Roxanne

"Come on Lacey!" I whine, grabbing her hand to pull her away from her future husband's hold. "It's one night. I'm sure Hunt here can do without you for one fucking night before you are tied down forever!"

"Roxy, I don't think it's a good idea," The beautiful blonde haired girl says quietly as she plays with the hem of her dress. "I-I really don't feel like drinking tonight."

"You don't have to drink! I'll do the drinking for you!" I say as I grin like the Cheshire cat. "Please."

"Jesus fucking Christ, can you just shut up already!" Hunter yells as he wraps an arm around Lacey's waist to pull her back into him. The stocky man plants a kiss right behind Lacey's ear, making the girl blush a deep shade of red. "She said no, she fucking means no."

"Come on! You are no fun since this idiot tied you down!"

"Hey!"

"No offence, Hunt," I say as I shoot him a wink. "Lacey, it's only a matter of time before you are knocked up with the future VP and can't do this anymore. Come out with me! Just us girls!"

"Roxy-"

"I'll even stick around you the entire night and I promise I won't abandon you for some guy no matter how hot he is!" I place my hand over my heart. "Scout's honour!"

"I don't think that's how that works-"

"And!" I interrupt her, raising my voice. "I will pay for all of your drinks. So what do you say?"

Lacey looks over at Hunter with her big, brown eyes - her usual, sweet smile gracing her lips. I watch between the two as they do their weird, couples telepathy thing until Hunter groans loudly, rolling his eyes. 

"Fine, go." He says gruffly. "You better not get her arrested like last time, Rox. I swear I will whoop your ass. I don't care if you are a girl and the Prez's daughter." 

I make a ridiculously high-pitched noise as I pull my best friend out of her man's arms, dragging her towards the clubhouse door. "I promise we won't get into too much trouble," I shout over my shoulder before exiting the clubhouse with Lacey in tow. 

I'm pretty sure I hear Hunter yell something after me, but I am too far away to hear - and I don't really care what he has to say anyway. 

"This is going to be awesome! I heard about this new bar in the town over. There is a live band tonight and I guess they are some kind of G'N'R cover band or whatever," I say as I pull her towards my bike. "It's going to be so fucking awesome to just-"

"I'm not getting on that," Lacey says, interrupting my ramblings. "Especially with you driving."

Rolling my eyes, I wrap my long, black hair into a low ponytail and grab my helmet that sits on my seat. "And why the fuck not?" I say as I narrow my eyes at her. "I am a fantastic driver. You know this."

"Yeah, but you drive really fast and I'm wearing this dress. It's not really appropriate bike attire. And Hunter says that you aren't really that safe-"

"I don't understand why you still insist on wearing these ridiculous dresses. I mean, you are marrying Hunter for fuck's sake, Lacey. He's gonna be the VP of the Red Devils next year. You will have no choice but to ride on a god-forsaken motorcycle." I pause, clipping my helmet. "And I am the safest fucking biker in this entire club! Hunter is full of shit. I don't know what you see in the asshole!"

"I think I will just drive my car," She says, pointing to her little hatchback parked by the entrance we just walked out of. "I could meet you there? And you are more than welcome to join me for the drive."

I groan. "But you drive like my eighty-four-year-old neighbour, Lace." 

"There is nothing wrong with being a slow driver."

"Whatever. Meet me at my house. We will change and we will take my car. It's a lot better than yours." I say swinging my leg over my motorcycle before firing it to life. "And don't you go sneaking back into the clubhouse to Hunter. I will know." I give her a pointed look before taking off, rocks flying up as I speed off. 

I love Lacey. She's been my best friend since Kindergarten when I punched the Stevens twins for bullying the poor girl for wearing a princess dress to school. We are polar opposites, but we just work. I'm loud, obnoxious and a royal pain in the ass, while she is quiet, soft-spoken and compliant. I'm leather and ripped jeans, she's bows and pretty dresses. I'm night and she's day. 

If you know what I mean. 

I brought her into this life where she just so happened to meet Hunter - a man who you wouldn't even imagine this innocent, little girl ever ending up with. But, he treats her like the princess she is and I couldn't ask for a better man. He worships the dirt she walks on and that's what she needs - especially after dealing with her asshole father for the past twenty-four years. 

Rounding the bend, my eyes land on my father's house. It's huge - able to house multiple men and women who are part of the Red Devils. I ease up as I reach the gate and wait for it to slowly slide open enough for me to squeeze through. 

I ride up to the garage and pull up beside my father's bike. Turning the engine off, I remove my helmet and my ponytail, allowing my hair to fall down my back in loose waves. 

"Hey Rox." My brother's baritone voice says and I turn to look up at him. "What's going on?"

"Just stopping by to get ready for tonight. Lace and I are gonna check out that new bar in the town over. Just Lace and I." I say firmly, eyeing him closely. 

He raises his hand and a smirk graces his lips. "I wouldn't dream of crashing girls' night." He chuckles as he winks.

I roll my eyes. "I swear to fucking God, you aren't coming, Trevor," I tell him, swinging my leg over my bike.

"Oh come on, Rox. Who's gonna keep all those horny bastards off of ya, eh?" He says as I walk towards the garage door. I can hear him following behind me. 

"I can handle myself!" I say, shrugging. "I have a pretty solid right hook, you know first hand."

He laughs. Loudly. "But you need someone to keep your honour and shit!"

"I can 'keep my own honour', thank you very much," I tell him angrily as I open the door. "Dad! I'm home!"

"In my office!"

"But what if some huge guy puts his grimy hands all over you?"

"I'll do exactly what you showed me when I was three years old," I say, turning to face him. "I'll knee him," I bring my knee into my brother's groin. "And then I will punch him right in the face." 

"Fuck, Rox!" He curses, bending over and grabbing himself. 

"Are you two fighting again?" My father says as he looks up at us with a small smile on his face. He's seated at his desk, as usual, with mountains of paperwork just waiting to be finished. 

"Hi Daddy," I say with a smile before walking over and planting a kiss on his cheek. His long beard tickles my nose, but I wouldn't have it any other way. He's had that thing ever since I could remember. 

"What did you do to your brother now?" He asks, raising a brow. 

"Nothing!"

"She kneed me in the-"

"You deserved it," I shrug.

Dad chuckles as he adjusts the bandana that covers his bald head. "What did you do now, Trevor." He asks. 

"What? She hits me and you blame me? Isn't this victim shaming or some shit?" He exclaims, feigning hurt. 

"He wants to crash my night out with Lacey," I tell my father as I pick up his leather cut from his desk and hand it to him. "I told him no. He's whining about it."

"Who's all going with you, Roxanne?" My father asks as he narrows his eyes at me. 

I smile the sweetest smile I can muster and say, "Just Lacey and me."

"Roxanne."

"Dad! I am twenty-four years old. I can handle myself at the bar, I don't need some entourage anymore!" I tell him, crossing my arms over my chest like a petulant child as I sit beside him on his desk.

He shakes his head at me. "You know that we are in the middle of some bullshit with the Sons of Silence, Roxanne," He says softly as he pushes my hair behind my ear. "Your brother just wants to make sure you are safe."

"And you both know that I am more than capable of handling myself if any Silent Brother decides he wants to fuck with me."

"It's Sons of Silence."

"Silent Brother sounds better."

My father laughs a full belly laugh before shaking his head. "Fine. Don't forget your knife and leave your cut at home. Probably safer that way." He says before turning to my brother. "Keep your phone on tonight. No fucking that whore of yours, you hear? If your sister calls, you answer."

"Yeah, yeah," Trevor says, rolling his eyes. "You better not go and get yourself killed." He turns on his heel and exits my father's office. 

"Thank you, Daddy!" I say as I kiss him on his cheek again. "Lacey and I have to get ready!" 

"Stay out of trouble, Roxanne!" He orders as I walk out of his office. 

"Now where's the fun in that?"

"Stop fidgeting!" I order Lacey as we walk towards the entrance to Jackson's Bar. "You look amazing."

"This dress is so short," She says as she pulls down on the red fabric of the dress I forced her to wear. "Hunter is going to kill me!"

Rolling my eyes, I wrap my arm around her shoulders and lead her into the bar. "What Hunt don't know won't kill him," I tell her in her ear. "Relax. It's going to be a good time, you'll see."

"I don't understand why you get to wear jeans and a tank, but I'm stuck in this." She mumbles from behind me, but I ignore her.

The band is playing a rendition of 'Sweet Child of Mine' and I find myself swaying my hips as I pull Lacey to the bar with me. G'N'R has always been one of my favourite bands, making this my heaven right now. 

Smacking my hand on the bar, I yell, "Two bottles of Bud, no fucking glass."

The bartender nods his head and slides the bottles down to me. Winking at him, I pass one to Lacey and then bring the cool brown bottle to my lips. 

"See, this isn't too bad," I tell her, gesturing around to the packed bar. "Just like back home."

"Except without the people we actually know."

"Loosen up, Lacey! This is your final chance before you get yourself hitched, live it up while you still can!" 

Dragging her off to the middle of the dance floor, I begin to dance. I sway my hips back and forth, lifting my hands above my head. Closing my eyes, I allow the music to wash over me as I try and match the beat with my movements. I know Lacey is standing there awkwardly, but I don't care. This is my element. This is what living is. 

The song changes to another song, followed by another and another. My beer is long gone, as well as Lacey, but I just continue to sing and dance along to the music. I'm sure I am a sweaty, disgusting mess, but I'm not here to impress anyone. 

I'm here to be free. 

At some point, I feel the hands of someone touch my hips and I turn to face the person who dares interrupt me with the intention of putting them in their place. However, my jaw nearly drops as I take in the gorgeous man in front of me. 

He's tall, towering over me by at least a foot - and I am five foot seven myself. His blonde hair is long and pushed to the back, showing the undercut shaved close to his skin. He also sports a beard that I feel the urge to wrap my fingers in. 

But his eyes. They are what really capture me. The beautiful green emeralds almost sparkle in the dim light of the bar and I feel like they are looking through me, deep down into my soul. 

A smirk forms on his face as he watches me stare at him for a moment too long, making his eyes crinkle a little. "What's a pretty little thing like you doing alone in a place like this?" He asks, his smirk unfaltering as the words escape his lips. 

I wrap my arms around his neck and begin to move against him. "Who says I'm alone?" I say, biting my lip. His eyes flicker down to my lips before looking back into my grey ones again. 

He wraps his arms around me, placing both hands firmly on my ass and begins to move with me. I lose myself in the music again, this time with the mysterious man before me. I can feel his excitement as we move closer and closer together. I turn, pressing my ass against him as his hands wander up and down my body. He places a hot kiss on my neck behind my ear, sending shivers down my spine. Sinking into him, I give him more access and he kisses my neck again. I can't help the moan that escapes my lips, earning me a growl in return. 

He turns me quickly and smashes his lips to mine. He doesn't fuck around, forcing his tongue in my mouth in a pure show of dominance. One of his hands wraps tightly into my hair while the other fiddles with the waistband of my jeans. Every movement he makes, every flick of his tongue, leaves me wanting more and more. Pleasure courses through my body and I'm ready to rip these clothes off of him and really see what he's capable of.  

But just as things start getting truly interesting, I feel a small hand on my bicep pulling me away from the God-like man with the magic tongue. 

"What the fuck Lacey?!" I growl, shooting her a glare before turning back to the man. 

She pulls me towards her again and narrows her eyes. "Don't you know who that is?" She says right in my ear.

"Yeah, the man who I'm going to fuck senseless tonight," I tell her, a large grin on my face. 

She shakes her head. "That's Jaxon Cruz, Roxy. The Jaxon Cruz." She says, before pulling me away from the beautiful man who I so desperately want in my bed tonight. 

Frowning, I say, "You're no fun." 

"I'm saving your life." She replies. 

I turn to face him one last time. He's standing in the middle of the dance floor, a confused look on his face. I do my best to give him one of my sexiest looks before winking and following my best friend out of the bar. 

But I can't help but sneak one more look at the man before exiting the bar for good. Something tells me it won't be the last time I see him - and that thought alone fills me with a hundred butterflies. 

And I'm not that kind of girl.