by JP Sayle
When I got two yeses, I offered Linc a seat as I moved about the kitchen, feeling more and more self-conscious as I felt two sets of eyes watching my every move. River became silent, and I wondered if she felt the tension between me and Linc.
When the lasagne was in the microwave oven, I set the table and found myself searching for something to say. In the five minutes it took to heat the food, the kitchen smelled like an Italian restaurant and the shower I’d taken to cool off seemed wasted when I was sweating my ass off.
It was a relief to sit down and eat, once I’d offered drinks and plated up food for everyone.
“Thanks Mason, dis smells lovely.” River sniffed above her plate then gave Linc a hard stare.
I bit the inside of my cheek to keep the smile from spreading over my face when Linc grudgingly thanked me for dinner.
We ate in silence until we were disturbed by the sound of a mobile phone ringing. Knowing from the ringtone that it wasn’t mine, I figured it had to be Linc’s. He placed his fork down before tilting his hip to reach into his pocket. His face became pinched as he looked at the screen before he answered. Before he could say a word, the sound of an irritated voice came through the speaker. Though it wasn’t loud enough to hear what was being said, the tone was unmistakably angry.
River carried on eating, acting as if this was nothing new to her, so I followed her lead.
“I’m sorry, something came up,” Linc muttered. A stain of deep red spread across his cheekbones and his gaze roamed the room behind me.
He muttered several “yep” and “no” answers, but little else as his expression became a mask of fury. He finished the call with an “I’ll see you in an hour,” before hanging up with no goodbye.
“Something wrong?” The question was out before I could consider it was none of my business, especially after earlier.
His gaze went straight to River, who was now watching him with big sorrowful eyes. “What is it, Poppy?”
“Spirit, I need to talk with Mason alone—”
“No Poppy, dat’s not how it works,” she interrupted, her face utterly serious, belying her young age. “We’s always got to be honest with each other, you’s say so.”
Linc cursed and got up off the chair that had been facing River to come around and crouch next to her. Something I noticed he did when he spoke to her, so they were on the same level. It was so endearing, I missed the beginning of what he was saying.
“—different, Spirit, the things I need to talk about are for adults and not things for a little girl to hear.”
Her brow crumpled and her eyes sheened. Her chin wobbled as she spoke with anger. “I call bullshit, Poppy.”
My fork clattered to my plate as my eyes widened in disbelief. Had she just said bullshit? I eyed the pair of them, who seemed oblivious to me. The stern look on Linc’s face said I’d heard right.
“Now you listen here, missy, that’s no language for a little girl,” he chastised in a stern, fatherly voice my own dad would have been proud of.
She rolled her eyes, and for the life of me, I couldn’t stop the tickle of amusement that made it impossible to keep a straight face. I glanced away, struggling to watch the interaction and not laugh out loud.
“Poppy, you’s use bad language all da time. I know all the words.” Her mouth opened as if she were about to recite them and Linc laid a finger on her lips and shook his head. They stared at each for a long time, as if having some silent communication, before Linc got up, lifted her off the seat, and sat in the chair next to me with River on his lap.
“There’s a bit of trouble at the auto shop I need to deal with, so we need to get this over with quick,” Linc stated in a voice that sounded anything but happy. His gaze held mine and I instantly got that River had won. That as much as he hated what was coming, he’d keep his promises to a little girl who clearly meant more to him than anything else.
If I’d thought before that I’d found him attractive, this took it to a whole new level, and I had to steel against the emotions that wanted to remove my common sense.
“I held back information, but I had good reasons.” Linc’s eyes dropped to the top of River’s head before meeting mine.
Although he didn’t say sorry, it was there in the depths of his eyes, and realizing how hard that probably was for him, I nodded so he understood that I’d gotten his silent apology. When his shoulders visibly relaxed, I exhaled shakily.
How was I going to play this?
“Was River with you the night Nola came to the clubhouse?” I was careful to phrase it so that River wouldn’t pick up on what I was really asking.
Before Linc could answer, River spoke. “Nola wants to be Poppy’s girlfriend. Ned told her that Poppy would like dat.”
I’m sure my expression mimicked Linc’s look of disbelief as River carried on.
“Poppy likes boys, not girls, isn’t that right, Poppy?” She stated it so matter of fact, I was left in no doubt that he’d spoken to her about his sexual orientation. She didn’t wait for a reply but carried on. “Nola was shouting at Poppy and woke me up when we’s was at the clubhouse. Poppy told Nola to…well he said a bad word and she shouted then slammed the door. I’s quickly got back into bed and Poppy came in and curled up on the sofa next to my bed. He likes to keep me safe, don’t ya, Poppy?” She beamed at Linc and I grinned at her.
The second Linc met my gaze, I knew I had a battle on my hands. There was mortification, anger, and something I couldn’t interpret, but I had a plan that might overcome whatever his issues were.
“Whatever your thinkin’, no. Spirit is not getting dragged into this.”
I held up my hand in a peace offering. “What if I can get the judge to meet with River behind closed doors so she can repeat what she saw? Her testimony could get the case thrown out of court, Linc. They have no case with this testimony.”
I could feel the excitement at what this meant, then I saw Linc’s closed expression. “I get your concern, but this could make all the difference,” I begged. “At least give it some thought.”
River glanced between the two of us and I could see her trying to figure out what was going on. “Poppy, I’s help. Like you’s help me all da time.” Her earnest expression melted my heart and Linc gave me a threatening scowl.
“I’ll think about it.” I ignored the lack of enthusiasm and took it as a win that he’d at least agreed to think about what I’d said.
Not long after that, they left, the bakery box left on the side remaining unopened. As I cleaned up the kitchen, I felt a spark of hope that we had a chance to get the charges dropped. Then my life could get back to the way it was before Linc blew in and knocked me on my ass.
What, boring? Empty? All work, with no one to ignite a spark of desire? Yeah, that sounds much better.
I suppose, if put like that, it didn’t sound so great.
He’s a client.
Not if you get the charges dropped, he won’t be.
Chapter Fifteen
Lincoln
I sat on the couch and stared into my half empty glass of Jack and listened to Sid, dread curling in the pit of my stomach.
The bastards had been working against me! My suspicion that something was off was now confirmed, but it gave me no satisfaction that I’d been right. How had I fucking missed that four of my inner circle were back stabbing scum fuckers?
Anger boiled beneath the surface of my skin, heating my whole body as Sid kicked me in the balls with the truth.
“I ain’t said anything about my suspicions, ‘cause I wanted to be sure, but when Ram lost it today and punched Beau’s lights out, it all came out. Ram overheard Beau talkin’ to Ned about how, with you in jail, they could go back to the ol’ ways.” Sid cracked his knuckles, a habit he had when he was building up a head of steam.
Sid gave a humorless laugh. “The fuckin’ ole timers don’t know shit. The club has prospered, and the number of prospects has more than tripled. People wanna be a part of the club beca
use it offers a chance for more than kickin’ the shit outta someone. Not that that ain’t fun and still on the agenda for stupid idiots. And though I’ll admit I wasn’t sure of the new direction you wanted to take with legalizin’ everythin’, the auto shop has really taken off.
“You more than proved that, without the heat of the deputies breathin’ down our necks, and by workin’ hard on business opportunities, we’ve more than doubled our income. The couple of new prospects we’ve taken on to do custom paint work. Fuck man, they could compete with your artwork, I swear.” His anger faded a little as he mentioned the two men that he’d been eager to try out to bring in new business.
What he’d said about his misgivings about the changes I’d made were nothing new, he’d voiced them all when I’d decided to change things up. For the six months after Lizzie’s death, Sid had shouldered the burden of the club while I’d gone to battle with the hospital and the courts to keep River. It had been a bad time and I’d been in a dark place. When I’d won those battles, I’d stood and sworn over Lizzie’s gravestone that I’d keep River safe. The changes I’d seen as essential had caused a few rumblings, but as president, I’d made them anyway. Had those changes dug me a grave by my own crew?
It looked like they had!
Would I change them? Fuck, no.
Then what was I going to do about the traitors?
I took a sip of Jack and let the alcohol sit in my mouth for a few seconds to burn away the bitter taste of betrayal.
I’d had no time to think about what Mason had suggested, as by the time I’d gotten home and settled River in bed, Sid had been waiting. With everything that had happened with Mason earlier, I’d forgotten Sid was coming back to talk to me. He’d been none too pleased to find I wasn’t home, hence the angry call I’d had at Mason’s.
When Sid picked up his drink and downed it in one swallow, my eyes narrowed on him and, for the first time that night, I considered that maybe Mason’s plan would solve one issue and leave me free to deal with cleaning up the shit at the club. “I think we’ve a little house cleaning to do,” I ground out through clenched teeth.
I sat forward when Sid shifted closer to me.
“Let’s hear what you got in mind.” His grin was pure evil and reminded me of why he was my second in command.
***
“Spirit, get a wiggle on, Mina’s here,” I called down the hallway as Mina gave me a bubbly smile.
She’d been the welcoming committee to the neighborhood four and a half years ago, and though I’d been a little ‘get the fuck out of my face’, she’d persevered.
Her hubby, Joe, often referred to her as a pit bull, and once she clamped her jaws, she was not letting go. It was a good description, other than it not matching the bubbly personality and petite body that was only five-foot-tall in barefeet. Her dimpled cheeks and sunny blonde hair hid a spine of steel and a will that couldn’t be broken. The woman was not someone to mess with, which was why I’d come to trust her with River.
“Hey, sweetie pie, you need anything in town? I’m planning to go shopping ‘cause Joe is off for a few days fixing the back porch…again,” she rolled her big eyes at me.
Joe was an accountant for one of the local firms in town and if I believed Mina, was about as useful as a hand wrench to tattooing. He made enough money to allow her to stay home and take care of the brood, but when it came to the extras, they struggled. Joe then took it upon himself to try and fix the things that were broken, only he seemed to spend more time fixing the repairs he’d made.
“Matt Carstair, one of the guys from the club, has a carpentry business. I could get you a discount.” I calculated how to work it so I could shoulder most of the cost without making it obvious. Mina took no money for looking after River. I paid in tats, but she put herself out for me and River all the time, and I hated to be indebted to anyone.
She waved me off as River came bounding down the hall, her hair all over the place. “What have you done to your hair? It looks like a bird’s nest.”
River giggled and tugged on a few strands and squinted to see what Mina was talking about. “I’s not sure. Poppy, can’s ya help me?”
Mina winked at me, “I’ll do it when we get to my house. Luna is waitin’ in the car for you.” She took hold of River’s hand and glanced back at me. “Did you need any shoppin’?”
With the few things I needed added to her list, Mina left as quickly as she arrived, leaving me time to think about the call I was about to make to Mason. I’d talked everything over with Sid last night and he’d agreed with Mason that this could get rid of at least half of my problems.
After he’d left, I’d then sat down with Nutty, the only other person I trusted to give me solid advice when it came to River. She’d been a little more concerned than Sid about what it all meant for River, and she’d given me some questions I needed answered before I put River onto any kind of firing line.
Picking up my phone, I dug out my wallet and dialed Mason’s personal number, hoping to catch him before he went to work. The phone rang several times before it went to voicemail.
“Fuck!” I exclaimed, then realized I was talking to the message service. “Call me when you get this message.” With that, I hung up and slipped my wallet back into my pocket. I took the phone with me as I headed down into my work room and laid it on the counter that held my tattoo guns, inks, gloves, needle boxes, and design pads and pens.
“Yo, your down early this mornin’,” Kyle mused from the open doorway.
I shrugged. I didn’t have a fixed time that I came down after River was set for the day. When I met his stare, the sense something had happened when he’d gone home, returned. My brows rose as I noticed what he was wearing. His usual attire of scruffy jeans and ripped band T-shirt had been replaced with a button-down shirt and Levis that looked like they were brand new.
“You goin’ somewhere classy?”
He stiffened and kicked at the wooden floor with the toe of his polished boot. “Nah, I’m just makin’ more of an effort, is all.”
“Then why do you look like a dude whose being led up the aisle by a gun-tottin’-Daddy?” I evidently failed to keep my humor in check when he glowered, swung about, and stomped off. “Fuck man, I was only jokin’,” I shouted after him, only to be met with a blast of music that made the wall throb.
My phone chose to ring then, and I swore as I picked it up and had to shout into it to be heard over the music. “Gimme a sec.”
I headed back up to the apartment and shut the door, blocking most of the hideous sound that, as far as I was concerned, could not be called music.
“You upset someone?” Mason asked in a husky voice that gave me tiny goosebumps.
“Somethin’ like that,” I muttered as I strolled away from the door toward the large window overlooking the back garden. “I need to talk to you.”
“Okay, I’ve back to back appointments all day. I can come over tonight, if that works?” he offered, sounding a little cautious.
“That works… You wanna have supper with me an’ River?” I cursed the uncertainty in my voice when I heard his sharp, indrawn breath.
There was a moment of silence before he answered. “Yeah, I’d like that. I’ll bring dessert as you never got any last night.”
Was he talkin’ about himself or real dessert?
“Right…ok…River will be home at six.” Heat rode up my face at the stuttering. What was fucking wrong with me, acting all weird and shit?
“I’ll be there about then, maybe a little later, but I’ll make sure I’m not too late.”
His voice held a wealth of amusement as I ended the call. I stared out the window, seeing nothing but thoughtful sea-green eyes that seemed to have hooked themselves into me whether I wanted them there or not.
Last thing I could afford was to get mixed up with him. His life was nothing like mine and I needed to remember that. His family had given him a loving, stable life. Mine had left me to the wolves without a thoug
ht.
I rubbed at Lizzie’s tattoo. I’d been broken once before, and it had taken River to pull me back from the edge. Something told me that if Mason sunk his hooks into me any deeper, I might well be left with fatal wounds to my heart when he decided to unhook himself from the likes of me.
The hollowness that followed, left me cold as I swung away from the blurring window and went to go lose myself in something that would make me forget, if only for a short while, what I had no place wanting.
Chapter Sixteen
Mason
The day had been never-ending and as I got into my car, the last thing I wanted to do was drive anywhere but home. A cool shower followed by a beer was what I wanted, but instead, I drove the twelve miles to Belton, with a cake box sitting in the footwell, out of the sun.
I’d managed to find a few spare minutes in my afternoon to make a trip to Myla’s bakery. I’d picked a selection of treats after I’d looked at what Linc and River had bought the day before. My stomach growled as I recalled the assortment of cookies and doughnuts inside the box.
My habit of missing a meal had become a frequent thing lately and had caused me to drop a little weight. Not thinking it was a bad thing for my waistline, my Mom had started to worry when I popped by the house. The lasagne I’d fed River and Linc the previous night was proof of her concern.
I pushed up my sunglasses before indicating to switch lanes.
Was Linc’s lack of parents who cared about him and Lizzie the reason why he was over-protective of River?
Without children of my own, I had no gauge against which to measure the protective urges Linc had for River, well, except for how my family treated me, so I’d gone searching for answers to see if I could persuade him to listen to reason. What I’d found left my emotions in turmoil as I read through all the information Linda, my secretary, had found in her search. My eyes ached recalling the pictures she’d found of a raid the police had carried out about thirty years prior. Although the picture was a little faded, I’d spotted Linc and Lizzie standing off to one side. Linc had been tall for his age, but he’d been rail thin. His face had looked haunted as he’d clung to the small toddler at his side, his eyes daring anyone to take her from him.