I hate being needy. I hate the fact I want him. I’ve always been strong and by myself. Growing up surrounded by bikers I always told myself I won’t end up with one. Seeing the handsome young guys...hell, even my brother...dating freely. Yeah, dating isn’t the correct word for those guys and their ‘activities’. Anyway, you get the idea why a biker wasn’t my first choice.
I snort at my own train of thought. Even if Casey wasn’t a biker mere hours ago, he is one now, while I’m supposed to be his Old Lady. Shit. Old Lady. What a screwed-up day where I feel as if I lost so much and yet Casey managed to touch my heart the way he stepped up for me...claimed me.
Let’s also not forget the way he explained his reasons for picking my nickname. It’s overwhelming to say the least. I snuggle into the pillow and let my nose trail along Casey’s shirt, inhaling his scent, allowing myself some comfort only he manages to give me.
My best friend is having his brother’s baby and only a few weeks ago I thought I’d lost her when they found out I was somehow secretly connected with Thorns ‘n’ Bones MC. Though I was under the protection of Thorns ‘n’ Bones MC, I never once thought we were in any danger.
Even if both of our homes had electrical fires. How could I have been so stupid and naïve? Dammit, I never would have thought the danger would come from within Thorns ‘n’ Bones MC.
The door opens and Casey steps inside. “Hey, I know you wanna rest up but someone is very anxious to see for herself if her friend is okay.”
I sit up and give Casey a tiny smile and he steps inside the room to let Hedwig dash by him as she heads straight for the bed to sit down next to me.
Casey hands me my purse. “I’ll be right back.”
I don’t get to reply because Hedwig is in my face. “I was so freaking worried! I can’t believe everything that happened. Ransom is still in church, they’re all working together. I have no clue what’s going on or have all the details but the way Ransom reacted to Thorn mere weeks ago? As if he could go for his throat while now? Now he slapped his back and they walked into church together as if they’ve been friends for years. Not a good thing, right? Shit. I don’t know. Sorry, I’m rambling. I just...shit. I’m so sorry about your dad.”
And this is the exact reason I didn’t want to see anyone. My throat gets cut off by emotions and I barely manage to swallow and give her a nod. I can’t say anything. What do you even say to something like that? What are the correct words? I don’t care if someone—anyone—is sorry. Sorry is just a word while my father is gone forever.
Swallowing hard, I try to find the strength to tell her, “Can you...can you get Casey for me? Sorry, I don’t...we’ll talk tomorrow, okay? I’m tired, I just...”
Dang, why can’t I even form one coherent sentence?
“Oh, sweetie,” Hedwig says before she gives me a quick hug. “Sure thing. If you need anything, let me know. I’m right down the hall, okay?”
My head slowly slides up and down as I watch her slip out of the room. Dammit. Does this mean I’m in shock? I mean, she’s my best friend and I can’t even muster the strength to tolerate anyone around me right now. Well, except for Casey, which is weird since I punched his face the last time we met, mere minutes after we had sex I might add.
Ugh, we have this twisted connection. Maybe I feel like I need him because he saved me? Some kind of screwed-up hero complex I’ve got going on. Shit, this is getting me nowhere. I don’t want to do anything, let alone think.
I feel the mattress dip again and my heart stutters while I jump back, catching myself before I fall off the bed again. Dammit, why the hell am I so dang jumpy? I’m safe here, of this fact I’m very sure. Angry at myself, I huff and turn to see who entered the room.
“You’re safe here, Curls,” Casey’s voice is soothing as he reaches out to cup my face, letting his thumb feather over my cheek. “I won’t let anything happen to you.”
I lean into his touch. “I know.” Strange how I fully trust this man. Everything involving him suddenly seems so right in a world so wrong. I’m going with my gut. It’s not like I can go home because Gael Murray is still out there.
Or to the Thorns ‘n’ Bones MC compound or the hotel they own because my father’s murder was an inside job. Holy hell, why do I keep repeating these things? See? I don’t want to think and just take a breath and...not think about anything.
“I’ve got the grilled pastrami sandwich, hands off, okay? I’m gonna take a shower, be right back,” Casey states as he places the bag of food on the bed and heads for the bathroom.
First thing that comes to mind is eating his pastrami sandwich. What the hell with the hands-off threat? I grab the bag and check inside; the intoxicating smell assaults my nose and suddenly I do have the urge to eat his sandwich; it smells dang divine.
It takes me a few minutes to devour it completely and just as I lick my fingers with my eyes closed, I hear Casey’s voice rumble, “You ate it, didn’t you?”
My eyes flash open—hell, yes, I was savoring the taste. “What if I did?” I challenge.
“Then I fucking hope you only ate one so I still have the other one left.” He gives me his trademark smirk and it makes my heart gallop in a whole new pattern.
“Yeah, well, no one showers that quick, I thought I had enough time to devour both,” I mutter.
His head tips back and laughter slips out. It’s the first time I witness this man laugh carelessly. It’s almost magical the way his muscled body relaxes and tightens in all the right spots. Damn, this man has a six-pack, a delicious V pointing down, the works. And ink. Ink I need to lick and didn’t even knew he had since it’s in places it only shows when he’s bare-dang-chested...a towel is riding low around his waist. Wow. Get a grip, Wendy.
I just went through a lot and yet it’s this man who makes me feel normal with his attitude, appearance...hell, everything about him draws me in and makes me feel comfortable.
Chapter Five
***Casey***
If she keeps staring at me like that my dick will push the towel off no matter how fucking tight I’ve wrapped it around my waist.
Three loud knocks rattle the door as Thorn’s annoying voice rumbles along with it. “Open the fuck up, I want to see my sister.”
Anger and annoyance rise and though it solves my boner problem, I seriously hate dealing with her brother. Especially at a time she doesn’t need anything other than to have some peace and quiet time instead of everyone butting in. No matter if they mean well and want to let her know they care. The deep sigh—that by the sound of it seems to be ripped from her very soul—hurts my heart.
Unlocking the door, I open it in one swing. “Can’t you manage enough respect to give her some fucking time to shake off the shit she just went through?”
“That’ll be a first,” Thorn snickers. “Princess doesn’t need time to shake anything off, she’s got balls of steel, enough to handle anything thrown her way. Hell, she’s a fucking forensic coroner and can slice up a dead guy as easily as slice up a living, breathing one. Don’t underestimate my sister or tell me she needs to shake off what she went through. A normal woman might shake, vomit, and huddle in a fucking corner, but not my damn sister. Now fucking move, asshole.”
And just like that I want to kill this idiot with my bare hands. He’s right how my Old Lady isn’t like a normal woman but it doesn’t mean she needs to put on a mask, grab her balls of steel and swing them around like nothing happened. She’s allowed to take a breath and be normal to get her bearings.
This makes my gut tighten with a harsh realization. Was she never allowed to get her bearings? Fury consumes me when I feel soft fingers wrap around my forearm.
“Let him in, Casey. It’s okay,” she tells me with a strong voice and it only spikes my anger even more.
I take a step back to let Thorn in but at the same time I wrap my arm around Curls’ waist and pull her close. “Make it fast because we were in the middle of some business we needed to deal with.”
> I don’t mind throwing out a lie to protect her. Anything to get the asshole to get his ass out of this room faster.
“Gael is in the wind,” Thorn grumbles. “I can’t believe he’s behind this shit but then again I could kick my own fucking ass for not realizing it was him sooner.” Thorn’s eyes land on mine. “Do you mind? I’d like to have a word with my sister without having you here.”
“Not happening,” I snap. Curls sighs again but I’m done with this shit. “You want to talk to her alone? Wait a few days and you can. Right now? She’s attached to my hip. My Old Lady and you’ll fucking deal with the limitations I set because I will always put her first no matter what the issue at hand is.”
His eyes widen for a fragment before his jaw starts to tick, clearly annoyed with me.
“Look, we all didn’t see this coming but we need to deal with it,” Curls says as if I didn’t just say shit. “Did you check the camera feed?”
“This fucker,” Thorn points at me, “is standing here with his ears flappin’, Princess, watch your tongue.”
Another deep sigh rips from her soul, though this one sounds more frustrated. “He’s a Fed, Thorn...”
“My point!” Thorn snaps.
“Let me finish,” Curls bellows, making even my head rear back from the mere force of those three words. “He’s a Fed, which means he has valuable input we could use and is loyal to this MC and to his brother. And let’s not forget the fact he’s my Old Man. I trust him.”
Fucked up connection or not, I could roar at the top of my lungs just to let the whole fucking world know my woman just openly stated for the first time to someone else that I’m her Old Man.
She could have picked the side of her brother, like how the guy barged over her wellbeing but instead of standing up for herself she chose to stand up for me. We haven’t even had a chance to talk shit through properly and yet here she states she trusts me.
I keep my mouth shut and only give a gentle squeeze with my hand on her waist to let her know how much I value her strength. I don’t need to voice words, nothing gives more meaning than me standing behind my woman.
Thorn eyes me for a few breaths more before he focuses back on Curls. “I haven’t had a chance yet. And to be honest? I’m not sure I’m ready for it. I only know what others told me and what I’ve seen with my own eyes.”
Now I do feel the need to butt in. “What camera feed?”
Without looking at me Thorn grumbles, “The one our father installed in the clubhouse. The one only me, Princess, and him knew about. The one I’m fucking sure his murder is recorded on.”
“If you want me to check them first, let me know,” I state in understanding. “And if you need help with anything else, I’m right here.”
Thorn grabs his phone and taps a few times before he shoves it at me. I let go of Curls and take a step back so she can’t glance at the screen. A few options present on this app where I can choose from a few different cameras.
I decide to check around the time Curls was taken because with this big shit going down in a club it makes the most sense that they would do everything simultaneously. I’m not at all surprised to see a guy stalking inside as two bikers from the main clubhouse come up to him. They exchange a few words, but I can’t hear shit, then they head for church. I switch to another camera where I see an older guy sitting in church along with two men, papers scattered on the table in front of them.
The three bikers barge inside and immediately take out the two bikers sitting at the table. I glance around the room for my pants and grab the earbuds to plug them into Thorn’s phone. Upping the volume, I hear one of the three bikers talk to Curls’ father. “Your time has come, old man. It’s a shame I can’t take you along to let you witness the things I’m going to do with your daughter. Hear what I said, asshole? I’ve got her and I’m going to rip her cunt and ass apart while she screams to stretch her mouth wide enough to take my cock in there too. When I’m finished with the little cunt, she’ll sign everything I place in front of her. I’m not just taking the princess but I’m taking this whole MC. Property and all, I’ve got enough bad blood on my side to bleed out the good. Thorns ‘n’ Bones will have a new President and a new VP. It’s your own damn fault, old man. Shouldn’t have tried to lean this club right. Dirty bikers won’t settle for running a security business and fucking the maids every now and then at the hotel the club owns. Legal shit ties your fucking hands while the illegal shit makes you wash your hands before you eat. And you eat better when you have enough money and cunts to feast with, fucker. Isn’t that what life’s always about? They want money in their pockets and whores to bounce on their dicks and I’m going to give it to them. But not before I’ve killed you, your kids, and the handful of idiots who’d dare to cross me.” Gael’s arm shoots out and he jams a knife underneath the Prez’s chin. Gael’s attention goes to one of the bikers. “Call Ryke, it’s time.”
I watch as all three guys stalk out of the clubhouse. I click away the app and hand Thorn his phone back.
“How well do you know Ryke?” I question and while I’m at it, I ask, “Where was he when Curls here was taken?”
Curls groans. “Oh, come on, really, Fed? You wanna throw the nickname out in front of my brother?”
“I’m for sure as shit ain’t calling you Princess. Now I need to know about Ryke because right after Gael killed your father, he asked one of the guys who worked with him to call Ryke and tell him ‘it’s time.’ I need to know where the fucker was and what it’s about because the fucker is here with us in this fucking clubhouse and if he’s working with Gael, he’s a dead man. Thorns ‘n’ Bones or not, he’ll pay for setting shit up to capture my Old Lady.”
“We were at our security company’s office when he got a call. He said he needed to swing by his sister’s house. I told him I’d tag along and when we did there was no one there. She didn’t open the door and when I glanced through the window, I saw her living room was a mess. We couldn’t check shit out further because we got the call from Calix, demanding we swing by the clubhouse. Since he mentioned it involved my sister, I didn’t think twice and headed here. Come to think about it...Ryke wanted us to check inside his sister’s house. Obviously, I told him I understood but that I had to check on mine. I told him to stay and got on my bike, but he got on his bike too and we headed here.” Thorn shakes his head as if he’s trying to wrap his mind around the fact Gael mentioned Ryke, and he might somehow be involved.
“We need to have a chat with Ryke,” I state. “And Thorn? Gael’s got a personal vendetta somehow for my Old Lady. She comes first at all times, no matter if she’s got balls of steel or not, yeah?”
He gives me a tight nod. “Anything else I should know about what you saw on that tape?”
“With hearing Gael’s rambling thoughts on tape, it’s clear he’s got the other guys to work with him because shit ain’t going how they want it to go. And with this I’m talking about club business, the one-eighty you guys pulled, going from illegal to making a turn to walk a straight path. That shit won’t ever go well with some of the more hardened criminals. The money flow is less and when they’re used to the good life they’ve known since forever...yeah, Gael didn’t have a problem finding partners in crime, so to speak.”
“Fuck!” Thorn roars. “Everyone was in on this...we agreed...it was a club vote and we all knew we didn’t have a damn option. It was either this or all end up behind bars.”
Curls turns to me. “About a year ago, the club went through a rough spot. Two members went to jail and we had so many legal eyes on us, dad suggested the change. We already had the security company and the hotel in place as a legal way to obtain money but with a deal going south, the members arrested...in the end no one had a choice and it was voted in.”
I try to wrap my brain around this shit but it’s not so much the stuff she told me just now, it’s the fact she told me and seems to know every detail.
Which raises the question. “No offense,
darlin’ but why the fuck are you telling me club business?”
Thorn smirks. “Because she’s not only the Princess, but she’s the one who vouched for us. She created some kind of business or silent partner shit with her lawyer so we could start back up again since we had a huge debt.”
“Fuck,” I growl and run my hand through my hair. “That explains the reason Gael said he’d hurt her so bad she’d sign anything he’d put in front of her. Listen, like I said, she comes first and not just the normal lockdown, and keep her here either. I’m going be in the same room as her at all times, and if I’m not, I want two brothers with her at all times. Brothers I know who can be trusted. And no offence, but they won’t be wearing a Thorns ‘n’ Bones MC cut.”
“Done,” Thorn snaps. “Fuck, I never would have forgiven myself if...”
Curls sighs. “Casey got there just in time, I swear.”
The hurt in Thorn’s eyes gives him away and before he can say something, I shut him down. “What’s done is done, in the past. Leave it there, fucker. We have bigger things on our hands right now.”
“But if it wasn’t for you.” Thorn releases a string of curses.
“What?” Curls grabs Thorn’s biceps. “What’s this about?”
“Don’t do it,” I growl, but it’s against deaf man’s ears when Thorn starts to wallow in self-pity.
“We all wanted to talk things through first. If it wasn’t for Casey claiming you, walking out of the clubhouse and dragging everyone along with him...I don’t...fuck,” Thorn sighs and takes his head in his hands.
“I hate wasting time. Like now, can we skip the self-pity ‘cause we have bigger fish to fry here. Starting with that Ryke fucker.” I grab the door handle and look back. “Calix gave him a room here? Because if he is in on this, we have a fucking rat among us compromising the safe setting I created for Curls.”
“Dammit, it can’t be Ryke. I’ve known the fucker his whole damn life,” Thorn sighs.
“You know we have to look at every single one to be sure we have everyone who even had the slightest thought of going against dad. And all of this lands on you, I can’t be involved,” Curls tells him in a soft voice.
AF MC Ohio (Book Two) Page 4