Jinx leans in, quietly saying, “We don’t need any law enforcement poking their head into our shit either.” He flicks his gaze to Dad, and Dad’s jaw hardens. Cops are bad for business when you run guns, amongst other things, for the club. He and Jinx used to be heavy into selling drugs, but Dad gave it up at the prospect of only selling guns instead. One thing I learned at a young age is we don’t judge around here. You mind your fucking business unless asked otherwise, and I’ve made it my mission to do as much.
Sly mutters, “No one will come to the club for help. They’ll be too afraid to ask, no matter how long we’ve been around. Hell, we damn near own half the town by now and still they’re too frightened. If it weren’t for Centerfolds, we wouldn’t know half of what we do. I wonder if North knows anymore.”
“We need to figure out something to get their minds off everything,” Chaos declares. “I’ll bring it up a few times around different folks and see what they have to say on the matter. Maybe a few of the other prospects know something.”
Ruin glances to me and doesn’t have to say a word. I know exactly what he’s thinking. We just bought a bunch of new equipment for the studio and there’s no way we can come out of pocket in good faith to help other people without us feeling it hit our pockets. We make decent money, but we also invest it.
I raise my brows, letting him know that I get it and feel the same way. Hopefully, whatever Chaos comes up with won’t anticipate us having to pitch in. Sounds fucked up, but we’re young and don’t have a lot of chances to build our personal investments up. It takes time, I’m discovering.
“How’s Leigh doing? She getting through everything all right?” Dad speaks up, asking the same thing I’ve been wondering. “Things still calm and quiet for her?”
“It is,” Chaos admits. “Not sure if I should be relieved or worried.” He pins his gaze on Ruin. “You check in with her today?”
“Yep and we dropped by her job yesterday. Sat for a few. Me and Spade have been making sure she’s safe.” He chin lifts in my direction
“Good, keep it up. I’ll see you later,” he replies then addresses the rest of us. “I’m headed to the house for a bit. See what you can find out about businesses hit from that fucking club.”
I take his cue and leave as well. I need some space from everyone before tomorrow night. Leigh has had my head twisted up a bit since she showed up on my doorstep. I can’t afford to be distracted. Dad could call on me at any time for that run, and I refuse to be a liability to the club because I don’t have my mind right.
I silently lecture myself the entire ride home, even while I swing by Leigh’s job to see her car parked out front. I don’t stop, but I still manage to go out of my way to find out where she’s at. She’s safe. That’s all I need to know before I head in the opposite direction and find my bed.
“I’m glad you could make it,” Cambri greets with a warm smile as I make my way into the oversized grassy backyard right by the club. They’ve lived here my entire life, so it’s always felt like a third home. I say third because of my parents’ place, the club, and then here.
“You know I’m not missing it if you’re cooking,” I tease, and she swats my arm.
“You guys and your endless stomachs.” She rolls her eyes, but I’m used to it. I’m practically her adopted child. Me and Ruin have been glued to each other’s sides for so long.
“Ruin not here yet?” I ask, wondering why his bike wasn’t out front. He’s usually the first to arrive if we’re not together. Things have been a little different with Tyra, but I respect his time with her. She means a lot to him now and is cool as fuck, so I’m happy they’ve found each other.
She shakes her head. “No, I sent him and Tyra to the store. They’ll be here soon.”
“I would’ve stopped,” I offer.
“I know, but I wanted a minute with you anyway.”
My brows jump, and I stand a bit straighter. She doesn’t usually say anything to me unless it’s to have me warn off someone from Leigh, and that hasn’t happened since she got out of school. “Should I be worried? I can get Stryker to back me up if someone’s bothering Leigh.”
She grins. “No. I wanted to thank you for what you did for Leigh though. You’ve always been there in the shadows for her, and while she may not know it, I do. You’ve been her silent protector. You’ve helped put my mind at ease many times. I told her about you standing up for her last week. I worry about her, and you deserve to finally get some credit, Sterling.”
“I didn’t do anything Ruin or Chaos wouldn’t have done. I don’t need any acknowledgment. Seriously, I just want her taken care of.”
She squeezes my arm. “I know. You’re a good man. You remind me so much of Bash, especially when I first met him. He’s always been so loyal and protective of your mom and you kids. You’ll make a good provider someday.”
I nod, taking her words as the compliment they are. Dad’s always been fiercely steadfast and defensive whenever it comes to people he cares about, and that extends to the club and his brothers. “Is she angry about it?” I eventually ask. It’s the reason I never told Leigh I was going after Bruce in the first place. She was already torn up over losing Duke. I didn’t want to add any more turmoil to her load.
She laughs. “On the contrary, I think she was a little flattered.” I can feel my face heat with her admission, which is a strange reaction for me. “Will you grab the pitcher of tea from the fridge? It’s too nice of a day to waste eating inside.” I’m grateful for her changing the subject and offering me an out from discussing how Leigh feels about me.
“Of course,” I agree and move for the back door. As I enter the kitchen I can feel her presence…Leigh stands there, ass propped against the counter in front of the sink. She’s looking straight at me. Could she have been watching out the window? Did she know I was coming inside?
“Sup, Boo.” I flash my gaze over her briefly and move to the refrigerator. Opening the door, I bask in the cool air. The small glimpse at Leigh was enough to have my chest tightening. She’s sexy as fuck in a little sundress that manages to show off her curves. She looks like she spent the day outside, sunbathing, just to accomplish that perfect sun-kissed complexion of hers.
“Mom forgot the watermelon, so Ruin’s picking one up,” she responds rather than returning my greeting. I’m usually digging into the watermelon when I’m here, and Cambri’s gotten in the habit of having some if she knows I’ll be around. My mom’s the same way with Ruin, always having stuff he enjoys at the house if he stops by.
“I’m here for the tea.”
“Oh.”
I turn around, setting it on the counter before moving beside her for a cup. My arm brushes hers, my nerves on high alert. She draws in a quick breath, but I can’t concentrate on it when her scent manages to surround me at the same moment. I don’t know what it is, or how to describe it, but it damn near puts my mind in a daze. “Leigh, I—”
“Sterling—”
We both say at the same time, and my eyes drop to her mouth. Her lips are perfect, plump enough they make me crave her kiss, even though I know I shouldn’t. I reach up, my hand moving to cup her cheek.
“Boo—” I murmur, wanting so badly to lean in and kiss her. I need to touch her, pull her curvy body to mine and feel her warmness against my chest like I had the night she slept in my bed. She was so fucking perfect and she hadn’t realized it. Even being a mess over her dog, I couldn’t get over how grown up and beautiful she’s suddenly become in my eyes.
The pads of my fingers barely manage to touch her silky skin when we’re interrupted by Ruin calling out that he’s returned from the store. I jolt away, moving to grab the cup I’d intended to get and use it to put some ice in the pitcher of tea. “Anybody inside?” Ruin hollers again.
I yell back, “Yeah. We’re in here, man.”
He finds us in the kitchen, carting a massive watermelon along with him and Tyra. It’s damn near the size of a fucking car tire, so on the
upside, I’ll get to take some home with me for later. His stare pings between me and Leigh, his expression growing curious. “Everything okay in here?” The air is tense, I can taste the thickness on my tongue.
I chin lift to Tyra, not wanting to be a dick and not acknowledge her.
Leigh sighs. “Just peachy, Ruin. Come on, Tyra, let’s see if Mom needs anything else.” They take off out the back door while Ruin grabs a massive knife.
He begins to carve up my favorite fruit, making a mess all over the counter. I grab a bowl for him, setting it beside the slices. “She still pissed at us for checking in on her the other day?” he eventually asks.
“Bro, you’re asking the wrong person. That’s your sister, not mine.” That fact has never stood out to me more than now. I may’ve considered her a sister type in my past, but then we grew up and she straight out glowed up. Bitch is hot enough she’d have any guy doing a double-take plus more. Just the thought of her coming around with a man eventually has me feeling salty, when I don’t have any right to be.
“Chicks are confusing,” he eventually comments.
I nod. “The fuck are we going to do if your dad has us pitch in for the town? Has he said anything yet?”
He shrugs. “The club already gets half our profit from Porn Kings. Sales have been picking up a lot, so I doubt he asks us for anything. He knows we’ve been doing our part and holding up our end.”
“I’m just trying to bank what I can. Who knows how long I have before I eventually get popped by the cops, and I want to make sure I can afford one helluva attorney if I need it. You feel me?”
“Yeah, I get it, and Bash has your back. He’s telling you to do the right thing and save up some of your cash. If I were moving guns all the time, I’d be doing the same.”
I nod, agreeing with him. Dad wouldn’t tell me to put some money away if it wasn’t for something important, and if it’s not to bail my ass out of jail someday, then it’s for the family he thinks I’ll have eventually. He wasn’t into guns when he met Mom, so he doesn’t realize how hard the gun business can be when looking for a potential forever prospect. I don’t want to fall for someone then be forced to lie to her for the rest of my life. It’s why I need to stay focused and concentrate on the club, not some mystical forever pussy he talks about.
Ruin hands me a bowl full of sliced fruit and grabs another, filling it with the leftover pieces. “Let’s get this outside before Mom comes looking for us. Or worse, Leigh decides to tell Tyra shit from my past.”
I chuckle, following him outside with the tea and bowl. Leigh has always stirred up shit when Ruin liked someone. I found it amusing, but stayed out of it. Luckily, Sawyer is young enough she never got to pull that shit with me. There’s a six-year age gap between us, so we’ve always been in different levels of life, unlike her and Stryker. Those two went through most of school together, being two years a part. My brother did a good job making sure Sawyer was protected. Now, she’s alone until she graduates, and it has me wanting to pull into the high school parking lot every day, just to show the little assholes she still has someone at her back.
“Fuck,” he mutters the curse, reminding me of Chaos. “Tyra’s glaring and Leigh’s smiling. I’m fucked.”
I can’t help but laugh. I love seeing Leigh’s face light up with mischief. If I were smart, that thought alone would fucking terrify me.
You’ll never leave where you are until you decide where you’d rather be.
- Pinterest Meme
“We need to raise some money, do something to help Jupiter’s Bike and Auto Shop out,” my father rumbles from his seat. I hear him and Mom discuss it for a few with my uncle Poe and Bash. They toy around with doing a club donation or an actual fundraiser. They’ve done several in the past, always trying to help someone out. If only people knew how much good they do, but Dad’s stubborn and does a lot of things anonymously. I think it’s how you know he has a good heart—he doesn’t do it for recognition, but because he genuinely cares.
My mom’s always stood right beside him through it all too. She’s just as passionate about these things as he can be, and sometimes more, depending on what it is. The sex trade, for example. My mom is crazy when it comes to helping stop the horrible sex trafficking business going on in the world. I think if she could go out and save every woman affected by it, she would. It’s just the kind of person she is.
I’m definitely not on her level yet, but I do try to help whenever I can. I think it’s particularly important to be willing to go out of my way for someone in true need. I believe in karma, and you never know when you may need that help and support in return. I rack my brain, thinking of what is easy enough, people will volunteer their time and we’ll be able to collect a decent amount of money to get Jupiter what she may need. I saw her front window was cracked when I drove by—probably by a stray bullet or something. I know she most likely has more damage we can’t easily see.
“How about a car wash?” I toss out, not expecting them to take my suggestion seriously. I learned long ago that unless someone asks for your opinion, they typically don’t care what it is. I take a sip from my Dr. Pepper and catalog Sterling’s location. It’s probably the twentieth time I’ve done it since arriving at the clubhouse. At this point, I can tell you where he’s at, what he’s doing, and what he’s wearing. I need to chill out with this crap. The man is not a freaking lollipop waiting for my long lost lick.
Dad’s face brightens, offering me a pleased grin, and Bash bobs his head as well. “Hell, why not?”
“We could have it down at Mooney’s,” Sly suggests, finally breaking his silence. “I can run some numbers and possibly get some drink specials going on at the pub. Maybe make the difference as part of the donation.” He nods to himself saying, “This could really work out.”
“It’s simple and costs next to nothing,” Mom easily agrees. She’s good about having my back when it comes to my ideas. Girl code and all that. We have to stick together in a room full of burly bikers who like to get their way. Although, I hope it’s also because I come up with decent suggestions and not only because I’m her daughter.
“Stryker will help wherever you need him to. He needs as much good karma as possible with how many assholes he’s pissed off around town,” Bash mutters, and my father flashes him a grin. Those two have been close since before I was born, part of the reason why I refer to Bash and Poe as my adopted uncles. The entire club has always been my extended family. ‘Uncle’ Bash taught me how to play pool so I could try to swindle my father out of a bet when I was twelve. It almost worked until Dad caught Bash mouthing at me about what to do. Dad was a good sport about it, but he doesn’t bet while playing pool with me anymore.
“I’ll help with whatever I can,” I offer, always willing to pitch in for the club when allowed. I learned early on not to overstep where Dad’s club is concerned. Sure they’re extended family, but it’s also his business, and being the president, the bulk of decisions fall to him. I don’t know how he does it. Some of the stuff I’ve heard the club has gone through is crazy. I’ve never been told much of anything outright, but I’ve caught bits and pieces over the years. It’s best if I keep my nose out of it and enjoy the good that comes from it, like Sterling sans shirt in a leather cut and jeans. The man is a walking tease to the female population, and half the time he’s oblivious to it.
“I can get with Savannah and we can bake some stuff too. I know she’ll want to help,” Mom suggests, and Dad immediately picks up on it. If he has her support on something then he almost always goes for it.
Jupiter is close to my age, so I’m sure this has to be overwhelming for her. With the club offering their help, hopefully she sees it for the blessing it is and doesn’t get too frightened with their attention. Maybe if I’m the one who talks to her about it, she won’t. I’ll catch Dad by himself and suggest it, that way it’ll seem like his idea to everyone else and he’ll agree. Mom has taught me that, with the right approach, men can be too ea
sy to offer what you want. You just have to know how to ask for it. Too bad that doesn’t seem to apply to Sterling in my case. The man has missed every signal I’ve sent him over the years. The next step would be setting off fireworks and Dad would be pissed.
“Then it’s settled. We’ll make it happen.”
And that’s exactly how I got roped into helping plan the club’s fundraiser for Jupiter. It wasn’t hard or anything, and I got to be involved with them and their families. Being around everyone always makes me feel good. I couldn’t imagine living another type of life than the one I’ve been given. Jupiter is sweet too. She was a bit stunned to find out the club was planning to help her without any type of strings attached. I can understand her being leery. There’re clubs out there like the one that came into town and messed her shop up. If they were the bikers I knew, I’d be keeping my distance as well, but Kings of Carnage aren’t evil. Don’t get me wrong, Dad’s a total badass, I’ve seen him and Bash punch a few guys before, and it was the most exciting thing ever. I shouldn’t get enthusiastic over it, but I did, and I’ll never forget it. Besides, those jerks deserved it.
There’s also the detail that Sterling has stopped by Jupiter’s shop a few times. In the beginning, I guess it was for some car parts or something, but recently I heard it was to assess the shop’s damage, and then again to get something done with his car. Magnolia seems to know everything about everyone, so she’d shared that bit with me, knowing damn well I’ve always carried a torch for Sterling.
I wasn’t going to get jealous hearing about him going to her shop, but then it’s happened multiple times and it has my defenses flying up. Could my brother and the others be trying to get her to do Porn Kings with them for some extra money? Or the more serious question, has she done porn with Sterling? I don’t care if she has with the others, but Sterling is a different story. She’s gorgeous. I’m not blind, and you’d have to be to not notice her. I have no right to go there with her, or him, really, but I still do regardless.
Sterling: Kings of Carnage MC - Prospects (Kings of Carnage - Prospects Book 2) Page 5