Club Scars

by Mara McBain

  The light peeking through the wood blinds told her that it was late. Crux was at work already. Slipping from bed, she dug a pair of fleece pajama pants out of her bag. She’d loved her comfy clothes before pregnancy, but they’d practically become a uniform since. Glancing in the mirror, she finger combed her hair and shrugged, calling it good. It was just Gin. Zeke would be at work. Turning to the portable crib she froze. It was empty.

  Spinning, she brushed against the foot of the bed in her haste and stumbled. Catching herself on the door, she yanked it open and rushed down the dark hall. Light flickered from the living room. Kat’s shoulders slumped in relief as she rounded the corner. Ginny was sitting in front of the gas fireplace with Cam cradled in her arms. Her voice was soft enough that Kat couldn’t make out the words, but the contented smile on their queen’s face tugged at her heart strings. Leaning against the door jamb she took a deep breath before she tried her voice.

  “Good morning.”

  Ginny looked up with a smile and lifted Cam’s head higher, tilting him toward Kat. “Ut oh, Mommy’s awake. Now we have to behave,” she said with a laugh.

  Kat shot her an incredulous look. “You, behave, since when?”

  “There’s a fresh pot of coffee brewing and breakfast burritos that can be reheated,” Ginny said, grinning at the comment and rocking to her feet. She laughed when her joints audibly snapped as she straightened.

  “Are you going to make it, Auntie Gin?” Kat teased.

  “Hush, smart ass. You don’t sound any better when you’ve been sitting on the floor.”

  Kat grinned at her friend as Gin brushed past, bumping her shoulder.

  “Someone should’ve woken my lazy ass up,” she said, following Ginny into the kitchen to pour a cup of coffee.

  “And miss my opportunity for snuggle time with Cam? I don’t think so,” Ginny said, handing her the creamer. “Besides, you obviously needed the sleep.”

  Sliding onto a stool at the bar, Kat watched Gin move around the kitchen warming and doctoring the breakfast burritos with one hand. She made it look effortless. Would motherhood ever come that naturally to her? She smiled around the rim of her coffee mug when Ginny slid the steaming plate in front of her.

  “How do you do it?”

  “Do what?” Ginny asked, coming back to the bar with a coffee of her own.

  “Make it look so easy,” Kat murmured around a bite.

  “Experience. You’ll get there.”

  “I wish I was as sure as you are.”

  “Trust me, little sis, it just takes time. You’re already a fabulous mother. You just need to cut yourself some slack. No one’s perfect.”

  “You are,” Kat said honestly.

  Gin gave a bark of laughter that startled Cam. She bounced the startled boy lightly in the crook of her arm as she cooed to him. “Shhh…It’s okay, little man. Your mama is just being silly.” She looked up at Kat with a shake of her head and a self-deprecating twist of her lips. “I’m far from perfect and you know that. You’ve been around for some of my finer moments.”

  “I think the boys would agree with me.”

  “You should share whatever you’re on,” Ginny said with a wry smile. “I love my boys more than anything. I would do anything for them and I know they feel the same way. It’s a special relationship between mother and son. Don’t try to be perfect, Kat. Just love him. And for God’s sake don’t try to be something you aren’t. Cam doesn’t need a preppy soccer mom, organic baby food and planned play dates. He just needs a ferocious mama that loves him. It’s the same as being an old lady. There are always going to be younger, hotter bitches out there, but I’m the best fit for Zeke.”

  “How did you get to be so wise?”

  “With age and experience comes wisdom and treachery,” Ginny said with a smile.

  “Yeah, because you’re so old,” Kat said, rolling her eyes.

  “Maybe not, but I’ve lived a lot of life,” Gin said with a slight shrug.

  “Well thank you for sharing your wisdom, and for last night.”

  Gin waved her hand in dismissal. “You’re always welcome. You know that.”

  “I know. I just would’ve thought the big man would at least warn you he was bringing refugees home.”

  “I wish we still lived in a time when I could say the door is always unlocked,” Ginny said, her smile a little pensive. “But family is always welcome and Zeke knows that. Besides, it keeps my guestrooms fresh.”

  “We’ll sleep in a different one tonight so you can wash all the bedding,” Kat said with a laugh and ducked away from Gin’s swat. She scraped her fork over the plate and licked the leftover guacamole off the tines with a sigh. “I guess I should quit procrastinating and call the insurance company to find out what I need to do.”

  “I’ve got the little guy. Use the phone in Zeke’s office if you want. Find out when the agent or an adjuster can look at it and when we can go in and get it cleaned up.”

  “Aren’t you tired of cleaning my house?”

  “What is family for?”

  Kat nodded. Their club family was there for the good and bad. Leaning over she planted a kiss on her son’s chubby cheek. “Mommy will be right back, bud. Don’t let Aunt Gin corrupt you,” she whispered. She grinned thinking of the recent discussion at Mox and Eva’s. Ginny arched a questioning eyebrow but Kat shook her head. She’d save that one for later. Maybe she’d share that story while they were cleaning. They’d need a good laugh.

  Kat glanced at her watch as she stepped out of the insurance office. Who knew that making a list of everything stolen or damaged could be so draining? She rubbed at the tension in her neck and searched for her car keys as she hurried for the Navigator. It was already five o’clock. The guys would be getting out of work. Ginny had Cam and would be starting dinner preparations soon, if not already. How had insurance bullshit taken all day?

  Sighing, she stopped, tilting her purse to the side and digging for her elusive keys. She hoped wine was on the menu for tonight. The doctor had reassured her that in moderation it wouldn’t hurt Cam, and she needed a damn drink. Patting her coat pockets, she finally found her keys. Fishing them out, she slung her purse back over her shoulder and hurried for the vehicle. Rounding the back of the SUV she ran right into a solid chest.

  A startled squeak escaped her and she yanked away from the steadying hands. Her father’s sharply dressed investigator made no move to follow, but he blocked her way to the Navigator. Backing away, she thanked God Ginny had convinced her to leave Cam in her care for the afternoon.

  “What the fuck do you want?” she snapped.

  “I just want to talk, Katrina.”

  “You didn’t get the point last time that I have nothing to say to you or the sick fuck you work for?”

  “Your father is very disappointed that he hasn’t heard from you.”

  “And I’m disappointed he’s still breathing, but there’s always tomorrow,” Kat sneered, backing up another couple of steps.

  “You need to set aside the bitterness, Katrina. While your relationship with your father might have been rocky when you were younger, you’re an adult now, a parent yourself, and surely you can see that he only wants what is best for you and his grandson.”

  “You don’t know anything about my childhood, or from the sounds of it, my father. John Merrick is an abusive monster. He killed my mother when I was twelve and with her gone, our relationship became so much closer. I was such a daddy’s girl that at sixteen I found myself strapped down to a metal table while they aborted his baby because it was another worthless girl. I really don’t think that rocky accurately describes our relationship.”

  The horror and disgust on the investigator’s face was strangely satisfying. Let him think about the kind of man he was working for.

  “Are we done here? I burned the check. He can’t buy me or my son. If he wants to hold his breath until I call him that would be great,” she said, glancing under the Lincoln. How long had he been l
urking around her vehicle? She couldn’t see any fluid leaking. What else could he have done to it?

  “He’s a persistent man. He’s not going to give up.”

  “Maybe I did get something from him. I’m every bit as stubborn as he is. You’re wasting your time.”

  “He asked if you would enjoy another stay at Oakwood.”

  Kat’s eyes narrowed and she fought to rein in the rage that boiled up in her at the mention of the nut house.

  “I’m not the helpless grieving child I was when he shipped me off to the loony bin. I’m not stupid. And I’m not crazy just because I have a backbone.”

  “Mr. Merrick asked me to deliver a message to you. As cliché as it is the old adage holds true, Katrina. He said we can do this the easy way, or the hard way. I suggest you think about those that might end up in the crossfire.”

  Wetting her lips, Kat fought the volatile combination of fear and hatred that coursed through her veins. She wanted to smack the mock concern off the asshole’s lined mug. She backed up another step instead.

  “You also might mention to your employer that playing with guns is a good way to get hurt.”

  Fury overrode common sense and Kat surged forward, hitting him with both hands in the chest and shoving the man against the Navigator.

  “You mess with her and you’ll be a dead man,” she hissed.

  His knowing smile made her see red.

  “What one might not do for themselves becomes a different matter when those they love are in jeopardy.”

  Her hands tightened in his shirt at the taunt. Tense moments ticked by as he merely returned her stare. A throaty rumble drew her attention and a familiar car rolled up behind them.

  “What’s the problem?”

  Kat forced her fingers to unfurl and stepped back as Rhys slid out of the Mustang. Relief made her knees weak. A lanky six-two, the young man wasn’t one of the larger members of the Lords, but still an imposing figure in his greasy work shirt and jeans. He pulled up the sleeves of his thermal undershirt and gave the older man a once over.

  “Is this suit bothering you, Kat?”

  “He’s here to deliver another message from Daddy Dearest. It seems Ginny’s sawed-off wasn’t a clear enough dismissal.”

  “You need to stop harassing ladies,” Rhys said with a chiding shake of his head. His blue eyes narrowed and he looked surprisingly like Zeke in his resolute ire. “That’s a damn good way to get hurt around here.”

  “Don’t let a little chivalry goad you into doing something stupid, son.”

  “I’m not your son. Don’t patronize me, old man.”

  The investigator’s gaze stayed on Rhys, but his words were for her.

  “Think about what I said, Katrina. You know your father’s not bluffing.” He gestured to Rhys. “And this, like your employer’s ill advised bravado, is the kind of futile posturing that could land your family in a world of hurt because of you. Is that what you want?”

  “You need to take your hundred dollar words and JC Penney suit and get the fuck out of here,” Rhys said firmly. “Tell Kat’s sick-ass daddy to man up and deliver his own message next time. We’ll show him what we think of abusive scum-fucks around here.”

  “You don’t know who you’re dealing with,” the older man said, annoyance coloring his voice for the first time.

  “John Merrick, Forbes list fat cat and brother to our slimy governor,” Rhys said, lip curling in a sneer. “You can polish shit all you like and in the end, he’s still a turd.”

  Kat couldn’t smother a snicker of amusement as her father’s goon shot her a hard look.

  “The kid might not know how determined your father can be, but you do, Katrina. Think about your mother. At this age, Camden wouldn’t even remember you.”

  A cold hand closed around her heart at the words and Kat fought to draw a breath. Her hand shook as she tucked hair behind her ear and forced words past her lips.

  “You tell my father he can go to hell. He’ll never touch Cam. I’ve made sure of that legally, he will never touch my son no matter what happens to me,” she said, fear and fury making her words tumble over one another.

  “You need to leave,” Rhys said, stepping between them.

  “Think about it, Katrina. Do the smart thing and call your father.”

  Kat flinched as he flicked a business card at her. She stepped back from the small rectangle letting it flutter to the ground. Rubbing her hands up and down the outside of her arms, she tried to fight off the chill that had seeped into her bones at the asshole’s pointed words regarding her mother. The other car pulled away and Rhys leaned down to pick up the card.

  “Are you okay?”

  “Yeah ,” she murmured, trying to pull it together.

  Rhys’ hands covered hers trying to rub some warmth into her. He pulled her into a hug when shudders continued to wrack her body.

  “Did he hurt you?”

  Kat shook her head. She clenched her jaw trying to stop the violent chatter of her teeth.

  “Do you want me to call Crux?”

  “N-no. I’m fine. I-I…will you just take a look at the Navigator and make sure he didn’t mess with it?”

  “Where’s Cam?”

  “He’s with your mom. If you could just make sure it’s safe to drive. I need to get back to their house and help with dinner,” Kat said, pulling away from the worried young man.

  “Let me pay my insurance and then I’ll drive you over there. Mox and I will bring the Lincoln over later.”

  “I’m fine,” she said sharply and then softened. “I’m sorry. Just…please.”

  “Okay,” he said reluctantly. Reaching into his Mustang he pulled out an envelope and handed it to her. “Would you mind running that in there while I look the Lincoln over?”

  Kat nodded and gave his arm a grateful squeeze before heading back into the insurance office.

  Ginny met her at the door, the worry in her hazel eyes confirming that Rhys had called at least his mother, if not Crux too. Kat rolled her eyes.

  “I’m fine,” she promised, brushing by and dropping her purse so she could sweep Cam up for a cuddle. Pressing her lips to the top of his head, she breathed in his warm scent and closed her eyes. “I missed you, little man.”

  “What happened?” Gin demanded.

  “My father’s flunky made another appearance. John Merrick isn’t used to being ignored.”

  Ginny followed her into the kitchen. Frustration stamped her beautiful features as she turned Kat by the shoulder.

  “You know that isn’t going to cut it. Spill!”

  Looking at the fist on her friend’s hip, Kat sighed. Gin wasn’t going to drop it. “He just let me know that my father is disappointed that he hasn’t heard from me and dropped a few threats. It seems I must be mentally unstable not to want anything to do with him. And here all these years I would’ve said the opposite.”

  “What kind of threats?”

  Kat closed her eyes at the menacing growl of her husband’s voice. How in the hell had he snuck up on her? His hands landed heavy on her shoulders and Kat leaned back into his hold.

  “He asked if I needed another vacation at Oakwood,” she said tiredly. “Then he reminded me that there are others that could be hurt if I don’t come to heel. It was his normal heavy-handed bullshit. Nothing new.”

  “Was he specific in who else might get hurt?”

  The forced civility in Crux’s voice was more frightening than his bellow. She pressed back against him and one at a time his hands fell from her shoulders and his arms wrapped around her.

  “He said that Ginny should be careful playing with guns; that it was a good way to get hurt,” she whispered. “And when that pissed me off, he said something about people doing things for their loved ones that they wouldn’t necessarily do for themselves.”

  “Where was Cam?”

  “Here with Gin.”

  She shivered as his lips brushed her ear. His voice was low, seductive but commandin
g.

  “What aren’t you telling me?”

  “He said my father won’t give up, and that I should remember what happened to my mother,” she said swallowing hard against the lump that threatened her airway. “And that at this age, Cam won’t even remember me.”

  Crux’s arms tightened around her and for a moment she couldn’t breathe. Cam squirmed in her arms, perhaps sensing her panic.

  “Nothing is going to happen to you.”

  Kat nodded, unable to even force agreement past her lips. She jumped when the door opened. Zeke looked around the room before returning his hard gaze to Ginny.

  “What happened?”

  “Merrick’s goon, or P.I., whatever you want to call him, showed up in the parking lot outside the insurance office today and threatened Kat,” Gin said, fist still on her hip. Her chin tilted aggressively and Kat swore she could hear her best friend’s silent demand that Zeke do something.

  “He threatened Ginny specifically,” Crux said.

  Zeke didn’t say anything but Kat noted the way the muscle in the big man’s jaw clenched. He rubbed his fingers over the close cut of his steel-grey goatee.

  “I found out some more information about our P.I. friend from a Fed connection today. When he left the military Daniel Carson gained quite the reputation as a mercenary in Iraq, doing personal security and private contract work. He’s one of those guys that has a code all of his own, but it’s open for debate on how far he’ll bend those beliefs if the cash is right.”

  “So he’s only wanted to talk to this point, but he’s dangerous,” Crux said, his voice tight with worry and anger.

  “Yeah, with his skill set if he’d wanted to hurt or snatch Kat, it would’ve been done by now,” Zeke agreed.

  “Son-of-a-bitch!” Crux roared, swinging away from Kat to grip his hair with both hands. He paced the kitchen, his movements jerky and agitated. He stopped and stared out the window over the sink, hands braced on the counter. “I should’ve killed your fucking father years ago.”