Sins of the Father: A Ravens Ruin Novel

by Marie James

  “That’s as good a transition as I’m going to get,” Briar says. “Luis Jimenez contacted Smalls. He wants to set up a meeting.”

  I grunt my disapproval. “Going down to Miami right now isn’t a good idea.”

  “It’s been months,” TJ argues. His desire to eliminate the Demons may end up getting him killed by the Colombians.

  “Months?” I glare at my brother. “I know you don’t value women on any level other than a couple of holes to fuck, but it takes most men more than a couple of months to get over the brutal murder of their wives.”

  “I value women as more than just fuck toys.” TJ crosses his arms over his chest. “I also need them to cook and do my laundry.”

  Chains huffs an agreement before he can stop himself.

  “Idiots,” Briar says with a quick shake of his head. “I don’t know if turning down his invitation to the Sunshine State is a good idea.”

  “But walking into an ambush is?”

  “News is,” Hornet interjects, “Luis has been partying like crazy since Frances’s death. He married her to get Alejandro’s empire. Things are simpler now that she’s gone.”

  “See?” TJ smirks. “Luis knows a woman’s worth.”

  “Yeah,” Chains adds. “Multi-billion dollar cocaine empire.”

  “I’ll go.”

  My head snaps from my brother to Ronan. Today is the first time he’s been allowed in church since he patched in.

  “There’s a catch.” My eyes go back to my closest friend. “He wants you there. Said he wouldn’t accept a stand-in.”

  I can deny risking the lives of my men, but how in the hell do I refuse to make the trip without looking like a pussy?

  The answer is simple, I can’t.

  “When’s he expecting us?”

  “Two weeks,” Briar answers.

  “We’ll need to make arrangements,” I advise him.

  TJ claps his hands in excitement. “And the Demons?”

  “We leave them alone,” I insist.

  Smalls clears his throat, and all of the chatter around the table ceases immediately. The man hardly ever speaks, so when he does, we all better fucking listen.

  “Their VP is a fucking tech genius. He’d benefit us.”

  “So patch him over?” TJ asks actually considering the idea. The club comes first, always.

  “No,” Briar answers.

  I nod at Briar already knowing where his head is at.

  “We absorb the entire club,” I finish.

  “That gives us what we need down south if negotiations don’t end in a bloodbath with the Colombians,” Hornet adds.

  “Exactly,” I agree.

  “A hostile takeover?” Chains asks.

  “I don’t think so,” I tell my men. “They want a piece of the pie. I think their Prez will be smart enough to see a good deal when it’s presented to them.”

  “And when that fucker doesn’t want to give up his patch?” TJ challenges as he pops his knuckles.

  “He’ll know a Ravens Ruin patch on his back is better than piss on his shallow grave, which will be the only other option,” I reply.

  TJ almost looks disappointed, knowing his thirst for bloodlust will have to be quenched somewhere else.

  “There’s something else,” Briar murmurs, but before he can finish the chapel door swings wide open and The Professor walks in.

  “Who the fuck is that?” TJ mutters.

  Trailing behind Professor is a leanly muscled man. He’s naked except for the leather straps crossing over his torso, crawling on all fours with his head down and a soft-looking fox tail swishing along the back of his thighs.

  “How does the tail st—” Ronan stops himself before laughing. “Never mind.”

  “I can’t be the only one with a hard-on right now, right?” Chains whispers loud enough for everyone at the table to hear.

  Smalls grunts his agreement.

  “I’ve always wanted a pet,” Boston agrees.

  Professor snaps his teeth at each one of them, clearly possessive of his toy.

  “Church dismissed,” I order.

  “Things just got a lot more interesting,” TJ says as he walks toward the door, flicking the hanging tail before leaving the room.

  Briar doesn’t move, and I smile at the reminder of power he holds in the club.

  “You sure know how to make an entrance,” I tell my friend as I stand, crossing the room and clapping him on the back with a hug. I point to TJ’s vacated spot at the table. “Have a seat. Whiskey?”

  “Sure,” Professor says as he rounds the table and I pour all of us a drink.

  Professor’s friend settles at his feet, head leaning adoringly on his thigh, only emitting a tiny seductive whimper when he leans back on his heels.

  He thanks me for the drink when I pass it to him. I don’t get a reaction out of Briar. He’s too busy issuing his death glare across the table to notice the fresh glass of whiskey I set down.

  “Listen,” Professor says, noticing Briar’s narrowed eyes, “I’ve been running shit in prison for the last ten years. Your patch is safe. The last thing I want is responsibilities on the outside.”

  “Everyone in this club has responsibilities,” Briar counters.

  Professor smiles, the same devious smirk he’d use in prison so people would underestimate him. “I’d prefer a little more freedom than upper management.”

  Briar nods, appeased.

  “I only have a few rules.”

  It’s my turn for my head to snap back. Briar eyes me as if saying see, I told you so.

  “Rules? Brother,” I begin leaning in so he’s listening, “I’m the only one making rules around here.”

  “Not club rules,” he clarifies with a teasing grin on his face. He angles his head down at his friend. “No one touches, disrespects, or mistreats Kai.”

  “Hold on.” Briar holds his hand up. Professor narrows his eyes on him, daring him to think before he speaks.

  Looking over at Briar as well, I pray he remembers the things I’ve said about my time in prison and the brutal force in which Professor defended me. I can’t imagine what his response would be right now, but I know he’s very proprietary.

  “Never mind,” Briar mutters as he stands from the table. “We had a room cleaned for you. I can take you there now if you like.”

  “We’ll catch up later?” Professor looks at me as he also stands.

  “I’ll see how Zoe feels, but I’m sure I’ll see you later tonight.”

  “Zoe?” Professor draws his eyebrows in until I nod in his direction. “Seems we’ve both changed a little over the years.”

  My friend walks away, Kai maintaining his quick pace even though he’s on hands and knees. The foxtail swishes with each movement, and I can only smile when Briar looks back at me from the doorway.

  “What the fuck?” he mouths.

  “Don’t kink-shame, Brother. More people in this clubhouse understand that tail a lot better than your celibacy.”

  He gives me a touché middle finger before he disappears down the hallway to escort Professor and Kai to their room.

  I have other places to be and ideas for my own fox’s tail if she hasn’t moved her things into my room.

  Chapter 42

  Zoe

  “The guys are leaving tomorrow,” Molly says as she fills two shot glasses with amber colored liquor.

  Everyone is here tonight. More people than I’ve ever seen before. They’re loud and rowdy and having a great time, but there’s still an eerie sense of foreboding hanging over us like a dark cloud.

  “I know,” I respond. “But, they’re flying so they shouldn’t be gone as long.”

  It’s pretty sound reasoning. I haven’t asked Lynch details about his business, but the whispers are still there. I know they’re heading down to Miami, and I know that everyone is nervous about that. Something happened with a woman and Lynch’s dad. Everyone is hush-hush, but from the little bits and pieces I’ve picked up, I kn
ow it was bad, and this trip to Florida is stemming from that situation.

  “I need you to keep Lynch busy tonight,” Molly urges as she nudges one of the shot glasses in my direction.

  With the influx of hangarounds for the night, the girls are busy entertaining, so it’s just Molly and me standing here.

  My eyes narrow. She’s never asked me for anything like this before. I feel obligated to help her, but at the same time leery.

  “Lynch does what he wants,” I remind her.

  “He does what you want,” she clarifies. “Just suck his dick or something.”

  Obviously.

  “Molly, I love you. I really do, but I’m not going to manipulate your brother.”

  “I’m not telling you to manipulate him. Just shake your ass a little more in that short skirt when he gets out of church. His dick will do the rest of the thinking for him.”

  I giggle to hide the wince from the liquor as I lower the empty shot glass back down to the table.

  “Any chance you’ll tell me why you so desperately need him distracted tonight?”

  She frowns at me as if I have the gall to ask such a question after she’s asked a favor of me.

  “Zoe,” she whines.

  “Molly,” I tease.

  Her eyes dart away from mine, focusing on the closed chapel doors.

  “Your brother loves me.”

  “Duh,” she responds. “Everyone knows that.”

  “My point,” I tell her as I pour us a couple more shots, “Is that things aren’t the same as they were when I first got here. Lynch isn’t the same.”

  “If you think my brother has changed other than opening his heart to you, you’re mistaken.”

  “That one change makes a big difference. I don’t think he’ll be as opposed to you dating now as he was months ago.”

  “Dating?” She tosses back her shot and glares at me. “This isn’t about dating. This is about who I want to date. Lynch would never let me date a biker. He wants me to meet a nice man in college and live in the suburbs away from all of this mess.”

  Her arms wave around her, encompassing the entirety of the clubhouse. She includes the couples in all stages of undress on the sofas, the girls snorting coke off of each other’s tits, and the men running a train on some blonde in the corner.

  “Kind of hard to do if you’re stuck here all of the time,” I mutter.

  We’ve been out of the clubhouse frequently in the last two weeks. Although we’re always accompanied by someone from the club, there’s never been an opportunity for Molly to meet a man that doesn’t have leather on his back.

  “I can’t even imagine anyone but him you know?” Molly’s sad eyes find mine.

  We don’t mention Briar’s name anymore. We both know who we're talking about, so there’s really no point.

  “I can talk to Lynch,” I offer.

  “Don’t you dare.” She grips my wrist to the point of pain.

  “That was the whole point I was trying to make before you sidetracked me.” She sticks her tongue out at me. “Lynch is different. Love makes you different. It makes you want others around you to have the same happiness.”

  “Not going to happen,” she mutters pouring another shot.

  “It’s possible.” I scrunch my nose up when she hands me the new shot, but I pour it down my throat anyway.

  “Please,” she begs again when the chapel doors open, and the guys begin to file out.

  “I’m just going to be me,” I tell her, but she knows exactly what I mean.

  When Lynch and I are together, we’re equally distracted. She knows that as much as I do.

  “Last one for luck,” Molly says as she pours a final shot.

  I know what she’s doing. She’s building courage. No matter how much she and Briar have been dancing around each other, she’s made a decision that something is changing tonight. I smile at her bravery and throw the shot back with a little prayer that she also finds happiness.

  “Getting started without me?” Lynch asks as he walks up and wraps his arms around me.

  TJ walks up to Molly and kisses her temple before walking away in search of a woman for the evening. I’m still cautious around him. He went from nice guy to devil and back to nice guy in the blink of a damn eye. Losing concentration or letting your guard down around someone like that is only asking for trouble.

  Molly angles her eyes toward Briar getting served at the bar, and without another word, I lead Lynch toward the couch on the far side of the room. It’ll position his back to his sister, but with me straddling him, I’ll be able to see when the coast is clear. Guilt swims in my gut as Lynch, unsuspecting of being tricked, nibbles on my neck.

  Pulling away, I smile down at him. I consider this a for your own good situation. It’s wrong to be happy in a relationship and dictate whether others can do the same. Molly and I are the same age. He has to know that she’s just as capable of doing the things I’ve done, the things Lynch and I have done together.

  “Please don’t leave tomorrow,” I whisper in his ear, loving the way his newly grown beard feels on my soft cheek.

  “Baby,” he pants, hands gripping my thighs and dictating the small rotation of my hips. “I have to go.”

  “Is it dangerous?”

  “Everything we do is dangerous,” he says.

  Nuzzling into his neck, I see Molly heading to the hallway. Briar, looking lost and a little agitated, peers back in our direction. His eyes widen, finding me looking at him, but that doesn’t stop him from following her.

  I nip Lynch’s ear, loving the grumble in his throat as he thickens under me.

  The skirt I wore tonight serves its purpose. I normally stick to yoga pants and a t-shirt, but things felt different tonight, like I needed to put forth a little more effort. The sinking feeling in my gut has only grown exponentially since I found out they were heading out of state, each of them with one-way tickets because they don’t know how long they will be in Florida.

  “Are we really going to do this here?” Lynch’s fingers find my bare core, and he doesn’t waste a second slipping two of his digits inside of me.

  Personally, I love it when people watch us. I feel like a goddess pleasing my man in front of others who will never have a chance with him unless I allow it. Lynch still allows it every once in a while, but we haven’t crossed that line to include anyone else in our bed.

  It doesn’t mean we won’t ever dabble in ménage again. Just last week he had Ronan and Xena hold my legs open while he licked me, then fucked me just like I’d fantasized about. Apparently, I also talk in my sleep when I’ve been drinking.

  “Zoe,” Lynch prompts. “Here?”

  Just as I reach for the zipper on his jeans, I notice Chains across the room with his hand already gripping his erection over his jeans. He winks at me, waving his hand out in front of him as if he’s telling me to keep going.

  Here’s the thing. I like fucking, and on occasion, I like doing it with an audience, but each time I do it, it’s for me, not for them. Chains, as always is making things weird.

  “Baby? You need to decide, or I’m going to decide for you.”

  I’m honestly torn. There are amazing things going on around us. TJ is sitting on the couch with some girl managing to straddle his face without falling off of the sofa. The Professor is grunting as Kai rides his cock. A girl is kneeling in front of them sucking Kai off. I’d love to be right in the middle of it, checking more kinky things off of my list, but tonight seems too important. I feel as if I’ll regret not spending time alone with Lynch.

  “Let’s take it to the house,” I urge, leaning back slightly so he can pull his fingers from my soaked center.

  “House?” He frowns. “We have a room here. The house is so far away.”

  I blink at him, fluttering my eyelashes playfully.

  Without another word he lifts me, slinging me over his shoulder. I know from the cool air meeting my ass that everyone who looks over can see my slit. Lyn
ch’s hand comes down hard on my ass when I try to cover myself. It’s barbaric, a way to draw even more attention to us. It’s his way of reclaiming me in front of everyone in the clubhouse.

  “Don’t fuck my shit up,” he demands addressing the partiers. “Or I’ll hang you from the tree in the front yard.”

  A cacophony of agreements follows us out of the room.

  “They’re terrified of you,” I whisper as he carries me toward the hallway.

  “As they should be,” he agrees.

  “There isn’t a tree in the front yard.” I laugh at the ridiculousness of his words.

  He slaps my ass again. “They’re too drunk and high to know th—”

  He stiffens, sentence going unspoken, and his grip on my thigh becomes so tight it’s punishing.

  “What’s going on?”

  I circle my head so I can see between his arm and the side of his body. I may be upside down, but there’s no mistaking Molly in Briar’s arms and their lips locked together.

  “Oh shit,” I hiss and try to wiggle out of Lynch’s arms.

  I don’t have to try very hard because Lynch is hell-bent on putting me down so he can get to his friend.

  “I’m going to fucking kill you.”

  The threat is similar to what he just said in the living room, but this time I believe him.

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