Shade

by Jamie Begley

  Evie grinned, standing up to take her dishes to the sink before going to Shade who was waiting. She went down the stairs, giving Knox a final stare.

  “I’ll take care of it,” Knox said, showing he had received the unspoken message that Diamond wasn’t allowed to talk club business.

  Closing the door behind him, Shade walked down the steps and towards his bedroom door where Evie was waiting impatiently, practically bouncing on her heels.

  Shade opened the door for her to enter, and she went inside bursting into laughter.

  “You made them watch you fucking Jewell and Raci all night?”

  “Yep,” Shade said, climbing onto the bed. Stacy was chained to his wall naked, and Tara was chained to the bottom of his bed. Both women’s hands were bound so they couldn’t get off, as they watched him pleasure Raci and Jewell.

  “I played with them first while Raci and Jewell partied upstairs, and then I let them come downstairs. I think they enjoyed themselves. What do you think? Tara? Stacy?”

  “You fucking bastard. Shade, please, I can’t take it anymore. We didn’t think they would actually arrest Knox,” Tara whined, still attempting to reach her pussy.

  Her groan of frustration irritated him.

  “Get them down and out of here,” Shade told Evie. “Either of you touch your cunts before you get home, I’ll chain you back up.”

  Evie released the women then handed them their clothes, and as soon as they were dressed, Evie held the bedroom door open for the twins who were anxious to leave.

  They were halfway out the door when Shade’s voice stopped them. “Don’t come back to the clubhouse again. You’re no longer welcome.”

  Both women burst into tears.

  “Knox know to get Diamond back upstairs?”

  Evie smiled. “I warned him when she was watching you get your whiskey. I’ll be right back.”

  Shade was on his second glass of whiskey when Evie returned. She wrinkled her nose at the smell in the room.

  “Need me to clean up?”

  Shade nodded, rolling off the bed.

  Evie changed his sheets while he cleaned his equipment, tossing most of it into the trashcan beside his bed. Evie watched him yet didn’t say anything. She walked out to place his dirty sheets and the dirty wash clothes he used to wipe down the mat and equipment in the washing machine in the other room.

  He was sliding the mat under his bed when she came back in. He didn’t try to hide his weary expression as he climbed back onto the bed, picking up the whiskey bottle to pour Evie a large amount into the glass. He took a long drink from the bottle as he used the remote control to turn on the television.

  Evie sat down on the bed next to him, placing a couple of pillows at the top for her to lean back on before picking up her glass.

  “So, Knox and Diamond are a couple. Never figured he’d find someone after Sunshine.”

  Shade shot her a look. “You know none of that was your fault… it was out of our control. You can sit there and wish you hadn’t been attacked, and I can sit here and wish I had been there when Levi got in that fight, but it wouldn’t matter. It’s not going to come true.”

  “I know, but sometimes I just wish it could have been me. You think that Knox…”

  “No, I don’t fucking think Knox ever wished it had been you.” Shade said harshly.

  “Okay…okay. I’ll stop. Guess now he’s with Diamond I won’t be getting a taste of him anymore,” Evie said, lightening the grim mood. Shade lifted the whiskey bottle, taking another long drink.

  “How much longer you going to be able to go on this way, Shade?”

  “Another year,” he sighed. “Probably more.”

  “Talk to Razer. Maybe he can work it out so you can begin seeing more of her. Maybe he can invite you over to dinner one night when she’s in from college.”

  “It wouldn’t work. If I started seeing her, I wouldn’t be able to stop.”

  “Yes, you would. I know you—”

  “Not where Lily’s concerned you don’t. Leave it alone. Let’s just watch television.”

  They watched a comedy on a group of teenagers running from the police.

  “Remember when Levi and I stole Dad’s Jeep? We were already drunk off our asses by the time we picked you up.”

  “I remember,” Evie said softly, scooting lower in the bed to lay her head on his shoulder. “Levi was laughing his head off, and you were driving around base, trying to pick up girls.”

  “I never did get one that night.”

  “They were too scared of you. You scare everyone.”

  “Lily most of all.” Shade’s arm covered his eyes as he lay back on the bed.

  Evie caught the whiskey bottle before it could spill.

  “Go to sleep, Shade. You haven’t slept in two days.”

  “Evie, you think it’s possible Lily will ever like me?” Shade’s voice slurred between the whiskey and lack of sleep.

  His breath deepened as he dozed off before he could hear her soft answer.

  “I think she’s going to love you.”

  Chapter 35

  Shade, Knox, and Viper were on their way to the diner when they saw Diamond enter the police station carrying a kid. The sheriff was holding the door open for her while the deputies followed with her secretary and a man Shade had never seen before.

  “What the fuck?” Knox said, swinging his bike toward the police station, and a car horn blared.

  Shade and Viper turned in when the pissed-off motorist had passed. Knox was already inside as Shade and Viper entered the station.

  “I’m all right, Knox!” Diamond was yelling, trying to get Knox’s attention while he attempted to strangle the man in handcuffs.

  Shade and Viper pulled him off, backing him away, as the deputies rushed the man out back.

  “Knox, if you don’t stop, I’m going to arrest you,” the sheriff threatened.

  Knox took a deep breath, going toward Diamond.

  The little boy burst into tears.

  “Holly!” he cried out with big tears sliding down his cheeks.

  Shade was no expert on kids, but the one Diamond was holding didn’t look well.

  “Sheriff, please let me hold him,” Holly cried, trying to take a step forward, but the deputy held her back.

  “Sheriff, I already told you I’m not going to press charges. You have no reason to arrest her. She had his legal mother’s permission to care for him,” Diamond added her own plea.

  The sheriff gave a sigh, going to Holly to release her handcuffs. “You should have brought the child forward. I wasted a lot of man hours searching.”

  “I know. I regret that I didn’t. I should have contacted you when I found out Sam was dead, but with Vincent Bedford in prison, I was afraid he would be put in foster care. I’ve taken care of him since he was born.”

  Diamond handed the little boy to Holly.

  “I didn’t know Mitch had a gun. I just wanted Sam’s autopsy report so I could find out why Logan is sick all the time,” the frightened woman explained. “I’m so sorry, Diamond. I should have asked for your help instead of listening to Mitch’s idea of breaking into your office.”

  Shade caught the warning look Diamond shot Holly.

  “I told you it wasn’t a break-in if you had a key.”

  “Well, we need to get this little guy to a doctor, and then I’ll take him to Mrs. Langley. She’s his only relative left,” the sheriff said, taking out his cell phone.

  Diamond stopped him.

  “No, she isn’t.”

  * * *

  Diamond and Knox came downstairs. Shade watched her eyes widen when she saw Jewell between Rider’s legs, sucking on his cock.

  He was standing at the bar, talking to Bliss and Evie, when they stopped next to them.

  Evie handed Diamond a beer.

  “Thanks, Evie.”

  “Did you eat dinner?” Knox asked, taking a drink of his own beer.

  “Yes, I picked something u
p at the diner.”

  Shade tilted his head to the side when Diamond met everyone else’s eyes except his.

  “Let’s dance.” Knox broke into the strained silence, leading Diamond to the dance floor.

  “You scare the crap out of her.” Bliss laughed.

  Shade silently agreed. In the month Diamond and Knox had been together again, she still appeared nervous around Shade. She was friendly with Beth and Winter, but she didn’t gossip. Shade liked that about her. He liked it a lot.

  Diamond had a good head on her shoulders, and she was concerned about other’s feelings. She had seen to it that Dustin was given custody of his son while ensuring Mrs. Langley was able to see her grandson. Her secretary was still employed with her, and Diamond had talked Dustin into letting Holly stay near his son, despite his older brothers’ anger from Holly having kept the child from them. Everything had been smoothed out by Diamond.

  He and Evie were still standing at the bar later when Knox carried Diamond up the steps.

  “When do you think it’s going to dawn on her that she’s the new member being voted in tonight?” Evie laughed as they both watched Train go upstairs.

  “In about two minutes,” Shade replied as Cash left the dance floor with Bliss in tow.

  “You change your mind about joining in?” Shade asked her.

  “No. I said I would help you. Are you almost ready?”

  Shade set his unfinished beer down on the bar counter.

  Rider, seeing them heading to the door, left the dance floor. “Let me grab my keys, and I’ll meet you at my truck.”

  Shade nodded, going out the door.

  Crash turned off the music as the rest of The Last Riders followed them out the door and down to the parking lot. The women climbed in the front of Rider’s truck, which was filled to the brim with everything from Diamond’s bedroom that Knox and the other’s had taken from her apartment while she had been at work, while those who didn’t fit jumped on whichever brother’s bike was near.

  Shade rode down the road alone, letting the fresh air hit him in the face, waving to his dad in his brand new truck as they passed on the winding road.

  As the bikes pulled into the driveway of the house Knox had bought, Rider and Shade went to the tailgate of his truck where everyone grabbed something to pack in. Shade and Rider carried in the heavy mattress, setting it down inside the front door, since everyone else seemed to be waiting at the bottom of the steps for Shade’s orders.

  “Everyone, let’s try not to make a mess of the new carpet. Women, we’ll pack everything up the steps, and you tell us where you want it. Knox wants the bedroom perfect when he brings Diamond over in the morning.

  “What do you want me to do with this, Shade?” Evie walked in the doorway carrying Knox’s new sheriff uniform.

  “Hang it on the bottom of the stairs so he’ll see it in the morning when he gets here. He wants to surprise Diamond.”

  She nodded, hanging it over the banister.

  Shade and Rider picked up the mattress again.

  “Get busy, brothers. Knox is depending on us.”

  Chapter 36

  Shade, Razer, and Rider were walking by the front window of the diner. Anxious to see Lily for the first time in several weeks, he looked inside and then came to a dead stop, causing Razer and Rider to nearly collide into him.

  “Watch where you’re going, Shade,” Rider snapped.

  Shade ignored him, narrowing his eyes on Razer who was trying to keep a straight face. “Mother fucker, why didn’t you tell me who Beth and Lily are having lunch with?”

  Shade didn’t give him time to answer. Turning on his boot, he began walking back to his bike.

  Rider peeked in the window and took off after him.

  “Shade, wait.” Razer caught his arm then Rider’s. “You guys are supposed to be my brothers. You can’t desert me in my time of need,” Razer begged.

  “Pussy,” Shade snapped, getting back on his bike.

  “Come on, it wouldn’t be so bad if it was just one or two of the bitches, but four of them are in there.” Seeing he was making no headway with Shade, Razer turned to Rider who had always been the sucker of the group. “Rider, you’re bragging all the time that you’re the toughest brother. You can brag you took on Sex Piston and her crew while Shade ran.”

  Shade could tell that appealed to him. The big chump’s ego had fallen for Razer’s load of crap, hook, line, and sinker. Shade started his motor.

  “Lily’s going back to college tonight. You really want to miss being able to see her until the end of the term? She has finals…”

  Razer gave an unholy grin when Shade turned his motor off and stood back up.

  “Let’s go,” Shade growled at his former brother.

  When they returned to the clubhouse, Shade was going to make Beth a widow. He would be able to hold Lily at Razer’s funeral while she cried on his shoulder. Shade’s imaginings ended when Razer held the door of the diner open for them.

  Rider started to enter then stopped. “Since Shade’s going in, I won’t be able to brag about—”

  Shade pushed him inside the diner, ignoring his frightened expression.

  Razer bent and kissed his wife on the cheek.

  “Got anything left?” he teased, looking down at her empty plate.

  “No, you’ll have to order your own.”

  Shade and Rider each grabbed chairs and pulled them up to the table. Once Shade had maneuvered his chair between Beth and Lily’s, Rider sat down on the other side of Lily, giving Crazy Bitch and Killyama’s side of the table a wide berth. Razer sat down next to his wife, placing his arm over the back of her chair.

  Killyama looked unhappy with the seating arrangement. She took turns alternating between pursuing Shade and Rider. Thank fuck she was usually on Rider’s case more than his, but that was only because he was better at dodging her.

  “What you been up to, Shade?” He winced when Killyama’s usually abrasive tone turned seductive.

  He didn’t take off his sunglasses, but his head turned in her direction. Shade kept the sunglasses on so he could stare at Lily without making her uncomfortable; he didn’t care what everyone else thought.

  “Nothing much,” he responded before ordering himself a coffee from the hovering waitress.

  Razer and Rider both ordered burgers and fries.

  “Not hungry, Shade?” Sex Piston asked.

  “No. I already ate,” he said with an expression that dared her to question him further.

  As they waited for Razer and Rider’s food, Beth and Crazy Bitch talked about Crazy Bitch getting her GED and starting beauty school during the summer.

  “You going to let me do Beth’s hair?” Crazy Bitch asked Razer.

  “No.” Razer didn’t try to soften his answer. He was wearing a bandana on his own head of long, dark hair.

  “I’ll let you do mine,” Lily offered, finishing her lunch.

  “No.” Shade’s dark sunglasses landed on Lily.

  Lily turned to Shade with a stubborn look on her face. “If I want her to do my hair, then she can do my hair. You don’t tell me what to do.”

  “You still wanting that summer job?” he asked in a soft voice.

  Shade saw a glimmer of stubbornness as she refused to back down.

  “Yes.” She stiffened in her chair, staring defiantly back at Shade.

  “Then she doesn’t touch your hair,” Shade said. “It’s fine the way it is,” he supplied as an afterthought.

  He had plans for that hair. He had fantasized too many times of fucking her while he held it gripped in his hand.

  “She’s going to need someone to practice on, and I was thinking of getting it cut anyway.”

  Shade stiffened, not in anger as everyone thought because of her arguing with him, but that she was learning not to be afraid of him.

  He decided to push a small amount, just to see just how much better she was becoming in dealing with her panic attacks.

 
; “Then think again.” Shade’s hand went to hers on the table.

  Her delicate wrist wore no jewelry, but the damn red rubber band was still there. Placing his hand over her wrist, he turned more fully toward Lily, leaning into her space. He lifted his other hand to her black hair, twining a curl around his finger and pulling it taut.

  “You want your hair cut? Don’t you know men like long hair, especially cowboys? I, on the other hand, think short hair is sexy.”

  Lily’s body leaned as far away from Shade’s as she could without falling out of her chair. His heart sped up when she didn’t stand up and run from the table.

  “I kind of agree with Shade,” Sex Piston butted in. “Your hair is beautiful; leave it alone. It just needs a little trim. Stop by my shop during spring break, and I’ll trim it for you.”

  “Okay.”

  Shade stared at Sex Piston, perfectly aware she had known he didn’t want Lily’s hair cut and had sought to change Lily’s mind.

  He released Lily’s hair, letting it slide from between his fingertips. He had wanted to know how her hair felt since he had first seen her. At that point he had to concentrate on lifting his coffee cup and not reaching out to touch it again.

  “I can give you a new look, but not have to cut much off the length.”

  “Do you think you could introduce me to Pike while I’m in Jamestown?”

  Shade’s satisfied look disappeared at Lily’s request, and he stiffened in his seat. “Who’s Pike?”

  “Someone Sex Piston and Fat Louise know. They said he’s from Arizona,” Lily said, waiting for Sex Piston’s answer.

  Fat Louise started to answer, but Sex Piston cut her off. “I’m afraid you’re going to have to wait until you move to Arizona to meet a cowboy, Lily. Pike has a girlfriend, and I don’t think she would appreciate me introducing him to you.”

  Shade’s hands clenched on his coffee cup. He had been walking on eggshells around her for three fucking years to make sure she could deal with a relationship, and she was actually asking Sex Piston to set her up?

  He opened his mouth, about to tell her the only way she was going to see Pike was at his funeral.

  “When you going to give me a ride on that bike of yours, Shade?” Killyama asked.