by Brook Wilder
“He is.” Mason nodded. “But we’ll put an end to that.”
It was the way that Mason had said it that had me narrowing my eyes at my boss.
“Since the wife?”
“How did you guess that?”
“Figure if she made you get over Dana, then she must’ve made you get out of the trade.”
Mason snorted. “Cassie would kill me if she knew I was still trading women.”
I barked out a laugh. I had never heard Mason speak like that before.“A woman would kill you? You’re scared of a woman, now?”
“Not scared. But I’d rather not do it anymore.” A haunted look passed across Mason’s eyes. “Not after it nearly took her from me.”
I felt myself making a fist at the thought. Ruiz had never pulled his punches. He went straight for the killer shot. I folded my arms.
“And how does your wife feel about you being friends with Khloe?”
“She’s getting used to it. I think the two of them are starting to finally become friends.”
“Don’t trust it for a moment. Women can pretend to be friends with someone and, in reality, they want to skin the other bitch alive.” I shook his head. “Speaking of women, how’s Liz been while I was gone? And how come nobody told me she had my baby?”
Mason coughed and scratched the back of his neck. Now he was looking awkward.
“Liz has been fine. She’s soldiered on as normal. And nobody told you because of Ruiz and because Liz begged us not to tell you.”
“She tell you why?”
Mason shrugged. “She must’ve had her reasons and I wasn’t going to argue with her.”
That had me off-balance. And suspicious. Liz wasn’t one to keep secrets. Before I had been arrested, we had been very close and not just with our bodies. She told me everything, even the second she started her period. She had been very open like that. I wasn’t used to the reserved Elizabeth Fisher, the one I had left behind.
“I thought… I thought we were okay.”
“I think you are.”
“But if we were, why didn’t she tell me about Hunter?”
Mason sighed.
“I have no idea. You’ll have to ask her that.”
“I did, and she still wouldn’t tell me. She evaded the question and practically pushed me out of the house.”
“Pillow talk didn’t work?” Mason smirked.
“Mason…”
“Okay, fine.” Mason held up his hands. “I’ll back down. But we have looked after her. We made sure Hunter was up to date on his shots, he had plenty of diapers and food in his belly. We made sure there was an endless supply of formula when Liz struggled to breastfeed. She takes him out everywhere and dotes on that boy.” I was surprised to see a smile I had never seen on my friend’s face brush over his mouth. “He’s become our little secret mascot.”
I couldn’t help himself. I burst out laughing.
“I never thought I’d see you go soft.”
“Don’t tell anyone. That won’t do me any favors on the streets.” Mason stretched his arms above his head. “The main thing is Hunter’s healthy and all of Liz’s medical bills have been paid. We made sure he was well looked after.”
“Good.”
I was glad about that. One thing you could rely on the Riders was we looked after our own. At least someone had been looking out for my son, which was something I wished I could have done. It would have made the last two years bearable.
The door opened and in strode a huge hulk of a man with a mop of sandy blond hair, sun soaked leathers fresh from the ride, and wearing a black t-shirt with black jeans. Sturdy boots clattered on the floor. The rugged-looking hulk practically beamed when he saw me.
“I heard the news you were finally out. Hey, buddy.”
“Diesel!” I didn’t stop the ex-Navy SEAL from giving me a firm embrace and cracking the muscles in my back crack when he squeezed a little too hard. Coughing, I stepped out of his arms. “I was beginning to wonder if you were still around.”
“Well, sorry to disappoint. You can’t get rid of me that easily.” Diesel clapped me on the shoulder, almost making me buckle. “I was coming to see if Mason fancied going out for a ride.”
“I’m up for it,” Mason declared as he stood. “Cassie’s gone for a girls’ night out, so I’ll be home alone.”
“I’m coming, too.” I said. “Assuming my bike doesn’t fall to bits when I sit on it.”
Diesel laughed. “Trust me, Noah, it’s fine. You’ll be very happy with it.”
Chapter 3
Liz
I was right when I thought Hunter would wake up during the night. He was very fidgety and just wouldn’t settle, only falling asleep either in my arms or in the bouncer. I had a feeling he was getting another tooth through. Hunter wasn’t a clingy baby at all. At fifteen months, he was a very independent child. It was just when he was unwell that he needed to be close.
At least he had taken to his father. I had been worried that would be difficult. Noah was a new person in his life and Hunter was at that stage where he was beginning to realize there were strangers about. But he had toddled up to his father, given Noah a big grin and hugged his leg. Even Noah had been shocked at it. I watched as he played with Hunter for two hours, Hunter showing him all his toys. It was bizarre seeing the big biker acting like a big teddy bear, but it was sweet. I hadn’t thought Noah did sweet.
Evidently, he did. Just not with me.
Not that I cared. Noah was sweet in his own way. He was gruff and preferred things rougher than normal, but he showed, in his own way, that he cared. I had never doubted that.
But that was before. This is now. I wasn’t sure if I recognized the Noah who had walked back into my life. Could I even love the new man who was so haunted behind the eyes? Two years in prison could change a man. It had clearly changed Noah.
I didn’t think I liked the change.
I needed someone to talk to. But there weren’t many people I could speak to about Noah. There was one person, but I wasn’t sure I would get an unbiased answer. My sister, Amy, displayed her dislike for Noah and the rest of the bikers on a regular basis. Noah knew this his sister-in-law and his mother-in-law didn’t like him and always played up to them, which they didn’t appreciate. I had always found it amusing.
But Amy was a level-headed woman. And I needed a reasonable voice right now.
Tucking Hunter against my side as I settled on the couch, Hunter slumbering happily against my chest, I called my sister. Amy answered on the fourth ring.
“Hey, sis. Hunter up again?”
“I’m afraid so.” I tried to fight a yawn but failed. “Sorry if I woke you up.”
“Don’t worry about it. I’ve been working instead of sleeping. I could do with a break.” There came the sound of rustling papers and then Amy’s voice was clearer. “What’s wrong, honey?”
“I…” There was no way to ease into this. I swallowed. “Noah’s out.”
I was listening to silence for so long I thought we had been disconnected. Then I heard Amy whistle.
“He’s out already. Wow, I forgot it was this close to his parole date.”
“He was here earlier today.” I looked down at my son. “He knows about Hunter.”
“And how did he take it?”
“Hunter or Noah?”
“Both.”
I found myself smiling as I remembered Hunter toddling around his father like he had been doing it all his life. I kissed his dark head.
“Hunter was fine. He was quite happy playing with Noah and showing him everything. And Noah seemed to be happy about it. He was shocked there was a mini version of him running around but he was delighted.” I grimaced. “I think he was a little angry as well. I don’t blame him on that.”
“Well, you didn’t tell him for good reason. Hunter didn’t need to know about everything his father has done. Especially with the drugs.”
I sighed. I had been over this with Amy several times,
but Amy refused to believe that Noah wasn’t a drug dealer. She was eager to see the worst in him.
“Amy, I’ve told you too many times to count, Noah didn’t do what the charges say he did. He has never sold drugs in his life. He was set up.”
Amy huffed. My older sister didn’t like being proved wrong.
“Listen, Liz, I know you love this dolt, but he’s a Ghost Rider. And they are bad news. You knew that before you got in with him. Mom and I told you that getting involved with any one of them was going to be a bad idea. And we were right.”
I wished she didn’t sound so triumphant. I hugged Hunter closer to myself on reflex. The need to defend Noah rose up thick and strong.
“I haven’t got myself into any trouble. And the bikers are not all bad. They’re actually decent guys.”
“Oh, really?” Amy snorted. “I seem to remember someone selling you off at an auction a while ago.”
I flinched. I wished I had never told Amy about that now.
“That was the cartel.”
“Same difference to me.” Amy sighed heavily. “Noah may be Hunter’s dad, but I think he shouldn’t have anything to do with his son. He’ll only draw trouble back to you and we’ve only just got you settled down.”
I was beginning to regret calling my sister. I had been stupid to think Amy would be an unbiased voice for me. We used to be so close and talk about everything. There were no secrets. But now, ever since Noah had come into my life, that had changed. I didn’t recognize my sister anyone. And it wasn’t a person I liked now.
“Amy, I called you for some support like sisters do, not to bash Noah.”
Amy snorted. “Well, you’ve picked someone who doesn’t like the guy you chose to have a kid with. Deal with it.”
“I didn’t choose anyone to be Hunter’s dad,” I protested. “It just… happened.”
There had been no talk of babies and being parents. I had simply missed a pill and had found out about Hunter shortly after Noah had been sentenced. I had hidden myself away, hoping the cartel weren’t watching me. Now I had the coil in, making sure I didn’t get pregnant by accident again. I didn’t want to deal with another shock in my life. Even though Hunter was a very good shock now.
My sister’s voice softened a little. But not much. If anything, she sounded patronizing.
“I know, honey. It’s not easy being a single mom. I hope you make sure Noah pulls his fair share of diaper changes.”
I bit back a harsh laugh. Noah changing diapers was an image I needed to record. He wouldn’t know which part of the body to put the diaper on, I was sure.
“I’ll make sure Noah doesn’t forget he has a kid.”
“Go girl. He’d better pull his socks up or he won’t be fathering anymore children once I’m done with him.” Amy’s end made a sound like she was cracking her knuckles. “Or fucking any other woman.”
“Leave that part, please. That’s my favorite.”
I giggled hard as Amy made gagging noises at the other end. I loved to push it with Amy; her reactions were always hilarious. Just like that, we were back in high school with me teasing my sister to the point where Amy couldn’t take it anymore.
“And that, Elizabeth Fisher, is something I did not want to know.” Amy made a loud swallowing noise. “I’m going to hang up, so I can puke.”
I laughed.
“Bye, Amy.”
I hung up, tossing my cell phone on the coffee table. Hunter stirred but then went back to sleep. I stroked his head and cuddled my son close. He was adorable, no matter who his father was. Sweet, trusting and always had a big smile. The bikers had melted around him, which had been the most surreal moment of my life.
Hopefully, Noah would melt in the same way. I didn’t like the idea of being a single mother just because Noah’s ego got in the way.
Chapter 4
Noah
I had missed this. I had missed feeling the wind in my face as I roared along on my Harley, whipping my hair back and making it stand on end. Walking out of prison had felt like freedom until I’d got on my bike and cranked up to full speed.
This was freedom.
With Mason in the lead, a group of us headed out into the Nevada desert, heading for the mountains. There were a series of mountain trails where we could speed around without worrying about any other motorists. I had enjoyed this part, acting like a boy when I was a grown man. Many a time I had ended up in the ER with a broken arm or a collarbone snapped out of place.
That felt like a lifetime ago now.
“This feels so good,” I declared as I sat on top of the hill on the back of my Harley, looking out at the vast sandy landscape below us. Eden was a spot on the horizon. “I’d forgotten the feel of the wind in my hair. This is just incredible.”
Mason chuckled, leaning on his handlebars.
“Glad you can finally enjoy it. I take it you’re going to be out here more than us.”
“Absolutely.” Anything to stretch my legs. Those cells were too small for a man of my size. I ran a hand over my bike in awe. “And my bike. You’ve looked after it better than I ever did.”
“Of course, we have,” Diesel declared. “We wouldn’t leave your bike to go to rust, would we? We made sure everything was in working order.”
“Yes.” I gave my friend a pointed glare. “And you made sure to tell me everything, didn’t you?”
“Huh?” Diesel looked confused. “Am I missing something here?”
Mason sighed.
“He’s talking about Hunter. You did visit Noah more than the rest of us.”
“Oh.” Now it was Diesel who looked uncomfortable, shifting around on his Harley. “Look, Noah, you would have done the same if you were in my shoes. If Ruiz had found out about Hunter, he would have gone after him as well as Liz. We couldn’t risk that happening. After all, Hunter’s only a baby.”
“Could have told me,” I sneered.
I could concede that Ruiz and the rest of the cartel knowing about my son would have made him a target, but it still didn’t make me feel better. Liz had gone through two years on her own with her pregnancy and then dealing with a new-born. I wanted to have been there, to see my son grow.
Hell, just to know about him would’ve been something.
I wasn’t going to miss anything else now. Not if I could help it. Liz wouldn’t have a choice in the matter.
“Well,” Mason coughed, clapping me on the shoulder. “It’s done now. We can’t do anything about it. And we’d better head back. It’s getting dark.”
I had barely noticed that the sun was setting. I had been staring at the scenery for so long that I hadn’t realized the orange glow spreading across the landscape was the sun settling down for the night. Maybe I should get back; I wanted to see Hunter again before I went to Diesel’s to crash. Much as I wanted to get back into bed with Liz, she clearly needed to be alone.
I could be dense, but I wasn’t stupid. I would give her the space she needed, even though I wanted some more of that pussy of hers. My cock twitched just thinking about how I had rutted with her against the wall, her pussy squeezing me tight. That had been mind-blowing.
But Liz was clearly not up for another go for a while. I would have to tamp down my urges and wait.
Next time.
We gathered together and made our way down the slope. It was a steady decline but with a series of rocks dotting our path. I almost lost control of the bike going around the rocks, but I managed to keep it upright. I was going to need a bit more practice on my Harley if I didn’t want to look like a fool.
Then I heard something loud, like a bang. A hot blast of air barely missed me, and I heard a gurgled cry. Looking over my shoulder, I saw Rob jerk on the back of his bike before his body went limp, and his bike crashing against the asphalt.
I swerved out the way, barely avoiding it. “Incoming!”
Mason and Diesel were ahead. They got out the way in time while the rest of us reached the bottom and scattered, diving of
f our bikes and taking cover. I saw the flash of handguns and felt the anticipation of a fight building in my body.
Someone had taken a shot at us. One of us was dead. Now the rest of us were out for blood.
Then I saw him. A black leather-clad figure speeding away on a bike, one built for speed. I gunned my Harley and swerved it in the direction of the road.
“Noah!”