by Jamie Begley
She had shaken her head. “I wish—”
“You are. I’ve seen it.” When she had kept shaking her head, he had continued, “Mom said you don’t have any friends.”
“I have a lot of friends,” Penni had denied.
Shade had arched a doubtful brow. “Name one.”
“Tania, Emily, Katlin, and Val.”
“You have sleepovers?”
She had frowned. She’d hated sleepovers. “No.”
“Why not?”
She had shrugged. “I don’t know. I prefer to sleep in my own bed.”
“Then invite them to your house.”
“It’s hard to when they are so busy. Tania does dance, Emily and Kaitlin do softball, and Val babysits for extra money.”
“Do they make time to have sleepovers?”
Penni hadn’t wanted to lie to her brother. “Yes.”
“Do they invite you?”
“Yes … but I have more homework than they do. My grades are important to me.”
“I’ve seen your grades; they aren’t that important. You have a boyfriend or have someone you like?”
“No.”
“Don’t tell me you don’t like boys.” Shade already knew the answer.
“I like boys.”
“Train won’t make a move on you because you’re too young and my sister.”
Stubbornly, she had looked away. She wouldn’t be young forever, and Shade would accept it when they were together.
“Maybe he will one day. You don’t know that for sure.”
“What do you feel for Train?”
She couldn’t believe she was having this talk with her brother. It had been the most words that had ever came out of his mouth. Usually, he’d let everyone talk while he had listened.
“He’s handsome, strong, and he doesn’t argue when I want to play cards …” Penni had trailed off when she couldn’t think of anything else. Then she had finished in a rush. “He’s more mature than boys my age.”
“Or maybe you’re telling yourself that as an excuse for why you’re not getting involved with boys your own age. I don’t see any tears in your eyes when we leave. As a matter of fact, I never saw you cry at all when you were a baby. Mom used to worry about it … like she did with me.”
Penni couldn’t tell what point Shade had been trying to make. Of course she’d cried, but it hadn’t been often.
“Shit … What do I know? I just wanted you to know that I’m like that, too.”
“You have tons of friends, and I’ve seen pictures of your girlfriends.”
“Yes, but I feel differently than they do. I don’t love anything or anyone. If any of them walked out of my life, I wouldn’t miss them. The difference between us is I don’t give a damn about anyone, while you’re like the butterfly I used to call you when you were a kid. A butterfly will go from a limb to a flower, attracted by anything that catches their interest. You stay a while, and then, when you’re ready, you fly away.”
A friend she had known since kindergarten had moved away last year. Though Penni had expected to feel the loss, she hadn’t, just found another girl to share lunch with.
What he had been saying couldn’t be true, though. She had friends she talked to every day. She had been one of the most popular students in her school.
Penni had searched her mind, not coming up with one close friend she’d shared all her secret with. She would have lunch, movies, and even shopping trips with her friends, but she couldn’t recall giving them any clue of the person she was inside.
Out of the corner of her eye, she had seen their mother’s car come to a stop. Train hadn’t made a move to exit the car, giving them time to talk.
Penni had stood when Shade had, grabbing his hand before he’d moved away.
“So you don’t love me?” Penni had asked curiously.
“I feel for you as much as I can feel for Mom and Dad. Mom sent me to psychiatrists when I was in elementary school because I wasn’t making friends. She thought it was because we moved around so much and because she had depression, so she couldn’t bond with me. I see her watching you the same why she watched me. I thought I’d save you from sitting in a doctor’s office once a week.”
He hadn’t answered her question.
Staring up at her brother, she had understood the words he’d left unspoken. Bravely looking into his beautiful blue eyes, she could see the soul he kept from everyone, including himself.
“Well, we didn’t move around when I was a kid, so she can’t blame my father like she did yours. We inherited it from her, didn’t we?”
“I think so.”
Penni had nodded.
He hadn’t removed his hand as they’d walked toward the car.
“Shade … Do you think you’ll ever love someone?”
“No.”
Tightening her hold on Shade’s hand, she prevented him from opening the car door.
“I think you’re wrong. We can love. I love Mom, Dad, and you. I know you love me …” Penni had rushed to say, not giving him the chance to deny her words. “We are different; I agree with you there. We may not love a lot, but when we do, they’re special. You’re special, Shade, and one day, you’re going to find the woman who proves it to you. Just like I will find the man who proves it to me.”
“Like Train?”
Penni had elbowed her brother in his ribs. “It’s a secret. He doesn’t know it yet.”
“Believe me, he knows.”
Confidently, she had shot him a calculated smile. “Not yet, but he will.”
17
The slamming of the door had Jackal jerking awake. He was halfway out of the bed, one hand searching behind him for Penni. She was gone, and the room was filled with Last Riders.
Viper was standing at the small table, picking up his gun and tucking it into the back of his jeans.
His gaze then went to Shade, who must have been the one to slam the door since he was standing in front of it.
“Where is she?” Jackal asked.
Shade leaned back against the door, folding his arms across his chest. “Heading to Treepoint.”
Jackal picked up the alarm clock on the bedside table, throwing it at the wall across the room. She had left without telling him good-bye.
“Tell me you’re not stupid enough to think you could keep her?”
Jackal remained silent, putting on his socks and boots.
Shade shook his head at Viper. “Yes, he was.”
“What do you want, Shade?” Jackal huffed. “You have Penni back. I didn’t harm a hair on her head. I’m thinking we don’t have shit to talk about, so get the fuck out of my room.”
Shade lost his indolent air. Striding across the room, he shot out his fist, punching him in the gut. “I think we have a shitload to discuss.”
Jackal doubled over, his hands going to his thighs, wheezing out, “That the best you can do? I’m not going to fight you when you have a dozen of your brothers waiting to take their turns.”
“None of them will touch you,” Shade promised. “It’s one of the perks of being the enforcer for The Last Riders. And it was my sister you were snuggled up with in that bed.”
“Like I said, I didn’t touch her. I was here to protect her. She was kidnapped by—”
“I know what shit went down. The Last Riders will deal with Hennessy and his men when we get back to Treepoint. Viper sent some of the brothers to escort the Road Kingz; we don’t want to keep them waiting. Get your things. I don’t want to be far behind them.”
“I’m not going to Treepoint.”
“You don’t have a choice,” Viper told him. “When Ice didn’t call Shade, it became the Predators’ problem. King paid the Predators for protection, and what did the club do? Get her the hell out of there? No, you dragged her to a rally to make sure the Road Kingz didn’t lose their ass in a drug deal a five-year-old could have pulled off. You nearly got her killed and would have if The Last Riders hadn’t bailed you out. When we showed up to get y
ou out of the shootout, the Unjust Soldiers thought The Last Rider’s became involved to get a share of the money you stole from them.”
Jackal shook his head. “You’ve lost your fucking mind. I got her out of there myself with no help from you or The Last Riders.”
Viper’s voice became mocking. “Really? You didn’t see our men making two rows for you to ride through? You think Moses showed up to save your ass?” Viper scoffed. “Hell, your ass would have been crows’ bait if we hadn’t held the crowd back. Rider was the one who kept you from running the bitch down that couldn’t move fast enough. Didn’t you hear those bullets? I did. I put down four of the bikers who tried to take out Hennessy.
“The Last Riders have their own punishment in store for him and his men who are still alive after that dude double-crossed him.
“When we get to Treepoint, we’ll settle the score with The Road Kingz. Then we’ll settle with the Predators when Ice gets there. He can help deal with the fallout from the Unjust Soldiers. Until then, you’re going.”
“Where is Ice?” Jackal reached into his pocket, cussing himself for falling asleep last night and not calling him then. Scrolling, he saw over ten missed calls.
“Grace’s mother took a turn for the worse,” Viper informed him. “Ice agreed to make reparations after he deals with Oceane.”
Jackal snorted. “Like you fucking care.”
“We don’t take our grievances out on women,” Shade said coolly. “Ice knew he fucked up, but we’ll take that up with him. You’re our collateral until he comes to Treepoint. Since I have a personal stake—being Penni’s bother—I thought you would be the best choice.”
“Tit for tat?”
“You think this is a fucking joke?” Shade jerked his knee up, crashing it into Jackal’s face as he was bent over, tying his boots.
Jackal fell back on the bed. He raised his hand to his face, holding his now bloody nose.
“The Unjust Soldiers saw Hennessy toss you the fucking bag with the drugs,” Viper informed him. “You think they aren’t going to try to get it? Striker might be dead, but the Unjust Soldiers aren’t, and they will be calling. They don’t care that Hennessy was doubled-crossed; they lost the drugs and some of their men. Now they are out for vengeance, and The Last Riders are stuck in the fucking middle.”
Shade opened the closet door, taking the duffle bag and handing it to Viper. Viper set it on the table, unzipping it and looking inside before he zipped it back up.
“It’s a death warrant.” Viper kicked the chair back away from the table. “Why didn’t Hennessy fucking let the Unjust Soldiers have them?”
Jackal used the blanket from the bed to stop the blood. “He couldn’t. Hennessy still owes the money to the cartel he bought them from. Hennessy didn’t have the money. Striker stole it from him. The only option he had left was to get the drugs back so that he can sell them to repay the cartel.”
“Striker was fucking the Road Kingz and the Unjust Soldiers?” Rider picked up the chair, sitting down on it. “It’s a shame the fucker is dead; he would have made a hell of a Last Rider.”
Viper’s anger showed he didn’t agree. Picking up Jackal’s wallet, he took out his credit card and threw it at Rider. “Go pay for the room and damages.”
“Why are you mad at me? We’re all thinking the same thing.”
“None of us think like you. Hurry up. I want to get back to Treepoint.”
Rider turned serious, losing his joking attitude. They were all concerned about leaving their women alone. And one of those women was Jackal’s. Penni might not be there yet, but she would be.
Jackal got up, shoving his dirty clothes from the night before into his saddlebag. Going to the bathroom, he then wet a wash cloth to clean his face.
He gingerly touched his broken nose. If he wasn’t ugly before, he was now. His nose was swollen, and his eyes were turning black and blue.
Shade appeared in the mirror behind him. “Let me see.”
“Fuck off.” Jackal tried to barge past him, but Shade shoved him against the bathroom door, his forearm braced against Jackal’s neck.
Jackal simply stood still. He was bigger than Shade, but Jackal didn’t want Penni pissed off if he hurt her brother. However, he would make sure she knew Shade was responsible for the marks on his face.
He stood still as Shade straightened his nose then released him. Then Jackal held on to the door knob to keep himself from hitting Shade.
“I did you a favor. It kind of even’s out your face.”
“Thanks.” Jackal slid past him, slamming the door in Shade’s face.
He expected Shade to be angry; what he didn’t expect was that he would light a fuse that careened them into the bedroom, taking out Viper, Train, and Crash as several others tried to get out of their way.
“What the hell happened?” Viper grunted as he, Train, and Knox held Shade down.
Jackal rose from the floor, using the bottom of his T-shirt to wipe off the blood that had started to pour again. “Shade wanted a pissing contest, and he got one.”
18
“You want me to make you some breakfast?”
“I’m not hungry. We ate at the diner before we came here.” Penni sat on the railing of her sister-in-law’s front porch.
Lily yawned as she held her son on the swing that Shade had put up for her.
“Want to tell me why you showed up at my door step at seven in the morning?”
Penni didn’t know how much Shade would want to tell his wife, so she said, “I can’t come for a visit without an excuse?”
“Yes, but it’s the seven in the morning that’s confusing me. You’re not exactly an early riser, and I saw Razer and Cash walking up with you.”
Penni remained silent. Shade would answer his wife’s questions when he got here. Razer had told her that they would be there before noon.
Lily’s house was beautiful. Shade had picked the spot on the land near The Last Riders’ clubhouse. The mountains were so high Penni thought she could reach out and touch them.
“Why were you staring out the window so early?” Penni turned to face Lily, seeing the weary circles under her eyes.
“I never sleep well when Shade is away. I thought at first he came back with the ones I saw going into the clubhouse around midnight, but when I texted him, he told me he wouldn’t be back in town until this afternoon.”
“Who did you see going into the clubhouse last night?”
“I recognize all The Last Riders, but there were a few I hadn’t seen before. Some of the men seemed liked they were hurt. That’s why I was worried about Shade when he didn’t come home last night.”
“He’s fine. It won’t be much longer.” Penni turned away to sit down next to Lily on the swing. “He’s getting so big.” She gently grasped one of John’s hands as she leaned her head on Lily’s shoulder. Sticking out her foot, she pushed the swing into motion. “I’ve missed you and John.”
“I’ve missed you, especially when Shade’s irritating me by forgetting to pick up his dirty clothes when he showers.”
“Missing your old roomie?” Penni missed the years they had shared their small dorm room.
“He’s not OCD over cleaning the way you are, which I miss, but I guess I’ll keep him, anyway,” Lily teased.
“I bet you will.” Her sister-in-law glowed in happiness. The shadows in her beautiful eyes that had been a part of her when they had met six+ years ago had disappeared.
“So, you’re not going to tell me why my husband had to take off so fast and why he took all The Last Riders with him?”
“Nope.”
“You’re just like Shade.”
She was and wasn’t like him. She had learned that as she had grown older. Shade had hit the nail on the head when he had likened her to a butterfly. She had no desire to settle down and get married. She loved her job traveling with the band and making new friends and finding new places to explore. That was why Train would be perfect for her. He wo
uld never try to tie her down.
Innumerable friends had been made through her life, but only Shade, her parents, and Lily were the few that she had felt a true attachment to. She had even added Grace to the short list, so she had been glad when Razer had let her borrow his cell phone to call her as they’d driven in to Treepoint.
Penni had felt terrible for Grace when she had told Penni she wouldn’t be returning for several weeks. Oceane was dying, and if a heart transplant couldn’t be found in time, the chances of her recovering were grim. Penni wanted to fly out to be by her side, but Grace had assured her it wasn’t necessary. Besides, Ice was on his way and so was Casey, Max’s wife.
She had noticed the two women becoming friends during the months since Casey and Max had married. In a way, they had become sisters in the Predators through marriage, and Penni didn’t belong to that club.
Lily handed John to her.
Penni blew raspberries on his cheek. “I’ve missed you, buddy.”
“I wish you lived closer.”
“I do, too.” She meant it. Penni had thought about moving closer. Her parents were only a state away in Ohio, and she wouldn’t miss out on John growing up. Only one thing kept her away: Train. It would hurt that he would be so near yet so far away. Shade had been right; he had never given the slightest hint that he cared about her.
“Is Train seeing someone?”
“No,” Lily answered. “Why don’t you stay a few weeks? Maybe he’ll finally open his eyes and see what he’s missing out on.”
“I might take you up on that. The band is taking a break. The work I have for booking their next tour, I could do from a computer at your house.”
“Shade’s got to be happy you’re going to stay.”
“I don’t know about that. He likes it when I keep my visits short and sweet.”
“He’s only joking,” Lily denied.
“Shade never jokes.”
“Yes, he does. He’s really funny. You’ll see. You staying here for a couple weeks will give you time to spend with him.”
“You’d better buy a couple of cases of beer and call Tate for an emergency delivery.”