The front door opened and Tristan stood in the doorway. “Hey. You okay?”
“Mom needs your help,” I blurted.
“Raquel,” Mom said on a groan.
“Uncle Gary’s extorting her,” I continued.
“Jesus,” Tristan hissed. “He always was an asshole.”
Mom’s shoulders dropped in relief. “He was? I mean, he’s always been an asshole to me, but I thought you were close.”
“Who the fuck led you to believe I was close to that degenerate piece of shit?” Tristan spit out.
Mom bit her lip and shook her head. “He did.”
“Right, so, now that you have considered the source, wanna fill me in on why you didn’t come to me sooner?”
“Can we maybe not do this on the porch?” I asked. “Where’s Orion?”
“He’s in the kitchen.”
“I’ll leave you two to talk,” I said and went looking for my man.
He was in the kitchen grabbing a beer from the fridge and I took a minute to admire his ass before saying, “For someone so totally obsessed with my safety, I’d like to know why you weren’t waiting on the front porch for me.”
He grinned, closing the fridge and wrapping an arm around my waist, kissing me quickly. “Wrath got here ten minutes before you, and Mozart let me know the second you came through the gate, but your brother wanted to be the one to greet you first, so I let him.”
I wrinkled my nose. “I’d like the record to reflect, I don’t like that.”
He chuckled, giving me a squeeze. “Noted.”
“How pissed was Sierra?” I asked.
“She was half-naked by the time I saw them, so I think she was fine.”
“Oh my god, seriously?”
“Yeah, baby. I think you need to wrap your mind around the fact your girl is fuckin’ Wrath. And enjoyin’ it.”
I shook my head and changed the subject. “How was church?”
He smiled. “How was dinner?” he asked, ignoring my question.
“Weird.” I leaned heavily against him. “I wish I’d stayed here.”
“Why? What’s goin’ on?”
I shook my head. “Not here.”
He lifted my chin and frowned. “That bad?”
I nodded, and he took my hand and pulled me into one of the bunk rooms, closing the door behind us and crossing his arms. “What’s wrong?”
I filled him in on what I knew about my mom’s situation and he scowled. “Your brother’s on this?”
I nodded.
“You want me to step in?”
Seriously, I loved this man beyond reason. “No, baby, it’s all good.”
He hooked his hand around my neck and tugged me forward, wrapping his arms around me and kissing the top of my head. “How are your hands?”
“Better,” I said, hugging him tight.
He gripped my hair and guided my head back so I could meet his eyes. “You lyin’ to me?”
I rolled my eyes. “No. They really do feel better. Tristan thinks the bandages can come off in a few days.”
“I know. He told me.”
“Then what do you need me for? You apparently have all the answers before you ask the questions,” I retorted.
He chuckled, leaning down to kiss me. “I got your brother’s answer, but I still didn’t have yours. I’m relieved to hear they’re the same.”
I sighed, kissing him again. “I can’t believe my mom made a sex tape.”
“Sounds like she didn’t know it was happening.”
“True. But I couldn’t imagine having something so personal out there.” I shuddered. “And she fucked my gross uncle. That’s beyond creepy.”
“We’re gonna deal with him, baby. Your mom’s covered. Don’t doubt it.”
I nodded and looked up at him. “Don’t kill him.”
“Not making any promises.”
I sighed. “I’m okay with you roughing him up, but don’t kill him. That would be too easy.”
“I’ll keep your opinion in mind,” he said. “For now, though, I want to kill your pussy. You up for that?”
“Yes,” I hissed. “Mom’s gonna be busy for a bit, so we have time.”
He leaned back and locked the door. “Strip.”
I bit my lip and did as he demanded.
* * *
Orion
Some time around two a.m., I left Raquel in my bed and headed downstairs to meet with Doc and Rabbit. I had a feeling I’d get pulled into the shit with Raquel’s mom, particularly because Gary apparently lived in Denver, so it made sense for us to deal with him.
I walked into my office to find Rabbit hunkered down in a chair, his feet on my desk, and a laptop on his lap, with Doc leaning down behind him, reading something on the screen.
“Whatya got?” I asked.
“I hacked into his personal cloud,” Rabbit said. “But I don’t wanna look at it. Jenae’s hot as fuck, but I got too much respect for Doc’s dad to watch his wife doin’ the nasty.”
“And I seriously don’t want to watch it,” Doc admitted. “No interest in seein’ my step-mother fuckin’ my ugly fatass uncle.”
“Can’t you just delete it?” I asked.
Rabbit shook his head. “He’s got a trigger built in that will notify him if someone tries, which makes me believe this isn’t the only copy.”
“Jesus,” I said. “I’m not watchin’ it.”
“Well, someone needs to watch it,” Rabbit said. “We need to know what we’re dealin’ with.”
I really didn’t want to see my woman’s mother in a compromising position. I sighed and pulled out my phone, firing off a text. It took less than five minutes for Wrath to come strolling into the room, shit eating grin on his face. “You got a porno for me to look at?”
“Sex tape. Taken against the woman’s will, so let’s keep that in perspective,” Doc warned.
I had to give my road captain credit, he faked a serious and concerned expression as Rabbit handed him the laptop and pressed the play button.
“Holy fuck!” he snapped. “Is that Raquel’s mom?”
“Focus, brother,” I instructed. “We need to know what we’re dealin’ with here.”
“Well, her tits are obviously a solid C-cup, she’s got a tiny waist and an ass that bounces when she moves. Jesus, she’s hot as fuck.”
“Okay, that’s enough,” Doc said, and pushed the laptop closed.
“We need him to watch the whole thing,” Rabbit pressed.
“Fuck me,” Doc said. “I don’t want Jenae exploited.”
“Sorry, man, I get it,” Wrath said. “I’ll keep my thoughts to myself.”
Doc removed his hand and Wrath opened the computer again, firing up the video. He kept the sound up and I cringed hearing Jenae sobbing quietly in the background while the asshole grunted as he fucked her.
Jesus, I couldn’t wait to get my hands around the asshole’s neck.
“This is obvious proof she wasn’t enjoying any of that,” I said, unable to continue to listen.
“Yeah,” Doc agreed. “But she’s scared to death to go to the cops because Gary’s threatened to kill Raquel.”
My blood boiled. “He’s threatened Raquel?”
Doc sighed. “Yeah.”
“Way to bury the fuckin’ lead, Doc,” I bellowed. “Jesus Christ!”
“She’s covered.”
“Yeah, I know she’s fuckin’ covered. I’ve got her covered,” I growled. “If this guy so much as sneezes in her direction, I’ll rip his dick off.”
“I’ll help you hide his balls,” Doc said. “But we need a solid plan so we can figure out how to solve this with no blowback.”
“I’ll tell you what we’re gonna do. I’m gonna drive up to Denver and deal with it.”
“Has Jenae told your dad what’s goin’ on?” Rabbit asked.
Doc shook his head. “Gary’s threat extends to my dad as well.”
“Okay,” I said. “Road trip to Denver. Tomorrow.”
“Yeah,” Doc and Rabbit said in stereo.
* * *
I dropped Raquel at class the next morning, glad it was a full day of school for her, then I met up with Doc and Rabbit, riding borrowed bikes. We headed up to Denver, making it in less than forty-five minutes, and following the GPS to Gary’s condo in one of the downtown high rises.
We arrived to find the lobby empty. We’d expected a doorman, but no one was around, so we took the opportunity to grab an elevator and make our way to Gary’s floor. I’d kind of hoped Doc would be able to help guide us, but he hadn’t seen his uncle in fifteen years, and had never been here, so we were all flying blind.
Stepping into the tenth floor hallway, we approached number 1012, finding the door slightly ajar. I turned to face Doc and he nodded, indicating to go slow. We all pulled our guns out of our holsters and inched through the door, finding the condo in disarray, and a blood trail leading from the kitchen. We followed the trail and pushed into the bathroom. Gary’s lifeless and bloody body was sprawled out on the floor, a man standing over him with a hunting knife.
“Shit,” Doc hissed. “Dad?”
* * *
Raquel
I walked out of class to find Aero waiting for me in Sundance’s truck. I sighed. “Where’s Orion?”
“He had shit to do.”
“And my brother?”
Aero reached his hand out. “Can I take your bag?”
“They’re together, I take it?” I mused, handing my backpack over.
“In the truck, Raquel.”
I rolled my eyes and climbed in, securing my seatbelt and pulling my phone out, sending Orion a quick text. Not that I expected a response.
My brother had given the okay to remove my left bandage, as that hand was healing the fastest, so I was able to do a few things, although, not easily since it wasn’t my dominant hand. At least I could text now. It made things much easier.
“Can you take me to the Hilton, please?”
“No,” Aero said.
“Why not?”
“Got orders to get you back to the cabin.”
“Orion’s not even there,” I argued. “I’d like to spend the evening with my mother.”
“No can-do, sweetheart.”
My phone buzzed just as I was about to go crazy banshee on him. It was my mom, so I answered. “Hi, Mom. Were your ears burning?”
“Gary’s dead.”
“What?” I whispered.
“It was on the news.”
“This soon?”
“The editor-in-chief of the Denver Chronicle just happens to live in your uncle’s building.”
“Convenient,” I murmured.
“I need you here, honey.”
Aero shook his head.
“Can you come to the cabin instead?”
“I don’t really fit in with those people.”
“Mama, don’t be difficult. I’ll come and pick you up.”
Aero scowled and I muted my phone, letting my mom continue to argue one-sided.
“I’m not letting her Uber,” I said.
“Jesus, Raquel, Orion’s gonna have my head if I deviate from the plan.”
“And I’ll have yours if you don’t. Pick which one of us you’re more afraid of, but understand that if anything happens to my mother because you chose to leave her stranded, I will cut your dick off and choke you with it.”
“Raquel, are you still there?” Mom asked.
Aero raised an eyebrow as I unmuted my phone, and smiled when he flipped a U-turn. “I’m here, Mom. I’m coming to get you. Please pack an overnight bag.”
“Raquel—”
I hung up on her. I had never done that before, but I just couldn’t listen to her argue with me anymore. I needed her in the compound and safe.
Aero drove up to the hotel and parked, then walked me up to Mom’s room where she was none too pleased to be forced to leave the ‘comfort of her hotel for a den of iniquity.’
“You’ll love the den,” Aero assured. “I’ll keep you plied with tequila.”
I bit back a laugh. I had never seen my mother drunk, but I suddenly wanted to.
She huffed, dropping her bag at Aero’s feet and striding out the door. He grabbed her bag and then we made our way back to his truck.
Once we were back in the safety of the compound, I let myself relax slightly, although, I was pissed beyond reason.
I knew exactly who had killed Gary and I was not happy about it.
Raquel
THE BED DIPPING awakened me and I frowned. “Who’s there?”
“It’s me,” Orion said.
“I locked that door.”
“Yeah, I figured that out.”
“But you chose to break in anyway?”
“It’s my room,” he pointed out.
“Well, I would like you to sleep somewhere else.”
“Not happenin’.”
I threw the covers off and sat up. “Then I will.”
“What crawled up your ass, Frazzle?”
“Are you kidding me?”
“No, baby. What I am is wiped out and just want to crawl into bed with my woman.”
“I’m not sleeping with a murderer.”
“Jesus,” he hissed.
“I specifically told you I didn’t want you to kill him! Now I’m going to have to decide if I’m going to have time to visit you in the pen.”
“It’s good to know you’ll at least try,” he retorted.
“Oh my god, Adam, this is not funny.”
He pushed me onto my back and hovered over me. “I didn’t kill your uncle, baby.”
“Right.”
“It wasn’t me,” he said.
“Then who did?”
“Not gonna go there, Razzle. You can talk to your brother in the morning.”
“My brother killed him?” I squeaked, pushing at Orion’s shoulders.
He shook his head. “Tomorrow, Raquel.”
“Let me up.”
“Babe—”
“Move.” I shoved at his shoulders again. “Please.”
He rolled off, albeit reluctantly, and I dragged on a pair of sweats.
“Where is he?”
Orion dragged his hands down his face. “Last I saw him, he was in the bunkroom by the kitchen.”
I flew out the door and downstairs, banging on the door of the bunkroom and pushing in before I was given permission to enter.
And then I froze.
My brother was stitching up a wound on my father’s arm and it took me a minute to register that my father was here.
“Daddy?”
“Jesus,” my brother hissed. “I thought you were keeping her out of this, Orion.”
“Yeah, I tried,” Orion said from behind me.
“Keeping me out of what?” I snapped. “I already figured out you killed Gary.”
“It wasn’t your brother, chickpea,” Dad countered.
“Oh my god,” I ground out, glaring up at Orion. “You lied to me?”
He frowned. “I have never lied to you.”
“It was me, chickpea,” Dad said.
“What was you?”
“I killed Gary.”
Chalk it up to exhaustion and the fact it was dark o’clock in the morning, but I couldn’t quite wrap my mind around what my father had just said.
“I’m sorry? Wait, where’s Mom?”
“Asleep, I hope,” Dad said.
Orion, wrapped an arm around me from behind. “Baby, come to bed. You can process all this tomorrow.”
“You killed Uncle Gary?” I rasped. “Why?”
“Razzle, I’ll fill you in in the morning,” Orion pressed.
“No,” I growled. “What the hell is going on?”
“I really need you to take a beat, chickpea,” Dad said.
Orion turned me to face him and stroked my cheek. “Come to bed.”
I blinked back tears, dropping my head to his chest. “I want to know what’s going
on.”
“And I promise I’ll tell you,” he said. “But right now, you need to rest.”
I sighed, leaning heavily against him.
“Come on, baby, let’s go upstairs.”
I let him lead me upstairs, closing us into his room and I lost my hold on my emotions, bursting into tears and fisting my hands in Orion’s T-shirt. “Did my dad really murder someone?”
“Legally, it was self-defense.”
“But it wasn’t really, was it?”
“Baby, your uncle raped his woman. Do you really think he’d let that stand?”
“My dad’s a pilot, Smoky. Not a biker. I figured he’d find a way to deal with him that was less violent.”
“Your brothers are a product of your father’s raising. The apples don’t fall far from the tree.”
I nodded into his T-shirt. “I know this sounds crazy, but I’m kind of glad he was the one who dealt with it.”
“It doesn’t sound crazy.”
I met his eyes. “He totally protected my mom.”
“Did you expect anything less?”
“Yes, obviously, but I’m glad I was wrong. Although, I’m not sure how I feel about him killing someone.”
“Bullshit.”
“What?”
“You know exactly how you feel.” He fisted his hand in my hair and guided my head back so we were eye-to-eye. “You’re not blind to biker life, Razzle. You know the code, so don’t pretend you don’t.”
“Don’t tell me how to feel,” I snapped.
“Settle down, garbanzo bean,” Orion retorted.
“Suck a bag of dicks, Adam.”
He smiled, kissing me quickly. “Jesus, you’re fuckin’ gorgeous when you’re pissed off.”
“Oh, this is mildly annoyed. I haven’t hit pissed off yet. But keep goin’, buddy, you’re driving me there imminently.”
“I’m not telling you how to feel, baby, I’m simply pointing out that you’re not being entirely truthful with your disdain and shock.”
“How do you figure?”
“Your dad might be a pilot, but you know he’s alpha to the core, so he’s gonna treat each situation accordingly. You know Doc’s gonna fuckin’ take care of his business and your younger brothers are already doin’ the same. Your dad raised those men, so I don’t really think you’re all that surprised that your dad defended your mother’s honor at the end of a knife.”
“He used a knife?”
Primal Howl (Primal Howlers MC Book 1) Page 16
