Lynx

Prologue

Meredith

The words I’ve fucked up played in my mind on repeat these days. Hell, they’d been repeating for a long while now. Ever since my adopted father decided I’d caused too much trouble. In hindsight, I’d been a bitch and a half. I didn’t know why I’d acted so spoiled, or like I had every right to a man who didn’t even want me. To say I felt embarrassed was an understatement. But getting kicked out was the worst part of all.

No, actually the absolute worst part was getting Hot Shot involved, and undermining Badger. I’d nearly torn my dad’s club apart, all because I was jealous and wanted Doolittle for myself. I’d been acting like a child. The moment Doolittle said he didn’t think of me that way, I should have backed off. It had taken him losing the woman he loved to make me see reason.

Everyone thought I’d been acting out because of my dad’s health issues. While it had been a hard blow, it hadn’t been the reason I’d chased after Doolittle. I’d had a crush on him since the first time we met. Sadly, I hadn’t been able to let go, even when I’d known I should have. No one realized I obsessed over the man. They’d thought it was cute, the way I chased after him. I had a problem… several. I needed to figure out how to handle everything and live a normal life. Or as normal as it got when your dad was part of a motorcycle club.

As for Dad… He’d never be completely well, but thanks to diet, exercise, and some medication, he wouldn’t be kicking the bucket anytime soon. Or so I’d been told. I’d met with Dad once, unbeknownst to everyone at the Devil’s Fury. He’d taken a ride and just happened to end up near New Orleans around the time I was leaving and heading to Texas. I’d bounced from club to club while I figured my shit out. Or attempted to.

Right now, I was on my way to Oklahoma to stay with the Savage Raptors. Even though I was due there tomorrow morning, I’d decided to pull off the road and rest for a bit. Or more accurately, I wanted to have a few drinks. I might not be twenty-one yet, but I had my ways of getting what I wanted -- they were called breasts. I had a rather spectacular pair, and I’d learned men went a little stupid when I put the girls on display.

I leaned on the hood of the guy’s Camaro, making sure I nearly spilled out of my tank top. Flashing him a smile, I batted my eyes. I nearly had him ready to do anything I wanted. I’d been flirting for the last five minutes, and I could see him wavering.

If my family saw me right now, they’d be horrified. I may have called Minnie a whore, but I was the one acting the part. Some days I felt like I was coming apart at the seams.

I was lost. Drowning. My dad didn’t need to see me like this. It would only add to his stress and wouldn’t be good for his health. Everyone back home probably thought I was being a bitch by staying away for so long. I’d already extended my trip twice. I couldn’t bring myself to tell anyone about my struggles.

Which was why I kept doing stupid shit like this. I didn’t know anything about this guy. He could be a serial killer. So, why was I doing this?

Desperation. I didn’t know how else to numb myself, or feel like I was in control of -- anything. The control I’d gain from this was only an illusion. I knew it well enough, and yet, here I was.

You know what would make this conversation even better? I asked, digging the hole even deeper. Would I ever find my way out?

What?

A motel. I winked. But we might get awfully thirsty. Want to grab some beer and come to my room? I’m right across the street.

He leered at me, his gaze glued to my breasts. Yeah. I can do that. What’s the room number?

109. My heart hammered against my ribs. This was stupid and dangerous. I couldn’t keep tempting fate like this.

You’re not going to try and steal the beer and run, are you? he asked.

Nope. I’m hoping we’ll get to drink them together… and do other things.

All right. He licked his lips. I’ll be right there.

I stood up and sauntered away, making sure to put some extra sway in my hips. Thank goodness I wasn’t a virgin, or I’d have never attempted this. I’d been saving myself for Doolittle. Then I’d been so pissed and heartbroken, I’d jumped the first guy who came along. Since then I’d figured out my body was an excellent way to control the men around me. At least, the ones who didn’t know my dad or the Devil’s Fury.

Sex and alcohol also made things better for a brief moment. I’d read enough self-help books to know I was struggling to exert control… in all the wrong ways.

If the Savage Raptors were like the other two clubs I’d visited, then they wouldn’t let me drink until I turned twenty-one. They also wouldn’t touch me. With my luck, they’d keep an eye on me to the point of suffocation, especially since Outlaw was friends with them and also knew a cop in Bryson Corners.

It didn’t take long for the guy to show up. He knocked and I opened the door, letting him in. I’d regret this tomorrow. I always did. And yet I welcomed him with a smile… this nameless man I’d forget soon enough.

Just like the others…

Chapter One

Lynx

The girl was a hot mess, and yet I couldn’t look away. She’d been here for several weeks already and didn’t seem like she planned to move on anytime soon. My club treated her like a princess, for the most part. I wasn’t sure they were handling the situation the right way, though. What she needed was a firm hand and some instruction. Instead, she was running wild and heading down a path of destruction. No one here realized what she did at night. No one except me.

Why? Because I’d followed her ass more than once. The second I’d realized she was going to hook up with strangers, putting herself at risk, I’d stepped in. She didn’t realize it, and I didn’t plan to tell her. Every time her targets got up to take a piss, or she wandered off for a moment, I’d slip in and say a few words. Just enough to send the fuckers running.

I didn’t know the entire story behind her visit to our club. Something about causing trouble for one of the Devil’s Fury brothers and his woman. Whatever was going on with Meredith seemed to be more involved. Not that anyone asked my opinion. The girl wasn’t crying for help -- she was screaming it. I didn’t understand why no one could see what was right in front of them.

Even now, she sat at a table outside the clubhouse, sipping on a soda and scrolling through some app on her phone. To others, she’d look bored. I saw the tension in her hands, and the jittery way she bounced her leg. I’d be willing to bet money she was looking for a random hookup. Those were things I saw even while checking out her car.

The front tire on her car kept getting lower, no matter how many times she’d filled it with air. Which was why I was now checking it for a nail, or anything else that might cause a leak. At least, anything visible. Something told me she’d have to take it in to a shop, and I knew I couldn’t fucking trust her around a bunch of mechanics. She’d be screwing one in the bathroom on his break if someone didn’t keep an eye on her.

The Meredith the Devil’s Fury spoke of previously didn’t seem anything like this girl, and yeah, I considered her a girl most days. I knew chronologically she was a full-grown woman, but the way she kept acting out made me want to turn her over my knee and spank her ass like a wayward child. All those curves certainly didn’t belong to one, though. Nope. And no matter how hard I’d tried not to notice the shape of her ass, or her large tits, I’d failed miserably. Some nights, they were all I could think about.

She’s too fucking young for you.

It wasn’t the first time I’d reminded myself of that fact. She’d tried to pass herself off as older, until the Pres asked to see her license. He’d immediately told every last member, officer, and Prospect not to give her a drop of alcohol because she was underage. The Devil’s Fury wouldn’t have sent her out on her own like this if she wasn’t considered a legal adult. Which told me she was somewhere between eighteen and twenty. Since I was in my thirties, it felt like too big of a gap most days. Of course, I knew plenty of guys who’d fallen for younger women. Hell, the entire Devil’s Fury had so far, out of those who’d claimed someone.

Merry, you’re going to have to run this to the shop. I think maybe your valve stem has a leak, or it’s something I can’t easily see. I wiped my hands off with a rag, but the black smears remained on my skin.

She looked up, her brow furrowing. What did you call me?

Merry. Got a problem with it?

Her cheeks flushed and she slowly shook her head. She stared at me for a moment before standing and shoving her phone into her back pocket. When she got closer, I could smell the citrus scent of her shampoo, and I damn near reached for her. Instead, I took a step back and watched her get into her car. The way she peeled away from the clubhouse and shot through the gates told me she was on her way to cause trouble.

You going after her? Spade asked.

I glanced at the VP. The fact he asked me meant he’d been watching, and knew I’d been keeping an eye on Meredith. Did he know why, though?

Maybe.

He shook his head, a slight smile on his lips. That one is going to give you a run for your money. She’s not as docile as people think.

I snorted. Who the fuck thinks of her as docile?

Most of the club. They only see the good parts of her. He shoved his hands into his pockets. You’re not the only one who followed her a few times. I know what you’ve been up to, even if she hasn’t realized it. Just make sure she doesn’t take a bite out of you when she figures it out.

I waved off his concern. "What she needs is a good spanking. No one is doing her any favors by coddling her. You’d think everyone would have figured it out