Ridin' Dirty: An Outlaw Author Anthology (OAMC Book 1)

by Blue Remy

  “I love you, pumpkin. Always remember that.” Her father took another breath, though it was choked off by a deeper rattle, forcing him to try and take another without any success.

  Ella screamed as his body began to convulse on the bed, unaware of being pushed aside as a team of nurses and doctors rushed into the room to assess the situation and take care of it.

  “No.” It was a firm denial of what was transpiring before her. Her mind was not wanting to grasp that her father was not going to live. She had always seen him as invincible, untouchable. Her own personal super hero who would never be hurt and live until he was a hundred. Maybe longer. It was childish thoughts, but he was all she had ever had and now it was being ripped away from her.

  Strong arms encircled her, drawing her in a blanket of warmth, her head forced into a solid chest. “I’m so sorry, Ella.”

  The words were whispered into her hair as she clung desperately to Cross’ jersey. The loud wail of the monitors pierced through the fog that started to cloud her mind, shrill and long. Lifting up her face, she looked over her shoulder as the doctors stripped off their gloves and began to turn off the monitors.

  “What are you doing?” Ella was flabbergasted that these so called medical professionals gave up so easily. “Cross?” Eyes cut up to look at him. Nothing but sorrow lay deep in the onyx depths of his eyes.

  Her knees buckled, forcing her to use Cross to hold her up as the doctors gave her their condolences. Ella never heard the words. All she could hear was a dull ringing in her ears, an echo of what was left of the last moment of her father.

  Rudely shoved out of the way, Josie and her daughters, Katrina and Sharon, rushed into the room, throwing themselves on top of her father, making a total spectacle out of her father’s death.

  Disgusted by their display, she looked up at Cross through her tear filled eyes. “Please take me home.”

  The next few days were nothing more than a blur, a maelstrom of emotions that Ella was not allowed to show. Everything was about Josie and her daughters. Cross never left her side during the funeral and wake, always hovering near her to make sure she was all right.

  Ella had no clue if she was coming or going. All she knew was that Cross was her anchor in the storm. He stayed at the house with her, holding her through the night, chasing away the nightmares that threatened to consume her.

  The club held the wake for him, burying him with his cut, just as he would have wanted. It was easy to tell that the guys were tolerating her step-mother and the two girls during the party, Josie almost crossed a line with Gail, Stone’s wife, as she cried on his shoulder and hugged him a little too long.

  Stone finally pulled Ella off to the side to sit down and talk with her, questioning her about what she wanted in her future.

  “I don’t know. I have a degree in phys ed in dance, but I don’t want to teach. I’ve always wanted to dance.”

  Stone nodded, leaning back in his chair, fingers running over his goatee. “Have you ever thought of joining up with Trixie and becoming a Painted Lady?”

  Ella wasn’t sure how to take what was being offered. Stone loved her like his own daughter, but now he was asking her to sell her body, and her dad was barley in the ground?

  “Uh, wow. Okay. Uhm. No.”

  Stone chuckled and swiped a bottle of beer off of one of the girl’s trays as she walked by. Taking a long drink from it, he wiped his mouth before he spoke. “I’m not asking you to sell your body, or me to be your pimp. It’s not like that, though it can be. I’m asking you to dance. Your father loved watching you at your recitals, and I don’t think he would care if you danced for money either.”

  A stripper? Wow. Not exactly what she saw in her future. Or where she thought her degree would be put to use. “I—I don’t know.”

  Trixie made bank when she danced. No lie. She brought home serious cash and loved every minute of it. Yeah, she had a few johns on the side that she spent time with and they paid a hefty price, but Stone just said she didn’t have to do that.

  “Just think about it. I don’t care either way, doll. But I do want you to know that this club will always be here for you no matter what. All you have to do is ask.”

  She couldn’t help the tears that welled up, quickly looking away from Stone.

  “Look, Ella. We’re your family. Even if we’re not blood. That fake ass bitch that he married will always be a superficial whore. The only reason Crowbar was with her was because he wanted you to have a female in your life. I wish it could have been different, but I don’t trust her. You’ll always have a place here if you need it. You can have Crowbar’s room.”

  Ella almost launched herself over the table and into Stone’s arms. “Thank you so much. I’ll use it as my getaway. But Daddy made me promise to take care of her because she is incapable of functioning in the real world.”

  Stone patted her back and snorted. “Well, your dad had a hefty life insurance policy, so I’m sure she’ll never lift a finger to work.”

  Biting her bottom lip, Ella wiped her eyes and sighed. “Give me a day or two to let you know about your offer, okay?”

  “Take your time, Tigerlily.”

  Damnit to hell. He called her by her dad’s nickname for her. She loved the flower. It always reminded her of a beautiful sunset, and her father always said the sun and moon set on her.

  Kissing the scruffy cheek, she went in search for Cross, finding him cornered by Kat and Sharon. Rolling her eyes in exasperation, she took his hand and pulled him away from the two gold diggers and toward a quiet corner.

  “You leave tomorrow morning, right?”

  Cross nodded, a few strands of the dark hair brushing over his eyes. “Yeah, I have to get back for the game on Sunday.”

  Ella leaned into him and rested her head against his chest, listening to the steady beat of his heart. “I’m going to miss you.”

  “Hey,” he lifted up her chin, making her look at him. “It’s not like you don’t have my number. You can always call and talk to me. Plus, I’m only five hours away. You can always go on a road trip.”

  “I’d like that. A lot.”

  “So would I.”

  Ella couldn’t help but smile, her heart lifting a bit from the darkness that it had sunk into. “I guess things are looking up for me then.”

  “How so?”

  Ella lifted a single shoulder and let it fall as she dropped her gaze to watch her fingers slide over the corded muscle of his forearm. “Stone offered me a job, and told me I can have Dad’s room to stay in if I need it.”

  Black brows shot up as Cross’ eyes narrowed. “What kind of job?”

  “As a Painted Lady. Dancing, not the other.”

  Cross grunted and stepped away from her. “Have fun with that.”

  Confused, she moved closer to him as he started to walk away. Reaching out, she caught his hand, tugging him back to face her. “What is wrong, Cross?”

  “I don’t associate with the hired help.”

  The way he was looking at her crushed her at her very core. He was staring at her with contempt, like she was filthy and he was afraid to get his hands dirty.

  “Hired—hired help?” Ella stuttered, placing her hands on her hips. “What the fuck is that supposed to mean?”

  “Exactly as it sounds. You want to be one of the whores that breaks up families, be my guest. But I won’t have anything to do with you while you are one.”

  It felt like he gut punched her. All the air left her as she stood there staring at him in total disbelief. “I’m going to just dance, Cross.”

  “That’s what they all say. Then they get the taste of money and the prestige of who fucks who and it’s over. You’re nothing more than a high class slut.”

  Ella physically blanched as he verbally assaulted her. Before she could stop herself, the sound of flesh hitting flesh reverberated through the room.

  Cross’ head snapped to the side, his eyes closed slowly. Moving his jaw back and forth, he scoffed
and shook his head. “Have a great life, Ella. I’ll see you around.”

  With that, the man she had loved for over six years walked out of her life.

  ***

  That was six years ago. Now, she was twenty-seven and the most desired and adored Painted Lady. Ella got to pick and choose who she wanted to spend her time with, Stone never having forced the life upon her. Somewhere along the way, she gave up on Cross, gave up on true love and soul mates. It was something that didn’t exist, only in fairy tales. Too bad her life wasn’t one.

  She kept the company of a few of the brothers. Some that came in from out of state, but that was it. She had even given up dancing. She was now the bar’s full time tender and teaching dance on the side. A studio picked her up, seeing her talent and offered her a job in competition dance.

  Yet, here she was, alone.

  The soft rust-colored eyes sought out the one man who held her heart. Wraith, aka Cross. He was always civil to her, but he never got personal with her. Always kept her at an arm’s length. Her biological clock was ticking and he was the one she wanted, desired, loved with every fiber of her being.

  Yet, she would never have him as long as she was a Painted Lady.

  Chewing on her inner cheek, she watched how his muscles worked under his t-shirt, the way his long legs went all the way up to a slim waist. And the ass? Yeah, he had an ass that most women wished they had. As he got older, he grew beautiful. That was the only way she could describe him.

  He was one of the most eligible bachelors on the Central Coast. He was thirty-one and a millionaire, retired from the NFL due to an injury. Now, he coached high-school football and loved every minute of it.

  And guess who was trying to hook him? Yes, her step-mother, for Katrina or Sharon.

  Shaking her head, Tigerlily was starting to think it was time to re-evaluate her life. Make some choices and hard decisions.

  “Ella?” A husky voice pulled her out of her reverie.

  “Yeah?” A smile crested her lips as Romeo gave an uplift of his chin in her general direction.

  Now there was a man that every girl wanted a piece of. Young or old, it didn’t matter. He was a broken man that any woman would give her right ovary to fix.

  “I need to see you in my office.” He hiked his thumb over his shoulder, toward an open door.

  “Sure. Okay.” She nodded, setting down a roll of streamers, giving Trixie a concerned look.

  Trixie shook her head and shrugged.

  Taking in a deep breath, she dutifully followed Romeo into his office, feeling the weight of a pair of eyes on her. Glancing over her left shoulder, she saw Wraith watching her, a flicker of concern then gone from his handsome bearded face.

  “Close the door.”

  Following the gruff orders, the sound of the door closing was like a bomb going off. Walking over to a chair, she lowered herself into the fluffy cushions.

  Romeo sat behind his desk, rocking back in his chair as he steepled his fingers, watching her every move. Tapping his lips with the very tips of his fingers, he finally drew in a breath then spoke.

  “I have an offer that I’d like you to consider.”

  Fuck.

  The last time those words were said, she lost the one thing that meant the most to her, next to her dad. “Okay?”

  Rubbing his hand over the bald head, Romeo sniffed and stood up, walking over to the window that allowed him to look out into the clubhouse. “I am not making this offer lightly, nor should you take it lightly.”

  “Why am I suddenly nervous?”

  Romeo was rarely serious. Now that he had custody of his daughter? Serious wasn’t in his vocabulary, unless it came to club business. She wasn’t a brother, so it was obvious it wasn’t that.

  “I want you to retire as a Painted Lady.”

  Those piercing green eyes fell on her as she felt all color leave her face. Leave the only life she had come to know? What had she done to piss him off to ask her to quit?

  Her mouth moved, but no sound came out, except for something like a strangled groan. Holding back the tears, she was able to at least whisper her question. “Why?”

  “You don’t belong as one. You never have.”

  That was a slap in the face. She had worked her way to the top. Had become socially accepted and adored by the women of the club. Now Romeo was saying she didn’t belong?

  Anger started to flare through her at the thought that he was trying to figure out a way of firing her. “If you want to get rid of me, just fucking say so, Rome. You don’t have to beat around the bush. I just want to know what the fuck I did to get fired.”

  Romeo’s brows shot up, his body turning him to face her once more. “I didn’t say I was firing you, El. I’m saying I think it’s about time you lived for you. Quit being at a man’s beck and call. We all love you here. You can stay as a tender if you want. Zackyboy isn’t that great behind the bar.”

  “And just why would I want to stick around if I’m no longer wanted?”

  Romeo rolled his eyes and wandered back over to his desk, leaning down on his fists that rested on his desk top. “I have another proposition for you, if you’d shut your fucking trap and listen.”

  Ella snapped her mouth closed and looked up at the man she could call brother. Maybe he wanted her to run a cathouse? Become a Madam. They took a client now and again, as they wanted to, but that wasn’t her style. She wasn’t a professional hooker.

  “What I am about to ask you to do, is very real and serious. Especially right now with all this shit going on. That is why I need you to think long and hard about what I am about to offer you, alright?”

  Not trusting her voice, she nodded, brushing the blond strands from her eyes that had escaped her ponytail.

  Romeo sat back down in his chair, tilting it back once more. “I want you to head up the Santa Maria chapter of the Hell’s Belles.”

  Ella was sure she looked like a guppy out of water. She had no words. Taking in a deep breath, her brain decided to finally function. “You’re serious? But what about Nakitra? I thought you were holding out starting it up because the presidency was her position?”

  “She wants to stay in Mississippi. She has made a few close friends and has started some ventures that could make the club some money. I think the female best suited for the position is you. It’s a tough world to be in. It’s not like being an ol’lady. You’ll be a full blown patch holder, equal to the men. The women already love you and the men respect you, so it’ll be an easier transition for you into our world. You’ll be more accepted. But you’ll need a sergeant at arms and a secretary treasurer to start it up.”

  There was no greater honor to have bestowed upon a female, than what he was offering her. She was floored that he saw her as a capable leader, and trusted her enough to support the Six-Guns. She could remain a tender for the parties, and she could still teach dance on the side. She knew that Romeo had a single rule that all patch holders had to have jobs.

  He was right, though. She had grown up in the world. Knew most of the ins and outs. She was friends with everyone, and was also friends with several members of the other chapters, in state and out of state. The women accepted her as one of their own. They would be more receptive of the club and female patch holders if it was Tigerlily that headed it up.

  Sure, there would be some of the men that would balk at the idea and treat them like shit, but it was a new era. Female clubs were becoming more widely accepted, as long as they didn’t think they had bigger balls than the men they supported. There was a fine line that a WMC teetered on.

  Romeo asking her to do it now, with Saber missing and the TGMC trying their hardest to get at the brothers, was a bit nerve wracking. There had to be a reason behind it.

  “What about the TG? Won’t we be targets?”

  “There’s a very good chance that you could. But I also know that you know how to fight and shoot. I am pretty sure that you’ll make sure that your girls can handle themselves as well. I
don’t want them run like it is in Mississippi. I want you to be clean. No cathouses. Keep it on the level. If you want to open up a business, the Six-Guns will back it. Just think about it and let me know.”

  Her own business? She wouldn’t know where to begin. She was going to have to talk to Thorne and see what she thought about it all. She was more level headed than Ella was, and right now, her mind was going about ninety miles per hour.

  Could she do it? Could she make Romeo proud of her and run the club smoothly?

  Wraith.

  She might have a chance with him if she accepted the offer in front of her. She wouldn’t be a Painted Lady any more. She would be herself. Maybe Wraith would finally look at her again. Look at her with the love in his eyes that he had so many years ago.

  “Yeah.” Ella nodded. “Yes, I’ll do it. I don’t need to think about it. I want to do it.”

  Romeo smiled and nodded, a smug look on his face. “I thought you would.”

  Ella caught movement out of the corner of her eye. It was Wraith walking by the window. A chuckle caught her attention, eyes shifting to look back to Romeo. “What?”

  “I just wish the two of you would fuck and get it over with.”

  Ella rolled her eyes as she stood up, indicating the topic was not up for discussion. “I’ll get back with you in a couple of days with a business plan and maybe a couple of girls to have background checks done on.”

  Romeo stood up and rounded the desk, walking toward her. “I’m down with that.”

  Ella threw her arms around Romeo’s neck, hugging him close to her. “Thank you.”

  Romeo squeezed her back, “You’re welcome. Make me proud.”

  Releasing her hold on him, she stepped back and turned toward the door. “I will.”

  And she’d make her father proud.

  Romeo offered her the golden ticket and she was going to cash it in and try to win Wraith’s love once again.

  ***

  To read more about Tigerlily and the Six-Guns, with her venture into the world of the Hell’s Belles, pick up the bestselling series: The Asphalt Outlaw Series. It’ll take you deep into the world of the Six-Guns—Romeo, Mace, Saber, Talon, Wraith and so many more brothers and sisters to learn about.