by Jamie Begley
Rider came to stand in the doorway, watching with a predatory gleam in his eyes.
“Ms. Richards, your next appointment is due in ten minutes.”
“Stop it, Rider. Go on outside,” Winter snapped at the man who then turned and walked away with a final wink at Holly.
The rest of the brothers laughed at Rider’s failed attempt. Not many women turned Rider down.
“Thanks, Holly.” Ms. Richards stared hard at Viper. “After I’m finished with my next client, I’ll go down to the sheriff’s office and see what they have on him. I’ll keep in touch. Get a bail bondsman ready for a call. I’ll see what I can do about getting him out. Is he going to be a flight risk?”
“Knox wouldn’t run if you pointed a gun at him. It’s not in him; he’s a soldier. He stands and fights.”
“Good to know because, if he takes off, I’ll still expect my money, and you can find yourself another lawyer.”
“Deal,” Viper said, leaving the office with Winter, Shade, Rider, and Train trailing behind.
”That was a fail,” Rider complained, giving the secretary a wink, which she ignored as they closed the door.
“You came on too strong,” Shade enlightened.
“It’s the only way I know,” Rider bragged. “It always worked before.”
Shade agreed; not many women refused to at least flirt with Rider. He was easily the best-looking in the group, the easiest going, and the most liked. The only thing that grated on the brothers’ nerves was his arrogant attitude toward women. He believed no woman could resist him, and up until then, he had been right.
Holly was young and obviously shy. She should’ve been ripe for Rider’s plucking; instead, she had rushed from him as if he was about to have her for lunch. Something about the woman didn’t add up, but as long as it didn’t affect The Last Riders, Shade didn’t give a shit.
* * *
The Last Riders were waiting for Knox’s release when he came out of the courthouse with his lawyer. Bliss was the first one to greet him, throwing herself into his arms.
“Keep him out of sight and whatever you do, don’t let him get into any trouble. The Commonwealth’s Attorney won’t hesitate to throw him back in jail,” she told Viper and Winter.
Her caustic comment grated on Shade.
“I’ll make him stay at the clubhouse,” Viper promised.
“What’s next?” Winter asked Ms. Richards.
“A trial date will be set. I’m going to look into the case and hopefully find something to prove his innocence before then. It’s our best hope.”
“Is that safe?” Winter asked.
“Yes. If Knox didn’t kill her, then we have to cast some doubt. The best way to do that is to prove someone else had a motive. I’m mainly going to be talking to Sam’s friends.”
“Good luck with that; she didn’t have any,” Evie spoke out. She and Sam had hated each other on sight.
“There has to be someone in town who knew Sam well. I’ll find them. I need to get back to my office. Like I said, keep him out of sight.” She cast a last look at Knox, who had Jewell locked to his side.
“No problem.”
Diamond threw Viper a doubtful glance, and then turned on her heel, leaving.
“She didn’t seem too happy, did she?” Winter commented in a speculative voice.
“She’s a stuck-up bitch,” Shade said as the lawyer walked huffily down the sidewalk.
Winter laughed. “I won’t disagree with the bitch assessment, but how can someone with the name Diamond be stuck-up?”
“That her first name?” Knox asked in surprise.
“Yes.”
Shade agreed her name didn’t seem to fit. It sounded like a stripper name.
He slapped Knox on his back as they got on their bikes. “So am I right or wrong; is she a stuck-up bitch?”
Evie climbed on behind Knox.
“Brother, she is so stuck-up you can see the stick hanging out her ass.”
As the brothers all laughed, riding out onto the road and forcing cars to wait their turn, Train flipped off one driver who dared to blow their horn.
As they passed Diamond, Knox turned his head in her direction. Shade caught a flash of interest and was surprised. The lawyer was the opposite of the women Knox liked to fuck. Maybe Winter was right, though; a stuck-up bitch wouldn’t care that Knox had a woman on his bike. Diamond cared.
Chapter 28
When Knox came down the steps the next day, dressed to ride, Shade was playing pool with Rider yet laid down the pool stick.
“Going somewhere?”
“Been cooped up long enough. I want to go for a ride.”
Shade could understand. Even though it had only been a day since he had been released, Knox hadn’t been on a ride since he had been arrested.
“We’ll keep you company.”
“Suit yourselves. Let’s get something to eat at the diner first.”
“Sounds good to me. I’m hungry,” Rider said, laying down his pool stick.
The others all stood, going outside to get on their bikes. It was a pretty day. The sun was hot, but it wasn’t humid.
The diner’s parking lot was almost filled with several motorcycles lined up in front when they got there.
“The Blue Horsemen are here,” Viper said to Shade as they entered the door.
Shade stayed in the rear of the group to watch everyone’s back, making sure no one snuck up on them and caught them unaware.
They came to stand behind Diamond.
“You having problems?” Viper asked Diamond.
Before she could answer, the leader of the other club spoke. “She doesn’t have a problem; we do. We’ve asked her twice to leave, and she’s ignored us both times.”
“That true?” Viper turned to Diamond.
She stared back at Viper. “I need to find the men who were with Sam that day outside in the parking lot. They belong to The Blue Horsemen. You want me to clear Knox?” Diamond stared pointedly at Knox.
Stud leaned toward Diamond, losing his casual appearance. “I don’t know where the fuck they are, and I don’t know a damn thing about their families. They aren’t Horsemen anymore, and they weren’t when they pulled that stunt with Sam.”
“Stud, I think she got your message,” Knox said, taking a step forward.
“Good. Then maybe she’ll get her ass away from our table,” Stud snapped.
“Ms. Richards. Let’s go,” Viper ordered.
“Ms. Richards? When the hell did you become so polite?”
The Blue Horsemen around the table laughed.
“You laughing at Viper being polite, Bear?” Knox came back with his own smart-ass remark. Tension filled the restaurant that time as the tempers of the men from the rival bike clubs began to escalate.
Diamond rose to her feet.
Ash looked at Knox. “No.”
Bear’s lips tightened at his brother, most likely because he had backed down for Bear. “I’m finished. Sorry for the interruption.” Diamond broke the heightening tension, leaving the diner without looking back. However, she was brought to a stop outside when Knox grabbed her by the arm.
“What in the hell were you thinking?” Knox angrily asked her while Shade and Viper chased after him, not wanting him to get arrested again before he could go to trial.
“I thought I might try to find out who killed Samantha. It’s what Viper hired me to do,” Diamond answered, jerking her arm out of his grasp.
“I didn’t tell you to take on a motorcycle club. You should have called me or the sheriff who could have found out the information you needed,” Viper said.
“I didn’t need your help. I was safe. What were they going to do in a restaurant across from the sheriff’s office?”
“Were you planning on staying in there? They would have followed you home.” Knox stared at her like she was stupid.
“It doesn’t matter; it’s over.” Turning on her heels, she strode to her car.
; “It isn’t fucking over. You’re on their radar now. They’re going to watch and make sure you don’t drag their club into being investigated,” Knox said, striding after her with the rest of them following.
“How do you know that?” Diamond snapped.
“Because it’s what we would do,” Knox answered, slamming his hand on her car door when she tried to jerk it open.
“Back off, Knox,” Viper stated calmly.
Knox stepped away, removing his hand from her car door.
Diamond swung around to face the brothers. “If you want me to find out who killed Samantha, I’m going to have to step on some toes. Are you going to give me shit every time?”
“We’re not giving you shit. The men Samantha associated with were dangerous, and those are the ones we know about. Obviously someone killed her, so eventually, you’re going to come into contact with the person who did. The best way to handle this situation is to keep someone with you who can keep an eye on the situation so you won’t get hurt,” Viper cautioned her.
“I don’t need someone to watch my back. I can take care of myself.”
“I’m sure you can. We’ll merely provide you with back-up if you need our help,” Viper reasoned.
“I can’t find out what I need to know with you guys following me around,” Diamond argued back.
“You won’t need all of us; one will do. Knox and Rider can take turns keeping an eye on you.” Viper crossed his arms over his chest, his mind made up.
Shade was simply glad he wasn’t the one who had to watch over her.
“Hell no.” Diamond refused to have either of the men following her.
“Why not?” Knox asked. “I should be helping. It’s my ass that will be back in jail if we don’t find out who killed her.”
“Fine. The next time I want to talk to someone who is in a motorcycle club, I’ll give you a call.” Diamond opened her car door, slid in, and slammed the door closed.
The men moved out of the way as she reversed and pulled out of the parking lot.
“Knox,” Viper ordered.
Knox nodded and headed to his bike to follow the stubborn attorney. Whether she liked it or not, he had just become her shadow.
“I give it a day,” Shade commented.
“On what?” Viper asked.
“Before she quits.”
* * *
Shade was sitting on the chair in the club room, talking to Viper with Winter cuddled next to his president’s side when Knox came in.
“What are you doing back so early?” Viper questioned.
“She’s in for the day,” Knox answered. “I’m going to grab a shower. Then I’m going to Rosie’s.”
“I’m in for that,” Rider said, coming into the room.
By the time Knox was ready, several others had decided to tag along. Shade decided to go, as well; he was bored with sitting on his ass.
“Stay out of trouble,” Viper warned.
When Knox gave him the finger as he walked out the door, Shade nodded toward his president, acknowledging he would keep Knox close.
Knox, Rider, Train, Cash, and Shade all headed to the bar with several of the women riding at their backs. As they pulled into the lot, Shade recognized Diamond’s car.
“Isn’t that Diamond’s car?” Rider asked Knox as they parked their bikes.
“Yes, it is,” he answered grimly.
Knox didn’t look too happy that his lawyer was there. Shade could tell the brother wasn’t going to listen to Viper about staying out of trouble. The way he strode in that bar said he was going searching for it.
Knox slammed open the door to the bar, and then The Last Riders filed in. He strode across the floor toward Diamond who looked like she was about to leave. If they had been five minutes later, they would have missed her.
Shade would ask Mick later what questions the woman had wanted answered.
“What the fuck are you doing here?” Knox asked angrily.
Diamond’s back stiffened. “Drinking a beer. What business is it of yours?”
“Since when do you hang out in biker bars?” Knox inquired.
“Is this a biker bar? I wasn’t aware of that. There weren’t any motorcycles out front, nor were there any signs saying ‘Assholes only,’ ” Diamond mocked.
“She was asking about Sam,” Mick interrupted.
“What did Viper tell you about letting us know when you were going to be snooping around?”
“You might have to bow down and kiss Viper’s ass, but I’m not one of your members, so I don’t actually give a damn what he wants.”
Shade leaned against the bar, picking up the drink Mick had automatically set down in front of him.
“He the one who pays you?” Knox asked the question everyone in the room already knew the answer to.
“Yes.” Diamond was trapped by her own answer.
“Then you better be worried about what he wants.”
“It doesn’t matter; I’m done here.”
“Since you’re here, you might as well stay and have another beer.” He turned to the bartender. “Mick, get her another beer on me.”
Mick turned around, reaching for the beer.
“I don’t want one.” Diamond started to slide off the seat, but Knox placed an arm around her waist, planting her back on the barstool.
“But I want you to stay. At least then I’ll know where you are.” His body blocked hers from getting off the stool.
Giving in, the stuffy lawyer took a drink of her beer. Shade was about to tell Knox to back off, that Viper would kick his ass if she quit, but then she relaxed, turning her face toward Knox and giving him a venomous smile.
Shade leaned against the bar, enjoying the show. This was worth an ass-whipping.
“You think your macho attitude is going to send me running? You’re just pissing me off, Knox. I’m trying to find out who killed the woman you’re going to go to jail for murdering, unless I catch a break and find out who did.”
“What did you think you would find out here?” He reached for his own beer, his chest brushing against her shoulder.
“I thought I would find out if there was someone else in town she was sleeping with who might have a motive. Until I can find the men who were with her that day at the diner and find out if they could be responsible, then your ass is still the best suspect the jury will have.”
“They weren’t responsible for Sam’s death, so if that’s your only lead, you need to start searching somewhere else.”
“How can you know that for sure?” Diamond questioned.
“Because they’re not in town. If they were, the sheriff would have them locked up. Find someone else.”
“It’s not that easy,” Diamond snapped.
“If it was going to be easy, Viper wouldn’t have hired you.”
Shade almost smiled at the look Knox was giving Diamond. The lawyer was turning bright red in embarrassment.
“Let’s dance.” Knox didn’t give her a chance to refuse, taking her hand and leading her to the dance floor where he turned Diamond into his body, pulling her hips close.
Diamond instantly struggled to put some space between them.
“That’s like oil and water, isn’t it?” Mick asked as they both watched.
“More like dynamite and nitro. Put them together, and you have Armageddon.”
“Fuck, Shade, I didn’t know you could crack a joke,” Mick laughed.
“I wasn’t joking.” Shade watched Diamond and Knox dancing together. The same look Shade had seen on his face the day before was there again.
Knox had intended to pay Diamond back for not following Viper’s orders, but the brother was on a slippery slope, not realizing his own danger.
Bliss was grinding against Rider while Evie danced with Cash. Stori and Raci were dancing together, giving Knox fuck-me looks over Diamond’s shoulder. When the music ended, Knox let her leave the dance floor, placing her back on the stool.
“I need to be going.”
Diamond placed her empty beer bottle on the bar top.
Knox moved closer to her side. “Want another beer? I can give you a ride home.”
Shade rolled his eyes at Mick as they made fun of his attempted seduction. That woman needed more than a fuck-me stare.
“No, thanks. I’ve had enough.”
When she would have jumped down from the stool, Knox leaned forward, placing his hand between her thighs. The lawyer froze in place.
Shade subtly moved closer to Knox’s back, unable to see what the brother was doing. Knox gave him a warning glare over his shoulder, and Shade placed his hands in the air. Backing away an inch, he moved so he could watch them in the mirror behind the bar.
“I think you should stay and party with us. We can show you a good time.”
Shade thought she seemed to already be having a good time by the way her body was trembling.
Knox flashed the metal ball on his tongue, and the sight must have scared the shit out of her because she jerked his hands away from her thighs
“If you don’t move your hand, I’m going to drop your case and keep the half million Viper owes me without giving a damn that your ass will be sitting in jail for a crime you didn’t commit.”
Knox was smart enough to remove his hand, standing back up straight to lean against the bar. He picked up his beer and took another drink.
“How do you know I didn’t kill Sam?”
Rider came to stand by Diamond’s side, motioning to Mick for a drink. When Mick gave him his beer, Rider remained, obviously listening to their conversation. The brother needed to learn to be more subtle.
Shade shook his head. Diamond thought Rider was just eavesdropping, but Rider was really feeling out the situation with Diamond. The two brothers loved breaking new women in together. Shade could have told Rider he was shit out of luck, though.
“I drove through the neighborhood you crashed your bike in before I came here today. It’s a shortcut to the road that leads out here then to the clubhouse, so I know why you were on the road.”
“So I was taking a shortcut? What the fuck does that have to do with me killing Sam?”