“You have that look on your face. What’s going on?” he asked, and I dropped my fork with a clink onto the plate.
It wasn’t the time to bring it up, but, then again, it was never the time to bring it up. Maybe it was my hormones being all out of whack, and maybe it was just that I was sick and tired of ignoring the whole situation. Either way, it was time to know the truth. “Do you miss her?” I asked.
He didn’t even have to verify who I was talking about. I could tell by the sudden sadness that washed over his eyes that he knew. He wiped a napkin down his face, and crumpled it in his hand before tossing it on the table. He leaned back and sighed. “All the time.”
A fire burned its way up my throat, and my heart raced at the words I was finally about to say after years of keeping them to myself. “Why weren’t you there when she died? The doctors told us it would be any minute and, instead of staying behind and holding her hand while she passed, you left. You just walked out the fucking door like the doctor told you she was napping.”
“What is bringing this on?” Dad asked, and I couldn’t look at him. Emotions clogged my throat, and I wished my hormones would stop fucking with me.
My hand found my stomach again, and I realized the reason I asked was not for me. It was for my baby. I needed to know why Dad walked out on the love of his life because I didn’t want there to be any chance of him walking away from his only grandchild. I needed to know that he wasn’t going to let me down again. Or, worse, let my child down.
I got my emotions in check, and glanced back at him. “I’ve always wondered and, since this breakfast already got a little heavy on the conversation earlier, I figured why not bring it home?” I sat back in my chair, and crossed my arms over my chest. “I just want to know. Why did you leave her alone to die?”
He ran a hand over his beard and, for the first time in my life, I detected tears in his eyes. At first, I thought it was an optical illusion, but then he balled his fists and rubbed them into his sockets. When he took his hands away his eyes were clear of the wet evidence. “How do you watch the one you love die? It was unfathomable to me. I had already watched her deteriorate to nothing. To a shell of the woman who tamed this wild bear and chipped away at the blackness of my heart. Everything that I was, I owed to her, and she was slipping away from me and there was absolutely nothing I could do about it. I might be a tough son of a bitch, but that was one thing I couldn’t handle.”
Dad ran a hand over his face, and I hated the grief and sorrow that marked his features. I regretted asking, regretting wanting to know the truth. After all these years, did it even matter? We were fine with that little piece of information buried deep, and I should have let it rest there.
Dad cleared his throat and continued. “A day doesn’t go by that I don’t regret walking out of that hospital room. I wish I was stronger. Wish I could have found the strength I knew she would undoubtedly would have found. It’s a regret I live with. But we all have regrets, princess. We just have to learn how to live with them and I have.”
Whether he knew it or not, he just gave me advice that I desperately needed.
I took his hand in mine and smiled. “Sorry I asked.”
“I’m not. At times, my life can be one big secret and I’m happy to have that one off my chest.” He picked up his fork and stabbed a piece of melon. “Now, if you don’t have any more questions, I have some delicious melon to eat.”
Dad went back to his breakfast, but his demeanor was still off. Sadness still consumed him and guilt tugged at my insides for bringing up such a painful memory. I was happy I knew, though. It was further proof as to why I would never marry. Pain like that, no matter how much happiness came before it, is never worth it.
9
Kade
My head was currently buried under the hood of a Dodge Caravan as I replaced the serpentine belt. It was dark as shit underneath this thing, and I held a flashlight between my lips to try and see what the fuck I was doing. Cash leaned over and, out of the corner of my eye, I could see him wiping his hands on a rag. I held my head up to him, revealing the flashlight, and nodding toward him so he can take it.
He took the flashlight with a laugh.
“Make yourself useful,” I said, as I went back to the belt.
“This your last car of the day?” he asked.
“Yes, and it can’t be done fast enough.” I had a shit day; between fighting with a stripped oil plug, and watching Sienna walk in and out of the garage every ten minutes to go over receipts with Phil, I was ready to get the fuck out of here and down a few drinks.
“Aubree is working late at the store. Want to grab a beer at Mikey’s? I have to pick up payment anyway.” Mikey’s was a local joint with a low key crowd, and a bartender who always bought us back a round. It was one of the many businesses we kept safe and, because of that, they gave us kickbacks. It was a negotiation made years ago that benefited the club and the town. Cash and I tended to go there on business, and stay for a few beers.
“You read my fucking mind. Now, hold that light steady so I can get this fucker done.”
I tightened the tensioner and heard heeled boots clicking across the garage. My eyes glanced up, catching the beautiful sway of Sienna’s ass. I swear she wouldn’t be happy until I grabbed that tight little ass and took her up against the wall. She was driving me fucking insane. Couldn’t Phil just go in her goddamned office? Did she have to come in here every twenty minutes, and taunt me with that body?
My cock had been hard since the first time she walked in here over five hours ago. I almost thought about ditching Cash, and finding a club whore in the clubhouse to have my way with. The only reason I didn’t was because I knew, no matter how hard I fucked another girl or how good they sucked my dick, it wouldn’t fucking matter. Sienna was in my fucking head, and the only way to satisfy my craving was to have her spread wide with that tight little pussy wet and waiting for my cock.
I took a deep breath as she spun around on her heel, and put my focus back on the tensioner. I finished up, and Cash handed me a rag.
“Ready to get the fuck out of here?” he asked.
I tossed the rag on my tool chest. “I was ready three hours ago.” I followed Cash out the garage door, and stripped out of my mechanic shirt, hoping my t-shirt underneath wouldn’t be covered in grease. Luckily, it was black and, from the looks of it, pretty damn clean.
Sienna stormed out of her office again, and started across the lot, her head down into a pile of invoices. She was clearly preoccupied because, if she weren’t, she wouldn’t have run into me head on.
I grabbed her shoulders to steady her, and she glared at me.
“Hey, don’t look at me like that. You ran into me.”
“Sorry,” she muttered, and I almost wanted to feel her head to make sure she was feeling okay. Sienna wasn’t a girl who apologized. She scoffed at you and rolled her eyes.
Cash nodded to me from behind Sienna and headed to his bike. I nodded back, knowing he would wait for me to take off to Mikey’s.
“What’s going on?” I asked. “You’ve been strutting that hot ass back and forth all damn day.” I realized I was still holding her arms, but she didn’t even try to step out of my grasp. Stress poured off of her in waves, and I wanted to pull her against my chest. Help her work that stress out of her mind and body.
She pushed her fingers into the bridge of her nose and sighed. “There’s a discrepancy with the bank statements, and I’m trying to figure it out. Phil’s handwriting is shit, and I’ve always been good at deciphering it, but now I’m second guessing myself. Not like he’s any help. He can’t even fucking read it. I’ve been trying to get automated invoices forever, but my dad’s so fucking stubborn. Seriously, who still uses carbon copies anyway?”
“Do you think that’s what it is?” I asked, knowing damn well that people make mistakes but Sienna is precise with everything.
“What else would it be?”
“Somebody fucking with y
ou. With the business. Taking money here and there to fill their own pockets, but not enough to set off any red flags.”
“It’s crossed my mind, but I don’t want to jump to any conclusions just yet. I need to cover my ass first before we even think about going there.”
“Smart.”
“Now, if you’ll excuse me, I have to go over this entire stack with Phil.” She held up the pile of invoices in her hand and sighed. “It’s going to be a late night.”
“Lucky Phil.”
“Don’t even,” she said with a roll of her eyes, and the Sienna I knew and loved was back.
“If you need to blow off steam later, I’d be happy to let you use my body.”
She smacked my chest, and went to push by me, when she stopped. Her eyes met mine, and they were the prettiest damn things. “I like you better when you’re not trying to get in my pants.”
I laughed and, as she passed me, I grabbed her arm and spun her back to me. “For the record, since we’re being honest, I like when you’re not trying to run away from me.” I let go of her arm, and instantly felt the loss. Her eyes stayed on mine, and I offered her a smile. “Have a good night, Sienna.”
“You too, Kade.” I don’t know who walked away first, but it didn’t matter. I was just happy that she talked to me instead of blowing me off. We were never best friends like her and Dice, but, before we slept together, we used to talk. It was never anything meaningful, but enough to carry a conversation that went beyond small talk. I didn’t realize how much I missed it until now.
“Yo!” Cash called across the lot. “You ready or what?”
“Don’t get your panties in a bunch,” I said as I grabbed my helmet off of my bike and fastened it into place.
“She still holding out on you?” Cash asked, tilting his head toward Sienna.
“Dude, she has no a trespassing sign on her fucking ass and won’t budge.”
Cash laughed and revved his engine before pulling out. I followed him, flanking his side as soon as we got on the road. Mikey’s was just on the other side of town, and didn’t take us long to get there.
Sammy was manning the bar and, when we walked in, he grabbed two pint glasses and an envelope. He pushed the envelope across the bar to Cash when we sat down on the stools and then filled the pint glasses.
He placed the two glasses in front of us, and I didn’t waste a second taking a gulp. “Now that’s what I call service,” I said, as I put the glass back down on the bar.
“How you guys doing?” Sammy asked, grabbing a towel and wiping down the polished wood.
“Good,” Cash answered. “How’s it been here? Anything we should know about?”
Last time Cash and I were here, I had the barrel of my gun pointed at the head of a member of Gordita’s army. Only then, we didn’t know who he was. We assumed he was just your typical drug dealer with no ties to the mastermind behind the operation. Letting him go became a big fucking problem, but Aubree took care of that when she put a bullet through his fucking head after Anthony snuck into Cash’s house and attacked them.
“It’s been quiet since that guy’s body showed up on the side of the road. Hopefully, his friends stay away, but, if they don’t, I can handle them. They never really did anything too crazy anyway.”
I nodded and took another gulp of beer. They might not have done anything too crazy, but they were on Outlaws turf and were not welcome in this town.
“Though, the town folk are getting a little uneasy about all the recent crime just outside the town lines.”
“How do you know that?” I asked, resting my hands on the bar.
Sammy laughed. “I’m a bartender. I see and hear everything. There’s been quite a few conversations over the last couple weeks about people pulling the plug on the payment deal.”
‘Fuck,” Cash muttered as he tipped the bottle to his mouth.
If the local businesses backed out of a few decades long agreement, the club would lose money it couldn’t afford to lose. We did well in other ventures, but it was never guaranteed. The dough we collected from the locals was a monthly assurance. Without it, we were screwed.
“Who’s been talking?” I asked, needing to know who we needed to butter up and save face with.
“Willie from the pharmacy and Kent from the jewelry… A few others here and there, but those two seem to be the ones who are looking to kick it off. I know for a fact Mikey doesn’t mind laying out the money to you guys. Hell, I think you guys are a built in security system when the cops aren’t enough. I’ve seen you in action. Seen you take care of problems Stanson and his team of uniforms couldn’t, but not everybody sees it that way. A lot of people think you all are the criminals and are bringing the crime closer to home. I just thought you should know.”
“Appreciate it,” I said to Sammy, and he gave a nod, before walking over to take an order from two blondes at the end of the bar.
I scratched my head and let out a loud breath. “We have to bring it to Nick. He needs to know that the people who he started this agreement with are the ones looking to pull.”
“Willie is. Kent isn’t, and I wonder if that prick is the one filling the heads of the other businesses.”
“Should we pay him a friendly visit?” I asked.
Cash stood up and downed the rest of his beer. “Damn right, we do.” He slammed his bottle down on the bar, and tossed some cash to cover the bill and the tip.
We each waved a hand at Sammy as we pushed through the big oak doors and out into the parking lot. The rain had held off all day, but now a slow steady drizzle fell from the gray clouds above.
We got on our bikes and headed to Main Street, finding spots right in front of the jewelry shop. Kent was behind the counter, arranging a necklace on a display when we walked in. He turned around with a smile that was way too fucking big. “Good afternoon, boys. What can I help you with today?” he asked,
“Just stopping in and seeing how things are going,” Cash said, scanning his eyes along the glass cases of rings. His gaze slowed over one case particular, and I wondered if he was getting ready to start ring shopping.
Fuck. I never thought of my best friend tying the knot, and being locked down for the rest of his days, but then again I never saw him this fucking happy either.
“Everything is just fine.”
“Good,” Cash said, taking his eyes away from the glass top. “There’s been a lot of activity on the outside of town, and we’re just checking in with everyone to make sure nothing suspicious has been going on within the town limits.”
Cash was playing the good guy act. Showing Kent that we really did care about the town and the businesses. It was a smart play. If we came in here accusing him of conspiring against us, it would have only made the divide that much larger.
“Nothing suspicious that I’ve seen. Thank God. It is however a little disheartening to hear about all the tragedy and violence only a few miles away,” Kent said, as he placed the necklace display into a glass case and locked it. “Seems like it’s only a matter of time before it starts to make its way to us.”
“That won’t happen,” I spat.
“How can you guarantee that?” Kent asked, crossing his arm over his expensive suit. He was the type of guy that flaunted the little bit of wealth he had, whose arrogance rolled off of him in big violent waves. It was hilarious to me that he set up shop in a place like Black Hills to begin with. He was a city boy through and through, though I’d have to admit he was doing pretty well here. He quickly became friends with the locals, garnered their trust by attending town meetings, and kept the local newspaper afloat with his relentless advertisements.
“We have guaranteed that for the past thirty years, and we will continue to do so. You have to remember this is our town as much as it is anyone else who lives here. We don’t want to see it jeopardized, either. This town has always been safe, and we plan on keeping it that way.”
“I appreciate the reassurance,” Kent said, coming around the c
ounter to the glass display Cash kept glancing at. “Is there something you’d like to look at?” he said to Cash.
Cash gave a quick glance to me, and then shoved his hands in his pockets. “Nah, we’re here on business. We’re not here to shop.”
Kent smiled and, this time, it felt more genuine. “When you’re ready,” he said, and Cash stepped away without acknowledging him.
“Let us know if you need anything,” I said to Kent, as I pushed out into the drizzle.
Cash looked a little dazed as I joined him on the sidewalk. “You okay, brother?”
“Fine,” he said in a way I knew not to follow it up with another question. Unfortunately for him, I wasn’t one to keep my mouth shut.
“You love her, Cash. It’s okay to want to marry her.”
“Who said anything about marriage? Besides, I know that.”
“Then, why do you look like you just saw a fucking ghost in there?”
He shrugged and ran a hand through his hair. “I just realized, even if I do ask her to marry me and she says yes, I’ll never be able to give her the wedding she wants. You know Aubs. She’s probably had her dream wedding planned since she was old enough to walk. The club’s one of the reasons her old man is in the slammer. He’ll never be able to walk her down the aisle.”
“First off, the club might have had a part in it, but he was messing with the wrong side of the law way before he got involved with us. If you ask me, our hands are clean and you shouldn’t beat yourself up over it. Aubree doesn’t, and you shouldn’t, either. The only thing that girl cares about is meeting you at the end of that aisle. Who the fuck cares how she gets there?”
“I guess you’re right.”
“Of course, I’m fucking right. I always am.”
Cash laughed. “You okay if I bail?” he asked, looking across the street to Aubree’s store.
Bulletproof (A Righteous Outlaws Novel #2) Page 7