Joyride: Savage Menace MC Book 4

by Marie, Kay

  “I’m not sure. I’ve just chalked it up as effects from being so stressed out when I was with Zack.” She glances at me then back to the road. “If it gets worse or doesn’t get better soon, I’ll go to the doctor.”

  She must have read the worry on my face.

  “Are you hungry,” she asks. “We can stop and get you something or I can make you something at the clubhouse.”

  “I’m sure Minx is cooking at the clubhouse. I want you to get some rest when we get there,” I tell her. She rolls her eyes as a smirk touches her lips. Once we get to the clubhouse, she heads straight for the kitchen to find Minx. I sit at the bar to wait for her.

  “Sketch! You’re back,” Trix purrs out. “Oh, my God! What happened to your arm?”

  “None of your fuckin’ business.”

  She slides her hand up my good arm. “Do you need someone to take care of you? I can make you feel real good, baby.”

  “Fuck off, Trix. I’m off the market,” I snap.

  “It’s okay. We don’t have to tell her.”

  “Don’t fuckin’ touch me,” I growl out. Wren walks out of the kitchen, face pale. I hop off the chair, pushing Trix away from me. “Little Bird, you okay?”

  Trix scoffs. “That’s your Ol’ Lady? Let me know when you’re ready for a real woman.”

  I turn to Trix. “You’re a cut bunny. You’ll never be Ol’ Lady material. Disrespect my woman again, and I’ll get your ass thrown out of this clubhouse so quick you won’t know what the hell happened.” She flinches at my words before retreating to who the hell knows where. I cup Wren’s face in my hand. “Babe, what happened?”

  “I need to lay down. One of the smells in there made me really nauseous,” she tells me.

  “Let’s get you to bed. I’ll come get some food later.” I wrap my arm around her and we walk to our room. We walk in and she goes straight to the bed to sit down.

  “Logan, there’s something I need to talk to you about.” Her voice is soft, sad even.

  I move to her side. “What’s wrong, Little Bird?”

  “I know you don’t like talking about Zack, but I have to get this off my chest. I’ve been trying really hard not to let it get the best of me, but some days it’s harder than others.”

  My heart feels like it’s about to jump out of my chest. I grab her hand, needing her to know I’m here and to keep myself grounded.

  “The day I went back to him, he somehow found out I wasn’t a virgin anymore. It pissed him off that you took what he claimed as his and he, uh . . .” She gets choked up and tears fill her eyes. “He raped me.”

  “Fuck, Wren. I’m so sorry. I should have protected you. He should have been taken care of as soon as we came back to Texas.”

  Her eyes find mine, tears streaming down her cheeks. “Logan, you were keeping your promise to me not going after him.”

  “And look what happened.” It comes out harsher than I intend, making her cry more.

  “I just wanted to keep everyone I care about safe.”

  I wrap my arm around her, pulling her into me. “I admire you for that, so much. But you shouldn’t have to risk your safety to keep any of the Savages safe. I should be doing that for you, Wren.”

  Her crying turns into sobs.

  “Come here. Come lay down.” We move up the bed so she can lay down. She eventually cries herself to sleep. I slide out of bed, grabbing my phone to text Shade.

  To Shade: We need to pay a little visit to Zack. That asshole needs to die.

  After I send the text, I climb back in bed with Wren. I lay there for what feels like hours before I drift off to sleep.

  40

  Sketch

  The next morning, I wake up to Wren cuddled against me. I kiss her forehead and she starts to stir. Rolling over, she stretches her arms out, yawning as she does. She sits up, turning to face me as she does.

  “Good morning.” She gives me a shy smile.

  “It’s always a good morning when I get to wake up next to you,” I tell her.

  She giggles. “You’re so cheesy.”

  “You love it.” I grin.

  “I sure as hell do. What’s on the agenda for today?”

  “I need to run some errands with Shade, then I’m all yours,” I say.

  “I’ll steal Sienna away while y’all are doing whatever.” She laughs.

  “I bet she’ll like that. I think she misses you a little.”

  Wren climbs off the bed.

  “Where are you goin’,” I ask, sitting up.

  She turns to me. “To take a shower.”

  I let out a groan. “I can’t wait till this fucking shoulder is healed.”

  Wren moves so she’s standing in front of me. With her eyes locked on mine, she cups my face in her hand. “Soon, babe, but I need you one hundred percent.”

  “You gonna be ready for me?” I smirk.

  “Always.” She winks at me.

  I pull her into me, kissing her. When I pull back, she has a smile a mile wide.

  “What was that for?”

  “Because I love you. Also, I’m getting dressed and heading out. I’ll be gone for a few hours,” I tell her.

  “I love you, too.” She gives me a quick kiss. “Whatever y’all are doing today, promise me you’ll both be safe.”

  “I promise we’ll be safe.”

  She flashes me a megawatt smile before turning for the bathroom. I smack her ass as she walks away, earning a squeal and a playful glare, making me laugh. She blows me a kiss before closing the door. I send Shade a text before I start getting ready.

  To Shade: Meet you in the main room in thirty.

  I move to my closet, grabbing a random t-shirt. Then walk to my dresser to get clean boxer briefs and jeans. Getting dressed with one hand has been pretty difficult, but I’m getting the hang of it. By the time my shoulder is healed, I’ll be a pro at it. The main thing I’ve needed help with is putting my hair in a bun. Today, I’ll brush it out and leave it. My phone pings, letting me know I have a new message.

  From Shade: Be there in twenty.

  “Asshole,” I mutter, shaking my head. By the time I finish getting dressed, Wren is already out of the shower.

  “Do you need help with anything?” She walks toward me, wearing nothing but a towel.

  I bite my lip as my eyes roam over her body. My mouth waters at the memory of tasting her sweet cunt. I shake my head, clearing the thoughts away. “I’m good, Little Bird. Thank you, though.” I slide my cut on and put my sling back on. “Don’t you and Sienna get into too much trouble today.”

  “Damn it, that’s exactly what we had planned,” she teases.

  I kiss her forehead and head to the main room.

  “Sketch! Where’s your better half,” Sienna asks.

  “Can’t argue with that. She’s in our room getting dressed,” I tell her.

  “Thanks.” She walks past me, heading to get Wren. Had she been anyone else, I would have stopped them in their tracks. Being that she’s Wren’s best friend and they lived together for so long, I can’t stop her from going in there.

  “Your woman is a force to be reckoned with.” I laugh.

  “Ain’t that the fuckin’ truth.” He shakes his head, smiling. “Let’s go.”

  “Is anyone up there already,” I ask as we walk to Shade’s car.

  “Yeah, Ratchet is waiting for us.”

  The drive to the barn is short but long enough for my anger to surface as I remember the things Wren told me. As soon as we pull up, I climb out of the car and head inside with Shade right behind me. Ratchet is sitting in a folding chair next to the closet that holds the hidden door to the basement. He stands when he sees us walking toward him.

  “Ready to have some fun?” Ratchet smirks.

  “Let’s do this,” I say. We follow him into the closet and through the hidden door, walking down the stairs. Other than the light from the stairs, it’s completely dark down here. Ratchet flips a switch at the bottom of the stairs,
turning a light on. Groans of discomfort come from both occupied cells.

  “Rise and shine, assholes. Your time is up,” I shout. In the first cell on the right is TJ. I glance at him, laying on the ground. His face is unrecognizable, and he’s barely even breathing. “How is this piece of shit still breathing?”

  “He won’t be after today,” Shade says. “We’ve let him live long enough.”

  I move on to Zack’s cell. His hands are chained, hanging on a hook from the ceiling. He lifts his head, his eyes meeting mine.

  “You won’t get away with this. My father will fucking destroy your stupid, little gang,” Zack spits out.

  I laugh. “Your father helped us find you. He doesn’t give two shits about you.”

  Shock crosses his face but disappears just as fast.

  “He knows you were planning to attempt to take him down. For what? So you could take over the Italian Mafia?”

  Shade chuckles. “Did you really think your plan would work? Or that you would be the one to take your father’s place? You’re a special kind of stupid, aren’t you?”

  Zack snarls. Shade unlocks the cell, opening the door. Ratchet comes up to me, handing me a hunting knife.

  “Shade, get rid of his shirt. I wanna carve this fucker up,” I tell him. Zack’s eyes go wide. He starts flopping around like a fish as Shade gets closer to him.

  Shade throws a right hook into his gut. “Stop fuckin’ moving!” He proceeds to rip Zack’s shirt down the middle then moves behind him to hold him still. I step so I’m standing directly in front of him. Taking my time, I make small slices across his chest and stomach. Some shallow, some deep. His screams are like music to my ears. So fucking satisfying. I make sure there are plenty of deep cuts so he’ll bleed out. I take a step back, admiring my work.

  “He’ll bleed out within a couple hours. I’ll stick around to make sure,” Ratchet says.

  “Thanks, brother. I’ll send a prospect or two to do the cleanup,” I tell him. He nods in response.

  “Let me see that knife,” Shade requests. “I’m gonna finish TJ off.”

  He walks out of the cell to TJ’s. I watch from outside the cell as he lifts TJ’s head by his hair and slices his throat. He drops the knife and walks up the stairs. Ratchet and I follow him. None of us speak a word until we’re back in the main part of the barn.

  “Tell Wren and Sienna I say hello,” Ratchet says.

  “You got it. Thanks again.” We say our goodbyes as Shade and I head out. When we get back to the clubhouse, I head straight for my room to take a shower.

  41

  Wren

  Sienna and I had an early lunch at We Knead Pizza before coming to A Novel Bunch to check out what new books they might have. We’re reading and drinking coffee when I get a text from Sketch.

  From Sketch: Hey, Little Bird. We’re done with our errands.

  To Sketch: Awesome! We’re hanging out at A Novel Bunch.

  “The guys are back at the clubhouse,” I tell Sienna.

  “They can wait. This is a good book.”

  I laugh. “Why don’t you buy it and finish it at home?”

  “I plan to, but it’s getting really good. I can’t stop reading it yet.” She giggles.

  An hour later, we’re back at the clubhouse.

  “Thanks for today, Wren. I’ve missed this,” Sienna says.

  “Me too. We’ll have to make this a weekly thing.” We walk into the clubhouse.

  “Hell yes! Can we please?”

  “Can you please what,” Shade asks. He’s sitting at the bar with Sketch.

  “Wouldn’t you like to know.” Sienna sticks her tongue out at him.

  “You’re beggin’ for me to turn your ass red, huh?”

  “Ugh. I don’t need to hear y’all talk like that.” I stick my fingers in my ears to block out Shade’s voice. The last thing I want to imagine is my brother and my best friend’s sex life. I walk away from them, toward Sketch, who’s laughing at me.

  “You want me to say something to get back at him?” Sketch whispers in my ear.

  I shake my head with a laugh. “No, it’s okay.”

  “You say the word, and I’ll do it.” He smiles his megawatt smile, and I can’t help but kiss him. His hand cups the side of my neck as he deepens the kiss.

  “Alright, alright. Get a room you two.” Shade groans.

  Sienna giggles. “I think that was payback.”

  I pull away from Sketch, smiling.

  “Hey, what do you think about going to Baton Rouge for Labor Day weekend,” Sketch asks.

  “Baton Rouge? What’s . . . oh, your mom?”

  He grins. “I want her to meet you.”

  “Of course! I’d love to meet her.”

  * * *

  A week later, we’re off to Baton Rouge, LA. The closer we get to Mama Maggie’s, the more nervous I get. As if he could sense my nerves, Sketch reaches over and grabs my hand.

  “She’s gonna love you, ya know?”

  “But what if she doesn’t?”

  He chuckles. “That’s not possible. Everyone that knows you loves you.”

  My cheeks heat.

  “And if they don’t love you, they don’t really know you,” he adds.

  We arrive at Mama Maggie’s close to three o’clock. I pull the car into the driveway, next to a familiar car.

  “Is that Luke’s car?” I give Sketch a confused glance.

  The smirk on his face tells me I’m right. I follow him inside only to be greeted by Cheshire’s mischievous grin.

  “Ches! What are you doing here?” I squeeze him in a hug.

  “We wanted to surprise you,” he tells me.

  “We?”

  He steps to the side. There, standing behind him is Luke, Knave, and Rabbit. I didn’t realize how much I missed these guys until now.

  I glance at Sketch. “Did you know they would be here?”

  He nods. “Yup. I called Luke last week to let him know we were coming. They wanted to surprise you.”

  “The shop hasn’t been the same without you,” Knave says. I make my rounds, giving them hugs.

  “Where’s Ma,” Sketch asks Luke.

  Luke hooks his thumb over his shoulder. “She’s out back.”

  Sketch throws his good arm around my shoulders. “You ready?”

  “As I’ll ever be.” I’ve never been so nervous about meeting a guy’s mom. Walking outside, there are flowers everywhere.

  “Mama!” Sketch says.

  Maggie turns around. “Sketch! Honey, you made it.”

  Sketch envelops her with his good arm, giving her as much of a bear hug as he can.

  “It’s so good to have all my boys under the same roof again,” she says, pulling away from him. “Y’all need to come home more.”

  “I know, I know. I’m sorry, Ma. I have someone I’d like you to meet.” He moves to my side. “This is my girlfriend, Wren.”

  “Oh, my goodness. Well, aren’t you a pretty thing.” She takes my hands in hers, looking me over. “It’s so nice to meet you, Wren.” She wraps me in a hug.

  “It’s nice to meet you, too.” I smile at her.

  “You know, my Logan has never brought a girl home before.”

  “Ma,” Sketch warns.

  “Hush you,” she tells him. She turns back to me. “Would you like to help me get super started?”

  “I’d love to,” I tell her.

  “Stealin’ my woman.” Sketch shakes his head and gives us both a kiss on the cheek. “I’ll go catch up with the guys.”

  We head into the kitchen while Sketch goes to the living room.

  “I’ll let you peel and cut the potatoes while I get the meatloaf started,” Maggie says to me.

  “You got it.” I gather everything I need to peel the potatoes and get started.

  “So, how did you and Logan meet?”

  “He’s actually my brother’s best friend,” I tell her.

  “How does he feel about you two being togethe
r?”

  “He thinks we’re perfect for each other.” I giggle. “Plus, he can’t really say much, because he’s dating my best friend.”

  “I can tell by the way Logan looks at you that you’re the one for him. He looks at you the same way my Charlie used to look at me.” She smiles to herself. Maggie opens a package of hamburger. The smell makes my stomach churn.

  “Are you okay, dear? You don’t look so well,” she tells me.

  “I think I need some fresh air. Excuse me.” I walk back outside. Maggie follows me a couple minutes later.

  “Pardon me for asking, but are you pregnant?”

  I give her a terrified glance. “I-I’m not pregnant.”

  “I don’t mean any offense, honey. I was pregnant once in my younger days— I lost the baby, but raw meat made me nauseous, too.”

  It would explain a lot if I am. Could Zack have gotten me pregnant when he raped me? I need to get a test soon.

  “I’m sorry if I upset you.” Maggie pulls me out of my thoughts.

  “Oh, no. You didn’t. I hadn’t given any thought to that being a possibility. If I am, it wasn’t planned by any means,” I admit.

  “Everything happens for a reason. You stay out here, I’ll get you some 7UP, and I’ll get one of the boys to finish the potatoes.”

  “Thank you, Ms. Maggie.”

  “You can thank me by calling me Mama instead that Miss nonsense.” She laughs, walking back inside. As soon as I’m alone, I’m instantly overwhelmed with a flood of emotions. Sketch and I have had sex multiple times, so it could be his. The only problem is, we’ve used protection every time. At least, I think we have. But when Zack raped me, he didn’t bother stopping for a condom. Tears threaten to fall from my eyes. The back door opens and someone walks out. I wipe at my eyes, fighting the tears.

  “There you are. What are you doing out here,” Cheshire asks.

  “I needed some fresh air. What’s up?”

  “I wanted to check in with you. Sketch told us some of what happened with your ex.” He sits in a chair next to me. “How are you doing after all that?”

  “Honestly?”

  He nods.

  “Sketch is the only one I’ve told, but my ex raped me,” I admit. Something about Cheshire has always made it so easy for me to talk to him. I have this connection with him. Not romantic by any means, but similar to my connection with Sienna. “I’m dealing with it, but some days are better than others.”