“It’s none of their business. Sometimes, I wish no one knew what happened to me. I hate the way they treat me like I’m made of glass and might break if they say the wrong thing. They treat Ace different, too, and they’re too ignorant to even know they’re doing it.”
“Maybe they know, and they just can’t help themselves,” Tiffany offered.
“Maybe people ought to keep their noses out of other people’s business.”
A sympathetic half-smile curved one side of Tiffany’s mouth—the only thing she had to offer. “If you need someone to talk to, I’m here for you.”
“What’s there to talk about? I got beaten up and raped by a crazy man. You think growing up around this place, I failed to notice how sometimes life is unfair and bad shit happens to good people? I put that situation behind me months ago.”
“Then why are you so angry?”
“‘Cause it’s really hard to keep it there when I get reminded every single time I look into someone’s face. Even badass bikers aren’t good at hiding their emotions when it comes to shit like this. It’s harder on them than me, ‘cause they think of themselves as protectors.”
Trying to understand, Tiffany murmured, “Naturally, they would want to protect you. You’re Ryder’s sister, and they care about you.”
“No, most of them really don’t. They’re not good at dealing with me ‘cause I’m a constant reminder of their failure to protect a brother’s family. Don’t you see, it’s their own failure that they can’t seem to get past.”
Surprise at the girl’s depth of insight filled her, and Tiffany said, “Are you sure you’re only sixteen? You seem older.” She held her breath for Rose’s reaction, hoping maybe humor would help them both navigate this really screwed-up conversation.
Rose cracked a smile. “You don’t treat me like I’m shattered.”
Grasping at the humor straw, Tiffany responded with a shrug of one shoulder. “I’ve been through rough times myself. Girls like us are fractured, not broken.”
Folding her arms over her chest, Rose gave her a full-on smile. “Leave it to a nurse to come up with a saying like that.”
Trying to smother a smile, Tiffany shook her head. “Women are a heck of a lot tougher than the men in our lives give us credit for. We keep families together, nurse our men when they’re down, and suffer the pain of childbirth. I’d like to see a man do all that and not have a total nervous breakdown in the process.”
Laughing, Rose agreed. “You’re right; women totally kick solid ass.”
“It’ll have to be our little secret though. Their fragile little male egos couldn’t handle knowing how superior we are.”
A deep voice sounded off behind them. “You ladies are laying it on a little thick today, aren’t ya?”
Rose shoved her hands into her jean pockets and whirled around to face her father. She laughed at the stern look on his face and ad-libbed like a pro. “Ven, the wise and merciful, please excuse the flapping of our self-aggrandizing, lipstick-laden lips.”
The man frowned at her. “You know I hate it when you use my club name.”
With an intense stare, she deadpanned, “I could start making up names for you, old man, but I don’t think you’d like that very much.”
Grinning, he motioned for her come with him. “You got me there, girl. Now, shut your mouthy little pie hole and get back to the party. This is going to be the last cookout of the year.”
Tiffany took a step forward. “I never cared for Halloween, but cookouts are kind of cool.”
Rose shifted around to look at her with an expression that said this was not the correct attitude to have about a holiday the club was clearly crazy about. Unsure how to backpedal out of this one, Tiffany just stared at the teen.
“I’m sure you haven’t had a proper introduction to All Hallows’ Eve.” Dodging left, Rose brought up both hands into claws and used her witch’s voice. “All the little kiddies love All Hallow’s Eve. It’s the one night of the year,” she continued with the silly voice, zigzagging back and forth like a snake, “when dead leaves fly, like witches on switches through the night.”
Laughing, Tiffany pulled the girl out the back. “I think Behn’s poem says flint, not fly, through the night.”
Straightening herself up, the girl giggled as she righted her hat. “I like my way better. What do you think, old man?”
Clearly fed up with her shenanigans, he replied playfully, “I think your mother filled you a plate, so you should come and eat. You too, Tiff. I told Ryder that I’d look out for you while he was gone.”
Tiffany smiled. That sounded like something her overprotective biker would ask. It would also explain why it took so long to fetch the car earlier.
Rose grabbed her hand and pulled her along to the back of the lot where a utility trailer with a built-in barbecue pit was churning out three different kinds of meat, and people were milling around a half-dozen picnic tables. Music blared from huge speakers with thumping base. All in all, it was the perfect day for a party.
Dropping into a seat beside Ryder’s mother, Tiffany gave the skittish woman a quiet greeting. “Hello, Lily. I like your Halloween T-shirt. How are you doing?”
Looking nervously down at her T-shirt with zombie bikers, Lily stammered, “I-I’m fine. Is everything okay with Ryder?”
Tiffany nodded. She had a hard time reconciling herself with the fact this timid, petit woman had given birth to Ryder, but she knew she had because the family had proudly shown her their photo albums when she’d arrived in their small town. It hadn’t escaped her notice that Lily was always looking away or seemed a little terrified in each image. In fact, the poor woman always seemed as if she was about ready to scurry off like a frightened little squirrel.
“He’s just fine. Ace’s gun misfired, and he caught a single bullet in the leg. I patched him, and Ryder and Darkness took him to the hospital. Ryder was his normal, surly self when they pulled out,” Tiffany informed her.
A tiny smile played around Lily’s impish features. “My Ryder is his father made over.”
“I’d have to agree with you on that.”
“If he hadn’t met you, I don’t think he would have made it. Thanks for taking care of my baby in the big city.”
“Bismarck North Dakota isn’t exactly a big city, but I knew the moment I set eyes on him that he was something special. You did real good with him, Lily. I mean that,” Tiffany said sincerely.
Blushing slightly, Lily glanced away. “I’m so proud of both him and my little Rose. I know being prideful is a sin, but I can’t help it.”
Laughing, Tiffany whispered conspiratorially, “I think God will forgive you for that one. I’m a little prideful of Ryder myself.”
“I really like you, Tiffany. You’re just perfect for my son.”
“Thanks, Lily. You’ve made me feel welcome. I didn’t think that I’d fit in here, but your family and the club have been good to me.”
Glancing toward a group of women wearing leather pants and halter tops, Lily kept her voice low. “I always worried about what kind of woman my son would end up with. I’m glad it was you.”
They both looked on as the whores strutted their stuff all over the parking lot. They were loud, brash, and way past flirty. Their skintight costumes showed more than one camel toe, and huge, saggy breasts seemed to be the order of the day. They represented all age groups, but that didn’t stop most of them from being forward with the club brothers.
Lily’s hand tightened around her spoon. Tiffany followed her gaze to her husband. One of the women had sidled up to him and was pressing her body seductively against his. He promptly elbowed her out of his way. Within moments, she was back. This time, she wiggled her hand into the waistband of his pants, near his belt buckle.
The plastic spoon snapped in Lily’s hand as she frowned. This time, Ven turned around, grabbed the woman by the throat, and literally threw her back. To add insult to injury, he wiped his hand on his jeans, as if to rid himse
lf of her germs. Amazingly, the woman stood up and began walking toward him again. Annoyance clear on his face, Ven made some kind of hand movement to a group of prospects. They stepped into her path and began maneuvering her toward the clubhouse.
Reaching over, Tiffany slid the spoon handle from Lily’s hand and without comment and replaced it with a fresh spoon.
Lily took a stuttering breath and murmured, “Thank you.”
There was a sharp contrast between Lily and the club whores. Lily was wearing her cute little Halloween biker shirt, nice black jeans, and an expensive pair of Harley boots. Her long, light hair and neatly groomed French manicure offset her lovely features and elegant jewelry perfectly.
The older woman leaned over, looking into Tiffany’s eyes. “Women throwing themselves at our men isn’t all that unusual around here.” She looked pointedly down at Tiffany’s plate. “You should eat before your food gets cold.”
Scrambling to keep up with the sudden shift in conversation, Tiffany murmured politely, “Thanks for grabbing me some food before the goblins and monsters scarfed it all down.” Then she added, “You’re right, the women around are bold as brass. I’ve never seen anything like it.”
Lily chuckled. “You have a good sense of humor. I like that in a person. I don’t know what got into that one. Everyone here knows my Ven doesn’t do whores.”
A dirty blonde landed on the table across from them. She reeked of alcohol, her hair and lipstick were a mess, and she smelled like sex. Her tight, latex top appeared to be smudged with dirty handprints—only on the breasts.
Tiffany’s appetite took an immediate vacation, and she dropped her fork, unable to enjoy her food with this particular dining partner at the table.
“That one has a name, you self-righteous prude. Ven will eventually cave in for the right whore. All of them do.”
Tiffany cleared her throat. “Let’s not get rude.”
“Who the hell are you? I’ve never seen you before.”
“Can you read?” she asked, allowing her distaste for the woman to color her words.
“Of fucking course, I can read.”
Standing, Tiffany turned long enough for her to read the words on the back of her vest. Property of Ryder.
The woman snorted a laugh. “You don’t look like much. I doubt you’ll last around here.”
“I remember there being some discussion about inviting the whores to the final cookout of the year. I’m guessing the brothers are regretting that decision about now,” Tiffany responded with an air of superiority that she knew would get under the woman’s skin like a tick.
“You pompous little bitch,” she snarled. “I don’t have to sit here and listen to that kind of shit.”
“You’re right about that. You should move on along if you can’t be nice.”
Snorting another laugh, the woman produced a flask and drank down whatever was inside. “Like these boys want nice.”
“Well, they’re not boys. They’re men, and from what I can tell, they seem to be partial to nice women, because we’re both fairly nice, and we’re wearing property cuts.”
“No accounting for some men’s taste, I suppose. You’re both boring as fuck.” Standing, the woman took another draw off her flask and staggered off. She was wearing a short, black miniskirt with a piece of stark-white toilet paper peeking out the back.
Classy.
Trying not to laugh at the ridiculous woman, Tiffany mused out loud, “That was all kinds of fun. Guess I don’t get out much, being as how I’m so boring and all.”
Lily looked slightly embarrassed. “Still think you fit in around here, Tiffany.”
Grinning like a fool, she replied, “I fit in with the people I like, and that’s good enough for me.”
Another woman slid onto the seat in front of them. “Sorry about Precious. We’re not all chronic whore overachievers. Some of us are just regular gals that fell on hard times, and the club gives us a place to crash.”
The new woman’s approach didn’t raise her hackles like the last one, so Tiffany responded conversationally, “That’s kind of my story, only with a bit of romance and patching up bullet wounds.”
“Really?” the woman asked with some surprise.
She nodded. “I met Ryder when he wound up in my ER after a shootout with another biker. I was his nurse. We kind of worked our way through a dangerous situation together, and he invited me to come back with him.”
Eyes glittering with excitement, she said, “That’s wild. I heard all about him and Ace having it out over what happened between Ace’s brother and Rose. I’m glad they worked it out.”
“Yeah, me too. He’s been good to me. When I had to relocate, this turned out to be a godsend for me.”
“All the brothers here are amazingly nice. And you’re right about the in-kind trading. They give us a place to stay, and we give them entertainment, such as it is. My name is Alyssa, by the way.”
“I’m Tiffany.”
“I know who you are,” Alyssa said, surprising her. “Those of us who stay sober enough to walk a straight line know you bagged one of the hottest brothers in the club. Do you mind if I ask how you did that?”
Tiffany thought carefully about her response. “I think men like women they see as substantial and able to contribute on an equal footing. Even though there was some chemistry, I think being a nurse gave him more respect for me for having the initiative to do something with my life.”
Alyssa waved a hand through the air. “Oh, I don’t have any real skills. I’m not all that intelligent, creative, or funny or anything like that. Honestly, I’ve always thought that my looks were about all I have going for me. I’m coming up on thirty now and was hoping to find a husband before having kids was out of the question.”
Tiffany’s eyebrows popped up. “Wow, you’re pretty up-front and open about your issues. Most people aren’t like that.”
Shrugging, the pretty blonde replied, “It’s not because of bravery or anything like that. I guess when you hit rock bottom, it’s easier to just tell it like it is because you don’t really have anything to lose.”
Tiffany smiled. “To be honest, I’m loving all the honesty. It’s a refreshing change in a world that’s becoming more jaded every day.”
As usual, Lily was sitting quietly, just listening.
Tiffany tried to draw her into the conversation. “What do you think men want in a woman, Lily?”
The woman froze in mid-bite, put down her spoon and replied quietly, “I feel a little like Alyssa. I was pretty and good at taking care of a family, so I got picked back in the day. We kind of fell hard and fast for each other.”
“I’d love to hear about how the two of you met,” Tiffany told her, genuinely interested in hearing her story.
Lily’s eyes looked haunted for a brief moment before they slid away, and she continued the subject at hand, rather than talking about how she met her husband. “I’ve noticed that these days, men seem to expect more. I don’t see that as a bad thing necessarily, ‘cause they seem willing to give a little more as well.” Glancing up at Alyssa, she asked timidly, “Have you ever thought of anything in particular that you’d like to do with yourself?”
Pursing her lips, Alyssa gave it some thought. “I used to work in a doctor’s office answering phones, but that was years ago. I liked working, but computers have changed a lot, and I don’t suppose anyone would want someone who’s been out of the workforce for so long.”
“I’m looking for a job in the medical field. Maybe we can look around together,” Tiffany suggested, not really expecting much to come from the offer. As the conversation continued between them, Tiffany found herself completely absorbed and marveling at how much she missed something as simple as having friends.
~ Ryder ~
Across town, Ace was waiting to see the club’s favorite private physician. Old Doc Reynolds has been patching up their battle wounds since the old days. When he wasn’t available, his snot-nosed son saw to thei
r needs.
Leaning over the exam table, Ryder barked gruffly, “Don’t be such a freaking baby.”
Groaning, Ace slammed his head back against the headrest. “I cannot believe you shot me again, you piece of shit.”
Ryder’s expression morphed into a smirk. “But this time it was unintentional. That should count for something, right?”
“I’m not finished. You shot me then closed the hole with a fucking pool stick. What kind of person does that?”
“A person trying to help?”
“A dumbass, that’s who.”
Ryder’s lip curled, and he growled, “I saved your life.”
“Yeah, after you accidentally shot me.”
“So?”
“Accidentally shooting someone and then saving their life does not make you a hero,” Ace grumbled. “It falls into the category of righting your own mistake, dumbass.”
Grinning, Ryder poked at the wound. “You got me there. Thanks for not telling Tiff I screwed up.”
“You’re fucking welcome, dimwit. Do me a freaking favor from now on. Let me unjam any weapons.”
“Roger that, Ace.”
Ace’s gaze slid around the room, taking in all the bright lights and sterile equipment and other crap doctors used to patch up their patients. “I hate doctors’ offices. Used to throw a fit every time my mom took me to get a checkup. The old fucker used to poke and prod me in all the wrong places and enjoyed handling my junk a little too much for my liking.”
Ryder’s head jerked back. “Jesus, that’s all kinds of screwed up.”
“Yep, it seems he was doing a lot more with some of the other kids. Blew his brains out when the cops showed up at his house to arrest him.”
Darkness sounded off from the doorway. “Fuck him. I’d have cut his nuts off. You got a bitch for a doctor today anyways.”
“God, I hope she’s not some little old lady. That would mess with my head.”
“Pipe down, pipsqueak. If you’re a good little boy, I’ll take you for ice cream when we’re finished,” Darkness said with a crooked smile.
“Fuck you, man.”
Fighting Dirty Page 2
