What? What the fuck?
She said she lost the kid. She fucking lied. Again.
Was this his kid or was he once again being played? And where was the kid? She wasn’t living with Emma in her monstrosity of a house, he had been through all the rooms and none of them had kid stuff in them. It had all been cold and clinical and empty.
He had to know because if the kid was his he had to get her out of Emma’s clutches and fucking very soon.
Another thought occurred to him.
Thank fuck he hadn’t started anything with River because right now that little girl on the screen was his priority and if he was her father he was fucked. He was fucked because he would go back to Emma if it was the only way he could get access to his kid.
“Do we know where this kid is? There’s no sign of her living with Emma.” Ice whispered.
And again Ziggy came up with the answers.
“She’s living with a couple in Bryanston. She was given to them when she was a few weeks old and they are good people. David and Anna Howard. He’s a school principal and she’s a grade two school teacher. I checked them out and there’s nothing in their backgrounds or in their bank accounts that raises any suspicions. I tracked them all the way back to primary school and I assure you there’s absolutely nothing. An amount of money is deposited in their joint bank account every month which they promptly transfer out into a savings account they set up for Evie. That’s her name, Evie Howard.”
Evie. Evie who might be his.
Ice dropped his head into his hands and groaned. “I fucking hate Emma. What the fuck do I do if this kid is mine? I can’t fucking live with the bitch.”
“Ice, brother, don’t go off on the deep end here. Let’s first find out if this kid is yours or not. If she is then we cross that bridge when we get to it.” Hawk’s voice intruded on what he had thought was his internal dialogue. He must have spoken his fears out loud.
“We need to get hold of her DNA.” Ziggy said. “It should be easy enough.”
“Jesus, Ziggy. We can’t just walk up to the kid and say ‘open wide’ and take a swab of the inside of her mouth.” Kid snarled sarcastically.
“I know we can’t. But what stops us from sending a team in to get what we need from inside the house? We wait until they’re out, go in and grab hair from her hair brush or even her toothbrush. That’s all we need. I know someone who will do the testing for us and it won’t take long either.” Ziggy shrugged as everyone looked at him.
Hawk nodded slowly then grinned slyly. “I like this plan. Yes, I like it and we need some volunteers to send on this little errand. Now we just need to get them out of the house for a couple of hours. Any ideas?”
“Why can’t we just go in while they’re at work during the day? We’ll have more than enough time to get in and out.” Sin shrugged.
“Good idea, Sin, but unfortunately we can’t. They live in a boomed area with access control.” Ziggy warned. “We have to do it at night, sneak in and out before we’re noticed. I can get us past the fence alarm and the house alarm no problems. We just need someone to pick the locks on the doors and we need them out of the house. How do we do that?”
Jagger suddenly laughed. “We send them a meal voucher from a restaurant for the night we want to get in the house. Something like, ‘You’ve been randomly selected blah blah blah’ and while they’re having a nice dinner, we’re in and out. No sweat.”
“I volunteer to be on the team.” Spider said quietly. “Ice can’t go, he’s too close to this but I’m not. I’ll go.”
“Can you pick a lock, Spider?” Hawk asked with raised eyebrows.
A very sly smile tipped Spider’s lips up as he nodded. “Taught myself that shit so I could break in to Ice’s room when I was fourteen. He had the outside room on the veranda and I got through the security gate and past the locks he had on his door. No problems.”
“Little shit.” Ice growled with a grin. “I knew someone had been through my stuff, just didn’t know it was you. I thought it was one of the girls.”
Hawk got right to business. “I want a three man team on this. Spider will be the lock man, so we need two more to go with him. This is on a voluntary basis, so let’s see some hands.”
Jagger and Sin had their hands up before anyone else and the team was set. Now it was just to finalise the details.
By Wednesday Spider had been threatened more than once as he practiced on the doors around the compound. And the little shit opened every single one, triple locked security doors included, without any problems what so ever.
On Thursday evening Ice had yet another ‘date’ with Emma and he was hard pressed not to shake her as she flirted and rubbed herself up against him. But he had made sure they were in a public place and nowhere near her house. He bought his own beer and drank from the bottle, never letting it leave his hand. He wasn’t worried though because Kid was with him, making sure he was safe during the fucking ‘date’.
Emma wanted him to come home with her. Promising to rock his world if he’d only let her. She tried everything from rubbing up against him to taking hold of his cock under the table and rubbing and squeezing it. And his stupid fucking cock reacted by going hard. It made the bitch smile so fucking wide but what she didn’t know was his cock might be hard but it wasn’t hard enough. And the minute he thought about the little girl he went as soft as a fucking marshmallow.
He couldn’t wait to get away from the bitch and breathed easier when he rode away with Kid next to him. He wanted to get home and wash the feel of her lips from his mouth and her scent off his skin. Like every time after he had been with Emma he made straight for the bar the minute he got home. He was slamming down a shot when Kid sat down next to him and gave him news that made him feel like a total shit.
River had been at the restaurant, having dinner with friends. And she had seen him with Emma. Had seen her hands all over him and had seen him kissing the bitch. Down in his gut he knew it was a good thing because she now had proof that he was bad news.
But it still made him want to fucking puke. He drowned it in booze until he passed out.
His hangover was going to kill him. His head ached, his gut ached from puking all morning and his eyes were red and swollen. Ice sat at the kitchen table and groaned as Aunt Beryl slammed a mug down in front of him.
“Drink.” She growled. “Now. You’ll feel better once you get it down.”
Ice didn’t argue he just drank the foul smelling brew down and waited for his gut to settle.
“You have to stop this, Ice. Every time you see that woman you come back here and drown yourself in drink. It has to stop.” She said quietly as she rubbed his back softly.
Ice frowned at her and she shook her head. “I’m not stupid, Ice. I know what’s going on.”
Ice sighed in resignation. It was useless to try and hide anything from their Aunt.
“It will be done soon, Aunt Beryl. I just have to get through a few more weeks then it will be done.”
“It’s taking too long, my boy. Your mother and I are worried about you. Actually, everyone is worried about you.”
She put a bowl down in front of him and thankfully his gut stayed quiet.
“Eat. You haven’t been eating well since this mess started. And don’t try to tell me any different, Ice Walker. I changed your nappies and wiped your ass, I know you.”
Ice gave up, lifted the fork she put in his hand and took a bite. And before he knew it the bowl was empty and he was feeling a hell of a lot better.
The day passed damned slowly but eventually it was time for their team of burglars to head out. Beast and Ziggy went with them. Ziggy to hack the alarms and Beast to keep a lookout and help if they needed it.
Like every other Friday night at the clubhouse there was a party but it was fairly tame because they still haven’t opened the gates to all comers. Ice sat at the bar and drank water as he waited anxiously for his brothers to get back. Several of the club bitches had tried to
get on his lap but he had waved them all away and eventually they left him alone and concentrated on the brothers who wanted their attentions.
It felt like hours later when they walked through the doors, Spider with a very, very wide smile on his face. Ice immediately got up and followed them down to Hawk’s office. Beast knocked and tried the door but it was locked and they all looked at each other and grinned. The boss was getting busy in there with his old lady.
Leaning his shoulder against the wall Ice waited with his brothers until the locks clicked and a very satisfied looking Hawk opened the door. DC sat on the desk, her legs swinging as they walked in and sat down.
Spider stood at the desk and laid down a small plastic baggie with a twist of light brown hair in it. Then he added two more baggies to it.
“While I was in the house I thought ‘why don’t we test all of them?’ so I collected hair from all the brushes. I was going to swop out the toothbrushes but none of the ones I bought matched, so I had to leave them behind. Howard has a thick beard and there were some hairs in a small brush I think he uses. So we have that as well.”
Jagger grunted. “The little fucker wanted to use one of those sticky rollers to pick shit up from their sheets but that just freaked me the hell out, so I said enough is enough and got him out of there. We would still be there collecting ‘samples’ if he had his way. He’s been watching too many fucking crime shows.”
Spider sniggered and shrugged. “I was being thorough, brother.”
Ziggy picked up the baggies and grinned. “Fuck, Spider, you even labelled them.”
“Told you, too many fucking crime shows.” Jagger growled.
“No, this is seriously cool.” Ziggy grinned. “My guy is on his way. I’m meeting him at the Shell garage in Samrand, now all that’s left to do is collecting the sample from Ice.”
All eyes turned to Ice and he sighed then gave a fatalistic shrug. “Let’s get it done.”
Ice sat impassively and opened his mouth as Ziggy swiped the bud against his cheek then slipped it into the container and sealed it. He could clearly see his name on the side.
“How long before we know?”
“My guy will be rushing this for us. The results will be here by the end of next week, at the latest, brother.” Ziggy reassured him.
Ice nodded as he sagged back in the chair and watched Ziggy, Jagger and Spider leave. DC had emotionlessly watched, never saying a word. She hopped off the desk and drew in a deep breath. For the first time since she had seen him with River her voice didn’t freeze him where he sat.
“Don’t take this the wrong way, Ice, but I’m hoping the test comes up negative. As a kid who was raised by a biker single father, I know how stressful and lonely a life it can be. This little girl is happy with these people. She’s being raised with love and care and should have that for the rest of her life.”
When she left the office Ice sat there not knowing what to say. He didn’t know what to say because he didn’t know how he felt about being a father. But then he looked at the photo of the little girl and his heart hurt like hell. If she was his then he at least wanted contact with her.
No fuck that. If she was his he wanted her. Wanted her to know he was her father.
More than that he didn’t know. He just knew he would do whatever he had to for his little girl.
And didn’t that say it all. Calling her his little girl when he didn’t know if she was his or not.
Hawk didn’t say a word when Ice got up and left.
He had to get out of there and ride. Beast and Kid followed him out and they rode until the road worked its magic and he felt more relaxed.
And he had done it again. Rode past River’s house, going against the orders of his president.
It was totally fucked up. But the reason he felt more relaxed was the very obvious presence of the Sinner’s Sons on the property.
He didn’t sleep any better but at least he would have answers to his questions soon.
CHAPTER TWELVE
River
We’d been very busy at work and I hadn’t had much time to obsess over the voluptuous and beautiful woman I had seen with Ice a week ago. The woman had been all over him, groping and kissing not caring who saw. The bastard sat back and allowed the groping and kissed her back.
They had ruined my night out. A night out my best friends since high school had insisted on. Krissie and Mari stayed my friends when I started a relationship with Sparrow, unlike my other so-called friends. They gave him the benefit of the doubt and were my rocks when he was killed. If not for the two of them I wouldn’t have survived the deep depression after his death and Duncan’s birth. Mum and Dad helped but it was those two who got me through. They virtually moved in with me and took care of us until I was able to cope on my own.
For that alone I will love them forever.
And of course they noticed every single thing about me. So I had to spill about the party, the amazing sex and the horrible morning after and now my besties were pissed as hell at Ice Walker. Not that he would care, he never even noticed me. His friend did though but I pretended I hadn’t seen them.
And thank the pope they left long before us. I was saved from having to watch him getting all touchy feely with a woman who looked like a painted up doll, nothing like me.
And why the hell did that little nugget keep on popping in my head?
It had to be because I was a crazy damned bitch with the hots for a man who was very obviously unavailable and I was grabbing at straws to make me feel better.
Or the more obvious reason for my fascination with Ice Walker was the fact that he was only the second man I had ever had sex with. And like Dylan he was really good in bed.
So good in bed my long dormant libido had woken up with a roar. And said libido necessitated a visit to an adult store on Saturday morning with Krissie which still had me blushing. The woman had no skaam. (She wasn’t shy)
My new vibrator was worth the blushes and every cent I had paid for it.
I was stretched out on one of the couches in the small reception area taking a break when the door opened and DC strolled in and fell onto the couch opposite me.
“Tell me you keep beer in the fridge over there.” She growled angrily.
“We sure do. Help yourself.” I said as I slowly sat up. “And then tell me why you’re so pissed off.”
Jumping up she pulled the fridge open and threw me a grin over her shoulder. “You just became my favourite mechanic. You have my favourite cider.”
I grinned. “I’m honoured to be your favourite.”
Once she had the cider open and sat back down opposite me I was sitting up and ready and waiting.
“You know men and their shit are at the root of all evil, right?” Taking a long drink she slid down on the couch in a slouch. “I’m so done with living in a fucking clubhouse filled with Hawk’s ex fuck bunnies. And I’m so done with gritting my teeth and ignoring the shit they do to get his attention and piss me off.” She sighed. “I’m going insane in that damned place. Can I sleep on your couch, just for tonight? He’s on an overnight run and I just can’t stay there tonight. I could go home but for some reason I don’t want to be alone.”
I totally understood. It must be excruciating to live surrounded by your man’s cast offs.
“My door is open and my couch is yours. Anytime you need it. Have you told him you hate living at the clubhouse?”
“Thank you, Rivvie. You might not realise it but you saved some bitches from tasting my knife today.” She smiled but evil lurked deep in her dark eyes. “And no, I haven’t exactly told him, I just sort of hinted at it. But he’s so caught up with club business right now I didn’t want to make it worse.”
River lifted an eyebrow and DC gave a tiny shrug. She realised her friend was in need of some unbiased advice from someone who cared about her.
“I’ve been where you are now. Sparrow was a total manwhore before he met and claimed me and those club bitches were f
reaking brutal. Remember, I was only eighteen and clueless about the life. But one thing he had said to me right from the start was to ‘use your mouth, Rivzie. Tell me if you’re not happy’ so I did and it saved us. Those bitches are bargaining on you trying to sort this on your own, don’t do it. Tell your man. Let him know you’re unhappy, don’t let it fester. And then let him deal with the shit his behaviour created. If you keep quiet and don’t say anything he’ll know something is wrong and most probably come to the wrong conclusion. Men are stupid like that.”
DC laughed and shook her head. “You’re such a surprise, River. You’re like a biker-mama-guru or something.”
My heart ached but I smiled through it. I missed Dylan today, so very much and talking about him made it worse.
“But there’s something not right with you today.” DC said with narrowed eyes and I shrugged.
“What is it?” She persisted.
Rubbing my hands on my thighs I drew in a deep breath and looked at her, blinking away the burning that would become tears if I let it.
“I miss him today, so freaking much. Every morning I look at Duncan and he’s growing up so fast and looking more and more like his daddy every day. And he’ll never know the amazing man his dad was, how his face came alive every time he felt Duncan kick inside me. He won’t have Sparrow teaching him how to ride or fix his bike, about girls and sex and birth control. He won’t have his dad teaching him how to be a good man and some days it hurts more than others. And today is one of those days.”
Shaking my head I laughed. “Ignore me, DC. I’m a tad hormonal today. Must be my period letting me know it’s on the way.”
DC clapped her hands and rose. “The cure for period blues is easy, chocolate in all its shapes and forms, a hot pad for your back and movies. I’m going to get out of here to buy a truck load of chocolate and we can binge watch Netflix while we eat our weight in chocolate tonight. Does it sound like a plan?”
I smiled and nodded. The heavy weight in my chest lifted a bit and as I watched her stalk out of the workshop I realised I had just added another sister to my posse. I would have to make arrangements to introduce her to Krissie and Mari. It would happen, but on another day, not today.
Lost And Found In Blue (Iron Dogz MC Book 2) Page 10