by Jamie Begley
“Casey, I’m—”
She slammed the car door closed, not wanting to hear anything else the burly man had to say. She started her car, driving away with him standing and watching.
Everyone thought Max was sweet and good-natured. She knew the truth; she was a good judge of character. There was a lethal darkness in Max.
She hadn’t told him about getting his dad a new bike because it was the first step in bringing down the Predators. She had been planning on giving the bike to Mugg for the last year, long before she had realized she could use it to her advantage.
She wanted to stay far away from Max and the Predators. Everyone in the large city was well aware, if you dealt with them, you were either their prey or their victim. She didn’t want to think about when they discovered the table had been turned on them.
* * *
Max stared at the disappearing taillights. As he turned to go back inside the restaurant, his eyes were caught by Mugg’s bike. Fuck, it was almost as old as he was. He and Renee had been talking about doing some road trips, but the condition of his bike had put them off. He had let his guilty conscience make him snap at Casey, because he should have stepped up and taken care of the problem himself. He had a dozen bikes at his disposal that were extras the club used, and Ice made sure they were kept in good condition. All he would have had to do was mention Mugg needed a new bike, and Ice would have given him one. He hadn’t, though. Casey, on the other hand, had seen the problem and fixed it by working extra shifts and another job that could have gotten her killed.
He went back into the restaurant, gathering his kids.
“Leaving?” Mugg asked.
“Yeah, got to have the kids back by ten since it’s not my weekend.”
Mugg’s lips tightened. All Max’s exes had a schedule he was supposed to keep with his kids. It had always worked out, and he had ignored Mugg telling him he needed to spend more time with his children. Lately, he had made several attempts to have the kids more often, but was coming up against a brick wall in dealing with the women. He had maintained friendships with them and taken care of them financially, yet each of them used his time with the children as a bait to get more out of him than he was willing to give.
“I’ll see you later,” Max said, lifting Randy into his arms, and the little boy’s arms circled his father’s neck as his head fell to Max’s shoulder.
“He’s going to be taller than you,” Renee remarked. “They grow up so fast.” Her unhappy gaze dropped to her lap.
“Yes, they do,” Max replied, staring down at his children. If he didn’t get their mothers straightened out, they would be in college before he was able to see more of them. “See you tomorrow, Dad. Happy birthday.”
“Thanks, son.” Mugg hugged all of his grandchildren goodbye.
Max started to leave then turned back. “Before you go to that bike shop tomorrow, stop by the clubhouse…”
Mugg nodded. “I see we’re thinking alike. I was going to make them give her a refund, but it will be easier if you go with me.”
“You’re still going to get your bike. I just want to help you pick it out.”
His father shook his head.
Max raised his free hand. “I’ll have the whole club pitch in, and I’ll take the money to Casey before the bank closes.”
“In that case, I’ll be there bright and early.”
Chapter 7
Casey stared at the digital clock on the wall. Maybe she had been wrong at overestimating Max’s reaction to her present to Mugg. She sighed. It was a setback, and time was running out. She would have to come up with another way to get the information she needed.
She was despondently returning to her office after escorting a new customer to the front exit. About to turn away, she saw Max and Mugg entering the bank. Casey kept her expression blank as she tried to hide her excitement.
“Hi, Mugg,” she greeted him with a smile that faded as she looked at Max, giving him a cool greeting. “What brings you two in today? Want to open an account?”
Max shook his head, reaching into his pocket then handing her a folded check.
“What’s this?” Casey had to steady her hand as she reached for the check, telling herself not to let her guard slip in front of the two men.
“I’m paying you back for the bike Mugg picked out.”
Casey opened the folded check, keeping her expression neutral. “It was a present, remember?” She tried to hand him the check back while internally she was screaming, but she had to make her pretense look authentic.
Max refused to take the check, shaking his head.
“I took out a couple of hundred, so you chipped in like the rest of us. The Predators all pitched in a few dollars.”
“More than a few.” Casey said, looking down at the amount of the check.
“We can afford it,” Max said curtly.
Mugg shot Max a warning look before reaching out and giving her a bear hug.
“I appreciate you wanting to give me a new bike, but the brothers were more than willing to chip in. Mike told us how you’ve done his bookkeeping for the last two years to pay for the bike. Put the money to use on something for yourself.”
Casey briefly returned the hug before stepping back. “I will.” She knew exactly what she was going to do with the check.
Casey expected them to leave, but Mugg hesitated. “The brothers are all having a birthday party for me tonight at the clubhouse. You want to come?”
She could tell from their expressions that they both expected her to refuse. “I’ll be there.”
Their surprise was obvious, almost making the nervousness in her stomach worth the feeling of dread seeping through her body.
“I’ll see you tonight, then.” Mugg smiled at her happily then turned to leave.
Casey avoided Max’s searching eyes as the men left. She stared at them as they crossed the parking lot, seeing Mugg’s proud wave as he climbed on his new bike.
She swallowed the lump of fear in her throat, clutching the check in her hand and wishing with all her heart that she didn’t have to make the next move.
Turning, she went back inside her office and picked up her cell phone, pushing Jayce’s number.
“Hello, Casey. I was just about to call you and see if you wanted to have dinner tonight.” His lighthearted voice made her feel worse about what she was going to do.
“Jayce, I think we need to take a break.”
“What? Where in the hell did this come from? Why are you doing it on the phone? Meet me somewhere so we can talk about this.” His voice had risen in shock.
“I live in Queen City, and you spend all your time in New York. It’s not going to work out, and I don’t want either one of us to be hurt from a relationship that’s not going to be able to survive the time we’re apart.”
“Where are you at? I’m on my way—”
“No, Jayce. I’m not going to change my mind. Goodbye.” Casey disconnected the call.
Staring down at the phone in her hand, she blinked back her tears of hopelessness. She had made herself several promises growing up with Renee as her mother. One was to never cheat. She couldn’t keep that promise to Jayce if she was going to succeed with her plan.
“You planning on staying the night?” Jack asked from her doorway.
Casey firmed her shoulders, standing up. “I’m coming. Let me double-check the building, and I’ll be right with you,” she told the security guard as her cell phone began ringing.
“You okay?” he asked when she didn’t answer her phone. She knew it was Jayce calling her back for answers she couldn’t give him.
“I’m fine,” Casey assured him, wishing it was true.
* * *
Max waved at his father as he turned to go home.
He was headed back to the clubhouse when he saw Jackal parked behind a car that was pulled off the side of the road with the hazard lights blinking. Recognizing the feisty blond standing next to the car with her hands firm
ly planted on her hips, Max quickly switched lanes, stopping behind Jackal’s bike.
Max climbed off his bike, walking to the arguing pair who hadn’t noticed his arrival. “What’s up?”
Penni snapped her head toward him. “This Neanderthal thinks I can’t take care of a flat tire. I’ve told him I can handle it, but he refuses to leave.”
“I didn’t say you couldn’t fix it, but why not let me help?”
Max looked at the strange expression on Jackal’s face, trying to decipher it.
“Because I don’t want your help!” Penni snapped. “We’re all going to get killed standing on the side of the road because you’re being an ass.”
“If you would’ve let me change the tire, we would have been done by now,” Jackal said in a low voice.
Max was surprised Jackal hadn’t taken charge and put the pretty woman back in her car then changed the tire while she was arguing with him. Then it dawned on him that Jackal was trying to be polite. It had taken Max a few minutes to recognize it, because he had never witnessed the phenomena before.
“I don’t have a spare, okay. The one on it now is my spare. I’ve been so busy lately I forgot to replace it.”
Jackal took out his cell phone. “I’ll call a tow truck.”
“Don’t bother!” Penni stepped around Jackal, opening her trunk and reaching into it. She came out holding a can in her hand.
Stepping around Jackal again, she shook the can in her hand several times before crouching down next to her flat tire, pressing the spout to the valve.
“What in the fuck is that?” Max asked Jackal, who stared back at him in confusion.
“Fix-A-Flat.” Penni answered, standing back up and brushing her skirt down. Throwing the empty can into the trunk, she slammed it closed. “Thanks for stopping, but as you can see, I handled it just fine by myself.” She got back inside her car then pulled out into the traffic with an airy wave at them.
Jackal growled.
“Don’t do it,” Max warned, walking back to his bike.
“You don’t even know what I’m thinking.”
“Yes, I do.” Max laughed. “By the way, what was that weird expression on your face when I pulled up?”
Jackal paused, getting on his bike. “I was smiling at her, trying to be friendly and shit. You saw how well that went.”
“Brother, I have a piece of advice.”
“Like I’d take any advice you’d give,” Jackal jeered.
“Who gets more pussy than anyone else in the club?”
Jackal hesitated as he started his bike. “Okay, what’s your advice?” he said between clenched teeth.
“Don’t smile. It’s scary as fuck. The look doesn’t suit you, and it makes you look like a serial killer. If you want that sweet thing, you’re going to have to do a better job than that.”
Chapter 8
Casey stared around the crowded clubhouse. Music was blaring in the background as she watched her mother and stepfather dance. Moving her eyes away from Renee’s flamboyant moves, she saw Max playing pool with Jackal.
She didn’t recognize most of the women, as the men liked to change them frequently, but several faces she did know kept their distance.
“Hi!” Casey smiled at Grace’s friendly greeting. She dropped down in the overstuffed chair next to the one she was sitting in, nearly spilling her drink.
“I saw you dancing with Ice. You’re very good,” Casey complimented her, feeling self-conscious next to the stylish woman. Both of them were wearing jeans and T-shirts, but Grace had a scarf draped around her neck and a pair of boots that Casey wasn’t ashamed to admit she was envious of.
“I love to dance. Unfortunately, Ice doesn’t.” She made a face at her husband, who raised a brow at her as he began to play an undefeated Max.
“CeCe couldn’t make it tonight?” Casey questioned, trying to appear uninterested.
“Her and Max broke up,” Grace told her, frowning at the man in question.
“I’m sorry. Is she very upset that he broke up with her?”
“She broke up with him, actually. CeCe isn’t afraid of a little competition, but at this stage in her life, she wanted more of a commitment than Max wanted to give her. She’s already dating someone new and is very happy.”
“I’m glad. I like her. Max brought her to several of the dinners at the Pizza Shack. She probably broke up with him so she didn’t have to eat there anymore,” Casey joked, and both women burst out laughing.
“What’s so funny?” Their laughter died at Max’s question.
The two women only shook their heads.
“I thought you were playing pool with Ice.” Casey said, trying to change the subject, then wished she had kept her mouth closed. Her words showed she had been watching him.
“I decided I felt too good after beating Jackal to take an ass-whipping from Ice.”
Grace stood up. “I guess I should make sure he has some competition, then.”
“You play pool?” Casey asked in surprise.
“My father taught me. I’m pretty good.” She gave a saccharine smile.
“She’s a pool shark,” Max stated bluntly.
“I wouldn’t go that far.” Grace shook her head at the big man.
“I would. I lost two hundred bucks before I was smart enough to stop.”
“A smart man would have figured it out after the first fifty,” Grace taunted as she left the two alone.
Max took the chair Grace had vacated, relaxing back into the comfort of it. He was in his element, surrounded by his friends and the party atmosphere.
Casey stared around the room, seeing her mother and Mugg had started taking shots. She couldn’t imagine wanting this kind of life for years on end. Grace must really love Ice to want to make a place for herself among the group.
“Mugg is enjoying his new bike,” Max began, twirling the beer he was holding, his eyes not meeting hers. “I’m sorry about mouthing off the night you gave it to him. I shouldn’t have. I was pissed off at myself for not thinking about how much he needed one.”
“He would have been able to buy one himself if it wasn’t for Renee’s spending habits.” They had never discussed the problem of their parents’ marriage, even when they had temporarily separated.
“She’s doing better.”
“Not from the haul I saw in her car the other day.”
“Mugg will get her under control.”
“Then he’ll accomplish what her other husbands couldn’t,” Casey replied grimly. “I shouldn’t have brought up your child support payments, either. I’m sorry. It was none of my business.”
Max tilted his beer to his lips, emptying the bottle. “Want to dance?”
Even when she was younger and had been around countless parties of Renee’s, she had never participated, keeping to herself.
“I’d like that.” Casey stood.
Max’s expression betrayed his shock as he slowly got to his own feet.
Casey moved to the part of the club where several of the members were dancing. It took several seconds for her to loosen up and relax into the music. She saw her mother pause with a shot glass to her lips when she saw her dancing with her stepson. Casey glanced away, and her eyes were caught and held by Max’s. She pasted a smile on her lips.
“Why is everyone surprised I know how to dance?” she quipped.
“Maybe because it’s the first time anyone’s seen you shake that ass other than to stomp off. What’s changed?”
“I’m in the mood to have some fun for a change.” Casey smiled wider, reminding herself not to be too flirtatious, or he would become suspicious.
Max was a good dancer. She had seen him dance several times with the women he was invariably with. Most men his size would be clumsy or self-conscious, but Max was neither. He was sexy, and his size made a woman feel safe until she looked in his eyes and saw the menace he kept carefully hidden.
After a couple of dances, the members gathered to cut the cake that G
race had made for Mugg.
Casey moved to the side as the cake slices were handed out.
“You don’t want a piece?” Max asked.
“No, thanks,” Casey said, watching as Max shook his head at the small slice Grace handed him.
“You know me better than that. Give that piece to Snake. Cut me one twice that size.”
Grace handed the maligned slice of cake to Snake before cutting Max a much larger slice.
“If you’re not careful, you’re going to get fat,” Casey teased.
“I have to get it when I can. Ice doesn’t let Grace make cakes for anyone but him.”
“Why?”
“Because he’s a stingy bastard,” Max said before taking a large bite of cake.
“That’s not why, and you know it,” Grace butted in. “He’s still mad you all ate his birthday cake and didn’t save him any.”
“It was his own fault. Brother went off and left it alone with a group of men who hadn’t had anything homemade in years.”
“You didn’t even save him a slice of his own cake?” Casey asked, watching as Ice placed his arm around his wife’s shoulders.
“I tried to. Cut him a real nice piece, too. Left it sitting on the counter. Never could find the bastard that stole the last piece,” Max said, finishing the last of his cake, then going back for another slice.
“He stole it, didn’t he?” Grace looked at Ice for confirmation.
“Fucker couldn’t buckle his belt for two days.”
Casey laughed, surprised to find she was actually having a good time. When Max came back, she couldn’t help teasing him.
“You better be careful, or you won’t be able to buckle your belt in the morning.” Her eyes went to his big, shiny belt buckle.
As Max paused with his forkful of cake halfway to his mouth, Casey felt the heat of her blush as everyone within hearing stared at her.
She cleared her throat. “Ice said, the last time you ate too much cake, you couldn’t buckle your belt,” she tried to explain amid the laughter. She wanted to slide to the floor in embarrassment.