Rutherglen was cold. After living in hot countries like Spain and Italy for a few years you learn to love the heat, revel in it even.

This temperature was just plain stupid. I pulled my leather gloves tighter on my hands, swinging my keys around on the other as I walked down the street. It was dimly lit, probably because it was 7pm and the town was winding down, but none of what I saw was what I was looking for.

22 years later, and I had finally decided it was time.

The cobblestones moved as I stepped on them, and I checked the piece of paper in my hand.

Hugh Redmond. Rutherglen, Galway.

Matt, my private investigator, had sent me the name and details to me a few days ago, apologizing because that was all he could find. I didn't mind, at least he had given me a name. A name to a face that I had wondered about all these years. And then, after a day and 12 hours on the plane, I was here in the cold, cold town of Rutherglen.

Would he know who I am? Would he want to know me? Shaking my head I sighed. There was no use in questioning myself now, I was here already. Turning down another street, I stopped and peered down the road.

A cluster of motorbikes were parked in front of a rowdy looking pub, laughter and jeering sounding all the way down to me.

Fuck. If anyone could help me, it would probably be the people in that pub. But, considering I was :

Foreign

A Newcomer

Foreign

They probably wouldn't talk to me. But, it never hurt to try. Unless I remember that one time where Bianca and I tried to bike off a diving board.

Straightening my back, I walked into the pub; aptly named 'Loud and Proud', and let my eyes run across the men who immediately stilled.

"You're at the wrong place lass" An older man yelled from the back, an extremely young girl on his lap. I raised an eyebrow, looking for someone who wasn't deciding if I was a piece of meat or not. People watched me for a second more before turning back to the women or beers, an older lady raising an eyebrow at me as I brushed by. "Go back to your play pen, little girl" She scowled. My brows furrowed and I shook my head. Judging by the tattoos of children's footprints on her neck, she was the one that needed to be home looking after her kids instead of letting her ass hang out from her shorts.

The answer to my woes was a hot piece of hell behind the bar, the kind of man that made you think of steamy nights and lust filled days. If I was here for any other reason, I would be riding that horse like I was a world champion jockey.

Clearing my throat- and my mind- I leaned over the bar and gestured for him to come over. Good lord, he was even better looking up close. Unruly, mahogany hair, bright eyes and a slow, seductive smile, I nearly drooled. But I'm a grown woman so I only objectified him.

"You new here girl?" He rumbled, drying a glass in his hands. Deciding to get straight to the point I showed him the paper. "Do you know this man?"

His features closed down, the sound of a gate closing heard in the distance. "Why do you want to know?" His brogue sharpened, those sultry notes hardening.

I looked around, brushing my hair back from my face. "I need to talk to him about something"

The man looked me up and down, narrowing his eyes before shaking his head. "Why do you want to talk to him?"

I sighed. "It's private." Knowing he wouldn't help me, I walked around the men, avoiding wandering hands and brushing off glares from women and men alike. There was a spot in the corner of the room, a sort of elevated stage that looked like it would be for small performances. Perfect.

Stepping onto the platform, I whistled loudly, quieting the pub once more- only this time people looked more annoyed than wary.

"Lass, get yer ass outta her now, unless you gonna put on a show"

Her? Oh, here. I took my gloves off, stretching my now warm fingers. "Do any of you know who Hugh Redmond is?"

The pub stilled, no doubt all eyes were on me now. I literally walked into this beating if I was going to get one. I looked them all over, patches for a MC club named 'Sons of Cocidius' branding them.

Oh fuck. A man at the front, more muscle and jaw than anything, walked towards me, death a silent promise in his eyes. Oh fuck.

I stood my ground -possibly one of the most stupid things I have done to date- ignoring the erratic pulse of my heartbeat. Backing down was never a virtue of mine. The man stopped dangerously close in front of me, tattoos spiraling up and out of his leathers to rest below his chin. Positively gorgeous, but absolutely lethal.

"What do you want" His voice was quiet but authoritative, demanding an answer rather than asking. I was also never good with authority.

Lifting my chin, I spoke louder. "Do you know Hugh Redmond or not?"

A spike of cold anger ignited in his dead eyes, and I knew I had royally fucked up. Ah well, at least it would be a good story to tell.

"What's all this noise?" A voice boomed from the doorway, a deep rumble that had all the men and women whipping their eyes to him. He was large, though not as large as the man breathing down on me, and had the kind of presence that people tried years to get- it wrapped around everyone, not in a suffocating way, in a calm, familial manner.

This must be the president. The man in front of me turned immediately, affirming my thoughts. "Pres. This girl was asking about you"

The President stepped into the light, stopping my heart completely.

Hugh did the same, as we looked back at our own faces.

"You're Hugh Redmond?" I asked, just to make sure, feeling my hands clench and unclench at my sides. The President nodded and walked closer to me, completely oblivious to the pub full of eyes on him.

Hugh stood in front of me, broad and leathered, his eyes drinking me in. I stepped closer, heart beating erratically.

"Corin?" He whispered, almost a plea, and I gave a small smile. "That's me, dad"

Hugh grinned widely, the wetness in both our eyes spilling over as he wrapped his bear arms around me,nuzzling my face into his scratchy face.

It was a new feeling. A feeling of utter belonging. It felt like I had known him for years, rather than the seconds that were growing into minutes. I hugged him back just as fiercely, the intensity of my emotions unexpected.

This was my father, and I had a dad.

I let go reluctantly, feeling as if I should wipe my face. Nah, fuck it. Hugh stepped back, a genuine smile wide on his face. "I want to know everything about you" And the way he said it, so earnestly, almost made my heart break a little more. "You need to tell me about all...this" I gestured to the men who were waiting in their seats, forgetting the feminine lap warmers currently trying to get their attention again.

"Aye Pres, is that a new lady for the club?"A man called from the back, waggling his eyebrows suggestively. "She looks like a tough one, but I bet we can tame her"

I almost vomited. He smiled, two front teeth MISSING, and I stalked straight to him, kicking his chair back, snapping my hand out to hold it upright enough. The man leaned back, surprised, putting a lot more strain on the arm that was holding his weight up. He sure did pack on more pounds than he looked. Probably his oversized assumptions about the size of his dick.

I edged my face close to his, snarling at his excited face. "You ever talk to me that way again, I will rip your throat out with my teeth and make you choke on it as I cut off the thimble that is your dick"

I spat my words out, letting the chair go and listening to him fall the the ground, smiling up at my gobsmacked father. His gaping turned into a slow, proud smile and he wrapped a thick arm around my waist, catching the attention of the men completely.

"Brothers! This is my daughter, Corin" He boomed, not even stopping when the faces of his men slackened-even hot man from earlier gaped. Feeling bad about cockblocking your president's daughter eh? Even if it was his own cock he was blocking. "And if any of you fuckers try to touch or degrade her in any way, I will make sure you know what it feels like to have your balls trampled on" Well ok then.

The imagery was terrifying-even though I had said something close to it seconds before. Hugh squeezed my waist, probably trying to expel the disbelief that I was actually here. Join the club. He thumbed his nose, nodding in praise. "I like the piercings. Where are you staying right now?"

I tapped a finger to my septum ring, scrunching my face up. Shrugging my shoulders, I pulled car keys out of my pocket. "Didn't think that far actually. Was just gonna lay low in my car for a few days before I found you"

Hugh's eyes watered at that. And we had the same eyes, deep, mossy green that glinted in sunlight.

"You're staying with me now. Come, I'll take you home."

And even though I had never been there before, it already felt like it.