Innocent Ride

by Chelsea Camaron

  “What is better, Rex? A snake in a suit who will try to force me to give up my body or the man in denim and leather who will lay back and let me do with him as I wish because he’s that damn good?

  “What is better? A liar, a thief, a manipulator … or a man who keeps it real even when it hurts? A man who would lay down his life for his woman, his brothers, or his club? A man who learns from his mistakes and will do anything not to make the same one twice?” I challenge him.

  “Tell me, Rex, what is better? From where I sit, you are everything that is better in my life.”

  “Lux, I don’t have the first clue what I’m doin’ in a relationship.”

  I smile at him, wanting him, needing him. As much as I want to give into lust and desire, however, a thought hits me. An escape we both could use together.

  “Neither do I. Looks like we can make our own path.” Leaning up, I whisper in his ear, “Take me for a ride, Rex. Be free with me tonight on the open road, just me, you, moonlight, and the miles beneath us.”

  ~Rex~

  “Fuck.”

  I don’t know what to say to her. Nothing has ever meant more to me than having Lux on the back of my bike with me. Is this safe, though?

  We spent the day making sure Governor John Comer settles his affairs here so he will make his flight in the morning for his new life in Aruba. After sorting through everything we do know, John Comer is not behind the stalking of Lux.

  I wanted to put a bullet in his head for the trouble and the pain he has caused my woman; but at the end of the day, Roundman held me back because he knew I wouldn’t forgive myself for killing her dad. If she finds a way to forgive him and wants to have a relationship with him, I don’t want to be the one who takes that away from her. Now, should he find his end comes sooner rather than later due to some shady business deals that occur in Aruba that is not my problem. If he steps out of line, our affiliates there will handle him, and no one will be any wiser.

  “Not sure it’s safe to have you out in the open, Lux,” I tell her honestly.

  “With you, I’m safe. We have both been distracted by all that surrounds me. For just a little while, let’s just be us together. Give this to me—give this to us.”

  I scoop her off the car and lead her to the house.

  “Rex,” she pleads, making me laugh.

  “Boots, Lux, you can’t ride in those shoes.” I point at her small slipper looking shoes. “Plus, the bike that runs is in this garage.” I point to the attached garage off the kitchen. My back shop is for my Eleanor and the bike I am still repairing from my accident a while back.

  “Oh, why didn’t you say so?” She smiles and takes off down through the house to my room where she has taken up more than half my closet. Funny thing, I don’t mind. It isn’t all her shit, either. I don’t know what one person needs with so many clothes. She didn’t pay for most of them. I guess she feels bad tossing them out. I don’t know, and I don’t give a fuck as long as she is safe and happy.

  In a matter of minutes, we are rolling down the road, heading for wide open spaces. Catawba is a small town about an hour from Charlotte, give or take based on traffic. Towns like Hickory and Newton are quaint places to pass through.

  We drive on, Lux relaxing into me, the feel of the machine beneath us as we silently hug the road and each other. My left hand rests on her thigh in a way that is comforting, a reminder that she is with me.

  Heading south, we’re passing through Shelby, North Carolina, when the skies open up, and the rain pours down. When we pull under an underpass to let the worst of the storm pass by, I hold Lux tightly in my arms as she shakes from getting drenched. The storm moves quickly, and then we get back on the road. Not wanting her to stay wet, I make the decision to drive to Charlotte and back to her apartment to get a change of clothes for her.

  The commute from my place to her job every day has added to her hours, so we have only moved what she needed. It was a lot, but not everything. She should be able to put on some dry clothes, and then we can make our way back to my place.

  We pull up, and I turn off my bike. Lux climbs off hesitantly.

  “What are we doin’ here?”

  “Figure you would like to get dry. Go inside, get changed, then we’ll drive the rest of the way home.”

  “Always so considerate, Rex.” She beams up at me.

  I smile back arrogantly. “Nah, sweetheart. You’re all wet, and if you’re wet, it’s my job to get you naked and take care of you.”

  Her mouth drops open at my innuendo.

  “What’s it goin’ be? How did you put it? Fingers, face, or cock, I believe. Well, Rex, I think your fingers could definitely handle my predicament of being wet, you know.” She hangs her helmet on my handlebars, and with a level of sass I have never seen from her before, she sashays over to the sidewalk.

  “Be careful what you wish for, sweetheart,” I whisper in her ear as I catch up to her and wrap my arms around her from behind.

  “I’m pretty sure I can handle anything you give me, Rex.”

  I kiss her neck as we make our way to her door. After unlocking it, we are all over each other as we stumble through. I can’t focus beyond her right now. I should, but I can’t. She consumes me.

  My phone vibrates in my pocket, pulling me out the moment. I suck on her bottom lip before pulling away to look at my phone. She takes me by the hand to lead me to her bedroom as I read the text on my screen from Boomer.

  Blue sedan back. Four doors from ur place. Want me to move in?

  Yes.

  I send my reply and give my attention back to Lux as she comes to a complete stop at her bedroom door. There, on her comforter, lies a black leather, open cup bra with ‘D-ring’ collar, like something I would see in a bondage porn or something.

  “Higgins,” she whispers. “It’s Alvin Higgins. He’s been here.”

  “Fuck,” I roar before pulling her back to my chest and kissing the top of her head. “Stand here, sweetheart. Don’t move.”

  I reach to my ankle and pull my knife as I check her room, closet, and bathroom. As I suspected, he is long gone. I should have scouted before we came in here. I got too caught up in the moment and let my guard slip. She was in my arms, and he still got to her. Leaning over the bed, I pick up the note he laid beside the bra.

  Looking forward to seeing you in this once again, Angel.

  Over my dead body, bastard. Game fucking on. This is going too far.

  “Get dry clothes on, and let’s go,” I order as I take a picture of the note and send it to Roundman with details of what we came into and who is behind it.

  “Do I even want to see that note?” Lux asks.

  Rather than answer, I give her a stare.

  “Okay, I’ll get changed, and you can take me home.”

  Long gone are any thoughts of laying her down in this bed. Long gone are my desires to be balls deep in her. Adrenaline and anger fuel me as my need to get her home then get to the cabin Boomer will have the fucker in the sedan secured at.

  I hope with everything inside of me that it is Alvin Higgins. I want a piece of him. I want to make him pay for the shame he has caused Lux. I want to make him hurt for the way she has hurt for years, thinking back on his manipulation.

  Vengeance will be mine.

  Chapter Eighteen

  Trusting

  ~Caroline~

  “Trust me, Lux.”

  “Always, Rex, but tell me what is going on, dammit,” I reply harshly once we are back at Rex’s house after a tension-filled ride home.

  Alvin Higgins was in my apartment. He has been watching me. He is waiting for me, waiting for an opportunity to have me tethered to his cross or whatever kinky contraption he may have now. Bile rises in my throat as the memories invade.

  Higgins wouldn’t kidnap me, would he? Why come back now? Questions play in my mind as Rex grabs a duffle bag from his closet and begins to pack some of my stuff, shoving my new panties into the bag with pajamas.


  I stand stock still as he moves around the room, my heart sinking. Certainly, he isn’t sending me packing. He can’t break up with me when we aren’t completely together, can he?

  “Shooter is comin’ to get you because it’s not safe for you here. We need to know that Higgins worked alone. Until then, we need to take you someplace else. Shooter will keep you safe.”

  “Of course he will. He took care of Tessie, after all,” I mumble in anger.

  Before I can react, Rex is closing in on me, making me back up until I hit the wall. He cages me in with each of his hands coming up to rest on the wall on either side of my head.

  “Yeah, he fuckin’ did. I told you, Lux, there are far better men than me, and he’s one of them. You want that, go find it—consider yourself free. I’ve paid for my mistakes, and they haunt me to this day. Don’t throw shit up in my face when right now I’m sacrificing my club and my life out of fuckin’ love for you, all to handle your shit,” he spits out each venom-laced word.

  His words don’t register right away. Tears fill my eyes at his anger towards me.

  “I don’t want fuckin’ Shooter. I wanna stay with you. I don’t want better, because they don’t come better for me. I want you, dammit.”

  His lips crash down on mine in a kiss that is more than passion; it is pure possession. I relish it and give back to him as hard as he is giving to me while I claw at his cut, wanting to get lost in him. Our teeth clank together painfully as my tongue seeks out his, and we fight for dominance over each other.

  Finally, he pulls away breathlessly.

  “I don’t want him, Rex. It’s you. I wanna be with you.” My eyes plead with him, my words meaning so much more than just this moment and him pushing me away for the night.

  “If you want me when this is over, and you aren’t scared, you got me. I need to sleep at night knowing you’re safe and no shadows from the past can toy with you anymore. I need to sleep at night with you in my arms, knowing you want to be there for you and for me, for us, not out of fear. I want it all with you, but I can’t give you that with the clouds of your past hangin’ over our heads.”

  “Why Shooter? Why can’t I go to Doll and Tripp?”

  “What if it isn’t Higgins following you? We don’t know for sure. Doll is pregnant. I can’t bring that to her doorstep.”

  Frustrated, I shoot off at the mouth, “And sending me to the house your son lives in is a better doorstep to land me and my problems on?”

  “Lux, I trust Shooter to keep my son safe. He keeps my flesh and blood safe. Night after night, he does that. I gotta handle Higgins so we can be free of all of this, but I need you to go where I know you’re safe. I can’t lose you, and I can’t let Higgins get to you. Shooter will do whatever it takes to keep you safe, just like I would for him. Tripp is on a transport I couldn’t take because of you, so Doll has a prospect watchin’ her. I can’t bring this to her doorstep. Shooter has my back.”

  Softening my tone, I say, “I don’t want to fight with you. I’ll go, but you need to know, this isn’t about me needing to be safe. This is about me wanting you, simply you. I love the dirty talking, badass walking, biker I met at a barbeque once who has become my knight in denim and leather as well as my every fantasy and every dream. Find Higgins. Do what you need to do so we can move on in our lives together. You, me, and the miles that pass beneath us—that’s what I want, Rex.”

  “Then that’s what the fuck you’ll get.” He pauses, breathing heavily, his eyes searching mine. “You really mean it?”

  “Yes,” I reply, matching his gaze.

  “You love the dirty talking, badass walking, biker, huh? Good to know.” He kisses me softly this time as something shifts between us.

  As I kiss him back, slowly drinking him in, his hands come down to run softly up and down my sides. Most of the kisses shared between Rex and I have been lust-driven, adrenaline-fueled, and fully combustible, but this one is different.

  His tongue deliberately moves against mine as if he is memorizing this moment. My hands reach around his neck before sliding up into his hair. When he pulls away, sucking on my bottom lip before giving me a few short pecks, there is a definite change in the dynamics of our relationship tonight.

  He did say he loved me—sort of—but my insecurities creep in.

  “Let’s go.” He pulls back from me. “The quicker we get this sorted, the quicker we can get back to me lovin’ you, and the quicker we can get back to you riding my cock. That bra on your bed really isn’t my taste, but picturing you in leather and lace? Oh, yeah. Higgins may have had trouble gettin’ hard, but just the thought of you has me ready to explode,” he pipes out casually as he continues to pack the small bag for me.

  ~~~~

  Three days later, I am on edge. Shooter says everything is fine. Apparently, Boomer followed the blue sedan from Rex’s the night we found the bra at my apartment. Noticing the tail, the car took off. Boomer stayed with him, but this sent both Boomer and Rex out of town, following my stalker.

  “We got a problem, Shooter. Momma’s almost up, and we got no fruit. I think Lux ate the last of the blueberries. Momma is gonna make us eat the oatmeal, dude. No way can we have pancakes without fruit.” I listen to Axel talking to Shooter as I make my way into the kitchen.

  “Dude, really?” Shooter chastises jokingly. “I’ll handle your mom. We’re not eatin’ oatmeal, buddy.”

  “Shooter, man, I think you’re awesome, but you don’t have super powers. My dad is like total tough guy, and he even says I gotta eat the oatmeal when mom says to. You aren’t gonna win.”

  Shooter grips his chest in mock pain. “You crush me. I can’t believe you said I don’t have super powers. Way to lose the faith. Damn. I guess we better get ready to choke it down.”

  “You keep cussin’ around my son, you’ll be choking on soap, not oatmeal, mister!” Tessie enters the kitchen from behind me.

  “Losin’ your touch, man,” Axel teases Shooter.

  I smile at the banter. Axel really does look and act just like Rex.

  Finally, the little boy notices me and runs over to hug me like he does every time he sees me since our second visit with him.

  Rex does stuff with him, just the two of them, and other times with Shooter. However, he tries to have time for the three of us, as well.

  As I run my hands through Axel’s hair, I smile as I think of a future for all of us co-parenting this little man together. Does Rex see that, too?

  “Yes, we all do.” Tessie comes over and whispers to me as Axel takes off to his room to get ready for the day.

  “How do you know what I’m thinking?” I ask as I move over to the coffee pot.

  “The love you have for my son is written all over your face as you watch him. The worry you have for my son’s father is etched in every feature as you constantly glance out of my kitchen window waiting for Rex to pull up. I know this isn’t easy, but you gotta know, Rex wouldn’t have you around Axel if he didn’t think you weren’t going to be around for our boy. He’s a lot of things, not all of them are good, but he’s a good dad. You’re part of this, too. You’re part of our strange dynamic that has somehow found a way to work. Rex and you will find a way to work, too.”

  “Thanks, Tessie.”

  “Anytime you need a reminder of how far you’ve come with Rex, look at him. Really look at him. You bring out the good inside him. You challenge him. You don’t accept the bullshit freely. Since you, he doesn’t run wild with the barflies anymore. Since you—since Axel—he has changed. Dare I say, he has grown up? Once you’re safe, you’ll be free to see for yourself the way he looks at you.” She smiles sweetly at me as she begins to make oatmeal.

  “You really make them eat this every day? I’ll admit it, when he’s with us, he gets cereal, and yeah, we sneak him donuts, too.” I feel guilt wash over me that I am breaking his mom’s rules.

  Tessie laughs at me. “It’s become a weird game of sorts, honestly. When we would struggle, oatmeal was
a cheap and warm breakfast to feed him during the cold winter months. Then Shooter came along, and it became their thing to wake up and beat me to making breakfast.” She giggles to herself. “Honestly, it works for me. Most mornings, Shooter is up and has it all done. Shhh … mom code here; you can’t share my secret. It’s nice to have someone else handle breakfast. So, yup, I make sure to feed him oatmeal when I can to remind them to beat me to it.” She winks at me as she finishes up breakfast.

  Another morning, another day. I will go to work with Shooter as my shadow. I will leave work and return here to wait impatiently for Rex to return. I can do this. I will do this. I will not distract him, because he is making this sacrifice for me, not for his club, not for some obligation, but to keep me safe because I matter to him.

  ~Rex~

  By the time I was able to get Lux over to Shooter’s, Boomer lost Higgins. We are unable to confirm the driver of the sedan. After my text, he was going to disable the vehicle and move in on the driver. Only, the driver pulled away right as he got my approval to move forward.

  Boomer followed the blue sedan to none other than Alvin Higgins’s gated community. Pulling over, he climbed a fence and made his way to the immaculate home. With no concern for being exposed, the blue sedan sat freely in his driveway. Without the proper tools with him, Boomer was unable to enter the home without triggering the alarm; therefore, he waited.

  It didn’t take long before Higgins was back in the blue sedan and traveling south towards Caroline’s apartment. He followed him into a gas station, which is where Boomer thinks he was made. Higgins pulled out and headed into South Carolina where, due to gas needs, we lost him.

  Until now.

  The blue sedan was ditched and traded for a Mercedes rental outside of Columbia, South Carolina. Our boy, Conductor, hacked into Higgins’s financial records where his credit card charges easily gave us a trail to follow.