by Jamie Begley
“I was—”
“I know, you were going to tell her. I saved you the trouble. Plus, she gave me a kiss for saving your sorry ass.” Shade pointed to his cheek. “Right here.”
“Let me show you my gratitude.” Lucky punched Shade’s smug face, making him stumble backward into the counter, knocking the platter of omelets to the floor.
“Watch the food!” Rider yelled.
Shade gave him a triumphant look before swinging his fist back and nailing him in the stomach. Lucky launched himself at Shade and both of them barreled into the kitchen table, crashing it to the floor and sending Winter and Jewell scrambling to get out of the way.
Moon pulled Lucky to his feet while Viper and Train yanked Shade back.
Lucky struggled against Moon’s grip.
“Take it easy, brother.”
Lucky knocked him back with an elbow to his face.
“What the fuck was that for?”
“I saw you looking at Willa’s tits when she was sweeping up the cookie jar.”
Moon gave him a shit-eating grin. “Can you blame a brother?”
“When I get finished with you, you’ll be riding back to Ohio in a hearse.” Lucky picked up one of the kitchen chairs, throwing it at Moon who ducked out of the way. It hit one of the crockpots sitting on the counter, tumbling it off the edge and sending oatmeal oozing onto the floor.
“I said to watch the food.” Rider pushed Lucky back before he could attack Moon again.
Moon was pissed off enough to shove Train when he tried to keep Moon from attacking Lucky. Train’s mercurial temper rose and he struck Moon in the eye, sending the two men into a fist fight while Lucky went at Rider.
“Why in the fuck are you hitting me?”
“Leave my fucking cookies alone.”
Rider began hitting him back in defense, the two barreling into Viper who was still trying to contain Shade.
“What in the fuck is going on in here?” Knox barked out, coming into the room and then tossing the brothers apart.
Lucky managed to catch himself on the kitchen counter, holding his jaw that Rider had managed to land a blow on. Straightening, he angrily started at Knox then stopped. He hadn’t lost what sense he had left to go for him.
Taking a deep breath, he managed to get control of his temper, and the other men quit fighting, looking around the destroyed kitchen.
“I’m hungry. Is there any food left?” Knox went behind the counter, searching for an unbroken plate.
“There are some paper plates in the pantry,” Raci said helpfully, snagging one of the last biscuits.
“After Knox eats, there won’t be anything left,” Rider complained, glaring at Lucky. “You already ate that big plate Willa fixed you.” He stomped to the refrigerator, pulling it open, and staring him in the face were rows of breakfast parfaits.
Lucky couldn’t help laughing at Rider’s face when he turned around, slamming the fridge shut then pointing his finger at him.
“Will someone fucking tell me how that fucking lucky bastard managed to catch the best cook in Kentucky who actually wants to wait on him hand and foot, is rich as shit, has the best tits I’ve ever seen, and from the sounds coming from downstairs, is fucking his brains out?”
Lucky gave praise to the one responsible. “I give thanks every day for her.”
Shade gave him an unnerving grin. “You’re welcome.”
Chapter 32
“Did I do something wrong?” Ginny asked tentatively.
Willa set the decorating bag down. “No, I’m sorry. I’m not in the best of tempers today.” She apologized for the silence that had continued throughout the day.
“That’s okay. I just wanted to make sure I hadn’t screwed something up.” Ginny stacked another pink box of cupcakes she had finished filling. “I’m excited about being able to cook full-time. When do you want me to start at the clubhouse?”
Willa had offered her the job as soon as she had arrived that morning before her temper cooled, and now she was regretting it. Firming her resolve, she stuck to her guns, though. “Give notice at the diner and let me know when would be good for you.”
“I’ll tell them this afternoon when I go in.” Ginny began filling another box with cupcakes. “I’m renting an efficiency apartment because I can’t afford anything bigger right now. I don’t make much waitressing, so once I start working full-time for you, I’m hoping to rent a one bedroom.”
Her chattering dissolved the rest of Willa’s ill humor.
“Can I ask you a personal question?”
“Shoot.” Ginny neatly folded the ends of the box closed.
“Why don’t you like the Wests? I mean, you lived there for several years, but you avoid them when you see them at church.”
A guarded look crossed Ginny’s face as she reached for another box.
“I was just wondering since they have custody of Darcy. Her older brother Cal is living with a friend of mine, Drake Hall.”
“They never laid a hand on me or did anything inappropriate, if that’s what you’re thinking.”
“Is she safe?”
Ginny paused then began placing cupcakes into a box. “Is your husband leaving Treepoint, or is he here for good?”
Willa felt a chill go down her back at Ginny’s words.
“We’re not going anywhere.”
“Then she’s safe,” she said with a nod of her head.
“Did Lucky…?”
“Lucky saved my life. I’ll never be able to repay him for what he did. They aren’t bad people; they just have very high standards that I couldn’t measure up to.”
“I know what that’s like. I never measured up to my mother’s standards.”
“You? I can’t believe that. You’re perfect. You’re sweet, kind, and you try to help everyone. I wish I could be more like you.”
Willa felt humbled by the compliments. “Go get us some lunch at the diner while I finish the order. I’ll take a chicken sandwich and a salad.” Willa handed her a twenty. “Buy yourself lunch, too. I noticed you didn’t eat any yesterday.” Willa gave her a wink. “You can give notice while you’re there.”
Ginny grinned back. “I’ll wait until I get our food then tell them.”
Willa turned her back to the door as she left to count the boxes that had been finished, deciding she would call Carl after lunch.
When her cell phone rang, making her lose count, she frowned at the number she didn’t recognize.
“Hello?”
“Willa! I need your help!” Sissy’s frantic voice on the other end of the line had Willa’s hand tightening on the phone.
“What’s wrong?” Willa could barely understand her for her crying. “Slow down so I can understand you.”
“Can you come and pick me up at the lookout? I was dropped off here, and I don’t have a way back to the place I’ve been staying. Can I stay with you?” The girl began crying harder.
“Yes, give me ten minutes to get there. I’m on my way.” Willa grabbed her purse as she walked to the door.
“Hurry, please!” The phone went dead.
Willa started running out of the church to her van. Her fingers were trembling so badly she barely managed to put the key into the ignition. Finally starting the van, she peeled out of the church parking lot, driving toward Lookout Mountain. Thank God it wasn’t far away.
It was actually the mountain that sat above Rosey’s bar, and it was where the local teenagers hung out. Willa had never been there herself to party, but she had been there as a volunteer to clean the area when the church had become concerned it was being filled with trash and becoming overgrown. It was one of the few visitor sites the town had, giving a spectacular view of the other mountains and the valley below.
Willa made the turn onto the side road that led up the steep mountain, going slow as she looked for Sissy. She was almost to the top when she pulled over as close to the edge of the road
as she dared so she could call Sissy back to find out where she was waiting.
When she couldn’t make a connection, she looked at her phone to find there were no bars. Her cell phone couldn’t get a signal through the heavy trees and mountains.
“Darn it.” She was going to have to turn around. Sissy couldn’t have called her from this high up; she wouldn’t have a signal. The only place to turn around was at the top, though.
As she got to the top and turned her van around, she saw Sissy sitting on a picnic table by the chained-off cliff.
Willa slammed on her brakes, throwing the gear shift into park. Getting out of the car, she ran toward Sissy then slowed down when she saw the triumphant look on her face.
“Sissy, is everything okay?”
Sissy ignored her question. “See? I told you she would be stupid enough to come, didn’t I?”
“Yes, you did.”
Willa saw a man she didn’t recognize step out from behind a tree, pointing a gun at her, and she paled. She didn’t have to guess who he was.
“Hello, Bridge. I’ve been waiting for you.”
* * *
“What in the hell happened in here?” Dustin was standing in the doorway with his briefcase.
Lucky set down his end of the new table that Train had helped him carry into the clubhouse. “Who let you in?”
“I did.” Shade came in the door behind him, carrying a chair in each hand.
“Move,” Viper ordered Dustin, packing in two more.
Lucky had been dodging Dustin. He had liked life better before he had found out about Willa’s money. It was becoming a pain in his ass since Dustin had become his accountant, and Willa had decided that he needed to save more money.
She never approached him directly, sending Dustin to do her dirty work. When he had told Dustin to pay for a load of lumber so a delivery date could be set up, Willa had Dustin try to talk him into waiting until she could do a price comparison. It was only when he had threatened to go with a more expensive wood that she had backed off.
Rider came in, packing a box containing the new crockpot.
“I thought you were helping Razer.”
“Nope, he had it.” Rider set the box down like it weighed fifty fucking pounds while Razer came in, struggling under the weight of the middle section of the new table.
Lucky sprang forward, helping him before he dropped it.
Razer bent over, putting his hands on his thighs and panting for breath. “I’m going to kick that fucker’s ass as soon as I can catch my breath.”
“I have a question: why didn’t you just pack it around on the path instead of up all those steps?” Dustin snickered at their expressions. “You all are a bunch of dumb fucks.”
Lucky placed a hand on Shade’s chest, holding him back.
“What do you want, Dustin?”
“I wanted to pick up your receipts from the donation you made for the football field. Diamond also asked me to drop off the latest copy of Willa’s new will.” He set his briefcase on the table, opening it to pull out a thick sheath of papers. “Diamond said she wished you would quit pissing Willa off. This is the fourth time she’s had to change it since you’ve been married. Personally, I would have told her to stop after the third time.”
“I’ll tell Willa you said that,” Lucky said, glancing through the papers absently, not really giving a flip who she gave her money to.
Dustin lost the cocky expression on his face. “I meant that she should take her time to come to a decision she’ll be happy with. That way, she wouldn’t need to make as many changes.” Dustin nodded, trying to cover his ass. “It’ll save her the money she has to pay Diamond to change it each time.” Seeing Lucky wasn’t buying his bullshit, Dustin pointed at the paperwork. “Diamond said to explain that Willa took down the amount she was leaving you to fifty percent.” Dustin couldn’t hide his satisfaction at that change.
“She didn’t take my inheritance down because she was pissed; it was because she admitted she wants four children.” Lucky gave him a gloating grin. “I told her I would be happy to give her as many kids as she wanted.”
Dustin’s crestfallen expression had Lucky chuckling as he tossed the papers on the table. “You can pass on the bad news to Diamond, though. She’ll probably call her tonight and change it again. Willa’s pissed at a lot of people right now.”
“Dammit, I knew when she told me that you two were getting married, and she had drawn up a will, that she should do a prenup, too, but she refused.”
“We’re not getting divorced.” Lucky frowned. “Wait a minute, when did Willa draw up her first will? I thought she’s been doing this for years. She’s had control of her money since her parents’ deaths.”
Dustin looked back through the paperwork. “She called me the day after you became engaged to tell me she was having the will drawn up.” Dustin pointed to the date on Willa’s original will.
Lucky gripped the table, staring down at the legal document. Willa didn’t want to leave this world without leaving everyone left behind something to remember her by.
“Lucky?” Viper placed his hand on his arm.
“I told her about Bridge the night before.”
“Who’s Bridge?” Dustin stiffened, his face becoming concerned at Lucky’s tormented expression.
“A man who promised to kill the woman I fell in love with.”
“What the fuck!”
“She doesn’t know. She thinks she’s going to die. All these weeks, she’s been living with this fear, and she never said one word, never asked me. She doesn’t know.”
“Know what?” Dustin asked, staring at the group of silent men.
“That I’ve been protecting her. I never left her safety to chance.”
“Who’s been protecting her?”
Lucky was about to answer Dustin’s question when his cell phone rang. After he answered it with a curt hello, Lucky’s face paled at the voice giving him instructions.
“We’re on our way.” Lucky disconnected the call. “Tell the brothers to get their weapons. Alec called; Willa took off in her van.”
“Who in the hell is Alec?”
“Willa’s bodyguard,” Lucky answered, running to his room where he unlocked the bottom of his nightstand and pulled out his service revolver then ran outside.
Lucky didn’t question how Shade had beaten him to the parking lot as he saw him jumping into the back of Rider’s truck. Lucky climbed on his bike as the other brothers arrived.
“Where are we heading?”
“Lookout Mountain. Dustin, call Knox and tell him to get there.”
The motorcycles were roaring out of the parking lot before Dustin could get his cell phone out.
Lucky had taken every precaution with Willa’s safety, but he had been prepared for Bridge to try to snatch Willa, not for Willa to make it easy on the bastard and deliver herself to him. It didn’t matter, though. Lucky wasn’t going to take another chance with Willa’s safety. The time had come to end Bridge’s vendetta. One way or another, either Bridge or Lucky wasn’t going to live to see another day.
Chapter 33
“You know who I am?”
Willa watched cautiously as Bridge walked closer to her.
“Yes, Lucky told me that you hated him, that you wanted to hurt him by taking away someone he loves.”
“Like he took my brother.”
“Lucky tried to save your brother.”
“Shut up. You don’t know anything about what happened to my brother.”
“I know what Shade told me.”
“Shade? That cold bastard doesn’t know what it’s like to lose someone he loves.”
Willa didn’t know enough about Shade to give an opinion, so she remained silent, turning her attention back to Sissy. “Are you all right? Did he hurt you?”
Sissy stood up gracefully. “Why would Bridge hurt me? I’ve been living with him.”
&nbs
p; Willa threw a disgusted look at the man who appeared to be Shade’s age.
“Don’t get your panties in a twist. I don’t do kids. Besides, she doesn’t have enough tits for my taste. You, on the other hand … If I had time, I could show you what Lucky only wishes he had.”
“Don’t be vulgar in front of Sissy,” Willa snapped.
“You’ve got to be kidding me. When are you going to get it out of your head that I’m not a child? I wasn’t one before I turned eighteen,” Sissy gloated.
“Sissy, I know you think you’re an adult, but you’re not. You grew up too fast, and Lewis put too much responsibility on you. You’ve done nothing the last few months except show you’re still a child.”
Sissy snorted in disbelief. “How?”
“You’ve been screaming for attention like a child does. I think you’ve been screaming for help for a long time, and no one was listening,” Willa said softly. “You were so hurt and angry when your mom went to prison. When she died, you had to live with Lewis, and then he died. You don’t know who you can trust, who won’t leave you. That’s why you won’t trust anyone. That’s why you wanted in The Last Riders so badly. They watch each other’s backs, and they protect their women.”
“They’ve done a shitty job watching out for you,” Bridge interrupted. “Sorry, but I have to hurry this along. It’s not going to take Lucky long to get here with that bodyguard he has watching every move you make. Get your ass over here.”
“What are you doing, Bridge? You said you were only going to scare her.” Sissy went to stand next to him, tugging at the arm with the gun. He lifted her off her feet, holding her around the waist.
Willa ran to help her then stopped when he pointed the gun at the girl’s head.
“You have two choices: either jump or I shoot her. You’ve got ten seconds before I make up your mind for you.”
From the callous way he talked, the man wanted his revenge. Therefore, Willa was left with no choice, and she stepped toward the edge of the cliff.
“Drop the gun, Bridge!”