by Jamie Begley
“I found it when I had a new furnace installed when you were knocked out with the flu. If you hadn’t been such a chicken about going down there, you would have known it was there.”
“You bought me a new furnace without telling me?”
He snorted. “I wasn’t going to freeze my ass off.”
“I’m going to pay you back.”
“Go ahead. You’re going to have plenty of money when your father’s insurance pays off because he wasn’t driving drunk. I already made sure the money Aly stole from you was applied to the loan you owe The Last Riders.”
She looked down at the arm of the couch. “I didn’t hear a gunshot that night when I was running toward the garage …”
Rider’s expression went lethal. “Don’t ask questions you don’t want answered.”
Jo’s eyes went to the spot where F.A.M.E had lost his life and where Mag had lain helplessly as Aly had stepped over them without a care.
“I don’t want it answered.”
“Cool. Then I won’t.”
“That doesn’t mean that camera was responsible—”
“Jo, do you really think her phone just happened to ring as Gavin and Shade were coming down the hall?”
She would never forget the terror she had felt that night. She had thought it was a miracle that it had rung at that precise moment. God had been responsible for that miracle … with a little help from Rider.
“Lily’s the one who told you, isn’t she?”
“Shade told her because she was worried about that computer screen being out. She must have kept bugging him to get it fixed, so he just told her to get her off his back.”
“That fucker doesn’t get bugged.”
“Then why did he tell her? I’ll make damn sure to ask him.”
Jo accidentally took her eyes off Rider when she saw what was happening on the television. Rider turned to see what she was looking at.
Turning back to her, Rider gave her lascivious grin. “That making you horny?”
“No,” she lied, sliding behind the couch when he started to move.
“I am. I haven’t had sex since you broke up with me.” He pouted.
“That’s your fault. I offered last night, but you wanted your own room.”
“That was a mistake I’m going to rectify right—”
At his sudden movement, Jo screeched, making a run for the front of the couch, expecting him to keep going around the back. The jerk unexpectedly jumped over the back, grabbing her. They tumbled down onto the couch cushions.
Staring up at his satisfied smile reminded her of when he’d chased after strays.
Circling his shoulders, she lifted her mouth to his. “I love you,” she breathed into his mouth.
“I love you, too.”
Playfully teasing his bottom lip, she ran her hand over the tattoo that always made her feel protected.
“You like the teddy I got you for Valentine’s Day?”
“That day just keeps on giving.”
“How?”
“That’s the day I realized I was fighting a losing battle of not falling in love with you. The next time Colton comes for a visit, I’m going to have it tatted under the one on my chest.”
Jo frowned. “The one that means light it up? I don’t know if I like that one higher than the day you fell in love with me.”
“4:20 is the day my son died.”
Tears filled her eyes. The beautiful soul staring down at her with his heart in his eyes was one she would thank God for every day. The mirrors he had hidden behind were gone, exposing the clear reflection of a soul that had endured his fair share of pain yet still held the capacity to love. He hadn’t let it drag him down to a depth he couldn’t recover from. He was merely waiting to find someone who could thaw his heart out so it could beat again.
Her Winston Hero deserved his chance. However, it was really she who had to deserve the chance he was giving her.
“Rider …” Jo nuzzled his neck. “I want a baby. Can you make it happen?” she whispered.
“Yes,” he groaned.
She ran her hands down his trembling back. “I already picked out his name.”
“You have?”
“I want to name him after his father.”
Rider frowned. “I’m not crazy about my given name.”
“I’m not talking about Ty. I’m not crazy about it either. Now Crux”—Jo gave a heartfelt sigh—“that’s the name legends have been borne from.”
Epilogue 1
Her hands on her hips, Jo stared in dismay at the mess in her living room. “Rider, have you seen my cell phone?” she yelled out, lowering her voice when he came out of the bathroom, running a towel through his hair. “I can’t find it anywhere.”
“I’ll get my phone and call it.”
She started picking up the tumbled cushions, then picked up the scraps of black lace. Going to the camera, she removed the pillow that blocked the view of the couch and kitchen, tossing it onto the couch as she went to the trash can.
“Are you calling it?” Jo asked, going down the hallway to her bedroom, seeing him lowering the phone as she neared her room.
“I did. If you didn’t hear it, the battery must be dead.”
“I charged it all the way from Lexington. It should have plenty of charge left.”
“We can find it later. I want to give you your birthday present.”
Jo jumped on the bed, bouncing, holding her hands out.
“I don’t have it here. Let me get dressed.” He laughed, taking out a clean pair of jeans from her dresser. “I’m glad you didn’t throw my clothes out after you broke up with me.”
“I was getting around to it.” She watched as he dressed.
“You ready?” He held his hand out for hers to help her from the bed.
“Yep.”
Laughing, they left her room, going out the front door.
“Are we going to the club?”
“No, it’s in the garage.”
She tried to skip ahead of him, anxious to see her present, but he wouldn’t let her hand go.
“You’re no fun.”
“I had a lot of fun last night.”
She stuck her tongue out at him. “You’re not the one with a sore ass.”
“Your ass isn’t sore.”
“How do you know? It isn’t your ass that’s sore.” She bristled at his surety.
“I was very careful with you being a first-timer.”
“Rider … I can feel another dry spell coming for you.”
“I don’t have to worry about that. You kept screaming out more … more … Rider, more …”
She was still pummeling his shoulder when he opened the garage door. Her eyes widened at what she saw inside.
“For real?”
“For real.” He threw her the keys. “Let’s go for a ride.”
Jo caught the keys before removing the gigantic bow off the car he’d had her restore. She carefully carried the bow to the worktable.
“You’re not saving that bow,” he said as they got in the car.
“Yes, I am. It isn’t often I get a present like this. I want to remember it forever.”
“The car is the reminder, Bluebonnet,” he said, buckling the seat belt.
“I know I’m being ridiculous”—she grinned as she started the engine—“but I’m going to do it anyway. Where we going? I’m hungry.”
“Me, too. Let’s go by the club. It’s lunchtime, and I need to check and make sure an order went out. We can go anywhere you want after that.”
“I can live with that deal.” She had to hold herself back from gunning out of the garage. The car ran like a dream, and she wished they could keep going. Unfortunately, her stomach was protesting.
“After we eat, I’m going to show them my car,” Jo said excitedly as they went up the steps.
“They’ve seen it.”
“They saw it when it was yours. Now it’s mine.” As she went up the last step to t
he porch, it wasn’t Moon who attracted her shocked amazement.
Gripping his arm to keep him from going through the door he was holding open, she couldn’t take her eyes off the holes in the walls she hadn’t noticed before.
“When did that happen?” she asked, concerned that something had happened after they’d left last night.
Rider pulled his arm out of her grip, then put it around her shoulders, urging her inside. “Jo—”
“I’m asking,” she cut him off.
When he moved her forward into the alcove, out of view of the camera, she knew he was giving them privacy.
“The night Aly took you hostage.” His expression was filled with rage, grief, and a pitiless resolve that had her clutching his shirt.
“Who was hurt?”
“Driver.”
Hearing the name of the man she had eavesdropped on at the diner had sorrow filling her. Her lips started quivering.
“He was nervous about meeting Viper. If I hadn’t talked you into letting Jewell stay, he would still be alive.”
“Look at me, Jo.” Rider gently gripped her jaw, forcing her to look at him. “You’re not the reason Driver is dead. Curt is, and so are his family members who took part in the attack. If it was anyone’s else fault, it was mine. I knew the repercussions of firing Curt, but I’ve never run from a bully, and I wasn’t going to start that night.”
“Did he really die using a broom to take a transformer out?”
“He really did.” He caressed her cheek with his thumb as she tried to wrap her mind around the cruelty Curt had inflicted since he’d been a young man. If his family had stopped protecting him when he was younger, two men might still be alive.
“I’m glad he’s not going to hurt anyone else.”
“He’ll never hurt anyone else again, nor will the men who helped him carry out the attack.”
“How many?”
“Eight. They tried to get into Shade’s, Viper’s, and Razer’s houses, and the club. It was an all-out assault.”
“There were babies in those houses!”
“They didn’t care.”
“Are they in jail?”
“No, they aren’t.”
“How …?” She clutched his hands tighter. “Never mind. I don’t want to know. It can’t be traced to The Last Riders?”
He lifted a mocking brow. “What do you think?”
Jo unclenched her fingers, smoothing his T-shirt out. “I’m not hungry anymore.”
“Then you can sit with me. It won’t take me long to check the order. Then we can go.”
Nodding, she followed him into the kitchen, going through the dining room. Finding a seat next to Killyama, she waited for Rider to fix his plate.
“You look like someone took a piss on your leg. What’s wrong?”
“Nothing.”
“I hope you’re better at lying to Rider than to me. Come on; tell me. Another bitch buy your man another box of cereal for him? Tell me who it is, and I’ll whip her ass for you.”
“No, that’s not it.”
Killyama gave her a critical look. “One of them buy him another present? If they did, I can take it off your hands for you.”
“No, they didn’t.”
“Someone watched you and Rider boinking last night?”
Flabbergasted, Jo didn’t know how to respond to the question.
“Don’t look so uppity. It’s just sex. Jesus.”
“Then why did you break all the computers in the security room when I let you talk me into keeping me company when I was working?” Train asked.
“Because of the camera in the living room and the kitchen.” Killyama’s killing glare would have had any sane man backing off. Train was obviously unstable.
“It was just sex,” Train mocked.
Killyama grabbed his T-shirt as Rider took a seat next to him. “Brother, haven’t you learned not to antagonize her?”
“You fuckers both …” Killyama broke off what she was about to say, going back to eating her food. “Yo, Mercury, that’s some killer meatloaf.”
“What were you about to say?” Jo didn’t let her escape so easily.
“Nothin’,” she muttered.
“Did you, Train, and Rider have sex in the living room?” Jo’s teeth snapped together when they denied it.
“Jo …” Having been in the military, Rider knew when a shitstorm was brewing. “I’m done eating. We can go—”
“Shut up.” Jo glared at him. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw Winter sliding out of her chair, taking her full plate. “Winter, have you been with Rider?”
“I have to …” She sat back down at the table when Jo gave her a warning glare. “Hell no. I’m too much woman for him.”
She saw Mercury and Sasha slipping out of the kitchen and into the dining room. It didn’t take a genius to figure out why.
Jo was so furious she wanted to … wanted to … Giving Rider an evil grin, she relaxed back in her chair.
“How about Rachel? Was Cash there too?”
Rider shifted uncomfortably in his chair. “Bluebonnet … this is a private conversation that we can talk about in the car. Remember, we’re going where you want to go.”
Lucky, who was sitting at the table and listening to Rider get put on the spot, was clearly enjoying it too much by the big smirk on his face.
“Lucky, has Rider—”
“God, no.” He shuddered.
Jo had learned one thing since she had been with Rider—things were never as they seemed. “Then how did you know Rider’s leather pants would fit you?”
Consternation filled his face. “We may have used him with a little bit of role-playing,” he admitted.
“Bluebonnet—”
“Okay … I see how it is.” Jo nodded, getting out of her chair.
Confused, Rider watched as, instead of running out in tears, she went behind the counter to make herself a plate of food.
She had just pulled a plate out of the cabinet when Razer and Beth came in from the back door. Seeing everyone looking at them, they stopped.
“Is anything wrong?” Beth asked, looking at Razer, who looked just as confused as her.
“Nothing much, except I found out Rider has been with most of the wives here.”
When Beth paled, Jo waved her fork airily. “Don’t. I’m not upset. After all, it was before Rider and I were a couple. Isn’t that right, Rider?”
“Yes.”
Seeing the truth in his eyes, she stabbed a large chunk of meatloaf. “You know, Rider, I’ve changed my mind. I think I could get into the lifestyle.” She put the last of the potatoes on her plate.
“Which lifestyle?” Rider tensed.
“Sharing. My only hesitation is … Do I get to pick, or do you?”
Rider’s jaw jutted out. His eyes went dark. “Who would you pick?”
Jo took a heaping spoonful of macaroni, pretending to give it some thought. She almost laughed when she saw Killyama evilly smiling back at her.
“Train’s good. You could give him a try.”
Beth moved forward, reaching for a plate. “Razer’s very nimble, if that helps. Are you going to take that roll?”
“No, you can have it.”
“Viper is a control freak, but if you can deal with that, go for it.” Winter turned back to the table and started eating, ignoring her husband’s infuriated face.
“How about Lucky? I’ve never tried role-playing. I’m open to new experiences.” Jo set her plate down on the table, then went to the fridge for a bottled water.
“That’s one experience that won’t be in your future,” Rider snarled.
Jo was closing the fridge when Shade came through the swinging door.
“What’s taking so long?” he asked Rider. “Lily is waiting for me to take her and Clint to the pediatrician’s office.”
“How about Shade?” Jo asked, going back to her chair. “Any of you girls have any experience with Shade?”
Shade�
�s brows lifted in unison.
“No, but if you find out, let me know how it goes. Lily won’t tell us a damn thing,” Killyama complained.
“We won’t be having a threesome with Shade!” Rider scowled at her as she calmly began to eat.
“I was thinking more of a foursome or a fifth-some.”
“I don’t think it’s called a fifth-some.” The teacher in Winter wasn’t going to let that get by her.
Jo’s interest piqued. “What’s it called?”
“An orgy,” Winter supplied helpfully.
“You’re not having sex with four or five men!” Rider fumed.
“Have you ever had sex with four or five women?”
Rider met her gaze head-on. “No.”
“You’re lying. What’s good for the goose is good for the gander.” Jo airily waved her napkin around, then placed it neatly on her lap. “I think I should start small,” she mused out loud. “A foursome is more feasible. Of course, I already have Killyama’s permission. I can text Rachel and ask her if Cash is available. We’re friends; I’m sure it will be fine.”
Beth nodded agreeably, tearing her roll in half. “I’m sure it will be, too.”
Moon came through the swinging door, nearly running into Shade. “I’m starved. Is there any food left?”
“There’s plenty of meatloaf left, Moon. I’m trying to decide who I want to have an orgy with. Are you in?”
Moon, who had been going around Shade, stopped in his tracks, giving her a lecherous grin. “Hell yeah! Brother, I knew you’d come around. Do I have time to eat? I’m going to need my strength—”
Jo managed to catch her water before it spilt as Rider stood, sending the table legs wobbling.
Moon dodged behind Shade when Rider went for him. Shade, to his credit, got Rider, shoving him back toward the table. Killyama was quick enough to move out of the way. Train wasn’t. He was knocked backward, both men falling to the floor.
Rider started to get up when Train punched him in the face.
“Get off! Your fat ass is crushing my dick!”
Rider stopped trying to get off Train, striking him back.
Moon looked like he felt bad that Train was taking his beating. He tried to break up the fight, only to have Rider sweep his feet out from under him.
Seeing the fight getting out of control, Viper and Lucky tried to break them apart, only to find themselves down, too.