Inferno Glory MC

by Jennifer Ann

  “Don’t you think for a minute that Colt did this,” Ranger warns. His deep voice vibrates against my body as he speaks, rattling my already shocked system. “Whatever’s goin’ on, he was set up.”

  My heart stops. “What?” I croak, drawing back. They arrested Colt for killing Remmy?

  Ranger’s large hands grip my face. “You know he wouldn’t fuckin’ do it.”

  Do I? Colt works for the ATF. What if Remmy found out and something went down between them? How can I believe Colt had nothing to do with it when the cops have arrested him? Colt was on a mission to find my brother. What transpired after the accident that would make him go after Remmy? Vision turned fuzzy, I dig my fingers into Ranger’s arms.

  “We need to get her outta here,” Kandi says in a voice that sounds a million miles away. “The nurses at the hospital didn’t want her to leave.”

  I fall against Ranger and everything disappears.

  I stir with the smell of Colt surrounding me like a warm embrace. I reach out for him, but his bed is empty. Bright daylight spills through Colt’s bedroom window. Faint noises carry in from the other room, and I catch a whiff of bacon. Hopeful that the last 24 hours were a horrible nightmare and Colt’s in there making breakfast, I slip from the bed and hobble to the door. Sharp pains shooting through my hips remind me this is all very real.

  Kandi stands over the stove and Ranger sits at the table, giant hands cradling his skull. Their heads both snap my way when I enter the room.

  “Any word on Colt?” I ask in a crackly voice.

  Ranger’s kind eyes bore into me. “Club attorney said they don’t have any evidence to hold ‘im on,” he answers. “Just waitin’ for the call sayin’ I can come and get ‘im.”

  “Come sit,” Kandi orders, pulling a chair from the table. “I made bacon and crepes.”

  Breakfast is cloaked in heavy silence. Worried I’ll let something slip about Colt working for the ATF, I decide not to ask any questions. I’m conflicted by a nagging conscience reminding me that I was once set up for something that sent me to prison, and a fear that Colt really did kill Remmy. It’s difficult to keep the food down even though Kandi’s a killer cook.

  Ranger gets a call as he’s helping Kandi dry dishes. He listens to whoever’s calling, nodding. “I’ll be right there,” he says before ending the call. His lips tilt with a barley-there smile. “They’re lettin’ ‘im out at noon.”

  “I’m coming with,” I blurt. Standing from the table, I add, “Let me shower and I’ll be ready to go.”

  Kandi exchanges a worried glance with Ranger. “I think a bath would be a better idea. Don’t want you passing out on us again.”

  As I’m already feeling light on my feet, I heed her advice and fill the bathtub before washing my hair as quickly as possible. When my fingers cross over the black and blue marks all over my body, I’m reminded how determined Colt was to protect me when we veered off the highway. No matter what happened between Colt and Remmy, I have to believe Colt did it to protect me because he loves me. This becomes my mantra as I ride with Ranger to the sheriff’s department.

  We find Colt waiting on the front steps of the old brick building, smoking a cigarette. His hair is disheveled, some of it falling across his face, and his eyes skip over us as if he doesn’t recognize Ranger’s pickup. Then he crushes the cigarette with a boot and starts toward us, leather vest slung over his shoulder. My heart sings with the sight of him regardless of the fear swelling inside my befuddled head.

  I scoot in next to Ranger as Colt opens the door. There’s a slight smile on my man’s lips when he draws me in close, crushing me in his arms. “Thanks for believin’ in me, darlin’.”

  “We have your back, hoss,” Ranger says, gripping one of Colt’s arms behind me.

  “Thanks, man,” Colt answers. When the truck begins to pull out of the parking lot, Colt draws back to lock his gaze on mine, touching my face. He’s looking for any doubt, any sign that I’ve changed my mind about us, while promising things are going to be okay. Pushing my fears aside, I nod. I’m in this for the long haul.

  Lips brush over mine, beard bristles scratch my face and the taste of tobacco invades my mouth before he stops to draw an arm around my neck. “As much as I want a shower, I’m guessin’ we have club business to take care of.”

  Ranger nods. “Buzz said we need to talk business of a new president. Meetin’ down at Mikey’s since the clubhouse is off limits.”

  With the reminder that Remmy is really gone, and I won’t ever see him again, another wave of sadness too overwhelming to hide brings me to tears. Colt squeezes me and kisses the side of my head.

  “Buzz is VP,” he argues with Ranger. “Should be automatic.”

  Ranger’s shoulders lift as he turns the steering wheel around a corner. “It’s what he said.”

  “Who else would they elect?” I ask in a quiet voice.

  “Guess we’re about to find out,” Colt grumbles, kissing me again. Our fingers connect in-between our laps. Colt stares down on them for the rest of the short ride, as if fascinated that I’m still at his side. Hell, a part of me is fascinated—more like stunned—that I’m still here after all that has happened.

  Outside a small bar named Mikey’s, a handful of members’ motorcycles are parked in a perfect line. Ranger steers the pickup into a slot at the end of the row before stepping out.

  Colt slips into his club vest. “Be there in a minute,” he tells Ranger through the open window. With a nod, Ranger moves toward the building, his gait heavy.

  “What the fuck?” I ask Colt the minute we’re afforded privacy. “Why do they think you killed Remmy?”

  “Listen to me,” he says, taking my face in his hands. “Remmy was already dead when I walked into his office. There won’t be any charges—my supervisor took care of it—but we can’t let the others know I’m free and clear until the autopsy and test for gun powder return. They’re gonna make a show of droppin’ charges even though there aren’t any.”

  As much as I want to celebrate that Colt won’t be taking the fall, my insides roil with the idea that whoever killed Remmy may get away with it. “You think it was Axel?”

  Colt’s eyes darken. “It fuckin’ wreaks of that son of a bitch. My guess is they had a fall-out over goin’ to Mexico after those weapons. I was sure your brother was the one tryin’ to run us off the road, but now I don’t know. Sheriff thought Remmy was shot a good hour before I found him. Axel couldn’t have been in two places at once.”

  “I still can’t believe Remmy’s dead,” I whisper, all at once ready to fall apart again. My second father is gone.

  Rough fingers dust a set of tears off my cheeks. “I know, darlin’. I know what he meant to you. I promise I’ll help nail whoever did this.”

  “I’d rather hear you promise that you won’t go running off after him like you did last night!” I snap. Fingers wrapped around his wrist, I move his hands away. “What in the hell were you thinking? Were you planning to shoot Axel if you found him? What part of ATF protocol bullshit was that? You could’ve destroyed any chances of him going to prison and ruined any chances we had of being together because this time you could’ve been the one sent away!”

  “What I was thinkin’ is that I couldn’t live another fuckin’ day if somethin’ had happened to you!” he roars, spittle flying everywhere. “The minute I knew you were going to lose control, I prayed to whatever entity may be listenin’ to take me instead of you because I lost my parents in a car accident thirteen years ago, and I couldn’t go through that again! Not with you!”

  A line of sharp pain strikes my chest. He’d mentioned his grandmother had raised him, but there was too much else going on at the time to delve into it further. When I reach up to touch his face, he’s shaking. “Shit, Colt, I’m so sorry, baby. You never told me.”

  “Don’t matter. All that matters is that some asshole tried to kill you and there wasn’t a damn thing I could do to stop it. I just want to fuckin’ pr
otect you from bein’ hurt. Your life has been shit enough already.”

  Damn. I think I just fell in love with my man even harder, if that’s even possible at this point. Stroking my fingers along the scruff on his face, I smile. “If you would’ve stuck around the ER instead of bailing on me like an asshole, you would’ve heard everyone saying it was a miracle that I lived through the crash. You did protect me. Whatever crazy-ass things you learned in SEAL training must’ve given you the smarts to protect us, because we both walked away.

  You can’t be there every minute of my life to watch over me, nor do I want you to. There’ll be days I’m gonna wanna ride by myself, and times I need to be alone whether it’s because we had a stupid fight or because you’re smothering me. Yeah I’ve been through some shit, and my brother probably wants me dead, but I’m not delicate, nor am I fragile, so you need to get it out of your head right this minute that it’s not your duty to be my protector!”

  Lips turned up with his most delightful boyish grin, the pad of his thumb runs over my lips. “You think I’m gonna smother you, darlin’?”

  My lips mimic his. “If you keep up with this macho ‘I need to save you’ bullshit, yeah.”

  “Times like this, I’m reminded why I love the shit outta the crazy wildcard that wandered into my life.” Blue eyes sparkling, he leans in to kiss me. It’s heated, and emotional, and warms the tender spot between my legs.

  Colt drags me over to straddle him, a difficult feat when wearing tight leather pants and rather painful on my aching hips. My sudden whimper causes him to pull away. “Shit. You in pain?”

  “Nothing a few narcotics wouldn’t fix,” I answer before pulling his lower lip between my teeth. “And nothing that will keep me from properly thanking you for saving my life.”

  Setting the back of his head against the pickup window, he exhales and runs a hand through his hair, making it fall back over his face. “Better wait until after the meetin’. They’re probably already wonderin’ where we are.”

  “We?” I ask, raising my eyebrows. “Thought this was a club meeting.”

  Grinning once again, he tips his chin. “Remmy was thinkin’ of lettin’ you become an honorary member, darlin’. I think you should sit in.”

  Despite a sudden surge of excitement, I know damn well it won’t be that easy. “What will the guys say?”

  “Fuck ‘em. They’ll get over it. You deserve a say in who takes over ‘cause like you said, the MC is your family.” Opening the pickup door, he looks like an excited little boy when he offers his hand. “C’mon.”

  As I walk with my hand wrapped in his, I’m able to forget for a sliver of a second that someone murdered Remmy and have an added skip in my step. But all feelings of happiness disappear the moment we walk inside to find the members seated at a long table, Axel among them. Every one of the men turn to us, half of them scowling at me in disapproval. How ironic that I’m suddenly the bad guy.

  “This is a club meeting,’” my brother growls, dark brown eyes burning a hole through me. “She’ll have to wait outside.”

  “You son of a bitch!” I roar. Anger replaces the sorrow coursing through my veins as I lurch forward to strangle the life from him, but Colt’s arms hook around my waist before I make it very far.

  “Now’s not the time, darlin’,” he whispers in my ear, holding me tight against him.

  “I’m not leaving,” I tell Axel with a vicious glare. “Remmy was considering letting me on as an honorary member before someone murdered him. He was going to bring it to a vote.”

  Axel’s upper lip curls in amusement. “Fine, we’ll vote.” Scanning his gaze across everyone at the table, he says, “All for Harley becoming an ‘honorary’ member of the MC?”

  “That’s not how it works,” I snap. “The president has to call for a vote. Since he’s gone, it’s up to Buzz.”

  All at once the gazes of the members drop off me, one by one until Ranger and Axel are the only ones.

  “What?” I demand, hands on my hips.

  Axel’s mouth twists with a sadistic grin. “You’re lookin’ at the MC’s new president.”

  34

  After the bartender threatens to call the cops, Ranger steps in to help Colt remove me from the building. Once outside, I’m still a wriggling mess of anger so bright I can’t see straight. “Let me down!” I scream. “I’ll fuckin’ kill him!”

  “Harley, stop!” Colt demands, setting my feet on the pavement. “You have to get your shit under control! Last thing you need is someone hearin’ you say that while you’re on probation!”

  The threat of going back is the trigger I need to calm down. I relax inside Ranger’s arms squeezed around me. “Okay,” I mumble, becoming limp. “You’re right.” When he releases me, I stand between them, fluffing my hair and straightening my jacket.

  Colt’s eyes narrow on Ranger. “What the fuck happened in there? How’d they vote that conniving asshole in without us?”

  Ranger looks between us, shrugging. “Buzz said it’s what Remmy wanted.”

  “Bullshit!” I yell, bearing my teeth. “Remmy didn’t trust him any more than I do!”

  “It’s their word against yours,” Ranger says with a helpless shake of his head. “Not a lot we can do about it right now.”

  Colt and I exchange a knowing look. There’s no way Remmy wanted Axel to become president, but if Axel found a way to convince the others, it would give him even more of a reason to murder Remmy.

  “We can't let this happen,” I growl, fisting my hair by its roots. “You guys don’t know him like I do. Axel hates the club. Has his whole life. If he’s in charge, he’ll run it into the ground on purpose.”

  “We’ll find a way to fix it,” Colt promises. “And I won’t let him get to you.”

  I roll my eyes, wondering how he could’ve already forgotten the conversation we just had about him being my protector. Looking back at the building, I ball my hands into fists and grind my teeth. “If someone doesn’t get me outta here, I’m gonna be going back for more than just three years when I’m through with him.”

  Ranger unhooks his keys from the chain on his pocket and tosses them at Colt. “Take her. Not all the guys are excited ‘bout you bein’ back anyway. They’ll come around when the charges are dropped.”

  Though it’s clear by Colt’s expression that he’s dismayed, I don’t know what he can possibly be offended about. He is lying to them. Tipping his chin at Ranger, Colt takes my hand. “Call if you need a ride.”

  Ranger shakes his head. “I’ll find my way. Just take her somewhere she can cool off.”

  “C’mon, darlin’,” Colt says, leading me away by my hand. “I know just the place.”

  The city becomes a blur behind my tears as Colt drives deeper into the heart of downtown, carrying a cryptic conversation on his cell phone. Where he’s going and who he’s talking to, I haven’t a clue, but I can’t stop thinking we should be finding Ingrid to help her plan for Remmy’s funeral.

  It’s so un-fucking-fair that I didn’t have more time to reconnect with Remmy, time to prove to him that I would’ve made a stellar member, even if it was only honorary. He was the last solid tie to my childhood. Fug, Thunder, and Buzz were around plenty, but never took care of me the way Remmy had. Those three were more worried about getting a cheap drunk and finding easy pussy each night.

  My hair is soaked with tears by the time Colt pulls up in front of the city’s finest five star hotel. The valet’s expression as Ranger’s rusty beater pulls up to the curb is priceless, but I turn away from him to narrow my eyes at Colt. “What’re we doing here?”

  With a sudden laugh, Colt takes my hand and kisses it. “Arranged a little somethin’ while I was locked up.”

  “You seriously think a girl like me would be impressed by this place?” I ask.

  “Course not.” Colt reaches for his door, winking. “We’re not here for the place, darlin’.”

  I exit on my side, laughing when Colt tosses the keys
to the disgusted valet.

  “Extra tip if you bring it back washed,” Colt tells him with a smirk.

  It’s crystal clear we’re out of our league when we step into the swanky lobby decorated in gold and silver. It’s the kind of obnoxiously fancy place I’ve only seen on TV and never had a desire to set foot inside. The two of us attract more than one confounded look from uppity guests, but Colt and I strut to the front desk like we own the place.

  The pretty, petite woman who checks us into a room alternates between seeming eager to jump Colt’s bones, and ready to call security to have us kicked out. Even though Colt left his club vest in the pickup, the t-shirt he wears bearing the club logo on its breast is a dead giveaway of where we come from. I see the woman’s eyes flicker over it more than once.

  Biting back on the urge to snuggle into Colt’s side like some pathetic twat, I instead throw the woman a wink once we’re given the key and head on our way. Her cheeks turn dark red.

  Colt didn’t ask for a special room, but it’s three times as big as anything I’ve stayed in before. There are doors everywhere, leading to separate areas. We find the bedroom suite where a king-sized bed swathed in luxurious gold material and a plethora of pillows takes center stage beside a row of windows overlooking downtown. Fresh vases of white roses fill the room with their fragrant scent. Everything is pristine and worth big money.

  “Could this place be any more pretentious?” I ask. When I flop down onto the soft bed, running my hands over the silky bedding, Colt crawls in on top of me, resting on his knees and good hand.

  “You’re clearly not impressed,” he teases.

  Rubbing my hand up and down his thick arm, I’m instantly turned on despite the hole in my heart created by Remmy’s death. “I thought you said we weren’t here for the place.”