Die For Her (Steele Raiders MC)

by RB Hilliard

  Now it was Steele’s turn to look like a fish out of water. Why didn’t Dad tell me?

  “It wasn’t about you,” Carver said as if reading his mind. “It was about Dad making things right with me.”

  Steele blew out a breath, his head dropping to the back of the chair. “Fuck. I thought you were using Mom to get back at me.”

  “Yeah, well, I thought you killed Dad.”

  At Carver’s dry tone, he let out a soft snort of amusement. “Aren’t we a pair?”

  “A pair of jackasses. Look, I know I fucked up. That night at Mom and Dad’s, I was given a second chance. When it was taken from me, I wanted someone to blame. What I did wasn’t right. I still don’t like the club,” he added, “but I want to help your friend.”

  On the drive back to The Cave, Steele reflected on his conversation with Carver. It had gone well, better than he ever imagined. He still couldn’t believe his Dad had given Carver the money. He was glad they’d called a truce but wished he’d been clued in earlier. Carver was sending him back to Luciana with questions. They’d agreed to talk in a few days, if not earlier. In exchange, Steele promised he would reach out to his mother before the end of the week. He felt as if a huge burden had been lifted, as if maybe things were starting to look up.

  It was going on four in the afternoon when he pulled into The Cave. He could tell by the cars and bikes parked along the drive that tonight was going to be a full house. With barely three hours of sleep, he was running on fumes.

  “Hey bossman, Grover’s looking for you!” Ego called from the side yard where they were setting up the bonfire. Ego’s real name was Justin, but because he was good looking and knew it, they’d nicknamed him Ego. After Goose’s death, they’d taken Justin and another kid named Art into the fold. As far as he could tell, things were going well. Taking on new prospects was always a challenge, and he made a note to check in with Tiny and Cupcake to see how they were acclimating. He gave Ego a two-finger salute, letting him know he’d heard him.

  The front door opened, and a few kids ran out. A wave of noise followed in their wake, and he couldn’t help but smile. They should do this more often, he thought as he stepped inside.

  “There you are,” Hannah said, and his smile instantly faded. Christ, seriously? What was her fucking deal? “I wanted to talk to you about last ni—”

  He spotted Loco near the kitchen and shouted his name, cutting her off. “My office,” he mouthed once he had Loco’s attention. His eyes sliced back to Hannah, and he sighed. “Did you not hear me last night?”

  “I did but—”

  “Then there’s nothing more to say. I’m not interested, so do us both a favor and move the fuck on.” Before she could respond, which would piss him off even more, he brushed past her and started toward his office.

  Loco and Jake were waiting inside. “What do you have for me?” he asked on entry.

  “Not a damn thing,” Loco replied.

  He glanced at Jake. “Nothing?”

  “The fucker ran,” Jake huffed.

  “We chased him all the way to Zion Street but then lost him,” Loco added, before asking, “What about Carver? Any luck there?”

  Bummed about Dario, Steele said, “Yeah. I’ll call a meeting tomorrow. I don’t know about you boys, but I could use a beer.”

  “Or six,” Loco muttered.

  “Or six,” Steele agreed, and they all three laughed.

  Chapter Thirteen

  LULU SPENT THE afternoon in the kitchen helping to prep food for the bonfire. After her embarrassing encounter with Hannah and Shelly, Reyn took pity on her and sent them to work in another part of the house. As the day progressed and more people rolled in, she was introduced to several new faces. She also got to know some of the Ol’ ladies a little better. Aimee and Glenda were two of her favorites. Aimee was Sledge’s Ol’ lady and Glenda belonged to a man named Doc, who she assumed was a doctor. Then again, being that most of the guys had nicknames, she couldn’t be sure. Even though there was no more mention of kings, princes, or courtesans, she couldn’t shake the feeling that she might have misjudged, especially after spending more time with Zoe and Montana.

  Ax came to retrieve her around four. As they cut across the living area and into the hallway beyond, she felt people staring at her. The tension in the air made her extremely uneasy.

  “It’s not you,” Ax said as if sensing her thoughts. A lot has happened with the club lately and things still haven’t settled.” She started to ask what he meant when his steps suddenly halted. “Hold up a second. I need to talk to someone. Stay here, and I’ll be right back.”

  As he took off for who knows where, she moved out of the main thoroughfare and leaned against the wall. From her vantage point she could see down the hallway—where she was pretty sure Arlan’s office was located—as well as into the living room and most of the kitchen. Other than the few odd glances in her direction, no one paid her much attention, which allowed her the opportunity to people watch. She recognized Shelly near the back of the living room. She was with a big biker with red hair, and they were laughing. Not far away from them, a biker wearing a Black Sabbath t-shirt was dancing with a baby. LuLu’s heart melted as he rocked her to the beat of the music. She spotted Reyn in the kitchen with a tall, dark, and very handsome guy, who she assumed was her man, Buck. As he leaned down to nibble on Reyn’s neck, she was struck by a pang of jealousy. Everyone seemed so happy. They were more than happy; they were like one big family. LuLu felt ashamed. The girls clearly weren’t being forced or manipulated. They seemed truly happy to be here. She owed Hannah and Shelly an apology.

  “What are you doing?” a deep, masculine voice whispered in her ear. His breath smelled of peppermints and beer, a strange but not unappealing combination.

  “People watching,” she softly replied. The desire to turn, to find comfort in his arms was an overwhelming ache inside her.

  “And what do you see?” His minty breath whispered across her neck, causing her to shiver.

  “A family,” she answered honestly.

  Warm lips touched the back of her neck. “I missed you.”

  Sucking in a surprised breath, her eyes fluttered closed, her body melting with the heat of his words. “I missed you, too,” she whispered back, but it was too late. He was already gone.

  She was contemplating ditching Ax when he suddenly appeared.

  “Sorry about that, shall we?” He started down the hallway, and she followed after. They passed by Arlan’s office, and she stole a quick peek inside. Of course, he wasn’t there. They hit the bottom of the stairs, and he paused. “You seem quiet. Did something happen?”

  Yes, you left me stranded in a hallway for over twenty minutes, she wanted to say, but instead replied, “No, I’m just a little tired. As they reached her door, she paused with her hand on the knob. “I know what Arlan said, but you really don’t have to babysit me. Montana told me where I can and can’t go, and I’m perfectly capable of looking after myself.”

  Ax grabbed his chest and gasped. “You wound me.”

  Laughing, she gave him a hip bump. “I’m being serious.”

  “Are you going to tell me what happened to your cheek?”

  “No.”

  His mouth turned up into a goofy grin. “As much as I would love to let you off the hook, I can’t. Plus, you’re super-hot, and I’m thoroughly enjoying fucking with my cousin.”

  She rolled her eyes. “I hate to break it to you, but I’m pretty sure your cousin doesn’t care.”

  “Trust me, he cares.”

  She wasn’t sure what to say to that, so she changed the subject. “So, what does one wear to a motorcycle club bonfire?”

  “As little as possible,” he replied. She snorted, and he laughed. Ax may look like a younger version of Arlan, but their personalities couldn’t be more different. “I don’t know, jeans and shit. That Metallica t-shirt of yours is badass. Oh, and it gets cold, so bring something warmer that you can put on later. I�
�ll be back to get you in thirty.” She waited to see where his room was only to discover it was right next door.

  “The walls are thin, so watch it with that vibrator of yours!” he called from inside his room.

  “You’re such a funny man!” she called back and smiled when she heard his laugh. He wasn’t lying about thin walls.

  Having limited clothing to choose from, LuLu went with his Metallica suggestion. She’d seen them in concert in 2008 with her dad and hadn’t worn the shirt since his death. Her heart ached at the thought of her dad. It was a good thing he was gone or else he’d be worried sick about her. As requested, Ax had packed her favorite jeans with the holes in the knees, the loose-fitting camo pants that she loved, and a nicer pair of black pants. A man who could take direction was a rare find. Too bad he didn’t do it for her. She thought of her earlier encounter with Arlan, the words he’d whispered in her ear, and how they made her feel. Yes, he’d lied to her about who he was, but after seeing this place and how demanding his life was, she was beginning to understand why he’d done it. That didn’t mean he was forgiven. He should have told her the truth.

  It took her less than ten minutes to wrangle her hair into a stylish ponytail and do her makeup. Her biggest challenge was covering up the damn bruise. She had one boot on and was trying to pull on the other when her phone rang. Balancing on one foot, she leaned sideways, unhooked it from the charger, and scooped it from the bed. Her eyes locked on Tad’s name and the breath whooshed from her lungs. Tad wouldn’t call her unless it was important.

  She pressed answer and pulled the phone to her ear. “Hello?” A few seconds of silence passed, and she glanced at the screen to see if he’d hung up. Nope, he was still there. “Hello?” she repeated.

  “Hello, Luciana,” Dario drawled, “you’re a hard puta to find.” His oily tone made her skin crawl.

  “Where’s Tad? Is he okay? Why are you calling from his phone?”

  “Tadeo is not your worry. I am.” He started to say more, but she panicked and ended the call. They’d found her.

  Her stomach twisted into knots as she considered what to do. Running would be stupid but staying meant putting Arlan and his club in danger. The phone rang in her hand, causing her to jump. Tad’s name scrolled across the screen, and fear turned to helpless rage. Why was he doing this to her? It stopped ringing and then a second later started back again.

  “Fuuuck!” she shouted. Anger gripping her by the throat, she stabbed her finger on the answer button, and screamed, “Stop calling me!” She hung up before he could say anything.

  When it rang a fourth time, she snapped. With a scream of frustration, she hurled the phone across the room.

  Seconds later, her door banged open and in stormed a shirtless Ax with his jeans half-buttoned and a crazed look in his eyes. “What the hell, woman?”

  She pointed to her phone. “Dario just called. He’s found me.”

  Ax bent to retrieve her phone from the floor. After fiddling with it for a moment, he declared it dead. His blue-eyed gaze shifted to her, and she tried not to stare at his Adonis-like torso. “Why did you answer his call?” The contempt in his tone made her hackles rise.

  “The Caller ID said Tad’s name, not Dario’s, and for Christ’s sake, button your jeans!”

  His lips split into a sultry smile. “You know you want me. Admit it.”

  “What are you, three?” She was starting to think he had a mental defect.

  “Want me to show you?” he purred, his hands dropping to his fly.

  “Be serious!” she shrieked. Her face flamed with embarrassment as she spun to face the door, where Arlan happened to be standing.

  “What the fuck is going on in here?” His quiet, chilling tone made her tense. Of course, he would have to show up when Ax was standing half-naked in her room.

  “LuLu was just telling me how much she wanted me,” Ax replied.

  Her head twisted, and she glared at him over her shoulder. His cheesy smile broadened, and he gave her a wink. Two can play that game she thought as she turned back to Arlan, and said, “Now, now, tell the truth. Your cousin was about to show me what the world’s smallest wiener looks like.” Ax coughed out a laugh, and she tried not to smile.

  “I’m not amused,” Arlan growled, crossing his hands over his chest.

  LuLu could tell by the look on his face that things were about to get ugly. In an attempt to defuse the situation, she said, “Tad called, only it wasn’t Tad, it was Dario. I think he knows I’m here.”

  His brow slowly arched, his gaze shifting to Ax before coming back to her. “And he’s half-dressed because?”

  “He’s insane, and your walls are too thin. I don’t know! Did you not hear me? Dario knows I’m here.” She was starting to get flustered.

  Eyes the color of storm clouds stared down at her, and she felt exposed, as if he could see straight into her soul. “I heard you. Now, take a deep breath and tell me what he said.”

  Nerves twisted in her belly as she told him what happened. “He knows I’m here, Arlan. What if he tries to hurt you or the club?”

  Tingles erupted as his long fingers curled around the back of her neck, desire pooling in her belly as he pulled her to his thick chest. “Dario can’t get you here, babe, I promise.” Closing her eyes, she breathed him in. She wanted to believe him, to melt into the warmth of his arms and never let go. Her head tipped up, and their eyes connected. Attraction hummed between them and she felt captured, trapped by his electric gaze. Hunger flared in his eyes, and her pulse raced in anticipation. He was going to kiss her and she wasn’t going to stop him. His mouth lowered, their lips about to touch, when Ax cleared his throat. A look of regret flashed across his face as he released her from his grasp and took a step back.

  “Whew, I don’t know about you two, but I sure could use a cold shower,” Ax drawled.

  Arlan gave his cousin an icy glare. “If I catch you near her again with so much as a shoe off, there will be hell to pay. Am I clear?”

  “As a bell,” Ax replied with a salute.

  “Phone,” he ordered. Ax tossed him her phone, and without so much as a glance in her direction, he walked out of the room.

  LuLu stared after him. Talk about mixed messages. One minute he was whispering in her ear and almost kissing her, and the next, he was ice cold and distant.

  “I’ve never seen him like this,” Ax crowed.

  LuLu’s gaze swung to him and narrowed in irritation. “That was not cool.”

  “That was epic!” he exclaimed, laughing like a whacko. “Now, give me a minute to finish getting dressed.”

  Chapter Fourteen

  THANKFULLY, LULU AND Ax made it downstairs without further incident. Dinner was interesting, to say the least. Ax placed her between him and the big guy with red hair she’d seen talking to Shelly. His name was Arson, and he clearly liked darts, because he kept trying to get her to play with him. When she told him she didn’t play darts, he asked what type of beer she liked. When she told him she wasn’t a fan of beer, he took it as a challenge to convert her. Arlan sat across the patio at a table with several men, and she couldn’t help but steal glances of him when he wasn’t looking.

  After dinner was when the real party started. Loud music and shouts of laughter poured from the house and out into the yard, where LuLu stood with Ax and Sage. Sage’s daughter Petal was a cutie pie. It was clear she loved Ax—as did her mother—and Ax clearly cared about both of them, yet both pretended they didn’t, which made absolutely no sense to her.

  Petal eventually ran off to play with some kids, and in an attempt to give Ax and Sage some privacy, LuLu scooted around the fire toward Aimee and Lucy, who were discussing Lucy’s plan to seduce her husband.

  Feeling like a third wheel, she was contemplating making a run for her room, when Aimee turned to her and whispered, “Incoming.”

  “What?” she asked. Aimee nodded to their left, and LuLu spotted Arson heading their way. “I don’t want another beer
,” she moaned.

  “At least pretend to take a drink of this one,” Lucy muttered under her breath.

  “Wait ‘til you taste this beauty!” Arson boomed on approach. “This one is called Born Yesterday, brewed by Lagunitas. It is an American pale ale. Check out that pine forest aroma mixed with citrus. It’s got awesome resinous hops with notes of pineapple and grapefruit in the background.”

  “It sounds great,” LuLu unenthusiastically muttered, taking the beer from his hand. Arson nodded for her to take a drink and stared intently at her as she took a sip of the foul-smelling liquid. Bitter nastiness burst onto her tongue. It was an awful flavor that overwhelmed her taste buds and made her want to gag.

  “Good?” he asked.

  “MmmHmm,” she responded, and tried her best to swallow it down without making a face. It took three beers for her to figure out that if she didn’t make a face, he would assume she liked it and bring her more.

  “Ready for your lesson in darts?” He nodded at the beer in her hand. “There’s a lot more of that inside.”

  Ignoring Aimee’s snort of laughter, LuLu said, “Maybe later.”

  He gave her a toothy grin. “I’ll be right inside. Just yell when you’re ready.” He really was a nice guy. She just wished he liked wine instead of beer.

  “Will do,” she assured him. As she watched him walk away, her gaze touched on Arlan. He was standing with a woman she didn’t recognize. The woman’s hand brushed across his chest, and a flare of jealousy ignited inside her. She’d already witnessed him kissing Hannah. Once was plenty. It was now time to go. Being that Ax was nowhere to be found and Lucy and Aimee were both busy talking to other people, she decided to duck out and call it a night. On her way inside, she thought of Arson and made a quick detour to the side of the house to pour out the beer. Poor shrub, she thought. As she turned to head back inside, she nearly trampled over Hannah.