“It was your family loyalty that wouldn’t allow you to see any other side,” Cam told him.
Knox opened one eye. “You think? Roxy said I was a shit investigator.”
“Caldwell seems to be a formidable foe. Obviously, he’s someone you and Uncle Avalon underestimated.”
“You need to hear him talk. I thought he was the most ignorant man alive. His son has no manners. His wife is a baby under him. Every other word is an f-bomb.”
“I told you once that he couldn’t have run such a successful outfit on the outside of prison and not have a brain.”
“I had a very superficial impression of him. One that I didn’t want to change.” And it lost him Roxy.
“Not only superficial, but shallow and judgmental. You owe him an apology.”
“He’d beat the shit out of me for even saying such a thing.”
Cam shrugged. “Maybe, you need some sense knocked into your thick ass head.”
“Who’s side on you on?”
“Jordan’s, my brother,” Cam said without shame. “Caldwell saved her life. She’s good friends with his wife and several of the other women. To hear her tell it, the club president is just short of brilliant and one of the bravest men she knows. If I have to agree with her and give him the benefit of the doubt to get a chance with her, that’s what I’ll do.”
“Are you and the pretty doctor an item?” Knox hadn’t realized the relationship had progressed that far.
“We’re friends. She says that’s all she’s able to give right now, but she seemed pretty impressed when I told her I have a motorcycle.”
“Don’t get your hopes up, Cookie,” Knox advised. “She’s about to have another man’s baby. It’s obvious it was a bad relationship. She might not ever be ready to move forward. If she is, there’s no guarantee it’ll be with you.”
“It’s a chance I’m willing to take. I’ve heard that a man knows in a very short time if he’s met the one. Jordan is it for me.”
“Does she know this?”
“Nah. I don’t want to frighten the woman off, bozo. Let her give birth first and all those hormones settle before I hit her with the news. Don’t tell me you don’t know what I’m talking about. Remember Callie?”
“If not for my son, I’d prefer to forget her,” Knox grumbled.
Cam grinned. “If you say so. I don’t mind talking about Jordan. She’s so easy to talk to. We discuss anything and everything. She makes me laugh. That’s so important. The world’s a sad, crazy place. I treasure a woman with a sense of humor.”
Roxy had a sense-of-humor, too. Something Knox had come to value. Except he hadn’t discussed everything with her. He’d picked and chosen the topics he thought would draw her into his web. She didn’t even know J’s was his mother’s restaurant. Perhaps, he wasn’t as angry with her that she’d been working for Outlaw because, in spite of that, she’d been real. She’d tried her best to fill him in and to reason with him. She’d also never lied about how important her family was.
If Uncle Avalon hadn’t shown up out of the blue at the club, Knox doubted he would’ve told Roxy who had hired him.
Sighing, Knox stood up. “My head’s not into work today.”
“No shit.”
“Get to lunch with the doctor and then go. Whatever’s going on can wait until the new year.”
“Now that we’re about to wrap this case, I talked to two potential clients. One’s easy. A wife who wants her husband followed. She thinks he’s screwing his secretary. I don’t have the details of the other one.”
“As long as I stay away from family, I’ll be fine. Working on my uncle’s behalf clouded my thinking.”
“Sure, Knox,” Cam said with sarcasm. “Blame being a snobbish douche on your uncle.”
“Screw you.”
Cam chuckled. “If you get too lonesome, fly to NYC. We can cry in our champagne together.”
“I don’t need champagne to cry in. I can do that without the drink.” Knox scrubbed a hand over his face. “Roxy is done with me.”
“No wonder you’ve been looking so fucked up.”
“I wanted a fresh start with her,” he said bleakly. “She said she doesn’t trust me. That I tried to play her at every turn.”
“Didn’t you?”
“What can I do to make her see that I’m sorry? Ask her to give me a chance?”
“First? Back off for a bit. If she really cares about you, she’ll miss you. Let the holidays get behind her. Second? Go to Caldwell. Tell him everything. Take your ass beating like a man.”
“Who are you?” Knox asked, appalled. “A former cop or a future biker?”
“Listen, Knox. Jordan hasn’t gone into much detail about the club. I think she knows a lot. What she has shared with me leads me to believe we might have a partnership in the making with the Death Dwellers. There’s no black and white. Think about Uncle Avalon. The supposedly morally upright, law-abiding citizen is trying to frame these men to hide his embezzling. He led you to believe they were the scum of the earth.”
“Charlotte Redding helped.”
“It doesn’t matter,” Cam shot back. “Uncle Avalon planted the seed. To me, that’s as dishonorable as the accusations he made against the bikers. The things we can’t do in the name of our investigations, the club might have a way to help. But there’s a code they live by. You broke it, so there’s repercussions.”
“You broke it, too,” Knox gritted out.
“Yeah, and I’ll hand myself over to Caldwell if Jordan and I become an item, so I’ll be welcomed where she is.”
“If I go to him, then I’ll be…suppose he is a killer. If I tell him about Uncle Avalon’s theft, I’ll sign his death warrant.”
“I understand.” Cam turned grave eyes to Knox. They both cared about Uncle Avalon. “But Avalon knew the risks he was taking when he decided to fuck over the club. However, Jordan said Caldwell worships the ground his wife walks on. If you go to her first and explain the situation, she might have a solution to save Uncle Avalon.”
He wasn’t Megan Caldwell’s favorite person, but it was worth a try. While he was at it, he’d also ask her advice on how to win Roxy over again.
As soon as he arrived home, Knox telephoned Charlotte and asked for Megan’s phone number. He figured Outlaw would be out trolling the streets, breaking into people’s houses and beating them up. Or, maybe not. To Knox, Outlaw had both saint and sinner in him. The man switched from angel to devil—family man to biker—in the blink of an eye.
Once he got Megan’s number, he fixed himself a drink, then made the call. She picked up quickly.
“This is Megan Caldwell.”
Knox thought that a strange way of answering. “I’m glad to know I have the right number,” he said in a teasing voice, wanting to break the ice.
“Who is this?”
“Don’t you recognize my voice, Megan? It’s Knox Harrington.”
“Oh, um, hey. I thought you were a client.”
She hadn’t hung up on him, so that was a good sign. “What type of client would you have?”
“Look it up,” she said.
Her patience was waning. “I need your help.”
Silence met his statement.
“First, let me apologize for my behavior at the Halloween party.”
She sighed. “Apology accepted. Now, please tell me what I can do for you. Christopher will be in the room any minute and he won’t be happy that I’m talking to you.”
“I’ll make this quick. I have a very important matter to discuss with you and I’d like to take you to lunch. If you accept, I ask that you don’t tell your husband.”
“What’s wrong?”
“I want to tell you in person. This is a life-or-death matter. Please, say yes. I need your help.”
“If it’s club related, I don’t get involved.”
That was what he’d heard. Maybe, she didn’t get directly involved, but she still influenced her husband. “Please, Megan.”
Another sigh. “If I agree, I have to tell Christopher. I don’t hide anything from him. Besides, if you’ll recall you flirted with me in front of him. That was total and complete disrespect.”
“No, don’t tell him!” Knox said quickly, remembering the day he’d met Roxy when he’d acted like a dickhead to everyone. “Please. You and I have to figure this one out. Afterwards, if we come up with a plan, then you tell him.” As a matter of fact, she’d have to tell him in order to save Uncle Avalon’s life. However, if she felt as if she couldn’t do anything, there was no need to stoke the flame of Outlaw’s jealousy. “Please,” he said again. “A man’s life depends on it.”
“You’re putting me in an awful position.”
“I know but I’ll be forever indebted to you if you do this. We can meet at J’s. It’s an upscale restaurant. It’ll be a new experience for you and I’m sure you’ll enjoy it.”
“Jerk!” she snapped. “What makes you think Christopher doesn’t take me to an upscale restaurant? Throwing digs at my husband isn’t the way to get my help.”
Knox gritted his teeth. No matter how much of a family man the biker was, he couldn’t imagine the man setting foot in such a fancy place as his mother’s restaurant. “I apologize. That came out wrong,” he lied. “Can we meet tomorrow?”
“Only because it’s life-and-death.”
“Thank you, Megan. Remember, this is just between us. A woman doesn’t have to tell her husband her every move.”
“Whatever. I’ll see you tomorrow for 12:30.”
With that, she hung up. It didn’t matter. He was meeting her on his terms. His uncle’s life might be spared after all.
“Where the fuck you been, baby?” Christopher asked Megan when she reappeared carrying a small box containing special ornaments. She’d said they were in her closet and promised to be right back. Instead, twenty minutes had passed. If five more minutes had gone by, he would’ve climbed his ass down from the ladder and went to check on her.
“Look, ‘Law,” CJ called, tipping his head back so far Christopher was sure the motherfucker would fall the fuck off. “I got a whole row of stuff.”
“Me, too,” Rebel called from the opposite side of the tree. “You, Rule?”
“Uh-huh.”
Ryder was busy crawling around the family room as they rest of them decorated the tree Christopher and CJ had picked up after purchasing Megan’s SUV.
“Christopher, can you come down a minute?” Megan asked, her brow knitted in a frown. “Knox Harrington asked me out to lunch. He doesn’t want you to know.”
“WHAT?” Christopher yelled so loudly the ornaments he’d been hanging shook with the harsh whoosh of his breath. “Time fuckin’ out, CJ, Rebel, and Rule. Go and play for a few fuckin’ minutes.” He rushed down the ladder, so angry it surprised him he didn’t keel off the motherfucker and break his goddamn neck. The moment he reached level ground, he crooked his finger at Megan. “Tell me everything that cock-dead, brainless, soon-to-be-tongueless motherfucker said to you,” he demanded when she reached him.
“Basically, it’s a life-and-death situation that he needs my help with.”
“How the fuck he got your number?”
She shrugged. “He’s a PI. I’m sure he has ways to get information.”
“He’s a dead ass. I got fuckin’ ways to fuck him up. I beat his ass once already for fuckin’ with you. If he ain’t learn that time, I gotta kill him.”
“Christopher!”
“No. Fuck no, baby. January second, I’m fuckin’ Hart up and then Knox. Case fuckin’ closed. Hart fucked up my boy and Knox fuckin’ with you. What the fuck wrong with these motherfuckers? No. I already fuckin’ know. My ass been actin’ fuckin’ soft cuz of these fuckin’ holidays. I gotta fuck them up a lil extra for under-fuckin-estimatin’ me.”
“Christopher, would you shut up?” Megan asked in exasperation. “I accepted because I want to know what he wants. If it’s a life-and-death matter…”
For a moment, Christopher stared at Megan. He was sure he’d mis-fucking-heard. He opened his mouth to ask her if she was out of her motherfucking mind.
“If he was wired and tried to get information on us, wire me up. If it’s life-and-death, it may have to do with what he wanted to do to you and the club. Then, you’d even have the proof to get Johnnie to believe you.”
Christopher drew in a deep breath to calm himself, gazing into Megan’s clear, blue eyes. She wanted to help him. Besides, she was right. He hadn’t bothered to talk to Johnnie about Knox and he was so wrapped up in Kendall that he hadn’t asked. Neither had he started the audit, as Christopher asked.
Something else Christopher would see to at the first of the year.
“Where he takin’ you and what time?”
“We’re meeting at J’s for 12:30,” she answered.
Fuck, he wished Stretch was there. All the motherfuckers who’d be more than useful for this was either fucked up or just getting over being fucked up. If Stretch and Riley had been available from the first time Knox appeared, bullshit wouldn’t have gotten this far.
Only one other motherfucker was good with technical shit. “Lemme call Val. He gonna wire you up since Stretch ain’t here.”
Megan turned her head and made a face, then plastered a smile on her face and nodded. “Okay. Can we get back to tree decorating now?”
“Yeah, baby,” Christopher answered, hoping he didn’t have to add Val to the list of motherfuckers he was going to bury on January 2nd.
He couldn’t wait for the fucking holidays to be over.
Chapter Thirty-Four
Megan wore a red lace jumpsuit with a neckline so fucking plunging, Christopher expected her tits to pop out at any moment. As with all her pregnancies, she was all belly and tits, so her baby bump added an extra allure to the outfit. Every motherfucker in the club stared at her. He could hear their cocks rising and their tongues hitting whatever surface that was in front of them. He wasn’t sure what part he wanted to hack off first.
Her hair was in a style he’d never seen before, in a high ponytail and scraped back, showcasing gold hoop earrings with small diamonds. She carried a fake fur bolero jacket. This entire outfit was new, purchased on Black Friday and costing a fucking fortune. If he would’ve known she was going to wear the shit for another motherfucker first, especially Knox soon-to-be-dead-as-fuck Harrington, Christopher would’ve left it right the fuck where it was and ignored her glances when she’d seen the shit in the store.
He ignored the look in Johnnie’s eyes to focus on Val, watching that motherfucker closely, annoyed that motherfuckers were stopping his girl to talk to her. They usually did. She was popular with the brothers, but Christopher wanted this the fuck over with so he could get to fucking planning Knox’s gory death.
The bold motherfucker had challenged him by calling Megan after he’d already gotten his ass beaten.
“Fuck, Meggie girl look fucking hot,” Mortician commented, sucking on a joint and handing it to Digger. “She rocking that motherfucking jumpsuit, Prez. If that was Bailey, I’d make her go take that shit off and I’m not a jealous motherfucker.”
“Hey, you,” Megan said, reaching the table and coming to Christopher to hug him. She smelled like fucking heaven, just as she did whenever they went on their dates. She hugged him and brushed her lips over his, then thumbed them. “I have lipstick on you.”
“Leave it there,” Christopher growled, grabbing her hand and staring at her mouth. If she sucked his cock now, she’d leave a ring of red lipstick at the base. His dick jumped. “What the fuck you did to your hair?”
Laying her jacket on the table behind them, she smiled happily, then twirled, allowing her ponytail to swing. “Gypsy did it. She used gel to keep every hair in place.” She grabbed her ponytail and draped it on her shoulder. “Do you like it?”
Fuck, he loved it, but he was so jealous he could barely see straight. However, he didn’t want to burst her bubble, so he wrap
ped an arm around her waist and pulled her to him, burying his nose between the valley of her breasts. “You so fucking sexy, Megan. You fucking gorgeous.”
She escaped him to smile happily. “Knox said going to an upscale restaurant would be a new experience for me. One that I might enjoy.” She snorted. “Moron. He’s never seen me when I dress up for you and we go out. My Halloween dress doesn’t count since that was a costume. He thinks I don’t know how to make myself pretty for you to go out instead of always serving the brothers and caring for our kids.”
That’s what Megan got from that motherfucker’s statement. Christopher got that Knox felt they were too ignorant to go to nice places. Another limb had to be hacked off before he killed that assfuck.
She touched her hair. “I have to style my hair like this when we go out.”
He ran his fingers over the top of her head, finding it stiffer than normal. “Fuck no. I like your hair natural, baby. My fingers run through it better.”
Her face fell. She came closer to him. “If it’s like this, you can pull my ponytail while you’re inside of me,” she whispered, for his ears alone.
Christopher groaned, his balls throbbing. “Wicked little bitch.”
She poked her tongue at him. “Big bad biker.”
Chuckling, he winked at her, then slid his chair back, holding Megan’s hand. “Val, you ready to wire my girl?”
Val’s eyes traveled from Megan to Christopher, then to the table.
“Oh, um, I can prepare myself, Christopher,” Megan said with a strained note. She laughed nervously.
Mortician shifted uncomfortably and Digger sniffed, while Johnnie looked away.
A burning rage burrowed into Christopher. He was already pissed with Knox, but all his suspicions about Val trying to take pussy from Megan came rushing back. That was one fucking reason he’d told Val to do the job. After all, it was a simple piece of fucking jewelry with hidden devices. “No, baby. Let Valentine do it. I ain’t got a problem with it,” he lied. “Ain’t you proud of my ass?”
Death Dwellers Motorcycle Club:: Fifteen Bad Boy Biker Books Page 408