by Ana Night
He’d gotten home late the night before and he’d just fallen into bed thinking Gabe was still pissed and sleeping in his own bed. When he’d woken up at around seven, he’d knocked on Gabe’s door but there’d been no answer, so he’d walked inside. He knew right away that Gabe was gone. He didn’t know where Gabe was. No one at the club did. He’d called and asked several people. He’d even called King who’d gone completely silent on him for the longest ten seconds of his life. When King had asked why Gabe had left, Joker told him he didn’t know. Lying to King was the least of his concerns. He hated doing it, but he needed to concentrate on finding Gabe.
Nash hadn’t been surprised to get a call from Joker. He even called Joker a thing or two before answering that he hadn’t seen Gabe and didn’t know where he was. Nash thought he was an idiot and that he’d been leading Gabe on, which he didn’t agree with. He’d been clear from the start, but he didn’t want to hurt Gabe. Hell, that was probably the last thing he wanted.
A sigh fell from his lips and he ran his gaze across Gabe’s room once more before walking to the front door. He had to get going if he was to make King’s meeting in time. He pulled his cut off the hook and froze, staring at Gabe’s cut hanging there. He hadn’t even thought to check if Gabe had taken it. He’d just assumed he had. He swallowed hard against the lump forming in his throat.
He cursed under his breath and walked out the door. He couldn’t even enjoy the ride because his brain kept replaying his and Gabe’s last conversation. At the time, he hadn’t known what Gabe meant. Hadn’t known he would just up and leave. When he reached the clubhouse, he stopped in front of the gate. It swung open and for a second, he hesitated, not wanting to face King knowing he was the reason Gabe was gone.
He clenched his jaw and drove inside. He parked his bike next to Zayne’s and got off. He made his way to King’s office knowing he wouldn’t be holding the meeting in the clubhouse because, after last night, there was bound to be people sleeping in all kinds of crazy places in there.
He was almost at King’s door when Auggie walked out of his own office. Auggie’s blue eyes narrowed at Joker and he crossed his arms. King must’ve told him about Gabe.
“You did something to drive him away, didn’t you?”
Joker threw a glance at King’s closed door before he stepped closer to Auggie.
“What do you know?”
Auggie gave him a condescending look-over and huffed. “What’s it to you?”
“Auggie,” Joker growled.
“King had me track Gabe’s phone,” Auggie blurted.
“And?”
“And I’m not telling you more than that.”
“Are you fucking serious right now?” Joker took a step closer, his hands balled into fists. “Fuck. Auggie. He left his cut.”
Auggie’s eyes went wide and then he blinked at Joker a few times.
“Well, that was unexpected,” Auggie said in a soft voice.
Joker took a deep breath to calm himself down.
“Where is he?”
Auggie shook his head and said, “King ordered me not to tell anyone.”
“Why the hell would he do that?”
It made no sense. Why would King keep that from him? He was his second in command. He should know where the damned prospects were. Especially the one he was sponsoring.
“Because Gabe is somewhere he’s not supposed to be.”
A hundred scenarios of where that might be ran through Joker’s head and he opened his mouth but before he could say anything, Auggie cut him off.
“He’s safe. That’s all I can tell you.”
Joker shook his head almost without realizing he was doing it. He found he absolutely hated not knowing where Gabe was, who he was with, and if he was in danger. He knew if Auggie thought Gabe was safe then he probably was, but as long as he was a King, he’d never be truly safe.
Joker didn’t say another word to Auggie, he just turned on his heels and walked to King’s door, pushing it open without bothering to knock. Zayne, Stiletto, and King were already there so they were only missing Rooster.
King looked up and when Auggie walked in, closing the door behind him, King said, “Rooster isn’t coming. He and Len are at a hospital appointment with Jonah.”
“All right, then,” Joker said. “What’s your damned plan?”
Gabe
He turned over with a groan, pulling the blanket between his legs. The bed dipped next to him. He rubbed his eyes before slowly opening them.
“Fuck,” he grumbled, his voice hoarse. “You snore.”
“I don’t snore, you ass.”
Gabe chuckled, earning himself a slap to his arm. Emery was sitting up in bed, glaring down at him, though there was a teasing gleam in her eyes.
He pushed into a seated position and rubbed his arm. He was sure he had several bruises all over his body. Em was a fucking monster when she slept. She kicked and tried to take over both the bed and blankets.
“Why the hell did we decide to sleep in the same bed?”
Emery snorted and said, “Because you needed someone to hold you while you cried yourself to sleep.”
“Bitch,” he said with laughter in his voice.
She winked at him and moved to get out of bed. When he’d gotten home from the club the night before, he hadn’t felt like he could stay there any longer, so he’d packed up his things and gotten on his bike. He hadn’t known where he was going at first, only that he needed to get away. Once he’d hit the freeway, he’d realized that what he needed was his best friend. Normally, he wouldn’t have gone because of Em’s work, but he’d left his cut behind, not feeling like he deserved it. Once he’d gotten to Em’s place, it’d been late and they’d stayed up for hours just talking and yeah, there might’ve been a few tears involved. When they decided to go to bed, neither wanted to bother with making the bed in Em’s guest bedroom, so he’d just crawled into bed with her.
“Do you have work today?” he asked as he followed Emery into the kitchen.
She looked over her shoulder, a brow raised. “If I had, I’d be three hours late already.”
He blinked at her, then turned his gaze on the wall clock hanging in the kitchen. He cringed. It was almost eleven am.
Emery lifted herself up onto the kitchen counter and started the coffee machine before grabbing two mugs from the cabinet next to her. Gabe leaned back against the counter opposite Emery. He closed his eyes and took a deep breath. He’d told Emery everything last night. He hadn’t given her specifics about Sean. Not that she’d want them anyway. Plausible deniability and all.
Emery wasn’t just his friend, she’d known Joker for a hell of a lot longer than he had. She knew things about Joker no one else except maybe her brother knew. Gabe needed that understanding of Joker that she had because he didn’t know what the hell to do with the man.
When the coffee was done and they’d both poured a bowl of cereal, they moved into the living room. He sat down next to Emery on the couch and took a sip of his coffee. Emery lifted her legs up under her and turned so she faced Gabe.
“Did you get any sleep at all?” she asked.
Gabe nodded. “A bit. Sorry for showing up outta nowhere.”
Emery smiled and said, “Don’t worry about it. You’re always welcome. I just wish we could see each other more.”
“Me, too. I really miss you, Em.”
A sad expression fell over Emery’s face and he reached out to grab her hand.
“Are you okay?”
Emery nodded and sniffed, squeezing her eyes shut as if trying to hold back tears.
“Yeah. I guess I was just reminded of how much I’m missing out on,” she said.
“Hey.” Gabe scooted closer to wrap his arms around her. Emery rested her head against his shoulder. “I’ll always be here. All you’ve gotta do is call. Or show up.”
Emery snorted. “I know. I just… I left so much behind. So many people.”
“The mystery boyfriend?�
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Emery pulled back and shoved at Gabe’s chest, shushing him.
“No talking about my mystery man. You promised.”
He had promised not to bring up the subject just before she moved. The fact that she hadn’t told anyone who he was, not even Gabe, and that she’d left him behind when she moved indicated he was a patched member of the Kings or maybe even some other club.
Gabe placed a kiss to Emery’s cheek and said, “I love you and if you ever decide to move back home, all you’ve gotta do is call and I’ll be here two hours later with a van.”
Emery gave him a sweet smile and squeezed his hand.
“Thank you.”
They went back to eating and when they were done, Emery took their bowls to the kitchen while Gabe went to grab his bag and carry it to Emery’s guest bedroom. He emptied it on the pull-out bed. Two duffle bags was all he’d needed for his clothes and belongings. He’d dropped one bag off at his parents’ house in the garage where he knew they wouldn’t find it for some time. He spread out his things on the bed. He’d brought enough clothes for a few days because he hadn’t known how long he’d be gone.
His eyes landed on a pair of riding gloves. He swallowed hard and let out a shaky breath before reaching for them. It was the pair he’d stolen from Joker years ago. He hadn’t even realized he’d packed them.
He sat down on the bed, squeezing the gloves tight in his hands. The memory of him telling Joker about it flashed through his head, quickly followed by what Joker had told him after. How could a man who’d beaten up someone for treating Gabe badly turn around and do the same?
He heard a faint buzzing and searched the room until he found his jeans from the day before. He pulled his phone out of the back pocket. His father’s name flashed across the screen and with a sigh, he picked up.
“Hi, Pops.”
“Gabe,” King said on a relieved sigh. “Are you all right?”
“Yeah. I’m fine. I’m sorry I worried you. That wasn’t my intention.”
“Good. I’m glad you’re alright. But next time, answer your damned phone. And why the hell are you with Emery?”
Gabe dropped his head back with a frustrated sound. Of course, his father had told Auggie to track his phone. He should’ve expected as much.
“I said I was sorry.”
“I heard you. What I didn’t hear is an explanation of why you’re with Emery.”
Gabe sighed and rubbed the bridge of his nose. “I just needed my best friend.”
“You’ve got plenty of friends at home. Emery doesn’t need any of us showing up at her front door.”
King sounded as much angry as concerned. It only served to piss off Gabe.
“Do I, though?” Gabe retorted. “Yeah, I’ve got a few college friends, but they don’t want to get near the club and at the club, I don’t have anyone. Not really. There, I’m just the president’s ungrateful brat. Maya was a friend, but she turned out to be a fucking traitor. Who the hell am I supposed to talk to?”
King had gotten quiet on the other end of the line. Gabe squeezed the gloves still in his hand and sat down on the bed.
“I didn’t know you felt that way,” King mumbled.
“For years I’ve wanted to be a part of the club and when I could finally prospect, I was thrilled. I thought this was it, it was finally real. But it wasn’t. I’m still just your son. I’m not a real prospect and you’ll never consider me ready to wear the club colors. I know I’ve been acting like a spoiled kid. But I don’t think you know how frustrating and hard it is to live in your shadow.”
“Gabe, I—”
He cut King off, saying, “I don’t want to be you. I don’t want to be the next president. I just want to be a part of the club. A real part of the brotherhood. But you won't let me. You and Joker.” He shook his head. “I’m sorry, Pops, but I need to figure out what I want to do. If you need me back home, I’ll come.”
He said goodbye and hung up. He sat on the bed, his phone in one hand and the gloves in the other. He was there long enough to have Emery come to check on him. She stopped in the doorway, leaning her shoulder against the doorframe.
“Wanna talk about it?”
Gabe shook his head. “One problem at a time.”
Emery walked into the room and moved some of Gabe’s things on the bed to sit down next to him. Of course, Emery noticed the gloves. She gently tugged them out of Gabe’s hand. She looked them over for a while.
“These are his, aren’t they?”
Gabe squeezed his eyes shut and nodded.
“Sweetie…”
Gabe sighed loudly and put his phone next to him on the bed. He pushed to his feet and began to pace the small room. He ran his fingers through his hair, frustration burning through his body.
“I don’t know what the fuck to do, Em.”
“Have you told him how you feel?”
He stopped long enough to glare at her before going back to pacing. He’d almost said the words a time or two, but he’d known it wouldn’t have ended well. Joker wasn’t ready for it.
“I don’t think he’s ready to be loved,” Gabe said.
“Unfortunately, I think you might be right.” Emery reached for Gabe, grabbing his hand. “Did he ever tell you about when he and Zayne became friends?”
Emery tugged on his hand, making him sit back down. He wasn’t sure he wanted to know, yet he felt like he needed to hear it.
A sappy smile spread on Emery’s lips. “They were in high school. Sophomore year. Joker kept to himself and he looked as frightening back then as he does now so you can imagine the rumors surrounding him. It didn’t help that he was in foster care, either. Zayne had it rough that year and I think he recognized the same pain in Joker. He tried for weeks to make friends with Joker, but he just ignored all his attempts. Joker didn’t want anything to do with anyone.”
“How did they become best friends, then?”
A chuckle escaped Emery and she was grinning as she said, “He literally had to beat the shit out of him before he started to respect Zayne.”
Gabe stared at her, his mouth hanging open.
“Yeah, I know. How do you go from wanting to be friends with someone to beating them up and then becoming their best friend? Joker’s relationship with love and affection is fucked up. He doesn’t think he deserves it because that’s what he was taught in foster care. He had some shitty foster parents.
“I’m sure you’ve heard it before about him, but he doesn’t respect people who can’t kick his ass. It’s not entirely true, but it’s not wrong either.”
Gabe couldn’t help asking, “You’ve kicked his ass?”
“Hell, no,” Emery said, shaking her head. “I was just a persistent ass who wouldn’t take no for an answer. If you’re a pushover, then he doesn’t respect you. I’m sorry to say this, but Joker needs it hard.”
Gabe snorted, shaking his head as he chuckled. Emery rolled her eyes and shoved Gabe.
“That’s not what I meant. Also, I don’t want to know anything about that.”
Gabe’s lips twitched and he glanced down for a moment. He could easily imagine what Joker had been like in high school. Pigheaded, stubborn, and reckless. He could see why he and Zayne had become such great friends. Zayne was the calm to Joker’s storm.
“What happened next?”
“After Zayne kicked Joker’s ass, Joker didn’t turn away from him when he approached him. From then on, Joker was stuck with Zayne, and I guess he just grew on Joker. They quickly became inseparable. You should’ve seen them. Those two idiots getting in trouble and riding around town on their shitty bikes.”
Gabe was smiling as he said, “Let me guess. You were right there with them.”
“Hell yeah, I was.”
Joker
Zayne grunted next to him, making Joker throw a glance his way.
“You’re unfocused,” Zayne said with a pointed glare.
Joker huffed. “Like hell I am.”
“I mea
n, it makes sense.” Zayne shrugged. “Seeing as you’ve chased Gabe away to god knows where.”
Joker felt his hands clench into fists before he could stop himself. He wanted to deck his best friend even if the bastard was telling the truth. He didn’t know what the hell to do with himself. If he should scare Auggie into giving him Gabe’s location and go after him, or if he should just let him go. Obviously, one of those choices was easier than the other.
“He’s somewhere safe,” Joker said.
“Really? That’s all you’ve got? He’s somewhere safe?”
Joker glared at Zayne but that didn’t stop the man from talking.
“Why the hell did you start a relationship with him if you were just gonna screw around?”
“I would never do that,” Joker said with a groan.
Zayne arched a brow at him and asked, “Were you not the one with a club bunny in his lap last night?”
“That was nothing.”
“You were grabbing her ass.”
“I was trying to get her off of me without hurting her. Or me. That woman had crazy strong thigh muscles.”
Zayne watched him for a long moment before he said, “You didn’t by any chance tell Gabe that, did you?”
Joker grumbled under his breath and crossed his arms.
“No. He completely overreacted, and, as I told him, we’re not in a relationship, so it’s not actually any of his business what I do,” Joker said.
“Did you seriously think he wouldn’t react badly to seeing some woman in your lap?” Zayne asked with an incredulous look on his face.
“Why would he?”
“Because he’s in love with you,” Zayne said as if it was the most obvious thing in the world.
Joker tensed. What the hell was he supposed to do with that? He didn’t want to know that. Didn’t want to believe it, even though, if he was honest with himself, he’d known it for quite a while now.
Joker couldn’t meet Zayne’s eyes and he kept his mouth shut, turning his gaze back on the red brick house they were supposed to be watching. He did need to concentrate. There was no room for mistakes. Ares had gotten them the location of the weapons the Henchmen had stolen from the military. He’d warned them about the surveillance and security there, but they weren’t planning on the Henchmen finding out they’d been robbed by the Kings. Ares knew, of course, but he would try to steer Ronin away from suspecting them. They didn’t want an all-out war if they could avoid it.