by L. Wilder
“Yep. It’s up to your mom,” Henley said as she shrugged her shoulders, sounding relieved that the choice wasn’t up to her.
“But Momma’s gonna say no,” Dusty pouted. “She always says no to stuff like dat.”
As I walked into the kitchen, Henley looked over to me with pleading eyes and said, “Look, Dusty. Smokey’s here.”
Dusty immediately turned to me and asked, “Are dombies scary?”
“Nah… They aren’t so bad.” I lowered my head to my shoulder and let my jaw drop open and lifted my limp arms in front of me as I imitated my best zombie moves and said, “Ughhh… if you don’t mind those creepy faces… ughhh… and gargling, scary noises they make when they limp towards you.”
“Smokey,” Henley fussed.
“Okay.” I told her as I lifted my hands up in surrender. “We’ve gotta get moving anyway. Cotton wants us over at the warehouse.”
“Yeah, he told me this morning. I’m set to go.”
“Have you seen Clutch?”
“He’s helping Olivia and the kids pack. Let’s just swing by there and he can follow us over,” he answered as he brought the food over to the table. He leaned over and kissed Henley on the forehead as he said, “Gotta run, Slick. I’ll be back in time for your appointment this afternoon.”
“Okay. I’ll just meet you over at the doctor’s office,” Henley answered.
Just as we were walking out of the kitchen, Dusty called out, “Watch out for da dombies! They might get you in da warehouse.”
“You got it, little brother,” Maverick laughed.
When we got to Clutch’s place, he was in the garage stacking boxes. He and Olivia had bought a bigger house and were set to move in a couple of days. Olivia was eager to get settled so Charlie and Hadley would each have their own bedrooms, but Clutch was a little resistant when she first suggested it. He’d always liked his place, but apparently after living together for a few weeks, the close quarters were getting to them—all of them. Smiling, Clutch walked over to us and as he wiped the sweat from his brow, he said, “About time y’all finally came out here to give me a hand.”
“Some other time, brother. We gotta roll. Cotton wants us out at the warehouse. Big is already out there securing the perimeter,” I told him.
He turned back towards the garage as he said, “Give me a minute.” He walked inside the house and a few seconds later, he returned wearing his cut. He started up his bike and followed us out to the warehouse. Port Angeles is one of the biggest logging ports in the area, and the place is always buzzing with people coming and going from work and the marina. When J&J Logging closed a few years back, we bought their warehouse and all of their equipment even though we had no intention of ever using it for logging. We were only interested in the large, closed off space in the back of the building which we later designated for the club’s use to conceal our weapons. Because of the number of freighters coming in and out of the port, it’s not a place we’ve used often, but with the huge shipment we had coming in, we had no choice. The warehouse was our best option.
When we pulled up, Big Mike was still up on the roof. He’d wasted no time getting started with the new installs. There were already several new camera mounts and sensors on each corner of the warehouse, and a new motion activated security light at both gates. He started down the ladder with a handful of wires and an old, busted security camera. He looked down at me and shouted, “Hey, Smoke. Mind giving me a hand?”
I walked over to the ladder and quickly took the camera from his hand. As he took another step down, the ladder started to wobble, making him cling tightly to the rails. As I helped steady the ladder, I chuckled and said, “Careful there, big guy. Don’t want your fat ass falling down on top of me.”
Big Mike wasn’t your typical computer guru. He was a big dude, tall and thick, like one of those muscled-up wrestlers you see on TV, but the guy had brains like no one I’d ever met. There wasn’t a problem he couldn’t figure out, and he’d proven it time and time again. He cut his eyes at me as he said, “Move your scrawny butt over and you won’t have to worry about it.”
I scooted back away from the ladder as he took his last step down and asked, “Are you finished?”
“Almost. Got some to do inside and then I’ll be done.”
“Good. We’re going to take a look around. Let us know if you need any help,” Maverick told him as he opened the main gate.
When we stepped inside the old metal building, a musty odor rolled through the doorway. It was clear that no one had been in the building in quite some time. The old cranes, rope ties, and anchors were all rusted and dated, and a thick film of dust covered every surface. Ignoring its state of disarray, we headed straight to the rear, knowing the back room was our only concern. The space had to be clear of debris and ready for the large, wooden crates that Nitro would be delivering the following morning. Once Maverick unlocked the door, we stepped inside and were pleased to see that it was exactly the way we’d left it. The prospects had cleared it out when we first started making plans for the new pipeline, and while no one had used the space in ages, Cotton wasn’t one to leave anything to chance. It’s just the way he was, and we all respected him for it.
After waiting for almost an hour for Big to finish installing the last of the cameras, we headed back to the clubhouse. We needed to report to Cotton and prepare for church. When we got there, all of the brothers were gathered around waiting. They were all eager to get to the vote, knowing once it was done, there’d be a party after to celebrate. We’d all been working nonstop for weeks, and a party was just what everyone needed to let off some steam. Cotton wasted no time calling us in, and within a few hours, the meeting was over and Q’ and Two Bit had been voted in as brothers. As soon as they each received their patch, the brothers would be set to celebrate, all except one.
By the time I’d made my way to the bar, the music was blaring and the guys were gathered around, talking and drinking their beer. I spotted Boozer over at the pool table with Doc, and while he had a beer in his hand and a smile on his face, I knew he had to be let down that he hadn’t gotten his patch. I reached in the cooler for a cold one and headed over to him. He raised his bottle to me as he said, “Hey, Smoke, you up for a game? Doc is killing me over here.”
“Sure, load them up.” As he reached for the pool rack, I turned to Doc and said, “Mind giving us a minute?”
Doc nodded. “I’m gonna go grab another beer. You need another?”
I shook my head and lifted my bottle, letting him know that I was set. Once he’d walked away, Boozer said, “I fucked it all up.”
“If you want this—to be a part of the club, to wear that patch on your cut showing that you represent Satan’s Fury—then you gotta work for it, Boozer. You gotta work your ass off. Get your shit together and man up. Show that you’re an asset to the club, and then and only then, your time will come.”
His eyes dropped to the floor as he let out a deep breath and said, “I want it… more than you know. I’m going to prove myself. You can count on that.”
“I have no doubt you will. I have faith in you, man.”
“Thanks, Smoke. I won’t let you or the brothers down,” he told me as he took a slug of his beer. After we both took a few shots of pool, a wide smile crossed his face as he asked, “So, what’s with the hot little number from this morning? You two got something going?”
“Not a chance, man. Got no interest in a chick like that,” I replied, lying through my fucking teeth.
His eyebrows furrowed with disbelief. “You gotta be kidding me, dude. That chick was smokin’.”
I shook my head. “Yeah, maybe so, but I’ve got no intention of getting burned by a woman like her.”
He leaned over the table and took another shot as he said, “She could light me up anytime.” The ball missed the pocket and he groaned in frustration. He raked his fingers through his hair. “I could use a change. Don’t see many women like her around here.”
I took the winning shot and smiled. “Yeah, well… that’s a good thing.” I’d been up most of the night dealing with Princess Pea and her car, so I was more than ready to call it a night. I patted Boozer on the shoulder and started for the door. “Been a long one. I’m heading to the house.”
“Hold on, man. It’s still early!” he complained. “Besides, we gotta play another round. I was distracted.”
“Some other time. I gotta get some sleep, brother. I’ll catch up with you tomorrow.”
I congratulated Q’ and Two Bit, and after saying my goodbyes, I headed to my bike. When I got home, I didn’t even bother turning on the lights as I took off my clothes and headed over to the sofa, letting my body drop on the cushions like a ton of bricks. The day had taken its toll, and as soon as I closed my eyes, I fell sound asleep, totally unaware that the following day, my life would change forever.
Chapter 4
Marley
After spending another day trying to reach Mr. Abrams’ son without any success, I decided to attempt a house call. Only this time, I would try going early before he had a chance to go to work or wherever he ran off to during the day. It was still dark outside, and I was still half asleep when I went downstairs to grab a cup of coffee. I dragged myself into the kitchen and found Brandon sitting at the table, dressed and reading.
I silently mumbled curses under my breath as I glared at him looking so chipper. The remnants of his stomach bug were all gone; his color was back and he was looking like his old self. He smiled and said, “Where are you headed so early?”
I rolled my eyes and growled, “Work.”
My sweet, loving, and incredibly annoying brother had always been an early bird, always happy and ready to start his day as soon as he got up. It drove me up the wall. It took me hours to really wake up and get in the groove, and seeing that smile on his face first thing in the morning made me want to just crawl back in bed. If I could have just one more hour of sleep, I might have been able to pull it together. Unfortunately, I never got that extra hour.
He laid the paper down on the table and looked over at the clock. “It’s not even six yet.”
“I am very aware of that, wise one, but I’ve gotta get some papers signed.”
“Where? It’s the crack of dawn.”
“I’m going out to his house so I can catch him before he goes to work.”
“You’re going alone?”
“Yes, Brandon. I’m going alone,” I huffed. “I know it’s hard to believe, but I can handle making a house call without a guardian present. Besides, I just need a couple of signatures, and then I’ll be out of there. Not a big deal.”
“I don’t like it. There are some crazy folks out there,” he mumbled. “It’s not safe.”
“Has Dad already left for work?” I asked, hoping to change the subject.
He shrugged his shoulders. “Haven’t seen him.”
He lifted the paper and started reading again, giving me the chance to grab my coffee and go upstairs to get dressed. By the time I came back down, he was gone. There was still no sign of Dad, so I gathered my stuff and headed to my car. I plugged the address in my GPS, hoping that it would actually work, and started towards Mr. Abrams’ house. It was a nice drive with lots of twists and turns down the long, country roads. There were only a few houses scattered along the way, making the countryside seem even more desolate.
As I turned into the driveway, I was pleased to see that the house looked very inviting. It was a traditional two-story house with a large wraparound porch with a swing, and the landscaping looked professionally done. The yard was free of trash and debris, making me feel less threatened by whoever lived behind that front door. After I parked the car, I grabbed my briefcase and made my way up the porch steps. I stood there quietly for a moment, trying to settle my doubts about showing up so early in the morning. I finally worked up the courage to knock on the door. Seconds later, I heard someone stumbling around in one of the front rooms.
My heart started to race when I heard a man’s voice grumble, “Give me a minute.”
I could hear his feet thud across the floor, and as they got closer to the door, I involuntarily held my breath. The door flew open, and my mouth dropped as I found Smokey standing on the other side wearing only his boxers. Yep, just his boxers. They were sitting low on his hips, making it impossible not to stare at all his bulging muscles and that perfect V.
I have no idea how long I stood there gawking at him. I was frozen with disbelief as my eyes roamed over his bare body, taking my time to study all the intricate details of the tattoos that covered his chest and shoulders. My eyes finally made it up to his handsome face where I saw his sexy little grin and his hair sitting wild on his head. His blue eyes danced with mischief.
“Oh… umm… Hi, again… Sorry to wake you.”
“Something I can help you with, Marley Jo?” he snickered. I had no idea how he knew who I was. I knew I hadn’t mentioned it before, but my dismay was quickly overshadowed by my shock.
“You’re Evan Abrams?” I asked, my voice coming out several octaves higher than normal.
“Yeah, I guess I am. Been awhile since anyone called me by that name. I go by Smokey now,” he replied. His eyes dropped down to my briefcase and with a curious look, he asked, “Is there something wrong with your car?”
“No… my car is fine, Mr. Abrams.” I stood there, trying to find the right words to say to him, but it wasn’t helping that he was standing there looking like sex on a platter. I took a deep breath and looked him directly in the eye, trying to remind myself why I was there. “I need to discuss something important with you. Would you mind putting on a shirt first?”
His eyes dropped as he looked down at his chest and smiled when he realized what he was wearing. He took a step back and motioned for me to come in. “Yeah, I can do that. But call me Smokey. Mr. Abrams is my dad.” As he began walking towards the bedroom, he called over his shoulder, “Wanna wait for me in the kitchen while I get dressed?”
“Sure. That would be great,” I answered as I stepped through the door. His home was even more beautiful on the inside. It reminded me of all those shows I’d seen on the home decorating channel. Even with the masculine feel of the gray and white color scheme, it still had the look of a woman’s touch, making me wonder if he was involved with someone. From the paperwork I’d gone over, I knew he wasn’t married. I also knew that he was an honor student in high school, and even though he had received several great scholarships, he had never attended college or the military. He basically dropped off the planet at the age of nineteen, and considering the looks of his home and yard, I wondered what he did for a living.
I stepped into the kitchen and as soon as I saw his expensive coffee pot, I started craving another cup. I ignored my hankering for caffeine and sat down at the counter, strumming through my briefcase for all the papers that I needed for him to sign. I carefully pulled them out and had just gotten settled when Smokey walked in. He’d changed into a loose-fitting pair of worn-out blue jeans and a black long-sleeved t-shirt, and he’d even managed to tame his wild hair. Unfortunately for me, he looked just as good with his clothes on. I tried not to stare as he took the coffee pot and started filling it with water.
Finally, he asked, “Want a cup?”
“Yes, that would be great,” I answered. And with that, I tried my best to shift gears. I hated that I was the one that had to break the news to him about his father, but it had to be done. “I’m sorry about the time. I know it’s really early, but I’ve been trying to reach you for weeks. I figured this would be the only way I’d actually be able to catch you.”
“I’m sorry about that. It’s been a crazy few weeks. We’ve been working day and night.” The smell of fresh-brewed coffee started to drift through the air as soon as he turned on the machine, and once he was done, he walked over and sat down next to me. He finally looked down at the papers on the counter and asked, “What is all of this?”
“I
t’s your father’s will.”
Seeing the look of anguish and confusion on his face made my heart ache for him. I wanted to tell him it was going to be okay, but I knew it wasn’t.
I looked up at him. “I’ve been trying to contact you in regards to your father. I need to tell you that he passed away a few weeks ago.”
His eyebrows furrowed as he asked, “My father is dead? How? When?”
“It happened two weeks ago. He was checking the progress of the apples in the orchard, and while he was up on the ladder, he had a heart attack.”
“And no one thought to tell me about this?”
“Actually, your family has been trying to reach you for some time. Your sister just had her second child; otherwise she would’ve already been here to tell you herself. She’s been trying to call you day and night, but couldn’t get you to answer your phone.”
“Fuck!” he groaned as he ran his fingers through his hair. “I can’t believe he’s really gone.”
We sat silently for several minutes as he stared out the kitchen window. The air felt heavy, reminding me much too vividly of the day my own mother died. Unlike Smokey, I’d known that she was dying. I watched as she bravely fought her cancer for almost a year, while her body weakened and deteriorated with each passing day. I saw the fight leave her soul as she accepted her fate, and yet, I was still surprised when I received the news that she’d passed away. I answered the phone knowing there was only one reason my father would call so late. My breath caught in my throat as he spoke the words. All the hope and every unanswered prayer came crashing down around me, and all I wanted to do was crawl inside a dark hole and hide from the world. I knew Smokey must’ve been feeling the same way, and my heart ached for him.
I placed my hand on his and said, “I’m really sorry.” When he didn’t speak, I whispered, “I know this is difficult for you, but…”
His shoulders stiffened as he barked, “You don’t know shit!”
He had every reason to be upset, so I tried to ignore the threatening tone in his voice. “I get it. I know it must be hard to hear that you have lost your father… especially hearing it from me, so I’m just going to give you some time. I’ll come back later to go over all this paperwork with you.”
