by Debra Kayn
A soft knock on the open door interrupted the tension in the room. A woman with shoulder-length gray hair stepped inside, her gaze on Remmy. The woman had a scar running down her lined face, exactly like Risa. Natalie gasped, covering her surprise by clearing her throat.
"Remmy," the woman said, holding out her arms.
Remmy stepped inside her embrace, lowering himself to her level, and holding her. "Slade treating you right?"
The low vibrations of his words showed the emotions behind his question. Natalie hung back, letting him have this moment. Though clueless about so many members of his MC family in Pitnam, she recognized a deep bond when she saw one.
"You know Slade, he's always watching out for me." Taylor rubbed Remmy's cheek. "How are you?"
"Better than I expected." Remmy turned his gaze to Natalie. "I have someone to warm my back now."
Taylor's mouth opened and she quickly shut her lips and smiled. Natalie took that opportunity to approach them both. She circled Remmy's waist with her arm, and shook the woman's hand. "I'm Natalie."
"Taylor. Slade's old lady." Taylor inhaled deeply. "He's going to be surprised and happy about you two being together. Remmy's the last one of the originals to settle down. We were worried about him."
Remmy leaned down and kissed Taylor's scarred cheek. "Thank you for worrying, but you no longer have to mother me."
Taylor laughed. "He's just saying that because I've worked at the bar as long as he's been a Bantorus member. I know all his secrets, and there were times I had to slap him upside the head when he needed to shape up."
"Damn straight." Remmy laughed.
"All right, everyone out of the office. It's turning into another Remmy love fest in here." Rain walked around the desk. "Get your celebrating done, and then we meet."
Remmy walked Natalie out of the office. She placed her hand on his stomach, slowing him down until they were alone in the hallway.
"Is everything okay?" she asked, leaning close to speak over the music from the bar coming down the hallway.
"Yeah." He kissed her, taking his time, all the while rubbing her neck. "You?"
She studied him. His hand kept caressing her. His pelvis leaned into her stomach. His eyes remained on her. Every time he shut himself down, took control, and wanted her to go along with whatever he decided, he tried to distract her. "No."
He lowered his mouth and whispered in her ear, "A couple more hours and I'll take you out back to the cabin. You can go to bed while I meet with the guys."
She shrugged his closeness off and stepped back. "Hang on a minute. Why do I need a prospect watching me here?"
"No reason." He looked over her shoulder. "Everyone's here. Let's go have that beer, huh?"
"Remmy." She planted her hands on his chest. "Talk to me."
He raised his brows and smiled. "Nothing's wrong, lady. Trust me."
For the first time, she had a hard time believing him. He'd always been honest and upfront, keeping her safe and supporting her. Back in the office, something was going on and she had a feeling no one wanted her to know. That meant the problem was with her being here.
Chapter Fifteen
Steam billowed out of the small bathroom in Cabin C. Remmy shook the wet strands of hair out of his eyes, and gazed down at the bed. A bed he slept in for twenty-seven years, and not once had he ever invited a woman inside the cabin.
Until now.
Until Natalie.
He walked over to the bed and swept her hair off the side of her face. His chest warmed and he dragged his finger over the curve of her cheek, selfishly hoping she'd wake up.
She squirmed deeper under the blanket. He dropped his hand to his side. The ride was hard on her, but she proved strong. He heard no complaints during or after, and she'd hung in there as his MC family caught up with him and got to know Natalie. To everyone else, she was polite, attentive, and open. But, he'd seen the struggle she put into her smiles and the way she steered conversations from her life to Remmy.
He'd wanted her to relax, but now was not the time for her to open up about who she was or what happened to her in the recent past. In fact, every time she introduced herself, he worried about her announcing her last name. Luckily, she stuck to first name only, like everyone else.
She made him proud. The contentment that came over him every time she leaned against him, put her hand on his chest, and smiled up at him, sharing a private look that only he understood grabbed his heart and refused to let go. He was one damn lucky man to have found her, and after today, he'd do everything to make sure she got everything she deserved.
He grabbed his vest off the dresser, slipped his arms into the holes, and walked out the door. He stood on the porch taking everything in. Nothing had changed while he'd been gone.
Sure, the original riders were a little older, their hard past catching up on them faster than they could hold it back. But the love, the bonds, the memories were all intact. Younger riders stepped up, and the loyalty and love for the MC was as tight as always.
There were lights on in the end cabin where the bitches stayed. He leaned against the railing. A sweet flash of his own memories warmed him. Damn, he'd had good times in that cabin. Every night, and sometimes two, three times a day, he'd go over there and find company.
"You're getting old," a familiar voice said, right before Slade walked out of the shadows. "Ever since I've known you, you could smell pussy fifty feet away? Yet, I've never known you to stand back and be content sniffing the air."
Remmy chuckled, clasping hands with one of his oldest friends and pulling him in for a chest bump. "Pussy's still the sweetest smell around."
"Better not have your old lady hearing you talk like that." Slade chuckled, and like always, no sound came out, but his chest moved and he smiled. "Hell, I still remember when you talked me into watching your back when you went off with those three chicks from Lagsturns MC. Thought you were going to get us killed."
"Good way to die, bro," Remmy said.
"Yeah." Slade grinned. "Though Taylor would've kicked your ass if something happened to me."
Remmy lifted his chin. "How's she doing?"
Twenty years ago, a rogue Los Li member kidnapped Taylor. The sick son of a bitch beat and tormented her. She almost died, and was lucky to get out of there with her life, while bearing a scar for the world to see, much like Risa's experience with Los Li. There'd been too many Bantorus women hurt, too many narrow escapes, and too many repeat hits on the club for him to think they were safe.
"She's good." Slade paused. "Misses our sons, but she's turning her focus on me, so who am I to complain?"
He was happy for his friend. Raising two boys alone, and then marrying Taylor, Slade was living the dream. Now his sons were grown. Kurt was the president of the Federal Charter, and Lee was out riding nomad and seemed to pop in to Pitnam and Federal when the mood struck. Slade had what Remmy believed the good life. A family, a club, a woman, and two sons that made him proud. There wasn't anything more a man would want to achieve in life.
Two prospects walked out the back of the bar toward the cabin. Slade said, "Crusher and Manley. Good prospects. Your woman will be protected."
His gut tightened. He trusted his brothers, but he wanted to know the reason for the security. "Let's get to the meeting."
Slade walked beside him across the back parking lot that separated the club cabins from the bar. The steps familiar, but it was the odd detachment that surprised him. Federal had become home.
Slade put his hand on the door and paused. "I wanted to say thank you for stepping up as V.P., and looking out for Kurt."
"I'd look out for him regardless if he was president or if the president was any one of the other guys. The choice was mine to go to Federal, and it's been good." Remmy slapped Slade's shoulder. "I've never had the discipline to take on the responsibility of the president's position. I know that, and I think everyone else knows that, and I accept it. Kurt's got his hooks into Bantorus MC deeper than
most and a drive to make sure the club comes out on top. I'd lay down my life for him, brother."
Slade nodded and opened the door. Remmy walked down the hallway into the meeting room and joined the others. For the first time since last summer, Pitnam Bantorus and Federal Bantorus members sat at the same table.
Rain called the meeting to order. Remmy took his seat beside Kurt. The only thing he wanted to hear was why Natalie had guards on her.
"It's a good day when all of Bantorus can sit down together again." Rain leaned forward, bracing his forearms on the edge of the table. "Besides the family reunion, I have news to share that'll hit all of us."
Remmy looked at Kurt, who looked back at him. Whatever came, they had it covered. Federal Charter would continue. The guns deal with the militia, the custom bikes to Lagsturns MC, and continual growth were solid. Whatever problems Rain had in Pitnam, they'd ban together and stop the problem.
"Our scheduled car deliveries to Lagsturns MC have ended as of two days ago. Federal Charter...same goes with the bikes deal you have set up separately. Kurt, you'll get a phone call when you get back to Federal informing you of the news." Rain raised his hand when chairs screeched back away from the table and men moved in agitation.
Remmy's jaw tightened. Okay, that bit of news surprised him.
The Lagsturns were tight, and they'd been working with them for years with no problems. Losing the bike business would put a big hit on the money coming in.
"What's this in retaliation for?" Kurt asked.
Remmy leaned forward. "Whatever it is, it's not on our back. Last delivery went smoothly, and Lagsturns were happy with the products."
Rain shook his head. "Los Li is pressuring them, and Duck wants out."
Remmy ran his hand over his jaw. Duck became president of the Lagsturns MC years ago after Raul, now a Bantorus member, deflected, and came to Bantorus MC.
"They've always had their problems running the middle of the road, but over the last ten years, more of the members prefer to run on the other side of the law and the heat is getting hot on their backs. Duck's outnumbered and he's lost four members in the last six months to Los Li. He doesn't want anyone else being put in the ground and has asked to merge with Capiton MC in Arizona...he's going to retire," Rain said. "Unless our club wants to take them in."
"Hell, no." Torque said, standing up. "We can't trust them, and I won't have them anywhere near Brandy."
"Not coming near Taylor," Slade added.
Kurt nodded. "Same goes for me."
"No way," Remmy said.
"Let's put it to vote." Rain banged the table with his fist. "Anyone disagree with the table, say nay."
Silence filled the room. Rain nodded. "It's official, and I'll let Lagsturns MC know this afternoon. It'll take them a good nine months or more to disband. That ends the meeting. Kurt, Remmy, Slade, stay after."
Once the others left the room, they all stood. Remmy ran his hands through his hair, trying to shove out the predictions of what could happen with this new move. The risk of taking the bikes to a new club, in a new state, brought on a completely new set of problems. He'd grown comfortable with their smaller group in Federal. The business they ran, the Silver Girls, and now time had changed once again.
"I'll put a call in with Capiton's president, and see if they want to pick up the motorcycles deal. They're neutral, and prefer to stay far away from the Mexican mafia. Though the extra travel to Arizona will require cutting the runs down to twice a year, we'll have to beef up security because we'll have to ride through Los Li's territory," Kurt said.
"Right." Rain folded his arms across his chest. "That's what I wanted to suggest. The other thing I wanted to talk to you both about is Lee."
Kurt's shoulders went back. "What about my brother?"
Lee spent his time running wild, not wanting to settle down and claim Bantorus. The last time Remmy saw Lee was last year when he showed up in Federal for a few hours and then left.
"He hasn't contacted me," Slade muttered.
Rain nodded. "You both knew he was staying with Lagsturns MC, and I received word that he's moved on. Considering none of us has heard a word, I wanted you to know that Duck informed me that Lee rode out two months ago, and never came back. I've had feelers out, but haven't heard anything yet. But we're talking about Lee. No news is good news when it comes to him."
Slade walked off toward the window. Kurt fisted his hands and cussed under his breath. Remmy stepped forward. "Let's send riders out and bring him back."
Rain opened his mouth, but Kurt said, "No. His past habits have always been to keep moving. We wait."
"Son," Slade's mouth hardened. "I'll look for Lee. I'll take Taylor, and we'll hit each club from here to Arizona."
Kurt shook his head. "You know he's fine, dad. Lee's got it in his blood to take care of himself. Give him time. We'll keep ourselves open and he'll contact us."
Jesus Christ. Remmy sank down in the chair. What else could happen?
"I'm guessing the uproar with Lagsturns splitting is the reason you have the women more protected. I need to know if there's been any sign that the fallout from Lagsturns MC will be helping Los Li. Did they have their hand on anything to do with killing Natalie's husband?" he asked.
"Not that I've heard. Los Li acted alone, because they want Federal in their territory." Rain leaned forward, his facial expressions set in stone. "As long as your woman continues to believe it was a suicide/murder, you've covered your ass on them coming after your club. If she decides to start questioning what really happened, and the wrong people get ahold of that message, she'll have a target on her back that's going to be near impossible to remove. "
The club could protect themselves, but too many people knew the truth.
Bantorus Mc.
Los Li.
Sheriff Colby.
Will Oman.
He had to get rid of Will. The last of the Oman brothers wanted justice and believed someone murdered his brothers. His vocal protests and public desire to change Natalie's mind would get him killed. If Los Li caught wind that everything laid on Natalie believing the reports and she wavered, they'd kill her.
That put Los Li's attention on Natalie for the unforeseeable future.
Fuck.
He'd continue to lie about what happened last summer to keep them all alive, and the only way he could do that was to shut Will down and keep him away from Natalie.
Chapter Sixteen
A rough, but pleasant caress roamed over the surface of Natalie's bare butt. She stretched her arms underneath the pillow, refusing to open her eyes. The achy muscles in her thighs and lower back protested the movement, and she wanted the soothing sensation to continue.
"You've got a hot ass," Remmy whispered in her ear.
She smiled against the pillow. "Really?"
"Yeah. Your ass is a lot warmer than your feet were last night when I crawled into bed after the meeting. Coldest damn toes I've ever felt." He chuckled, giving her backside a slap.
She jolted, but he quickly rubbed the sting away. She turned her head and opened her eyes. "You could've kept that information to yourself."
"Why? The cold reminded me that I had a warm-blooded woman in my bed." He slipped a finger between her legs, into her moisture, and caressed her slit.
She widened her legs. "Maybe I'm cold blooded."
"Hm," he said, but it came out a low growl that made his fingers wetter. "Don't feel cold."
He was right. Her body, sleep warmed and lax, heated more from his explorations between her legs.
He threw his leg over hers and dragged her thigh closer, widening her more. She raised her head. "If you let me move, I can touch you."
"Nah, I like where you are." His finger dipped deeper.
She moaned in agreement. Whatever he wanted to do was okay with her. More than okay, because she needed him to stay focused on her. Last night, going to bed alone in a strange cabin, put doubts in her mind. Remmy enjoyed his family and belonge
d here. She was a stranger to everyone, but him. With extra time to herself, she wondered how much his bond with those in Pitnam counted toward his decisions in his life. Would Rain ask him to stay? Did he miss the friendships he had with the women here? Maybe he'd compare his relationship with her to the loyalty of having his MC family close, and want to stay.
His finger zeroed in on the sensitive bundle of nerves. Her hips came off the bed and back down, grinding against his hand.
"Like that, lady," he whispered.
God, she did too.
The weight of his leg pinned her down. She squirmed, meeting his hand. He pushed to his knees and situated himself between her thighs. Then his hand was gone and the crinkle of a condom wrapper filled the silence. Her stomach fluttered. She wanted his full weight on her. His cock inside her body. She needed the connection with him that reminded her that he was here, with her, only her.
He gripped her hips and lifted her to her hands and knees in front of him. She looked over her shoulder at him. His aroused gaze stared back at her.
"Take it," he said.
Emotions flooded her body. She struggled to keep her eyes open. It wasn't hard to do exactly what he asked.
"Please," she said, rocking her hips back.
His hands smoothed her skin, warming her hips, her ass, her thighs. He pulled his hips back, and she cried out in need.
"Please." She panted. "Please."
He brought her hips back and plunged inside of her. Wild and wet, she bucked, desperate to have him pound inside of her, leaving touchable proof that he'd consumed her.
He withdrew from her body.
Her eyes met his and something passed between them. "Baby...please."
"Always," he whispered.
She'd connected with him numerous times, only this morning the power of emotions coming from him multiplied. Her body trembled in reaction.
He fisted his cock and guided himself inside of her. Unable to keep looking at him over her shoulder, she let her head fall between her arms. He pushed inside of her inch by inch, filling her. She moaned softly and he throbbed inside of her.