OUTLAW: Hell’s Seven MC Biker Romance

by Jolie Day

  “And mother,” Max barked. “You killed her, too.”

  Caesar frowned at that. “Rose died?” he asked, looking absolutely heart-broken. “She was such a good girl. Always sweet, never getting herself into trouble…trust me, I wouldn’t have harmed a hair…on her head. Not if I could…help it.” He took another swig of oxygen. “She was a sweetheart of mine, before she married your father.”

  “You’re lying!” Max growled.

  “Like I said,” Caesar replied. “I have no reason to lie about anything. My life is unimportant to me. I’m ready to go in any way you deem fit.” He took a deep, ragged breath. “Sometimes, I think about allowing myself to suffocate. But it’s too much pain, even when I know it’ll be over soon. You shooting me right between the eyes is ideal, if not only because it’s so damn quick.” Another breath. “But at least let me tell you the whole story, eh?”

  “I’m listening,” Max said, begrudgingly.

  “I didn’t kill your father. Or your mother. That’s the truth.” He took a breath. “I would never hurt Rosie like that. I’ve loved her for damn near fifty years now. Seeing her in any kind of pain would have been torture.” He coughed. “That being said, when you joined the gang, I couldn’t exactly say no. That would have made me look weak. Same as when you came to me with your father, attempting to buy your way out. I would have gotten no respect from my boys.” He breathed deeply, coughing into his hand on the exhale. “So I gave you a hard time and your father reported me. I was pissed, naturally, to be sent upriver, but I’d done my time before and I did it again. I had some Hell’s Sevens on the inside, so I pretty much ran shit up there.” He laughed and coughed and took a ragged breath. “When I got released early, I was good. I had made my piece with it.” His eyes clouded over then. “But my son, CJ, hadn’t. Seems he was still angry to be left without a father.” He took a deeper breath and his body relaxed into the seat. “While I was gone, he had already been climbing the ranks. He got his own band of gangbangers together and started fixing to pay your father back for his kindness. Had I known…” He pressed the mask back against his face. “Had I known, I never would have allowed it to happen.”

  “What did you do when you found out?” Max asked.

  “What could I do? He’s my son. I love the kid, despite what he does.” More deep breathing. “But now I…I just want this all to end. And it can’t; not until he’s taken down.”

  “How do you suppose we do that?” Max asked, walking into the living room and taking a seat on the couch opposite Caesar’s chair.

  “I’ve got some men,” Caesar informed him. “They’re still loyal to me. Most of them paid their way out, but others have been dealing with my kid’s shit for far too long and they’re tired. Some of them got sons that are ready to join up, as well, but only when CJ is gone.”

  “You’re going to kill your own son?” Max asked. “Seriously?”

  “Not necessarily him,” Caesar responded. “But his lackeys, most definitely. As long as he doesn’t have any support, he’ll be dethroned and exiled. And that’s even worse than death for CJ. He feeds off that glory.”

  “Okay, sounds like you’ve got it all figured out,” Max said. “Why do you need me?”

  “Because I’m here to tell you that that raid on Thursday? It ain’t a raid. It’s a trap.” He closed his eyes for a long moment and Max thought he might have passed out. Then his eyes opened again. “Hector recognized you the second he saw you in that alley. He was only a little kid the last time you saw him, but his father was one of my men. He reported straight to CJ as soon as he saw you and planted the seed. The second you show your face on Maple, you’ll be blown to high heaven.”

  “Thanks for the tip,” Max said. “So I won’t go. Y’all will just take care of it, then.”

  “We’ll need your help,” Caesar said. “To lure him out. CJ don’t come out for just any raid. He wants you dead, once and for all, so the only way he’s making his way out is if you’re there to catch his bullets.”

  “Well, I feel special.”

  Caesar laughed and coughed and placed his hand on his chest. “That’s why we need you, though. In order to get rid of him, you’ll need to lead him into a trap of your own. I was thinking that little bar around the corner. The one your girlfriend owns.”

  “What?” Max growled, getting to his feet. “There isn’t a chance in hell I’m—”

  “Don’t worry,” Caesar huffed. “She won’t get hurt. Not so long as you get her out of the bar and away from this mess. Far away. Bring her to Ray’s or something.” At Max’s widened eyes, Caesar nodded. “Yeah, I know he still lives around here. I have no beef with the man. He’s got himself a grandchild, I heard?” Max nodded. “Good for him. Let him and his family be safe. Grace is a good lady. So is your old girl…what’s her name. Mary! Cute kid.” He coughed, harshly. “I can have a message sent to CJ,” Caesar said. “It’ll tell him to meet you there and we’ll plan an ambush. He won’t even see it coming. I’ll make sure of that. You just gotta agree.”

  “There’s no better way?” Max asked. “You can’t just get one of your men to kill him in his sleep or something?”

  “He’s still got lackeys,” Caesar reminded him. “We need to get rid of them. Besides, the plan isn’t to kill my son. Just…cripple him, if need be.”

  “I’ll keep that in mind,” Max sighed. “I have to talk to Regina and…I’ll call you.”

  Caesar nodded and started to rise. Max reached out, helping him to his feet. Caesar laughed, humorlessly. “Who woulda thought?” he coughed. “Stormy Stormwell’s son helping me. After all we’ve been through, this is some kind of irony, ain’t it?” He coughed again and Max sighed.

  “You could say that,” he said. “Do you need help getting home?”

  “No,” Caesar replied. “I’ve got a man.” He cleared his throat. “Flaco! Let’s go!”

  Max turned just as a tall, thin man with a long beard appeared, eating an apple. He furrowed his brow and tilted his head toward Caesar. “Has he really been here the entire time?”

  “You think I walked here myself?” Caesar snorted. “Like this?” He shook his head and motioned toward Flaco, who stepped forward and offered his arm. Caesar held on as he was led out the door, turning back once more before it closed behind them. “I look forward to your call.”

  Then he was gone.

  Chapter Eleven

  Regina

  When she entered the apartment, Max was already in bed, lying on his stomach, dead to the world. Regina’s face softened as she watched him, a smile appearing on her lips as she breathed a deep sigh and slipped her clothes off. It had been a long night after he left and she was more than ready to just collapse next to him.

  Slipping under the covers, she molded her body to his, wrapping her arms around his waist as she laid her head down on his chest, which moved up and down with his slow, even breathing. It was bliss, she mused, to be here with him like this. The sex was great, but it was unnecessary in helping her unwind after long nights at the pub.

  “Mm,” she heard and felt him husk, turning his body so that they were facing one another, just barely dislodging her. “Hey there.”

  Regina grinned. “Hey.” She pressed a kiss to his lips, before returning her face to the warmth of his neck.

  “Long night?” Max asked, rubbing her back.

  “Mhm,” Regina sighed. “You have no idea.”

  He was silent, but the stroke of his hand didn’t let up, soothing her into a deep slumber.

  When she awoke, several hours later, she was alone in her bed, sprawled across it with Max’s pillow beneath her nose. It still smelled like him and she found herself smiling, taking a deep breath as she ran her hands through her messy dark hair.

  She pushed herself up when she smelled coffee and bacon. Smiling, she reached for her robe, slipping it on as she padded out to the kitchen. Max was standing at the stove, dressed only in his boxers with a spatula in hand, pushing eggs around a p
an. There was a plate piled high with bacon next to him and she could see that the coffee machine was on.

  She decided that she was wrong the night before. That wasn’t bliss. This was bliss.

  She approached him from behind, wrapping her arms around his waist and pressing her lips to one of his shoulder blades. Max jumped a little and Regina snorted.

  “It’s just me,” she said. “You made breakfast?”

  “Least I could do,” Max replied smilingly. “After all, I am living in your apartment, rent-free. And you do provide me with sex.”

  “That, I do,” Regina conceded. “But there was none of that last night.”

  “No matter,” Max said. “Besides, I happen to like bacon and eggs, too. It seemed only polite to make some for you, as well.”

  “Oh, is that so?” she teased, nipping at his shoulder blade. Max turned to press a kiss to her lips and she smiled, before pulling away. “I’ll be right back,” she said. “Nature calls.” She slipped away.

  “Breakfast should be ready in five,” Max called out after her and Regina snorted as she closed the bathroom door behind her.

  When she returned, there was a steaming plate of bacon, eggs, and toast at her place on the table, as well as a cup of coffee in her favorite dark red mug. Max was at the counter, making himself a plate and Regina smiled at his back, taking her seat and digging in.

  “Whoa,” Max laughed as he sat across from her, “somebody’s hungry.”

  “I skipped dinner,” Regina explained through a mouthful of eggs. She swallowed and cleared her throat. “Well, sort of. But I don’t really think three glasses of wine and a few handfuls of peanuts really count as ‘dinner’.”

  Max nodded in agreement as he plucked a strip of bacon from his own plate and took a bite. “I agree,” he said. “There’s plenty more where that came from, too. Just don’t choke yourself with eggs, alright?”

  Regina flipped him off as she took a sip of her coffee, unable to suppress her tiny grin. They ate in companionable silence after that, but Regina could feel Max’s eyes on her throughout the meal and she found herself turning to him with raised eyebrows as she nibbled on her bacon.

  “What is it?” she asked, concerned. “Do I have something in my teeth?” She checked her teeth in the reflection of her fork.

  Max chuckled and shook his head. “No,” he said. “You look perfect, really. I just…you look perfect.”

  Regina felt her entire body flush and she smiled down at her plate, placing her fork and bacon back down. “Is that so?” she giggled. “Do I?”

  “More than I thought possible,” Max admitted. “No offense. I just meant…wow, you’re pretty.”

  “Not that I don’t absolutely love the flattery,” Regina laughed, “but what’s this really about? Are you going to propose?” Her words were teasing but there was still a flutter in her chest at the very thought of him down on one knee. She shook her head of that thought; they’d only known each other a week!

  “No, but I do need to talk to you about something,” Max informed her. “Something very serious.” His voice was grave and it garnered her whole attention.

  “What is it?” Regina asked, furrowing her brows.

  “Just…I need you not to panic or get upset, alright? Can you promise me that?”

  “It depends on what you’re about to tell me,” Regina said. “If it’s something upsetting, then of course I’m going to be upset.” Max sighed and Regina narrowed her eyes. “What happened, Max?”

  “I talked to Caesar yesterday.”

  “Caesar?” Regina gasped. “As in Caesar Alvarez? As in the man who killed your father? What…how?”

  “He was here. Last night.”

  “He was here? In my house?!” Regina jumped to her feet and looked around, as if Caesar Alvarez would appear from around the corner to attack. “What the hell was he doing in my house, Max?”

  “He wanted to talk to me,” Max informed her. “He wants to help me. He wants to help us.”

  “Help us? After he killed your father?!?”

  “He didn’t kill my father,” Max said. “His son did.”

  “And you still trust him?” Regina huffed.

  “Yes, because he has no reason to lie.” He took a deep breath and ran his hand through his hair. “He’s sick, Reg. And his son is out of control. He just came to ask for my help taking him down.”

  “And how do you plan on doing that?” Regina asked, folding her arms over her chest.

  “That’s what I needed to talk to you about,” Max said. “We…we need the use of your bar.”

  “My bar? You must be out of your mind!”

  “It’s the only way we can get the drop on him, Reg. You know I wouldn’t dare ask if I wasn’t sure. And you wouldn’t even need to be there during the ambush. I’m sure Ray and Grace would—”

  “No,” Regina said, firmly. “No way. I am not letting you destroy my father’s bar. It’s the only thing my parents left me when they died, Max! You…you can’t just expect to—”

  “Regina, if we don’t do this, he’ll just keep coming after us,” Max interrupted, standing up and reaching for her. He took her face in his hands and searched her eyes. “He could kill you. And I cannot let that happen. Please.”

  Regina gritted her teeth and set her jaw, looking up into his deep brown eyes, before turning her face away, pulling away from his embrace. “I can’t,” she said. “I’m sorry. I just…I can’t.”

  “Regina, I—”

  “You need to leave,” Regina said. “You need to leave and give back your key, because you are no longer welcome here.”

  “Reg—”

  “Go!” Regina said, turning away from him. Her hands landed on the edge of her kitchen sink and her shoulders were tense. She stared out the window and prayed that he wouldn’t try to touch her again. Because she would break; she knew she would.

  She wondered if he did, too.

  Instead, she heard his footsteps as he padded away, returning to the bedroom. She listened as he gathered his things and got dressed. She didn’t turn around until her front door had slammed closed, leaving her alone in her quiet, empty apartment.

  Then, Regina broke, her body going slack as she slid to the ground, her shoulders shaking with sobs.

  *****

  Max

  He went to Ray and Grace and told them everything.

  He told them about Caesar and his sickness. He told them about CJ and how he had been the one to kill his parents. He told them about the plan to ambush CJ and about the fight he’d had with Regina over it. He told them how she kicked him out and now he had nowhere to go. He told them that he was sorry, but that he had no idea what else do. He couldn’t go home to his sister, and leave them all in danger; lead CJ straight to Carol.

  “I have no idea what to do,” he admitted as Grace placed a cup of tea in front of him.

  “Give her a little time,” she suggested. “Let her cool down. It sounds like y’all got really upset with each other. I’m sure everything will be settled soon.” She pressed her lips to his forehead, even as Ray snorted.

  “Yeah,” he said, “I’m sure. That girl is the smartest you’ve ever been with, in my opinion.”

  “I can hear you!” Mary called from the other room, where she was playing with her son.

  “What’s your point?” Ray called back. “You weren’t the sharpest tool in the shed, dating a gang member.” He scoffed. “At least Regina’s got her sense about her. She shouldn’t have to let you use her bar—which her goddamn father left her—for your little revenge plot. Let Caesar find someplace else to punish his good-for-nothing brat. He should have done it a long time ago, in my opinion; before it got so out of hand.”

  “Yeah, well, he didn’t,” Max sighed, taking a sip of his tea. “And now I have my chance to finally get the son-of-a-bitch, once and for all. Why can’t she just see that?” He rolled his eyes.

  “Because she’s scared,” Grace huffed. “Just like I was when
Ray was part of that god-forsaken gang. And when I found out that you—a teenage boy; my godson—was in it, as well. I was terrified. Not only for you, but for Mary, as well.”

  “Mary?”

  “Yes! You don’t think that, had you crossed them, they wouldn’t have come after her, too? You didn’t just put yourself in danger. You put everybody that you loved in danger. Just like you’re doing now. That is why Regina is so upset, you ass!”

  With that, she stormed off, with Ray and Max watching. Max frowned, feeling suddenly guilty for complaining. He knew that he put the people that he loved in danger, but it was hard to reconcile that when the end was so close he could taste it.

  Ray reached out, placing his hand on Max’s forearm. “She’s right,” he said, softly. “You know how much I hate to admit it, but she is.” Max nodded. “So, how about you stay in Grace’s office tonight and sleep on it. Then you can go back to Regina tomorrow and apologize. We’ll figure out another way to get back at CJ, without risking her bar. Or our lives. Got it?” Max nodded, his fist clenching around the warm mug. “Good. Now,” Ray took a deep breath, “I’m gonna go play with my grandson, because lord knows I don’t have as much time with him as I would like to think I do.” He stood, making his way into the other room, leaving Max alone in the kitchen with his tea.

  He placed his forehead on the table and sighed.

  “Better not let Mom see you do that,” Mary said as she entered the room. “She hates it when people lay their heads down on her kitchen table.” Max could hear her pull out the chair her father had just vacated and sit down next to him. “Hey,” she said, placing a hand on his shoulder. “You alright?”

  “Not even a little bit,” Max grunted, sitting up and backing away from her touch. Mary recoiled her hand and sighed.