At first, Digger hadn’t minded introducing himself by his actual name. He’d thought it would put Virginia at ease knowing there was more to him than a road name. But Bunny’s clear shame of him and her attraction to him made Digger glad he hadn’t touched her. As long as they were on the run together, hitting and quitting wouldn’t be possible.
Shacking up with another lying, deceitful bitch like Peyton wouldn’t ever happen. He’d thought Bunny different, but she was just like Peyton.
The sooner he departed Bunny’s company, the better. Except the thought of going his separate way didn’t sit well with him. He really liked Bunny, something he’d never been able to say about Peyton.
Bunny’s dad shrugged out of his sports coat and hung it behind his leather chair that had seen better days. Clear tape was peeling away from several areas, revealing slits here and there.
“I wasn’t intending to call Outlaw when I excused myself,” the man began tiredly and he rubbed his eyes. He had the beginnings of a pot belly and hair that had gone almost completely gray.
The way the motherfucker had tried to escape told Digger something different. “Who then?”
Riley-Walt’s eyes flickered away, but then he shrugged. “No one. I needed to get my bearings. Seeing Albany here shocked me.”
Albany. Somehow the name fit Bunny. Albany was odd, a strong name that was sweet in a way. Like Bunny. The thought evaporated some of Digger’s anger. She’d been through hell these past few days, receiving one shock after the other. He could give her a pass for the lie about her mother expecting him to accompany Bunny. It would be harder for him to overcome her denial of his biker lifestyle, however. He was who he was. If he knew anything about himself, he knew he was a biker at heart.
“Why Albany?” he asked, unable to deny his curiosity. “Schenectady too hard to spell? Not good enough?”
Some of Riley-Walt’s tension eased and his lips curled in a vague smile. “It’s the usual reason,” he said. “That’s where she was conceived.”
Fuck, for real? “You telling me if you’d dropped your load in her momma in Schenectady that would’ve been Bunny’s name?”
Shoulders straightening, Riley-Walt glared at Digger. “That’s a unique way of putting it, but, yes, I suppose we would have.”
“Let me guess. This was your old lady’s idea.” If he’d still wanted kids, he’d also expect to have a say-so in naming them, too. Half of his DNA would’ve been in his children, so he had half of whatever rights their mother would’ve had. Luckily for him, that point was moot. Children were fucking work. One thing wrong in their upbringing and their entire existence became fucked up.
Or simply gone.
“While we discussing names,” he began, shoving his last thought aside. “Your name’s Walt. How the fuck we know you as Riley?”
“When I decided to take Outlaw up on his offer, I didn’t want Albany to know of my connection to the club. Outlaw didn’t want Megan to know I’d been voted in.” He gave Digger a grave look. “Just as I said in the kitchen, she still doesn’t know that Outlaw took her suggestion, Digger. I didn’t lie about that.”
“Did I say you fucking lied?”
“No,” he conceded, but neither did you seem appeased.”
“I wasn’t.” Thanks to Meggie’s involvement. “Outlaw give Meggie too much power.”
“I wasn’t around four years ago when all the bad blood started and Outlaw got rid of Joseph Foy. Nor did I know Outlaw when he met Meggie a year later. But I’m around now and I happen to know her influence over him saved your life.”
Scratching his jaw, Digger blew out a noisy breath. “Bunny told me the same thing,” he admitted. Another good reason not to touch Bunny. She and Meggie were besties. With Digger’s resentment toward Meggie that might be a problem with Bunny. Same with the club. Now that Little Man was back with Outlaw, Digger recognized the flaws of the idea. Not only would Outlaw not give a fuck about saving Bunny, he might see her as a traitor to the club.
Then, she’d really be fucked.
“We both decided it was in everyone’s best interest not to let too many people know of my connection,” Riley-Walt continued.
“Trader really didn’t know his recommendation had been voted in either?”
“Outlaw can read people pretty well,” he said as if Digger didn’t already know that. The man was scary in that ability. “If Trader had been aware that his recommendation had gotten voted in, he’d want something in return. Money. More weight in the club. Even if Outlaw ignored whatever Trader might’ve wanted, Trader was the type of man who’d assume he had more power than he actually had, simply because Outlaw had taken his suggestion.” He sighed and scratched his jaw. “He didn’t dislike Trader. Per se. He was my daughter’s boyfriend and she was his wife’s confidante, so he did what he had to do to protect the integrity of the club and the interests of everyone.”
Outlaw would find a way to do that and if it wasn’t in the club’s best interest, he’d move on to another solution. Whether Meggie wanted him to or not. The thought made Digger hang his head. His outburst toward Meggie girl had been out-of-line and uncalled for, but he was tired and frustrated and needed to find someone to blame for all that had befallen the club. The easiest target was the most vulnerable. Outlaw’s wife.
“As for as how I took the name Riley, I’m a BB King fan.”
Digger frowned. “And? Shouldn’t your ass be BB?”
“No,” Riley-Walt answered with a slightly wider smile. “His real name was Riley B. King.”
“No shit.” Digger loved listening to the Blues, but he’d never known that. The Thrill Is Gone was one of his favorite songs. “So what do I call you? Riley? Walt? Riley-Walt?”
“Walt will be fine while you’re here with Albany, but I’d appreciate it if you’d stick to Riley all other times.”
Silence descended and Digger sat, more at ease now. Walt opened a desk drawer and pulled out a glass and a bottle of vodka. After pouring himself a finger, he slid the bottle to Digger.
“How’s…” Taking a swig, Digger studied the bottle and changed the question on the tip of his tongue. Rather than ask about Outlaw, he first needed to know… “Meggie survived?”
“Yes.”
He swallowed more vodka to fortify himself. “The others? Mortician?”
“Outlaw, Mortician, and Ghost came out unscathed.” He offered nothing more.
Walt was being a hard-ass, making Digger drag information out of him. “Did anyone die?”
“Arrow and a probate.”
“K-P’s brother?”
Walt nodded.
K-P’s death had hit Mortician hard. Though they hadn’t known Arrow too well and K-P rarely mentioned him, his death must’ve affected Mort because of how he’d looked up to K-P.
“Aww man, I’m so sorry,” he burst out.
“They buried Tyler the day after the shootings.” Walt spoke casually, but studied him closely.
Grief rose within Digger and it took him a moment to compose himself. “How Mort holding up?”
“Better. Bailey’s conscious and their baby will survive.”
The news lifted a weight from Digger’s chest, worsened by the memory of Sharper standing over Tyler. “I wanted to warn Outlaw some kind of way. I thought maybe I’d have a chance before they started firing. I even positioned myself as close to the house as I could, once Sharper got onto the grounds.”
“How’d he get in?”
The fucking million dollar question that Digger didn’t have an answer to. “I don’t know.”
Clenching his jaw, Walt looked as if he didn’t believe Digger. “Bailey remains hospitalized. It was touch-and-go for both her and her baby, at first.”
Knowing how Mortician adored Bailey, Digger’s gut clenched. When she’d gotten sick and ended up hospitalized in New Orleans and Digger had gone to talk to Mort, he’d seen his brother’s devastation at her condition. By then, Digger had found Peyton and hadn’t yet discovere
d the worst of her worst. He’d finally accepted that he’d fucked up and felt a grudging happiness for his brother. If Bailey had been killed… “I’m so sorry,” he said again and guzzled the rest of the vodka, unable to take the enormity of what had happened. “So Bailey the only one still not home?”
“Kendall was released earlier today. Megan should go home in a few days as should Bailey.”
Walt finished off the last bit of alcohol remaining in his glass and changed the subject. “Why are you here?”
“Bunny suggested we come here to get away from Outlaw and Sharper.”
“You sent CJ back to Outlaw. Why not Bunny?”
“Meggie adore her. As long as she with me, Outlaw won’t risk her life and try to take me out. I have time to bargain.” He refused to mention his misgivings over the plan.
Walt didn’t appear to need any. “What are your intentions toward Albany?”
Frowning, Digger lifted his brows. “I’m not going to kill her,” he answered, pretending to misunderstand. The question had more to do with fucking Bunny, than killing her.
Walt scowled. “Good to know,” he said sarcastically. “You’ll just use her as your shield.”
“I wouldn’t grab a damn girl to cover me from gunfire.”
“I meant metaphorically.”
“Fuck, metaphorical. I’m speaking literally. If they catch up to my ass and still want to take me out, I’ll make sure Bunny’s safe.”
“Why?”
Why? Why? Did the motherfucker really ask that?
“Because you’re screwing her or you’re that much of a gentleman to do the right thing for once?”
Digger jumped to his feet. “Fuck off, man. I didn’t touch Bunny, other than to take care of her fucking ass while she was sick. As for me being a gentleman, I know I’m not. I’d do it because it’s the right thing to do. I’ve made too many fucking mistakes trying to do the right thing already. Her death won’t be another one.”
“Let her go. If Sharper closes in on you, then she’s dead anyway.”
Let her go. Three little words that hit him like a punch to the gut. His anger deflating, Digger dropped back into his seat and hung his head. He didn’t really want to let her go. He actually liked being in her company and he knew it was for her and not because of fucking. Unlike with Peyton. From the get-go, sexual innuendoes and tension filled their relationship. With Bunny, what started as a dire situation turned into something else for Digger. Faced with the prospect of having her walk away, he was able to admit he didn’t want that to happen.
She insisted she’d have nothing sexual to do with him as long as he held her hostage. Until then, her stance had been fine with him. He’d been just as adamant that he never wanted another old lady.
Keeping her with him wasn’t fair. She had a place at the club, one he shouldn’t take away from her on the chance that her presence would save his life. This was his fight, not hers, and it wasn’t right to insist she stay involved.
“I’ll ask her,” he said finally, quietly. If she left, he’d truly be on his own in this situation. The reason he’d joined the Dwellers was to be close to Mort. He’d gone with the flow. Perhaps, though, that had been the problem. His reasons for joining the club hadn’t been because the biker lifestyle had called to him. “If she want to go, then I’ll let her go.”
Walt drummed his fingers on the desk, then rubbed a hand over his eyes. “Let me call Outlaw.”
Digger jumped to his feet. “No! Fuck no. He’ll blaze here and kill me.”
“No, he won’t. I won’t tell him you’re here. I’ll just tell him Albany called and I spoke to you.”
“Fuck. NO,” he said slowly and precisely, his hands balling into fists.
“Stay in the room with me and listen to the conversation. If Albany wasn’t involved, I wouldn’t bother,” he said with disgust. “You’re serious about getting back into the good graces of the club? Grow some goddamn balls and start somewhere.”
Stiffening at the insult, Digger knew Walt was right. He did have to start somewhere, instead of resisting each time someone brought up the idea of contacting Outlaw. “Fuck!”
Taking that as consent, Walt pressed a button and a dial tone blared in the room. Another button later, a number dialed and Outlaw answered. Obviously, Walt had the club on speed dial.
“Yo, Riley, whatcha got for me?”
Digger’s heart beat a little faster at hearing the man’s voice. He sounded as cool and collected as usual, and Digger had missed that, just as much as he’d missed Mort’s jokes and advice.
“Albany called.”
“Fuck, Walt. I could fuckin’ kiss you. My girl been askin’ like fuck ‘bout Bunny. Megan know Bunny woulda visited her al-fuckin-ready. Only so long I can deflect her fuckin’ questions. Bunny okay, huh?”
“Yes. She may return to the club soon.”
“You spoke to fuckhead?”
Knowing Outlaw referred to him cut through Digger. As highly as Outlaw regarded him at one time, he hated him just as passionately now.
“Yes, I spoke to Digger.”
Digger widened his eyes and he gave the phone a horrified look, as if Outlaw had the ability to see through the phone lines.
“What the fuck he say?” Hot anger replaced Outlaw’s coolness.
“That he had extenuating circumstances. That he wanted to warn you about the ambush. He’d like to talk to you.”
“What the fuck he wanna say? No motherfucker hurtin’ my girl and he did it fuckin’ twice. Bad. You know how the fuck I found her when that motherfucker took Bailey and left Megan in that fuckin’ apartment? On her fuckin’ knees with a motherfucker dick stuffed in her mouth.”
Fuuuccckkk. For that alone, Digger had no chance at redemption.
“Motherfucker wanted to come in my wife mouth before he blew her the fuck away,” Outlaw snarled. “You know what the fuck that did to me seein’ that shit? I’d rather cut my fuckin’ heart out than see my girl hurt. And, yet, she still fuckin’ talked me into easin’ up on my search for him. She said it was for me and Mort, but Megan like Digger her-fuckin-self.”
Something else Bunny had told him and he’d ignored until now. Outlaw screaming about Megan’s loyalty to Digger made him feel lower than shit.
“I know none of this is easy, Outlaw. But, at least, hear him out,” Riley replied, testing the waters.
“Megan got the conscience. I fuckin’ don’t and this is one time I don’t give a fuck how she feel. Digger need to be fucked up for a variety of fuckin’ reasons.”
“He was doing what he felt necessary,” Walt persisted. “Protecting Mortician. He had to choose.”
“And he chose his brother over Megan,” Outlaw snapped. “I understand the fuckin’ position he was in. But if you don’t know what the fuck you doin’, who the fuck you fuckin’ with, then you fuck your own self. Hear what I’m sayin’, Riley?”
“Yes.”
In the ensuing silence, Digger’s skin crawled and he squirmed in his seat. He hadn’t known everything that had gone on after he left with Bailey all those months ago. Now that he did and after feeling such bitterness and resentment toward Meggie, he wasn’t sure if he didn’t deserve whatever fate awaited him.
“Besides, you told me your fuckin’ self, that cunt who shot Megan was with him.”
Walt gave Digger a guilty look, but he’d merely been doing his job, so Digger shrugged, worn out by it all. Outlaw’s disgust. Bunny’s possible departure. Even Walt thinking him a goddamn coward.
“She was Ellen’s sister,” Walt reminded Outlaw, and from his tone, it sounded as if they’d gone over this already.
“Your ass already fuckin’ told that,” Outlaw barked. “Didn’t make one motherfuck of a difference then and it ain’t now. Besides what the fuck that got to do with Peyton ass bein’ with Digger un-fuckin-less, he was fuckin’ tryin’ to help her get her fuckin’ revenge? What the fuck Peyton and Ellen bein’ sisters gotta do with any-fuckin-thing? Whatever mad
e that bitch come after my wife was cuz of Digger.”
Digger shook his head frantically, wordlessly denying the accusation.
“Suppose he didn’t know her intentions?” Walt asked quietly.
Walt wasn’t coming right out and defending Digger, but he wasn’t placing all the blame on him either. He knew it was on behalf of Bunny, but Digger still appreciated it.
“If he didn’t know what she planned, he isn’t responsible.”
“Why the fuck you suddenly all up in my ass defendin’ that motherfucker and his cunt?” Outlaw asked with suspicion. “You wasn’t this fuckin’ adamant when you lifted that bitch’s fingerprints to identify her.”
“I’m not badgering you about him,” Walt said quickly, loosening his tie and the top button of his shirt. “All I’m asking—”
“I ain’t payin’ you to ask me. Whatever the fuck I wantcha to fuckin’ know, you already fuckin’ know it…” His voice trailed off and he paused. “Un-fuckin-less…”
Movement on Outlaw’s end led Digger to believe he’d adjusted his phone. The soft thud of a door closing came next. The rattling of glass and the slosh of liquid preceded the flick of a lighter. “Whatever the fuckin’ reason Digger joined the fuck up with Sharper ain’t matterin’ to me. For all my fuckin’ ass know, it was outta some fuckin’ type of revenge. And the way I’m fuckin’ thinkin’, maybe he was hatin’ on Megan just a lil’ bit? Why? I ain’t fuckin’ figured that shit out. He left her and he brought that bitch ‘round to fuckin’ kill her.”
Outlaw was fucking creepy with his ability to figure shit out.
“You fuckin’ listenin’, Digger?”
Digger stared at the phone and jerked against the chair.
“I’m the only one—”
“Per-fuckin-haps, Riley,” Outlaw conceded, “but I ain’t believin’ that, not with your fuckin’ conversation turnin’ the way it did. Now, shut the fuck up.”
Walt’s face reddened. “Yes, of course, Outlaw.”
“Digger, speak the fuck up or don’t. I don’t give a fuck. My ass been thinkin’ and thinkin’. Goin’ through the facts and the events of the last few months. Honestly, I don’t know what the fuck to do with you, motherfucker. Kill you quick or fuckin’ slow. Fuck you up and leave a permanent fuckin’ reminder some-fuckin-where on you, but let you fuckin’ live. You took care of my boy and, apparently, you ain’t hurt Bunny.”
Death Dwellers Motorcycle Club:: Fifteen Bad Boy Biker Books Page 254