“It’s not going to be an easy road for us. A lot of people are going to raise hell.”
Kim screwed up her face and stiffened in his arms, starting to pull away. “I don’t care what people think. Our families can deal with it. We aren’t part of their problems.”
Diesel held her firm and stroked her hair. “I couldn’t care less, either. I love you, and I just want to make sure you aren’t expecting to follow the yellow brick road to sunshine and happiness.”
That reminded Kim of how excited she’d been just minutes ago, and the warmth washed over her again. “Do you realize that was essentially your first public proclamation of love to me?”
His lopsided grin was devastating. “Yeah, well, it won’t be the last.” He kissed her nose. “You can count on that, so get used to it. I love you, and nothing is going to change that. Not death, not life, and not anything that comes in between.”
Kim’s chest swelled, and she felt an inner peace wash over her. “Me, too.” If she had that kind of commitment, she knew she could get through anything. It didn’t matter if they had to fight through hell and high water; she’d do whatever it took to be with the man she’d married. They might have rushed into it for convenience, but the feelings behind the act were solid, and she was enthusiastic about the future they had ahead of them together.
Chapter 2
Whether he wanted to admit it or not, Diesel was nervous. He hadn’t spent a great deal of time at the clubhouse lately, or around the boys at all. He’d been resting up, healing, and getting hitched, and in the meantime, he’d lain low, staying out of club business while some of the heat from the police and the enemy blew over.
Today, though, he planned to dive back in, and that meant going in with Kim and taking up his post with his old lady. He didn’t like the idea of her having to go through initiation, but he at least looked forward to her being accepted by the crew. He didn’t expect any problems. After all, his blood family could bluster and blow all they wanted. The crew was his adopted family, his brothers, and they were going to support him the way they always did.
Honestly, he was just as anxious about getting back to work. He wasn’t particularly scared. It was more a bad feeling he had. There was something about getting shot and knowing that the mob was on your tail for revenge that made the job a little less than savory. And having something to lose – something precious like Kim – made it even more perilous. These guys weren’t the type to tread lightly, and they wouldn’t hesitate to come after the thing he found most valuable to hurt him, to taunt him, and to punish him.
He had to keep Kim safe.
And he was counting on the brotherhood of the Skulls to do it. He stared at his reflection with grim determination, in full leather garb with his bandana tied around his head for the first time in nearly a month. It felt good, and as Kim came in the room with her cropped leather jacket and skinny jeans with the new leather motorcycle boots she’d been breaking in over the last week, he nearly stripped it all off and tossed her in the bed.
The hell with Sophia and how hot everyone had always thought she was. She didn’t hold a candle to Kim. “I take it you’re ready to go,” he said, trying to sound casual.
“Do I look ready?” she asked, her voice trembling ever so slightly. She didn’t look nearly as nervous as he felt, but he could hear it in her tone. She was petrified, and he couldn’t do much to reassure her, even if he did believe it would be just fine. “Do I need to change?” She flashed him a view of the dark blue racerback ribbed tank top she’d donned under the jacket, which matched perfectly the bandana she’d rolled and wrapped around her head.
“You look perfect,” he told her honestly, trying to roll his tongue back in his mouth. “Let’s get out of here.” They needed to get on the road before he changed his mind.
He’d started taking the bike for short rides over the last week, getting the feel of it under him again and assuring he didn’t have any issues with his shoulder. It had gone well, and as he drove away from his house today, he smiled. The feel of the wind on his face was a welcome friend he’d missed for far too long, and he was only disappointed it wasn’t a little further to the clubhouse. He could have used a little more time riding to clear his head and to delay the inevitable.
Initiation for an old lady involved a lot of alcohol, a tattoo, and a ride with the boys on some small job. The first two, Diesel could handle, and so could Kim. She was a musician, after all. They drank, and she had a little body art of her own already. But the ride bothered him.
The next errand the Skulls had was a delivery of a rather large package to a fairly high profile client that went right through what the Skeletons claimed was their territory. If the mob was still hovering, looking for the shooter, Diesel didn’t want her riding out, even on the back of a bike, without some Kevlar under her jacket.
As he slowed down and turned into the driveway at the clubhouse, a line of his brothers formed across the porch. He smiled, glad to see so many of them there, and dismounted, taking Kim’s hand and leading her toward his crew. She’d met enough of them here and there and gotten friendly with a couple that he’d expected more smiles and welcomes. Instead, most faces were grim, and a bad feeling washed over him.
For a minute, Diesel was sure there would be some sort of resistance, but Bryce came out the door and grinned, shouldering past the line and greeting him. “Hey, Diesel, good to see you back. Kim, looking good,” he added, hugging her. It wasn’t lost on Diesel that, as Bryce escorted them inside, the group dispersed slowly, with several of the guys giving him strange looks.
He clung tightly to Kim’s hand, suddenly uncomfortable with the idea of her wandering off as the same group crowded close around in the spacious interior of the clubhouse. There was plenty of room to spread out, and the place could normally have held four times as many people without feeling full, but at this moment, it was almost claustrophobic.
Wanting to nip this in the ass before the atmosphere got any worse, Diesel whistled to get everyone’s attention, although they all seemed to be focused on him anyway. “Brothers, I’m home, and I’m back in action! I’ve got a release from the docs saying I’m fully healed and that it’s probably best to work out the shoulder as much as possible anyway.” There was a round of clapping and some noise, but it was all very reserved.
Taking a deep breath and casting a sidelong glance at Kim to make sure she was good, he took a deep breath and continued, “I have some other good news, too. Several of you have met Kim. She’s been around for a bit now. And today, she’s here with me as my old lady. We got hitched.”
Instead of applause and jabs, there was a lot of muttering, and Kim pressed closer at his side. He tried to squeeze her hand reassuringly as the clapping finally started, but he could tell she was as surprised as he was. What the hell was all this about? Diesel had figured one or two of the guys might give him some flack, but the whole crew was less than enthusiastic in welcoming them today. Had they heard something from the mob and not told him?
Diesel knew better than to ask Bryce. He would pad the blow. He needed to talk to someone harsh, someone who wasn’t afraid to speak his mind, even if it pissed Diesel off. As the rest of the crowd went about their business, he crossed the room to the bar with Kim at his side and took a seat, waiting for Edgar to come over and pour him a drink.
Even Edgar seemed reluctant to approach, and he cast suspicious glances toward Kim as he came over. Diesel smiled and tried, “So, who’s taking my old lady out on the initiation ride?” When all else failed, the thought of a ride and danger tended to clear the air.
Edgar stared at him like he was nuts and then shook his head, scoffing. “There won’t be an initiation ride.”
“Why not?” he asked, the last red flag going up and raising the hair on the back of his neck. “What’s the problem here, Edgar?” He looked at the empty space in front of Kim, next to his glass of whiskey. “Aren’t you even going to pour her a drink?” It was posed as a question, but he made sur
e his tone was a command.
With his jaw clenched, Edgar poured another glass and shoved it at her, not even asking if that’s what she wanted. Kim, always and forever kind, smiled and nodded her thanks, pulling it into her hands but not picking it up. “You heard me, Diesel. It’s not happening. And don’t ask for a vote. You won’t like what happens.”
As much as Diesel hadn’t looked forward to Kim riding out with the boys, their utter rejection of her pissed him off royally. “Are you all just going to turn your backs on me, then?”
“No, but you need to realize something. You aren’t the lone voice for this club, and it’s a damn good thing you don’t call all the shots. You’ve caused enough trouble already, and bringing her around here just begs for more. So, we’re not signing on to take that risk.”
Immediately, Diesel looked around for Spencer. He was nowhere to be seen, but he had to be behind this. And Sophia. One or both of them had given a heads’ up to the group, and they were in a mutiny. There was no telling what had been said, what lies had been told, and what rumors had been spread.
Angry to the point of seeing red, he slammed his fist on the bar, making everyone nearby jump. They all stared, none of them seeming to have anything good to say, and he clenched his teeth. “Initiation or not, Kim’s not going anywhere. She’s my old lady, and that makes her our responsibility. She’s one of ours, and you’ll accept it, or you’ll get the hell out.” He grabbed Kim’s arm and hauled her out, leaving his drink untouched.
Chapter 3
Kim was still reeling as she sautéed chicken with bell peppers for fajitas that evening. She’d been so comfortable the couple of times she’d been around the Skulls, so confident that they welcomed her and felt she was a part of the fold. Today, she’d felt like the enemy. She wasn’t just being left out; she was being completely excluded, and it was in a very obvious, hostile manner.
If the boys felt slighted by their decision to get married without giving them a heads’ up, that was one thing. But this was downright disapproval, as if they wouldn’t have let it happen if they’d knows about it in advance. As far as Kim was concerned, who Diesel chose to make a life with was none of their business, just like she wouldn’t interfere with any of their relationships.
Apparently, Kim didn’t know the first thing about how the Skulls worked.
The worst of it was, Diesel was livid and had been distant since they left the clubhouse. He’d gone for a ride alone, saying he needed to clear his head, and when he’d come home, he’d gone to the bedroom and started pacing back and forth. Kim wanted to talk to him about this, but he couldn’t even be still, much less stay in the same room with her. It was why she was making fajitas. They were his favorite, and she hoped it would coerce him to sit at the table with him to eat.
But as he sat across from her with a deep scowl, tearing into his food like a rabid beast, she wished she’d just left him alone. When he was down to scraps on his plate, she finally hedged, “Maybe I should just lay low here for a while until the guys warm up to the idea that we’re married.”
Diesel slammed his palm on the table, rattling dishes and making her flinch. “Those bastards have fiery determination and no right to question my decisions. And they aren’t going to push you out.”
Kim was finally getting a glimpse of what everyone else saw in Diesel that frightened them. She wasn’t scared of him, but she saw how terrifying he could be in that moment, his fiery determination and rage blending into a face that would stop the bravest of men in his tracks. She held up her hands in surrender and said, “I’m not talking about hiding out forever. I just mean that I can stay busy with my gig while you get back into the swing of things with the club. And when things settle back into a normal routine, I can start showing my face around there again.”
“They’re not going to dictate when and where you go,” he growled. Her concern must have been written all over her face because his expression registered guilt and regret. He stood and came around the table, pulling her to her feet. “I don’t mean to be a dick to you.” He wrapped his arms around her and held her tight, and Kim drew strength and comfort from him. “I didn’t expect the Skulls to turn on me like this, and I have to root out the problem and fix it. I’ve already realized I have to keep you out of it for now, and that pisses me off.”
“I’ll be fine, babe. I’ve always been fine. It’s not like we have to annul our marriage or something. It’s just a little extra time apart we weren’t quite counting on.” She shrugged, trying to seem as unaffected as possible. Of course, she was hurt and a little nervous for Diesel’s sake. After all, he may be tough, but if the Skulls ganged up on him and decided to teach him a lesson, he was screwed.
“I will fix this,” he emphasized, kissing her forehead. “I’m not going to let their bad attitude change anything here, with us, and I don’t want you to, either, okay?”
Kim nodded. “I don’t intend to.”
“Good. Thank you for dinner. It was excellent.”
With a smile, she said, “I’m glad.” But she knew what was coming. Instead of going to the show tonight, he was going to the clubhouse to roll some heads or lay the law or whatever it was he did when he didn’t like the way his brothers were acting.
She didn’t argue, just pasted a look of support on her face as he left, and then she went to stare at the calendar. Four days. She’d been married for four days, and already shit had hit the fan. The cops had threatened their freedom, her grandfather had threatened Diesel’s life, and now the club was threatening their marriage. Or maybe Diesel’s place in the organization because of that marriage. Squaring her shoulders, she muttered to herself, “It could always be worse.”
Luckily, the next two weeks were uneventful, as were the two after that. Bryce and Nettie came over for dinner a couple of times, but even that was a bit awkward without club business to discuss. They ended up playing some poker to ease the silence, and Nettie took her aside as they said goodnight. “Bryce has his back, you know. And a couple of the other guys are coming around,” Nettie said quietly. “Bryce won’t tell me what’s going on exactly, but it’ll get better, especially after your man heads out on the big dump in a couple of weeks.”
Kim knew Diesel had been holding back and only making short runs because of her, and because of the tension in the club. He didn’t want to get stuck on a long trip and have something happen to either of them. She also knew he needed to get out on the road to ease his own tension. He’d been restless and snappy, and Kim was starting to have trouble recognizing her own husband.
She hadn’t known a ‘big dump’ was coming, but in a way, she was glad to hear it, even if it meant they would be apart for several days. It also sounded like it would help get him back ‘in’ with the group. “I hope so,” she said to Nettie. “I didn’t mean to cause problems.”
Nettie waved a hand in the air. “Oh, please! These guys like to think they’re big strong men, and they are. But a motorcycle club has just as much drama as any mom group or a bunch of old bitties sitting around quilting! If it wasn’t this, it would be something else.”
Kim wasn’t so sure, but she let it go. She didn’t want to bring up the issues with the mob, and she didn’t want to ask about Sophia and where she’d disappeared to. She just said goodnight and went back inside with Diesel, who helped her clean up the kitchen.
As the silence grew deafening, Kim hedged, “Nettie mentioned you’d be going on a trip soon.”
Diesel stopped moving and cleared his throat. “Yeah, I’m still not sure if I’m going.”
“Why not?” she asked, turning to face him.
He sighed and turned around, leaning against the counter and looking at her. “First of all, I hadn’t discussed it with you yet to get your opinion. We’re married, Kim, and I’m not just going to come home and tell you I’m running off for a week. Besides, I’m not sure if I trust the guys I’m leaving behind not to come and try to scare you off.”
Kim shook her head. “T
hey know better. And Nettie tells me things are starting to settle down anyway. I think you should go.” She wanted to be selfish and beg him to stay, but what kind of an old lady would she be to him if she did that? “I think it would be good for you to get back to business the way it used to be. You’d be happier, and the guys would be more trusting. And they wouldn’t think I’m holding you back.”
He didn’t quite look convinced, but he didn’t argue. “If you’re sure, I’ll go. I need to make a show of my loyalty.”
“I understand.” She walked over and kissed him, wrapping her arms around his neck. “You do what you need to do, okay? I’ll keep the home fires burning for you for when you get back, like a good wife. And I’ll go about my business, earning my keep at the gig.”
That brought a smile to his face, and he cradled her into his body. “Now, that’s the kind of promise I like to hear.”
Chapter 4
The house was lonely and quiet with Diesel gone. The clock ticked too slowly, and there was nothing on television to distract Kim as she sat, worrying that there would be another gunfight, and that this time, the bullet would hit its mark. She could handle a lot of things, but the thought of losing Diesel now, when they’d only had two months together, was too much.
Unable to sit still, Kim grabbed her purse and took off, deciding to do a little shopping for the house. They were low on shampoo, and she needed to refill her spice rack. Besides, she had some new recipes she wanted to try and thought maybe it was better to taste them on her own before she tried them out on Diesel, who was a finicky eater anyway.
She took a glance at some window displays, but she didn’t go into the shops. She didn’t need any clothes. The ones she had felt a little uncomfortable lately. She’d put it up to being married and growing up, but she realized that she hadn’t had her cycle since before they’d eloped. It didn’t necessarily mean anything. After all, she’d never quite been regular, and she’d been under a lot of stress the last few months.
BAD BOY ROMANCE: DIESEL: Contemporary Bad Boy Biker MC Romance (Box Set) (New Adult Sports Romance Short Stories Boxset) Page 14