“Come on, that’s different, and you know it.” Dave’s Kat’s manager, more like a father to her, and the man delights in tormenting me.
Kat laughs, wraps her arms around me and gets up on her tiptoes to place a kiss on my lips. “Sure, it is.”
I scowl down at her as she laughs at me.
“Hmmm… you’ll pay for that later.”
“Promises, promises,” teases Kat.
I bury my face into her neck, rubbing my stubble against her. Kat screams, then the home phone begins to ring. Keeping Kat pinned to me, I lean over and pull the phone from its cradle.
“Reynolds household…” I laugh into the phone.
“Ahh, Dane? It’s Carlos Morales.”
I can tell from the tone of his voice that Carlos has something important he needs to talk to me about.
“Give me a sec.” I kiss Kat on the lips, ruffle Kirsten’s hair, and walk into the living room shutting the doors.
“Hey, Carlos, what’s up?”
“Did Izzy get home okay?”
“Yeah, man.” I’m thinking about teasing him about their lack of intimacy when he clears his throat. “Something you want to tell me?”
“We found Mary Butler’s remains at an abandoned house yesterday. A group of kids stumbled across her. That makes four.”
I sit down on our tan leather couch and stare straight ahead as I picture Mary. She was pretty with auburn curls. The day she turned eighteen, she began coming to our parties at the compound. I did feel sorry for her that day all those years ago, not knowing that NRNR meant—no root, no ride. Or, to put it more plainly, if you don’t fuck Dirt after, you don’t get to ride his baby. He wanted payment, and he did point to the engraving on his bike, making it clear before she got on. But she was a kid, barely fifteen, and didn’t know any better. After that, Mary kept right away from Dirt and never got on the back of anyone’s bike. She learned her lesson well.
“You sure it’s her?”
“Yeah, dental records proved it. He didn’t keep her like the others. He beat her pretty badly.”
“How do you know he hasn’t done that to the others?” I ask.
“I guess we don’t. We haven’t found his killing field. But with the other women we found in LA, he didn’t beat them.”
I clear my throat as bile creeps up the back of it. “Why are you telling me this, Sheriff?”
“I’m not supposed to be, and the FBI would have my badge for telling you, but she’s another woman associated with your MC. I don’t know why he’s targeting the women close to you, but he is. You need to make sure that the women associated with the MC are being careful. He’s a brutal fucker.”
Carlos’ admission makes my blood boil. “You got any leads yet?”
“No, not one. He’s cocky, though, so he’s got to fuck up soon. He’s not following the same pattern as last time.”
“You sure it’s the same guy?”
“My gut says, yes.”
Kat opens the door and peeks her head in. She takes one look at my face and comes and sits next to me on the couch.
“Carlos, I’ve gotta go. Thank you for the heads up. I’ll personally go around and talk to every woman attached to the MC or get one of the boys to do it. And Carlos, I appreciate you trusting me with this. I know it’s out of character for you to do so.”
“Well, I know it won’t go any further, and I needed you to know how serious this fucker is. Later.”
The line goes dead, and I look at Kat.
“He’s killed another woman. That makes four.”
Kat tucks her arms close to her body, her mouth twisted in a grim expression. “Do we know who the killer is?” Kat asks pensively.
I shake my head. “No. The only thing we do know is he’s targeting women close to the MC.” I pull her closer to me. “You, Jasmine, Kirsten, and Izzy need to have an escort wherever you go. None of you are to be alone. Ever. You get me?”
“I’m never alone. If you aren’t here, Judge is, or one of the boys. Don’t worry, I’m not taking any chances. I’ve had enough of crazies to last me a lifetime.”
It’s true. When my woman first moved to Tourmaline, she had a stalker, and later she got shot on our wedding day. I know with the life she’s chosen that people want to get close to her. Unfortunately, when you’re famous, some of the fans are unhinged and do crazy, scary things.
“I’ve gotta go into town. I need to have a meeting about this with the boys. I’ll get someone to come out before I go. Are you okay with that, darlin’?”
“Yes, do what you need to do.” Kat tilts her head to one side and leans in. “What was all that about with Kirsten earlier?”
“I think she’s feeling left out that you’re giving away her clothes. She was having a moment.”
Kat nods and kisses my cheek. “You’re pretty good at this parenting thing.”
I shake my head. “Nah, you’re the expert in that field.”
Kat barks out a laugh and stands. “Nope, but together we make a pretty awesome team.”
I stand, and kiss her on the lips, wrapping my arms around her. “Wanna go upstairs and show me how good I am?”
Kat giggles. “Jasmine’s in the next room.”
“Judging by her condition, I’m pretty sure she knows how babies are made.”
“You have work to do.”
This dissipates my mood, and I nod solemnly at her. “Yeah, that I do.”
Kade
Soldier in the Savage Angels MC
Dane called a meeting, and we’re all gathered around the table in the clubhouse. This room is reserved for church and matters of importance to the MC. Everyone looks somber as we wait for Dane to enter. One of the club’s angels is bringing in drinks for everyone, and I snag a black coffee off her tray.
“Hey! That’s for Jonas.”
“VP isn’t here yet. You could make him another one.”
“Asshole,” she mutters as she sashays away.
I chuckle and Zeke, my best friend, elbows me. “Don’t be a dick. You know she’s trying to impress Jonas.”
“And we all know Jonas isn’t going to tap that and risk losing Addy, so no harm, no foul.”
Zeke shakes his head, stands, and goes out to help her bring in the next round of drinks. Pussy. He’s always playing peacekeeper lately.
“So, Kade, how’s Destiny?” asks Dirt.
“Good, Dirt. She’s been working with Rush, and they think they’ve found a loophole in her brother’s case. They’re hoping to bring it to trial soon. Looks like Renny might have a chance of getting out.”
“Fuck, really?”
I nod. Destiny is my woman, and she’s wearing a big shiny diamond ring to prove it. Rush is Zeke’s biological father who’s attempting to make up for lost time by moving to Tourmaline and trying to fit in with his son’s friends. So far, everything is working out fine. My woman is happy, she’s working in the field she wants to excel in, and Destiny, with Rush’s help, is trying to get her brother out of prison. She’s always believed in his innocence, but we have brothers inside, and Renny is known for being able to take care of himself. So, I don’t think he’s as virtuous as Destiny thinks he is.
Zeke comes back into the room with a tray full of drinks and gives me a sneer. I chuckle at him, hold up my cup, and take a sip of coffee.
“Asshole.”
“Takes one to know one, Zeke.”
He passes out the drinks and sits beside me. There’s no one in this world I would trust more than Zeke. He’s proven himself time and again, and I know he feels the same about me—closer than blood, more than family.
Dane walks through the door with Jonas right behind him. Dane walks with purpose to the head of the table, his lips in a grim twist, even his eyes look darker, more dangerous. I sit up a little straighter. Whatever our president wants to discuss with us, he’s not fucking around.
Dane clears his throat and looks around the room, but his eyes don’t settle on one person. It’s like
he’s just taking us all in. He doesn’t sit, he raps his knuckles a couple of times on the table, making sure he has everyone’s attention.
“You all know about the four women who’ve gone missing here in Tourmaline?”
Most of us nod, a couple of the men say yes.
Dane is looking at the tabletop, nodding his head, not looking at us. You can tell he’s got a lot more to say, and the room goes deathly quiet.
“The presumption is all those women are dead. Today the sheriff called and confirmed the last girl who was kidnapped is indeed dead. Now, I need what I’m telling you to stay in this room.” Dane looks up, staring at all of us individually before he goes on. “The last girl was Mary Butler.”
“Fuck,” whispers Rebel.
Shit. Mary Butler?
She’s been coming around us for as long as I have been associated with the MC in Tourmaline. Nice girl, little wild but had a heart of gold. More than one of the guys has tried to take her home.
“That makes four women who have spent time with us in one form or another have been kidnapped. I need all of you to talk to your sisters, your mothers, your girlfriends, club whores. If they’re female and they hang with us, we need to make sure they’re safe.”
“Who were the other women?” asks Dirt.
“Bunny from The Cherry, Raquel, and Maria,” replies Dane somberly.
The Cherry is our strip club and is managed by Tobias Dupont. He’s not in the club, but he’s a loyal friend to us. The other women are what we call ‘wanna be whores.’ They come to the parties and think they want a brother for an old man, but in reality, they want a fuck to brag about it to their friends. Not all the women who want to party with us are like that, but these are or were.
“How’s Tobias?” I ask.
Dane lets out a breath and sits down. “Taking it hard. You all know how much he likes the girls at the club and how he mothers them. I’ve seen him frog march the biggest motherfuckers out of the club because they made one of the girls nervous. We all know you don’t fuck with Tobias.”
“Tell me again why he’s not patched?” I ask.
Dane’s face darkens. “Because he’s not.”
I shift uncomfortably in my seat. When Dane talks in that tone of voice, you don’t question him, you keep your head down, and you do as you’re fucking told.
My phone begins to vibrate. I take it out of my pocket and am surprised at who’s ringing me. It’s my father. With a grimace, I hit decline and put it away.
“Problem?” asks Dane.
“No, Prez.”
Dane holds my gaze for a moment, then looks around the room.
“Talk to all the women you know. Tell them to be careful and not to be out alone. The sheriff is on our side, but we all know it’s only a matter of time before someone decides they need to hang this on someone, anyone, and I don’t want that person to be one of us.”
All too often the law blames a member of my MC for a crime we haven’t committed. Across the states, many of our brethren find themselves incarcerated for something they haven’t done. Guess it’s easier to blame the big, bad biker than look at the clean-cut neighbor next door and realize your world isn’t as safe as you thought it was.
“Okay, you all heard Prez, so get your sorry asses out of here and spread the word. We don’t want to lose anyone else,” states Jonas with conviction.
I get up and move into the bar area, Zeke hot on my heels.
“Who was on the phone?”
I sigh and rub the back of my neck. “My old man.”
Zeke’s eyebrows go up. “No shit?”
I nod. “No shit. The lawyers told me they’d be notifying him when I withdrew large sums of money from my trust fund.”
I have never touched it. The money came from my mother’s estate when she passed. I always felt it was tainted, but I’d do anything for my girl, and the way her eyes lit up when she saw the ring, I knew I had to get it for her. My mom came from old money. I grew up in Beverly Hills with a father who was always too busy to spend time with me and a brother who never liked me. The only person who cared about me was her, so when she died, I left, and they didn’t even notice. It figures he’d become aware of me now that I’ve used a small portion of the money.
“You going to phone him back?”
“I don’t know.” I sigh and scrub a hand over my face. “I guess it’s best to do it now and get it out of the way.”
“You want me to hold your hand?” asks Zeke as he tries to look earnest.
“Fuck you.”
“I keep telling you, brother, I like vaginas.” It’s an old joke, and even after all this time, he still manages to make me smile.
“Yeah, yeah. I’m outta here. Going to find my girl and make an early night of it.”
“Ahh, Kade, it’s not even dark yet.”
“That’s what makes it an early night,” I reply as I stalk out of the clubhouse.
I need to talk to my father and would prefer to do it away from the MC. These guys are my family, not this sperm donor who’s never acknowledged my existence. I look around the compound, and no one’s near me, so I lean up against my bike, pull out my cell, and dial him.
“Kade?”
“Hey,” I reply, not wanting to call him Dad.
“I’ve been trying to get a hold of you for some time. Thank you for finally getting back to me.” My father sounds bored, and I can hear him shuffling papers in the background.
“What do you want?”
“Ahh… good, straight to the point. I want to see you.”
My heart sinks, and I push away from my bike and begin to pace beside the clubhouse.
“Why?”
“You’re my son. Shouldn’t that be reason enough?”
“What do you want, Clifford?” I use his first name to upset him.
I hear him suck in a breath and make a tutting sound. “You’ve touched your trust fund. I was starting to think you didn’t want the money.”
“I’ve used it before.”
“Yes, but not to that extent. It’s always been small withdrawals, but that, that was a hefty sum. What did you do with it?”
“It’s my money, what does it matter?” I ask in an aggravated tone.
“Son, I’m simply curious. The interest alone on your inheritance will enable you to recover that in less than a year. Tell me it wasn’t for a new motorcycle or something else frivolous.”
“What do you want, Clifford?” I ask again in a stronger tone.
“I told you I want to see you. Your brother, Francis, tracked you down in that town you’re in… Topaz.”
“Tourmaline,” I growl.
“Oh, right, right, Tourmaline. Anyway, we’ll be there at the end of the week.”
“What?”
“You heard me. And I look forward to meeting your fiancée, Destiny Bennett.”
I suck in a breath. Of course, the old man would have checked up on me and found out about my girl.
“I don’t want you here.”
“I’m aware of that, but if this Destiny is going to be a part of our family, I think it’s necessary we meet to ascertain what type of person she is.”
I walk up to the side of the clubhouse and punch the wall.
“Clifford, Destiny isn’t a part of your family, she’s a part of my family. You made it clear a long time ago that I wasn’t worthy.”
“Don’t be ridiculous, you’re my son, my blood. See you on Friday.”
The line goes dead, and I punch the wall three more times, splitting the skin over my knuckles.
Dane walks out, eyebrow arched. “There are easier ways to get into the clubhouse. Punching a hole in the wall isn’t one of them.”
I nod profusely, anger making it hard to talk. I need to bleed something or someone. Dane jogs down the steps toward me, and I can feel the pulse in my neck throbbing.
“Come on, let’s go hit the punching bag. I’ll hold it for you.”
Again, I nod and follow Dane wi
th fists clenched. Dane is a big guy, six foot six and built like a linebacker. No fat, all muscle. Every year he seems to get bigger. Dane holds the bag, and I don’t wait for him to tell me he’s got it. I punch. My first hit makes him rock back on one foot. Dane grunts and steadies himself for the assault I wage down. After thirty minutes, I’m sweaty, exhausted, and my knuckles look like I’ve done ten rounds in an MMA cage.
I look at my president, and all I see is concern in his eyes. “I’m okay,” I state as I take deep breaths.
“No, I don’t think you are. I’m only going to ask this once, and I’m not going to badger you about it. Do you need to talk?”
I shake my head and look at the floor, but my mouth has a mind of its own. “My father and brother are coming to visit. I touched my trust fund for Zeke and later Destiny to buy her a ring, and he wants to meet her. I don’t want him anywhere near her,” I growl.
“You tell him that?”
I nod.
“Kade, if you want, we could make it impossible for him to see you or Destiny. But my advice is, go talk to your girl, let the fucker come, and confront him and the demons surrounding you where he’s concerned, then kick all that anger and frustration to the curb where it belongs.”
I nod and hold out my hand to Dane. He grasps it and places his other hand on my shoulder.
“Remember who you are. You’re a soldier in my MC and a force to be reckoned with.”
Dane lets me go and walks back into the clubhouse.
Nodding to myself, I stride to my bike and head for my woman.
Destiny sees me pull up, and I’m barely off the bike when she’s out the front door of the law offices she works at and lunging at me. I wrap my arms around her and breathe in her scent. My girl always smells fresh, like apples.
“Ewww… you’re all sweaty.”
I chuckle and take in her outfit today. Destiny looks like a mini Rush. She’s wearing a navy power suit, silk coffee-colored blouse and six-inch matching heels. Her long brown hair is loose and lightly curled.
“Sorry, babe, I was hitting the punching bag.”
Destiny cocks her head to the side and looks me up and down, then reaches for one of my hands.
Savage Life Page 3