by Wilder, L.
“Sorry, babe. You’re not getting rid of me that easily.”
“I certainly hope not.” She started over to me as she asked, “Where ya headed?”
“Going to check on a camera that’s on the fritz. You wanna tag along?”
“Sure, I’d love to.”
We both climbed in, and I eased out of the barn. After entering the coordinates Braylon had sent me, we were on our way. We hadn’t been riding long when Kiersten gave me a little nudge. “Whatcha thinking about over there?”
“Nothing much. Just how this place reminds me a little of my grandparents’ farm.” I continued to follow the GPS as I told her, “I spent a lot of time out there when I was a kid. Always loved it.”
“Are they still alive?”
“My grandmother is. She’s quite a handful. You might’ve seen her. She lives out at the storage lot with Ada.”
Kiersten smiled. “Yeah, I might’ve watched her and Ada a time or two. They’re quite a pair. I had no idea she was your grandmother.”
“Well, she is, and you’re right, those two are quite the pair.” I told her all about Gladys and Crockett’s, the bar she and my grandfather had bought after they’d gotten married. I told her how Gladys had kept it going long after my grandfather had died but eventually decided it was time to retire and sold the place. I didn’t share the fact that Marlowe’s crazy sister’s boyfriend had bought it as a way to get his revenge on the club, but that Gladys had decided to move in with Ada after the sale and that the two had quickly become friends. “I go over and see them when I can, and they never fail to have dinner waiting for me.”
“That’s really sweet. It must be nice to have grandparents like that.”
“You don’t have grandparents?”
“No. Apparently they died before I was born.” She shrugged. “It’s always just been my dad and me.”
“So, no brothers or sisters?”
“Nope, not even a distant cousin. At least, none that I’m aware of.”
“Must’ve been hard, especially when your mother passed.”
“It was. I had my friends from school and my father, but there were times when I wished I had more.”
“Yeah, I get that.”
When we found the camera's location, I got out and checked to see what was going on with it. Thankfully, it wasn’t anything other than a loose wire, which was easily adjusted. Once I was done, I got back inside the side-by-side with Kiersten and said, “Looks like we’re all set. You ready to head back?”
“Not yet.” She looked over to me with a somber expression. “Would you mind if we ride for a bit?”
“You got it.”
I backed up, then followed the edge of the ravine to an open area with a large cattle pond. I eased up to the water’s edge and parked. With all the trees and tall grasses, it was quite a sight to see and not surprising why Kiersten liked it there so much. It was getting cool, so I took off my jacket and slipped it around Kiersten’s shoulders. As she looked down at the Ruthless Sinners’ patch, she said, “You know, you never told me why you joined the Sinners.”
“You never asked.”
“Well, I’m asking now.” She gave me a teasing nudge. “Unless you don’t want to tell me.”
“Got no problem telling ya, babe, but there’s not a lot to say.” I leaned back in the seat as I started, “I was helping Gran out at the bar when Viper and several of the brothers came in for the first time. I won’t lie, I was pretty fucking terrified. I was just eighteen or so at the time, and they were intimidating as hell.”
“Oh, I know the feeling quite well.”
“Yeah, I reckon you do.” I chuckled. “Well, they kept coming around, more and more, and it wasn’t long before my fear turned into something else. I watched them, saw how they interacted, and got sucked in by the sense of brotherhood and power. It practically radiated off of them, and I was drawn to it. So, when Viper invited me to come out and see the clubhouse, I jumped at the chance. As soon as I stepped through those doors, I was hooked. I later discovered that while I was watching Viper and the brothers while I was watching Viper and the brothers, they’d been watching me. They saw something in me, still don’t know exactly what, but they asked me to prospect for the club. A year later, I was patched in, and I’ve been a Sinner ever since.”
“Wow, that’s some story. You really seem happy with them.”
“I am. Along with Gran and my folks, they’re my family. Nothing I wouldn’t do for them.”
“So, you’re still close with your folks?”
“Yeah, but I don’t get to see them as often I used to. They bought a condo and moved to Florida when my dad retired. They’ve gotten older now and don’t get around to visit as much as they used to.”
“So, do you take after your mother or your father?”
“My dad. Definitely my dad.”
I pulled out my phone, and once I’d found a picture of them, I turned the screen towards Kiersten. A smile swept across her face as she said, “Your mother’s beautiful. You favor her, but you and your dad could be brothers.”
“Stacey looks more like my mom.” I swiped the screen and pulled up an image of my sister. “She’s a few years older than me. Lives in Gatlinburg with her husband and three kids. They have a souvenir shop right in the middle of town.”
“That’s awesome. I love Gatlinburg.”
“I’ll have to take you up there sometime for a visit.”
“I would love that.” Her brows furrowed as she turned to me and said, “I just have one more question.”
“Okay, shoot.”
“What’s with the road name ‘Country’?”
“Well, Gran had a lot to do with that. I didn’t know the first thing about baling hay or cleaning out stalls until she and Pops taught me, but even then, I found a way to screw things up. Gran got a real kick out of telling the guys what a fuck-up I was at the farm, and one thing led to another.”
“I doubt you were a fuck-up, Grayson.”
“Nah, I made more than my fair share of mistakes. Even let the hay get wet and almost burned down the fucking barn.”
“Oh, well, maybe you were a little bit of a fuck-up, but at least you got a cool road name out of it.”
“Yeah, there’s always that.” We’d spent the better part of our time together talking about me, so I decided to turn the tables on her and asked, “So, what was it like growing up with a man like Billy?”
“A man like Billy?” She cocked her eyebrow. “You mean the kind of man who makes dead bodies disappear?”
“When you put it like that, it makes me wish I hadn’t asked.”
“No, it’s all good. I’m kind of glad you asked.” She looked out at the water as she continued, “I can only imagine what you must think of him, but he’s a good man. I know that might be hard to believe, especially considering what he does for your club, but he is. He’s always loved me and tried his best to take care of me, even more so after Mom died.”
“Sounds like he’s really tried to be there for you.”
“He has. More than you know.” Her eyes skirted over to me as she explained, “I guess you could say he’s like you and the other Sinners... He’s a good man who just happens to do something bad in order to provide for his family.”
Tears started to fill her eyes, and I was completely thrown. I had no idea what had upset her. “Hey, are you okay?”
“I’ve been mad at him for all these years for hiding that part of his life from me, but I haven’t judged you or your club like I have him.”
“Yeah, but we’ve never pretended to be something we weren’t.”
“No, but I have. I’m no better than he is. In fact, I’m just like him.”
“No, not even close.” I slipped my arm around her waist, and being careful to avoid the steering wheel, I pulled her into my lap. “You’re an amazing woman, and you’re doing incredible things here. Things you should be proud of. Not sure Billy could ever say the same.”
&n
bsp; “I just wish I understood. He could’ve done anything. Why did he decide to do something so insane?”
“I can’t answer that one, babe, only Billy can do that. Maybe it’s time you talked to him about—”
“No.” She shook her head. “I’m just not ready.”
“Okay, well, when you are, you just have to be honest with him and demand that he does the same with you.”
“You make it sound so simple.”
“He’s your dad. He would want you to talk to him, even if he isn’t happy about what you have to say.”
“You’re right. I’ll talk to him. I just need some time to work up the courage.”
“Take all the time you need.” I kissed her on the forehead, then said, “We better get back before Braylon sends out a search party.”
“You’re probably right.” She eased out of my lap and over to the passenger seat. I was just about to crank the engine when Kiersten reached over and placed her hand on my arm. “Thank you, Grayson. It means a lot that I can talk to you like this.”
“Means a lot to me, too.”
I gave her a wink and drove us back to the Manor. We both finished our work for the day, then met up at her place where we spent the entire night tangled in each other’s arms—the perfect way to end a long day.
The following few days went by faster than I’d hoped. It seemed like we’d only just gotten there, and it was time to head back to the clubhouse. Since it was our last night, Lynch and I had gathered some wood and made a fire. Kiersten brought us over some drinks, and we sat under the stars talking about this and that. Lynch had been pretty quiet, so I asked him, “How’s it going with Mia?”
“It’s not.” Lynch tossed another log into the fire. “Don’t get me wrong. The chick is smoking, but I’m pretty sure she’s into someone else.”
“What?” Kiersten seemed baffled. “Who?”
“Braylon.” Lynch sat down next to me with a huff. “She’s constantly talking about the guy and watches him like a hawk, so either she wants to fuck him or there’s something else going on. Either way, I’m out on that shit.”
“I had no idea she liked him.” Kiersten’s eyes danced with mischief as she said, “I wonder if he knows.”
“Oh, he knows,” I assured her. “It’s his job to know, but the question is whether or not he’s into her, and if he is, will he do anything about it?”
“Mia is so sweet and thoughtful. Pretty, too.” Kiersten was practically beaming as she continued, “I’d love to see Braylon with someone like her. He’s such a good guy and deserves a woman who’ll be good to him.”
“Gee, thanks, Kiersten.”
“Oh, come on, Lynch. You can have any girl you want.”
“Yeah, any girl but Mia, right?” Lynch scoffed. “Maybe I’ll give that Reagan chick a go.”
“Well, I’m not sure that’s a good idea.”
“Oh? And why’s that?”
“She’s not really into guys.”
“What?” Lynch leaned his head back and groaned. “Damn, I need to get laid. I’m ready to get back to the clubhouse.”
Unlike Lynch, I wasn’t crazy about leaving. I liked being there at the Manor with Kiersten and the others, but we’d already stayed an extra week. I would’ve volunteered to stay for a third, but we had the run to North Carolina coming up, and Viper wanted us both to be there. I looked over to Lynch. “You’ll be back tomorrow, but I doubt you’ll have any better luck there than you do here.”
“We’ll see about that shit. Give me an hour. That’s all I’ll need,” Lynch boasted.
“Mm-hmm. Whatever you say, brother.”
While Lynch and I were goofing around, Kiersten found nothing humorous about our conversation, and her smile had completely faded. “So, do you know who will be taking over your shift?”
“Widow and one of our prospects.” Widow was one of the older brothers who I had no doubt wasn’t thrilled about spending a week away from his ol’ lady, Frankie, and her boys, but he’d be here without a single complaint. He’d dedicated his life to the club and never failed when the brothers needed him. I felt his time at the Manor with Kiersten and the others would be no different, and he would see that things continued to run smoothly. “They should be here by noon tomorrow. I’ve talked to them, and they both know the expectations.”
“Oh, okay.” She swallowed hard, pushing back her emotion as she told me, “I’m sure they’ll do fine.”
“They will, and we’re only thirty minutes away, so if you need anything—”
“I’ll be fine. It’s just been really nice having you here.”
When Lynch realized Kiersten was upset, he stood up and said, “I think I’m gonna give you two some time to talk and call it a night.”
“You don’t have to run off.”
“Yeah, I kind of do.” Lynch took a few steps, then turned back to Kiersten and said, “I did want to ask you about something.”
“Okay, what’s on your mind?”
“You know how you’ve done all this research on how marijuana helps people with pain and stuff?
“Yeah?”
“You ever heard of it helping kids with cerebral palsy?”
“To be honest, the research is pretty limited, but so far, it’s been shown to help with pain control and the reduction of spastic movements and seizures. Why?”
“My sister’s kid has a hell of a time with it. Reece is just eleven years old. She’s very weak, and her muscles are so stiff she can barely walk. There are a lot of kids out there who are in much worse shape. They’re in wheelchairs or bedridden, so she’s lucky that she’s able to get around with a walker”—there was no missing the anguish in Lynch’s voice—“but if she just had something to help with the pain ...”
“I’m really sorry she has to deal with that.”
“Yeah. Me, too.” Lynch ran his fingers through his hair. “These people you donate your stuff to, how does that work?”
“It’s usually to someone I know or to a friend of someone—like you and your niece. I’ll look over their diagnosis, and if I think I can help, I’ll reach out to them. Nine times out of ten, they jump at the chance to get some relief, and so far, everyone I’ve been working with has shown improvement.” I knew Kiersten had been helping others, but I had no idea just how much she’d been doing until now. Kiersten smiled as she asked, “Would you like me to reach out to your sister?”
“Actually, I would.”
“Okay, but is she going to be open to the idea? ’Cause, there are a lot of people who think negatively about marijuana use.”
“At this point, I think she’d be willing to try anything. They both would.” Lynch reached into his pocket and pulled out a card. After he wrote something on it, he offered it to me and said, “My sister’s name is Hannah. Here’s her number and address. I’ll let her know that you’ll be getting in touch with her.”
“Okay, I’ll give her a call tomorrow afternoon.”
“Thanks, Kiersten.” Lynch turned his attention to me. “Let me know when you’re ready to head out tomorrow.”
“Will do.”
Once Lynch had walked back to the guest quarters, I looked over to Kiersten, and my chest tightened as I watched the light of the fire dance across her beautiful face. It amazed me that she had no idea just how incredible she was. My voice was strained as I told her, “You’re awesome.”
“No, not so much, but you’re sweet to say so.” She got up and walked over to me, then sat down in my lap. “Is it bad that I don’t want you to leave tomorrow?”
“I’ll be back before you know it.”
“I know, but I like being able to see you every day.”
“You know how vital these first few runs are gonna be. It’s important for me to be there; otherwise, I’d stick around for a little longer.”
“Does that mean I’ll see you when you get back?”
“Absolutely, but I’m not gone yet.” I smiled. “We still have tonight.”
“Bells and whistles?”
“You can count on it.”
I reached up, slipped my hand around the back of her neck, and pulled her close as I pressed my mouth against hers. Her lips were warm and soft, and each swirl of her tongue made the blood rush straight to my cock. Her lips parted in surprise as I fisted her hair in my hand and gave it a soft tug before delving deeper into her mouth. The kiss was urgent, full of need and uncontrollable want, and all her little whimpers and moans spurred me on even more. When I couldn’t take it a moment longer, I stood up, lifted her into my arms, and carried her back to her place.
As soon as we’d made it through the door, I lowered her feet to the floor, and when Kiersten looked up at me with those lust-filled eyes, I’d never seen a more beautiful sight. She placed her hands on my chest, lifting up on her tiptoes as she pressed her lips to mine, kissing me with a hunger that matched my own. And just like that, I was completely lost in her—the scent of her hair, the feel of her heart beating against her chest, the taste of her skin. My entire world was centered right there with her in my arms, and I never wanted that feeling to end.
I took her hand and led her into the bedroom where I savored every moment I had left with her.
Twelve
Kiersten
When it came time for Grayson to leave, I tried to remind myself that it wasn’t a real goodbye, that it wasn’t the end, but watching him disappear down my driveway was hard. I’d grown accustomed to seeing his handsome face every day, and I was going to miss him. Really miss him. In fact, I started missing him the second he left. I needed something to take my mind off of things, so I drove over to the campus library and started researching everything I could about cerebral palsy in children. Before they left, I reached out to Lynch’s sister and asked her to send me over Reece’s medical records. Her uncle was right. She’d had a hell of a time with her disorder. I wasn’t sure I could help her, but I certainly wanted to try.
I spent hours there—much longer than I’d planned. I wanted to make sure I’d gone over everything I could find on the benefits and possible disadvantages of marijuana in regard to lessening the symptoms associated with cerebral palsy. I also studied all the information Lynch’s sister had sent. I was fairly confident that a small dose could help Reece, but it would ultimately be up to her parents whether she should try it or not. I gathered up all the information I’d found, then sent Hannah a message apologizing for running late, and letting her know I was on my way.