Shane

Pulling up to Club Lust, I park my bike and hop off heading straight for the entrance. Austin needed me to do some dirty work today, something I don't occasionally do, but will when the club needs me to. Today is one of those occasions. Apparently, the manager of one of our strip clubs is rumored to be putting his hands on the girls.

Torque, our tech guru, was told by one of the girls that Big Joe was shoving her around and slapped her in the face. She was trembling by the time she reached the Nightmare Warrior's compound, but we quickly showed her that was not something we stood for. We would never allow our staff to be assaulted, especially by someone they are meant to trust.

After a few hours we were able to see that not only was Big Joe hurting majority of the girls, but the fucker had the audacity to steal from us. My main job for the legit establishments is books, which means the fucker was getting one over on me, and I don't tolerate that shit.

Hence the reasoning for me being here. Austin wanted me and Lucky to come in and see if we could get the asshole to admit it. Lucky is another club member that deals with the legit business side of the club. Most of the businesses are in his name, which is how the fucker got his road name. He has the best record among any of us. No priors, nothing shady in his background, the asshole has never even gotten arrested. As much as his past consists of bad things, he was lucky enough to avoid all the trouble.

Lucky was once married, and after he and his old lady split, she remarried a piece of shit that got off on hurting their daughter. As soon as Lucky found out, he killed the piece of shit and went on his way. It always bothered him that he wasn't there for his daughter, so to make up for it, he finds women who have nothing and gives them not only a place to stay, but work. Most of the girls we employ fit that description. Which is why it makes perfect sense that none of them said anything for almost three years.

Lucky and Miles are standing at the front of the entrance sharing a cigarette as I walk up. I glance at each of them, then head inside with the two of them trailing right behind me.

Lust isn't exactly your typical strip club. The inside is large, consisting of a large circular stage that lights up different colors for the girls. There is an elongated bar to the left that has the same lighting effects and about ten televisions right above it playing everything from the latest sport, to music videos.

Upstairs is made up of two separate areas. On one side are three offices, mainly used by us and Big Joe. The other side consists of a private dance room. The girls are recorded and there is always a guard outside the door just in case one of the guys decide to get handsy, but most of the time we have no problem. People around here know who owns this bar and tend not to mess with us. Occasionally we will have a tourist that has never heard of the Nightmare Warriors. We make sure they know who we are by the time they get back home.

"We know he's here for sure?" Miles asks from behind me.

I stop right before the bar and do a chin lift to Amber, one of the bartenders here that always knows to keep my whiskey on hand. She comes up a few seconds later with a shot of whiskey and I quickly down it, enjoying the burn as it reaches the pit of my empty stomach.

"He is. The fucker normally is on weekends." Lucky answers him. I don't bother joining in on the conversation. I've always been one to speak only when needed.

"Darlin', do us a favor and go and tell Big Joe we need to speak with him." Lucky tells Amber, who nods her head and scurries to the back.

I take the time to look around the dimly lit club. When we took over, the place was a piece of shit. There were holes in the walls, chipped paint everywhere and cobwebs all over. We hired all new staff, spoke with the vendors for the liquor and reestablished this place as classy and not trashy. It's ironic how much this place reminded me of my ex-wife when we first obtained it. From the outside it was classy, sexy even, but on the inside, dirty and disgusting, full of lies and deceit.

Ronnie always told me she loved me, and at one point, I believed her.

"Guys, he says he's a bit busy at the moment, but will call one of you later." Amber says coming back and looking a little sheepish. Out of all the girls here, she is the one I like the most. Like most of the women here, she was a runaway from home at a young age and never looked back. After moving out here from Kentucky, she immediately got into drugs and prostitution. Austin and I found her selling herself on the street and offered her more. She's never let us down and loves her job here.

"Seems to me the fucker has no time for us. Shall we ladies?" Lucky begins walking past Amber and heads straight into the back where the manager's office and kitchen are located.

I follow behind Lucky, and Miles trails me as we reach the kitchen area and see Big Joe cornering one of our best dancers, Millie.

It takes everything in me to stop from going over there, grabbing the fat fuck by his many rolls on his neck and strangling him. The only thing holding me back is knowing I may scare this poor girl. She's a new dancer here, and if I remember right, her story is a bad one. She came from violence, no way I'm making her relive that shit.

"The fuck is all this about?" Lucky shouts causing them both to turn towards us.

Millie has a large ring of bruises around her forearm and the sight causes my feet to move right past Lucky and get into Big Joe's face.

"Why the fuck is she bruised you fat fuck?" I demand grabbing hold of his shirt. Big Joe begins trembling but refuses to answer me. His face of determination and persistence gives me all the answers I need. He hurt her and doesn't think the shit is a bad thing.

"Millie did this asshole hurt you?" I hear Lucky ask her in a calm voice. Millie is eighteen, the same age his daughter was when she was being abused. I may be the one that has Big Joe in a hold right now, but in a few seconds, I'll have to be the one to pull Lucky from him.

"H-he. N-no." Millie says while looking down at her feet.

"You don't have to lie, we won't hurt you, and we won't let him either." Miles says and when I turn to him, I can see the anger pouring off him in waves.

Another reason I am here, was to see how the youngling would do. Miles is one the newest patched in members. He's loyal and smart but has never had to prove just how dangerous he could be. This was a test and I have a gut feeling this kid is going to pass with flying fuckin' colors.

"He was hurting my arm, yelling at me for being late. It's hard for me to find good daycare is all." She begins looking down once more and the look of embarrassment for her situation makes me want to destroy the squirming pile of shit held between my fists right now. No one should be punished for being a single mother.

"Need some privacy darlin, you go out there, find Amber, and the two of you make a sign letting everyone know the place is shut down for the day. Got me?" Millie nods in Lucky's direction, then scampers off towards the bar.

I turn back to Big Joe, who's eyes are bugged out of his head and let him go.

"Wish I was the one to have the pleasure of fuckin' you up, but the privilege will have to go to Miles today." Turning towards Miles I give him a nod.

I had told Miles on the phone before getting here what I expected of him today, what Austin expects of him. He knows this is a test, and by the unyielding look he has right now, he doesn't mind demonstrating himself at all.

"You think you can hurt girls just because you're bigger than them you piece of shit?" He grins as he walks towards Big Joe. I let go of him and walk over to Lucky. I can hear Miles fists swinging away at the big oaf and take that as my cue to head out.

"Don't let him get too far. Austin doesn't want him killed, only taught a lesson not to run his mouth after this. Let me know when it's done." Lucky nods in my direction, his eyes still focused on the onslaught of pain and violence behind me.

I turn back at Miles as his fist connects over and over again with Big Joe's face and catch his cut swaying back and forth.

Memories flood through me as I recall the moment I was patched in. My father never saw me get the patch, was killed before I was old enough to understand what it all meant, but I know if he were looking down at that moment, he would be damn proud. Wasn't the greatest man but was a good enough father. All he wanted was what was best for me, and I can't hate him for that. He was killed by Snake, a member of the Road Kings MC that run closer to Upstate New York. After Austin was patched in as president, we got out of the drug business, leaving the rest of the shipments to be handled by Snake. We made peace with their club, but I never made peace with him. Don't have a plan to either. He killed my father, not something I will take lightly if I see him again

Austin and the rest of club don't work with them often, but these last few months, we have needed their help and they have surprisingly come through. It's making it hard, but I will never forgive him for what he took from me.

I head out, making sure no one else is in the building and that the girls did what we asked and put up the closed signs. It's early, only ten in the morning and normally we don't open until four but knowing we would making a bit of a mess today, Austin wants the girls to have the day off and the place closed.

Once satisfied with everything, I head outside to my bike and hop on, firing it up and letting the peace of being on top of the roar of an engine settle inside me. Since I could remember, I have wanted to be like my father. A biker, an outlaw, a man. I can only hope I lived up to his expectations.

I pull out and begin my ride over to the compound. Not fifteen minutes later do I groan in frustration when I notice the sirens waving behind me. Already knowing who it most likely is, I pull over slowly to the side of the road, turn of my ignition and step off my bike. Fucker ain't catching me from behind.

"Well now, Mr. Matthews. Surprised to see you speeding. Going somewhere important?" I squint past the sun into the eyes of the man that has shown our club nothing but disrespect from the moment he was assigned the new chief of police. John Alberts was assigned his new role over five months ago, and since then, our club has been in nothing but trouble.

The former, Timmons, had retired after his son was kidnapped and held hostage, making him help plot against Max and the rest of us.

"Wasn't speeding. Thought cops were supposed to be smart?" He smirks but I see the anger growing behind his smug look.

Before Timmons left for Florida, he gave us a warning about the people that were hired on with Alberts. We had Torque run a check on Alberts and for once, he came up with nothing. Besides the obvious facts, we have nothing on him, and that makes me nervous.

"Course you weren't. Tell you what, why don't you and I have a chat about how you weren't speeding, back at the precinct?" This time it's my turn to smirk as I cross my arms at my chest and lean back against my bike.

So that's what he's after.

"You want me to tell you the ins and outs of my club, so I can stop you from what? Throwing me in jail? I know my rights asshole."

"See here is where you're wrong Shane. You have no rights. I will make sure your little club sees that. It's a real shame Timmons retired, you may just need him soon."

I uncross my arms and stare daggers at this cocky little shit. At five nine, two hundred pounds, he's a small bug that I want to squash. I know his type. Grew up with daddy's silver spoon shoved in his mouth, made all the grades because the family's money was too good to each school, and chose whichever major that would make others look at him. He's too easy to see, easy to notice, but he's also not the only thing on our radar. I need to keep my wits about me when it comes to him.

"Didn't need Timmons then, don't need him now. Your little fuckin' threats ain't gonna stop us from doing our thing Alberts."

"We'll see, won't we? You have a nice day now Shane." Alberts smiles, then walks backwards towards his black swat car and hops in. Speeding out of there, making sure to leave lots of dust in my face I stare at the car until I can no longer see it.

Huffing out a deep breath, I hop back on my bike and peel out of there.

ùùù

The nightmare Warrior's Compound wasn't always something I considered home. Growing up in the MC, only to have your fate be determined by those surrounding the same club, was more of a premonition than a dream. I fought my father until I was blue in the face about where I saw myself. I was fifteen when he died, and one of the last things I ever said to him was that I hated this club. At the time it was true, I hated what the club took from me every time he had to go in for club business and would leave me with my mom. I hated everything the club stood for when it came to women and family. I especially hated the danger, and what it could steal from me. It wasn't long after my father's death, did we have to bury Austin and Max's father.

Resting on my bike, I stare up at the large abandoned warehouse that was converted into our compound. Austin, Max, Abby and I, grew up in this world, it was all we knew, and for the longest time, all we cared about. Now though, now I no longer know what my purpose is anymore. I thought it was in a certain curly haired, southern belle with a chip the size of Texas on her shoulder and an attitude to boot, but I quickly learned that women have a lot in common, at least the one's I had an interest in.

I hop off my bike and head inside, noting the weather change from over the last few days. It's nearly fall and with this season comes cooler temperatures and cloudier days. I've always been the kind of guy that would love to sit on my back deck and watch the storms come and go. I also envision that image with a woman naked on my lap, but we can't always get what we want.

I walk inside the compound and stop in my tracks when I spot Shawna and Candice sitting in the middle of the living area with about five hundred different magazines, catalogs, notepads and what looks like posters with small little post-it flags surrounding it. As I walk in closer, I can see a small little radio next to their feet playing some ungodly song.

The furniture is all moved to the side and there are small plates of snacks surrounding the girls. What the hell is going on here?

"Oh, hey Shane. If you're looking for Austin, he's in the office. Said to send you over there when you get here." Candice says while staring intently at a piece of paper like it holds life's mysteries.

"But, before you go, we need your help." I look over to a very pregnant Shawn and take a step back. I never trust where this girls mind is at and as much as I love her and adore her as if she were my little sister, her small little frame is mostly made of crazy.

"Help with what?" I ask suspiciously.

Both girls stop what they are doing and look over at me with matching mechanical smiles.

Why couldn't I have just gone straight to Austin? What the hell are these little pixies going to do?

"Well, Austin is basically letting me go free reign on this whole wedding thing, and I was thinking of having you guys in your tux's, but Shawna thinks it would be a better plan to have you guys in your cuts." She looks to Shawna and I do the same, already confused on what the hell she is talking about.

"Well, technically I said it would be hotter if you guys wore your cuts, but Candice thinks that would cause problems. It's bad enough we women can't get enough of you guys when you don't have your cuts on, can you imagine having them on at a wedding. Hubba hubba."

"True, which is why I think tuxes would be good."

"If you can get them in tuxes."

"That's true, it will be a little hard, but hey, if we can squeeze our thighs into small dresses, they can sit in a tux for a few hours."

"Speaking of thighs, are you sure I won't wreck your wedding being all fat and pregnant in your pictures?"

"Shawna, we have been over this. One, you are not fat, you're pregnant and glowing. Two, of course I want you there. You will have the joy of walking down the aisle with Mr. Broody here."

I look back and forth between the two as they speak as if I am not in the room. Austin proposed to Candice a few months back but with the hectic schedule of her job and all the bullshit happening around the club, it wasn't easy to plan some elaborate wedding.

Meanwhile all I can think about is the countdown until I will see Lyla in a tight dress that will show off her delectable tits.

"So, what do you think Shane?" I snap out my stupor and look back at Candice. Shit, did I daze off when they were talking?

"Huh?"

"Typical. What she was asking is, would you feel comfortable in a tux, or would you rather wear your cut?"

Is she kidding? Is this one of those trick questions women often ask?

"Um" Before I finish my train of non-sequential thoughts, Austin walks into the room.

"Babe, mind if I borrow Shane?" Candice nods her head, already focused on the next thing on her list and I greatly walk towards Austin to his office. "By the way, what the hell are you two listening to?" He asks.

Candice chuckles while Shawna looks as though someone has just punched her car.

"It's called History, by One Direction." She answers causing Austin to shake his head and walk back to the office alongside me.

"Thanks for rescuing me." I state as he moves to sit in his chair.

"No problem. Candice tends to think everyone's world revolves around this damn wedding right now. It's the most annoying questions, but I can't help enjoying the look of fuckin' excitement on her face as she babbles on about colors and themes and shit."

I smirk at my friend that I have known all my life. Austin was a lot like me. No time for women unless the right one came by. Sure, we took the occasional sweetbutt, but yearned for something more. When Candice was dropped off beaten and half-conscious on our door step two years ago, Austin was instantly different. Candice changed things for this entire club that night. She doesn't ask for anything and never had a close tight set of family and friends, so when her excitement for something pushes through, you can't help but to get animated along with her.

"So, what did we learn Shane?"

"Torque was right in what he saw. Big Joe was putting his hands on the girls. In fact, when we went to go confront him, he was in the middle of that shit right then and there. Putting his massive arms around Millie. She was pretty shaken up."

The look of anger and rage consume Austin's face and I know he is fighting himself from finding that asshole Joe and finishing the job.

"Fuck. Glad Torque found that shit. Last thing we need is shit like this happening in the club. With Alberts going around and giving us hell all around our businesses, we need to stay alert. I'll send a cleanup crew for Miles. How did he handle it?"

"Like a fuckin' champ, told Lucky not to let him go too far. Don't want him having the same demons our fathers made us have at his age."

"You sound fuckin' old Shane." Austin smirks while leaning back, causing the chair to squeak under his weight.

"One to talk man, you're just as old as I am." I smirk back. If our fathers could hear us now complaining about being old at the age of thirty-three, they would both smack us in the back of our heads. "Had a problem on my way back from Lust."

Austin sobers up and sits back up from his position. I hate bringing him this shit, but he needs to know about Alberts. If we can get even a little in front of his bullshit, it could mean a win for us. Right now, we need all the info we could get.

"Alberts pulled me over a few miles down the road. Said some cocky shit then let me go. He's getting more and more arrogant when it comes to our club. Knew my name, said it was a shame Timmons retired and that he was going to make sure our club knew where he stood."

Austin taps his chin a few times then looks past me at the door blocking us from the girls wedding wrath.

"Can't let this get to her man. I won't let more of our family get hurt. We need to get a head of this guy."

"We plan on it brother. We won't let any more people that belong to this club get hurt because of it. Not what we stand for."

Austin nods his head then stands from his chair.

"He's been harassing us more and more. I have Torque doing some intel day in and day out, but we might have to take some bait at some point. I need to know what his long-term plan is."

Nodding my head, I stand as well, and we make our way back out front to the girls. Austin's right. To get ahead of this asshole, one of us might just have to fall into one of his traps. We need to obtain the upper hand, because right now, he has it and it's making everything around here uneasy.