hey Clara. I am so sorry to do this over text but Felix cheated on me with Stella tonight. I walked in on them. I can't stay at your place anymore. Please don't worry about me, I have found a safe place to crash until the dorms open. I am okay. I will call you tomorrow.

I hit send, powered off my phone and lay back on the thin mattress.

It was indeed not comfortable as a bed but I couldn't tell when I even fell asleep.

The next morning I woke up and began helping Sam without wasting my time on grief.

By nine, I was already elbow-deep in the engine of a vintage motorcycle.

Clara practically blew through the open garage doors like a hurricane.

"Thea!"

She rushed over with guilt and exhaustion written all over her face. She looked like she hadn't slept a wink.

Before I could even set my wrench down, she threw her arms around me, not caring about the grease on my body.

"I am so, so sorry.” Clara breathed, pulling back to look me in the eyes. "I just ripped Stella a new one. I can't believe she did that to you in my own house."

I picked up a rag and began wiping my hands. "You don't need to apologize, Clara. It wasn't your fault. Felix made his choice."

"But that's the sickest part!" Clara threw her hands up in exasperation. "Stella didn't even know he was your boyfriend. She actually thought he was dating me. You know how she is, Thea."

I paused, tossing the dirty rag onto the workbench.

The absurdity almost made me laugh.

Stella had seduced Felix just to spite Clara and Felix had thrown away years of history for a girl who didn't even know his name.

Strangely, the remaining heaviness in my chest vanished immediately.

"Honestly, Clara? I am completely over it…” I said, leaning against the bike. And I meant it. "The trash took itself out. If anything, I am just grateful I didn't lose my virginity to a guy like him."

Clara’s jaw practically hit the floor. "You are still a virgin, Thea?" she gasped, her eyes widening with genuine shock.

I felt a sudden heat creep up my neck. "Yeah. I mean, between keeping my grades up for the scholarship and working here... I just never found the right time. Or the right guy, clearly."

Clara’s shock instantly softened into a wicked grin. She grabbed my shoulders and gave me a firm shake. “Oh, honey. This is the best news ever.” She declared. "You do not waste something like that on a pathetic loser like Felix. You save it for a super-hot guy. Someone who actually knows what he is doing. Like... a biker."

I rolled my eyes, a laugh escaping my lips. "A biker? Really?"

"Yes, really!" Clara bounced on her heels. "Listen, I am dating a guy named Mark. He is a member of the Open Road MC. They are incredible, Thea. They just won gold in the state underground bike race last weekend. They are throwing a victory party tonight at their clubhouse and I am taking you with me."

I immediately stepped back, shaking my head. "No way. Clara, I can't. I have to help Sam close the shop, and there are three bikes lined up for tomorrow…"

"Stop." Clara held up a hand. "You just went through a horrible breakup. You have been working your ass off. You need a break. Come out, have a drink, and just look at some incredibly muscular, gorgeous guys in leather jackets. Please?”

She gave me her best pleading look, the one that made her impossible to resist.

I looked around the dusty garage, then back at Clara's pouty face.

Maybe she was right. Maybe I did need to get out of my own head.

"Fine." I sighed with a small smile breaking through. "I will go."

Clara squealed, hugging me again. "Be ready by eight! I will bring clothes!"

After she left, I walked back toward the small office where Sam was doing inventory.

"Hey, Sam?" I asked, leaning against the doorframe.

He looked up over his reading glasses. "What's up, kiddo?"

"Clara invited me to a party tonight with a motorcycle club. Open Road MC.” I said. "If I go, I promise I will be back early tomorrow to finish the remaining work."

Sam’s weathered face broke into a warm smile. He took off his glasses and tossed them onto the desk. "I was wondering when you were actually going to act your age." Sam chuckled. "Go. Have a good time. Drink some cheap beer and forget about that i***t from last night. Just do me a favor…"

"I know, I know." I smiled.

"Don't stay out too late…" He finished, pointing a stern but loving finger at me. "And if anyone gives you trouble, you call me."

"I will, Sam. Thank you."