by Blue, Jayne
“Smart lady,” Joker smiled. “That’s a good speech. You’ve practiced it. I can tell. But it’s not an answer.”
He reached for me, taking my hand in his. A zing of electricity shot through me.
“What was the question?” I asked, breathless.
“Are you still hung up on that guy?” he asked.
A beat passed. Then another. “No,” I said. “If anything, I feel like I dodged a bullet where he’s concerned. I never would have been happy as Mrs. Brian Windham.”
He let go of my hand and grabbed a fork. “I don’t think you would have either.”
We ate in silence for a moment. For as rugged as Joker was, he had an almost elegant way about him. It was his hands, really. They were rough and calloused. He wore a silver ring on his right hand. It was in the shape of a wolf’s head with small rubies for eyes. I had the urge to reach for him and trace my fingers along the trail of ink that disappeared beneath his shirt.
I put my fork down and took a sip of wine. “Now,” I said. “We’ve gotten that out of the way, what makes you think you’re off the hook?”
He froze mid-swallow, those green eyes of his sparked with mischief.
“Are you over Toby’s mom?”
It was his turn to set his fork down. “What does he say about her? Does he talk about her at all?”
I instantly regretted teasing him on the subject. “No,” I said. “Not to me. Laney, one of the other aides, she told me he once mentioned that she’s just gone.”
Joker nodded. “Yeah.”
I had the urge to pull back, change the subject, but somehow, it mattered that I knew the truth. I didn’t know where this was headed. As much as Joker wanted clarity on Brian, I needed it too.
“Christy,” he said. “Her name’s Christy.”
“Was it serious?”
Joker raised a brow. He wiped his mouth with his red cloth napkin and set it beside his plate. “No. I’m not proud to admit it, but Christy and I barely knew each other. We went out a few times. She wasn’t from here. She came to town following one of the fill-in bands we had at the Den for a while. Kind of a groupie.”
“I see,” I said.
“When she left, I didn’t know she was pregnant. She called me out of the blue eight or so months later and told me. I flew down to New Orleans where she was living.”
“Wow,” I said. “I mean ... I don’t know how to ask this, but are you sure …”
“Toby’s mine,” he said, his voice taking a hard edge. “I knew the second he was born just by looking at him and what I felt when I held him for the first time. But I’m not a fool either. We did the paternity test.”
I realized how badly I would have liked to see that. Joker holding his newborn son for the first time. A powerful longing tore through me, taking me by surprise.
“Christy took off the second morning. A few hours before they were gonna discharge her. Toby had some trouble coming into the world. Some blood test or another wasn’t making the doctors happy. He’s fine. Thank God. But they wanted him to stay an extra day. Christy didn’t.”
“My God,” I said. “I can’t even imagine.”
“I didn’t even have a car seat. I had to go find a Target and get one. He was so damn little. One of the nurses showed me how to strap him into it and I took him home.”
“Alone,” I said. I tried to envision this huge, rough, tough man in front of me walking down some hospital hallway with a baby carrier in his strong grip.
“So Toby’s never even met her?”
Joker shook his head. “No. She wanted to once, but I couldn’t allow it. Not unless she was willing to be in his life for real. It’s too confusing for him. I’ve sent her pictures. I keep her updated when she asks. She just doesn’t get to do a drive-by and upset that kid.”
“I understand,” I said. The man in front of me became that much more amazing.
“You’re a good dad,” I said. “And I’m in a position to know the difference. You’re there for him. He’s got a stable home life and a father who’d take a bullet for him. He knows it. He’s a strong, smart kid and that’s because of you.”
A dark shadow crossed over Joker’s face. Just as quickly, his smile replaced it. When the waitress came by again, he paid the check and left an extremely generous tip.
“Come on,” he said. “There’s something I’ve been itching to show you.”
He took my hand. We drew some stares as we walked back through the restaurant and out to the parking lot. It was Joker. The man commanded attention in that G.W.M.C. cut and his imposing frame. I loved the rough feel of his palm against mine. He made me feel protected, important. It warmed me more than the wine.
Without a word, Joker helped me back on the bike. He climbed on in front of me and left the parking lot. He took a few alleys and side roads I wasn’t familiar with.
I loved the smell of the water and the tangy pines from the Metropark to the west of us. The sun had set and a twinkling blanket of stars dotted the sky. A full bright moon hung low, just above the Liberty Bridge.
Joker took me to the base of it. The water was still as glass tonight. He cut his engine and helped me off the bike.
“Come here,” he said. He took me down the steep embankment to the water’s edge. There was no one else around.
“This is my favorite spot,” he said. I could see why. The bridge lights glittered, reflecting across the water. An enchanted little corner hidden among the city’s industrial surroundings.
Joker’s arms came around me. I leaned back, loving the strong, solid feel of his chest. My heart fluttered. Goosebumps raised along my arms.
“You’re cold,” he said. He slipped off his leather cut and put it around my shoulder. It was heavy and warm and smelled of him. Before I knew what was happening, I turned in his arms.
“Joker,’ I said. “This is the best night I’ve had in so long.”
He smiled. “For me too.”
I had a million questions and doubts. There were the things my father said. There was the way we met. Above it all was Toby. I cared about him too and knew every move we made from here on out affected him too. But at that moment, all those doubts washed away and I felt safe and secure in Joker’s arms.
Before I knew what was happening, he dipped his head. His lips found mine. His kiss was slow at first. Probing. But my blood heated, desire flared in my heart. I wanted this. I wanted him. I wanted more.
His hands roamed up my thighs. He caressed my curves. His leather fell to the ground, pooling at my feet. I laced my fingers behind his neck and went up on my tiptoes.
“I want you,” he whispered. “Since the second I laid eyes on you.”
“Me too,” I gasped.
This wasn’t me. I was so careful. So serious. With Joker, I wanted to be reckless and free.
His thumbs circled my nipples over my top, pebbling them. I groaned and arched my back. Joker lifted me off the ground. Instinct took over and I found myself wrapping my legs around his waist. My sex throbbed.
Oh, I wanted him too. Right then. Right there.
“Is it safe?” I whispered. I couldn’t believe I was doing this.
“You’re always safe with me,” he said. “On my life, I swear I’ll never let anything happen to you.”
I wanted to believe him. I wanted to be his. His rough stubble scratched my skin in the most delicious way. His hands cupped my ass, pulling me even closer against him.
“Yes,” I gasped. Oh yes. I wanted him inside me. I wanted to be carried away among the stars.
Then light exploded all around us. A siren stabbed through the air. I dropped my feet to the ground. Joker turned, pushing me behind him.
“Hands up!” Floodlights blinded me. I shielded my eyes.
“Hands up!” the command came again. Joker stiffened in front of me. Slowly, he brought his hands up.
“On the ground, now!”
“Joker?” I asked.
“It’s all right,” he whispered
. “Just do what they say.”
I sank to my knees. Joker did the same beside me. It was then I saw the Nine-millimeter handgun he kept at his back.
“Shit,” I whispered. “Joker?”
Then chaos erupted. Two uniformed officers descended on us. They pushed Joker face down on the ground.
Chapter Eleven
Joker
Red rage filled my vision as I felt the gun pressing into my back.
“You need to back the fuck off,” I said. My cut lay pooled on the ground where it had fallen from Tara’s shoulders.
“Joker, don’t,” she cried out.
“You got a permit for this?” the cop shouted in my ear. He pulled my Nine out of my waistband.
“Yeah,” I said.
“This is private property,” he said.
“What’s this about?” Tara asked. “We haven’t done anything wrong.”
“We’ve had complaints,” the cop answered. “You’re trespassing.”
“Bullshit,” I said. The cop pressed a foot on my shoulder. I had to do a mental five-count. If I got my hands on this fucker off duty.
The other cop hung back. He didn’t have his gun drawn but he reached down and pulled Tara to her feet.
“Tara, just stay calm,” I said through gritted teeth. This wasn’t about her. This was Chief Davis flexing his muscles. I’d fucking end him. Screw diplomacy.
“Get up,” the cop at my shoulder said. I kept my hands raised. I didn’t think the idiot would be dumb enough to shoot me, but I wasn’t going to take a chance on his twitchy trigger finger.
“Keep your hands on your head.”
I only cared about Tara. The other cop had her up against the patrol car. He pushed her face down against the hood and frisked her.
“You son of a bitch,” I said. I tried to throw off the other cop. It would have been easy. I had at least thirty pounds on the fucker. He was quick though. He pressed his gun to my neck.
“You stay right there,” he said. “Your girl has nothing to worry about.”
“Do you know who I am?” I asked.
“Don’t care,” the cop said.
The other cop finished searching Tara. He took her into the shadows, away from the glare of the headlights. I couldn’t see a damn thing.
“Leave her alone,” I said. “You got a beef with me? Fine. Let’s settle it.”
“Joker, don’t!” Tara called out. She said something in low tones to the other cop. He answered her but I couldn’t make out what they were saying. Ice raced through my veins.
A second patrol car pulled up and parked at an angle behind the first.
“Backup?” I said. “You had to call for backup? Fucking pussies, both of you. You’ve got no reason to stop me.”
“Sarge,” the other cop called out to the driver of the second patrol car. “Something here you need to see.”
The sergeant and the other cop stepped around the vehicles and went to my Harley. I couldn’t see Tara at first. Then as the lights on the top of the patrol car circled back around, I saw her silhouette in the back of the first patrol car. She was crying.
The sergeant pulled out a cell phone. He started snapping pictures of the bike.
“Plain sight,” the other cop said.
A pit formed in my stomach. The pouch I kept at the back of the bike was open. I hadn’t left it like that. I never did.
“You gotta be fucking kidding me,” I said. I went from pissed off to disbelief. After a few more picture snaps, the cop put on a pair of purple gloves and pulled a package out of my bike pouch. Even from here I could see a baggie filled with white powder.
I couldn’t help it. I started to laugh. “You gotta be fucking kidding me.”
“Cuff him!” the sergeant yelled out. It all played out in slow motion after that.
I wanted to rip the cop’s face off. Tara was watching from the back of the patrol car. I didn’t trust these goons not to do something royally stupid. She was too close to it all. I just wanted her to get the hell out of there safely.
I let them cuff me. I stood mute as the other patrolman read me my Miranda rights. When he asked me if I understood them, I just spit on the ground beside me.
They shoved me forward. I tried to catch Tara’s eyes as I climbed into the back of the patrol car.
“It’s okay,” I said. “This is all bullshit.” I couldn’t risk saying another word.
Tears streamed down Tara’s face. God. I needed the chance to talk to her alone. This wasn’t what it looked like. But as I thought it, I realized how bad it all must seem to her. There was nothing to do but keep my mouth shut and play it the way I’d been trained.
* * *
I spent one lousy night in the county jail. I said nothing except to ask for my lawyer. By morning, Colt posted my bail and I walked out of there.
By noon, Colt called a meeting. I sent a text to Tara the second I could.
“Baby, you okay?”
She texted me back instantly. “I’m fine. Are you?”
“All good,” I texted back, lying. “I’ll explain everything when I can.”
I wanted to say more. It was still too dangerous.
“What’s the charge?” Kellan asked as he shut the door and walked to his seat.
“Possession with intent to distribute,” I said. “They pulled a kilo of heroin off the bike.”
“Planted,” Torch said.
“No shit,” I glared at him.
He put a hand up. Colt shot me a look. He didn’t have to say anything. I caught his meaning. Now wasn’t the time to turn on each other.
“This is nothing, Joker,” he said. “We’ll get it thrown out. Bailey’s already working on it.”
Doug Bailey was the club’s lawyer. He was the best criminal lawyer in the county. Maybe the state. Luckily it had been a long time since the men at this table had to use him.
“Bodycam footage?” E.J. asked.
“Who knows,” I said. “That sergeant rolled up pretty fast. It was a setup from the get-go.”
“How the hell’d they know you were there?” Tate asked.
“Who the fuck knows!”
“They were tailing you,” Kellan said. “No question. Did you tell anybody else where you were going to be?”
“I didn’t even tell you assholes,” I said. “This thing with Tara is new. I wasn’t looking to advertise. And they weren’t tailing me. I know how to tell.”
“She handling it?” Colt asked, changing the subject before things escalated.
I shrugged. “She was pretty shaken up last night. But she was cool under pressure. I need to talk to her though. I need to see her.”
“Sure,” Colt said. I didn’t like the look in his eyes.
“I don’t like where any of this is going,” Kellan said. “Davis has already proven he’s willing to cross lines where family and friends of the club are concerned.”
“It’s not going to be enough to stay sharp on our end,” Colt said. “We don’t know how far this asshole’s willing to go.”
“I’d say having one of his dirty cops point a gun at me and my girl is pretty far,” I said. “Look, I don’t give two shits about that trumped-up dope charge. Bailey will handle it. Even if it was mine, they had no right to search my vehicle like that. It’s bogus. But that’s not why they did it.”
“No,” Colt said. “He did it to send a message to me.”
“I hope you received it,” I said. This earned me a hard glare from Kellan. I didn’t blame Colt for this. Not directly. But if we didn’t send an even stronger message back, shit was going to get out of hand.
Colt put a hand up to quell Kellan. He was rising up out of his seat. I curled my fists. I had no beef with Kellan. But I was pissed. Furious. It might do me some good to bust a head the old-fashioned way and get a little of it out of my system.
“Here’s what’s going to happen,” Colt said. “You’re all going to sit tight until I tell you not to. I mean it. I don’t want anyone—I
mean anyone—going rogue on this one. We don’t give this asshole a reason to take things to the next level.”
“You think that’s what I did last night?” I said. “I was targeted. I was with my girl. This shit crosses so many lines … I say we go in and we go hard.”
Colt slammed a fist to the table. “We go after Davis when I say so. But trust me and mark my word ... we are going after him. It does us no good to come straight at it though. Davis is a puppet. He has no real power that the mayor doesn’t give him. That’s where we go next.”
I wasn’t satisfied. “Joker ... man ... you need to calm your shit. I’m going to take care of you. Of every man at this table. If I have to burn my patch to do it. I will deal with Mayor Bluth.”
I hated it. Sitting back wasn’t my style. It was none of our styles. I had to bite back the words threatening to spill out of my mouth. But I knew in my heart if Catman Wade were still president, Chief Tim Davis might already be in the ground.
And I also knew that wasn’t fair. Rage ruled my heart right now, not so much logic. Catman had crossed the biggest line of all and he’d done it with Colt’s own wife. I didn’t want him back. I loved Amy like a sister. I’d just as soon spit on Catman’s grave.
Colt adjourned the meeting. He asked me to hang back. Kellan led everyone else back into the bar. I sat with my fists clenched.
Colt rose and came over to me. He put a hard hand on my shoulder. “You need to hang in there. I meant what I said. I’m going to find a way to fix this.”
“He’s not going to stop,” I said. “He’s using the entire police force to do his dirty work now.”
“Not the whole force,” he said. “And I’ve already got some things in motion.”
“We don’t have anybody on the inside anymore,” I said. “Not since Jase left. You get his take on this?”
Colt nodded. “My brother’s got a few feelers out too. We need to settle once and for all who’s lining Tim Davis’s pockets. If it’s still the Hawks, that’s a different kind of problem.”