by Kay Maree
“I’ll rest when I’m dead.”
“Daddy, please.”
“Willow, I want to get everything in place before I go. Please just say, yes.”
“Daddy, you’re playing dirty. Begging me to do this while you’re in hospital. How am I supposed to say no to my sick Dad?” I joked trying to change the subject.
“Not sick Sweetheart; dying.”
“Daddy please don’t,” I whispered, my light mood vanishing.
“Facts is facts, kiddo.”
The beeping on monitors was drowned out by another painfully wracking cough that ravaged his body. My once huge, powerfully, larger-than-life Dad was now lying in a hospital bed withered and lifeless. His skin pale and paper thin, the blue veins in his arms standing out. The colourful tattoos on his arms and hands marred by bruises from the numerous needles and IV lines. His once thick dark hair, now grey and thin.
“Please, Sweetheart, please do this one last favour for me.”
“It’s a pretty big favour Daddy.” I could feel my resolve wavering.
“I know. Now stop acting like you’re not going to do it and say yes already and make your old man happy.”
“Fine,” I huffed flopping back in the chair.
“Say the words Sweetheart.”
“Ugh! God, yes, fine. I’ll do it. I’ll take the stupid position and become your damn legacy.”
CHAPTER EIGHTEEN
Leo
“Finally figured out how to answer your phone I see.”
“You miss me, Baby?” I replied feeling Dangers eyes on me. She was laughing with Maggie and Bullet over something, but as soon as I said Baby the light in her eyes dimmed.
“Stop flirting with me,” Aries laughed. “We need to talk.”
“Give me a sec Ram, I’m just going to go somewhere quiet,” I said winking at Danger.
I didn’t want to tip off anyone that I was in constant contact with Aries. I’m ninety-nine percent sure the person behind everything is someone from within the club. It didn’t take a genius to work it out; Aries the Ram. Aries – Ram. I would use every cheap trick in the book to catch the person behind this but also to let Danger know I would never cheat on her. I gave her a subtle head tilt letting her know I was heading to her office.
“What’s up?”
“Is Danger with you?” Aries asked.
“Yep,” I replied as she shut the door.
“Put me on speaker.”
“Done.”
“Danger do you have anything less than Kosher in the house at the moment?”
“No, Grandma keeps all the less than Kosher food at her place.”
Danger and Aries clearly have their own shorthand, but I had been around Aries enough to be able to figure it out.
“You cooking Ram? You need some ingredients?” I asked sitting on Dangers desk, pulling her between my legs.
“No but Uncle Fuzzy should be there in an hour and he’s allergic to anything that isn’t Kosher. You might want to make sure you have the packaging for anything that might be considered suspect, so he could check the ingredients.”
Shit.
“Will do thanks Ram.” I ended the call. “Fuck.”
“Baby…” Willow started as my lips left hers, kissing along her jaw, throat, up the column of her neck, to the sweet spot behind her ear.
“Just play along Babe. I haven’t had a chance to check if there are ears in here.” I couldn’t help sliding my hands over her ass.
“What?!” She tried pulling away from me.
I kissed her passionately, swallowing her argument. I pulled her body flush with mine. I kept kissing her until I felt her melt in my arms.
“Just play along.” I smacked her on the ass, her growl turned into a moan, her fingers tightening in my hair. “The compound is going to be raided,” I whispered in her ear.
“When?” She asked disguising her question as a moan.
“In less than an hour.”
“D,” Bullet called knocking on the door.
“Enter,” she called back stepping away from me.
“Ace called, the drop went down without a hitch, they’re on the way back now.”
“Well at least that’s one thing that’s gone right,” Danger muttered rubbing a hand across her forehead.
“Bullet call them back and tell them to stay away from the compound until they are told it’s clear to come back,” I instructed.
“I’m sorry Lamby Boy but I don’t take orders from you.”
“On this you do.” Danger’s voice was firm.
“Bullet, we don’t have time to explain. The compound is about to get some visitors.” I put my finger to my lips, pointing at my ears, hoping that he got the message.
“Yeah my uncle Fuzzy is on the way,” Danger added putting emphasis on Fuzzy hoping he would get the code. Aries told us Uncle Fuzzy was coming, knowing that at least I would understand The Fuzz, is slang for the cops. She mouthed cops, just in case.
“Cool, I love Uncle Fuzzy,” Bullet said playing along while mouthing what the fuck’s going on?
“We need to make sure the house is clean and tidy before he gets here,” Danger added giving him a knowing look.
“Ok no worries. I really hope Uncle Fuzzy brings some of his famous pork, I really love his bacon,” Bullet grinned.
Thirty minutes later, Wolf, Danger and I were sitting at the bar drinking a beer, like it was just your average Thursday.
“Heads up,” Maggie said placing a large plate of potato wedges on the bar.
“Danger, darling, how are you?” A voice boomed from the door.
“Reeves, you're looking as handsome as ever. To what do I owe the pleasure.”
“Where just here for you bi-annual check-up,” Reeves replied holding up what was obviously a search warrant.
“You know you don’t need to make an excuse to come and see me Reeves,” Danger winked at him taking the warrant.
“You keep flirting with me Danger, I might just have to marry you,” Reeves replied.
“Mary might have something to say about that.”
“I don’t know, one look at you, she might just change her mind.” Danger laughed and Wolf growled. “Down boy,” Reeves tutted. “Alright kids you know how this goes.”
“Should I assume the position?” Danger asked standing, putting her hands on the bar, feet apart, sticking her ass out. Now it was my turn to growl.
“Danger, do you want to call your pack off or should I start breaking out the toys?” Reeves asked holding up his handcuffs.
“As much as I love handcuffs, I don’t think that’s necessary.” I eyed Leo, “behave.”
“Who’s the lush?”
“Detective Reeves, meet Lamb McCord.”
“Didn’t realise you started taking in Wild Boys Afloat rejects.”
“Didn’t realise you knew who Wild Boys Afloat were,” Danger smirked looking over the warrant.
“Detective Reeves, I know you like to think you’re the prettiest one in the room, but you’ll just have to accept second place. I’m here now,” Bryson, my lawyer announced.
“Oh, damn, and I wore my best suit and all,” Detective Reeves replied shaking his hand.
“You need to sack your stylist,” Bryson replied.
“Now that the band’s all here how about we get this show on the road.”
Four hours later the compound gates shut tight behind a disappointed Detective Reeves and his crew.
“Well that was fun.” Wolf said walking back into the bar. “Ace and Badger are on the gate.”
“What the fuck was that about?” Tank asked.
“I don’t know but I’m getting sick of it,” she growled slamming her shot glass on the bar. “Ugh, I need to get out of here. I’m going for a ride. Lamb, saddle up.”
“Danger take someone else,” Wolf insisted. “Tank go with.”
“Let’s make it a party,” Dange
r rolled her eyes. “Wolf you may as well come too.”
“D just take Tank,” he sighed. The big brother sick of having to remind the little sister to stay out of trouble.
“I said come too,” she insisted, leaving no room for argument.
“Babe, what’s happening?” I muttered falling in step with her as she made her way to the line of bikes.
“We need to fill them in.”
Badger rolled the gate open as we filed out behind Danger. We took a leisurely ride to the lookout at the top of Wolfpine mountain. The lookout was closed this time of year due to the weather tending to change at the drop of a hat and blocking the road.
“You wanna fill us in on why the fuck you hauled our asses up here,” Wolf demanded, flipping up the collar of his jacket.
“There is a rat in Knights Fury,” I started cutting to the chase.
“I didn’t ask you. Danger what is going on?”
“You’ve been told,” I growled.
“I wasn’t talking to you, asshole. Danger, answer me,” Wolf barked.
“You wanna watch your tone,” I cautioned.
“Shit has been going sideways for a while now, we all know it.” Danger started, stopping an argument between me and Wolf. “I know you’ve had your suspicions, long before we discussed the things Leo found.” They nodded. “Add the issues with the business to the fact that I was shot and stabbed, and you get a problem bigger than any of us thought.”
“I thought they said it wasn’t a shot. The police declared it an accident. You said it was a piece of metal shrapnel from the scaffold collapse from the construction at the hospital,” Wolf looked between Tank and Danger.
“The hospital told me they took a piece of shrapnel out of my shoulder. I saw it, it didn’t look like a bullet fragment,” Tank said crossing his arms.
“The shot was made with a special type of bullet designed to fragment on impact. If you haven’t seen one before you wouldn’t know what you were looking at,” I explained.
“You said the stab wound was a cut, it was an accident. Some dickhead at the concert with spikes on his jacket,” Tank added.
“Yeah, right,” I scoffed.
“And you’d know.”
“Yes, actually I would. I know the difference between a shrapnel injury and a bullet wound. Just like I know the difference between a knife injury and a shaving cut, pretty boy.”
“Enough!” Danger snapped.
“Willow, it’s just us here. Do you think you could possibly tell us exactly what is going on and who this guy really is?” Tank suggested.
“Yeah D, do you think you might be able to tell us the truth?” Wolf snapped.
“This doesn’t leave us,” she insisted. “If anything gets out, I’ll know who to kill.”
“Yeah, this guy,” Wolf snapped.
“Damnit Ryan, can you please back the fuck off? Leo is not the fucking enemy here ok. Leo is rock fucking solid. Leo is the only one I trust.”
“What the fuck?!”
“Ryan you have no idea what I have been going through. I have been on my own on this for so long.”
“Because you didn’t fucking talk to me!’ Wolf roared.
“I didn’t know who to trust!” She snapped back.
“What the hell Willow? Are you saying that you couldn’t trust me? You couldn’t trust Tank?”
“No, I couldn’t, and it ripped my fucking heart out!”
“But you trust us now? Damnit Willow, you have known me your whole life and Tank just as long, but you trust him over us.”
“Yes!”
“So, what changed D, why are you trusting us now?” Tank asked crossing his arms trying to remain calm.
“You’ve both been cleared by Leo.”
“What the fuck is that supposed to mean?!” Wolf barked. “Who the fuck is this guy? Why do you trust him over us?” He pointed to Tank. “Over me?”
“Ryan, I swear to god….”
“Babe, let me,” I said rubbing a hand on her back.
“Don’t call her that and get your hands off her.”
“Ryan, if you don’t calm your tits, I am going to put you on your ass. If you’ll untwist your G-string and shut the fuck up for five minutes, I’ll explain everything.”
I was sick of his shit and needed to get a hold of this situation.
“Willow…”
Ryan stepped forward to place a hand on her shoulder. I moved lighting fast, grabbed his hand before it contacted her body. I twisted, flipping him over. He landed heavily on his back, the air huffing from his lungs. I dropped down a knee in his chest, keeping him in place.
“My name is Major Leo McCord; Navy SEAL, Naval intelligence retired. Now, if you will shut the fuck up and stop acting like a child who has had his favourite toy taken away and listen to me, I will explain everything.” I shoved at Ryan, getting up off his chest. Willow took my arm pulling me back, giving Ryan space. I caught Tank lowering his gun out of the corner of my eye.
“Start talking,” Tank instructed.
“Like I said, my name is Major Leo McCord; Willow’s cousin Aries is my best friend, and we served together. Once we discharged Aries started Zodiac, and I started working for him. I am here at the insistence of Aries.”
“Why?” Tank asked.
“To investigate the suspicious activity that’s been going on in Knights Fury. My job is to find out who’s behind it and stop them.”
“Why isn’t Aries here himself?” Tank asked.
“Because he is known by the MC and no one would trust him. It would be suspicious if he suddenly turned up and started asking questions. So, he sent in Leo,” she replied.
“I have investigated the incidents that have happened so far. The increased police activity, the runs going sideways, the businesses being messed with. I have come to the same conclusion that supports Willow’s suspicion; the culprit is inside Knights Fury. I have been working my way through the club, clearing the people who I believe are not involved. So far, I have cleared the prospects, the club girls, Murry, Maggie, Bullet, Tank and yourself.”
“That’s only seven members. Why are you only telling us now?” Tank asked as Wolf paced in the background.
“I had to get into Knights Fury. I had to gain people's trust and as much as T.V. would like us to believe, it takes more than five minutes to complete a thorough background check. I wanted to be sure. I needed to be certain before I cleared anyone, that they weren’t involved. Willow means too much to me to not do this right.”
“I thought you were here on assignment,” Tank said. I nodded. “I thought this was a job.” I nodded. “But something has changed.” I nodded. “It’s not just a job anymore.”
“No, it’s not.”
“You and Danger. I’ve seen the way you two are when you think no one is looking. It serious?”
“Tank…” Willow started.
I wrapped my arms around her and nodded. “It is.”
“You hurt her.”
I nodded, there were no words needed.
I hurt her and he would kill me.
CHAPTER NINETEEN
Leo
I’ve been embedded within the club for the last eight months; my progression has been quick. Ace, the Road Captain, resigned his post to move to the other side of the country. There had been a terrible accident, his brother-in-law was killed and his sister badly injured. Luckily, they were on a date night and the kids were home with the sitter. Danger didn’t even hesitate to let him go. Ace’s sister was his twin, and although they lived thousands of miles apart, they were close and talked every day. David, his brother-in-law, was his best friend and his death hit him hard.
There was plenty of debate about who would replace Ace as Knights Fury Road Captain, but in the end the title went to me.
I entered Knights Fury three days after my meeting in Dangers office. As planned, we told the guys I was a transfer from Dragons Fury. I didn’
t exactly have to prospect, but I did have to prove myself. The guys treated me like a prospect and made sure I was given every shitty job available. I cooked, I cleaned, I worked the bar.
Every single one of them made ridiculous demands; demands I met head on.
They wanted a roast chicken; I cooked them a four-course baked dinner, with Maggie looking over my shoulder the entire time. They wanted their rooms cleaned; their rooms were five-star quality clean with the towels fashioned into swans. They demanded drinks; I put on a show to rival Tom Cruise and Brian Brown in Cocktail. Wolf wanted his bike cleaned and serviced; I resprayed the fucker and had that bastard running like a dream.
Anytime one of them said Hey Lamb, I need you too… My response was always Challenge accepted Motherfucker.
All the men of Knights Fury, even Maggie gave me shit, treated me like a prospect. That was until I saved Danger, Tank and Wolf from an ambush.
We were on a run for a high value client. There were issues with the last run, Danger insisted on being there personally to make sure the handoff was completed without a hitch. The plan was for Danger to meet with Rodriguez, he would check the shipment, Danger would get paid and we would all go our separate ways. We were at the meeting point with Roach, Bullet and I hanging back hiding in the shadows providing cover. I didn’t like it. I hadn’t had a chance to review the meeting location and make an extraction plan if needed. The one thing I made Danger promise me, when we had a rare two minutes alone, that she would be wired, always connected to me so I could hear what was going on.
So, I could protect her.
“Is this going to be like in the movies, where you have to fit me with a wire and to get it to stick, I have to take my shirt off and stand in front of you wearing nothing but my bra and jeans. Then you spend a good five minutes ogling my boobs, while pretending to be not ogling my boobs.” Willow grinned at me, keeping her voice low so no one would hear.
Being this close and not being able to touch her, kiss her, was killing me. Having her talking about her boobs was pure freaking torture.
