by Freya Barker
“I can afford a few groceries, you know. You don’t have to shove money at me.” She flaps a hand at the money I hold out to her. The heated flush is back on the cheeks of my feisty little Sprite, and her back is ramrod straight. Fuck, I love that attitude of hers, however misplaced it is. I put the money on the edge of the desk and sit down, waiting for the next volley, because I know for a fact she’s not nearly done yet. She doesn’t keep me waiting long. “And sending a bunch of snot-nosed, ill-tempered, wanna-be men to babysit us is frankly insulting. I could take on both those punks with one hand tied behind my back and twirl a fucking baton with the other.” She gestures wildly with her hands while she’s talking, hair flopping in her face. When she’s done, she plants her hands on her hips, and attempts to stare me down. I manage to hold back a grin until she purses her lips and attempts to blow a wayward blonde curl out of her pretty blue eyes, looking like more like an angry fairy than a lethal, pissed-off FBI agent. Then I bust out laughing.
“Hold on, hold on,” I call out, scrambling out of my chair, and barely catching her at the door she’s about to march out of. Blocking her path, I lean down so she has no choice but to look at me. “First of all, I’m sending those ‘punks’ with you so you can keep an eye on them, not the other way around. You heard me tell Yuma I’m expecting all brothers in my office? I don’t want nosy cubs around for that.”
“Oh.”
“Oh is right. Secondly,” I continue, leaning over to grab the money off the desk, and stuffing it in her jeans pocket. “The money. I take care of my family, there’s no discussion there. The time comes you’ve moved in, and your new car is parked outside the house every night, we can talk and get finances sorted. But for now it’s still my house, which means it’s also my empty fridge, which will get filled with groceries bought with my money. Can you live with that?”
“I guess,” she says, looking a little sheepish and pretty fucking adorable.
Before she has a chance to think up more objections, I take her face in my hands and kiss her thoroughly. By the time I lift my mouth from hers, I’m pretty sure I’ve left her temporarily incapable of speech. Just long enough to nudge her out the door and quietly close it behind her.
LUNA
“What’s with that guy?”
I turn to Lea, who seems to be staring in her rearview mirror intently, and swing my head around. The club’s white van is behind us, carrying Rowtag and Wapi.
“Who?”
“Rowtag. Do you know he was the most timid kid when he came to Arrow’s Edge? Soft-spoken, surprisingly polite for a kid who’d seen too much hard life. I don’t even recognize him anymore. Most kids arrive here with a chip on their shoulder, despair in their eyes, and anger in their hearts, but over time you see them gradually change. They settle in, start to learn about respect and trust, and eventually grow up into good, decent men. This one?” She cocks her thumb over her shoulder. “He’s the only one I know who went the other way.”
I can hardly identify the boy she describes with the foul-tempered punk I’ve encountered. “Soft-spoken and polite certainly aren’t terms I would’ve associated with him. He definitely does not like me.”
“He seems to have a problem with women in general. The only females he appears to be civil with are Momma and Britney. Besides, Kaga told me you kicked his ass in the ring.” Her mouth twitches as she looks over at me. “So of course he doesn’t like you. He doesn’t like losing and certainly not to a five foot nothing, blue-eyed cherub with breasts. He’s a bully among the cubs and the younger kids, and I’m sure you damaged his street cred.”
I’m mentally filing every snippet of information, trying to figure out how it might fit into the puzzle—if at all.
When we turn into the parking lot of the City Market and Lea pulls into an empty spot, I turn to her. “I meant to ask you, whatever happened to Britney? I haven’t seen her since we went to the casino in Ruisodo.”
“Took off. Probably found herself another biker to hook onto. That girl is bound and determined to get on the back of some poor sap’s bike, claiming old lady status. You know she had her hopes set on your man, right?”
“She made that clear.”
Lea snorts. “I’m sure she did. Anyway, she never showed Friday night, and Jill told me the next morning her stuff had been gone from the cabin when her and Hanshaw got back from the concert.”
“No message? No note?”
“Nada. Apparently not the first time she’s disappeared on Jill. She didn’t seem too concerned. Said she’ll probably float to the surface again at some point.”
Wapi is waiting behind the car when we get out.
“Where’s Rowtag?” I ask, looking around.
“He had to take a call. Says to go ahead.”
I spot him sitting behind the wheel of the van, the next row over, eyes on me and talking into his phone. I’m torn. I’d like to keep my eye on him—and I’d really like to know who he’s talking to, since I know the club is holed up in Ouray’s office right about now—but I don’t want to make unnecessary waves either. Turning away from him, I follow Lea’s retreating back into the grocery store.
Two almost full carts later, I head over to the deli counter, leaving Lea to hit the freezer aisle. I’ve just placed my order when Wapi sidles up to me.
“Be careful,” he says, under his breath.
“What do you mean?”
The cub looks around to make sure he can’t be overheard before bending closer to me. “Rowtag. He has it out for you.”
“That’s not news, Wapi,” I whisper back.
“Right. It’s just that...I can tell he’s up to something. Just watch your back.”
Before I have a chance to ask what makes him think that he steps away, just as Lea walks up with her overflowing cart.
“You about ready?”
“Just waiting for my deli meats and I’m good to go.”
I don’t see Rowtag until we push the heavy carts, loaded with bags, onto the parking lot. He’s waiting by the back of the van, the door already open. Wapi’s words still echoing in my head, my training kicks in, and I quickly scan my surroundings. Other than a harried looking mom, trying to wrangle two little ones on her way into the grocery store, the parking lot is empty. Call me paranoid, but it feels like the air just got heavy.
“Wanna take my cart?” I ask Wapi who’s a step behind me. “I forgot something.”
“I have to grab something,” I call out to Lea who is walking in front.
Without waiting for an answer, I turn and jog back toward the store, sharply aware of every kind of movement around me. I let out a big breath when I step inside, immediately turning to look behind me.
Nothing. Other than Rowtag standing in the same spot by the back of the van—while Lea and Wapi load the bags inside—his eyes on the store, no one is even paying attention to me.
Still, I quickly pull out my phone and dial Ouray’s number. It rings a few times before going to voicemail. Guess he turned the sound off. So instead I send a short message, tuck my phone back in my pocket, and randomly grab some batteries and gum from the rack by the closest cash register.
While paying, I keep an eye on the van through the glass of the store front, watching Wapi close the back doors and pushing the carts out of the way. The moment I see Lea head over to her car and get in, I keep my fingers crossed. Sure enough, she backs out of the parking spot and drives toward the store. As soon as she pulls up outside the doors, I dart outside and get into the passenger side.
“What the heck is up with you?” she demands to know when the first thing I do is look over my shoulder at the van behind us.
“Just feel something’s off, and I can’t get hold of Ouray.”
“It’s because they turn their phones off when they congregate in the office,” Lea explains.
Shit. I freeze when I see the van suddenly pull around beside us, my hand sliding down to the ankle holster I’ve been taken to wearing. Wapi’s window rolls dow
n and before I can stop her, Lea lowers hers as well.
“What’s the delay?” Rowtag leans toward the open window.
“Luna says—”
“I’ve got one more errand to run in town,” I cut Lea off quickly. “Why don’t you head over to the clubhouse. We won’t be long.”
“Chief says to stick with you. We stick with you,” he says, looking at me sharply.
“Fine.” I quickly adjust my hopes to ditch them. “You want to follow me all the way down to the Verizon store on South Camino Del Rio, be my guest.”
“Is that where we’re going?” Lea wants to know as she rolls up her window.
“Yup. We’re shopping for a phone for Ahiga.”
We’ve barely turned down Main and my phone rings.
“Something’s up...what the hell kind of message is that?”
I ignore Ouray’s irritation and dive right in. “Gut instinct. That, and a whispered warning from Wapi to watch my back with Rowtag, who’s had laser eyes on me the whole time. Like I said, something’s up.”
“Stay put, I’m coming—”
“You’re not supposed to be going anywhere,” I stop him in his tracks. “Besides, it’s not necessary. All you have to do is call him back to the clubhouse with the groceries. They’re in the back of the van. Lea and I are on our way to the Verizon store, and he’s stuck to our ass like glue. He gives me the creeps.” The last I add for Lea’s benefit. I’m not sure how much, if anything, Kaga shared with her, and I don’t want her to freak out.
“He gives you the creeps?” I can hear the smile in his voice.
“That’s what I said.”
“I’ll call him off, but I’m sending Honon out there, just in case. What are you doing at the Verizon store anyway?”
“We’re buying Ahiga a phone.”
“Sprite, you know the kid’s deaf, right? What the fuck is he gonna do with a phone?” I don’t even bother answering. I know the penny will drop eventually and he doesn’t make me wait long.
“Fuck. Of course. Good plan.”
I’m still grinning when I end the call and find Lea looking at me slack-mouthed.
“Man, I’ve known Kaga for over a decade, and I’d like to think I manage him well. You’ve known Ouray how long? And you handle that man with some serious skill.”
“You heard him?” I ask her curiously.
“Every single word. I can feel that sexy deep rumble of his in my bones.” She fans herself dramatically and I snicker at her antics. “But don’t you go telling Kaga that.”
“Wouldn’t dream of it.”
CHAPTER 25
OURAY
“Rowtag! My office.”
The kid, who’s been slinging drinks since he got back, swings his head around in my direction.
“Wapi can take over at the bar,” I add before turning my back on him.
I’m already seated, my feet on my desk, when his lanky form follows me inside. My hands itch when I see stubborn defiance plastered all over his face.
“Chief?”
“Close the door, cub.” I wait until he does what I ask, and then point him to a chair. “How long have you been with us now?”
My question seems to throw him off and he takes a moment before answering. “Five years, sir. I was fifteen.”
“Right. And in that time, what have we taught you?”
“How to be a man, Chief.” He’s starting to fidget in his chair, his eyes darting around the room like he’s expecting something to jump out at him.
“What makes a real man, cub?”
Beads of sweat dot his forehead. “Loyalty, integrity, and respect.” He mumbles the three core values we try to instill in the boys, but he can’t fucking look at me.
“Ah, so you do remember?” He lifts his eyes briefly before going back to studying the floor. I suddenly sit up and drop my heavy boots on the floor, startling him. “So why the fuck is it when I tell you and Wapi to help with groceries, your ass sits in the van, jabbering on the phone? And why, when my old lady tells you to head back to the clubhouse, you disrespect her too? And it’s not the first time you’ve done that either. How many times do I have to call you in here, kid? How many warnings does it take before you start to grasp those values you still seem able to recall? I have a fucking mind to take your vest right here, right now, but that’s not all up to me. It’ll take a vote, and it’s fucking tragic that we’ll be voting on whether or not your ass can stay, instead of voting to make you a full-fledged member. But that’s on you. Now get the fuck outta my office!”
My voice has steadily been rising, especially when the little asshole’s eyes turned mean at the mention of Luna. He gets up, knocking his chair over in the process, swings the door open violently so it hits the wall hard, and pounds out of my office. I rub the back of my hand over my eyes. Fucking cub.
Most of my anger is genuine, but it’s also strategic. My gut tells me he’s involved in whatever is going on, it wouldn’t surprise me to learn he was part of at least some of those robberies. With the kind of temper he has, provoking him—calling him out—may trip him up.
A few minutes later, Kaga sticks his head around the door.
“Y’all right in here?”
“Done with the kid, brother. Dylan on him?”
“Rowtag went tearing out of here on his bike, but he wasn’t far behind.”
SURPRISINGLY, MOMMA’S welcome home dinner—for which some of the brothers pulled the folding tables and chairs out of the shed—is more subdued than I’d expected. I may well be to blame for that. Apparently most of the clubhouse was able to hear me tear a strip off Rowtag who, by the way, still hasn’t returned.
Dylan got back right before we sat down, but only managed a shrug. I assume that means he lost him.
The younger ones are eyeing me cautiously, instead of their normal antics at the table, and even the brothers seem quiet. Although that may have something to do with our earlier powwow in my office.
I filled them in on the events of last Friday night. Told them the agreed upon story: part truth, part ruse. How the cops found stolen guns in the back of Paco’s truck, with me in the driver’s seat and took us both in, until they discovered my injuries were to the wrong side of my head to have been caused by a crash, and promptly released me. By the time I was done answering all the questions fired at me, my head was pounding, and I pulled out the bottle of pills. That quieted the room instantly. The guys aren’t used to me being off my game—neither am I—but I played it up a notch, asking them to keep business running until I could get back on my feet.
I hate the deception, it goes against everything I stand for. It feels especially shitty since I just preached to Rowtag about the core values I’m breaking myself.
A deep sigh escapes me and I press my fingers against my eyes.
“Maybe we should get going?” Luna leans over, putting a hand on my chest. Something that clearly doesn’t go unnoticed, since I suddenly find most of the focus on me.
Momma moves first, getting up and ordering the kids to clear dishes. The rest follow suit and in minutes the tables and chairs are folded and taken back to storage, and Luna is hustling Ahiga out the door.
I dive into my office to grab my smokes off the desk, when Yuma follows me inside, clapping me on the shoulder.
“You sure you’re okay, Chief? Let me know if there’s anything you need, I’m stickin’ around here tonight anyway.”
Christ. I must be giving the performance of my life if it’s getting Yuma to voluntarily stick around when there’s a whole world of untapped pussy to explore.
I grunt in response and hoof it out of there. I can’t handle much more of this touchy feely shit.
“Chief, a minute?”
Dylan catches me right before getting into the Traverse—on the goddamn passenger side.
“What?” I snap.
“Update on the kid,” he says, ignoring my foul mood. “Couldn’t get too close with my bike, but I managed to follow him goin
g south on the 160, then got stuck behind a slow truck. By the time I got around, he was gone. Drove through to the hospital, checked around that neighborhood for a bit before backtracking. He may have cut off on the 550, gone up through the mountains, or turned around and is somewhere in Durango, not sure. Wanted you to be aware.”
“And now I am. I just want this over with,” I grumble, climbing in the SUV so Luna can fucking chauffeur me around.
I can feel her eyes on me, but I keep mine straight out the windshield until she finally backs out of the spot, and drives us the two minutes it takes to get to my place.
“Feel like a movie?” she asks, when we walk inside.
“Heading to bed.”
She turns to face me and tilts her head to the side. “You know what? You do that. But don’t baby that miserable mood for too long—God forbid it sticks.”
LUNA
I’m glad to get out of the house this afternoon.
The past forty-eight hours have been a barrel of laughs. Ouray is showing the strain, pacing around like an angry bear. Poor Ahiga is mostly hiding in Momma’s kitchen or his bedroom at the house, and I’m tired of walking on eggshells around everyone.
Maybe this was a good test run on that cohabitation Ouray suggested, and I’m relieved I didn’t give my landlord notice yet. If this is any indication of what living with the man would be like, I’ll hang on to my little cottage, thank you very much.
Especially after this morning’s visit to the doctor.
To say Ouray wasn’t pleased with the man’s assessment would be an understatement. I was pretty pissed myself, but mostly at Ouray. When the doc ran a simply eye test on him, it became obvious the knock had done more than just give him a cut on his head. He never mentioned any blurry vision to me, but apparently it’s enough to impair his vision. Probably temporary, something the doctor assures us can clear up with proper rest. No work, no driving, at least not until his appointment next week.