by Nikki Landis
She lifted a brow. “Really?”
“He was kind of delirious, but he called me his angel and then,” I paused as I blushed. “He asked me to kiss him and I did.”
“Holy shit.”
Smirking, I leaned my head back against the cabinet. “You know what?”
“No.”
“I haven’t been able to stop thinking about that kiss.”
“Ohhhh,” she breathed. “What was it like?”
“Soft, sweet, and perfect,” I whispered. “Something is wrong with me.”
“What?” Charlotte lightly smacked my arm. “Why? Because you’re engaged to a controlling asshole? Screw Maxwell Forman. He’s a jerk.”
I gave her a scathing look. “He wasn’t always this way.”
“Does it matter? You can’t change him, and you can’t keep hoping he’s going to become that boy you knew. He’s dangerous, Cara.”
“I know. I saw that when I came in the door and he cornered me.”
“What are you going to do?”
I sighed, knowing the decision I had to make, and it had nothing to do with R.J. “I’m going to call off the engagement. It’s been a long time coming.”
She placed her hand over mine and squeezed. “Are you okay?”
“No, but I think once I talk to Max, I’ll feel a lot better.”
“What about the biker?”
I stood up and pulled off the bloody clothes, tossing them into a spare trash bag from under the sink. “I’m going to visit him in the hospital.”
“And?”
Shrugging, I moved toward the shower and turned on the water, letting the temperature heat the bathroom. “I don’t know. He’s in my life for a reason. I’d like to get to know R.J. better.”
She smiled, hovering near the doorway. “You deserve to find love and happiness, you know. We all do.”
I couldn’t disagree. “You and me both, Charlotte.”
THE NEXT WEEK WAS QUICK to pass especially with my busy schedule at work. Friday afternoon Leah stood shyly outside the door of my office, peeking in only after I called her name.
“Leah?”
“Hi.” She shifted nervously from foot to foot.
“What can I do for you, sweetie?”
“My birthday is Sunday.”
“I know. You’re going to be eight!” I announced excitedly. “That’s wonderful.”
She smiled a grin that was missing a tooth. “Will you come to my birthday party tomorrow? Rae made these pretty invitations.” She walked toward me and placed the invitation on my desk. “I really want you to see my Frozen party. Elsa and Anna are my favorite.”
How adorable. “Of course. I wouldn’t miss it for anything.” I’d have to go by the store and find something Frozen themed as a present. Sophie liked Frozen too. She had all the dolls. “Is there anything you wanted special for your birthday?”
She shook her head. “Just all my friends and you and Rae.” She scrunched up her nose for just a moment like she was thinking hard. “And cake and ice cream.”
“Wouldn’t be a birthday without them,” I agreed. She was just too cute.
“It starts at two. You can’t be late.”
“I won’t,” I promised, having a sudden idea. “Can I bring a friend?”
“A boy?” She sounded disgusted which almost made me laugh.
“No. My sister has a little girl named Sophie that’s eight. She loves Frozen. Can I bring them?”
Leah’s eyes widened. “Yes!”
Laughing lightly, I nodded. “Good. We’ll be there on time. I promise.”
Leah looked so happy she might burst. “Bye, Cara!”
“Bye!” I called out as I watched her skip out the door and down the hall.
That little girl was special. There was just something about Leah that tugged at my heartstrings. She reminded me a lot of Sophie and that was probably a big contributing factor.
Smiling, I reached for my purse and locked up the office, happy to welcome the weekend.
IT WAS LATE AGAIN WHEN I arrived home, balancing shopping bags, my purse, and a food for dinner. I barely made it in the door without dropping it all. The house was quiet and dark as I flipped on lights and entered the kitchen. Charlotte and Sophie had gymnastics on Fridays. It was my time to unwind from the week and enjoy a little solitude.
I opened the fridge and put the cold groceries away and then turned, shutting the door as a shadow emerged from the dark hall. Screaming, I placed a hand over my heart and nearly jumped a mile when I saw Maxwell standing there with a sardonic grin.
“Seems you weren’t expecting me.”
“Of course not,” I breathed as my heart raced in my chest. “We didn’t have plans.”
He took a couple of steps in my direction, that same self-servient smile hovering on his lips. “I changed my mind. Get dressed. We’re going to check out a new club.”
I didn’t want to go out. “Not tonight. I’m tired. It’s been a long week.”
For a few seconds he didn’t move. A moment later I was up against the wall, clutching at his hand as it wrapped around my throat and his big body pinned me against the textured paint. “I don’t remember giving you an option.” He didn’t squeeze but the threat was clear. “Won’t Charlotte and little Sophie be home soon? It would be a shame to disturb their evening.”
Shit.
“Okay,” I choked out as he released his grip.
“Hurry up. My time is precious.”
Right. Bitterness crept inside my heart as I walked into my room and shut the door, blocking him from coming in. I didn’t want him to think I was issuing an invitation into my bed. That wasn’t happening tonight.
Thirty minutes later we pulled up to a nightclub that Maxwell was thinking of investing in. He was just as ruthlessly calculating as his father Barry Forman. Always accumulating more wealth and assets, the two men cared about nothing but their reputation and money. As I watched Max meeting with his contacts it became clear that I didn’t know the man who kept his hand on my lower back most of the night. I was never allowed out of his gaze, even if I sat across the room.
Everything to Maxwell was a trophy. I had become another possession.
Exhausted, I entered the limo and sat down, awaiting Max. He was about to climb in when the roar of a motorcycle caught everyone’s attention. Maxwell left the door ajar as he straightened his jacket and moved toward the trio of bikers parking a short distance away. At first, I thought it was strange and shocking that R.J.’s club would know Max.
I was wrong.
It wasn’t the Ravage Riders.
The biggest of the three bikers stood and accepted Maxwell’s handshake. When he turned slightly, I caught the name of his club as it was illuminated by the streetlamp. Satan’s Outlaws. Why was Max doing business with a known group of biker thugs? The Outlaws had a bad reputation. Everyone in Providence knew to stay far away.
This was bad. I knew instinctively that something was up.
They spoke for several minutes and then parted ways as Max strode toward the limo with a satisfied expression on his face. Whatever business they were in together, it wouldn’t be legal. Providence was in danger.
Swallowing hard, I tried to smile as he entered the car. I worried the entire way home how I would refuse him if he insisted on intimacy. There wasn’t a need to be concerned. He was preoccupied and dropped me off with a brief kiss, hardly giving the attention a fiancé deserved.
As I was exiting, he held onto my hand. “Don’t forget the gala. Wear red. Something special.”
Lifting my chin, I nearly told him to go to hell. I was done with his demands. Deciding not to make a scene just as I was escaping from his grasp, I nodded. “Sure.”
“That’s my girl.”
Swallowing my disgust, I watched him pull away from the curb before I was inside. So much for making sure I was safe. Sighing, I stopped on the front porch and sank onto the bench swing that Sophie loved. The night was quiet, the stars bri
ghtly lit as the moon cast a murky pale glow. I leaned back, pushing off as I swished in the silence that followed.
My thoughts returned to the end of the evening and Max’s meeting with Satan’s Outlaws. I couldn’t shake the feeling of foreboding that surfaced. Maxwell Forman was involved in something dangerous.
I wondered if the Ravage Riders MC knew what the Outlaws wanted with Max. It was worth asking. R.J. would probably have an idea. It was a good thing I was already going to see him tomorrow. I had a feeling he wouldn’t miss Leah’s birthday party. I couldn’t deny it was more than a coincidence.
Fate seemed determined to push us together again.
Chapter 8 – R.J.
“Guess what I got you, munchkin?”
I was holding up a box professionally gift wrapped in Frozen artwork and pastel colored ribbons, leaving it just high enough out of Leah’s reach. There was no way I could ever do something this nice on my own. Rae was super nice to help me out.
“Teasing isn’t nice, Uncle R.J.” Her little foot stomped as she tried to jump and snag the present from my hands.
I had to bite my lip to keep from laughing out loud.
“I’m gonna put this on your gift table. No shaking or picking it up. I’ll be watching,” I warned, strolling into the backyard.
“No fair!” she screeched, just as the doorbell rang and her friends started to arrive.
My gift was forgotten as Leah ran toward the door, squealing with excitement.
Chuckling, I placed the present on the table draped with a pink plastic tablecloth. The entire backyard looked like someone threw up salmon pink, purple, and baby blue and tossed it with every single Frozen themed item they could find. Streamers, cardboard cutouts, balloons, tables loaded down with gifts and party favors – it was a guy’s worst nightmare, if he didn’t completely love the little girl whose birthday splashed the entire vicinity in pastel cheer.
I strolled to one of the coolers and reached inside, frowning at the lack of beer. That would have to wait, I supposed. Rae wouldn’t want anyone drunk at Leah’s party. I was sure my brothers would have plenty of alcohol available later tonight.
Ghost and GQ arrived with another cooler full of adult drinks that Rae made them place inside the house and promise to drink after the party. All of the RRMC was here in support, enjoying the celebration. Bryce walked into the backyard and lit up a smoke next to my side, puffing away in silence for several minutes.
I knew he didn’t want to give up his role in his father’s club and hand over the Outlaws to Devlin. There was enough tension between the two MCs and his reluctance to patch with the Riders created unease among my brothers. Few understood just how close Edge and Bryce had become. Discovering they were half brothers a few months ago had broken the feud between them and united Edge and Bryce and their determination to end the bad blood between the Outlaws and the Riders. Of course, that had a lot do with Mack, our pres.
The sins of the father never strayed far from the children . . .
We all knew that just a little too well.
Rae’s father Ron and Edge’s father Mack had been best friends. A lot of shit happened in the past and it caused the rift that opened between the Riders and the Outlaws. It was fucked up, to be honest. Mack was the largest to blame and he’d probably never fully live down the chaos and destruction he caused. All because of a woman. Patty Harding.
Patty had betrayed Striker, Bryce’s father and fallen in love with Mack. When they had Edge and their affair was revealed, it caused a shitstorm. Striker wanted revenge. Ron, Mack, Striker, and Patty ended up in a brutal showdown where Ron was shot and killed, along with Patty. The dual tragedy sparked a vengeful hate between the two clubs as Striker was the pres of the Outlaws and Mack was V.P. of the Riders. Ten years lapsed before Striker’s evil plot was revealed. Everything came to a dangerous and bloody confrontation when Rafe, the pres of the Riders betrayed the club and chose Striker’s side. That was the day Striker and Rafe died. Just months ago.
But it wasn’t over.
Devlin became the new pres of the Outlaws. He wanted blood and his own vengeance.
Time was ticking closer to the day when we’d have to take Devlin down.
Until then, the club kept an eye on the SOMC under Mack’s leadership as he was voted in as our pres. Edge was his chosen V.P. and the club didn’t hesitate to approve.
That just left Bryce and his allegiance. His loyalty was absolute when it came to his brother Edge but would he back up the club? I wanted to say yes without hesitation, but the truth was, I didn’t know what the hell Bryce was gonna do when the moment came. He was a wild card and that shit was a big deal with the rest of the club. Edge’s reassurance at Church kept the peace for now but once Devlin made his move, all bets were off.
Bryce seemed to discern my thoughts as we smoked and watched the party from the edge of the yard. “I’m loyal to Edge and the club, R.J.”
“Never said you weren’t.”
“Didn’t have to,” he responded, ticking his head in my direction. “You’re as close to my brother as real blood. You’ve watched out for Edge and Rae as long as I can remember. That means a lot to me. I know we’ve had our disagreements in the past but that’s exactly what that shit is, the past.”
“Then you know I’m watching, and I won’t hesitate to take you down with the Outlaws if it comes to that.” He stiffened and I shrugged. “My loyalty is to my club, my brothers, and my family. You’re none of those at present, Bryce.”
He flinched but then slowly nodded. “I’m not gonna be able to stick around without patching in with the Riders, am I?”
“I can’t make that decision on my own but as long as Devlin is the pres of the Outlaws, there’s bad blood.”
“Yeah,” he agreed. “Don’t I know it.”
“I can’t tell you what to do,” I confided as I lowered my voice and Ghost and GQ approached, “but you need to figure shit out and fast. Devlin will make his move soon. We both know it.”
“I know, R.J.”
“Good.”
Ghost and GQ joined us in a game of horseshoes, followed by Mack and Valan. Edge was helping Rae most of the time and I joined him at the grill as he flipped brats, hotdogs, and burgers. Rae and Hayley were filling up a long table with bowls of chips, potato salad, macaroni salad, pretzels, and something she called fluff. All I saw was pale green pudding and pieces of fruit mixed with colored marshmallows and whipped topping. The kids loved it.
Through my sunglasses, I watched little Leah interact with her friends. She seemed happy and excited, as it should be on her eighth birthday. “Leah is adjusting well.”
“Yeah, Rae was pretty worried after Cara’s visit but there haven’t been any more issues. My girls are close.” He shrugged. “Never thought I’d feel so content, R.J. I’ve got my Rae and Leah and a baby on the way. Who would have thought?”
I chuckled lightly, slapping him on the back. “I did. It’s meant to be, Pete.” Sometimes I used his real name when it was just the two of us. Old habits died hard. His road name was something new in the last five years only. “You and Rae are perfect.”
He ticked his chin in my direction. “You’re gonna find your happiness too, R.J.”
Yeah, I wasn’t placing any bets on that statement. “Maybe.” I shrugged, changing the subject. “Did you –”
I was cut off when Leah screamed a familiar name that immediately caught my attention.
“Cara!”
The second I heard Cara’s sweet voice respond, my body reacted, and I spun, suddenly ravenous for just a glimpse of the sexy brunette. She was smiling as she walked into the backyard with a friend and a little girl who looked about Leah’s age.
“You’re not late!” Leah exclaimed, immediately hugging Cara around the waist.
“Nope. Here at two just like I promised, and I brought my sister Charlotte and her daughter Sophie.”
“Is she the one that’s eight like me?”
“Yep.�
� She turned to the little girl. “Sophie this is Leah. Leah, this is Sophie. You both love Anna and Elsa so I think you’re going to have a lot of fun together.”
Leah looked over Sophie’s dark braid that resembled the character Anna, dangling over one shoulder. She had on a t-shirt and shorts that were Frozen themed. “I have the same outfit. Who’s your favorite?”
“I can’t pick just one,” Sophie announced. “They’re sisters.”
Leah beamed a huge smile, grabbing Sophie’s hand. “That’s what I keep telling Angelique. She doesn’t understand like we do.”
Rae approached as Cara and her sister laughed at the girl’s comments and they ran away to join the others. “I’m so glad you came.”
“Thanks for having us. We brought more drinks. I’ll just grab them from the car.”
“No. I’ll go,” Charlotte offered. “Nice to meet you, Rae. Cara has mentioned you and Leah often. I feel like I know you already.”
Cara blushed. “Thanks for ratting me out, sis.”
Charlotte laughed, leaving through the back gate to return for the soda and Ghost followed her. I noticed his wide grin as he checked out her ass. Shaking my head, I turned to Edge and caught his smirk.
“Those sisters look a lot alike.”
They did? I barely noticed Charlotte. My gaze was locked on Cara. She hadn’t noticed me yet, too busy chatting with Rae and Hayley. Hayley could literally talk until the end of time and not run out of things to say. She was a sweet girl, but I wouldn’t be able to handle it as well as Jake. He came up behind Hayley and slid his arm around her shoulders, ticking his head in our direction in greeting. Mack had him out on a run with Tank, our new Enforcer. Must have run late. He was due here an hour ago.
Hope there wasn’t an issue. Mack was frowning from the horseshoe pit and I was sure he thought the same.
“Hi, R.J.”
Looking down, I was caught off guard by Cara and her seductively sweet smile. She was sneaky. Never saw her come this way. “Hey.” I stood for a moment, entranced by her beauty and that long, jet black hair pulled back in the heat of the day. A few of the strands were loose and lightly teasing the delicate skin of her throat. The same way my fingers suddenly itched to do.
