Slide: Rugged Skulls MC

by Amy Davies

  Her smile is wide and bright and will fill the darkest of nights. She’s wearing a dress today, which shocked me. She usually asks to dress in shorts and romper suits. She chose a spaghetti strap dress that has flamingos over it and her panda sandals.

  “Yes, Mommy. I want what Della is having because I is a big girl too,” she cries out in happiness. Della and Clary giggle and give me their orders.

  I kiss the top of Posey’s hair and turn to walk back across the room, just as an earth-shattering noise comes from the front of the shop. The window explodes. Glass shatters all over the customers at the tables, and screams fill the air, along with the sounds of the glass hitting every surface.

  I spin around to get to Posey and see that Della has her huddled in the corner with the table flipped on its side, protecting them. Rushing over to them, I pull Posey against me as Kenny comes running out of the back office with a shotgun in his hand. He looks around the room until his gaze meets mine, and I can see his shoulders sag a little with relief that we are okay.

  “Go, check on everyone,” I tell him, and turn back to bury my head in Posey’s hair. She’s shaking and crying, and I soothe her the best I can.

  “I’m going to help Kenny,” Clary says, and leaves. I bring my gaze up to meet Della, and I can see that she’s scared but is trying to stay strong.

  Reaching out, I cup her jaw.

  “Are you okay?” She gives me a nod. “Good. Thank you for protecting my baby. I will never be able to thank you enough,” I tell her, emotion clogging up my throat, making it difficult to swallow.

  “It’s okay. I’m glad that I was here. What happened?” she asks, looking around the room.

  I turn and see Kenny talking on his phone, and I have no doubt in my mind that he’s calling Slide or Magnum. Posey is shaking in my arms; I see Kenny is now helping some of the customers.

  “I’ll watch her for you,” comes Della’s voice. I turn back to her and give her a gentle smile.

  “Thank you. Posey, baby, Della will look after you for a little while, okay. I need to help GK help the other people. You will still see me.” I kiss the top of her head as she nods, then she climbs over to Della. They huddle tightly together, Posey’s eyes never leaving mine.

  With one more smile, I stand and make my way over to a customer who is pulling glass out of her hair.

  “I am so sorry about this. We will find out what happened,” I explain, and offer her a small smile. She touches my arm and smiles warmly at me.

  “Oh, dear, I saw who did it. Bunch of thugs. Walked right up to the window and threw those.” She gestures to some large rocks on the floor.

  “Shit,” I mutter, and look over to where Kenny is talking to Clary and Tommy. “Kenny,” I call out.

  All three of them look up, then Kenny is striding over to me. He quickly pulls me into his arms when he reaches me and hugs me tight to his body.

  “My girls okay?” I nod against his chest and pull back.

  “We’re shaken but not hurt. Della is watching Posey.”

  The rumble of bikes catches my attention, and my heart races. Slide is almost here. Kenny steps away and goes to the main door to wait for the Rugged Skulls men.

  Clary and Tommy are handling the few customers we have. Thank God Tommy is keeping his head, but I have a feeling he knows who did this.

  I reach Della and Posey, pull my baby girl into my arms and hold her tight. She cries against my neck, and I try to soothe her by rubbing her back.

  “Shhh, baby, you’re okay. Everyone is okay.”

  “You have been such a big girl, Posey pie,” Della tells her, and Posey nods. The hairs on the back of my neck stand on end when I hear heavy, thundering boots enter the Cove.

  “Baby.” My gaze snaps up to meet Slide’s. He wastes no time in rushing over to us. Something snaps inside of me, and I let out a sob, just as he reaches us and pulls us into his arms.

  His scent hits my senses, and I can feel my body start to relax. Without even thinking about it, I tilt my head back and kiss his jaw. Slide looks down at me, worry marring his handsome face.

  “You okay?” he asks, and I nod.

  “We aren’t hurt. I was in the middle of the room, and Della shielded Posey with herself and the table,” I tell him. He frowns at me, and I nod in Della’s direction, shocked to see Rookie cupping her face.

  “Brother,” Slide calls out to him. He turns to look at us yet doesn’t let Della go. “She okay?” Slide asks, inquiring about Della.

  Rookie drops his hands from her face, then takes hold of her hand and pulls her over to us. I hadn’t even noticed that she’d moved away. Guilt eats at me for forgetting her when she protected my baby.

  “She’s good; not hurt but shaken, like everyone in here. Thank fuck there’s no major injuries, just a few scrapes.”

  “Rookie, bad word,” Posey perks up and tells him off.

  “My bad, baby girl.” Rookie pinches her chin gently, and she giggles. I don’t miss the look Della gives him. I think she actually swoons. Girl is in for some trouble if she wants Rookie. The ladies love him.

  “Della, I can’t thank you enough for what you did, for protecting my girl like that. You need anything, you come to me, okay, sweetheart?” Slide tells her. Her cheeks turn bright red, but she nods at him. Rookie looks between us.

  “What did you do?” He directs his question to Della. She shrugs like what she did was nothing, but Slide jumps in to explain.

  “Your girl here toppled the table and shielded Posey with her body.” I look down at Posey, who is smiling at Della, before she reaches for Slide. My heart melts when he takes her from me and pulls her into his arms, holding her securely against his chest. Posey wraps her arms around his neck and holds on for dear life.

  Yeah, this man has a way with women of all ages.

  Knowing that she trusts him makes me fall harder for him. I need to tell Chris about this new development. We never hide from each other when we start dating someone. We both put Posey first.

  It’s something I don’t need to worry about yet because since we decided to part ways, whenever Chris is home, he never keeps his cock in his pocket. He sleeps with any woman who gives him the time of day. He says that he’s sowing his wild oats before he retires and settles down, which I know he’s thinking about doing soon.

  “Fuck me, woman. What Slide said goes for me too,” Rookie tells Della, breaking my thoughts.

  I blink and focus on Della as she blushes to high heaven again, then nods, before walking over to Clary. Rookie twists his head around and watches her walk away, his hands going into the front pockets of his jeans. The action makes his shoulders more prominent, and I openly ogle him.

  “How about we go over there and leave Mommy to her daydreams of Rookie, Miss Posey.” Slide’s voice cuts through my staring, and I snap my head in his direction.

  He gives me an overexaggerated huff and walks away. I watch him go, and my eyes cut to Rookie, who winks at me then joins them.

  “Whatever,” I mutter, and walk out to the back office to collect mine and Posey’s things.

  Once in the room, I rest my hands on the worktop, dropping my head to my chest. I close my eyes, breathing in a deep, fortifying breath. The emotion hits me—how today could have been so different if the shop was fuller or if Posey was sitting by the window like she enjoys doing. And thank God that people only had a few scrapes, nothing serious.

  Sucking in a deep breath, I walk back to Slide and Posey and see club members are helping to clean up the glass. Two police officers are here, questioning people. Tommy looks as white as a ghost, but Kenny stays close to him, no doubt telling him that this isn’t his fault.

  Even Della and Clary are helping with the clean-up. I wish I could stay, but I have the need to take Posey, get her home, and forget all about what has happened here today.

  With my bag over my shoulder, I step over to where Slide is talking to his brothers from the club, as well as Kenny and a female officer, who is u
tterly drooling over all the men surrounding her. Not that I blame her. I mean, all the men of the club are exceedingly hot.

  Her eyes are trained on Slide, and my jealousy siren makes her thoughts known in my head. This officer needs to keep her eyes off my man, or I will cut a bitch. Or I could make her eat some vegan food, and we all know how much non-vegan people dislike vegan foods.

  Moving closer, I place my hand into the back pocket of Slide’s jeans. He looks over his shoulder and smiles a megawatt smile before leaning in to kiss my lips. The smug smile that creeps over my face surprises me, but I can’t seem to stop the need to be territorial over Slide. When I pull back, the officer is frowning at us but composes herself.

  “You need to take my granddaughter home,” Kenny says, and I nod.

  “I need to ask you a few questions first, Miss,” Officer Wandering-eyes tells me.

  “I didn’t see anything. I had my back to the window when it exploded.” I shrug and push further into Slide’s side. When I pull back, I watch as she eyes my hand on his stomach, right below Posey’s knee.

  “Are you sure you didn’t see anything? I feel like you’re keeping something from me,” she says in a condescending tone. Well, she can whistle for information because she isn’t getting shit from me.

  Shaking my head, I answer, “Nope. I don’t know anything about the incident. But what I do know is that there is no need for me to be here, so I’m taking my daughter home. Now, if there’s nothing else, we’re leaving.” My gaze connects with Magnum, and he gives me subtle nod, letting me know he’s grateful for my non-information answer.

  I turn to Kenny and kiss his cheek.

  “If you need me, give me a call, okay.” He nods.

  “Will do, sweetheart.”

  “I need to know how everyone knows everyone here,” the officer pipes up again. I sigh, but before I can answer, Magnum beats me to it.

  “As you can see, Officer, we’re the Rugged Skulls MC. Don’t act like you don’t know who we are. Kenny is the owner of this fine establishment. This beautiful little girl is his great-granddaughter, and this beauty is his granddaughter, Farrah. The man you’re so openly eye-fucking is Farrah’s old man,” Magnum explains, and then moves to Posey, kissing the top of her head. “Sorry for the bad words, baby girl.”

  And there goes my heart for these ruggedly handsome men. Any woman would swoon when he says something like that. Damn.

  I step back over to Slide and see him give me a smirk, letting me know he saw my reaction to Magnum’s words.

  “Della, Clary, please will you come back when this is all sorted so I can make it up to you. I can’t thank you enough for protecting Posey.”

  “I second that, girls,” Kenny adds.

  “Me three,” Slide adds.

  “The Rugged Skulls MC are in your debt. You need us, you call,” Magnum tells them.

  “And me. Dibs,” Rookie mutters. I watch as all the men’s heads snap in his direction, then as they look at Della and Clary, not quite sure which one he’s calling dibs on. Thank God Slide explained the term to me a few days after we slept together. From the look Rookie was giving Della earlier, I can only assume he’s calling dibs on her.

  “Fucking hell,” Risky mutters, when she sees the mess as she comes barging through the door with two club prospects behind her, their arms ladled with cleaning equipment.

  “Okay, I brought the boys and things they need. Kenny, you need to put the boys to work,” she adds, as she makes her way over to me. She pulls me in for a tight hug and asks if I’m okay. I nod, and she turns to Posey, who’s still clinging to Slide.

  “How is my Posey panda?”

  “I otay, Risky,” her sweet little voice says. Fear is no longer evident in it, thank God. Risky kisses her head and steps back.

  “Right, I’m taking my girls home. If you need me, call.” With that, Slide fist bumps his brothers and we leave. I drive my car while Slide rides his bike behind me all the way. There’s something sexy about seeing your man on his bike, watching as the wind brushes at his hair and his biceps bulge as he grips the handlebars.

  It’s been almost a week since he touched me, but I know that wasn’t his choice. Oh no, that was my darling daughter wanting to sleep with me, so Slide had to camp out on the sofa the nights he stayed over. But I think tonight I will have his hands all over me. I need them. I crave the touch of them. My thighs clench at the thought of the way his stubble feels against my skin.

  Sixteen

  Slide

  Who would have thought that I would be sitting on a sofa eating mint ice cream with a five-year-old little girl on my lap? Not me, that’s for fucking sure, but here I am. When we arrived at Farrah’s house, someone’s car backfired and Posey screamed blue murder, the memory of what happened just a short while before still fresh in her young mind.

  So, we decided it was time for junk food, junk movies, and making friendship bracelets. Who knew that a five-year-old could make such cool bracelets? She braided three pieces of thin leather together and dangled a small silver skull charm on it for me. She made herself a matching bracelet but added a pink skull. So now I’m the proud owner of a friendship bracelet with a little girl, and I can tell you now, nothing could tear it from my wrist.

  A knock on the door pulls me from my thoughts, and Farrah jumps out of her seat.

  “Shit,” she mutters.

  Posey turns and looks up at me with a tired smile on her face.

  “Lobe you, Ryan.” Oh, fuck me. Way to go, kid. That’s one way to bring a biker to his knees.

  “DADDY,” Posey screams, then jumps off my lap, her tiredness forgotten. Farrah mouths ‘sorry’, but I smile at her, letting her know it’s okay. She turns, and a guy steps out from behind her.

  “Slide, I’d like you meet Chris, Posey’s dad.” I climb to my feet and close the gap between us, then hold my hand out for him to shake.

  “Nice to meet you, man.” He shakes my hand. I must admit, he isn’t someone I would picture Farrah with. Just picture the guy who plays Loki in the Avenger movies but with short hair.

  “Daddy, this is my Ryan.” I smile proudly at her admission. He taps the tip of her nose, giving her a warm smile.

  “I can see that, pumpkin. How about you run and get your bag so I can have a talk with Mom, okay.” Posey nods and runs as fast as her little legs will carry her to her room. I know we have very little time before she comes bounding back to us.

  “I completely forgot you were picking her up. Sorry, Chris,” Farrah explains.

  I pull her to me and kiss her temple. “Baby, you’re human, and we’re allowed to forget shit. You have had a shit day, so you’re allowed to have a fried brain right now, yeah,” I tell her, and she nods, giving me a small smile.

  “What happened?” This comes from Chris.

  “Some punks threw rocks at the Cove’s window. As you can see, Farrah and Posey weren’t hurt. My club and the police are looking into it,” I tell him, giving him a stern look, letting him know that he isn’t to give her any shit.

  “Do you know who did it?” I say nothing. He sighs and goes to reach out to touch Farrah’s face, but an unexpected growl leaves my throat. Chris smirks at me and gives me a nod, and Farrah lets out a shocked gasp.

  “Did you just freaking growl?”

  “Yeah, no one touches what’s mine,” I answer firmly, leaving no room for argument. Before she can say anything else, Posey comes running back into the room with a panda backpack on her back.

  “I’m ready,” she cries.

  “So you are. Give your mom and Slide a hug before we leave,” Chris says. Farrah picks her up and blows raspberries on her neck, making her giggle. I smile at their interaction and see that Chris is watching me.

  “They’re safe with me, man. I can promise you that,” I state to him.

  “I know all about your club, Slide. Past and present. Army and business. As long as nothing touches these two, me and you will get on swimmingly.”

 
“Okay, you two, enough,” Farrah chips in, and Posey reaches for me. I take her from Farrah and hug her tight to me, kissing the top of her head.

  “Now, you be good for your dad, you got it?”

  “Yep, Ryan. Are you my mommy’s boyfriend?” she sweetly asks. Her question doesn’t faze me, so I answer her truthfully.

  “Yeah, baby, I am. Are you okay with that?” She waits a beat before she giggles and whispers into my ear, making me laugh too. My gaze stays on Farrah as her eyes narrow, but she’s smiling.

  “What are you two conspiring about over there?” Farrah asks, making Posey’s giggles louder.

  “Ryan is your boyfriend. Daddy has a girlfriend. I met her.” Posey’s voice is full of amusement.

  “Nark,” Chris jokes.

  “Details?” Farrah asks. I can see in her face that she is genuinely interested in the details, but not in a jealous ex kind of way. In a way that says she really cares for him.

  “Her name is Melinda. She’s a schoolteacher. We’ve only been dating a few weeks, but she arrived at the house when I had this little monster last and they met. I was going to tell you tonight, before this one beat me to it.” Chris pulls Posey from my arms and puts her over his shoulder. She squeals with laughter.

  “I’d like to meet her,” Farrah says.

  “You will, soon. Come on, Pumpkin panda, we have lots of fun planned tonight, and I think your mom and Slide need some adult time.” Her giggles can be heard as they walk out of the house.

  I wrap my arms around Farrah’s waist, holding her to me, and we wave them goodbye before I pull her back into the house and lock the door behind us. I don’t give her time to think. I bend over and place my shoulder in her stomach, then throw her over my shoulder and march to her bedroom. Thank fuck she lives in a one-story.

  Pushing her door open, I don’t bother to close it because there will be no little cock-blocking mini monster here to stop me from burying my cock in my woman. I drop her on the bed, and it’s her turn to giggle. I smile down at her as I pull my cut off and carefully hang it over the chair.