by Jamie Begley
“I guess I never cared enough to feel those emotions before. I do now.” She stared at him directly. “Aren’t you going to miss Jewell?”
His jaw dropped at her question. “You don’t want Jewell to leave because you think I’ll miss her?”
“Won’t you?”
“Fine, I’ll talk to Viper.”
“Now would be good. Knox said they were taking her tonight.”
“Jo, for a woman who didn’t want to be a Last Rider, you know as much as me.”
“I’m a fast learner.”
“I’ll have to keep that in mind.”
Rising, she went to answer the door. She signed for the pizza before carrying it to the table and setting it down in front of Rider.
“You don’t want any?”
“No, thanks. My stomach is still a little upset after last night. I’ll have my soup. I’m going to make a grocery list while you eat.” Going for a pencil and paper, she talked to keep her stomach from churning at the smell. “I saw Knox as I was coming out of the diner. I was complaining how much money we were spending eating out, and he suggested asking Rachel, Beth, or Lily for help in learning how to cook. I could ask Willa to show me how to make the candy you love.”
“All the women have tried to make it. It usually doesn’t turn out the same, or they said it was easier to buy from Willa. Ember made it with evaporated milk one time, and it came out harder than those french fries I threw away.” Rider became so animated he was gesturing with his slice of pizza. “Jewell made it with mashed potatoes. I couldn’t bring myself to taste—”
“Oh, that reminds me. You forgot to do something.” Sliding his cell phone next to the pizza box, she said, “You forgot to call Viper.”
“I’ll do it after I eat.”
“Do it now. Your food will sit better in your stomach.”
Getting up with his slice of pizza in one hand and his phone in the other, he gave her the pouty look he always gave women when he wanted his way.
Staring at him resolutely, she placed her hands on her hips, staring him down.
“That candy better be good.”
To ensure Jewell would be there the next time she visited, she cut Rider a deal he couldn’t refuse.
“If you convince Viper to let her stay, the next time I work security with you, I’ll stand next to your chair for two hours wearing the new nightie I wanted to put on last night.”
“Is it flannel?”
“No.”
Rider took a bite of his pizza as he thought about the deal. “What if I can’t convince Viper to let Jewell stay?”
“Then you have to stand by my chair naked for two hours.”
“Okay …”
Jo let him get partway out the door before she clarified, “In heels.”
40
“Brother, I need a favor.”
“Depends on what it is.” Rider placed his dirty lunch plates in the sink as Moon came around the corner to talk to him.
“I’ve got a hot date with Nada. She’s the chick who replaced Aly at the department store.”
“That’s fast work. Aly just started training her yesterday.”
“You know I work fast.”
Rider rolled his eyes. “So, what does it have to do with me?”
“I told her I’d take her out tonight, and I forgot I was on the schedule to work security.”
He already knew where this conversation was going, and he wanted no part in it. “No.”
“I’ll work Friday and Saturday for you,” Moan coaxed.
“The women are going to Jo’s to teach her how to cook. I’m not missing that. I’m the taste tester.”
“Brother, how many times have I done you a solid?”
Fuck, he could see his evening plans going down the drain. “Who else is on the schedule tonight?”
“Shade.”
A glimmer of hope began to sprout, until Moon dashed it before it could grow.
“Shade won’t work alone. He wants to be able to leave if Lily needs help with Clint.”
Fuck.
“I’ll pay for you to take her to King’s if you put it off to another night.”
“I can’t call it off. You know what women are like. I might not get another chance. Trip is keeping an eye on Aly today. The fucker will scoop her out from under me.”
“When has that been a problem for you?”
“Trip is a stingy bastard. He won’t share until he’s done with her. You going to do it for me, bro?”
“Jesus … Go. I can’t stand it when you’re nice to me.”
Moon slapped him on back. “Don’t worry; I’ll be back to hating you tomorrow.”
Moon left before Rider could return the slap with a much harder one to his gut.
He had been looking forward to tonight for the last month. The women had decided to make a party of it, and it had taken time to work around everyone’s schedule. Jo had also wanted to wait until she could afford a new stove. Despite his attempts to pay for it, she had refused. It had been delivered a week ago, and so far, he hadn’t noticed any difference in the way she cooked. If possible, it had become worse. Jo could burn water.
He had several orders to get out before it was time to be at the security desk. Moon, Trip, and the other brothers had been complaining that there had to be two on duty. Since he was the one who had suggested it, Viper and Shade were waiting for his input before resending the order.
Despite expecting Curt to strike out at him or the club, he had done nothing. Shade had found out he had began a job as a car salesman in Jamestown.
Aly had decided to sell her place, which had sold last week. That was why she was now working the night shift, training her replacement. She was planning to leave Treepoint in the morning. It would lighten the load of someone keeping an eye on her.
Knox, who was waiting for the independent report to come back from Frankfort, was beginning to doubt Curt’s involvement in Aly’s parents’ deaths. Especially when, instead of buying Aly’s land when it had gone on the market, Curt had bought a small house in Jamestown. If he had wanted Aly’s parents’ house bad enough to kill for it, why burn it down, then not even bid on the land?
The young couple who had bought Aly’s land had no ties to Curt or his family. Was another sick fucker like Jared running around, killing people to settle a score no one knew about?
Rider was filling the last order when Jewell came out of her office. They had been chilly toward each other since the day after she had deliberately sent Jo to his bedroom. The woman stayed out of his vicinity when they were in the club, and they kept their conversations to the bare minimum at work.
Viper had let him have the last say in letting Jewell stay in Treepoint. He didn’t regret the decision. Jewell, on the other hand, knew she was walking on thin ice where the club and he were concerned.
He stopped packaging the order when Jewell approached him.
“Jo called me yesterday to invite me to her cooking party tonight. I didn’t know what to tell her. I thought I would check with you.”
“She called you yesterday, and you’re just now asking me?” He tersely shoved the flaps down on a box.
“I needed to think about whether I wanted to go.” Jewell laid a hand on the box, forcing his attention to her. “I gave Bliss a hard time when she couldn’t get over Shade, and then I fell into the same trap with you. I’ve already told you I’m sorry. I’d like to have the same opportunity with Jo.”
“Don’t act like it’s because you feel bad about doing it. You’re tired of having to stay in your room anytime Jo comes to the club.”
“Be real, Rider. Jo’s not in the club enough to worry about that. She comes over two days a week to eat dinner. The only other times, I’m at work anyway, and those are the few times you’ve decided to stay in your room at the club after your security shift is over.”
“I don’t want you going. Make up an excuse; you’re good at that.”
She dropped her hand to her si
de. “I deserve that. I’ll go and call her.” Jewell started back toward her office.
Rider jerked the tape across the box, sealing it. “Jewell, we’ve been friends a long time. It’s going to take time to rebuild the trust I had in you.”
“Do you care about Jo?”
“You haven’t rebuilt enough trust for me to answer that question.”
She looked at him sadly. “I don’t have to. You might like her, but deep down, you don’t care about her any more than Ember, Stori, or me. You make a great lover, Rider, but as a boyfriend, you suck.”
“Jo doesn’t know that, and she never will.”
Jewell shook her head at him. “I told her I felt sorry for her. Did she tell you that?”
Rider slapped the tape down on the worktable. “No, she didn’t.”
Jewell gave a look that showed she couldn’t believe Jo was so gullible. “I did, and I meant it. God help her when she does find out. I’m going to pray for you, too.”
“I don’t need your fucking prayers.” Any thoughts Rider had about forgiving Jewell flew out the door.
“I’m going to anyway. You’re going to need them when you realize what you lost.”
Rider was glad she was wise enough to walk away after that. It would be a cold day in hell before he would trust her around Jo again.
Looking at the clock, he put the package in the mail cart to be shipped. He had enough time to grab dinner before going to the security room.
Shade was already there when he arrived, and F.A.M.E, who had been waiting for him, stood up and stretched his broad shoulders as Rider took his chair, pulling it under the desk.
He swept his eyes across the monitors to assess where everyone was and the vehicles outside of each home. It helped having a photographic memory. He could tell instantly when something was out of place.
“You might as well go to the diner for dinner,” Rider warned F.A.M.E, absent-mindedly popping open the top of the energy drink he had brought with him. “The only thing left in the kitchen is one hot dog and a few fries.”
“I wasn’t planning on eating at the club. I volunteered to watch the women when you took Moon’s shift.”
Rider pivoted in his chair. “If you’re working a double, then you can work for me and I can—”
“He can’t,” Shade reminded him. “It was your bright idea that no one worked a double in the security room.”
“Fuck.” Rider swung back toward the monitors.
“Later, brothers,” F.A.M.E called out as he left the room.
“I’m going to brother him when he gets back,” Rider grumbled.
“Why not before he leaves?” Shade turned to the side, flipping the monitor on for the inside of Jo’s house.
“Don’t want the women upset when he shows up with a busted face.”
Rider watched the outside of Jo’s, seeing three cars outside. Then he looked upward to the monitor that Shade had turned on.
“Why’s Aly there? Jo didn’t tell me she was going to be there.”
“It wasn’t planned. Aly told Trip that she wanted to go by to tell Jo goodbye and apologize for trying to sue her. Jo invited her to stay.”
“You’re shitting me?”
“She’s there, isn’t she?”
“I’ll be glad when that bitch is gone. The only reason I haven’t paid her back for the crap she tried to pull on me was because I’ve been waiting for her to disappear so no questions could be asked.”
“Her new employers will know.”
“They’re going to think she took a different job. I don’t want her in the same room with Jo. I was lucky to put out the fire Jewell started; I’m not going to put out the one I’d bet my bottom dollar that Aly will try to start. Text F.A.M.E. Tell him, when he gets there, bring her back to the club.”
“Trip can bring her,” Shade said, reaching for his phone. “Trip deserves a good meal. F.A.M.E doesn’t.”
“No. He could have let Moon work the day shift and F.A.M.E take this one.”
“Moon and F.A.M.E have been sharing a lot lately.”
“They’re going to be sharing more than women when they get back,” Rider threatened as he stared at the monitors. It had grown darker, making it harder to discern the shadows around each house.
“I’m shocked Jo’s house is holding so many. I hope Mag shows Jo how to cook chicken and dumplings. Rachel’s are too dry,” Rider criticized.
“I wouldn’t tell Cash that.”
“He knows. We’ve talked about it.”
“He lets you criticize his wife’s food?”
“He thinks it will keep me from eating there as often.” Rider crushed his empty metal can before tossing it toward the trash can without taking his eyes off the screens. Not even the sound of the crushed can hitting the floor had him looking. “Who moved the trash?”
“I did.” Shade didn’t look at the can either.
Rider stood, walking to pick up the can and move the waste basket back into the position while dropping the can inside.
He was walking back toward the desk, scanning the screens when he started to walk faster. He put his palms on the desk, staring hard at one over Shade’s head.
“Do you …?” Shade began to ask at the same time Rider hit the alert button.
“One perp; side corner of your house. Two coming from behind Razer’s, moving toward the club,” Rider called out.
Shade was sending the red alert on his cell phone as he scanned the screens closest to him.
“Come on … come on …” Rider willed the steel shutters to go down faster. He had given enough warning to assure the doors would be locked. Everyone was safe except for the new recruit pulling guard duty at the front door.
One of the two coming from behind Razer’s cut down the side yard, taking the new recruit out before Driver could remove his gun.
Shade was getting to his feet when the lights went out.
“Those motherfuckers are dead.”
Rider heard Shade going toward the door, concerned for his kids, who Ember had volunteered to babysit. She was the least prepared to handle the situation she found herself in.
“The lights will be on in ten seconds. At least wait until we can see the positions again. The shutters made it down.”
As the backup generator came on, Rider immediately scanned for the perps’ positions.
“Three coming from behind Viper’s house … heading toward the back of the factory.”
“They know we’re in here.”
Shade’s cold tone didn’t stop Rider from focusing on the other monitors. When he got to Jo’s house, his blood ran cold.
Rider opened the drawer to his side, taking his Glock out. Shade already held his, looking at the same monitor he was.
It was the most defenseless house out of all of them, the only one without steel shutters or the automatic locks, and right now, it held The Last Riders’ most priceless possessions.
Cash, Trip, and F.A.M.E had been sent the same mass text. Cash and Trip were outside Jo’s house, and F.A.M.E was inside, sitting at the table next to the window. The only brother who was in there with them didn’t know he was about to die.
Spellbound, Rider and Shade watched as Aly walked behind F.A.M.E as he sprang out of his chair. She pulled a gun out from underneath her bulky sweater and fired two shots into the back of F.A.M.E’s head.
Rider smothered down the pain of the loss. He would grieve for both F.A.M.E and Driver later. Right now, it was imperative to regain control of the situation.
With coldness and precision, Rider gave his instructions to Shade. “I’ll hit the delay button, so even if they get in, they won’t expect you waiting for them.” As Rider’s eyes went from screen to screen, he opened the drawer to the right and took out a set of keys, tossing them to Shade. “Get on my bike. Don’t start it until I start opening the garage door. There’s another perp coming up from the side of Viper’s house. You’re going to be facing four. Go now, brother—save our women.”
Rider waited until Shade was seated on the bike he had planned on moving the next day since it was in Rachel’s way. Then he pushed the garage door button, listening to the sound of the motorcycle filling the air as it rose.
Shade started firing at the perps’ legs as soon as the door was at their knees. He reloaded, then fired, taking out the last one standing. Shade continued firing at the four men as he rode out of the garage, making sure none of them would be getting up.
Rider watched as Shade swung his booted foot down to keep the bike from falling as he made the sharp turn out of the garage and into the parking lot.
“Faster, Shade, faster …” Rider could only sit and watch as Shade hunched down over his motorcycle as two of the three perps ran to the end of the front porch and leaned over the banister to shoot down at Shade.
When the bike swerved, Rider knew one of the bullets had struck him. He held his breath until Shade drove onto the main road, thanking God no cars were coming as the perps ran to the other side of the porch to continue firing after him.
Rider stopped watching when he could see Shade had rounded a curve and was out of sight. Finally able to answer his phone that had been going off throughout this, he picked it up, knowing who it would be.
“Three perps are on the grounds. Two at the front.” Rider scanned the screens again. “One at Shade’s back door. One moving to where I am. I’ll take him. In ten, I will release your back door; you take the two on the front porch. Lucky and Razer are in the house. Lucky will take the one out at Shade’s house.”
As he gave Viper his instructions, he stood with his Glock in hand. Rider took another glance at the monitors as he counted out the ten seconds, then released Viper’s door, locking it behind him immediately as he slipped out.
He called Lucky without looking at his phone as he began moving toward the security room door. He was opening it when Lucky answered.
“One perp at the back of Shade’s, moving to the left side. He’s running toward the clubhouse. Shoot him as he comes around the corner.”
Rider saw his own perp trying to lift one of the men who Shade had shot. Rider lifted his gun as he walked toward him. The perp saw him and tried to raise his gun too late. Rider shot him in the heart.
