Tread: Biker Romance (Ronin MC Series Book 1)

by Morrow, Justin

  “So she had this planned? How come Harvey didn’t say anything?”

  “I don’t think he knows, bro.”

  “Oh, man, he’s gonna kill the ’spects. We gotta get back to the clubhouse. What are we gonna tell Harvey?”

  “The truth. Let’s go.”

  Royal followed me through the kitchen. I turned when I heard him open a drawer. He pulled out a key and continued on. We left the house and Royal locked up. I let him peel off in front of me and wondered how this was all going to go down.

  We arrived at the rear of the saloon and saw Tatum smoking a cigarette. She lunged for me before I stopped rolling, but I cut her off before she could open her mouth.

  “Where’s Harvey, Tatum?” I asked.

  “Clubhouse.”

  I spun the ’Vette around and pulled into my clubhouse parking spot. Royal pulled up next to me.

  I HUMMED A SONG THAT was stuck in my head since the day before as I straightened the coffee mugs and wiped the bar as I tried to stay invisible. Something was going on. Everyone was piling out as soon as Harvey showed up. It was none of my business, but I had a feeling Kit was involved, and since I slept in her bed last night, I was pretty sure I was going to be pulled into it sooner or later.

  The front door slammed open, making me jump. My already sore muscles protested and I rolled a shoulder stiffly. Tatum stomped to the bar and threw down her purse. “Give me some coffee,” she grumbled.

  I stared at her until she looked up from her phone and raised her eyebrow. I put a hand on my hip. “I don’t know how Kit ran this thing, but you’re gonna have to give me a little more than an order if you want service.”

  Tatum let out a surprised laugh then studied me up and down. “Well, well. Looks like you got up on the feisty side of the bed this mornin’. Whose bed was that again?”

  I was learning not to underestimate any of these women. They were all far from stupid, and just as hardened as the men. If I didn’t want to be a doormat, I had to start out strong. At least, that’s what Kit’s text message this morning said to do. I tried not to choke as I swallowed. “Kit said I could take her room upstairs.”

  “And her job, from the looks of it. She tell you where she went?”

  I looked down and shrugged, wiping the clean counter again. Tatum brought her arm down, the bangles on her arm clanging loudly in the empty room. “Spill it. Right now, Grace,” she ordered.

  “She didn’t tell you?” I was trying to stall.

  “Nah.” Her face hardened, and her chocolate eyes lowered to a glare. “And I’ve known that girl since I was born. Fuckin’ diapers and shit. Now you better spill it all before you have a whole biker club in here ready to split you open for the information.”

  I swallowed again, though my mouth seemed to have suddenly gone as dry as the desert outside. “She said she had a job opening and I could work here until I had enough for a new car. She gave me the keys.” I dug them out of my pocket as proof. “That’s all I know, I swear.”

  Tatum ran her hand through her hair, only getting halfway through since the thick mass was up in a messy bun. “Was she pissed off? Upset or something?”

  “Not mad.” I shook my head and took a breath. “More resigned, kind of sad, I guess.”

  “Did anything else happen that I should know about?”

  I shifted from one foot to the other, licking my lips as I looked around the room.

  “Grace.” I jumped a mile high then spun around. Shoot. Veesa knew my name. She was staring down her nose at me, commanding my soul to spill all over the floor or she would do it for me. My eyes traveled to her hands on her hips. Was that a knife? Oh, holy God.

  “Kit asked me to count the deposit while she took the trash out, but she didn’t come back. I went to the kitchen to make sure she was okay. She was making out with Royal. He left and she told me I could have the job. That’s all I know, I swear.” Please don’t kill me.

  Veesa yelled, throwing her arms up. I tracked the movement and scrambled back. Not a knife, but a lethal looking spatula, the stainless steel glinting in the morning light. She turned and pushed the swinging door to the kitchen so hard it echoed, yelling in Spanish the whole time.

  “Jesus fucking Christ!”

  I spun to make sure Tatum couldn’t get me either, backing into the rows of bottles on the wall. My nerves were going to be shot before lunch.

  “You’re fucking kidding me. Royal? You’re sure?” she demanded, leaning over the counter towards me.

  I nodded. “Long blond hair, blue eyes? That’s Royal, right?”

  “The VP? And she left right after? Oh, we’re all screwed. All of us. Oh my God, I gotta call Marley.” She grabbed her phone, muttering more “Oh my Gods.”

  Not knowing what else to do, I made a cup of coffee for her and set it down gently with shaking fingers as she ranted.

  Marley came in minutes later, looking wild. “What’s going on?”

  Tatum threw her arms up. “Kit took off! Hooked up with Royal and left.”

  Marley’s eyes grew wider than they were before. “She fucked him?”

  Tatum swung to me and now I had both of them bearing down on me. “No. No . . . sex.”

  Marley’s mouth tightened. “How do you know?”

  “Well, her shirt was up.” I gestured to my neck. “But both of their pants were on. I may be sheltered, but I know that’s not how it’s done.”

  Marley took a seat and seemed to deflate. “All right. All right.” She dug in her purse, pulling out a pack of cigarettes. “So she finally does it and chickens out. It’ll be okay. They’ll get her back.”

  I looked from one woman to the other. “I don’t think she wants to come back. She tried to talk to her dad, then him. She said I could have anything in her room.”

  Tatum pinned me with her angry eyes. “No one leaves, Grace. We all know that. We’re a goddamned family.” She blinked rapidly and I suddenly realized how hurt they must be that she hadn’t told them.

  “I’m sorry. I hope I didn’t do anything—”

  “No.” Marley exhaled a cloud of smoke and waved her hand. “The kiss was more of a catalyst than anything.”

  I sighed, my shoulders sinking in relief.

  “What’s wrong with your dog?” Tatum asked, looking at the floor beside me. My Bella was scratching her side so hard she fell over.

  “Oh my gosh!” I sank to the ground, lifting her face to see it was red and swollen behind her white fur. Sighing, I grabbed her leash. “You just had to have the bacon again, didn’t you? You were lucky you didn’t break out yesterday.” I shook my head and pulled her behind me to go upstairs.

  “She allergic or somethin’?” Marley asked.

  I nodded. “Yeah, among other things. I need to get her pills.” I turned to them. “Is it okay to leave for a minute? She needs Benadryl.”

  They waved me away and I pulled an itchy dog up the stairs.

  “Hey, Grace.” I turned at the top to see Marley leaning back to see me over the balcony. “Change into some workout gear. We gotta get to the gym.”

  I stifled a groan. My body couldn’t take another class, let alone all of them. I was barely managing to walk upright, instead of hobbling like a geriatric. I would have given my life for a bath.

  I unlocked the door and situated Bella on a folded comforter in my open suitcase, knowing she’d pass out soon. I’d have to leave her there. I made sure she had food and water close by while she gobbled her pill pocket treat, knowing I’d have to keep a better eye on her, or fork over most of my meager savings for a vet bill. Reluctantly, I turned to the room, remembering I had nothing that could pass as workout clothes of my own. Yesterday’s outfit was stiff with dry sweat. Kit’s room was filled with perfume bottles and bandanas. Hair bands were everywhere. When I opened the doors to the closet, it was an explosion of black and pink. The hangers showed that nothing had sleeves. I guessed they really didn’t need them here.

  Towards the back, there were some j
ackets, all leather. I sighed, pulled a black tank top from a hanger then searched through the dresser in the corner for pants.

  Once I had changed, I studied myself in the circle mirror above the perfume bottles. I’d never worn anything that revealed so much skin. At least the tank top was loose. But the leggings? I turned to look at my butt and groaned. Putting my hair in a ponytail, I left before I chickened out and hid under the bed instead.

  When I locked the door, Bella’s snores were muffled considerably, but the voices from below came into focus. It sounded like the guys were back.

  “WHAT THE HELL DO YOU mean she’s gone?!” Harvey shouted as he slammed his fist down on the table. “Where the hell is my little girl?! If one of ya’ll are hiding info from me, I’m gonna fuckin’ kill you.” Harvey slowed down at the end for emphasis.

  “Prez, she’s gone. She left this letter. We didn’t see Benny or Kale’s bikes, there was no forced entry, and she got a job.” I spilled all I knew, but it still seemed to only fan the flames.

  “Any chance the cartels had anything to do with this? The Ruskies? Come on people, we’re better than this! What are we running here? Amateur hour?!”

  “I’ll find her, stay with her if I have to, and bring her ass home,” Royal offered, but I doubted that Harvey would go for it with their history.

  “No, I need my VP local.”

  Called it.

  “No worries, Prez. We’ll get a patch on it ASAP. I’m gonna call my Uncle Chuck. He’s still running that shop in Albuquerque. He’ll try to get a lead,” Alt offered up a real solution, one Harvey would have to be satisfied with.

  “What about that new Dove? What the hell is her name? Faith? I saw them talking last night.”

  Royal stared a hole through the table in about five seconds flat then shot up and stormed towards the door.

  “Fuckin’ adjourned.” Harvey slammed his mallet and stormed after Royal.

  Everyone followed suit and I couldn’t help but choke back a knot in my throat. That soft, church girl was about to get a rude ass awakening, and I was unsure if I wanted to be witness to it.

  Following my brothers barging into the saloon, I took a nice, dark spot against the wall, crossing my arms, strangely wishing I could curl them around Grace to keep her safe from the coming storm. Oddly enough, just yesterday I wanted to belittle the shit out of the girl for being so sheltered and stuck up, not to mention this morning. Guess my ex was right, my emotions were as predictable as roulette.

  “Hey! You there! What the hell is your name?” Harvey’s voice rumbled deep and low, and he slammed a barstool for extra effect.

  “Grace.” The girl stood her ground. That or she was frozen to it at the bottom of the stairs. And what the hell was she wearing? Her eyes portrayed the fear she was succumbing to in the shadow of the formidable man. This was the point where I should have intervened. If it were not for the Prez getting answers about Kit, I would have.

  “Where the fuck is my daughter, Grace! Where is my Kit!?”

  “I don’t know exactly where, sir! She said I could have this job and sleep in her room until my car is fixed.”

  “Sir?! Do I look like some white-collar prick wielding a briefcase and a fucking stick up my ass?! Do you know who the hell I am?!” Harvey was bowing up. Poor girl obviously didn’t know the military lifestyle. No one but a sir wanted to be called sir.

  “I am the fucking boss around here and when I ask you a question you better goddamned answer it!” Harvey shot out another volley of intimidation. He was getting close to the limit. Everyone shifted where they stood. We’d need to intervene soon if Grace didn’t come up with a better answer.

  “I swear I don’t know! She said she was using her degree. A nurse, I think?”

  “Holy shit, Dove, if I find out you’re lying, you’re done. Tread, where’s this girl’s car at?”

  I cleared my throat, unable to take my gaze off the fear in Grace’s eyes.

  “I junked it, Prez. Cost more to fix than that P.O.S was worth.”

  “Great goin’, Tread. Now we have another hang around, She’s your fuckin’ problem until I get my girl back.”

  “Wait,” I immediately protested, clenching my jaw to stop the rest. I was not a fucking nanny. “I work for a livin’ too, Prez.”

  Harvey’s eyes glared, his cheeks turning red. A phone went off behind me, pulling his attention away from me. “No, wait. Check that. TATUM!”

  “Yes, Prez?” Tatum’s voice was purposefully innocent, as if to protect her from his wrath.

  “You gals were babysitting this little girl since she got into town, right? Took her under your wing, is that right?”

  Tatum seemed shocked. She hadn’t expected Harvey to know that detail. I didn’t know where he got it, either. Harvey was a hawk when it came to small details like that. Finally, Tatum nodded her head in affirmation.

  “Good, after duty hours she’s y’alls responsibility. You’re her new roommate. Move into Kit’s room or have her move into yours.” Harvey became quiet and sat down on a barstool. “I don’t give a fuck how the three of you do it,” he finally continued, pointing at Tatum, Marley, and I at opposite sides of the saloon, “but you are responsible for keepin’ this girl until Kit is home where she belongs. Then I want her the fuck out of my town.”

  “Yes, Prez,” we responded in unison.

  “Good.” He turned to Grace and threw on a half-baked smile. “Grace, lass, hand me that bottle of Jim Beam, please.”

  Grace froze, still terrified. She eventually backed towards the bar, grabbed the bottle, not daring to take her eyes off Harvey. She handed it to him with a glass and backed away swiftly. It was unfortunate that Grace got caught up like that. Harvey really wasn’t a bad guy. He just didn’t mess around when it came to family.

  While Harvey was planning to ride out with Alt to kick some prospect ass, I had to open the shop and get to work. As I was walking out of the saloon, Harvey looked up at me.

  “You forgettin’ something? Bar doesn’t open till 1600,” he said as he nodded towards Grace, who was cleaning out the coffee maker behind the bar.

  “Madame Grace, your escort awaits,” I said with a bow and a grimace.

  Grace tossed down her rag and walked from around the bar. I headed out of the saloon with her in tow, passing a snickering Marley and Tatum as I left.

  In the shop, I opened up the bay doors with a loud rattle and hit the lights.

  “So, what do you need me to do?” Grace asked.

  “Nothin’ and don’t touch anything, either.”

  I was trying to get into the zone—my mechanic zone—and I was not interested in playing a game of twenty questions while I figured out what job to tackle first. I grabbed the vehicle inventory and traced my finger down to the car that had been there the longest. It was a crappy Caprice that was owned by the nice old lady that ran the gas station in town. It needed a Freon recharge, new alternator, and she wanted me to figure out what was causing her valves to chatter.

  “So are you sure there isn’t anything for me to do?” she asked again.

  Ugh. “Nope, thanks. I got this. Just sit on that couch over there and don’t touch anything.”

  “That couch? But . . .” she trailed off and I sighed, trying to keep my eyes on the damn list, and not her suddenly revealed rack in that new top. “Where’s the bathroom?” she persisted.

  “It’s in the front office. It should be unlocked.”

  “Okay. Did you want me to make some coffee in there?” She came closer, and I shifted to keep her out of my peripheral vision.

  She had to be trying to annoy me now. Although, coffee did sound great.

  “Yeah, sure. Thanks. Coffee is in the cupboard. Wanna be a doll and grab me an oatmeal creme pie while you’re in there?”

  “Aren’t you a little old to be eating oatmeal pies?”

  “Nope.”

  “Okay, sure. I’ll grab you one if I find them.”

  Finally, a reprieve from th
e awkwardness of having to babysit in my garage. I gathered the tools I would need and the Freon charger and got to work.

  The peace didn’t last long, maybe ten minutes. Grace came in with a cup and a pie. That earned her a lot of cred with me, since I knew they were in the back of the cupboard behind a ton of shit. She could be my new favorite girl if she kept bringing me sweets.

  “So what’s going on with that old red car out there?” Grace asked as she offered me my delicious, sugary snack.

  “Red? Whichun?” I asked with my mouth full.

  Grace pointed a finger, and her tits shifted, drawing me in like a red flag to a bull. “That one on the side with all the dust.”

  “That’s not just a red car. It’s a ‘74 Z-28 Camaro. Got dropped off here after the owner blew it up.”

  “That’s a shame. I always dreamed of driving something cooler, but I imagine buying a new engine would be just as costly as the Hyundai.”

  She was a Chevy girl, living an unfortunate, imported life. Another perk. Speaking of perks, when I looked up at her, probably with cream all over my face, I noticed again that her breasts were freaking perfect. I was a total ass man myself, but something about seeing her all dowdy before, then in this getup was getting to me. The way they were restrained by the white bra that could be seen through a thin cotton shirt. This was the most skin I’d seen her show, and I realized she must have changed to go to the gym.

  “It could be done on the cheap, if you know the right people.”

  “How do I meet these ‘right people?’ ” She asked with an awkward wink. I almost laughed out loud, and wanted to turn behind me to see who she was flirting with. Who was this girl? Was she coming on to me? I thought she was a churchy, no-fun-till-marriage type.

  “I’m the right people.” I winked back.

  What the hell was I thinking? That sounded like a lame segue way into a cheap porn scene—cue images of her bending over this hood. My daydream was interrupted by shuffling feet and a beet red face. I tried to blow it off.

  “Hey, I’m just messing with you. I know a guy who does engines and I got a decent condition LS2 out in the junkyard. Got it from a shot up Pontiac G8. Are you interested?” She practically glowed and I wanted to jump on that like a damn trampoline.