The Secret's Out (Hawks MC: Caroline Springs Charter, #1) Read online

  However, he was a mystery and I wasn’t sure what his life was like or if I wanted to actually know anything about it.

  # # # #

  It happened early that morning. Simone and I had gone to our class. During it, there was only one of Cameron’s friends taunting me. Coughing out harsh names and poking me in the back with his pen. Simone turned and glared at the guy, but she didn’t see the jabs, thank goodness, or else she would have made a scene. When the bell rang, knowing Simone had a class at the opposite end of the building, I quickly said goodbye and bolted from my seat and room.

  The frigid air swirled around me, causing me to shiver as I rushed along the pathway to the building that held my next class. I gripped my backpack tighter in my arms against my stomach, wishing I had brought a jacket with me.

  Unfortunately, I didn’t make it far before I felt someone behind me. My already hasty pace picked up another notch. Something brushed my back.

  Please no.

  Just leave me alone.

  However, no matter the amount of inner begging I did, I knew I was out of luck when next my hair was tugged back violently, causing my steps to falter and I cried out in pain.

  After righting myself, I turned around to face my assailant, only to cringe when a hand was wound around my waist. I tried to step away, but it tightened.

  “Come on, girl. I know you said no to Cameron, but you’d be willing for me, yeah?”

  Dropping my bag, I raised my hands and pushed against Scott’s chest. Scott was nearly as bad as Cameron, which could explain why they were best friends.

  “Leave me alone,” I said, raising my glare to meet his eyes and then I cursed my lips as they trembled.

  He chuckled. “I can’t do that. I’ve always wanted what Cameron wants and I plan to get it this time.” Two guys behind him laughed. When had they arrived?

  It was then my heart seized in my chest as soon as I heard a certain noise.

  My already tense body froze solid.

  My eyes widened.

  Was it?

  Could it be?

  Family?

  “What...?” Scott said.

  Blinking rapidly, I looked around everywhere to find that noise as I pushed harder against Scott’s chest. He started saying something to me, but my ears and eyes weren’t for him...no, they were for the two Harleys riding through the campus car park and coming to a stop just at the edge of the lawn.

  My struggle continued. Couldn’t Scott see my attention wasn’t on him? Couldn’t he and his friends sense the trouble they would be in, depending on who was on those two bikes?

  Suddenly, Scott must have noticed others around us looking toward the new arrivals. Scott stood straight, and I saw out the corner of my eyes as he gestured to his friends to the two men hopping off their bikes. Scott’s arm fell from my waist. I sagged in relief and drew in a deep breath. Only Scott’s hand quickly and tightly gripped my wrist.

  It seemed he wasn’t willing to let me go as we all watched the two Harley riders unclasp their helmets, remove their sunglasses and place both on their seats. When they turned back to face me, I gasped.

  Home.

  Family.

  Love.

  Safety.

  My free, trembling hand came up to my mouth to cover it as Caden and Eli stalked their way toward us. They both looked amazing, but also very unhappy. Caden dug a baseball cap out of the back pocket of his jeans and placed it on his head backwards. He seemed somewhat calmer than Eli, who was rolling his head side to side, also clenching and unclenching his hands.

  They stopped just a foot in front of us. Caden’s gruff voice barked out, “You wanna let go of her.” It wasn’t a question. Every syllable was a demand, but Scott wasn’t smart enough to know that.

  “Nope. You want to fuck off and mind your own business?”

  Caden’s eyes hardened. His gaze travelled to Scott’s hand around my wrist. Slowly, he pulled his glare back up to me, and his eyes softened.

  “Caden,” I uttered, my gaze flicked to the fuming man next to him. “Eli,” I whispered. Eli’s eyes touched mine briefly only to move back to Scott’s quiet friends watching the whole scene apprehensively. Eli was in the zone. That wasn’t good.

  My eyes went to Caden, only his focus was back on Scott. He sighed and then snorted. “You don’t know it, but you’ll soon get it. She is ours—”

  Scott burst out laughing. He tugged on my wrist so I was looking at him. “So you don’t hold out for everyone? Knew you were a slut.”

  “Pick,” Eli growled, using Caden’s biker name.

  “Not yet, Billy,” Caden ordered. I’d always liked Eli’s biker name, Billy the Kid.

  Caden took a step closer. “You really need to get it and fuckin’ soon. Josie Alexander is ours, as in, she is fuckin’ family, and she is Hawks. Do you understand that, dickhead?”

  In frustration, Scott’s hand gripped harder. I flinched from the pain and Caden saw it. Before I knew it, Caden had his hand around Scott’s throat. My wrist was instantly free because Caden was pushing Scott backward, so far back he collided with the building, and shrubbery surrounded their legs.

  Worry settled deep. Worry they would soon be in trouble because of me.

  There was so much to take in. Gasps, squeals and screams sounded around me.

  Eli punched one of Scott’s mates and then the other. He dodged the fists flying his way and landed a hit to one of the guys’ stomach, causing him to double over. Eli went straight for the other and in seconds, after two jabs, the guy was on the ground.

  Tense silence filled the air and then...

  “This is your last chance, fucker. You go near Josie again, your life will fuckin’ end. She is a part of Hawks Motorcycle Club. You want to fuckin’ continue givin’ her shit, then payback—major goddamn payback—where your life will be not worth living will come your way. Do. You. Get. Me?” Caden growled so close into Scott’s face.

  My head swung to Eli when he hissed out, “Move again and I will stab the fuck outta you.” To prove his point, he took a switch blade out of the back of his jeans and flipped it open.

  “Eyes to me, cockhead,” Caden snapped at Scott.

  Doors near us were banged open. Three lecturers ran through them and toward our way.

  “Caden, please,” I begged.

  “Right. Last warning, you go near her, look at her, or touch her, your life is mine.” With that, he pulled back his fist and punched Scott in the stomach and then stepped back as Scott crumbled over with his arms folded around his middle.

  “Hey,” a lecturer yelled.

  Without a thought, I made a step to Eli, who was the closest, reaching out a hand to touch his arm. He saw me coming, but my courage blinked out and my hand fell to my side. “You both have to go. I don’t want you in trouble. Please.”

  “Precious,” Caden said first, my eyes went to him to see him smile. “Don’t worry about us.”

  “What is the meaning of this?” Lee Eden demanded. He was one of my lecturers, the class I was supposed to be attending.

  “Nothin’ at all. We just popped in to see our friend, Josie,” Eli said. My eyes ran over his body to see the switch blade he had held was no longer in sight.

  Eden raised his bushy brows. He looked to the other two members of staff, ones I didn’t know. One shrugged and the other shook his head.

  “Scott? Anything to add?”

  Scott, with a scowl upon his face, stood tall and shook his head. “Nothing.”

  A lecturer scoffed. “We saw the assault with our own eyes. Do you want to press charges?”

  My heart stopped.

  Caden snorted. “What you saw was me helping Scott. He was choking. I thought a tap to the stomach would help bring up whatever was stuck.” With a sweeping hand, Caden gestured to Scott. “And would you look at that, he’s fine now.”

  “Scott?” Eden pressed.

  “All good.”

  “Fine. If you have class, best you get going.” With on
e final glare, he turned with the other staff members and walked off.

  “Your warning has been noted,” Scott started and then smiled. “But good luck on getting Cameron to listen.” A friend of his tugged on his arm. Scott looked over his shoulder at him and nodded. “Looks like we’ll get some entertainment over the next week or so,” he finished and then walked off with his friends following.

  For the first time, my heart settled and I drew in a deep breath. Slowly, my eyes moved back to the two men in front of me. Through hooded eyes I studied them. Caden wore jeans, a tank top, with his biker cut over it, and a backward baseball cap. Eli was dressed similar, only he wore a tee but with no cut over it.

  “Precious,” Caden uttered. My heart jumped when his arms went wide. I shuffled forward and slowly touched my hands to his waist, next my forehead went to his chest. Both men were taller than I was.

  Breathing deeply, taking in what consumed my thoughts every day, I wrapped my arms around his waist. His own arms settled down at his sides. He knew, more than anyone, I wasn’t in the right frame of mind to be touched. Too much had just happened. My senses were already haywire.

  “Baby,” he whispered into my hair and ran his chin on the top of my head. My breath hitched.

  Caden was here.

  Eli was here.

  With a final intake of all that was Caden—leather and warming spices—I turned from his arms and directly into Eli’s, who was waiting for me. Eli, knowing me also, rested his arms at his sides as I took from him the comfort I needed. Only these two men could I touch freely and from the whispered voices around us, maybe my unwanted attention or touching hadn’t gone unnoticed like I thought it had, then again maybe they were just admiring my men. My home.

  “Sweetheart,” Eli said with a smile in his voice. I rubbed my cheek against his chest in answer, because I wasn’t ready to move or talk. His lips touched the back of my neck. I stiffened for only a second, but breathing in Eli’s scent of his Prada Luna cologne helped my mind to know I wasn’t in danger. I was being taken care of.

  Stepping away, I asked, “What are you both doing here?”

  “Just visiting, precious, and I’m glad we did. Who was that wanker?”

  Shrugging, I looked to the ground and said, “Just an annoying someone.”

  “Sweetheart, you wanna tell us what’s goin’ on and who Cameron is?” Eli asked.

  “Maybe we should go somewhere first?” Caden suggested.

  Nodding, because so many eyes were still on us, I thought it would be wise to get away from uni to somewhere more private. Not that I was sure I was going to tell them everything that had been happening. If I did, Cameron may only live ‘til the morning. Not that it would be a loss, but I didn’t want Caden or Eli to be arrested for anything, especially an idiot like Cameron.

  “We can go back to my place,” I said and grabbed my mobile from my back pocket. All thoughts of returning to class left my mind. “I just have to let Simone know where I’ll be.”

  “Who’s she?” Eli asked.

  A stab of jealously gutted me. I didn’t like Eli asking, but I had no right over him or Caden. I had pushed them both away because I couldn’t pick between either of them and that situation hadn’t changed.

  Clearing my thick throat, I answered, “A friend I live with. She’s been...everything since I came here.”

  “We must thank her.” Eli smiled.

  And how will you do that? I found myself snapping.

  Good God. I needed to control myself. I had never had the urge to snap at anyone, no matter the situation. However, I found myself wanting to do anything and everything so Eli and Caden didn’t...what? Sway to someone else?

  What was wrong with me?

  Was it because I had missed them so much?

  Because they reminded me of home?

  No, they are my home.

  Both of them?

  How could I think that?

  “Precious, you look exhausted. Let’s get you home.” Upon my nod, Caden picked up my forgotten backpack from the ground and steered me toward his Harley. After loading my items in his side-saddle, he asked where I lived. Thankfully, it wasn’t far from school. Once I informed him, he straddled his seat and patted the space behind him. If it were anyone else, I wouldn’t have climbed on behind him. But being Caden, or even if it were Eli, they both knew what I was comfortable with. So, as soon as I was seated, I placed my arms at his waist when he fired up his beauty. Finally, a smile lit my face as we pulled out of the park and rode off. It had been too long, too long since I was on a bike, and too long since I felt safe, surrounded in warmth from the two most important men in my life.

  Chapter Five

  Josie

  I had forgotten Parker was home, so when I silently led Caden and Eli into our apartment, I let out a startled gasp when my eyes landed on Parker casually sitting on the lounge chair watching the television. Only I wished I had kept my mouth shut tight, because in the next second, I was moved out of the way, behind the frame of Eli and into the arms of Caden, while Eli took out his pistol and pointed it at Parker.

  “Who in the fuck are you?” Eli demanded.

  As if he were bored, Parker raised one brow and looked calmly back at Eli as if having a gun pointed at him was the norm. “I could ask the same question.” He glanced over Eli’s shoulder to meet my shocked gaze. “You bringing trouble around here again, woman?”

  “Don’t fuckin’ look at her,” Eli barked.

  Parker rolled his eyes and stood.

  “Eli,” I uttered. “Please.”

  Eli took in my tone, a tone that told him he was in the wrong and stood straight, lowering his gun. I puffed out a stressed breath.

  What else would the day scare me with?

  “Name’s Parker. I own this place and live here when I’m not working. Now what has the little girl brought home with her?”

  Little girl?

  I could swear I was only a couple of years younger than him.

  Caden’s hands, which I hadn’t noticed, fell from my shoulders as he stepped around me. “Name’s Pick, this is Billy. We ride with Hawks MC Club and heard Josie had some trouble. We’re here to fix it.”

  They’d heard?

  How?

  I watched as Parker actually smirked. “Good to see someone has her back.” He looked to me and asked, “How’d someone like you get involved with an MC Club?”

  Eli chose to answer for me. “She’s our prez’s sister-in-law.”

  Parker raised his brow again. “So many things I don’t know about you, kid.”

  With a tight smile, I shrugged. “I could say the same for you, Parker.”

  He laughed. “That you could.”

  “Why haven’t you helped Josie before?” Eli asked in a rough tone.

  “Eli,” I scolded.

  “No, it’s all good. I’m not around much. When that dick came here, I helped get rid of him, but I’m not her babysitter. I couldn’t follow her around and even if I wanted to, I had shit to deal with myself.”

  “Parker, I would never expect you—”

  “Honey, it killed me to see the pain in your eyes. I wanted to help. I wanted to follow you and beat the shit out of anyone who did you wrong. But I was hardly here and when I wasn’t here, it ate me up inside thinkin’ of the crap you were going through. You’re a beautiful star, Josie, you don’t deserve any of it.”

  Goodness gracious.

  It was the most I had heard Parker talk and what he’d said blew me away. Never would I have thought Parker thought of me while he was away.

  Looking to the floor with heated cheeks, I said, “You did help. You kept our home safe for me to be myself. For me to have a place I could feel protected in and for that, I thank you.”

  “No need for thanks, kid.” Looking up, I saw a smirk upon his face. “I see I lost a chance that I never really had, but wanted.”

  Biting my bottom lip, my hand went to my chest as my heart beat hard behind it.


  What was he saying?

  “You two had better take care of her where I couldn’t,” Parker said. With my eyes wide, he walked up to me. Caden and Eli tensed. “You deserve happiness, honey. I hope you find it.” My body stilled when he raised a hand and gently ran his fingers across my cheek.

  “Back off,” Caden growled.

  Parker laughed. “Yeah, yeah. I know a claim when I see one...” he looked from my eyes to Caden and then Eli, “or two.” He shook his head and finished with, “I’ll be seeing you, kid. Or not. I’ve got to head out of town.” He stepped back and it was then I noticed his bag by the front door as he made his way to it.

  “Parker,” I called. He turned. “Um, take care.”

  He sent me a wink and a smile before walking out of the apartment.

  It was obvious the day wasn’t over with surprises.

  “I don’t like that guy.” Eli sighed. Caden nodded in agreement. I quickly bit my bottom lip to hide my smile and headed to the kitchen beside the living area. Our apartment was bigger than most in Melbourne, holding three bedrooms, one bathroom, a living room and separate kitchen. The laundry room was shared between the other three apartments and situated down in the basement. I loved living there. The apartment, even being owned by a man, had an appealing décor. The walls were a soft yellow. The furniture was mostly wooden and seemed handmade instead of store bought. It was peaceful.

  “Would anyone like a coffee?” I asked, heading straight for the kettle. I knew I needed one. Hopefully, it would help me stay alert.

  “Thanks, precious,” Caden said as he sat at the small four-seated table.

  “Love one, sweetheart.” Eli smiled, also sitting down, only he turned his chair backward to straddle it.

  “Good, and then you can both explain how you heard about my troubles and why you both came...not just for a visit, I’m presuming.”

  As I fluttered around preparing our drinks, I caught the eye roll from Eli and a smirk from Caden, which they gave each other.

  They would soon find out that in the last two years, I’d grown somewhat of a backbone...only those who were important in my life would probably tell. I still, of course, had trouble with people I hardly knew. Trust was something to earn and was not freely given. The two men at the table I trusted deeply, with my very soul. So they would get to see how I had grown into a woman.