Hell's Outcasts MC: Bound to Glory

Chapter 4

Jane

I ran the whole way back to my apartment—a mile and a half of asphalt under my sneakers and my mind spinning uncontrollably. By the time I collapsed through my apartment door, my lungs were burning from the run, a sign I clearly need to exercise more. But my brain was still replaying what happened tonight with Blaze.

For the past six months, I have built an identity as Jane Reed. She is meek and quiet. She would never b***h slap a biker.

But Glory Reilly would have, and for good measure would have kicked him in his balls.

I royally screwed up tonight. When word gets around that the quiet waitress at Toccoa Burger's assaulted the President of their revered biker club, that word may very well end up getting around back home in Savannah. And end up in the ears of my father or Domico Benini.

What in the hell was I thinking!

I went to the bathroom to shower and get ready for bed, trying not to focus on the multiple scars marring my rib cage and torso. A feeling of helplessness crept in, much like I would feel as a child when my father would come home and unleash hell on all of us.

For Christ’s sake Claire, shut these bloody kids up! Fine, guess I’ll have to parent them for you, you useless cow!

Trevor’s favorite method of discipline was a belt proudly passed down from his father. He liked to give us one lash for the number of our age. He used the belt on me well into my teens, lashing my skin until he drew blood and causing the scars on my body. Scars I’ve never shown anyone.

It’s one reason I’ve never pursued anyone romantically. These scars are hideous and my self-esteem suffers because of them. If Trevor could do this to me and my sisters, his own flesh and blood, what would he do when our significant others inevitably saw our bodies?

Wiping back my tears, I took some Tylenol and laid down on my bed, still trying to process what happened with Blaze. Being from an affluent organized crime family, I have no clue about the biker world. Is this how bikers acted with women? Getting handsy and becoming alpha-holes?

If so, I want no part of it. I have enough problems of my own.

“I’ll have to keep my eyes open. If anyone shows up in town that shouldn’t be here, I’ll leave.” I said to the dark as I drifted off to sleep.

The next morning, my feet were paying the price for the run. I took some more Tylenol and thought about calling off for the first time ever, but I need the money for the car repair.

I got dressed and headed out, but stopped short when I saw the man I slapped last night waiting outside my apartment building.

“What are you doing here?” I narrowed my eyes at Blaze.

“Figured you’d need a ride to work.”

“Well I walked home last night, I was going to walk today.” I snipped and went to move past him, but a hand caught my shoulder.

“You ran from me last night.”

“That’s a normal reaction for a woman who is told she is only going out to dinner with one man in town and gets her a** smacked for saying no!” I hissed as Blaze smirked.

“So you’re accepting my invitation?”

“NO!” I attempted to move past him but this time he used both arms on me to hold me in place.

“Lord have mercy woman, you are thick as a bucket of bricks! Get your a** in my truck!”

“Are you kidding me!” This time I went all out and attempted to kick him in the groin. But the f****r anticipated it and laughed.

“Jane, Jane, Jane. Am I going to have to call in reinforcements?”

“What reinforcements!?”

“Now Blaze, you have to play nice!” A very large man exited out of a black Ford pickup truck, walked towards us and took me aside. He shared the same build and dark hair as Blaze, except this guy's hair was shaved on both sides and the remaining hair combed over the center of his head.

“Hey there, I’m Venom, Blaze’s brother. I’d really appreciate it if you’d let us give you a ride to work. It doesn’t sit well with either of us letting you walk to work. Let us help you out. Please.” For a second I almost told this man to go to hell too, but then saw how Blaze glared at his brother and had an idea.

“See, this is how you talk to a woman. You should take note!” I hissed at Blaze then turned back to Venom.

"Since you asked so sweetly Venom, yes I’ll ride along as long as I get to sit next to you.” I have no idea what the f**k I’m doing as I bat my eyes in a pitiful attempt at flirting. Blaze growled in anger and entered the back of the truck, slamming the door so hard the truck shook.

Venom turned to me. “I can only play along to a point. I have to ride back with him, so please don’t take this too far.” He winked at me.

I nodded and got in the front of the truck with him. It was only a few minutes drive to the diner, so I didn’t get a chance to take my fake flirting any further. When we pulled up and parked, Blaze got out and took my arm.

“I don’t need you to walk me in.” I snipped and tried to push him away, but he held my arm tightly as Venom laughed.

“Yes you do. And me and Venom are hanging out here too.”

“For how long!”

“As long as it takes. All day if need be.” Blaze grinned as he took me inside the diner.

“Shouldn’t you be working on my car?” I snapped.

“I have other mechanics, Jane.” I went to the kitchen and grabbed my apron in a fury, greeting a smiling Grace.

“He didn’t waste any time. Will you be going to dinner with him?”

“NO MA'AM!” I emphatically told her and walked out to the dining room to start work. I busied myself cleaning the tables and served the two elderly regulars who came in every morning.

“Blaze, haven’t seen you in a minute. How you been doin?” One of them asked him.

“Been doing good Orlan. You’re going to be seeing more of me in the mornings.” Blaze raised a cup of coffee at him and winked at me.

“Bout time, boy! Good for you!” Orlan smiled at me and left with his friend, leaving me a generous tip.

“How much did he leave you?” Blaze asked me.

“$10, it was very nice of him.” I said as I cleaned up the table, not looking at him.

“He’ll leave you more next time. I’ll be in the back if you need me.” I rolled my eyes and stayed busy as Blaze and Venom went in the back of the diner.

A few minutes later, I heard a motorcycle in the parking lot. I looked out the window and saw a curvy redhead woman with tattoos get off the bike. She stormed into the diner.

“Gina, what are you doing here?” Grace asked, not at all happy to see her.

“Word with the Outcasts is the b***h Blaze is seeing works here. Where is she!” The redhead looked around until her eyes rested on me.

“You?” She gestured a heavily tattooed arm at me.

“No, I’m not seeing him.” I was telling the truth, but judging from how crazy this woman looked, the truth wouldn’t matter.

“Well who is it then!” Gina picked up an empty glass from one of Grace’s tables and flung it to the ground.

“Ma’am, you can’t do that! What the hell is the matter with you?” I shouted before I could stop myself.

Gina laughed. “So it is you?”

“He’s interested in me, but that doesn’t mean I’m interested in him!” I tried to reason with her.

“Why wouldn’t you be? He’s good-looking, makes bank, and is hung like a horse!” Gina countered petulantly.

Because I already have enough psychos after me and don’t need another. I thought to myself.

“Look, I don’t know what you have heard, but I am NOT interested in your man. You are out here acting a straight-up fool over nothing. So do us all a favor and take a hike!” I’d had it with this woman and just wanted her out of my face.

Suddenly Gina charged at me. We collided and both of us ended up going over one of the tables, flipping it over. She slapped me in the face and pulled my hair back.

“He’s mine, you little b***h!” She hissed in my face. My hand found something, I wasn’t sure if it was a salt or pepper shaker. Whatever it was, the top was loose. I grabbed it and flung it right in her left eye, table salt spilling all over us.

Gina shrieked in agony and grabbed at her eye. “I can’t see!! I can’t see!! Where is Blaze!?”

Blaze, Venom and Brandon came running out to the dining room. “What the hell is going on!” Brandon shouted.

“I saw the whole thing honey, Gina attacked Jane first! Jane was just defending herself!” Grace asserted.

“Gina, what the hell!” Blaze shouted at her.

“She’s crazy, honey! She put salt in my eyes!!” Gina wailed.

“Venom, take her to the hospital. I’ll have Chaos meet you there.” Blaze stared at me. I was frozen in place, speechless at what was unfolding here.

“NO, I WANT YOU BLAZE! I MIGHT LOSE THIS EYE!” Gina shrieked as she grabbed her eye.

“It was table salt you dumb***, not battery acid!” Blaze callously said. Brandon took Gina’s hand and led her out of the restaurant. Gina was so hysterical she didn’t even bother trying to look for me.

Blaze walked over to me and took my shoulders. “You OK?”

“Get your hands off me! How dare you involve me in whatever you have going on with her!” I angrily shook him off and glared at him.

“Jane, it isn’t like that…” I held my hand up.

“Don’t! In the last twelve hours you have commanded me to go to dinner, demanded no one else work on my car, found out where I live and forcibly drove me to my job. You seem to think you have some claim on me while some other woman thinks she has one on you! I don’t need this s**t! I want my car back, I don’t want you anywhere near it or me!” Blaze grabbed me by both my arms.

“We are going to talk about this, but not now. I need to clean up this mess and deal with Gina. I’ll pick you up when you get off work. And you had damn well better be here when I get back, because if I have to come looking for you, you’re getting more than a swat on your behind!” Blaze suddenly bent down, kissed me on my cheek and left the diner.