For the first time, Olivia was going to have the starring role in her own life, and she wouldn’t let any man near her.
She was done.
Finished.
A surge of determination shot through her as she unzipped her suitcase.
Chapter Two
Animal smacked Charlotte’s bare ass as she bent over to pick up her thong off the floor.
“Ow!” the club girl said, rubbing her behind as her blue eyes twinkled.
Smokey chuckled then grabbed her by the elbow and pulled her onto his lap. “You got some time for me now, baby?”
Animal zipped up his jeans and winked at her before gesturing the prospect to bring another round of drinks to the table.
Charlotte wrapped her arm around Smokey’s neck and pressed her tits against him. “Looks like I do.” Smokey pulled her closer and buried his face between her breasts.
“You’re gonna suffocate, dude.” Animal chuckled and slid a bottle of beer toward the biker.
“Why don’t you get yourself all washed up and meet me in my room, darlin’?” Smokey said as he came up for air.
Charlotte jumped off his lap and walked away, her bare behind swaying perfectly.
“Her ass is fuckin’ awesome,” Smokey said, bringing the bottle to his lips.
“Fuck, yeah,” Animal replied, his eyes fixed on her rounded globes. For the past couple of months, Charlotte was his go-to club girl, but most of the other members had the same idea since she was one of the newer girls at the MC. The latest ones got most of the attention, which caused a fair share of animosity among the older club whores. Sometimes their jealousies were amusing, but other times they got on Animal’s nerves, and he’d have to shut them up.
“You going back to work today?” Klutch asked Smokey as he slid into the seat beside him.
“After I fuck Charlotte.” Smokey put the empty beer bottle down on the table.
“I was ready to hit her up.” A frown spread over Klutch’s forehead.
“You can have her in about thirty minutes.” The chair scraped against the concrete floor as Smokey stood up.
“Thirty minutes? You’re slipping, dude,” Animal said. Klutch busted out laughing.
“Unlike you, I gotta get back to work,” Smokey replied. “If I’m not there every day for the remodeling of Blue’s Belly, I know my workers are gonna fuck something up.”
“When are you gonna be done with that job? I miss hanging there on the weekends.” Animal curled his fingers around the tumbler.
“You miss looking for new pussy,” Klutch said.
Smokey chuckled. “We should be done with the bar in a couple of weeks. Freddy’s gonna have an opening-night party after it’s all done.” He glanced over at the hallway. “I got some fucking to do. Later.”
Animal watched Smokey saunter out of the room before he turned his attention to Klutch, who still sported a frown. “Dude, there’re other chicks around here if you need to wet your dick that bad.” Klutch held up his middle finger and settled back in the chair.
“How’s Jada feeling?” Wheelie asked, pulling out a chair and plopping down.
Animal shrugged. “Better, I guess. Is she still out sick?”
“Yeah.” Wheelie scooped up a handful of nuts and popped a few in his mouth.
“I’ll give her a call in a bit to see what’s up.” Animal leaned back and kicked out his legs. “How’s the carwash business doing? I’d think this time of year it’d be pretty slow.”
Wheelie grabbed the beer the prospect put in front of him. “The winter’s a bitch, but we still get a fair number of people wanting to detail their cars. I also added hand washes and that’s helped to bring in some more business during the slow season.”
Klutch leaned over and grabbed a few pretzels. “When’s Diesel getting out?” he asked between bites.
“Should be in a few more months,” Wheelie replied.
Animal shook his head. “If he’d stop getting into fights, his ass would’ve been outta the pen last year. I went up to see him last week and told him Banger’s pissed as shit at him for fuckin’ up.”
“How’d that go over?” Wheelie asked.
“He wasn’t too happy to hear it, but he knows his ass is needed here. I told him to hold his damn temper in check until he gets paroled,” Animal answered.
“Seems like he’d be missing pussy too much to fuck up like he’s been doing,” Klutch said.
“That’s all he talks about when we speak. Who the hell knows what goes through his head? I just tell him to get his ass home ’cause I need help with the business.” Wheelie brought the beer bottle to his mouth.
“She’s all yours,” Smokey said as he clasped his shoulder on Klutch’s. “Hey, bro. It’s been a while since I’ve seen you at the club. You good?” he asked Wheelie.
“Yeah. I’ve been busy with the carwash and … Sofia.”
“I bet,” Animal said while Klutch chuckled.
Smokey pointed his finger at Animal. “I don’t wanna hear shit from you about me coming back so fast. I gotta get over to Blue’s Belly. Freddy just called and he’s real pissed about something. Fuck.”
Animal held up his hands. “I wasn’t gonna say a damn thing, but now that you mention it…” He grinned.
“Who the hell’s that?” Klutch asked as he looked toward the door.
Smokey and Wheelie’s gaze drifted to the front, and Animal looked over his shoulder.
“Fuck,” Animal muttered.
“You know her?” Smokey asked.
“Yeah.” Animal turned around in his chair and locked eyes with Emerald. She threw him a small smile then walked toward him, tugging a little girl behind her. “Lucy?” Animal said, standing up. The girl cast her gaze downward and followed her mother until Emerald stopped abruptly in front of him.
“Long time no see,” Emerald snarled.
“How the fuck did you get in here?” Animal asked as his eyes ran quickly over her. He had to admit, she looked damn good, and the way she smirked told him that she knew it. Emerald was one of many one-night stands he’d had over the years, but the night they’d spent together had produced the small girl hiding behind her. At first he hadn’t believed Emerald when she told him she was pregnant, and then he questioned whether he was the father or not. But once paternity was established, Animal had stepped up to the plate and took responsibility for his daughter. Although Emerald had taken Lucy and left Colorado, Animal sent monthly child-support checks, cards, and presents, and called from time to time. The fact that Emerald would never put Lucy on the phone never stopped him from reaching out. Now, Emerald was standing in front of him with Lucy, and he didn’t have a damn clue as to why the hell she was there.
“The guy at the front gate let me in because he was thinking with his dick.” She darted her eyes around the room. “Just like all of you do.”
Animal made a note to tear the prospect a new asshole once he figured out what the hell Emerald wanted. “Why the fuck are you here?” he asked.
“It’s nice to see you too,” she said coolly. She glanced at the empty chair beside him. “Can I sit down? My feet are killing me.” Emerald slid onto the seat before he had a chance to answer, and Lucy scrambled on a chair at the table next to them.
Animal stared at the seven-year-old as she focused her gaze away from his. Two dark braids fell down over her shoulders, and she kept clasping and unclasping her hands while her left leg bounced up and down.
“Hey, kid,” Animal said. “How’ve you been?” Lucy’s leg moved faster and she wouldn’t even glance up at him. He sucked in air through his teeth and averted his eyes to Emerald’s. “What’s going on?”
“Stop gawking at me and get me a drink.” She crossed her legs and the light bounced off her silver stiletto boots.
“Whaddaya want?” Animal asked, his mind still trying to grasp that his daughter was only a few feet away from him. The last time he’d seen her she’d just turned one. Damn, it’s been too long.
> “A gin and tonic.” A seductive smile spread across her lips. “Please.”
“Do you want something to drink, Lucy?” Animal asked. Her braids swayed as she shook her head no. He motioned the prospect over and told him he needed a gin and tonic and a double Jack.
Smokey’s mouth had been hanging open since Animal had acknowledged Emerald, and if his gut wasn’t burning as bad as it was, Animal would’ve been laughing over that as well as the expressions of Wheelie, Klutch, and most of his brothers. Suddenly all the attention was on him, and he knew their damn tongues would be wagging for days over this one. Sometimes the guys were way worse with the gossip than the club women.
“You still haven’t told me why you’re here.” Animal eased himself back into the chair.
“I was passing through and wanted to come by to say hi. Aren’t you glad to see me … us?”
“Fuckin’ shocked is more like it.” Animal scrubbed the side of his face. “Where’re you headed to?”
“I’m going to join my fiancé in Illinois.” Her gaze skimmed over him. “You’re looking real fine, baby. How do you find me?” She smiled at Rusty when he set the drinks down.
Ignoring her question, Animal picked up his glass and threw it back, enjoying the smooth burn as it spilled down his throat. “How’s Lucy?”
“Who? Oh … our daughter.” Emerald glanced sideways at the girl. “Ask her.”
“Fuck, bro,” Smokey muttered. “That’s your kid?”
“Damn,” Wheelie said.
“Shit,” Klutch added.
“You comin’, baby?” Charlotte asked Klutch as she padded over to the table.
“In a minute,” he said. “Just chill for a bit.”
“Okay,” the club girl said as she turned around and headed for the couch.
Animal went over and sat on his haunches in front of the small girl, his elbows resting on his thighs. “I’m your dad, Lucy.”
“I know,” she said without looking at him.
“I’m real glad to see you.”
No answer.
“How’ve you been?”
Lucy shrugged as both legs started bouncing.
Animal spread his hands and pursed his lips. “I know this is awkward as fuck, but I want you to know that I’m really happy to see you. It’s been a long time … too long.”
Lucy wiped her nose with the sleeve of her red turtleneck sweater.
For a few seconds, Animal just watched her, but Lucy never met his gaze or said a word to him. With an audible sigh, he stood up and raised his hand, signaling for another drink.
The ringtone of a phone broke through the crazy-ass vibe that swirled around the table, and Smokey took out his cell and cursed. “Fuck. It’s Freddy again. I gotta go. I’ll call you, bro,” he said to Animal as he reluctantly put away his phone and walked out.
Wheelie cleared his throat as he stood up. “I better get going too. Sofia wanted me to take her to some furniture store. I’ll see you around.” He bumped fists with Animal then turned around and headed out of the clubhouse.
Animal jerked his head toward Charlotte while staring at Klutch. “Don’t you gotta be somewhere too?” he said after the biker didn’t budge.
“Not really,” he replied.
“Charlotte’s waiting,” Animal said, his eyes narrowing.
“Oh … yeah … fuck. I guess I better go.” Regret washed over his face as Klutch slowly rose to his feet. He kept looking over his shoulder at Animal as he shuffled over to the couch.
Animal took a deep breath and let it out before he sat down opposite Emerald. Leaning forward, he splayed his hands on the table, staring at her as she sipped her drink. “Now tell me what the hell’s going on. There’s no fucking way you’re driving through Colorado to get to Illinois from Minnesota.” He took the drink Rusty brought over and pressed the rim of the glass against his bottom lip. “What’s the real reason you’re here?” He took a gulp and put down the tumbler.
Emerald shook her head and looked at his hands. “I’m done. Finished. Enough. I have to live my life. I’m still young. Do you remember how old I am?”
Animal pulled at his brain, but for the life of him he couldn’t remember, so he just sat there watching her lips flattened into a straight line. “Twenty something?”
“You’re so fucking pathetic,” she hissed, her fingers growing white as she tightened them around the glass.
“I don’t remember shit like that. Anyway, what does your age have to do with any of this?”
“I’m twenty-seven, asshole.” Emerald glared at him.
Anger pricked his skin. “Watch your mouth. If you wanna keep sitting in my clubhouse, you show me respect. Next time you don’t, your ass is outta here.”
His words seemed to have worried her because she leaned back and threw him a weak smile. “I just brought up my age to remind you that I was only twenty when Lucy was born. It wasn’t planned at all and it took me totally by surprise.”
Animal’s gaze darted over to his daughter, and the only sign that she understood what her mother just implied was the way she wiped the corners of her eyes. Something inside him twisted like barbwire and he shook his head. “Don’t be saying this shit in front of Lucy.”
“Why not? She knows she was the result of a one-night stand with a good-looking biker who didn’t want to settle down. She knows that her father abandoned her mother.”
“We didn’t even know each other,” he said in a low voice. “I paid all the medical bills and have been sending money for you and Lucy since day one. We’ve been through all this before.”
“You never even wanted to try and see if we could make it.”
Animal ran his fingers through his hair. “It was a fuckin’ one-night stand. I wasn’t ready to commit to anyone.”
“Are you with someone now?” Emerald clucked her tongue.
“No. I’m not the settling down type—you know that.”
“You’re thirty-two years old. See—I remember how old you are. When the hell are you going to grow up?”
“You came to Pinewood Springs to give me a fuckin’ lecture? Why didn’t you just use the phone? It would’ve been cheaper.”
“I’m going to live my life now. You had seven years of freedom, so now it’s my turn to enjoy it.” Emerald leaned back in the chair and crossed her arms.
There was a cold feeling in the pit of his stomach. “What the fuck are you saying?”
“I’m tired of being a single parent. I’m leaving Lucy with you.”
“You’re what?”
Smugness spread over her face. “Leaving your daughter with you. It’s your turn. I’m moving to Illinois with Jared and he isn’t keen on kids. It’s only fair that you do your part.” Emerald pushed away from the table. “I have Lucy’s suitcases in the back of my car.” She strutted past him toward the front door.
Animal sat there with his heartbeat racing and his gaze fixed on Lucy, whose legs wouldn’t stop bouncing. He couldn’t believe Emerald would abandon their daughter that way and say the things she did in front of her. What the fuck am I gonna do?
“Are you coming or not?” Emerald’s sharp voice reeled him back to the moment.
“Skinless will help you.” He jerked his head at the prospect, who immediately rushed over and followed Emerald out of the club.
Ten minutes later Barbie luggage surrounded him, and he watched as Emerald gave a quick peck to Lucy’s cheek before she walked out of her life. His daughter didn’t even look at her mother when she yelled, “Bye” at the door.
Then she was gone.
Slowly, Lucy raised her head and her black-as-coal eyes met his. Instead of sadness, there was anger in her gaze and it burned brightly.
“Do you have a home, or is this it?” she asked, venom punctuating each word.
“For now, this is it,” he said, knowing that he’d have to find a new place to live real soon.
Father and daughter kept staring at each other, and at that moment, Animal reali
zed that his life would be forever changed. He had to raise his daughter, but he didn’t have a damn clue how to do it.
He stood up and grabbed two suitcases in each arm, then turned to Lucy. “I’ll show you where you’re gonna be staying for tonight.”
The girl pushed off the chair and came over to him and then they made their way to his room in silence.
Chapter Three
Three months later
The heat blasted through the vents making the small room even stuffier. Olivia pulled her dark hair back and secured it with a tie she wore around her wrist, welcoming the weight off of her neck.
Mr. Rinker, the title officer, shuffled through the papers before inserting them into a large folder and handing it to her.
“Congratulations on the purchase of your new home.” He smiled and the lines around his eyes deepened.
Olivia ran her fingers over the smooth portfolio. “Thanks. I’ve never owned anything before, so this is really exciting.” More like terrifying. She pushed her chair back and its wooden legs caught briefly on the plush carpet.
The title officer stood up and shook her hand. “Is there anything I can get you before you leave?” he asked, handing her a pen with the name of the company emblazoned on it.
Olivia rose to her feet and slung her purse strap over her shoulder. “I’m good, thank you.”
“It was a pleasure doing business with you, young lady.” Mr. Rinker smiled again, then walked out of the room.
Olivia went over to the large window and stared at the craggy, snow-covered peaks in the distance. “It’s final now—I’m a homeowner,” she said under her breath. After scrimping and saving for over a year and working two jobs, she was finally able to lay down some permanent roots in this quaint mountain town she now called home. Buying a house was huge for her, and it didn’t matter that her new residence was only nine hundred square feet—it was all hers.
Animal’s Reformation Page 3