Club Scars

by Mara McBain

  A yawn made Crux’s reply unintelligible. He scrubbed at his face, rubbing his palms into his gritty eyes.

  “I’ve got work in a few hours. Let’s get some sleep while the little man lets us.”

  Seven

  Rubbing sleep from bleary eyes, Kat stumbled down the stairs. As tired as she’d been when they’d finally hit the mattress, her mind had refused to shut down. She’d lain awake for another hour trying to imagine what her father’s end game was. His mind was a scary place to try and get inside. She shivered, the gooseflesh on her skin having little to do with the early morning chill. She had thought this was all behind her.

  Filling the coffee maker, she leaned against the counter listening to its familiar pops and gurgles. Though she wasn’t a big fan of the brew in its purest form, there was something about the sound and smell that just started the morning right. Besides, Crux couldn’t live without the stuff.

  Replacing the carafe with a mug, she turned and shook out a couple of Ibuprofen. She grimaced, wondering how many hoops she would have to jump through to get her prescription reissued and if it was worth it. Chewing her bottom lip, she waited for the mug to fill and then carried it upstairs. Crux was just getting out of the shower. She stopped in the door way to drink in the wiry muscles, scars and tattoos.

  “Bless you,” he muttered fervently as he accepted the coffee and dropped a kiss on her lips.

  “Are you hungry? You didn’t get much supper last night.”

  “Famished”

  “I’ll chop up the cold steak and make you a couple of breakfast burritos.”

  “That sounds great, baby.”

  After peeking in on her son, Kat made her way back down to the kitchen. At least the t-bones weren’t going to waste. While the eggs cooked, she chopped up the steak and sautéed it with some onions and a little salsa. Crux set the baby monitor on the counter when he came down and refilled his coffee cup before digging in.

  Kat shook her head as he opened his mouth wide, sucking in air to cool the food.

  “I need to go grocery shopping today. Anything you can think of that we need?”

  “Excitement,” he muttered sarcastically around a bite. “Deodorant and beer”

  “A tantalizing combination to be sure,” Kat quipped adding them to her list. “Any dinner requests?”

  “Meat and potatoes.”

  “You’re a Neanderthal. What about Shepherd’s Pie?”

  “Sounds good. What about tacos? They’re easy.”

  “I like the way you think.”

  “I’m a big fan of easy,” Crux teased, giving her ass a pat on his way out to start the truck.

  Wheeling the cart through the grocery store, Kat had a whole new appreciation for anyone with more than one kid. Packing up to go somewhere with a baby was a major undertaking. NFL teams traveled with less gear. How in the hell had Amber done it with twins? On top of everything else, the little rug rat took up a lot of cart space.

  “Hold this for me, little man, and no snacking,” she said, playing with the babies toes as she set a ham in beside his carrier.

  “He’s so adorable. That’s a new one. How old is he?”

  Studying the old woman out of the corner of her eye, Kat decided she didn’t look too dangerous.

  “Just ten days.”

  “Bless your heart. You should be resting. Is this your first one? Don’t you have someone that could help?”

  Kat bit back a sarcastic reply. The woman seemed sincerely concerned and friendly.

  “I’m fine, really. I get a little stir crazy if I just sit around too much. My husband would’ve picked up groceries if I’d asked, but you know how it is. By the time you spell everything out, it’s easier just to do it yourself.”

  “I was married for forty-three years, I know exactly what you mean, honey,” the older woman said with a laugh. “He’s such a doll. What’s his name?”

  “Camden, Camden Alex.”

  “You sure are a handsome little fellow, Camden. Your mommy and daddy are blessed,” she crooned, leaning over the cart.

  Kat stiffened.

  “Good morning, Kat.”

  Turning at the cheery greeting, Kat smiled at Lee.

  “Good to see you, sis. Thank you so much for all your help last night.”

  “I didn’t mind.”

  Kat turned the cart toward Lee and the older woman smiled.

  “It was nice meeting you and Camden. Good luck.”

  “Thank you,” Kat said, her smile slipping as the older woman walked away. “Who the hell is that? She looks familiar, but I can’t place her.”

  “I know her from The Book Nook. She used to be a kindergarten teacher. Now she does all kinds of volunteer and charity stuff. I think her first name is Linda,” Lee offered, chewing on her nail as she thought.

  Kat relaxed a little and felt color stain her cheeks.

  “I guess I’m just paranoid.”

  “I think it is natural for mothers to be protective.”

  “Thanks, because I feel like a whack-job. I just don’t like anyone who I don’t know near him,” Kat said with a shake of her head.

  “You’re not a whack-job. I think it’s normal,” Lee reassured her. She smiled down at the little one. “I cannot tell you how honored Reaper is that you would use Alex as a middle name for Cam. He was very excited when he found out. He came home boasting.”

  “Oops. I didn’t mean to make Reaper anymore full of himself than he already is,” Kat said, trying to bite back a laugh.

  “Maybe his enthusiasm about Cam will convince him we should give Cam a playmate,” Lee suggested shyly.

  Kat’s eyes widened.

  “Are you trying?”

  “No, no, of course not. I just meant that maybe he won’t mention having kids in the same manner as having a STD.”

  Kat burst into laughter and Lee laughed with her.

  “I’m not kidding you. The crazy thing is that he has a daughter from his marriage years ago. So, he is no stranger to kids.”

  “From what little Crux has told me about Reaper’s past, he didn’t have much time with his daughter and the woman hurt him bad,” Kat said solemnly.

  “He doesn’t talk about her a lot, but he really misses his daughter. I’m sure it would surprise some of you, but he has a heart.”

  Kat’s face fell at the trace of pain in her friend’s voice. She felt guilty. They all joked about Reap being a sociopath, but Lee loved him.

  “Reaper’s a good guy. His brother’s know that he would do anything for them.”

  “He really would. You know, I expected him to go through the normal stages while he was healing from the shooting. I was waiting for the blame and it never came. He completely accepted that he’d nearly died for a brother. There were no hard feelings or why me’s.”

  “He likely saved Mox and Eva’s life. If he hadn’t drawn the fire away from them, there is no way of knowing what would’ve happened.”

  Lee shuddered and nodded. “I know. As bad as it was, it could have been so much worse.”

  Both women were silent for a moment and then Kat shook herself out of it.

  “Do you work at the bookstore today?”

  “Ohh!” Lee said, her eyes widening as she looked to her watch. “Yes. Thank you. I really have to get going before Tamara fires me. I actually stopped in to pick up some paper plates and stuff because one of my co-workers in having a birthday and we’re having a carry in lunch to celebrate.”

  “That sounds fun! Have a good day, and thank you again for all of your help last night. I don’t know what I would’ve done without you girls. It was a bitch of a night. Then I couldn’t get to sleep even though I was completely exhausted. My mind just refused to shut down!”

  Lee’s face twisted in sympathy and she opened her arms to offer a hug.

  “It’s going to work out. It you need anything, or just want to talk, call me,” she whispered in Kat’s ear, before giving her a last squeeze and hurrying toward the
paper products aisle.

  Shaking herself from unpleasant memories, Kat turned her attention back to grocery shopping. There was still a lot that needed done at home and who knew how long Cam was going to stay cuddly and content.

  Crux was wiping his tools off and placing them back in his box when a hand landed on his shoulder. Zeke caught his wrist before the wrench came all the way around.

  “You’re a little jumpy today.”

  “It’s been a long day,” Crux grumbled.

  “Anything I should know about?”

  “It’s nothing you don’t already know. I just had all day to think about it.”

  “Did you come to any different conclusions?”

  “Nope”

  “I didn’t either, even with the poking around I did,” Zeke said. “No one seems to know, or want to admit, where the tip came from; just that it came down.”

  “With the connections her old man has I’m not surprised,” Crux said bitterly. He slammed the last drawer shut and fished a crumpled bag out of the top before closing and locking the tool box up for the night.

  “I’m sorry, bro.”

  Crux blew out his breath and shook his head.

  “No. I appreciate you looking into it. You, of all people, know how it is when you leave business unfinished and it comes back to bite you in the ass.”

  Zeke nodded, scuffing the floor with his boot. He opened his mouth and then shut it with another shake of his head. Crux broke the silence.

  “I’ve got to get going. Thanks for checking into it, brother.”

  “Anytime. Anything I can do.”

  Crux slapped the larger man on the shoulder. “I know.”

  Kat tiptoed back down the stairs, using the railing and wall to lever herself over the squeaky step. The living room was empty. She frowned at the dark TV. Looking out the back window, the garage light wasn’t on. Pursing her lips in question, she padded into the kitchen. Crux was hunched over the table working on something. Moving a little closer, she leaned over to nuzzle his neck and peek over his shoulder. Her heart swelled seeing her wooden incense box. He’d already removed the bent hinge and was lining up the holes on a replacement.

  “Thank you,” she whispered against his skin.

  “You’re welcome, baby. I know you love the ratty thing so I thought I’d try to save it before buying you a new one.”

  She squeezed him in appreciation.

  “Finally get the rug rat down?”

  “Finally,” she agreed. “He was a hungry little piglet.”

  “He’s just a boob man,” Crux said with a leering grin.

  “You both better enjoy them while I have them,” Kat answered, smacking her man in the back of the head playfully and moving off to pick up the kitchen. “I know you don’t want to hear this, but I think we’re going to have to replace the dishwasher. It’s pulling the same shit again.”

  “I’ll look at it,” he mumbled, not looking up.

  Kat bit back a reply and twisted the stopper into the sink. It wasn’t worth arguing about. It would get replaced when they had the money and until then she’d just wash them by hand. She yawned. Lack of sleep was making her cranky. There was no reason to take it out on her old man. He worked his ass off.

  His hands on her shoulders startled her.

  “Don’t cry, baby. I’ll take care of it,” he said into the back of her head as he nestled his nose into her hair.

  “I’m not crying.”

  His finger came up to swipe moisture from her cheek. She blinked at it in surprise for a moment and then grinned.

  “I just yawned.”

  “I’ll look at it and if I can’t get it working right I’ll go to Depot or one of them this weekend.”

  Kat turned into him, wrapping her arms around his waist.

  “It’s fine. If we have to go without one for a while I’m fully capable of washing dishes, and it’s just the two of us dirtying them. It’s not like the clothes washer going down. That would be an emergency.”

  His thumb caressed her jaw as he searched her face.

  “I’ll see what things look like.”

  Kat leaned up to kiss him.

  “I can’t believe you thought I was crying over a dishwasher.”

  “You’re hormonal.”

  “I’m hormonal every month. Normally you just tell me to take a fucking Midol and get over it,” Kat said with a grimace.

  “I see what I get for trying to be nice.”

  “Don’t get all mushy and sensitive on me. I need my tough old man.”

  “That sounds kind of familiar,” Crux murmured, rubbing his chin thoughtfully.

  “Hmm, a wise ass, I mean wise man, told me that recently.”

  “Do your damn dishes. You’re about to get a wet ass.”

  Kat whirled around to shut off the faucet, cursing under her breath as suds crept onto the counter. Crux smacked her ass and gave it a grope before heading back to his project.

  Eight

  John Merrick leaned back in his chair listening to the investigator’s report. The search of the low-life’s hovel hadn’t turned up anything useful. The animal was smarter than he’d given him credit for. He didn’t shit where he slept. It didn’t mean that he was clean. It meant that he was careful. What was interesting was that Croston had called the whole crew together for a meeting as soon as the law had left. While not a direct hit, perhaps they were on the right track and the attention had rattled the hoodlums.

  He grimaced. Unfortunately, the search, and subsequent humiliation, didn’t seem to have shaken Katrina’s devotion to her greasy biker. After the gang’s women had stayed around into the early morning hours to help her clean up, Katrina hadn’t hesitated to step out in public today. A sneer curled his lip. She’d held her head high in the face of certain gossip and censure in the small town. It would seem stronger methods would be necessary to reverse the brainwashing.

  He rubbed his forefinger across his upper lip in thought. The life Katrina had embraced after fleeing his home had shocked him. He ground his teeth. The fact that his flesh and blood could allow a deformed heathen like Croston to touch her sickened him. They were a real live beauty and the beast. He’d never understand what his striking daughter could see in someone like that. Overlooking his hideous disfigurement, as if one could, Katrina had been raised in the lap of luxury and refinement. The shack she lived in now was little more than a garden shed. She hadn’t just settled; she’d crawled into a hole. That Katrina had rejected him and everything he’d given her, only to sink so low, was a slap in the face that still stung.

  He realized the private investigator was no longer speaking. The man stood silent, awaiting his orders. John stroked his goatee with long fingers and then tapped his lips with a forefinger. There had to be a way to get Katrina to see the folly and futility of her life. For all of her headstrong ways, she wasn’t a stupid girl. She was his flesh and blood after all. He just needed to break the spell and the twit would crawl back home where she belonged.

  “Continue the surveillance. I’ll be in contact.”

  The taciturn, former military man nodded his head and spinning on his heel, left the room.

  The leather executive chair squeaked in protest as John leaned back and kicked his feet up on the corner of his desk. Lids slowly drooped over his eyes. His fingers drummed on the polished wood before him. What was it going to take? He could admit to himself, he had underestimated Katrina. Her perseverance would’ve been impressive in different circumstances. What fueled her burning resolution to defy him? What did she hope to prove? She had to know that she would never win. He’d given her plenty of rope up to this point, but if the spoiled little princess wanted to hang herself, he was more than willing to take this game to the next level.

  Nine

  Clipping the baby carrier into the stroller, Kat adjusted the blankets swaddling her boy. The snow had stopped, but the wind was biting.

  “I would love to push him if you want to look around,”
Eva said a little shyly.

  Kat bit her lip, looking up through her lashes at the eager girl. Eva was gazing into the stroller with a look of longing. Kat grinned. Mox better keep an eye on this one’s birth control. It looked like she was getting baby fever.

  “You want Aunt Eva to chauffer you, little man?” she asked the wide-eyed infant and then smiled at Eva. “You have to watch him. He’s his father’s son, a bit of a flirt.”

  Ginny and Eva laughed and Eva took the stroller, pushing it toward the aroma therapy shop. Ginny hooked an arm through her best friend’s, hugging her close.

  “How’re you doing?”

  “Better.” At Ginny’s doubtful side glance Kat hurried to reassure her. “Honestly, I’m doing fine. Crux is being a real rock. My gruff old man has been going out of his way to make me happy. I’m spoiled.”

  “That’s the way it’s supposed to be. You’re the new mama.”

  “Everything is going to be okay, Gin. I promise you. We’ve all been through so much and we’ve come through it as a family. This is no different.”

  “I’m supposed to be comforting you!”

  “You make everything better just being here. Sitting at home all day is killing me. I have way too much time to think and obsess.”

  “Come over to The Lantern.”

  “You know I love being there, but I feel like I’m in the way, like Cam and I are disrupting things.”

  “Please! We all love having you there and if someone has to wait a minute for their cheeseburger, they’ll get over it. It’s not like we’re performing brain surgery there,” Ginny scoffed.

  Kat laughed, shoving at her friend’s shoulder. “Hush, you!”

  “Well! It’s the truth. I would rather a customer or two have to wait a minute to get their order because we’re fawning over Cam than for you to be sitting home driving yourself crazy. Not that that is a long drive.”

  “Yeah? Well, it’s no road trip for you either, honey.”

  A sales clerk who had been approaching them suddenly steered clear as she got close enough to hear their spat.