“What?” she asked, frowning at the way he studied her.
And then as if he’d read her mind he said cryptically, “Be careful what you wish for darlin’.”
“What do you mean?”
“Let me tell you something about our boy in there.” He nodded his head toward the motel office. “When he’s bound and determined to do something, he’s gonna do it.
“I understand that.”
“I don’t think you do, Skylar. He’s on the road to be VP. It’s all he’s wanted for a long fuckin’ time. You on board for that? Because let me tell you, ain’t nothing gonna knock him off that road.”
“I…”
“If you’re gonna be the old lady of the club’s VP, you’re gonna have to toughen up. You’re gonna have to be strong for him when he needs you. There’ll be times—behind closed doors—when he’s gonna need to lay some heavy shit on you—when he’s gonna need to let the shield down. You’re gonna have to be able to take that weight off his shoulders even if it’s just for a few hours. Things can be stressful with the club; he doesn’t need stress at home, too. Home—that’s gotta be solid. You understand where I’m coming from?”
“I think so.”
“Shit may even go down this weekend. He’s gonna be watchin’ to see how you handle it. See if you’re the woman who can stand by his side through all the shit this club can bring. Make no mistake, good times are gonna outweigh the bad. Wouldn’t be a single member if they didn’t. But it’s how a person handles the bad times that speaks volumes. He’s got to know you believe in him. Gotta feel it to his bones. That goes for when he tells you to do something, he’s doin’ it for your own good. He’s got to know you trust in him enough to do what he says without questions, backtalk or arguments. And it’s more than just that. It’s knowin’ he can count on you to be there for him. Knowin’ you’ll always be there for him when he needs you. That’s what it’s all about.”
“And what about me? What I need?”
“Darlin’, you prove yourself, he’ll be there for you, too. In all the ways you need him to be.”
“So, I have to prove myself to him?”
“Don’t we all have to prove ourselves in some way? Aren’t you waiting for him to prove himself to you? That he won’t ever let you down again the way he did before?”
“I thought you didn’t know anything about that.”
“I don’t, but I’m betting he’s the one that fucked it up. Am I right?”
The way she looked away must have given him all the answer he needed, because he continued, “If you think he’s not watching to see how you handle the shit this life, the MC life, can throw at you, you’re wrong.”
“Shit this life can throw at me?” She repeated his words back at him.
He let out an aggravated breath. “You know what I’m talkin’ about, Hotrod. Shit like Ashley. Shit like the DKs at the gate yesterday.”
She dipped her head, studying the blacktop under her feet.
“Shit like that happens, you can’t run and hide or bury your head in the sand.”
“All right, Ghost. I get the message.”
“For what it’s worth, I think you’ve got it in you. You could be a damn good ol’ lady to him, if you just step up, girl.”
She smiled up at him then. “Thanks.”
“I know it’s none of my business, and I should stay out of it, but maybe I just want you two to work out. I’m givin’ you a piece of advice because I don’t want either of you to fuck this up. So take it in the way it was intended. You want to make this work, I’m givin’ you a little guidance to ease your way into this life.”
“I appreciate that, Ghost. I do.”
“Yeah, well, nobody wants unsolicited advice, but you took it pretty well, darlin’.”
She chuckled and repeated his words from earlier that morning. “Don’t take this the wrong way but…”
“Yeah, yeah. From now on just tell me to shut the fuck up.”
When Shades came back out, he didn’t look happy.
“They’re full up.”
“You’re kidding? In this Podunk town?”
“Some family reunion. Clerk said there are hundreds of ‘em in town.”
“So we riding on to Slidell?”
“Guy at the desk called around. Place two blocks down on the left has one room left.”
“One?” Skylar asked.
“Yup. Just one.”
Ghost grinned over at her. “Don’t worry, Hotrod, I don’t snore.”
They headed over there and checked in. After unloading their bags off the bikes and storing them in the room, Ghost headed for the door.
“I’m going to that bar across the street.” He winked. “Give you two a little alone time.”
“You don’t have to do that, Ghost,” Skylar offered, hating to run him off.
“Oh, yeah he does,” Shades said with more force.
Ghost grinned. “I turn into a pumpkin at midnight, so that gives you a couple hours, Romeo.”
“Thanks, man.”
Ghost winked at Skylar before he left.
****
Skylar was still awake when the door opened quietly and Ghost moved into the room. She glanced at the clock radio on the nightstand. One am. She was on her side, facing the door across the empty second bed in the room. Shades was pressed up against her with his chest to her back, his arm tight around her waist.
“The bikes okay?” Shades murmured sleepily without moving a muscle.
“Yeah, man, they’re fine,” Ghost replied, pulling his shirt over his head.
Skylar couldn’t help but let her eyes run over him admiringly.
“Close your eyes, Skylar,” Shades murmured, again without moving.
Ghost’s eyes dropped to hers, and he grinned as he reached for his belt buckle. “She can watch; I ain’t shy.”
Shades hand came down over her eyes. She reached up to grab at his hand, managing to peek through while giggling.
Ghost dropped his pants and crawled into bed.
“Oh, my,” Skylar whispered in awe of all that was Ghost.
Shades flipped her over to face him. “Okay, babe. Enough of checking out a brother.”
She giggled again.
“Guess there’s only one way to shut you up,” he grumbled, and his mouth descended on hers.
“Oh, good. The shows about to start,” Skylar heard Ghost tease and broke the kiss long enough to peek over her shoulder and see Ghost turned on his side facing them, his head propped in his hand.
She shoved against Shades chest in a panic. “No show. Just sleeping. Goodnight, Ghost.”
He fell back onto his back and folded his arms under his head. “Damn. Night, Hotrod.”
****
The next morning, Shades awoke to feel Skylar crawl out of bed and go in the bathroom. He remembered from before that she was an early riser. The sound of the shower turning on carried through the bathroom door. A minute later, the sound of her humming in the shower drifted out.
“She always this cheerful in the morning?” Ghost grumbled, his eyes still shut.
“Yeah, usually.”
“Christ,” Ghost muttered sleepily. “How do you handle it?”
“I usually fuck her, and she goes back to sleep,” Shades replied with a yawn.
“During or after?”
“Smartass.”
The singing continued, a little off key.
“Well, don’t let me stop you,” Ghost grumbled and put a pillow over his head.
“Fuckface.”
Fifteen minutes later, the door opened, and Skylar walked out wrapped in a towel, followed by a cloud of steam.
Ghost whistled, and Shades lifted his head turning to look at her.
“Hey, baby. Come over here a second,” Shades said in a sexy rumble.
She grinned at him, shaking her head. “I’m on to you.”
“Come on, baby. Don’t be like that. At least come over here, and give me a shot of wh
at’s under that towel.”
“You know what’s under this towel.”
“Yeah, don’t mean I don’t want to see it every chance I get.”
She blew him a kiss as she moved toward her pack, dug through it for a change of clothes and returned to the bathroom, closing the door.
****
Ten minutes later, Skylar came back out and moved toward the in-room coffee maker. She was dying for a cup of coffee. After fiddling with it for a minute, she had a pot brewing.
Ghost lifted his head off the pillow as the rich aroma filled the room. “Make me a cup, darlin’.”
Skylar turned to him and smiled. She glanced over at Shades, but he appeared dead to the world. It didn’t take long for that man to fall back asleep.
When the coffee was ready, Skylar poured two cups and carried one in each hand. She held one out to Ghost. He sat up, swinging his legs over the side of the bed, grabbing a handful of sheet to keep his crotch covered. Her eyes skated over all the exposed skin.
“Thanks. You’re an angel.” He took the cup from her hand and took a sip.
“You have a girl, Ghost?”
His eyes met hers over the rim of his cup, and he almost choked. Pulling the cup away and swallowing, he replied, “What?”
“A girl. An ol’ lady. Do you have one?”
“Nope. Why?”
She shrugged. “You’re a good looking guy. I figured with your looks and your humor, there had to be someone.”
“Thanks, darlin’.” He took her hand and lifted it to his mouth, pressing a kiss to the back.
Shades twisted in the bed, turning to look, his hair rumpled from sleep, he grumbled, “Quite tryin’ to steal my woman.”
“Wouldn’t be hard, cranky ass,” Ghost replied, smiling at Skylar.
“And where’s my coffee?” Skylar and Ghost both chuckled at his pouting, and then she moved to get Shades coffee. When she handed it to him, he asked, “Isn’t it your man you’re supposed to bring coffee to first?”
She rolled her eyes. “I was just being nice.”
“You don’t have to be nice to Ghost. He’s used to women being mean to him.”
“Hey, speak for yourself, whiny ass. Women love me.”
“Yeah, right.”
CHAPTER EIGHTEEN
They loaded up the bikes again and headed down the road. A couple hours later, they arrived in Slidell, and Shades and Ghost pulled the bikes into the parking lot of a bar and grill.
Skylar followed Shades inside, her hand gripped firmly in his. He pulled a stool out for her while he and Ghost took the stools on either side of her. Shades ordered them a couple of beers, and then he pulled his cell out of his pocket and made a call.
It was a short phone call, telling whoever was on the other end that they were here, and to meet them down at Boudreaux’s.
When he disconnected, she asked him, “Who was that?”
He looked over at her. “Brothers are gonna come and lead us into the clubhouse. We’ve never been there, and apparently it’s hard to find.”
“Oh.”
“You hungry?” he asked, looking down at her beer.
She shrugged. “I could eat.”
“You, Ghost?”
“Yeah, I’m starved, Brother.”
Shades motioned the bartender over and ordered them all shrimp po’boys. When the food came, Skylar tore into it.
“Mmm, this is awesome. I can’t believe I’ve never had one of these,” she exclaimed enthusiastically around a mouthful of food.
Shades grinned at her and reached to wipe a glob of sauce off her mouth. “Glad you like it, babe.”
They were just finishing their food when the door opened, and in strolled two guys in Evil Dead cuts, except the bottom rocker on theirs read Louisiana. Shades and Ghost both got up off their stools and did the whole ‘back-slap’ thing that men do. Skylar stayed seated, her eyes running over the two men.
After Shades took care of the bill, they headed outside, and they all mounted up. Shades and Ghost followed the two men out of the parking lot. They rode out of town and down several back roads. They passed some old fish camps, houses up on stilts over the water of the many inlets. There was Spanish moss hanging from the trees that hung over the road creating an eerily beautiful canopy for them to pass under. At several points the narrow road they were on ran adjacent to the bayou, no more than ten yards from the pavement. Skylar couldn’t help but gaze around wondering about alligators.
Eventually they pulled into what reminded Skylar of a stockade. There was a tall wooden privacy fence surrounding the entire compound. The gates swung open as they approached, and Skylar realized there were a couple of guys up on a walkway behind the wall next to the gate. Once they passed through, two men scrambled to push the heavy gates closed again.
There was a large dirt and gravel parking lot with a big metal building that sat to the back of the property. The front section of the v-shaped roof extended out over a cement slab creating a large covered patio. On it were four picnic tables scattered around. About two-dozen bikes were parked out front.
They parked the bikes in an open space and climbed off. Shades grabbed Skylar’s hand and pulled her along behind him until they were out of the line of bikes.
Skylar’s eyes were darting everywhere, taking it all in, the clubhouse, the number of bikes, the brothers smoking by the corner, and the guy at the door. She pulled back.
That must have gotten his attention because Shades turned back to her, tightening his grip on her hand. “Skylar, eyes on me.”
Her wide eyes came to him immediately.
“You’re with me. I’m not gonna let anything happen to you, understand?”
She nodded.
“Just stay close.”
“Okay.”
They walked through the door, following the two men that had come to lead them here. The inside of the building was cavernous. Skylar had expected the ceiling to go all the way to the roof, with exposed metal beams and such, but the ceiling was low, indicating there must be a second story above them. There was a large half-circle bar on the right with about a dozen bar stools. Recessed lighting cast the room in a soft amber shade. The floor was polished concrete stained to a rich caramel colored. Some tables sat off to the left. Then there were a couple of pool tables also on the left. Further back in the far right corner, Skylar could see a small workout area set up with weights and punching bags.
The building also appeared to be empty, except for a couple of prospects over behind the bar. That’s where the two men led them.
“Grouch, get them whatever they want,” the bald one ordered one of the prospects. Then he turned to Shades and Ghost and ordered, “Wait here. I’ll tell Undertaker you’re here.”
They both moved off toward a large staircase in the back of the room.
Once they’d disappeared, the prospect came over and asked, “What’ll you have?”
Shades turned to Skylar. She looked at the prospect and said, “I’ll have a cola if you have one.”
“Sure thing.” He nodded and reached below him into a cooler, pulled a can out and set it in front of her.
The men both opted for a beer, and two long necks were set in front of them.
Ghost turned to Shades. “You got about two minutes before they come back, Brother. You might want to give her a heads up.” He nodded in Skylar’s direction, and she frowned wondering what he was referring to.
“Not exactly the way Butcher wanted it.”
“Don’t be an ass. No matter what Butcher said, you can’t let her walk in there blind.”
Shades set his bottle down, and Skylar could see his jaw clench. What on earth was going on? And what did Ghost mean ‘let her go in there blind’? Go in where blind?
Before she could form the words to ask, Shades was off his stool and pulling her across the room, out of earshot of the two prospects, who were trying to look busy wiping down the spotless bar.
Shades came to a stop
on the other side of one of the pool tables and turned to face her. He took her other hand in his, holding both of them, and he looked down at her.
“I’ve got to come clean with you about this trip, sweetheart.”
“What are you talking about?”
“Gotta tell you something. I need you to keep your cool and hear me out.”
“Okay.” He was really starting to scare her.
“There was a reason we came down here. A reason I brought you down here.”
“To lay low from the DKs, right?”
“No.”
“No?”
“Butcher wanted Undertaker to meet you.”
“Who’s Undertaker?”
“New Orleans Chapter President.”
“Why in the world would he want me to meet him?”
“Because, he thinks—” Shades blew out a breath. “He may be your father.”
“What?”
“Just listen to me a minute before you freak out. That photo strip you have of your mother. When Slick saw it, he recognized the man in the photo. It was Undertaker.”
Skylar started to try to pull free of his grasp, feeling completely betrayed, but he held on tight. “Let me go. Why would you do this to me?”
“Listen to me, Skylar. This wasn’t my idea. I didn’t want to bring you here. I had no choice.”
“I want to go home. I don’t want any part of this. Let me go.”
“I can’t, baby. He wants to meet you.”
“Well, I don’t want to meet him!” She was suddenly filled with an uncontrollable rage. She didn’t know this man they claimed may be her father. He was a complete stranger to her. And where had he been all this time? How could he have left her to be put in foster care? All those years she’d felt alone and abandoned. He’d done that to her. He’d put her through all that. Why?
Shades’ grip on her held tight. “It’s happening, Skylar. You have to accept it.”
“Because you’ve given me no choice!” she shrieked, panicked. She felt like she’d been backed into a corner, which never failed to make her want to come out swinging. She began to really fight him, twisting and kicking and trying to run. He spun her and got her in a tight hold from behind, his arms wrapped like steel bands around her upper arms and chest.
SHADES: An Evil Dead MC Story (The Outlaw Series Book 3) Page 20