Starving For Vengeance

by Debra Kayn

  He cupped her ass, holding her closer. "You'll be too busy taking care of my babies to work outside the club."

  She pulled back, blinking wide eyes at him. "We haven't talked about kids."

  "Because we don't need to." Lee stood her up, keeping his hands on her. "I'm going to continue fucking you, and you're going to stop taking the shots. That's how babies are made, and I think I've proved I'm good at what I do."

  She planted her face in his neck and squeezed him tight. He hadn't missed the longing in her expression every time she hung around Risa or the way she could go on and on about buying baby things before the kid arrived. He chuckled over being right. She was happy about the idea of being a mom. Hell, he had all the time in the world to dream about bringing more little bikers and cute little girls with heart shaped faces into the club.

  "God damn it," Kurt stood from the table to Lee's left.

  A chair flew across the room, shattering against the wall. Lee continued sitting, holding Shari, curious about what brought his brother to throwing chairs when he usually held all his emotions in.

  Ink, face set in stone, stormed past the table and out the door. Lee swung his gaze across the room, and found Lilly. She glared and shoved a table out of her way with her high-heeled boot.

  Lee chuckled. "You better just call Rain and get it over with. There's no way you can keep those two apart through the winter. Ink's going to cut off his patches before he walks away from Lilly."

  Kurt turned from the door and when Lilly tried walking out in the same direction as Ink, he hooked her arm. "Sit."

  Lilly frowned, and sat in front of Lee and Shari. "What's up?"

  Kurt leaned down and got in her face. "You're calling your dad first thing tomorrow and having a nice long talk about what you're doing behind his back."

  "He knows I'm managing Silver Girls." Lilly crossed her arms.

  Kurt leaned forward. "Does he know you're hot for Ink?"

  Lilly glanced at Lee, Risa, and then Shari. "Kurt, nothing is going on between me and Ink. Absolutely nothing."

  "Then tell me why Ink's suddenly got a hickey licker in his life and seems to have new marks on his neck each week." Kurt glared.

  Lilly ignored the anger and stood. "You want me gone?"

  "I want you to keep your jeans on and Ink away from you," Kurt said. "You want to go that route, you call your dad, and do it right. Don't take one of my men down with you, sweetheart."

  Lilly lifted her chin. "Fine."

  "Fine?" Kurt asked.

  "Yeah." Lilly cocked her hip and planted her hand on her waist. "I'll stay away from him. No problem. As far as I'm concerned he doesn't exist."

  With that announcement, Lilly flounced away and joined the Silver Girls in the back. Lee blew out his breath. Someone needed to come clean before two people destroyed themselves.

  "She's not going to stay away from him," Lee said.

  Kurt stared into the back of the darkened room. "I'll talk to Ink. He's officially on probation with the club."

  Lee motioned to Shari that they were going to leave. Kurt called his name, and he turned. "Yeah?"

  "We still on for tonight?" Kurt asked.

  "Everyone's meeting at the river once the girls are escorted back to the club." He couldn't help the smile that came over him, because it was the first time in his lifetime, the women could be safe on club property without a Bantorus member guarding them. That feeling alone was worth everything.

  Shari held his hand and followed him out the back door. Lee walked down the sidewalk to his Harley and handed Shari her helmet.

  "What's going on?" she asked, eyeing him while threading the strap through the D ring.

  "Club business." He swung his leg over the seat, took her hand, and helped her on behind him.

  She never questioned him, because she knew the routine. Though she'd started interrogating him in ways that amused him when they were alone. Even then, she kept her opinion to herself, unless it involved her or the Silver Girls.

  He pulled away from the curb and rode through town, past the sheriff's office, the store, and under the viaduct. Instead of going straight to the club, he turned left and followed the old river road where he often took Shari to get away from it all.

  Five minutes later, he pulled off the road and parked. Shari hopped off first, and he followed.

  "Okay, now I know something is going on." She took off her helmet and laid it on the seat of his bike. "Why are we here?"

  "You'll see." He led her to the river, thankful for the light coming off the streetlights.

  He found a good-sized boulder, sat down, and patted his thigh. "Come here and sit."

  "Okay, but I'd like to know what we're doing here at two o'clock in the morning," she said.

  She sat, holding on to his neck. He kissed her hard and softened it by saying, "I wanted to tell you something your uncle told me years ago."

  Her fingers fiddled with the hair hanging at his neck. "Okay."

  "It wasn't until the other day that I realized why the story stuck with me." He held her tighter. "He had a habit of appearing out of nowhere when we were tracking Los Li. He'd call to meet me, I'd stand around at the meeting destination, wondering if I heard him correctly or I got the location wrong, when all of a sudden, there he was, stepping out from behind a tree or building. He scared the shit out of me more times than I can remember. No other agent had his stealth. Anyway, a few years back, after a close call where we both barely escaped Los Li, I asked him how he could disappear and appear in a flash without anyone seeing him."

  "What did he say?" Shari asked, sitting straight up on his legs.

  He took in her wide eyes, her beautiful lips, and the curious tilt to her head, and said, "He said, 'Someday, you'll have a kid, and you'll find yourself sneaking into her bedroom at night to cover her up, dry her tears, and leave without waking her. You'll also follow her to school, check up on her while she plays out at recess, and make sure her first date is a good one, and you do this by making sure that everything is okay in her world, without her knowing it. When someone is so important to you, you learn to be stealthy.'"

  She pressed her hand against her chest. "He did all those things for me."

  "Yeah, doll. He did," he said. "Until the day he died. So, I was thinking if it's okay with you, the club and I would like to say a few words about your uncle tonight, down here at the river, and send him off in biker style."

  She closed her eyes an extra beat and nodded.

  The rumble of motorcycles broke through the night. He gathered her hand and held it in his. "I know it's not a proper funeral, but I think Tango would be up for it."

  She threw her arms around his waist and laid her head on his chest. "He'd love it.

  The Federal Charter of the Bantorus Motorcycle Club circled their bikes around Lee and Shari, cut the engines, and turned off the headlights. One by one, the riders exited their Harleys, removed their helmets, their hats, their covers, and stood around Shari and him, protecting them during this time.

  Lee stood behind Shari and wrapped his arms around her, holding her tight against his chest. When no one moved, he took a deep breath, and began to speak.

  "When it counted, Ted Tango became one of us.

  He rode hard and free. He respected each one of us and had our back.

  We're here today to send him off with brotherhood support.

  May the breeze keep pushing you.

  May a woman always warm your back.

  May your gas tank never run dry.

  Tango, you have our respect, our loyalty, and our sworn pledge to take care of Shari.

  Until we meet again, brother.

  Feet to the pegs, behind handlebars."

  Members of Bantorus Motorcycle Club returned to their motorcycles. All eyes focused on Shari. Lee kissed the side of her neck, raised his hand, and said, "Let's roll."

  As one, the Harleys roared to life. Engines revved, gravel splattered behind the back tires, and exhaust fumes fi
lled the air. Shari's hands came up and latched on to Lee's arms at the spectacular and loud display. Pride for his club, his MC brothers, and for the man who had helped keep him alive so he could stand here with his woman filled him completely.

  In order of seniority, the members rode away single file. Lee continued to hold Shari until the rushing of the water behind them was the only sound.

  "I didn't think I could love you any more than I do." She turned in his arms. "Tonight, I do. Thank you."

  "I love you." He kissed her.

  She opened her mouth and he took what she offered. Deepening the kiss, he couldn't believe that each touch, each kiss, each look, filled him with the strength to carry on.

  He pulled back, threaded his fingers between hers, and walked her to his motorcycle. He had a future to start living, and he wanted to start in bed, planted deep inside her body, and reminding her who she belonged to.

  She climbed up behind him. "You know, I'm due for a birth control shot in two weeks."

  His gut tightened and he smiled. "Then we have two weeks of practice to get started on this baby making."

  She laughed, making his world brighter. "I like what you're thinking."

  "Damn right." He smiled, squeezed her thigh, and turned around. "Hold tight, doll."

  She wrapped her arms around his waist. He rode off down the road with purpose and the best thing in his life warming his back.

  The End

  Sneak Peek – Struggling For Justice

  Chapter One

  The music playing in Rail Point Bar sucked. Remmy set down his mug and stared into the amber contents. Two o'clock in the afternoon and he hadn't seen one person get in a fight or one of the single women around town let loose and entertain any of the customers.

  It was a slow day in Federal, Idaho.

  He swiveled on the stool and gazed out into the room. Some of the graveyard shift miners from Meghoni Mine played pool in the back. Old Teak sat at a table entertaining the gullible tourist with another one of his jacked up stories.

  "Another one?" the bartender asked.

  Remmy spun slowly back around. "No, I'm riding out. Thanks, Joe."

  "You're in here early." Joe wiped the counter off in front of Remmy. "Slow day at the club?"

  Bantorus Motorcycle Club never had a slow day. Remmy drank the rest of his beer and stood, ignoring Joe's question. "Later."

  Between the rush of gun orders coming in from the militia this summer, and the tight deadline with Lagsturns MC for the nineteen bikes they wanted in California by the end of the month, life was good. He pushed out the door, but his melancholy mood remained. He itched to ride off, go back home to Pitnam where summer time meant territory wars, women, and chaos.

  The calm in Federal was starting to bother him. After the fiasco with Los Li last summer, he'd thought he'd be content as the vice president of the Bantorus MC, Federal Charter. It wasn't as if he wanted the president's position or to undermine Kurt or Rain's decisions, but he needed excitement. The structured life, manufacturing weapons as if he worked a nine-to-five job, scheduled runs that came months apart, and the same women every fucking night wore him down.

  Hell, maybe he was getting old.

  He sat his Harley and rode off down the street. Maybe the ride to Pitnam in a few weeks would sort his head. There was no reason for him to feel locked down and anxious. All he needed was more action, more choices, and more excitement. He wasn't dead. He was forty-eight years old, and hitting his prime.

  He turned on Main Street and a white minivan slowed down and pulled into the parking lot of Country Mart. He glanced over in front of the store and slowed down. A man and woman stood facing each other. The man's stiff posture sent up warning bells and had him easing off the throttle.

  Tourist came and went all summer long in the historical town, always full of energy and careless about their surroundings as they took in the Bitterroot Mountains, silver mines, and rode the trolley to the ghost town. Everything about this couple was intense, and they couldn't care less that they were smack dab in the most beautiful area in Idaho.

  A half dozen yards further, he rode around the block and ended up on the other side of the parking lot. He studied the couple more. From the distance he kept, he couldn't hear what they were saying, but their heated exchange told him enough. He slowed down and parked at the curb, fifty feet from the couple. He unclipped the holster at his side. The woman's body language—though sexy— concerned him.

  She arched against the car, trying to escape the man's anger. Remmy killed the engine and kicked the stand of the Harley to the pavement. One thing he hated was a man who didn't respect women.

  The woman spoke, while her tired eyes searched the front of the store. Remmy exited the Harley, uncomfortable with the situation. He kept his gaze locked on the couple.

  The man, dressed in a polo shirt, new jeans, and running shoes, appeared all talk and little muscle. It'd take nothing to bring him down.

  "No, you're not listening to me," the woman said. "I'm done talking about this. You won't believe me, and I'm tired of fighting."

  "Dammit. I'll cut everything off, and then what's going to happen to you." The man raised his hands.

  The woman flinched in fear. Remmy ran. He'd seen enough.

  Twenty feet from the couple, he slowed down to a walk. "Hey."

  The man's head jerked in Remmy's direction. In two seconds, Remmy concluded the guy wasn't carrying a weapon, unless he had an ankle holster or a knife in his back pocket.

  The woman turned her head away from Remmy, letting her dark, wild hair block his view of her face. His gut tightened. There was only one reason for a woman to ignore him. She'd been down this road before, and wanted to hide the abuse.

  "Everything okay?" Remmy asked.

  The man aggressively pointed at him. "This is none of your business."

  "Well, see, I'm making it my business." Remmy swept the edge of his vest to the side, uncovering his pistol. "I have a big problem with a man who uses his voice to intimidate a lady. From the looks of it, your woman doesn't want to talk to you right now, so why don't you walk off your anger."

  "Butt out." The man stepped toward Remmy.

  Remmy strolled up to the man, and said. "Walk away."

  The man scoffed. Remmy smiled for the first time that day. Yeah, this is what he needed.

  "Make me," the man said, lifting his chin.

  Remmy punched him. The guy never saw it coming.

  He shook the pain out of his hand and watched the six foot tall, one hundred and eighty pound piece of shit hit the asphalt. Using his boot, he rolled the man over onto his side, in case he woke up and vomited. With his luck, the asshole would probably choke to death and the sheriff would throw his ass in the pen for doing the right damn thing.

  Disgusted, he turned away from the unconscious man and found the woman gone. He bent at the waist and searched the inside of the vehicle, and then straightened. He scanned the parking lot. His gaze flickered over the few familiar faces, and came up empty for anyone having long brown wavy hair. His search came up empty.

  "Fuck," he muttered. At least she'd left, which was the smartest thing she could've done.

  The sheriff's car pulled into the lot. Remmy stood his ground and waited for Sheriff Colby. Usually, law enforcement chalked up fighting with a local miner as entertainment in the small town. If he busted a table or spilled someone's drink, he pushed a few bills to the owner of the establishment and called it good. Unfortunately, the cops in Federal frowned on assaulting a tourist.

  "Jesus Christ, Remmy. I've told you before to stay away from the tourists." Sheriff Colby squatted down and put his fingers to the neck of the unconscious man. "He's alive."

  "I don't make it a habit to kill men," Remmy said, catching sight of a female running across the street heading toward the viaduct. "Am I free to go?"

  "Yeah. Get out of here, and stay out of town for the day." Sheriff Colby stood. "I'll call the medics to come and take a l
ook at him, and it'd be best if you're not around when he wakes up or you're probably going to face assault charges."

  Remmy slapped the sheriff's shoulder in thanks and walked to his bike. Glancing over his shoulder, he kept the woman in sight. She headed toward the entrance to Interstate-90 and the highway out of town. On foot and without a car, she had no business going up on top of the viaduct with cruising semis and travelers breaking the seventy-five mile speed limit in their rush to reach their destination.

  He started the Harley and roared down the street, around the parking lot, and headed out of town. He spotted her walking up the eastbound ramp toward Coeur d'Alene or maybe Washington state.

  The woman's arms swung at her sides with her fast pace. The frantic glances behind her every few steps made her blind to the traffic buzzing past her. He sped up and when he rode alongside of her, she finally noticed him. She moved farther over on the ramp and bumped her thigh into the concrete barrier. One topple, and she'd hit the pavement twenty feet below her.

  "Hey. Stop for a second." He veered his bike in front of her and blocked her path.

  She changed directions, stumbled in her hurry to get away from him, and ran. He jumped off the bike, leaving it parked on the side of the interstate, and caught her within twenty paces. Wrapping his arms around her waist, he pinned her against his chest.

  "Whoa," he said. "I'm not going to hurt you."

  She struggled, pitching herself forward. His feet came off the ground, surprising him, and he leaned to the side to get a better hold of her. A car zoomed past, and he held onto her tighter, capturing her legs with his boot, so she couldn't use them against him. She was a little thing, but strong. He had to get her off the ramp and out of the way of traffic before they had an accident.

  He looked at the half circle onto the ramp, going against the flow of traffic, and glanced over at his bike. In his boots and vest, displaying Bantorus colors, and holding a hundred and twenty pound scared woman against her will, he'd never make it off the viaduct without causing a scene and bringing Sheriff Colby down on him again. He lifted her off the ground and stalked to his Harley.