Knox's Stand

by Jamie Begley

  Chapter Twelve

  The glass had been swept up by the time Lily reentered the room with wild eyes. Lily reminded Diamond of a frightened doe when she immediately went to Beth. Diamond envied the two sisters their close relationship as she watched Beth soothe her until Lily sat down on the chair and began organizing the papers The Last Riders were picking up.

  Shade’s eyes went to Lily when he came back into the room before he started gathering the papers while taking in Lily ignoring him. His grim visage was one of tension. Diamond watched the other Last Riders circle him. Diamond now believed Winter when she said The Last Riders would protect Lily as she did the job she wanted. After all, they were keeping her protected from the wolf in their own territory.

  When the women from The Last Riders arrived minutes later, Diamond was introduced to Evie, Dawn, Jewell and Raci. All of them brushed aside her protests and began organizing her paperwork. Holly put them back in the cabinets when each folder was completed.

  What would have taken a week to reorganize, took just one afternoon with everyone’s help. When it was down to a final sheath of papers, Diamond stood, looking around the room, which looked bare now that the men had taken out the couch; it had been torn to such an extent that it had to be thrown way.

  “Damn, any idea who did this?” Evie asked, handing her the last sheath of papers.

  “No, but I think it involved Knox’s case. It’s too much of a coincidence with the search warrant for the jewelry, now this. Someone wants me to stop.”

  “I agree; they’re escalating. This is becoming more dangerous than I anticipated. I don’t want you going anywhere without back-up, Diamond,” Viper ordered.

  “I’ll be careful, Viper,” Diamond said.

  “You better be,” Knox stated sternly.

  Evie and the other women paused at Knox’s words, looking stunned, while Diamond turned away and busied herself by putting the rest of the folders back in the cabinet.

  “We’re done here. Holly can replace the sofa for me Monday. Thanks everyone. It would have taken several days for us straighten this mess out,” Diamond said, truly grateful for their help.

  “No problem. We’re glad we could help,” Winter said with a smile.

  Winter, Lily and Beth stood. “I’m sorry about the cuts, Lily.” Diamond continued to be stricken by the sight of the bandages on Lily.

  “I shouldn’t have over-reacted; it was just a few scratches. We’ll see you tomorrow.” The women left with Razer and Shade.

  “We have to go to, but Knox will stay with you until you get home,” Viper said, looking at the reorganized office. Diamond started to argue with him, but she had started to notice that it was a lost cause to bother once Viper’s mind was made up.

  “Okay, we’re almost done here anyway,” Diamond relented. Besides, she could tell by the way that Knox was leaning against the wall with his arms crossed over his chest he wasn’t going anywhere.

  “I called the locksmith, he’s on his way to put on another lock,” Holly said, hanging up the phone.

  “Thanks, Holly.” Diamond glanced at her watch and realized it was almost five. “You go ahead. I’ll stay here until the door is fixed.”

  “Okay. If you’re sure. I’ll go by the furniture store before work Monday and pick out a new sofa.” Holly left, leaving Diamond alone with Knox.

  “Your friends really helped me out today.”

  Knox shrugged. “It’s only fair since it probably was my case that brought the bastard out who did this.” His hand rubbed over his bald head. “This is fucking messed up. If I had just kept my dick in my pants, none of this would be happening.”

  Diamond didn’t say anything because he was probably right, someone had used Knox’s interlude with Samantha to set him up. The question was, how had they known?

  “Did you see anyone that day? Someone had to have seen you so they could turn the cops in your direction.”

  “I didn’t see anyone. No one saw me wreck or Sam pick me up.”

  “How about when you left the hotel?”

  “No, it was empty.”

  Diamond saw something flash across his face. “What?”

  “I thought I heard something, but when I looked around, it turned out to be nothing. I didn’t see anyone.”

  “Where did you think the noise came from?” Diamond felt a brief flare of excitement.

  “There’s a big oak tree on the edge of the parking lot. I thought it was just the wind, but someone could have been hiding there. I’ll send Cash to have a look around.”

  “I could go by on my way home,” she said, anxious to have a look around.

  “No, it’s better if Cash goes. He’s a tracker; he might pick up something we would miss.” The locksmith knocked on the door as Knox made his call. Diamond purchased the strongest lock possible, yet she didn’t have high hopes that it would prevent another break-in.

  The door repair didn’t take long. When it was finished, Diamond and Knox were finally able to leave. She glanced down at her watch as she headed to her car.

  “What’s the hurry?” Knox asked, his long strides easily keeping up with her fast steps.

  “I’m going to be late to dinner at my mother’s,” she answered, opening her car door.

  “You’re driving to Jamestown?”

  “Yes.”

  Knox stopped her from entering her car by taking her arm. She started to jerk away until she noticed that he was pointing to her tire.

  “Damn it. What is going on? This day is one disaster after another.” Diamond started to pull her phone out of her pocket to cancel dinner.

  “I can drive you on my bike. I would just have followed anyway or Viper would have had my ass.”

  “I’m not riding on your bike to my mother’s house.”

  “It doesn’t look like you have much choice. It’ll take at least thirty minutes for someone to bring you a new tire.”

  “You could change my tire for me. I have a spare,” Diamond suggested.

  “Your spare is for shit. I noticed it the other day when we worked on your alternator. Your whole car is one big accident waiting to happen,” Knox said, shaking his head.

  “I was going to get another one as soon as I get a few more clients. I needed Holly more than a car.”

  Knox looked at her skeptically. “Maybe if you’re driving around town within walking distance of everything, but if you’re driving to your mom’s, then no, it’s not safe.”

  Diamond knew he was right, therefore she bit back the sharp retort she had been going to make. At the same time, Knox went to his bike, getting on and handing her the helmet.

  “You going home or to your mother’s?”

  Diamond almost went home. Only the importance her mother had placed on her dinner made Diamond climb on the back of Knox’s bike.

  Putting on Knox’s helmet, Diamond grabbed him around the waist as he rode out of the parking lot. Diamond had forgotten how much she loved riding on the back of a motorcycle. She hadn’t done it in years, since she had quit going for rides with her father. The first time she had ridden with Knox, she had been too sick to appreciate the short ride.

  Sex Piston had bought her own motorcycle and took it out often after her father taught her how to ride, but Diamond had never been tempted to own her own. She knew she didn’t have her sister’s skill for the feel of the machine. As they went around the tight curves, she let her body go loose, holding on to Knox and following the moves of the bike.

  It didn’t take long before they were pulling up in front of her mother’s house. Diamond climbed off, handing the helmet to Knox.

  “Thanks for the ride. I’ll get Sex Piston to bring me home.” Diamond started to walk up the path to her mother’s house, stopping at his next words.

  “I’ll wait.” Knox turned off his motor.

  “Don’t be crazy. You can’t sit out here while we eat. The neighbors and my parents will wonder who you are.”

  “So tell them.” Knox shrugg
ed, making no effort to start his motor.

  Diamond stared at the stubborn man, realizing he wasn’t going to give in. “For Heaven’s sake, just come in. You can have dinner with us, but remember when Sex Piston is driving you crazy that you brought it on yourself.” Diamond stomped to her parents’ house with Knox following behind.

  She ignored Knox’s raised brow at her knocking and not going on inside the house.

  When her mother answered the door at her knock, her eye’s widened as she took in the man standing beside her daughter. “Diamond, I was beginning to get worried.”

  “Mom, this is Knox. My car had a flat and he was nice enough to give me a ride. I invited him to dinner, if that’s okay?” Diamond explained in one breath.

  “Of course, dear, you know when I cook I always make enough for leftovers.”

  Diamond was afraid of that. . She hadn’t had time to warn Knox about the lack of cooking skills her mother had or that she only felt the need to subject the family to said cooking in order to impart a piece of news that she felt was important to them all. Diamond studied her mother, looking for any signs of illness she might be hiding and was relieved when her mother looked healthier than she had in years.

  “What in the fuck is he doing here?” Sex Piston asked as she set the beer on the table when they entered the dining room.

  “Sex Piston, watch your mouth,” Diamond’s mother snapped at her daughter.

  “You don’t care you have a murderer sitting at your table?” Her mother cast Knox a sharp glance.

  “He’s innocent, Mom.” Knox stood there quietly, not trying to defend himself.

  “I’m sure he is.” Her mother tried to stop the argument brewing between her two daughters.

  “He sure as fuck isn’t,” Sex Piston retorted, her hand going to her hips.

  “Shut up. My car had a flat and he gave me a ride here,” Diamond explained, hoping that it would calm her sister.

  “Well, you’re here now. I’ll give you a ride home. See ya,” Sex Piston smarted off to Knox.

  “Sex Piston, stop it,” her mother scolded. “Everyone, sit down. I’ll get your father.” Diamond and Sex Piston shot dirty looks each other’s way as they sat down at the table. Knox sat down next to her at the table across from Sex Piston.

  “I should have warned you sooner. My mom’s not the greatest cook, so make sure you take small portions,” Diamond warned.

  “I bet it tastes better than prison food,” Sex Piston snapped.

  “Sex Piston, if you don’t quit bugging your sister, the police are going to be charging me with another crime,” Knox threatened.

  “Bring it on, asshole,” Sex Piston taunted, picking up the carving knife and laying it beside her on the table.

  “Cut it out.” A sharp voice from the doorway had all eyes going to her father. Sex Piston’s mouth snapped closed. Diamond was relieved when her sister called a halt to her antics and picked up her beer. Her father came into the room, holding his hand out to Knox.

  “I’m Skulls.”

  “Knox.”

  Diamond watched the two bikers introduce themselves.

  “Have you met Sizzle?” he asked, pulling out her mother’s chair.

  Diamond wanted to crawl under the table when her father told Knox her mother’s nickname.

  “It’s nice to meet you both.” Knox barely managed to keep from laughing. Diamond threw him a dirty look.

  Her father took his seat at the table. “Sex Piston told us Diamond is representing you for killing a woman in Treepoint.”

  “Yes.” Knox looked her father in the eyes.

  “You do it?”

  “No. I couldn’t stand the bitch, but I didn’t kill her.”

  “Good, let’s eat. Sizzle, bring on the food.” Her father barely managed to hide his grimace.

  Her mother brought out a roast on a platter with potatoes, carrots and rolls. The whole table stared at the food as her mother took a seat. Serving everyone took several minutes as the roast was almost impossible to cut. It had practically been burnt to a crisp. Passing the rolls, she shook her head when her mother offered them. She could tell by looking at them that they were raw.

  Not even for her mother would she gag down raw bread dough. Her father and everyone else at the table hadn’t been so smart. She couldn’t hide her vengeful smile when Sex Piston wasn’t able to prevent the retching noise as she took a bite of one.

  To Knox’s credit, he managed to clean his plate, which was a big mistake as her mother forced seconds on him. Her father manned up and took seconds for himself, not wanting Knox to outdo him. Washing the dried meat down with several swallows of beer, she managed to eat half her plate. Throwing Sex Piston a who’s-a-pussy look when she couldn’t eat as much.

  “Anyone want dessert?” her mother asked happily.

  “No,” the whole table chorused together.

  The crestfallen expression on her mother’s face had everyone retracting their answer except Diamond. Been there, done that.

  “I’m on a diet, Mom,” she responded to Sex Piston’s threatening glare accompanied with the finger behind her mother’s back.

  Her mother returned to the table with a cake that looked remarkably good, but Diamond had learnt that looks were deceiving where her mother’s cooking was concerned. She always waited for the consensus before jumping for a slice of chocolate cake. The look of horror on their faces confirmed her fears.

  “Sizzle, we need some milk. Beer and chocolate don’t go together.” Her mother went back into the kitchen and everyone sprang into action. Sex Piston dumped her cake onto her father’s napkin and he dumped his there also then left the room just as her mother returned with the milk and paper cups.

  Diamond wanted to go through the floor, wondering if the night could get any more embarrassing as she watched Knox when her father returned to the room, explaining to her mother he’d had to go to the restroom. Knox managed to take a couple of bites before even he couldn’t gag any more down.

  “I’m not a big sweet eater,” Knox explained to her mother when she cast him a questioning glance.

  “I’m not, either, but I know they enjoy it when I make something sweet to finish off dinner.”

  “It was a delicious meal as always, Sizzle,” her father lied.

  Diamond had, with that, had enough. She wanted to escape before she had to have any more time in her father’s company.

  “Mom, what did you want to tell us? Knox can leave, go in the other room while we talk—”

  “There’s no need, Diamond; it’s not bad news. I just wanted to ask you two girls if you’d be my bridesmaids. Your father and I have finally decided to tie the knot.” Sex Piston whooped, getting up to hug both parents. Her mother’s smiling face turned toward her as Diamond rose carefully from the table.

  “I’ll talk to you later, Mom. I need to leave. I don’t want to hold Knox up any longer than necessary. I was worried you may be sick again. I’m glad it’s good news.” Diamond put her chair back under the table. Not waiting for Knox, she practically ran for the door.

  “Diamond, what on earth? Wait a minute. The wedding is going to be at the Destructors’ clubhouse. We’re going to have a caterer and everything.” Diamond could hear the tears in her mother’s voice, but didn’t stop.

  “I can’t, Mom. I just can’t,” Diamond answered, pulling open the door and going for Knox’s bike.

  “Damn it, stop, Diamond,” her father yelled.

  Diamond stopped; her back to her family, sensing Knox stopping by her side.

  “What’s your fucking problem?” Sex Piston yelled. “Why are you being a bitch to Mom? They’ve been together for years. You should be happy.”

  Diamond swung around facing her family.

  “Why should I be happy to see her marry a man who has fucked around on her for years? Now that he’s an old man and not president of a motorcycle club the pussy probably doesn’t come as easy as it used to, does it, Pops?” Years of hurt along with
feelings of betrayal welled and found their target. The stunned look on her father’s face had her wanting to inflict more hurt. “You haven’t deserved Mom for years, so no, I’m not going to watch you get married to my mom when you damn sure don’t deserve her now.”

  “You bitch!” Sex Piston yelled at her sister.

  “You’re calling me a bitch? You’re the bitch; always in heat for some man. You’re just like him, chasing anything with a dick—you and Ace both. The only difference is you didn’t get knocked up like that woman he’s got now.”

  Diamond saw the look of pain on her mother’s face, and with a sob, went to Knox’s bike, getting on and putting on his helmet. He paused, but then hopped on to the bike, starting it and pulling out. Diamond cried all the way back to Treepoint. Angry at her parents for springing the news on her and even angrier at her mother for putting up with her father’s shit for all the years they had been together.

  She was also embarrassed that she had let loose in front of Knox. She should just have left, but she had lost control when she had faced her father. All the admiration she’d had for him as a little girl when she would have at one time been overjoyed for her parents to get married were washed away by the memory of him with that other woman at the Destructors’ clubhouse.

  The hardest thing to admit was that she could finally understand her mother after all these years; the attraction of wanting someone you knew was incapable of being faithful and being the man you wanted him to be. The torture of a body in need versus a mind that said it was a heartache in waiting. Knox was like the wind rushing passed them, uncontrollable and free. He would never be the man she needed to make her happy.

  Chapter Thirteen

  As Knox pulled up in front of Diamond’s apartment, she barely managed to wait for him to stop to jump off.

  “Thanks for the ride.” Handing him the helmet, she took off for her door. When she was there, she realized too late she had left her purse in Knox’s saddlebag. As she turned to go back, she bumped into Knox.

  “Diamond, what’s wrong with you? Don’t fucking jump off my bike like that again,” Knox growled, handing her purse to her.