I sat down on the bed and laid back. “Tell me what you find, and I’ll let you know if it’s a good place to live.”
“Really?”
I put my hands under my head and closed my eyes. “Sure.”
It wasn’t like Raven was going to find a place to move in to today. It was the middle of the month, and Weston was a smaller town. There weren’t going to be many choices.
If Raven were to move now, I knew she wouldn’t work through all the hurt she had about Wrecker. I need a little bit of time to help her move on and out of the clubhouse. It put a time crunch on that happening, but I liked a challenge.
Raven was definitely a challenge I was up to tackle.
*
Chapter Ten
Raven
“I feel like I need a shower.”
Clash chuckled and threw his leg over the bike. “Same, beautiful.”
I climbed on behind him and wrapped my arms around his waist. “I thought you were helping me find a nice place. That was infested by bugs and smelled like cat pee.”
“You didn’t really give me many options.” He cranked up the bike and pulled away from the curb.
“One more place, right?” I yelled over the roar of the engine.
He nodded.
I watched the houses fly by and wished one of them could be mine.
I woke up this morning craving something I never had before. I wanted a place that was mine. Not a place shared by tons of people or just sleeping on random couches. I had the urge to put down roots.
“Stop!”
Clash pulled off to the side of the road, and I hopped off the bike. I jogged back two houses and stood in front of the place where I was going to put roots down.
“What the hell are you doing, beautiful?” Clash called.
I pushed my sunglasses on top of my head. “I want this,” I shouted.
Clash slid off the bike and slowly made his way over to me.
“That’s a house, beautiful.”
“It is?” I gasped sarcastically. I turned back to look at the small two-story. “I want it.”
Clash stood next to me and looked at the house. “It’s blue.”
I looked up at him. “Your eye for detail is astounding.”
I pulled my phone out of my pocket and punched in the number to the realtor on the sign.
“What are you doing?” he asked.
I rolled my eyes and put the phone to my ear. “Ordering a pizza.”
“Such a smart mouth,” he chuckled.
The realtor answered the phone, and five minutes later, I had an appointment to view the house at two.
“You sure about this?” Clash asked.
I looked up at the house. It had a wraparound porch on the front and an attached two-car garage. “Well, I know I want to look at it.” I slid my glasses over my eyes. “We view the house, and if it’s a pile of poo, it’s no skin off my teeth.”
“All right, beautiful. You’re calling the shots here.”
This is what I was surprised with when it came to Clash.
He was laid back.
He listened to me.
He cared about what I said and felt.
He was the exact opposite of everything I thought he was.
“We grab lunch and then come back here for the viewing?”
He nodded and rubbed his stomach. “Works for me.”
Without even thinking about it, I threaded my fingers through his, and we strolled back to the bike. I held on tightly as we made our way through town to the local diner and just enjoyed being with Clash.
A waitress seated us in a booth at the back of the diner, and I opened my menu.
“Buying a house seems like a pretty permanent move.”
I didn’t look up. “Yeah.”
Clash grabbed my menu and tossed it down on the table. “Get the special. You won’t be sorry.”
“You’re going to order for me?” Though I had planned on getting the special. Everyone knew at these little hole in the wall diners that was always your best bet.
Clash sat back in the booth and laid his arm along the top. “Can we talk?”
“About?”
“I got a fucking list of the shit we need to talk about, Raven. Where you wanna start?”
“Somewhere that isn’t gonna make me too upset to eat my food.”
Clash chuckled. “Can’t guarantee that won’t happen.”
“Then I’m not interested in talking.”
“Listen then.”
I rolled my eyes and took the wrapper off my straw. “You’re like a woman, obsessed with talking about everything.”
“Because if you keep all of this shit bottled up, you’re gonna become a raging bitch even I can’t figure out how to handle.”
I stuck my straw into my ice water. “But you have a new plan. One you tried on me the other night.”
A plan, that at the time I didn’t like, but with each minute I spent with Clash, I seemed to be more open to being with him.
“I don’t think my good looks and charm would be enough to break through that bitch shield you’re so good at throwing up.”
“Bitch shield,” I laughed. “Is that some kind of superpower? Do I get to wear a cape whenever I use it?”
“It should be a superpower with how good you are at it.”
“Years of practice,” I said with a wink.
“Wrecker texted me earlier.”
I wiped the smile off my face. “Keep on with this, and I won’t eat for a week.”
“Wanted to know where we were and when we would be back.”
He talked over my weak attempt to stop him. “Buying a house to get away from his controlling ass.”
“You do know if you somehow manage to buy that house, it will be at least a month until you’ll be able to move in, right?”
I shrugged. “At least I’ll be able to have a countdown to my freedom.”
“Back to Wrecker,” he muttered. “I’m assuming he wants to know when we’ll be back so he can talk to you.”
I shook my head and signaled for the waitress to come over. “You think they serve beer here?”
“It’s barely noon, Raven.”
“Your point is?” I whispered. The waitress approached the table, and as much as I wished they served beer, they didn’t. Clash and I both settled with Cokes and ordered the special.
“We didn’t even ask what the special was.”
Clash laughed and shook his head. “We’ll find out soon enough.”
His phone buzzed, and his brow furrowed as he read a text message. “I gotta be back for church at three.”
“Oh yeah?”
Clash typed a reply on his phone then shoved his phone into his pocket. “Yeah.”
“I get to know why you need to be back?”
He shook his head. “No.”
“Well, I hope we’re done looking at the house by then. Though, if you told me how important this meeting was, I could make sure we would be back in time.”
Clash shook his head. “I don’t know what the hell the meeting is about, beautiful. I’m in the dark as much as you are about it.”
“Do you have any idea how annoying that is? My brother just sends a message and people just come running.” I shook my head. “Absolutely pitiful.”
“It’s not pitiful. You just don’t see the club from all sides.”
The waitress brought our Cokes. “Food should be up in about five minutes.”
I nodded, and Clash gave her a grunt. Neither of us were exactly overly friendly.
“And why should I have to see it from all sides, Clash? The side I’m on fucking sucks,” I hissed.
He leaned forward and grabbed my hand. “I’m not saying your situation didn’t suck. If I could go back and changed everything, I would, Raven. I would have been the one there for you.”
I looked down at his hand. “That’s sweet, Clash, but it really doesn’t fix anything. My brother still choose the club over me. He d
idn’t even fight for me because he was too busy building the club.”
There wasn’t anything that was going to be able to fix that.
“Raven,” he said softly.
I looked up, and my eyes connected with his.
“I’m sorry that happened to you.”
“Me too.”
The waitress bustled over with our food and set down two plates filled with meatloaf, mashed potatoes, and green beans. “Two specials. Anything else I can get for you two?”
Clash let go of my hand, and I sat back in the booth. “A second stomach because there is no way I’m going to be able to eat this.”
Clash chuckled. “I think we’re good right now, but I’m sure she’s going to want a to-go container.”
I dug into my potatoes and let out a moan. “Sweet heavens, that is what carbs should taste like.”
“Eat up, beautiful.”
Clash and I managed to eat without talking about Wrecker or the club again. I just wasn’t able to see things from his perspective. Wrecker was all about family and brotherhood when before he had formed the club, he didn’t even fight to keep his blood family together.
How was I supposed to get past that?
*
Chapter Eleven
Clash
“You good with the girls?”
Raven looked up at me. “I’d rather just go to my room.”
“Alice and Karmen seem pretty excited for you to hang out with them.”
As soon as we had walked into the clubhouse Alice and Karmen had pounced on Raven to hang out with them.
She rolled her eyes and crossed her arms over her chest. “Probably because they want to grill me about what I said to Wrecker last night.”
“I doubt they know, Raven.”
A scoff escaped her lips. “You and I both know Wrecker told Alice and then she ran and told everyone else.”
“I doubt that, beautiful. I don’t think this is something Wrecker wants to broadcast.”
She huffed and rolled her eyes again. “You’re right. He wouldn’t want to look like a hypocrite in front of his brothers.”
I stepped closer to her. “Just try to be nice, and if it gets unbearable, just go to your room.”
She tipped her head back to look at me. “I’m allowed to move without you following my every step?”
“Only if those steps take you to your room and nowhere else.”
“This newfound trust in me is rather surprising.”
I leaned closer. “It’s not that I don’t trust you, it’s I don’t know exactly what you’re capable of.”
“Like burning down the clubhouse?”
A smirk spread across my lips. “Now you were the one who brought it up this time, but yes, exactly.”
Raven bumped her shoulder against mine. “Go meet with your boys. I promise to play nice until you get back.”
“Not too nice. Then they’ll know something is up.”
“Right, right.” She shook her head and headed over to the couch where some of the girls were sitting.
Brinks walked out of the kitchen with a sandwich in his hand. “You gonna come to the meeting or just stare at Raven all day?”
“I’m not staring at Raven.”
“Really? Cause that is exactly what you are doing right now.”
Raven plopped down on the couch next to Alice and flipped me off. “Get to church, warden.”
“Even she busted you staring at her.”
I turned on my heel and headed down the hallway. “Wasn’t staring at her.”
“Mmhmm,” Brinks hummed. “Of course, you weren’t.”
We walked into church, and I took my usual seat between Brinks and Boink.
Wrecker walked into the room with Pipe and Nickel following behind.
Boink leaned toward me. “Wonder what this is going to be about. I thought shit was finally running smooth with The Ultra.”
I had thought the same thing. Even shit with Leo Banachi had been laid to bed. There shouldn’t be anything going on that required an out of the blue meeting.
“Shut the hell up, fucker.” Pipe slapped Boink across the head and sat down next to him.
“Brother,” Boink grumbled. He rubbed his head and flipped Pipe off. “You really had to hit me that hard?”
“Probably not,” Pipe laughed.
“All of you shut the hell up.” Wrecker grabbed the gavel next to his hand and slammed it on the table.
Slayer sat up straight and pointed to the gavel. “Uh, you actually used that.”
“Shit must be going down,” Brinks mumbled.
Wrecker dropped it on the table with a thud. “Actually, for the most part, shit is good. I just wanted to keep you idiots on your toes.”
“Wait, what?” Poor Freak was still pretty new to coming church. He had only been a full member for a couple of months, and those couple of months had been crazy.
“Guns are up and running on the south side of town. Oakley and The Ultra seem to be assimilating into the town rather smoothly.” Wrecker sat back in his chair. “As of right now, there isn’t much they need from us. Once they start expanding further south, they’ll be needing us for transportation.”
“How long until that happens?” Nickel asked.
“Two or three months. Oakley has a large enough operation that I really don’t think he’ll be needing us that much.” Wrecker cleared his throat. “Though there is something we need to remember.”
“And here comes the news that some chick has been kidnapped and we need to go rescue her.” Slayer laughed. “Which one of us is going to be sent to rescue the hot chick that’s going to become our ol’ lady?”
“Funny,” Pipe chuckled.
Brinks shook his head. “I think that’s the first funny thing you’ve actually said, Slayer.”
“No one needs rescuing right now.” Wrecker looked around the table. “Dealing with Oakley and the Banachi’s pushed Jenkins to the back burner.”
Pipe whistled. “That bottom feeder? What the hell is he doing?”
“Right now nothing, but there are rumblings.”
“What kind of rumblings?” I asked.
Wrecker tapped his fingers on the table. “He’s pissed about being pushed out of working with The Ultra.”
“And he thinks he’s going to do something about it?” Nickel shook his head. “That asshole dug his own fucking grave.”
“I agree, but I think it’s something that we need to keep an eye on. I want two of you to go to River Valley.” Wrecker looked around the table again. “Don’t all volunteer at once.”
“What exactly do you want us to do? It’s not like we can get close to Jenkins without him knowing we’re with the Lords,” Boink scoffed.
A rare smile crossed Wrecker’s lips. “That’s the thing. I want him to know you’re with the Lords.”
“Uh, why?” Nickel asked.
“This seems like a bad idea to me.” Pipe held up his hands. Wrecker turned his head to glare at him. “But I am only the Vice Prez so perhaps I don’t know it all.”
“I’m trying to be proactive here. I want two of you to roll into River Valley and act like you are king fucking shit.”
We all moved restlessly. This did not sound like something that would end well. Jenkins was a fucking psychopath who was always looking for the next big thing to line his pockets.
I leaned against the table. “Does Jenkins even have a club anymore?”
Last I heard, all of the members of the River Valley chapter of the Fallen Lords left because Jenkins was running the club into the ground.
“He’s got a few guys that stuck around. The thing about Jenkins is, he’s a fucking moron who thinks he's the best. While most of the time guys like him fade away, Jenkins seems to be staying afloat,” Wrecker said flatly.
Slate shook his head. “This seems like we’re trying to start some shit. Why not just leave the fuckwad alone and let him run himself into an early grave?”
“Because
when fuckwads are left alone, they find other fuckwads to come make our lives a living hell.” Wrecker sat forward. “Only Pipe and Nickel know Jenkins like I do so I understand why you guys aren’t getting this. Jenkins was on the top of the world before I butted in and managed to make a deal with The Ultra that ultimately screwed Jenkins. Jenkins wants revenge, and I want to know it’s coming before it actually does. Two of you are going. Thirty seconds to fucking decide or I decide who.”
“Not it,” Pipe hollered.
“I got a newborn. I’m not fucking going,” Nickel said at the same time.
Boink held up his hands. “Wren is pregnant. No way in hell she is going to be okay with me basically moving to River Valley. Not it.”
“I’m already keeping an eye on Raven.” No way in hell I was going.
“Clash isn’t going,” Wrecker agreed.
“For fuck’s sake,” Brinks grumbled. “I’ll fucking go. Freak or Slayer can alternate staying with me. We’re the only three that don’t have chicks waiting at home for us.”
“So that’s how it is?” Slayer laughed. “Gotta find me an ol’ lady and then I don’t have to go on these whack jobs?”
Pipe shrugged. “It wouldn’t hurt for you to find a woman, but there is the problem of your face that might make that kind of hard.”
We all roared with laughter, and Slayer flipped off Pipe.
“Fuck you,” Slayer grumbled.
Wrecker slapped the gavel on the table again. “That’s decided. Brinks and Slayer are going to handle Jenkins. You guys can leave in the morning.”
“Hey,” Slayer protested. “I thought Freak was going to be a part of this clusterfuck?”
Wrecker shook his head. “Nah. Freak can hangout around the clubhouse to keep an eye on everything.”
Slayer glared at Freak. “Must be nice to be the new guy in the club and get the easy fucking jobs.”
“Pretty sure acting like your top shit for a couple of weeks is going to be a real hard job,” Nickel laughed.
“Yeah,” Pipe agreed. “Just act like you do here. That is, until Wrecker reels you in.”
Fallen Lords MC: Books 4-6 Page 39