The Tempted Series: Collectors Edition

by Janine Infante Bosco

  I think that’s the biggest rewrite a person gets in life.

  Making a new life and making good on all the wrongs you did in life by giving your kid all the chances you never got.

  Kids.

  Never thought much about them, been too wrapped up in wanting nothing to dream about having everything.

  But having a little girl call me daddy, who looked like Lacey and maybe a little bit like me, was one of the things that made me hope Brandon woke up from the coma I put him in.

  The dream was ripped from me when I heard the cell door squeak open and the C.O. step inside.

  “Got yourself a cell mate Petra,” he crooned, crossing his arms against his chest as he looked over his shoulder. “Try to play nice, will you?” he added, before stepping outside the cell and allowing the man about to invade my small space step inside.

  My eyes narrowed as Stryker walked into the cell, holding his linens under his arm.

  “Good luck,” muttered the C.O. before he slammed the bars close and strut his ass down the cell block. I stood from my cot, walked over to the bars and looked out to see where the guards were before turning around and narrowing my eyes at him.

  “What the hell are you doing here?”

  Stryker threw his linens on the top bunk before turning around and facing me.

  “I heard the bologna was top notch,” he said sarcastically before glancing around the cell. “This blows, huh?” he shook his head and diverted his eyes back to mine. “Do you snore?”

  “Stryker,” I seethed, clenching my fists as I took one step, making us almost nose to nose. “What are you doing here?”

  “Drug charge, nothing crazy just possession,” he stated.

  “And it’s a coincidence that you’re my cellmate?” I questioned.

  “Nope, not a coincidence at all. I come bearing news and instructions,” he said, pointedly. “But I should warn you, none of it is good.”

  “Christ,” I hissed, running my fingers roughly through my hair before I lifted my eyes to his. “Lacey?”

  “She’s fine,” he paused, cocking his head to the side as he peered at me. “You fucked the Bulldog with that one.”

  “Yeah, well, he needs to get over it. It’s not like I don’t have good intentions when it comes to her but, he wouldn’t know that because he’s too busy being a bitch.”

  “He’s too busy fighting a war to even consider what kind of man you’ll be to his daughter,” he argued. “But he’s decided that your life matters, whether it’s to him or her, I don’t know but that’s one reason I’m here,” he paused, ran his hand over his head before continuing. “The Dragons came after us,” he informed me.

  “How bad?”

  He blew out a breath, rolling up his sleeves and glanced down at the ink that covered his arms before he lifted his eyes back to mine.

  “Stryker, how fucking bad?”

  “We lost Bones,” he muttered.

  I stared at him in shock as I dropped onto my cot and processed his words. It’s been a long time since we’ve had a fallen brother. You start to think your club is invincible and nothing will ever get you down. Then something like this happens, you lose one of your own, and you realize everybody bleeds. We all die and none of us are ever safe.

  “They attacked us at the compound, got us good, Pipe was expecting a shipment of automotive parts and when the truck pulled into the gates we thought it was the delivery. They opened fire, Riggs’s baby mama was there…”

  “Oh God,” I groaned.

  “She was hit and would’ve been again but Bones stepped in front of the second shooter and took the bullet for her,” Stryker continued. “Bones didn’t make it out of surgery, they delivered the baby, kid was born three pounds and was put a respirator.”

  “And Lauren?”

  “Took her awhile to come back to the land of the living but she finally got to meet her boy,” he said, taking a seat on the john across from the bunk.

  “Jesus,” I muttered. “How did Riggs not lose his fucking mind?”

  “Man, I don’t know but, shit, he stepped up. He didn’t leave that hospital for a second, if he wasn’t sitting with his woman then he was holding his baby—telling him stories about the mom he didn’t meet yet and the uncle he never would.”

  I brought my hands up to cover my face, processing what he said and thought about Bones and Riggs’ friendship. We all talk about brotherhood, call one another brothers by choice but those two, they were tight, they were a younger version of the old Jack and the old me.

  “Tell me we got them. Tell me we made that motherfucker pay,” I growled, dropping my hands back to my sides.

  “It’s taken care of,” he confirmed.

  “How?”

  “We waited because Jack wanted to give Riggs the respect—Sun Wu nearly took out his whole family, it seemed only fair he’s the one who put Wu in his grave. We hit his club as planned but Riggs had a different plan, one he concocted with Bianci. They took out Wu personally.”

  “Shit,” I ground out.

  “Yeah, it’s been fun.”

  “What about the Corrupt Bastards?”

  “Riggs went up to see them, that guy Boots met with him and for a hot minute we thought he struck a deal with them but then all this happened and Boots never reached out which leads Jack to believe he was never going to take the offer to begin with,” he said, shrugging his shoulders. “So that’s still a live wire we have to kill.”

  Boots wouldn’t take a deal. I offered him a sweet one. If he agreed to something with Riggs it was only because the prick knew he made a mistake using Lacey as a pawn in his game. That motherfucker is trying to back pedal his way out of the shit he put himself in. He probably heard the news about what went down with the Chinese and thinks Jack is too preoccupied to make a move on him, and with me doing a bid that fuck thinks he’s safe.

  Wrong.

  “Going to ask you one more time and this time you better answer me. What are you doing here?”

  “Got a message for you,” he revealed.

  “Yeah, I bet you do. Give it to me,” I ordered, watching as he walked towards the bar and checked to see if the coast was clear before turning back to me.

  “You need to get yourself transferred to Otisville. As long as that kid you fucked up is half dead there isn’t anything Jack can do. Lacey gave her testimony to the cops but that douche bag Brantley squashed it. There’s only one way out but in order for that to happen, you need to be in Otisville with Vic Pastore, that’s where the connections are.”

  “The lawyer is coming here tomorrow to meet with me and discuss a deal from the district attorney,” I commented.

  “There is no deal, and the lawyer isn’t coming because tomorrow your ass is being carted to Otisville. You trust Jack or what?”

  I used to trust the man with my life but I don’t know if he wants me out. I mean put yourself in his shoes. He knows me better than anyone, knows the shit past I have and that at the end of the day no matter how much I try to get help I’ll always be an addict. He knows what I’m capable of, he’s seen me kill for crying out loud. How can he not want me to rot here? Every day I waste away here is a day his daughter lives a life without me. That’s got to be a win for him.

  But take the title of father away from Jack, leave him as the president of the Satan’s Knights and my brother…now ask me if I trust him.

  Yes.

  With everything I am.

  He’s got my back.

  I looked back at Stryker.

  “How does he expect me to get transferred?”

  “You’re going to kick my ass,” he seethed. “With the charges you got pending, they’ll move you because they think you’re a fucking liability or a goddamn nut job. Either way when the bus comes you’re going to meet the Don,” he wiggled his eyebrows. “Heard he’s a real winner too,” he exaggerated as he climbed on top the top bunk. “Now, I’m all talked out and tomorrow I’ve got to get my pretty face fucked up by your
sorry ass so I’m turning in,” he paused, glancing down at me. “Try not to put me in a coma too.”

  “I can’t make any promises,” I muttered.

  “Glad we had this talk,” he said, shifting around on the bed. “You got to be a midget to fit in this fucking thing,” he complained.

  “Stryker,” I called.

  “What?”

  “Why us? Why in God’s name did you hang your hat here?”

  “I fucking ask myself the same question every day,” he replied, letting out a long yawn. He didn’t elaborate or divulge anything new and I didn’t really expect him to either. He doesn’t have roots, and doesn’t make ties, he’s not going to give me any of his truth. Stryker was just like any other nomad I’ve met…a mystery.

  The next morning, they brought us into the yard and I beat the fuck out of Stryker, broke his nose and got my ass shipped to Otisville where the don himself, Victor Pastore was waiting for me.

  Chapter Thirty-seven

  “Bulldog, we gotta roll,” Pipe called as he walked towards his bike. “The kids alive.”

  “Praise Jesus,” Wolf ground out, spitting out his toothpick and clasping his hands together before he rubbed them in anticipation. “You get the kid to drop the fucking charges and then I’ll cover his face with a pillow. Time to make the little shit sorry his father’s sperm ever found the egg.”

  I stared at him as I fitted my gloves and straddled my Harley.

  “You’re a sick fuck,” I said as I shook my head. “But I’m the one with the fucking crazy pills.”

  “I’m not playing Bulldog, I don’t give a fuck if the kid can’t talk, you grab a fucking pad and paper and fucking write his confession. If you’re too much of a pussy, I’ll sign the goddamn thing.”

  “You’re pushing, Wolf,” I seethed. “I’m ten seconds away from making you sorry your old man’s swimmers ever set sail.”

  “Someone’s got it lay out there for you,” Wolf interjected. “We need Blackie out and this shit between the two of you needs to get resolved. This club can’t afford anymore fucking problems, we’re swimming in them or drowning depending on the fucking day.”

  “Wolf’s right,” Pipe chimed in, tightening his chin strap. “It’s fucked up thinking any man’s got your girl’s heart let alone one of us but it could be worse,” he pointed out. “Blackie’s got a big heart and the fact it’s been dead for so long, means it’s well rested and ready to work overtime. Let’s get him out of the can, give him a chance to prove himself and I swear to you, he fucks with your little girl, Wolf will kill him,” he vowed.

  “Why me and not you?”

  “You’re much more creative,” Pipe shouted over his engine.

  I shook my head and revved my engine leaving those two clowns behind me and peeled out of the compound. I needed no one giving me advice when it came to my daughter. I also didn’t need anyone reminding me my brother was in jail or why he was there.

  It was never a question of whether I’d do whatever I could to get Blackie released. I’m not a fool, I know Blackie’s worth to this club. The man is loyal to the core, something you don’t find much of anymore.

  I can’t get on board with him having a thing for my daughter. After my son died I sat in my room at the clubhouse with a gun in my hand. I pleaded with my predecessor Cain to give me the junk I needed to be reunited with my boy. Cain shot me down, reminded me I still had Lacey and one day she’d grow up and be a looker. She’d need her daddy to filter through the shit and protect her heart or she’d end up with someone like us.

  For a long time after that conversation, I’d look at my little girl and hear Cain’s voice in my head. I didn’t think she’d grow up as fast as she did. I wish I didn’t spend so much time worrying about the older years and paid more attention to the younger ones.

  The years when she was still only mine.

  Now I had to share her.

  I never learned how to share.

  I didn’t want my first lesson to be sharing my daughter with Blackie.

  But like everything else in my life, some things were just out of my control.

  There was one thing no one would take from me, one part of me I’d always have power over and that’s my ability to get down. First, I’d start with the kid’s father, because that son-of-a-bitch should’ve taught his boy manners and how to use his fucking dick. He thinks he’s been sparred a debt, that motherfucker is in over his head and he’s in with me.

  The motherfucking bulldog.

  We parked in front of the hospital, dismounted and started for the door. I glanced over each shoulder making sure Wolf and Pipe were ready to get down with me and saw the devilish look in both maniac’s eyes. We’d get the job done.

  Free Blackie.

  These two assholes behind me were about to have shirts made if I didn’t get him out. I’m not going to lie, I want him out. This last month I could’ve used my V.P. with everything we’ve had going on. As much as I want him out, I don’t know how I’m going to handle watching my daughter run into his arms.

  She thinks he’s her knight in shining armor.

  I used to be.

  Maybe that’s what it is. Maybe it’s not about giving her to Blackie and trusting he’s going to do right by her. Maybe it’s losing her and wondering where I’ll fit in her life.

  We made our way to Brandon’s room and Pipe tapped my shoulder.

  “Go ahead, I got this,” he affirmed, brushing off his shoulders.

  Wolf pulled open his jacket and grabbed a pen from inside his pocket before he shoved it in my face.

  “Get it signed and sealed and I’ll deliver the fucking sentence,” he grunted. I grabbed the pen and pushed open the door to the kid’s room. Lacey sat beside Brandon’s bed with his mother on one side of her and the father across from her.

  She lifted her head and pinned me with a stare before turning to Brandon’s mother. “Thank you for helping him write this,” Lacey said, tapping her pen to the pad of paper and then she turned to Brandon. “Thank you for doing the right thing,” she offered.

  “We’re sorry what happened,” the kid’s mother said. “And I know Brandon is too, isn’t that right?”

  “What the hell is going on?” I hissed.

  “Brandon is dropping the charges against Blackie,” she said, lifting the pad as my eyes zeroed in on the signature on the page.

  “The cops will be here any minute to take his statement. I thought it would be best if we had this just in case someone should change their mind,” she said, diverting her eyes to the kid’s father.

  “No one is changing their mind,” I said, walking up behind the man who used his son as payment plan. “Time for you and me to take a walk, buddy.”

  “Dad,” Lacey started, but I shot her down with a glare.

  “Go outside and wait with Wolf and Pipe,” I ordered. “Now.” Then I looked over at the Brandon’s mother. “You too lady, out.”

  “Sir, my son--- ““Is lucky I need him alive,” I interrupted. “Now, I’d like a word with the guy who tried to rape my daughter and the man who put him in the position. If you want to stick around and watch that’s fine with me but I can guarantee you, you won’t like what you’ll hear,” I paused. “And not what you see either.”

  I could feel Lacey’s eyes stare me down and under other circumstances I would’ve thought twice about talking like this in front of her. I’ve tried real hard not to unleash the bulldog in front of her but now I didn’t give a damn. Now, I knew she didn’t scare easily and wasn’t afraid of the life I tried to shield her from. Now, she chose it.

  Both women turned around and made their way out of the room. I walked over to the door, peeked through the blinds and locked the door.

  “Mr. Parrish,” the elder man started.

  “Shut your fucking mouth!” I cut him off, walking around the edge of the bed to the run my hand over the buttons of the machine pumping air into Brandon’s lungs.

  “The only one talking right
now is me. Do you understand?” I asked.

  “Yes, sir,” the father choked out.

  I looked down at Brandon and watched as he stared back at me blankly.

  “You fucked with the wrong girl,” I seethed. “Thank whatever God you pray to that Blackie was there to stop you. If you would’ve succeeded I would’ve cut your little dick off and fed it to that sweet woman who’s been sitting vigil over you.”

  The father flinched at my crass words causing me to divert my eyes toward him.

  “You got something you want to say old man? Because I’ve got a plan for you too.”

  “The doctors say he’s permanently deaf,” he hoarsely informed me.

  “How’s that feel?” I asked, pushing off the respirator and standing tall as I stared him down, confusion masking his features.

  “How’s it feel to know you put your son in the middle of a situation only to save your own ass? Does your wife know you’re gambling degenerate that asked his son to step in when he couldn’t pay?”

  “It wasn’t like that,” he argued. “I didn’t have a choice! I wouldn’t have done it if I knew Brandon would be hurt, or even if I knew he’d hurt your daughter. Boots told me he wanted him to get close to her, get a little information about that Blackie guy. He’d let the debt go but if I didn’t send Brandon in, he’d kill him.” He glanced down at his son. “I never wanted any of this. And now Boots is saying because Brandon did what he did— ““What’s the matter you can’t say it?” I ground out. “You can’t bring yourself to say the word can you? Say the fucking word! Be a man and say what you’re fucking son did to my daughter.”

  He stared at me silently.

  “SAY IT!” I demanded as I outstretched my hand, my fingers hovered over the plug.

  “Rape,” he blurted. “He said because Brandon tried raping your girl that the deal was off the table and he owned me.”

  I arched an eyebrow.

  “I used to work for the club. I was their mechanic for a long time, seen a lot of stuff go down. I don’t want to be under his thumb. I won’t survive being in debt to him, neither will anyone in my family. I got a daughter man, just like you do, and I’ve already compromised one child.”