Which left her wondering something else.
What if she knew who the father was? What if she called for a ride? What if she’s already on her way to another state? To start a new life?
By the time Josie parked the car, she was the one in tears. Attacking Steph had been stupid and now Josie was the one suffering for it.
She walked through the lot, hugging herself, the walk so familiar. How many times in her life had she walked across that same spot with tears in her eyes? Looking for the comfort of Reese’s strong arms?
From the corner of her eye, she saw two guys approaching her. Their leather cuts were all-black with a small logo of the MC on it. That meant they were prospects.
“Hey, can we help you?” one of them asked.
“Get Reese,” she said. “Now.”
“We can’t do that,” the other one said. “That’s not how it works.”
Josie stopped and looked at them. “You’re fucking low life prospects who don’t know a thing about this life. I’ve been in this life since I was thirteen years old. My father tried to take down the MC and lost his life. I’ve known Reese since I was thirteen. Do you really want to fucking tell me how this works? Because if you don’t get Reese, I’ll just walk into the clubhouse and tell him you refused to help me.”
The two prospects looked at each other and nodded.
One broke away and hurried toward the clubhouse.
The other stood there. “So, what’s your name?”
“Don’t talk to me, prospect,” Josie said.
She couldn’t believe how vicious she’d become lately. Ever since she started talking to Reese again…
No. That’s nothing. It’s life. It’s everything happening in life.
It took a minute before Reese came barreling through the door and was charging across the lot.
Seeing the way he moved and the look in his eyes… it made Josie feel things that were dangerous.
“What’s wrong, sweetheart?” Reese asked.
“Steph is gone.”
“What?”
“We went to the doctors. She’s seventeen weeks pregnant.”
“What?” he yelled.
“Yeah. I sort of lost it on her, Reese. I told her to go to the car and she didn’t. She took off. She left a note. I don’t know where she is. I don’t know…”
That’s when Josie’s voice finally quit. And her heart. And her emotions. Everything.
She felt her knees starting to give way and Reese was there to catch her.
“It’s okay,” he whispered. “It’s okay. We’ll find her. Look at me, Josie.”
She looked up at him.
“I’ll find her,” Reese said. “Come with me. We’ll get on my ride and go.”
“What about my car?”
Reese looked at the prospects. “You. Watch her car. Keep your phone handy if I need you. Got that?”
“Yes, sir,” one said.
“You,” Reese said to the prospect on the right. “Go inside and tell Ellis that I’m helping Josie with something. I’ll be in touch soon.”
“Yes, sir.”
“Come on,” Reese said.
He slipped his hand into Josie’s and started to run.
She ran with him, bringing back even more memories.
Josie swore to herself she’d never end up here again. Taking Reese’s helmet. Adjusting the strap so it fit under her chin snugly. Watching him stand his motorcycle up and start it. Hearing and feeling the rumble as she climbed on the back. Sliding her hands around his body and interlocking her fingers together. That first rush as the motorcycle moved and her body jerked back.
Just like that, they were off.
Just like that, Josie was letting Reese ride back into her heart.
If Josie thought she couldn’t feel any worse, she was wrong. Because the first place where Reese decided to check was the place where Steph was.
The cemetery.
The ride took about fifteen minutes. Josie had no idea how Steph managed to get there, but she promised herself she wouldn’t attack Steph for it. She was sure that Steph didn’t intend to get pregnant, but she got pregnant. Which meant there was a baby on the way. A new life. A life that was going to be special. A life that needed all the love in the world.
When Reese turned his motorcycle and eased by the tall, iron gates, Josie shivered. She had a thing about cemeteries. She didn’t like them at all. Her own dumb childhood fears, but also because she had the experience of watching her father get lowered into the ground when she was just a teenager. Because her father had gotten too mixed up with things in the life of outlaws, gangs, and the law.
Josie shut her eyes and waited until the motorcycle came to a stop.
She opened her eyes and saw Steph sitting on the grass, right at Laszlo’s grave.
Reese killed the engine. “There she is.”
“I should have known,” Josie said. “I’m sorry I bothered you, Reese.”
Josie climbed off the motorcycle. Reese hurried to grab her wrist. “Hey, sweetheart. I’ll go with you.”
Reese took her hand again and they walked toward Laszlo’s grave.
Josie couldn’t imagine what Reese was feeling. He and Laszlo had been best friends. From the time they were little kids. Everything was Reese and Lasz. It was always a packaged deal. Even when they were teenagers, Josie would try and get one of her friends to come along on dates because Reese could never go anywhere without Lasz at his side.
Now they were separated. By a bullet and six feet of dirt.
“Steph,” Josie said.
“I don’t want to hear it.”
“I’m sorry.”
“I said I don’t want to hear it.”
Reese winked at Josie and broke away. He crouched down and put a hand to Steph’s shoulder.
“He was a crazy son of a bitch, Steph,” Reese said. “And I miss him every day.”
“Me too,” she said. “He’d be so mad at me right now. I let him down.”
“No, you didn’t,” Reese said. “Shit happens in life. I shouldn’t have ragged you the way I did. I haven’t seen you in forever, Steph. I should have been around more. Seeing you makes me think of him. You were a pain in the ass as a kid. Always in our way.”
Steph smiled. “You guys were my heroes. I had a huge crush on you, Reese.”
“I know you did. You used to write things about me. Creep.”
“Shut up,” Steph said, blushing.
Reese put a hand out for Josie. She inched forward, and Reese pulled her down.
Steph looked at Josie and then looked away.
“I’m sorry, Steph,” Josie said. “For what I did. The way I did it. I was shocked.”
“So was I,” Steph said. “I really had no idea. I didn’t pay attention to myself. Things that were changing. All I noticed was that the last few weeks I haven’t felt good. When I would try to drink, I would get sick.”
Josie cringed at the idea of Steph trying to drink while being pregnant. But she didn’t know she was pregnant. Not that it made it okay, it just made it… whatever.
“You’re not alone,” Josie said.
“I know that,” Steph said. “I don’t want to live off you.”
“You won’t,” Josie said. “But you’re not living on the street. Pregnant or not.”
“Hey,” Reese said. “It’s life. It’s never perfect. Right now, you need to take care of your body and that baby.”
“How’d you know to come here?” Steph asked.
“I didn’t,” Josie said. “I was in a panic. Reese came right here.”
“I just knew,” Reese said. “I’d do the same. I have done the same. When you feel at your lowest, you want to go back in time and figure it out. I’d give anything to change what happened. But we can’t.” He stood up. He offered his hand to Steph. “We can only go forward. And right now, going forward is taking care of that kid.”
Steph was finally standing.
Josie couldn’t co
ntain herself as she hugged Steph.
They both started to cry.
From the corner of Josie’s eye, she watched as Reese approached the headstone. He put his fingertips to the headstone and lowered his head.
Josie’s heart was twisted and breaking into pieces.
She broke away from Steph and touched her face. “Don’t ever do that to me again.”
“I won’t,” Steph said. “I didn’t know what else to do. I knew you were mad at me. I didn’t want you to get more upset.”
“That was my fault,” Josie said. “I shouldn’t have reacted that way. But… seventeen weeks?”
“I know,” Steph said. “I’m terrified.”
“We can be scared together.”
“I don’t want you to have to move,” Steph said.
“Don’t worry about that part of things,” Josie said. “One step at a time.”
“Listen to me, both of you,” Reese said. He stood there, tall, strong, commanding. “The club takes care of family. Lasz was by my side for a long time. He wore the cut. You’re family to me, Steph. Through him. Through everything. Which means you’re protected. The baby is protected. I’m not promising fucking rainbows here… but there’s no need to run.”
“I’m sorry,” Steph said. “I’m tired. I want to go home. And eat. And cry. And sleep.”
Josie nodded and rubbed a hand along Steph’s back. It was starting to get dark now. Being in a cemetery was scary enough, but at night? No way. Josie wanted nothing to do with that. Not to mention her father was buried not too far from where they were standing.
“So how does this work with a motorcycle?” Steph asked.
“I’ll take you, Steph,” Reese said. “We’ll leave Josie to herself here.”
“Shut up,” Josie said. “No way.”
Reese grinned. “Still afraid, huh?”
“I hate you,” Josie said.
She turned as Steph started to giggle.
Reese called the prospects and made them come and bring her car.
Of course Reese had a plan. He always had a plan. That’s what made him Reese.
Reese got Steph into the car and walked Josie to the driver’s side.
“Thank you, Reese,” she said, putting a hand to his chest. “I didn’t know where else to go.”
“I’m glad you came. I’m glad I could help.”
“I, uh, this is weird… but I have no way to contact you.”
“Are you asking me for my phone number, sweetheart?”
“Maybe I am.”
Reese grinned. “I’ve got something better for you.”
“Oh?” Josie asked.
Reese leaned down, the scruff of his face tickling her cheek.
“The night isn’t over, sweetheart… I’m following you home.”
Chapter Eleven
Reese knew exactly what he was walking into. He checked in with Ellis and there was nothing happening at the clubhouse. Zac and Levi were working to find any cameras that could help them find out who the guy was that gave Starla all the drugs. Hawk, Brett, and Jason were on a run south to take care of some personal business with DRM. And Luca was handling some training with the prospects. Which meant that he called up old friends with cash to bet on fighting. He would set up fights between the prospects and have a little party.
In other words, it was basically a normal night for the MC.
With the exception of Reese.
He stood in the doorway to Steph’s room, watching her as she slept. Propped up with some pillows, her head to the side.
She really had been a pain in the ass kid. Always looking for a way to hang out with Lasz. She loved her stepbrother and Lasz would have died to protect her. Hell, in some ways, that’s exactly what happened. Now she was eighteen and pregnant. Her entire life ahead of her, doing it with a kid at her side.
“Hey, you okay?”
Reese turned and saw Josie standing close by.
A black t-shirt unfairly hugged the curves that Reese’s hands had memorized so many times over. She had traded her jeans for black pants that were a little baggy. Another dagger to the temptation that flowed through Reese’s heart and mind.
“Just checking on her,” Reese whispered.
“Let her sleep.”
He pulled the door shut.
They walked to the living room where Josie had two beers on the table.
“I’m sure you can use a drink,” she said. “All things considered.”
Reese lifted the bottle and nodded. “Yeah. All things considered.”
“What do I do here, Reese?” she asked without hesitation.
“What you’ve been doing,” he said.
“This place isn’t big enough for a baby.”
“Well, you’ve got a few choices then, sweetheart,” Reese said. “Make it work here. Find a way to have a little nursery in Steph’s room. Get a bigger place. Get Steph her own place.”
“She can’t handle that,” Josie said.
When Josie tried to turn, Reese slipped a hand to her hip to keep her from actually turning.
“Why not? She needs to learn.”
“This isn’t a game. She’s pregnant. She’s going to be responsible for a human life.”
“I know that. But you can’t wipe her ass all the time.”
“Oh, says the guy who just comes and goes so freely. Sorry, I’m not a biker.”
“Don’t put your wall up right now.”
“Don’t tell me what to do.”
“Tough shit, Josie,” Reese said. “You know I’m right. She needs to learn to take care of herself.”
“She doesn’t even know who the father is,” Josie said.
“Oh well.”
“She’s eighteen.”
“An adult.”
“She can’t even drink.”
“She doesn’t need to. She’s pregnant.”
“You’re going to have an answer for everything I say, aren’t you?”
“Yes,” he said with a smile.
“I fucking hate you sometimes.”
Josie broke away and walked into the kitchen. She stood at the sink, looking out the window.
Reese stood there and sipped his beer.
After giving her a few minutes, Reese walked into the kitchen. He put his beer bottle down and went right to Josie. He stopped only a few inches from her.
“It’s a mess,” he said in a low voice. “I know. You’re dealing with the club. Jefferson. The girls. The situation with Starla.”
“Where does that lead now?” Josie asked.
“Do you want to know the truth?”
“I don’t know.”
“Then I won’t tell you.”
Reese could see Josie’s reflection in the window.
“I hate this,” Josie said.
“Hate what?”
“What happened today. What happened with Starla. I lost my cool both times. I wanted to hurt Starla.”
“You should have, sweetheart. She really fucked you over. She’s lucky the MC didn’t take her out.”
“I freaked out in the doctor’s office at Steph.”
“She deserved it too.”
“Not like I did. I just…”
“Hey,” Reese said. He touched her waist. “Look at me, Josie.”
She turned around. “What?”
“You need to let go sometimes. Forget about things. Cut yourself some slack. You let that shit build up and it just explodes.”
“You say that, Reese, but you being here doesn’t help me.”
“I know,” he whispered and inched closer. “You don’t think being near you drives me fucking insane?”
“What do we do then? Just avoid each other forever?”
“No, sweetheart. No.”
Reese lifted Josie up and sat her on the edge of the sink.
She grabbed his leather cut.
There were a few seconds left that ticked between them. In a sense, they were the last seconds of innocence.
&nb
sp; Because when Reese kissed Josie, he knew all hell was going to break loose…
She tasted better than ever. She had her chance to push him away and she didn’t. That was the only chance Reese was going to give her. He slipped his hands up her body, feeling the perfect shape of her curves. Josie moved her hands from his leather cut up to his face, clawing at his scruff.
The kisses were fast and sloppy, each one laced with plenty of need and maybe a small hint of possible regret. But the strange part was that the more they kissed, the less regret Reese felt. He knew exactly who Josie was and what she meant. The fact that she never truly escaped the life proved everything he needed to know.
He kissed her deeper, letting his tongue take control, pushing his body against hers. As his hands eased over her breasts over her shirt, Josie shifted back and tried to thrust her hips at him. When she did, she lost her balance and fell back into the sink. A split second later, the water turned on and she let out a cry.
Reese laughed as he turned the water off and pulled her from the sink.
“Great,” she said. “I try to have a moment with you and my ass is soaked.”
Reese moved at her again and placed his right hand to her ass, feeling her wet pants.
“I don’t mind your wet ass, sweetheart,” he said. “Just gives me a reason to take these pants off you.”
“Yeah, like you needed one,” Josie said.
Reese growled. He loved when she was like this. Flirty. Feisty. That stare in her eyes, telling him everything she wanted. But he already knew everything she wanted. That’s what made them work. It’s what made them deadly together.
Reese scooped Josie up off her feet, his hand still cupping her wet ass.
There was no talking, just kissing. Making up for all the kisses missed. All the times Reese spent with another woman, wishing it was Josie.
He took her right to the bedroom, kicking the door shut with a hard slam and dropping her down to the bed. Josie quickly jumped up and reached for her ass.
“I’m wet,” she said.
Reese grinned. “I love when you talk dirty, sweetheart.”
“Don’t ruin this for me. I’m probably going to regret this tomorrow.”
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