by Mara McBain
Table of Contents
Copyright
Dedication
Chapter ~ 1
Chapter ~ 2
Chapter ~ 3
Chapter ~ 4
Chapter ~ 5
Chapter ~ 6
Chapter ~ 7
Chapter ~ 8
Chapter ~ 9
Chapter ~ 10
Chapter ~ 11
Chapter ~ 12
Chapter ~ 13
Chapter ~ 14
Chapter ~ 15
Chapter ~ 16
Chapter ~ 17
Chapter ~ 18
Chapter ~ 19
Chapter ~ 20
Chapter ~ 21
Chapter ~ 22
Chapter ~ 23
Chapter ~ 24
Chapter ~ 25
Chapter ~ 26
Chapter ~ 27
Chapter ~ 28
Chapter ~ 29
Chapter ~ 30
Chapter ~ 31
Chapter ~ 32
Chapter ~ 33
Chapter ~ 34
Chapter ~ 35
Chapter ~ 36
Chapter ~ 37
Chapter ~ 38
Chapter ~ 39
Chapter ~ 40
Chapter ~ 41
Club Ties – Book 2 in the Trinity Falls Series
Copyright: Mara McBain
All rights reserved by author
Published by Wynwidyn Press, LLC
No part of this publication may be reproduced in any form by any means electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise without written permission of the publisher. For information regarding permission, write to
Wynwidyn Press, LLC, and Attention: Permissions Depart, 1360 E. M-36, Suite C, Pinckney, Michigan, 48169
Softcover ISBN 978-0-9855459-6-3
1 Edition, December 2012
10987654321
Printed in the U.S.A.
Author Photography by Derek Farber of Farber Photography
Book Cover Design by Darren Wheeling
Interior Layout by Dave Reed
Dedication
To Mike, Max, & my parents for your patience & love. To Cass, Dan, Shari & Jen for your unwavering belief and encouragement. To Robin at Wynwidyn Press for being such an amazing mentor and friend. And last, but never least, to Adriana, my beloved TT, without whom not only would this have never happened, but it wouldn’t have been nearly as much fun.
The Trinity Falls Series
Club Justice
Club Ties
Club Ties
Chapter ~ 1
Sparks jumped from the brazier, floating heavenward on the autumn breeze. Wrapped in her dragonfly blanket against the night chill, Ginny’s hazel eyes held a faraway glint. Her long fingers stroked the plush fleece idly. The firelight flickered off the wineglass in her other hand and the furrow of her brow, aging her.
He shifted in the shadows at the patio’s edge, aching for the words to bring a smile to her face. They came so seldom anymore. The rape had changed her. News of Kramer’s death had eased the fear, but hadn’t rekindled the spark, the confidence that was Ginny. She put on a good show in public, but at home she was quieter, often lost in her thoughts.
Her relationship with Zeke seemed closer than ever, but she had withdrawn a bit from him and the other two boys. Zeke said she was trying to protect them, but the truth was it hurt. The secret he carried wasn’t helping. He felt awkward around her. The corner of his mouth lifted in a self-deprecating grimace. It was messed up. He loved this woman enough to kill for her, but, now, he couldn’t even look her in the eye.
A movement drew Mox’s attention away from Ginny. Zeke stood, framed by the patio door, his gaze intent on his wife. His hard features relaxed as Ginny turned instinctually, feeling his presence as sure as a physical touch. Sliding the door open he stepped out onto the patio. He scooped her up and dropped into the chair, cradling her to his chest. The rumble of Zeke’s voice reached his ears. He couldn’t make out the words, but Ginny giggled.
Mox shook his head, slipping deeper into the shadows. He felt like a voyeur. There was something so intimate about their love. He envied what they had, doubting that he would ever find the combination of friendship and passion they shared.
Turning his back on their melding silhouettes, he walked around the side of the house to straddle his Harley. Firing the big bike, he rolled out of the drive. In the absence of monumental love, maybe a warm body would do.
He cast a longing glance at The Lantern as he cruised by. The new building was up, allowing the contractors to finish up work indoors with the coming weather. Soon he and Rhys would be moving into the apartment that now spanned the second floor. Ginny hadn’t been too happy about them moving out, but the location had appeased her a bit. The pub was supposed to be ready for the grand re-opening by the first of December. In the meantime, Trinity’s only other hangout was Curly’s.
The cramped sports bar was outside of town in a small strip mall. It boasted all-you-could-eat wings, vintage arcade machines, shabby pool tables, and a parking-space-size dance floor. The lot was packed when he pulled in. Seeing Rhys’ hog among those parked by the door, he groaned, praying Becca wasn’t with him.
The couple had been more off than on of late. As protective as he was being of Ginny, Zeke had made it clear Becca wasn’t welcome in their home or the clubhouse anymore. The skank hadn’t taken it well. When she had stubbornly showed up to a club party, Zeke had personally showed her out. His conversation with Rhys in the alley afterwards had gotten more than a little heated. Becca had kept her distance since.
Making his way inside, Mox was lucky enough to find a spot at the corner of the bar. Ordering a beer, he scanned the crowd. Rhys and Sambo were shooting pool. As he watched, Becca reclined on the rail, earning an annoyed look from Sambo. Mox guessed she was trying for sexy, but, as usual, she just came off looking cheap.
He scanned the dance floor. The crowd read like a Who’s Who of girls that had shot him down in the past. Maybe this was a mistake. His cheeks burned. Alone-time with a bottle of lotion suddenly seemed preferable.
“Does Curly know you’re underage?”
Mox grinned at the sultry stripper as she kissed his cheek and brazenly slipped around to stand between his knees. He’d known her for years and was at ease with her.
“It doesn’t bother him anymore than it did you.”
She walked her fingers up his thigh.
“I’ve never been one to turn down a challenge, Big Boy. What’s his excuse?”
“He’s never turned down a dollar.”
“Touché,” Tawny said, slapping at his chest with a giggle. “I guess Curly and I have something in common.”
“Would you settle for a beer?”
“It’s a start.”
Shaking his head, Mox motioned to Curly. Though she had been a hell of a sixteenth birthday present, he wasn’t about to pay for sex.
“How come you aren’t over there with your brother?”
“Because it’s over there with my brother.”
“I don’t know what he sees in her.”
“She’s easy.”
“So am I!”
Mox rolled his eyes and shrugged at that one. Was there a woman that didn’t want to bed the crown prince? “I haven’t seen you around much lately,” he said, opening her beer.
“Reaper seems pretty set on that little Asian bitch.”
“Lee’s a nice girl.”
“That doesn’t explain what Reaper sees in her.”
Mox snorted, unable to argue with the woman’s bitter assessment. He watched a frown wrinkle the statuesque beauty’s forehead, her attention back on Becca.
/>
“She’s really not all that.”
Becca chose that moment to lean over Rhys, body language bored and pleading. The shrill pitch of her whine carried through the raucous bar.
“Her voice alone kills it for me,” he said, taking a swig of his beer, as if to wash a nasty taste out of his mouth.
“Men are morons,” Tawny said with a huff and turned back to him decisively. “Do you want laid?”
“I can always use laid.”
“Let’s get out of here.”
The Grandfather clock heralded one o’clock, its distinguished chime rolling through the quiet house. Closing the stairwell door, Mox sighed and descended into the boy’s basement domain. He smiled. Garrett was asleep in front of the TV. Reaching over the big sectional couch, Mox took the remote from the kid and shut off the television, dropping the basement into darkness.
He yawned and turned for his room. The tumble with Tawny had taken the edge off, and now he just wanted to sleep. He froze. Something moved in the shadows. Fists clenching reflexively, he reached out and flicked on the light switch.
Ginny blinked at him. He thought he detected a tremble in the hand that rose to shield her eyes and push a strand of chestnut hair aside.
“What’re you doing?” He winced. The question came out suspicious and gruff.
“Looking for whites to finish a load,” she said, gesturing with the laundry basket on her hip.
Silence hung between them, full of questions and secrets. Mox rubbed his smooth scalp, searching for something to say that would put things back to rights between them.
“I’m sorry I startled you,” Ginny said.
Her voice was soft, but ripped him from thought. She bit her lip. He hated the uncertainty in her eyes. Would it ever be the same? Rage roiled in him. He could hear the raping-scumbag’s voice in his head. It was sex! Is that worth dying for? Mox ground his teeth. It was so much more than sex. The bastard had gone to his grave not understanding the hurt he had done to this strong and beautiful woman. Caution be damned. If he had it to do over, Kramer would suffer.
“You know you can talk to me,” she whispered.
Mox forced a smile to his lips, nodding. She wanted things back to normal just as bad as he did. He cleared his throat. “You know that goes both ways, right?”
The love that lit her face made it hard to breathe. He closed his eyes as she stood on tip-toe to brush a kiss across his cheek.
“Thank you, baby. You’re your father’s son. I can always count on you.”
His eyes stayed closed and he swallowed against the lump in his throat as she slipped past him and out of the room. Her words gripped his heart. He prayed she knew how right she was.
Tears snaked down Ginny’s cheeks, soaking her pillow. Curled on her side, she watched Zeke sleep. He looked at peace. She wasn’t sure she remembered what that was. Her stomach churned and her heart ached. Mox was so distant. It was getting worse and she didn’t know how to fix it. It felt like the boy she had raised was gone. She had no idea how to reach him. The closed-off man in his stead was a stranger.
Ginny knew her attack had hurt them all. Brawer men were a possessive and protective lot. She doubted Kramer could’ve done anything to hurt her men more. As much as Zeke and the boys regretted not being there, she resented being used to wound them.
Rubbing her face against the pillow, she flipped it over in search of a dry spot. Zeke stirred and she held her breath. He needed his sleep. He had finally returned to work. It had taken some fast talking to convince him she was fit to be left alone. She would never admit the fear an empty house inspired.
Studying Zeke’s profile in the moonlight, she smiled wanly. He needed a haircut. The bristled flat top that had turned salt-and-pepper at an early age now sported more silver. Would he have had an easier life if she hadn’t shown up on his doorstep in the middle of the night? As many times as she had asked herself the question, she still had no answer.
She’d never wanted another man. Kramer had violated something that belonged to only Zeke. She had heard all the platitudes, read all the articles telling her it wasn’t her fault, or that it somehow didn’t count. Her heart wasn’t buying that. She felt dirty. Her skin crawled. It was the kind of soiled the three and four showers she was taking a day couldn’t touch.
As hard as he tried, Zeke didn’t understand. He still thought this was something he could fix if he loved her enough. The crazy thing was she didn’t question his love. It was in his every look and touch. She just didn’t feel worthy and that hurt. He had taught her how to be a queen. It had been a long fall back to the scared girl who had knocked on The Lantern’s back door, praying to a God she thought had forsaken her.
Dashing fresh tears away before they could reach her pillow, she rolled onto her back. She had made peace with God in the years since, but the old feelings of abandonment had crept back as she lay under Kramer. Her pleading cry of why? had once again been met with silence.
Zeke rolled over, his arm draping over her.
“You okay?” he rumbled, his lips brushing against her ear.
She nodded, afraid to open her mouth.
“You want to talk?”
Ginny closed her eyes. Talk. What would she say? I’m sorry. I don’t deserve you. Please don’t leave me. No. There was nothing to talk about. “Just hold me.”
Weekday mornings in the Brawer household had been the same for as long as Mox could remember. Ginny got up with Zeke, made breakfast in shifts, and sent them each off to work or school with a full stomach and a kiss. She had allowed herself just one morning off after coming home from the hospital, despite Zeke’s protests. She was more reliable than the mailman. Not hangover, nor flu, nor even rape kept her from her job.
The dark humor robbed him of his appetite. Teamed with his parents’ bickering, loving or not, he just wanted out of there. He closed the stairwell door behind him.
“You look tired. Try to take it easy today, huh?” Zeke asked, worry furrowing his forehead.
“You’re such a mother hen. Go catch some bad guys. I have Thanksgiving dinner to plan.”
“Let some of the other women help.”
“Everyone’s bringing a dish to pass. We’ve already discussed this.”
“I don’t know why we couldn’t have this at Bowie and Amber’s. They offered.”
Ginny rolled her eyes. “We always have Thanksgiving here because my dining room is bigger.”
“Why don’t we have it at the clubhouse? Why the hell did we splash out all that cash for a fancy kitchen if we’re not going to use it?”
“I hadn’t considered the clubhouse,” Ginny said, nibbling her bottom lip. “That’s a good idea, actually. I’ll talk to the others and see what they think. I could take my china over there…”
“Use paper plates, woman,” Zeke growled, tossing his hands in the air.
“We aren’t using paper plates on Thanksgiving,” Ginny snapped back, her nose wrinkling in disgust. “Heathen.”
“I have to go. I promised Bowie I’d be in early,” Mox interrupted.
Ginny turned, a frown already marring her beautiful features.
“You haven’t eaten, baby.”
“I’m not hungry.”
“It would just take me a minute to make you a breakfast sandwich if you want to eat something on the way.”
“I’m not hungry,” Mox repeated, dropping a kiss on her cheek. She clung to his arm for a moment and the worry in her eyes ate at him. “I love you.”
The lines eased, a smile transforming her face. She looked like the old Gin, a smug pride lighting her eyes as she squeezed his bicep and stretched up to kiss him good-bye.
“I love you too, baby. Have a good day.”
Chapter ~ 2
Ginny had to give her old man credit. Zeke’s suggestion to have Thanksgiving dinner at the clubhouse had been a good one. With everything the club had gone through the last six months, the men had taken to keeping their women close. The clubhouse, on
ce primarily the men’s domain, had become a sanctuary for all.
Leaning on the kitchen pass-through, her gaze ran over the assembled family with pride. Zeke was sprawled in a leather easy chair like a king on his throne. He looked…she searched her mind for the right word…relaxed, maybe content? The stress that had creased his brow of late was gone. He took a puff on his cigar, and then his broad grin flashed in amusement at a story Reaper was telling.
Crux was spooning with Kat on an overstuffed loveseat, his calloused hands tenderly cupping her rounded belly while he laughed with his brothers. Catching her eye, Kat gave her a long suffering look that made Ginny giggle. Kat’s fierce husband was protective by nature, but the pregnancy had turned the intensity up a notch. Kat reached up and tugged on Crux’s tousled dark hair. Ginny couldn’t hear what her best friend said, but a tender smile transformed the biker’s scarred countenance before he boosted her to her feet. Ginny bit back another giggle as the prego made a beeline for the ladies room.
At a pat from Reaper, Lee rose from his lap to gather empty bottles from the men. Ginny noted that his eyes never strayed from the graceful geisha as she skirted through the crowd. There was a possessive pride in his glittering gaze that she had never seen there before. As unlikely as it sounded, their sociopathic brother seemed smitten.
The shy girl giggled as their towering vice president snatched his beer up and held it out of her reach before tilting his head back and finishing the brew off.
“Now you can have it,” Bowie said, green eyes sparkling.
“Thank you, sir.”
Her respectful reply made the titian laugh.
“Careful. I could get used to that, and then Amber would never forgive you.”
“Are you spoiling my man over there, LeeLee-san?” Amber called from behind Ginny in the kitchen.
Smiling at the teasing, Lee shrugged her slender shoulders, her dark eyes wide in innocence as she made her way to the bar.
Sambo took the empties from the girl and sent her back with a tray of cold ones. He met Ginny’s eyes across the room and gave her a small smile and a wink. She couldn’t help but smile back. The sense of peace that radiated from the Lord’s artistic soul always brought a feeling of calm to her.
