“So what did you do to land you in such a shitty office, under their supervision? You have to report every move you make to them.”
Closing his eyes, Brooks clasped his hands together. “I…a few months ago, Outlaw was arrested. Instead of bailing him out, I allowed him to languish in jail. At the behest of my wife. She…she wanted me to have him exchange his freedom for Kendall’s job.” He squeezed the bridge of his nose, then gave Knox a bleak look. “She was threatening to leave me. I love my wife. Then, Meggie got involved. Charlotte let her dislike of the girl be known and…” His eyes watered. “Kyler…” Clearing his throat, Brooks waved away his words.
Knox’s ears perked up at hearing the name. “Who’s Kyler?”
“My son-in-law,” Brooks said wistfully. “He…he ran into some trouble with the guys, so he…he…er…he…he left.”
“Where’d he go?”
Brooks’ face crumpled. For a moment, Knox thought he’d burst into tears, then he shook his head. “I don’t know. If I did, I’d…I’d bring him back. You can’t begin to imagine how I regret listening to Charlotte. I should never have betrayed Outlaw. I knew the consequences for taking his money and not delivering when the time came. Charlotte knew. Avalon knew….that’s one of my former law partners,” he said, unaware of Knox’s relationship to the man. “They took everything away from me. I was receiving thousands every month just to review the odd document and to be on call for when they needed me. They are smart, so they stay ahead of the law. If I wanted to retire from the firm and just work for them out of my mansion, I could have. I would’ve been on a golf course more than I was in a courtroom.”
“You must hate Outlaw. Want to see him pay for reducing you to little more than his puppet.”
“Hate him? No, never. I respect the man greatly. You always know where you stand with him. In the back of my mind, I guess I thought he’d understand the position Charlotte put me in by threatening to leave me because of the way he feels about Meggie.” Brooks shook his head sadly. “But his feelings for Meggie made my actions even worse. It took him away from her.”
“If he’s doing illegal things, he’s lucky to still be with her. He can get arrested. Killed. Anything. He’s a gang member.”
Frowning, Brooks heaved his shoulders. “No, he isn’t. I never said such a thing.”
“You didn’t have to. You alluded to it several times.”
Horror washed over Brooks’ face. “If that’s the way you took it, I apologize. In no way would I ever paint him in a bad light. He’s a family man who adores his wife and children.”
Doubtful, but Knox wouldn’t argue. Besides, he’d gotten the entire conversation on audio. He and Cam could work with this. It was time to change the subject. “Are you going to the Halloween party?”
“I’d like to, but Charlotte won’t allow me.”
Knox could imagine. “How can I get an invitation?”
“Ask Outlaw.”
Just the man he wanted to see. “Do you mind if I find him now?”
“This very minute?” Brooks asked in surprise.
“The party is a couple of days away. If I’m going, I need a costume.” Not waiting for Brooks to respond, Knox headed out the door, almost colliding with two little girls who were shrieking and running. Catching sight of him, they skidded to a stop and stared.
One had dark hair with hazel eyes and the other had blonde hair with blue eyes. Before Knox moved, another little boy rounded the corner. He halted, too. Unlike the little girls who looked at Knox with curiosity, the boy’s gray eyes showed fear. All his joy fell away.
“Ro!” a voice yelled, one that Knox was very familiar with.
A moment later, the baby thug slid into view. Seeing Knox, he narrowed his eyes. This child needed to learn manners. If his kid treated an adult with such disrespect, he’d spank him.
“Take me to your father right now,” Knox demanded in no uncertain terms.
The little kid named Ro shrank closer to CJ as the girls stepped back. CJ blinked.
“Him outside.”
“I don’t care where he’s at. You’re taking me to him.”
“Why?”
“Because I’m an adult and you’re a child and I’ve given you an order.”
“Oh.”
CJ didn’t move, straining Knox’s patience. He could go in search of the man himself, but he was determined to teach CJ a lesson. He’d not soon forget the boy calling him an ashfuck.
“I’m waiting, mister.”
CJ looked him up and down, then brought his little motorcycle-boot covered foot down as hard as possible on Knox’s loafered one.
“Bye, ashfuck,” he yelled, running away.
The other kids followed and left Knox hopping around like a jackass. Leaning against the wall, he drew in a deep breath to control his pain, then limped toward the main room.
Halloween decorations had transformed the place. Bats, skeletons, witches, and ghosts hung from the ceiling. Orange and black decorated the bar. Candy filled huge buckets that sat on wooden stands with signs that read Happy Halloween hanging on the front.
But the best sight of all was Roxy as she sat at the bar, folding paper napkins, her back to him. Today, she wore her hair long and curly, just as it had been the day they’d met.
As the pain from CJ’s foot stomp receded, Knox felt more himself. Grinning, he walked to Roxy and settled his hands on her shoulders.
Gasping, she jumped and turned in his direction. She scowled. “You scared me, asshole.”
“Have I been upgraded or downgraded?” he joked.
She lifted a brow.
“From motherfucker to asshole.”
“Definitely a downgrade,” she replied.
Knox chuckled. “Have you forgiven me enough to invite me to the party? I really am sorry for insulting you again.”
“You’re so full of shit,” she said with a snort of laughter.
“Have you missed me?”
“Didn’t know you were missing.”
That drew more laughter from him. He never knew what Roxy would say. Life with her would never get boring.
Whoa! Where had that thought come from?
A little person squirmed between where Knox stood and Roxy sat. When Knox looked down, he found the little dark-haired girl. She tugged on Roxy’s skirt.
“Glam-ma, me and Rebel ready to have our nails polished.”
Roxy adjusted herself to give the child more room. “Did you say excuse me to Mr. Knox, baby?”
“Uh-uh,” the girl said, then focused on Knox. “Excuse me.”
Knox nodded, impressed.
“Rebel is in the back with Aunt Bunny.”
Knox supposed that’s where the little hoodlum had led his minions. ‘In the back’. Wherever that was. He’d never gotten the chance to explore the building.
“Get her, then we’ll go home and do our nails and toes.”
She squirmed past again, then stopped. “CJ, too?”
“No, Harley,” Roxy answered. “CJ won’t enjoy that.”
Although her face fell, she nodded, then ran off, her black hair fluttering behind her. Roxy watched until the child disappeared.
“Why does she call you Glam-ma?”
“I’m too young to be grandma,” she responded. She eyed him. “In case you’ve forgotten, my daughter has children.”
He hadn’t forgotten but he hadn’t really remembered, either. The information had floated in the back of his mind, in that no man’s land where it didn’t matter one way or the other.
“Go out with me tonight,” he blurted, the words falling from his mouth without consideration.
“I can’t tonight.” She pursed her pretty lips, tempting Knox.
He had to remember where he was and who he was dealing with. If he kissed her, she might slap the shit out of him.
“It’s our weekly dinner. Tonight, we’re going to Kendall and Johnnie’s house. Why don’t you come with me?”
The oppor
tunity was too great for Knox to resist. He insisted his eagerness was because of the chance to gather additional information, refusing to admit he also couldn’t wait to spend more time with Roxy.
Chapter Sixteen
Temporary insanity possessed Roxy to invite Knox to the weekly get-together. At least that’s what she chalked it up to. After ignoring him for five days once she realized the asshole still continued to pursue whatever, she extended an invitation the moment he made it a point to talk to her.
Even worse, she’d rushed through the manicures with Harley and Rebel to rifle through her closet, in search of the perfect outfit and debating on wearing her wig. With the dinners reserved for family, she normally went natural. She had hair, but it was just short.
Going to the dresser mirror, she slipped her hand over her hair.
“Get it together, Roxanne,” she scolded herself. “You have the problem with your hair, girl. Nobody else.”
Except, maybe, Knox. Shit! Who gave a fuck what the motherfucker thought?
Except he’d really rose to the occasion with the Sulley Incident. He’d helped her and Jordan. And he’d kept his mouth shut about what Outlaw had done.
Roxy knew Jordan was more than grateful. She said “Mr. Caldwell” didn’t want any thanks and had only grunted when she’d called to thank him. Jordan wanted to find a way to repay him, even if it was in cash.
Since Outlaw didn’t want for much, she wasn’t sure the doctor would get him to accept anything. With the holidays, though…hmm. Roxy had to think on that one.
A short knock came on her door.
“Come in,” she called.
Bailey walked in and frowned at the pile of clothes on Roxy’s bed. “What’s up with you?” she asked with suspicion. “You aren’t coming to the dinner as usual?”
Roxy held a mini dress in front of her. She needed a more casual look. “I am going to the dinner.” She flung the dress on the pile and went back to her closet. She found a boat-necked sweater and a pair of jeans.
“Uh, Mama?”
Removing the sweater from the hanger, Roxy lifted it to better inspect it. “What, sugar?” She couldn’t remember ever seeing Knox in a pair of jeans. The man definitely needed to learn to relax.
“What am I missing here?” Bailey asked, sounding completely confused.
“I invited Knox,” she announced, honing in on a leather skirt that would work well with the sweater.
“Knox,” Bailey echoed. “You invited him to our private dinner?”
Roxy squinted at her daughter. “Didn’t I just say that?”
A grin lit up Bailey’s face. “What aren’t you telling me? How have you gone from working for Outlaw to discover who Knox is, to you dressing for him and having him socialize with us?”
The question gave Roxy pause and she thought for a moment. She didn’t want to lie to herself nor did she want to ignore the motivations for any of her actions. “I invited Knox tonight because I thought it would be a good chance for Outlaw to observe him,” she said honestly. “On the other hand…” Her cheeks heated, which added to her discomfort. She was past the age of embarrassment and that feminine giddiness young women got over a date. Yet, excitement bloomed in her. She enjoyed flirting with him.
“On the other hand?” Bailey prompted, roaming to the bed and grabbing a one-shouldered sheath dress.
“Before Knox, I hadn’t been on a date in a while. I like the exhilaration of finding the right outfit and anticipating the outcome of the evening.”
“I understand,” Bailey said, going through the clothes on the bed. She found a sheer black top and black jeans, then handed them to Roxy. “Wear this. With a black bra and red lipstick.”
“Okay, baby,” she agreed, then laughed. “I’m acting so fucking silly over a motherfucker who don’t mean any of us any good.”
Bailey gave Roxy a gentle look. “Consider this practice for when you meet a man who will mean you some good. You deserve to be silly and giddy and carefree. I’m right here to help you.”
Roxy gave Bailey a watery laugh, then pulled her into her arms and hugged her. “I love you so much. Your daddy would be so proud of you.”
“I miss him, Momma,” Bailey admitted, returning Roxy’s hug with a tight squeeze. “He never got to meet Harley or Lou. He never got to have Lucas as a son-in-law.”
“He sees everything,” she swore. “Don’t ever believe otherwise. You were his pride and joy.”
“I know,” Bailey whispered, her voice wobbly. She stepped back and rocked on her heels.
Knowing her daughter, Roxy sensed Bailey had something to say, so she sat on the side of the bed. “What’s going on, sugar? Talk to me.”
Bailey twisted her hands together. “Lucas told me you might be leaving.”
Relief hit Roxy hard. She’d thought it was something serious. “No might in it. I am leaving. It’s just a matter of time. Then, you can have your house to yourself.”
Bailey’s face crumpled. “I know I left you to live close to Daddy but I had to go. It didn’t mean I didn’t want you around.”
“Bailey, baby, that’s over and done with. You had to leave to spread your wings. I’d never hold that against you. As a matter of fact, I’m proud as hell of you for doing that.”
Her nostrils flaring, Bailey flushed.
Fuck. What wasn’t her baby telling her? Roxy thought back over Bailey’s words and stiffened as she picked out a phrase. “What the fuck you meant when you said you had to leave? It doesn’t only mean you left the nest to fly on your own, does it?”
“Remember Ulner?”
“I can’t forget your first serious boyfriend. I was a little disappointed when you broke things off with him.”
“He hit me,” Bailey mumbled.
“Say that shit again?” Roxy wanted to believe she’d misheard but knew she hadn’t. She’d actually had that motherfucker over for dinner after Bailey left, to console his heartache. “Where’d he hit you?” Wherever he hit Bailey, Roxy intended to pound on.
“He beat me up bad, Momma,” Bailey admitted softly. “Fin found me and nursed me back to health. I was afraid of Ulner, but I was more afraid of what you’d do if you found out, so I left.”
“Now, I have two motherfuckers to fuck up. Finley and motherfucking Ulner. That motherfucker I’m carving the fuck up like a goddamn Thanksgiving Day turkey. And I’m beating Fin’s ass for not letting me know this.” She glared at Bailey. “You told your daddy?”
“No.”
“Oh, Lord Jesus Christ, I’m about to catch a case in this motherfucker.” Roxy covered her face. “Fuck a dinner. I’m booking a flight. I’m going hunt those two motherfuckers down.”
“No, wait, Momma,” Bailey cried, grabbing Roxy’s arm. “There’s more.”
“You’re fucking kidding me, right?”
Bailey looked at her bare feet. “You can’t do anything to Ulner.”
“The fuck I can’t and I’m going to ask Outlaw to give me some tips on burying motherfuckers.”
“That’s just the point. He’s already dead. Lucas k-killed him.”
“Shit. Mortician didn’t have to do that. You two weren’t even together when Ulner fucked with you. I didn’t know the boy was that jealous.”
A guilty wince crossed Bailey’s face.
“Oh, fuck no!” Roxy yelled, suspecting where this was going. “The motherfucker did something else to you?”
“Lucas walked in on Ulner strangling me. I was still pregnant with Harley. And…and Lucas didn’t take too kindly to that.”
“I guess the fuck he didn’t.” Roxy drew in a deep breath to calm her anger, disappointment, and unnecessary fear. If Ulner had succeeded in killing Bailey…she couldn’t finish the thought. “How did Ulner get in your apartment.”
“No, Momma. Ulner attacked me when I was home. At the house.”
Roxy snapped her brows together. “What the fuck do you mean? At the house? At my fucking house?” Shit. “Does that mean Mortician f
ucked him up at my fucking house, too?”
“Yes.”
“Fuck, Bailey, why the fuck are you telling me this shit now? I had a dead motherfucker in my house who got fucked up on the premises.”
“Momma…”
“The same motherfucker needed me to put my foot up his dickhole for fucking with you,” Roxy continued, so angry she feared a vein might burst.
“Mother...”
Roxy scowled, still ignoring her daughter. “I got another motherfucker who kept shit from me.” She thought about Mortician. He’d had more than enough opportunity to fill her in on this. “No, make that two motherfuckers.”
“Mom!”
“What?” she yelled in the same frustrated tone as Bailey.
“I told you all of that because I wanted you to know why I left you because I don’t want you to leave.”
That got Roxy’s attention and stole her anger. She grabbed Bailey’s hands. “Listen to me, baby. You have your own life. You don’t need me underfoot.”
“I want you here. If you don’t want to live in this house, me and Lucas talked last night. We’ll have a house built for you. It’ll be closer to Kendall and Johnnie’s house, but it’ll be yours. You can move MeMe here. Duke, too. If Alexia and Rissa wants to come, we’ll make the house big enough.”
“Your sisters aren’t interested in living with me and Duke hates me because I got sick. Other than flying down every few weeks to visit MeMe, if I were to agree to that, which I’m not, there’d be no need to move all of us here. Just me.”
“Why won’t you stay? Before everything happened you were planning on moving here.”
“I was needed,” she said simply. “Other than setting Kendall on the right path, my work here is done. If I stay, I’d have to fight to do anything. You don’t want me doing what I once did.” She shrugged. “My work here is done,” she repeated.
“No, Momma! I swear if we didn’t need you here we’d tell you. Harley needs her Glam-ma. She’s been showing off her nails all afternoon. We didn’t want you to tax yourself.”
“Bailey, I don’t consider myself a weak bitch. I sure as fuck don’t lack self-confidence, but, sometimes, I worry I interfere too much. Even when you don’t want my opinion, I give it to you. Before it causes problems, I’d rather leave.”
Death Dwellers Motorcycle Club:: Fifteen Bad Boy Biker Books Page 386