The Light Beneath the Dark: Motorcycle Club MM romance (Dark River Stone Collective Book 1)

by JP Sayle

  River turned those big brown and gold eyes on me, and my heart went out to her when she stuck her thumb between her teeth for a few seconds. “My Poppy is good, he is. Folks are just plain mean, sayin’ bad tings abouts him.”

  She sounded so serious, I could only nod in agreement.

  She stepped around the still crouching Nutty and took hold of my hand with what turned out to be her sticky one. She tugged on it until I crouched in front of her, finding it impossible to resist those big eyes.

  “What is it, River?” I asked in a soft voice.

  Her other hand came up and touched my cheek as her gaze held mine. She gave me the same assessing look Lincoln had.

  “Folks around here sometimes are bad.” Her fingers traced over my bristly cheek. “You not bad, you have kind eyes, they looks like the green sea. Will you bring my Poppy home? I’s need him ‘cause I’s don’t have a Mommy, she died. So is important to me, I’s love Nutty but she’s not my Poppy.”

  She went back to sucking her thumb and left me struggling to blink back tears. Using the years of experience I’d had dealing with difficult situations in court, I stood and looked at the silent Nutty. Her face showed her distress. A single tear slid down her flushed cheek and dripped off her chin.

  I took a steadying breath and swallowed twice before I found my voice. “I’ll make sure I bring your Poppy home to you and Nutty.”

  Please let me keep my word!

  Chapter Five

  Lincoln

  The same mean-eyed fucker from the day before opened my cell door. I remained lying on my bunk, waiting to see what he wanted.

  “Get up. It seems your fancy pants lawyer has managed to get you in front of Judge Rains.” His ugly face morphed into an equally ugly sneer as he carried on. “You’re out of luck, Killer, Rains hates scum like you.”

  I slowly rose off the bed and stood, realizing he’d used my club name. My eyes narrowed. How had he known my club name? Had this fucker applied to be a prospect of the club? There was nothing familiar about him, but that didn’t mean he hadn’t applied and been rejected. Could this be why he hates me?

  As I raised my hand to push the hair off my face, the stupid fuck shifted back. I kept the smile inside as I stared at him, saying nothing. Silence was my biggest weapon in a place like this.

  “Sit the fuck back down while we chain you,” he said, his left eye twitching as another guard came in behind him.

  “Geoff, you ain’t supposed to open the cell without backup,” the other guy muttered loud enough for me to hear.

  Geoff’s face resembled a ripe tomato as he glared at the other guy. His lips firmed, and he kept whatever he wanted to say to himself.

  Back to walking down endless halls, I ignored the cat calls and bravado. Chains rattled as I walked up the steps to the box in the courtroom. My gaze swept the room and found the usual gawkers from the local news. Mr. Davenport stood at the front of the room, his suit today a gunmetal grey. His shirt was white, and the tie was the same color as the suit. He wore an expression of deep concentration as he spoke to a woman with dark, spiky hair that had her back to me but was very familiar.

  What was Nutty doing here? Fuck, where was River? Had the courts taken her? Tension crept up my spine and my neck stiffened. Panic, that always came with thoughts of anyone taking River from me, stopped me thinking rationally.

  The chains chinked together while I sucked in a few calming breaths, and at the same time, I went through the mental list of activities I’d planned for River this week. The tension eased a little as I recalled today was one of the days she spent with Mina and her brood.

  Mina lived five houses down from mine and popped babies out like she was shelling peas. I wasn’t sure if she was on number four or five, but she was great with kids and her middle child was the same age as River, and River’s best friend. Mina was happy to have River two days a week during school vacation because I paid her with tattoos that she couldn’t afford with so many mouths to feed. It helped both of us.

  Working to keep my expression blank, I sat on the hard seat behind the perspex the guards led me to.

  Only once I was seated did Mr. Davenport glance in my direction. He gave a nod of acknowledgment, his sea-green eyes holding mine for a second longer before he turned his attention back to Nutty.

  The noises in the room made it impossible for me to hear what was being said, but Nutty nodded several times before she went to take a seat. She glanced at me and gave a thumbs up, her expression one of confidence.

  She mouthed, “River’s cool.”

  It helped ease the last of the anxiety I’d covered with a blank expression. Nutty continued to smile at me, knowing me all too well not to be offended by my lack of response under the circumstances.

  My gaze moved back to Mr. Davenport, who’d walked toward a man I’d seen around town once or twice. Mr. Winter had a fancy lawyer’s office on Main Street. The guy had a reputation as a shark. To me, he looked like he’d been slicked up with motor grease, an oily fucker that thought he was top of the food chain when really, he was nothing but a shrimp. Some of the club members had used him in the past for minor shit they’d been hauled in for.

  I frowned. Had someone at the club told the skank to go to this greasy fucker? The sense something was off, came back.

  Mr. Davenport’s posture went from relaxed and easy to stiff and, although he offered his hand, it appeared to be more of a courtesy than anything else. It distracted me from my thoughts as words were exchanged before the door behind the judge’s table opened.

  A silence fell over the courtroom.

  “All rise, Judge Rains presiding,” a voice requested respectfully.

  Following the command, I waited until directed to return to my seat. I intertwined my fingers in my lap to hide their shaking. To show weakness was something I loathed, but with everything that was riding on today, my body wasn’t listening to reason.

  There was a load of legal jargon to go through, and I zoned out. It was only as Mr. Davenport stood that I tuned back in.

  “Your honor, I respectfully request bail for my client. Having reviewed the evidence, or what little there is, I see no reason as to why he cannot be released on ba—”

  “Your Honor, I disagree, he raped my client. Miss Fink is at risk if he is released,” Mr. Winter pointed out abruptly, talking over Mr. Davenport.

  Biting my tongue to stop from shouting out, air got stuck in my chest as the two men argued back and forth until the judge interrupted.

  “Enough. I’ve read over the file. You both have valid points.” His fingers templed as he sat forward, his elbows resting on the table as he stared at both men. Then he glanced at me for the first time.

  “Taking into account the rather large number of previous altercations with the law Mr. Stone has had, bail will be set at two-hundred-fifty thousand dollars.”

  There were several gasps, and people muttered amongst themselves before there was a call for silence. Folks were probably thinking I’d be stuck rotting in the cell, but the club had more than enough funds to pay the bail, so I wasn’t worried. For the first time in three days, I breathed easy, knowing I’d be free.

  The judge continued to put restrictions on me as he talked about a tracker being attached to me that was given to all sexual predators. I didn’t give a fuck as long as it got me out of this place and back to River.

  When the court proceedings were over, Mr. Davenport looked up at me and mouthed. “I’ll be through to see you as soon as I can clear it.”

  Mr. Winter walked over to Mr. Davenport and laid a hand on his arm. I tensed. What did the sleazebag want?

  I watched the heated exchange as Mr. Davenport shook off the hand, his expression hard as stone as he turned his back on the other guy. If I hadn’t been watching closely, I might have missed how Mr. Davenport’s hands trembled as he collected the papers he’d laid on the desk he’d been sitting behind through some of the hearing.

  What had the dude said t
o upset Mr. Davenport?

  With no time to dwell on it, I was led back to the jail and taken to the room we’d met the previous day. There must have been a quicker way from the courtroom, as he was already sat in the same seat, his expression showing no emotion. His ever-watchful eyes held mine as I entered the room.

  There was silence between us until I was secured to the table and the guard’s left the room.

  Mr. Davenport glanced at the door as the lock snicked into place, then back at me. His face morphed into a smile that seemed to light the whole room, and the tug of arousal I’d convinced myself hadn’t happened the day before, buzzed with renewed vigor. Fucking hell, this was the last thing I needed.

  “Right, first question. The bail, do you have that kind of money or do we need to find a bail bondsman?”

  “I’ve cash. Y’all need to talk to Nutty. She has authority to release that kind of bread from the bank without needin’ my permission.” Again, I noticed Mr. Davenport’s reaction, his lips pinching and smile dimming. What was wrong with him?

  Leave it be, it’s got nothin’ to do with you.

  His smile never reappeared as he talked through what was going to happen. “If everything is in place, you should hopefully be released tomorrow.”

  I shifted forward, pinning him with a hard stare. “Nope, don’t pull that shit with me, I want out today. The bank can transfer the money, and I’ll take the hit for whatever additional costs there are but get me outta here today. You hear me,” I growled angrily. There was no way I was going to spend another night in this godforsaken place.

  His sea-green eyes turned to chips of hard emerald as he leaned closer to me. His nostrils flared and a dark flush rode along his cheekbones. “Watch it. I worked my fucking ass off to get you in front of a judge today.” His quiet tone held a sharp edge as his jaw thrust forward and bunched, showing the restraint he was using. He sucked in a breath before his shoulders seemed to release. “I understand your need to see River so I’ll make an excuse this time, but remember, I’m on your side.”

  Had he just told me off?

  The mad fluttering in my chest said yes, as did the sizzling anger buzzing now with the arousal. Stunned into silence, I watched him as he collected himself and carried on talking like he hadn’t just chewed me out.

  When was the last time someone had stood up to me? A grudging, newfound respect formed as I remained quiet and stewed over what it all meant as he explained the logistics of how to get me out of jail, today.

  Chapter Six

  Mason

  Dragging a hand through my hair, I leaned against my car, questioning my sanity as I waited for Lincoln to appear from inside the jail while I stood in the muggy heat of the evening. I’d, yet again, missed dinner and it was all because of Lincoln.

  I groaned aloud and slouched against the hot metal as I glanced up at the colorful sky, trying to distract myself. I shut out the sounds of the late evening traffic, not that there was much. Belton wasn’t as densely populated as Killeen, where my home and law practice were.

  My father had been stationed in Killeen with the military. My whole family had moved there when I was about four, and it was the only home I could remember. When my father had retired, he’d chosen to stay and make it his home. Then his best friend, Donny Stephens, had offered him a partnership in his law firm, making it an easy decision.

  Seeing where my head was leading me, I focused on the setting sun. The deep oranges and reds streaking the sky were a thing of beauty. When the sticky heat plastering my shirt to my skin prevented me from finding any joy in the beautiful scene, I gritted my teeth.

  What the hell was wrong with me?

  Not for the first time that day, I queried my own sanity, as had my personal secretary, Linda, who deserved a pay raise after what she’d put up with today. How I had managed to pull it all together and ensure that Lincoln was released today was beyond me, but I’d somehow managed to get everything to line up in order, even with Linda threatening to resign twice through the day as I’d nagged at her.

  After I’d left Lincoln that morning, I’d spent the remainder of the day in the office, jumping through all the hoops. The driving force had been a set of big brown and gold eyes reminding me of my promise everytime I’d wanted to curse and say tomorrow would do. You didn’t promise to drive yourself into the ground and half starve.

  I swallowed the sigh and pushed my aviator sunglasses up my nose when I caught movement through the bars of the gates to the jail. My breath caught in my lungs when Lincoln appeared with two guards.

  He towered over them, his dark hair gleaming in the fading sun. His dark eyes met mine, and I wasn’t sure if it were surprise I saw before he slipped on what I was coming to think of as his ‘fuck you’ mask. It jarred me that I was coming to recognize his different expressions after only spending a few hours with him.

  It’s just because you’ve spent so much time in the last twenty-four hours trying to sort out his crap, that’s all it is. The sentiment lacked conviction and I stood away from the car. My gaze traveled over Lincoln, my head clearly not listening to reason.

  The white prison clothes were gone, and he was dressed all in black. The shirt hugged his large muscular chest and was partially tucked into the front of jeans that sat low on his, surprisingly lean, hips. I licked my dry lips, eyeing legs that flexed under worn denim. Viewing the rips in his jeans, my fingers tingled as my mind wondered what his skin would feel like.

  The clang of the gates pulled me back from my runaway thoughts. I tensed as Lincoln stepped through the open gate and the guard followed, speaking loud enough for me to hear.

  “Oh look, your ass bandit came to collect you.”

  It was common knowledge I was gay, but this was the first time I’d been called out about it so offensively to my face.

  Lincoln’s whole body seemed to still before he slowly twisted his head toward the guy. “You jealous? You wanna be my fuck toy?” His dark, menacing glare matched the tone of his voice as he looked the guy up and down. “You look like you’ll make a great bitch.”

  Before I could think about it, my shoes slapped on the concrete as I ran up the sidewalk to where the men both stood, facing off.

  “Enough. Lincoln, River is waiting for you.” Lincoln’s face kept the ‘fuck you’ expression as he glanced briefly at me. Seeing the fire in the depths of his eyes, I stepped between both men, feeling like I’d just stepped into a boxing ring with Mike Tyson and Mohamad Ali.

  Fuck. Fuck! This was the last thing I needed after I sweated my balls off to get Lincoln out.

  “It looks like you’re the bitch to me,” the guard sneered, not getting how close he was to losing his teeth and possibly having his nose rearranged over his face.

  The tension was as suffocating as the muggy air. I placed my palm on Lincoln’s chest. His whole body felt like it was vibrating under my hand, but I never took my eyes off the guard. “Have you read your terms of employment by the state? I think you’ll find your behavior is classed as verbal harassment.” I nodded to the other guard, who looked like he’d rather be anywhere but right here.

  He wasn’t alone, but I kept my cool, having learned how to play referee with my brothers for years. “You’ve a witness right there. If my client wanted to press charges, he could.”

  The guard blustered, “What the fu—”

  I held up the hand not touching Lincoln to get him to stop before he made matters worse. Not that I could see how, when I could feel the weight of Lincoln’s gaze boring into the side of my head.

  “If I were you, I’d step back inside the gate, lock it, and get the fuck out of my face before I decide to nail your ass to the nearest wall, and not in the way you evidently want.” I shifted my weight forward to make my point. “Then we’ll see who the bitch around here is.”

  The steely edge to my voice would have impressed my four brothers. There was no satisfaction for me though, as I loathed losing my temper, but the guy had pushed my buttons. An
d if there was one thing I hated, it was when those in authority chose to use it as a weapon against others.

  The other guard’s mouth hung open, catching flies behind the dickwad. I dropped the hand touching Lincoln’s chest and gave him a brief look. “Let’s go,” I bit out. The anger was still riding me hard as I stomped back toward my car, only releasing my breath when I heard footsteps behind me.

  As I opened the car door, a wave of stifling heat came at me, and I struggled to not wilt and beg for a cold beer and five fucking minutes alone to cool off. Instead, I got inside the hot car and watched as Lincoln got in beside me, struggling to stretch his long legs out.

  My humor returned as he grunted and twisted, with difficulty, to look at me. “Why’d you have to pick a matchbox to drive?”

  “Hello, this is a 2011 BMW 1M, it is the unicorn of sports cars. This diminutive Bavarian barn burner is all but impossible to find in the secondhand market. It commands a premium price when you can find one. This car was injected with steroids and has three-hundred-thirty-three horsepower, I’ll have you know. It also has a three-litre twin-turbo and six-cylinder engine under the hood, paired with a six-speed manual transmission. It’s a beast, not a fucking matchbox,” I finished with a growl.

  For the first time since I’d met him, Lincoln’s mouth formed into a lazy smile and changed his whole face. He went from attractive to fucking stunning in a heartbeat. I was so lost in that smile, it took a second to register that he was talking.

  “—gear head. Who’d ‘ave thought the uptight lawyer, Mr. Davenport, had a thing for cars.” His smoky voice was full of humor and a shiver ran down my spine, even in the intense heat.

  “Fuck off. I’m anything but uptight, but I’ll give you gear head, and the name is Mason,” I grumbled in return, secretly pleased when the lazy smile remained as he shifted back into the leather seat, reaching for his seat belt.