Innocent Ride

by Chelsea Camaron

  Blowing out a breath, I continue to my car. At the parking lot, Rex turns me to him before I step off the sidewalk. His lips crash down on mine before I can take in what is happening. Lost in his tongue rolling over mine, I drop my purse to the ground and wrap my hands around his neck to pull him closer. His hands slide down to rub my ass, making me moan.

  SCCCCCCREEEEECHHHHH.

  Bam.

  Rex pulls his mouth away harshly while wrapping both arms firmly around me and cocooning me into him. His body is my shield as I realize the blue sedan just clipped the rear bumper of my car before it sped away.

  My body trembles while fear runs through me. Rex holds me close as he nods to someone who pulls away in a black sports car to follow the blue sedan. Then he pulls his phone out while keeping his other arm firmly around my waist, keeping me pressed to him.

  “Shit just escalated. Find the fucker, Tripp, before I do,” Rex barks into the phone as I allow myself to snuggle down into him for the comfort of his security.

  “I’m driving Lux to work, so get a prospect to pick me up.” He swipes the phone to end the call then tucks it back in his back pocket.

  Cupping my chin in his hand, he tips my head up to look at him. “Shit just got real. This is more than Chad, sweetheart. He wants you. That was about me kissing you. He clipped your car as a warning. Whoever this guy is, he is losing his patience and control. You gotta get to work, but you stay inside today. No outside lunch with Kenna. I’ll have a man on you since I gotta ride with Roundman today. I’ll be there when you get off to drive you home, though. Bike isn’t safe for you, so we’ll be taking your car everywhere now. ”

  “What about reporting the hit and run? The cops could maybe find him,” I stammer out.

  “I’ll get your car fixed. If this guy killed Chad, then the cops are useless. We have a hacker on the police files; there is no evidence, and there are no leads. I’m not trying to scare you, but the case is cold. Roundman is here so the club can look into things our way. Do you trust me?” Rex looks at me with a pleading stare.

  “Yes,” I answer wholeheartedly.

  He kisses my forehead and leads me to the passenger seat of my car. I get in without hesitation as I try to process everything going on around me.

  After Rex folds into my car, I watch him intently.

  “You kissed me outside on purpose. You knew he was close.”

  Rex looks over at me with the most serious face I have ever seen him make. “Lux, when a man like that moves the car out into the open, he wants to be seen. He was showing his cards. Before he has the chance to harm you, I want him to know I know his game. I have the upper hand. Yes, I pushed his buttons. And it wasn’t painful to do, either.”

  “I’m scared.”

  “Me, too. I promise you, Lux, I won’t let anything happen to you. I’ll find the fucker and make sure he goes to the ground.”

  I reach over and squeeze his hand. “I don’t need to know any of that. In my heart, I believe you will keep me safe. Thank you, Rex.”

  With a quick kiss to my hand, he moves to start the car and pull away. “Anything for you, beautiful.”

  ~Rex~

  There isn’t much that intimidates me. I have seen far too much in my life. My hands have been stained in blood, my soul scarred with the sins of other men, and yet the world of the rich rattles me. Life behind the gates is far from sheltered. With superficial fucks, everything is about appearances.

  As we stop at the massive brick wall and iron gates containing the upscale neighborhood, Roundman turns off his bike, so I follow suit. It is the two of us riding in alone.

  The small call box stands beside him as he pushes the buttons to dial into the governor’s home.

  “Comer Residence,” a voice crackles through.

  “Blaine Reklinger to see Governor John Comer,” Roundman announces.

  There is a pause before the gates slowly part, allowing us entrance into the world far beyond anything I have ever lived in. We drive through the community of massive homes before making it to the very back, to a mansion one would expect to find in some Life and Style magazine. Pulling into the circle drive, the lawn is cut to perfection, the shrubs trimmed to show a gardener on staff.

  I wonder if I will meet Lux’s mom during our time here.

  It doesn’t take long for a woman in a pair of black tailored dress pants, low heels, and a loose yellow shirt to answer the door, styled to the same perfection of the house. Her hair is done in multiple shades of a glowing wheat field. Her eyes, flecked in specks of gold, are all the resemblance there is to say the woman standing in front of me is indeed, Ms. Angela Milton, Caroline’s mom.

  She looks us up and down, trying to figure out why there are two bikers on their doorstep.

  “Greetings, Mr. Reklinger. The governor will join you in his office momentarily. I will lead the way. Would you care for me to bring you a drink?”

  “No. We won’t be long, Ms. Milton,” Roundman clips at her.

  “How do you know my name?” Her guard immediately comes up, and her anxiety shows.

  “We’re here on behalf of Caroline. Perhaps you should join us in the governor’s office.” Roundman’s tone is cold and distant, making the threat of exposure evident in his unspoken words. Yeah, we know who you are and what you are to the governor.

  “Caroline … Is she okay? Is there some sort of trouble?”

  “Nope, no trouble. I’m takin’ real good care of your daughter, don’t you worry about that,” I chime in arrogantly.

  She doesn’t respond, only leads us into an oversized library that serves as an office where Roundman and I sit on his ridiculously formal Victorian style couch.

  It is mere seconds before we can hear the hushed voices of Angela and John Comer outside of the door. Then the governor enters, looking very much the snake in a business suit he is. The bastard comes over to us as Roundman and I stand. He shakes hands with us, smiling like he doesn’t have a care in the world.

  “Mr. Reklinger, who is your associate and what brings you here today?”

  “This is Mr. Crews. We’re here about Caroline Milton.”

  Angela Milton enters the room with bottled waters for each of us. She begins to leave when John Comer calls out to her.

  “Angie, stay. These men are here about your daughter, not mine.”

  His last words garner a huff from Roundman that makes me question what we are actually doing here.

  “Oh, yes, Angie, is it? Please do stay,” Roundman invites arrogantly.

  She simply turns around to watch us all. She never comes closer, only remains a silent observer as Roundman begins.

  “Chad Stillwell,” Roundman clips out, watching John Comer’s every move and reaction.

  Comer’s eyes drop to his feet as he puts his hands in his pockets and moves over to his desk to sit in front of us.

  “I’m sorry, Mr. Reklinger, I do not know anyone by that name. You secured your appointment today with Caroline’s name. I’m not sure why my housekeeper’s daughter is of my concern or what that has to do with Mr. Stillwell. I am a busy man with many things needing my attention today, so if you could please get to the point, it would be greatly appreciated.”

  “Caroline is far from just your housekeeper’s daughter, isn’t she?” Roundman goads.

  The governor never drops his mask of indifference. From behind us, Angie moves to sit down, as if her world just shook under her feet.

  “Chad Stillwell worked with Caroline for some time. He was her supervisor,” I add.

  “What does this have to do with me?” the governor questions, watching his lover from the corner of his eye.

  Once Roundman stands and stalks over to the large desk, he leans onto it, resting on his knuckles. “Well, Caroline is more than your housekeeper’s daughter. She’s your daughter, only she doesn’t know that, and you don’t claim her. Chad Stillwell found out about the long term affair you’ve had with Angela Milton. He was blackmailing not only Carolin
e with the information, but you, as well, wasn’t he?”

  “I haven’t the slightest idea what you’re talking about, and you need to leave right now.”

  “Sure, we’ll leave, and I’ll show the cops all the information I have in this file.” Roundman tosses a small thumb drive on the desk. “See, not only do I know Caroline is your daughter, I also know you hired the hit man that killed Chad Stillwell. Keep your secrets at all costs, right, Governor?”

  Angie gasps from behind us as the governor sits at his desk, staring Roundman down.

  “You can’t prove any of the nonsense you are spouting off. How dare you come into my home and accuse me of having someone killed for a girl who is not my daughter? She is Angela’s kid from a relationship when she was young.” The lies roll off his tongue like it is second nature.

  “Oh, but I can prove it. See, the cops didn’t know to look into you. Stillwell’s computer and apartment were wiped completely clean. Your hit man is top notch. Chad had been blackmailing Caroline with your secrets, so to protect you, she was putting up with his shit. Only, you didn’t know that. Then, when Chad came to you, wanting money for his silence, you decided he was going to be silenced rather than bought off.

  “Only, we knew about you and your ties to Caroline. We knew about Chad blackmailing her, so when Chad turned up dead, I followed your financial records to the payoff of the hit man. The outlaw community is a small one. I know people, and your guy, he’s not gonna hold back from my club. What I wanna know is why you’re having Caroline followed? Killing to keep your secret safe wasn’t enough? You’re stooping to stalking your own child and making her live in fear about her secrets—your secrets—coming out.”

  “Followed? I’m not having Caroline followed. I don’t care what she does as long as she stays away. I send the clothes and the money, as needed, as long as she stays away,” John Comer angrily spits out.

  “You had someone killed to keep me hidden, to keep our love from everyone. John, is it that bad to let it out? Your wife knows. She doesn’t care, and she wants out. She wants a divorce. She hasn’t slept in your bed in years. Why can’t you let her go? Why can’t anyone know about us? Why am I always the secret and our daughter?

  “You don’t send her money. You let me send her your daughter’s leftover clothes. You do the minimum to care for her and for me. You’ve never been there for her. I thought I could make due until you would see that you’re not the governor anymore. Your political career has been over for years. You sold your business and completely retired. What holds you back now? I’ve waited years for things to change. They never will, though, will they?” Angela chokes out as she sobs into her hands.

  “Enough, Angela,” he commands, silencing her rambling.

  My heart beats wildly in my chest. This man is her dad. She has grown up thinking she didn’t have a dad, and he was here the entire time. He had Chad killed, all to keep his secret safe. How is Lux going to handle learning all of this?

  Roundman goes over to stand behind the governor and pulls his knife. The beads of sweat build on his forehead as Angela cries out in fear. Roundman doesn’t care. While he takes the tip of the blade and runs it along the governor’s shoulder up to his neck, the man looks so small compared to Roundman’s large frame.

  “Family means everything to me. Your girl, she’s my family. You may not wanna step up and be a man for your lover and your daughter, but Caroline is gonna be fine. She’s better off without a motherfucker like you as her dad. No worries, your secrets are safe with me.

  “What I came here for is to have you to call off your man following her. If you don’t, my next visit won’t be announced. Call off your dogs and let Caroline live her life. She has paid the price for your secrets long enough. Let her go before I make you go away permanently.” Roundman pushes the tip of the knife deep enough into his neck to draw blood before stepping away.

  “Oh, and you may think about calling your hit man or another to try to silence me like you did Chad, but that wouldn’t be wise. Enjoy your day, Governor. If the watcher isn’t off Caroline within twenty-four hours, it’ll be one of your last.”

  We make our way out without turning around.

  As we exit the office space, we can hear the angered screams of Angela confronting John Comer with all the new information. I can’t believe the governor is not only Caroline’s father, but also that he is behind Chad’s death. Lux is not going to take this well.

  Chapter Sixteen

  Truth

  ~Caroline~

  Something is off. Rex was at my office promptly at five to pick me up, but after a casual hello, he has remained silent. What is the protocol here? Can I say, ‘how was your day?’ He said there are things he can’t and won’t tell me. What does that leave me available to ask? Clearly, he is bothered by something, but I don’t know if it is within my boundaries to ask.

  Once we arrive at my apartment after stopping for Chinese takeout, he goes directly to the kitchen to prepare plates while I go to my bedroom to change into loungewear. Then we eat in awkward silence until I finally gather the courage to ask, but my phone rings, halting me.

  The screen displays ‘Mom,’ and my chest tightens. Why would she call me? We only talk during obligatory times—holidays, tragedies, and the like.

  “Hello,” I answer.

  “Caroline,” she chokes on a sob. “I need to see you.”

  “Is everything okay, Mom?”

  “No, no, it’s not. I need to see you.”

  “Okay, let me talk to Rex, and we can meet for lunch tomorrow.”

  I look over to see Rex glare and shake his head back and forth, letting me know I can’t meet my mother for lunch. Damn caveman. I know I am in danger, but I can’t refuse to meet my mother when she is clearly distraught.

  “No, tonight. I need to see you tonight.”

  I rattle off my address without giving it a second thought. She is too upset to be able to have a discussion by phone, anyway.

  “I’ll be there in an hour or so. I need to call a cab and secure a hotel room.” She starts to give me her mental to-do list unintentionally.

  “Are you leaving the governor, Mom?” I question, now understanding why she would be so upset.

  “Oh, Caroline. Oh, my sweet baby girl.” She cries harder.

  “Just get over here. If you need somewhere to stay, you stay here, not at some hotel.”

  Rex gives me a hard stare in disapproval. I don’t care, though. I may not be close with her, but she is my mother at the end of every single day.

  We disconnect as Rex clears the food in front of us.

  “I wasn’t done,” I throw out at him.

  “We’re both done eating right now. When I tell you what I gotta tell you, there is a strong chance you won’t wanna eat, anyway.”

  I look at the man in front of me. He is visibly torn between what he knows and what he should tell me.

  “Spill it, Rex. I’m not fragile. I can handle it.”

  He pulls me from the kitchen chair and over to the couch. When I am sitting, Rex drops to his knees in front of me. Eye to eye, there is a vulnerability shared between us in this moment.

  “Lux, I went with Roundman to see the governor today.” I gasp as he continues, “I met your mom, and some words were exchanged, some secrets revealed.”

  “Rex, you know my secrets. You know who my mom is to the governor.” Then it hits me why he has been so quiet. “You didn’t … you wouldn’t … You didn’t tell my mom about Higgins, did you?” I panic as his words play in my head, ‘secrets revealed.’ I trusted him. I trusted Roundman. Hell, Roundman has known for how many years? Why say something now?

  I turn my head to look away from Rex, but he cups my face in both hands, pulling me to him until we are forehead to forehead.

  “Lux, it’s not who your mom is to the governor that concerns me. It’s who you are to the governor.”

  “What are you talking about?” I whisper as my pulse quickens.


  “Lux, the governor, he’s your dad.”

  Tears fill my eyes.

  I always had to stay in my mother’s quarters. I was never allowed to be seen. Things fall more into place as the memories invade. The man who has spoken less than three sentences to me in my entire life is my dad.

  I blink and look into Rex’s eyes as he continues to hold me forehead to forehead. “There’s more, isn’t there?”

  “I can’t get into all that with you, Lux. I’m not sure you would want to know even if I could tell you.”

  Reaching up, I wrap my hands around his wrists, leaning my forehead against his, and I cry. I cry for my mom. I cry for myself. I cry for the little girl inside of me who always wanted a dad who would spoil me and be with me. I cry for Rex as he has tried to support me at every turn while my world fell apart over and over again.

  At some point, his thumbs come up and wipe my tears away. “Lux, I’m sorry it all has to come out now in the middle of everything else. I promise you, though, I’ll keep you safe.”

  Once I nod my head against his, he moves to sit beside me on the couch before pulling me to his side. Then he quietly and gently strokes my hair while I let all my emotions out in soft sobs. After a little while, I calm myself down and steel my resolve to move past this, as well.

  Okay, my dad didn’t want me. I am not the first child to have this happen, and I won’t be the last.

  Rex’s phone vibrates beside him, and he moves his arm off me to reach in his pants and answers it.

  “Hey, Axel. How’s it goin’, buddy?” Rex greets his son, melting my heart.

  I know having a kid was a surprise to him, but he has stepped up since finding out. He went to a parent-teacher conference with Tessie yesterday, has paid back child support to Tessie and then some, and they went to the bank to set up a college fund. More importantly, he talks to Axel every day at least once.

  “Yeah, man, I’ll take you. We can’t leave Shooter out; he loves that shit—I mean, stuff.” Rex laughs at something Axel is saying. “Don’t tell your mom I slipped, okay? No more yucky words. I’m working on it, little man. I’ll get up with Shooter, and we’ll make the tractor pull a guy’s night. No chicks allowed. Mom and Gigi can have movie night. You got your homework done?”