Jax picked the wrong time to take a drink because he ended up choking on it when he laughed.
“Fuck, the shit she’d wear. No wonder we were all panting after her.” Cam said.
“First girl I ever saw in a bikini that small.” Jax chuckled.
“Remember how pissed Mom was when she saw her in our pool?” Brody’s eyes widened. “I thought she was going to kill us.”
“In our defense, we didn’t know she was going to wear something like that when we invited her.” I used the excuse we’d used all those years ago.
Jax laughed. “I remember that excuse not working.”
“I remember her.” Jake announced. “Gave me my first boner.”
We laughed harder, Cam finally speaking up. “You weren’t even at the pool. Mom made you go in when she saw Sally.”
“I watched from the window.” He sighed. “I will never forget that cherry red bikini.”
“It wasn’t red.” Jax shook his head. “It was white.”
“It was white.” Chris agreed. “I remember because I could see her nipples when it got wet.” He sighed. “My first nipple up close.”
“Who the hell had the red bikini?” Jake said over the latest round of laughter.
“Layla Cross.” Brody and I said at the same time, looked at each other and laughed.
“Ahh that’s right. Layla.” Jake said.
I stood and faced my brothers, all smiling and laughing, listening to them talk about things that happened what feels like a hundred years ago.
“You remember what Pop said when Sally left that day?” Brody asked.
I met his stare. “Yep.”
“He pulled us all into the garage, I remember that.” Cam smiled.
“Said we had to have the conversation in the garage because Mom was pretty fucking pissed.” I added.
Jake grinned. “I remember it because it was the first time he sat all of us boys together, said we were all old enough to hear what he had to say.”
“I’m pretty sure I was too young to be there. Wasn’t I like eight years old or something?” Ben laughed.
“He said since we invited you guys to the pool to swim, we all had to hear it.” Brody ran his hand over the back of his neck. “But to this day, I don’t remember inviting you two.”
“You didn’t.” Jake smirked. “We just told Mom you did. She was so fucking happy you were including us, she didn’t say no.”
“Until Sally showed up and shimmied out of her cut-offs.”
We all sighed. “That’s right. The cut-offs.” Jax shook his head. “I’m saying this right now, if Mia ever tries to wear the shit Sally wore, I’m locking her in her bedroom.”
“I hear that, man.” Brody agreed.
“Remind me what Pop said. I can’t remember.” Ben took a drink from the bottle in his hand.
I thought back, remembering our dad and the pride on his face that day, every day when he spoke to us. “He said he always knew there would come a time that we would argue over something that meant something to all of us. We’d have choices to make about where we stood, where our loyalties would lie.”
Jax nodded. “He said, you will have days that you will fight and disagree, but you’ll only do that with the people that matter, all the others won’t be worth your effort.”
Brody smiled, lost in the memory with the rest of us. “And as long as you can have a beer at the end of that shit day with your brothers, you’ll all be the men I’m raising you to be.”
We were quiet for a moment until Chris spoke up. “You think Pop remembers that conversation?”
“That man doesn’t forget any damn thing.” Jax grinned.
Brody’s eyes came to mine, his serious again. “You got us brother, whatever you need. You know that. And in my experience, the women who make you work the hardest for it, are the ones worth having.” He raised his beer and grinned. “To Sally Lawson, who taught us brothers mean more than tiny fucking bikini’s.”
We all laughed and raised our bottles, thinking about his words. Words for all of us that have been proven true, time and time again.
“Did anyone actually get in that girl’s pants?” Jake asked.
Jax snorted, causing Brody and I to grin. “You remember when Jax came home from football practice with the shit beat out of him?”
All heads turned to Brody, but Ben spoke. “Senior year, right?”
“That was courtesy of Sally’s brother, Eric.”
Ben’s eyes widened. “He caught you?”
Jax nodded, but still couldn’t stop the grin. “In the backseat of my car.” He shook his head. “Christ, he kicked the shit out of me. I didn’t even have time to pull my damn pants up before he dragged my ass out of the car and landed his first punch.”
Jake laughed, holding his stomach. “Shit, that would’ve been fucking funny.”
“What did you do?” Ben asked.
“Not a fucking thing. That guy was out of school already and on the underground fighting circuit.” Jax put his hands up, the beer bottle dangling from his fingers. “Even I know when I’m beat.”
We all nodded in agreement, but then Cam asked. “What ever happened to Sally?”
“She’s married.” I said.
“How do you know?” Brody asked.
“Her husband is a public defender. I ran into them together,” I groaned. “Actually, the night I took Tonya out.”
“What’s he like?” Chris asked.
“Honestly, not at all the kind of guy I thought she’d end up with.” I shrugged. “He’s thin, glasses, not all that attractive.” I raised the bottle to my lips. “Helluva nice guy though and pretty good at his job from what I’ve heard.”
“How’d she look?” Ben asked and then rolled his eyes at all of us. “Oh, come on, you all want to know.”
I laughed. “I think she’d still look pretty damn good in that bikini.”
That made me think of Kate and smile, knowing there wasn’t a woman in the world that could compare to her, not for me anyway. I leaned back against the railing and watched my brothers talking and laughing, loving that I had this, that our parents gave this to us and that our Dad had enough sense to teach us how valuable it actually is.
After I’d been shot, I vowed to never take this for granted and I knew without asking that my brothers had vowed the same.
Being with them tonight, reminded me why.
CHAPTER NINETEEN
KATE
Grabbing my purse from behind the bar, I smiled at Tucker and Logan, both of whom were grabbing their things as well.
Tucker slung his arm around my shoulders. “You look beat.”
“I think I need to wear more make-up or something since everyone says that to me all the time.”
He wiggled his eyebrows. “You still look hot.”
I laughed and playfully shoved his shoulder. “You’re such a liar.”
He followed me outside, locking up behind us. It had been busy, but thankfully the bar cleared well before we were scheduled to close, so we got everything cleaned up and were out the door by two, which didn’t happen often.
“See ya tomorrow, Kate.” Logan yelled as he made his way to his car parked a few down from mine.
“See ya Logan.” I looked up at Tucker who was walking beside me. “He okay? He seemed quiet tonight.”
Logan and Tucker were usually the life of the crowd, especially on busy nights. They always had the stools filled and smiles on their faces, but tonight Logan seemed like his smiles were forced.
Tucker frowned watching his friend walk to his car. “He hasn’t said, but I’m guessing it’s a woman.”
I stopped beside my car and unlocked the door, looking back up at Tucker after I did. “What makes you think that?”
He smirked and tucked a piece of hair falling out of my ponytail behind my ear. “It’s always a woman, sweetheart.”
I rolled my eyes, making him chuckle. “I’ll watch you pull out.”
I nodded be
cause he said the same thing every time he walked me out, which is a lot considering one of them walks out the waitresses every night. Bella left a few minutes before us with Pike, and our new waitress Melanie left with some of the bouncers. I waved good-bye and slid into my car, happy when it started right up, knowing one of these times it wasn’t going to. Backing out, I took off in the direction of Jane’s house and sighed. I wish tonight was Saturday or Sunday so I could just go home where Luke would already have Andy in bed and go to bed myself. I was getting too comfortable with our schedule and spoiled by it. I hadn’t had help with Andy in three years, well if I was being honest, ever really, but especially since Kurt left, so Luke’s help felt nice.
I turned at the light to get back into town, being that the bar was a little way out of town, and noticed a car behind me also turned. That was odd. Usually at this time of night, I was alone on the streets. I kept going, but became aware that the car behind me was staying close. I felt a shiver run down my back and not the good kind. I turned off on another street, not towards Jane’s house and felt my heart race when the car also turned.
I reached across to the passenger seat where my purse was sitting and pulled it onto my lap. Keeping my eyes on the road, I dug in my purse until I felt my phone and I pulled it out, throwing my purse back to the other seat.
Should I call 911? Looking in the rearview mirror, I saw they were still right behind me and no other cars were around. I didn’t want to go to Jane’s or home if they were following me, but I didn’t know if this was actually an emergency or a strange coincidence. Feeling my stomach knot again, I glanced down at my phone and pulled up my favorites list, hitting a name and refusing to even consider why I put Luke’s number in my favorites list when only my sister had been there before.
It rang a few times, and I kept driving straight, not even sure where I was at this point. I tapped my thumb on the steering wheel constantly glancing in the rearview mirror, hoping he would pick up.
“Kate.” Luke’s drowsy voice came across the line and I almost sighed in relief.
“Luke.” I breathed.
“Baby, what’s wrong?” I heard rustling sounds and assumed he was moving around.
“I think maybe someone’s following me.”
“Where are you?” His voice sounded scary.
“Umm…I don’t know. I…I turned off to see if they followed me and they did and now I think I’m lost. I didn’t want to go to Jane’s if they are following me.”
“That was smart. I’m on my way. Do me a favor and look around, tell me what you see.”
I heard a vehicle start and felt a fresh wave of relief through my body knowing he was on his way to find me. I looked around, but there wasn’t much. “Um… I just passed a gas station, but I can’t see the name on the sign. It’s so dark, there’s no street lights or anything.”
“Are they still behind you?”
I glanced in my rearview mirror again. “Yeah.” I saw a fenced in area that looked like a school. “I just passed a school I think, but it looked kind of run-down.”
“That’s good. Stay on that road and in about a mile you’ll see a building to the left, turn there. That’s the Motorcycle Club Bear runs. I’m going to hang up with you and call him, see if anyone’s there.”
“Okay.” I nodded, feeling comfortable going to Bear’s club because I’d talked with him and his MC brothers at the bar several times while I was working. “You’ll call me back, right?”
His voice softened. “Yeah, baby, I’ll call you right back.”
“Okay.” I whispered and dropped the phone to my lap when he hung up. I drove only another minute when the phone rang and I answered. “Luke?”
“It’s me, honey, go straight to the compound. Gunner’s there and he’s already waiting outside for you. I’ll be there in five minutes.”
“Okay.”
“You okay?” He asked.
“Not really.” I admitted.
“You will be.” He promised. “I’m only a few minutes behind you.”
“I see it and I see Gunner.” I announced when the large building came into my sight.
“Pull in.”
I did what he said and pulled in, watching Gunner’s head turn from my car and watch the car behind me as it kept going. “They kept going.”
“Good.” He said. “Is Gunner there?”
“He’s coming to the car.” I said.
“Alright, baby, I want you to get out and go inside with him. I’ll be there in a minute.”
“Okay.” I pulled the phone from my ear as Gunner pulled my door open. I stepped out and rose to my full height, moving aside so he could shut my door.
“Hey, honey, you okay?” He asked in a sweet voice.
I nodded. He reached down and grabbed my hand, pulling me beside him into the clubhouse. It was dimly lit and completely vacant, but I still felt safe. He dropped my hand and moved behind the bar, grabbing a water from the small refrigerator and twisting off the cap, before handing it to me.
I took a drink. “Thanks.”
“We’ll wait for your man and you can tell us what happened.”
I nodded again, not even considering his words. At this moment, Luke was my man, at least to Gunner, and surprisingly that knowledge made me feel safe. I took the time to look at Gunner when he stepped back behind the bar and grabbed a few beers, popping the tops and coming back around. He was what I’d describe as rugged. Dark hair, dark eyes, tall and muscular, but not in the bulky way, in the lean way. He was handsome, but all the guys in the MC are handsome in a rugged way, which makes me wonder why they’re all single.
The door slammed open, making me jump in my seat and turn. Watching Luke take long strides across the bar, his eyes focused so intensely on me, made my stomach flip. God, I wanted him in a way I never dreamed I’d ever want a man. I slid off my seat when he got to me seconds before he pulled me into his arms and tucked my head under his chin, his hand rubbing up and down my back. I took in a deep breath, feeling completely safe, and wanted to crawl into his body and have him protect me so I’d never feel that scared again.
“I need to call Jane.” I started to pull back, the thought having just occurred to me. She had to be wondering where I was and why it was three in the morning and I wasn’t there for Andy.
“I already did, honey. After we hung up.”
That didn’t surprise me. I didn’t know how he had her number and I didn’t care. I snuggled in tight, not letting go even when I heard the door open and slam closed again. When Luke pushed me back a little and leaned down, his facing coming close to mine, I sighed. “Can you tell us what happened?”
I nodded and stepped back, sitting back on to the stool and facing Luke, Gunner and Bear who just arrived. They all looked pissed.
“Start at the beginning, honey.” Bear said.
“Okay, well…umm…” I thought back and tried to organize my thoughts. “Tucker walked me out and waited until I pulled out of the parking lot before he left. He goes the opposite way to me though.” Luke nodded so I continued. “It wasn’t long before I noticed a car behind me, which was odd because there’s never traffic when I leave the bar. I usually don’t see anyone.” I swallowed hard and fidgeted with my fingers settled in my lap. “I had a weird feeling when the car stayed behind me, so I turned on a random street and they did too. Then I kept driving because I didn’t want to go to Jane’s and I didn’t want to go home, but I’d gotten myself all turned around, so that’s when I called Luke.”
He smiled softly and I could tell by the look on his face he was happy I’d done that. “Can you tell us what the car looked like?”
I thought for a minute, but then shook my head. “I don’t know. It was so dark and all I could see in my mirror were their lights, really.”
“It was small, four door, dark color. I’d have followed him if someone else had been here to stay with Kate.”
“I feel silly now.” I admitted. “I mean, what if they weren’t fol
lowing me?”
“They were.” Gunner said.
“How can you be sure?”
“Two reasons. One, there’s nothing else out here but our stuff, the clubhouse, the garage. No reason to be out here unless you’re in the MC, especially at this time of night.”
“What’s the second reason?” I asked.
He narrowed his eyes. “They slowed down when you turned, telling me they were considering following you in. My guess, they saw me and changed their mind.”
Bear put his hands on his hips and looked to the ground. “Your call, brother. I can have boys out scouring or you can send your boys. Probably not wise to do both.”
Luke took a deep breath. “I’ll let Pike know, get eyes on the bar, make sure she has an escort home.”
Bear nodded. “You need us, you know where to find us.”
Luke faced Bear and Gunner. “Thanks. I owe you one.”
Bear slapped his hand across Luke’s shoulder. “No marker. We’re good.” Bear stood in front of me, looking in my eyes before he pulled me in for a short hug. “Stay safe, sweetheart.”
“You did good tonight, honey.” Gunner said when Bear pulled back. “You played it smart.”
That made me feel good and I smiled. “Thanks guys.”
“You want us to follow, drive your car for you?”
I shook my head. “No, it’s just easier if I drive it back.”
Gunner’s eyebrows drew in. “You sure?”
I nodded and looked around him at Luke when I heard his voice. “We should go then, get Andy, get you guys home.”
I moved past Bear and Gunner and smiled softly. “Thanks again, guys.”
They watched as Luke grabbed my hand and we walked out together, him leading me to my car. “I know you want to drive, but I’m going to follow you and I’m staying with you tonight.”
“Luke—”
He wrapped his arm around my waist and put his face close to mine. “I need this Kate. You scared the hell out of me when you called tonight. I need to make sure you’re safe.”
“Okay.” I whispered, conceding quickly because I didn’t want to be alone and I was too tired to come up with a good reason why he shouldn’t stay. I’m sure there were hundreds and I’d worry about all of them tomorrow, but tonight I was going to take what I needed, at the same time giving him what he wants.
Kate (The Dimarco Series Book 5) Page 13