by Debra Kayn
His behavior scared her. He was unpredictable. His grief and anger overtook his personal judgment. There were no doubts that he loved her with everything he had. He was a good father, a loving father, and a hothead.
God, she'd failed him and probably pushed him into the position he was in, because he had to hide what he loved to do from her. Exactly what she was doing with Torque, and she was miserable without him.
A knock on the front of the cabin broke up their talk. She stood, opened the door, and motioned Rain inside.
"Everything your dad needs is in the bag." Rain held up a brown paper sack.
She took the delivery from him and stepped back, wanting to ask how Torque was doing but knowing she couldn't while her dad was in the same room. "Dad...this is Rain Brookshire, my boss, and the president of Bantorus Motorcycle Club. He's brought you something to help you while you stay here with me and we can both get back on our feet."
Her dad pushed himself off the couch, crossed the room, and held out his hand. "Thanks for watching out for my daughter."
"I had help." Rain shook her father's hand, but cocked his head and didn't let go. "Seeing as how you shot one of my men, upset a woman in my employment, and put everyone's safety at risk by bringing Los Li to my town, I'll let you know that you mess up once, and we'll escort you out of town...without your daughter."
Her dad said, "You can't—"
"I can," Rain said.
Brandy glanced between the two men, holding her breath. Everyone respected Rain, but whoa...he was good. Her dad took Rain's threat and seemed to accept it with his silence.
"Torque owns her. You don't," Rain added.
Oh, shit. She crossed her arms and cupped her elbows.
Her dad's hand dropped from Rain's grasp, his shoulders widened, and the muscles in his jaw bulged. She stepped in between them and placed both her hands on her dad's chest. "Rain didn't mean that, Dad. Not the way you're thinking. He...They...it's a biker term. A code."
Her dad ignored her, and pointed his beefy arm over her head at Rain. "Explain yourself," he bellowed.
Rain picked up the bag she'd dropped, reached in, removed a joint, and offered the marijuana to her dad. She stared in shock.
"Are you kidding me?" she said, staring at the dope.
Her dad didn't smoke, he didn't do drugs. He was all about fitness and fighting. He just had a problem controlling his wanderlust and temper.
"It's legal in Washington." Rain's mouth twitched. "I think it's time for your dad and I to talk and you've got a job to do."
She wanted to stay and protect Rain. Her dad would annihilate him if he mentioned Torque claimed her, and she belonged to Bantorus MC now. Though, her dad wasn't dumb. Maybe Rain could talk some sense into him. Her dad wasn't going to like what he heard, but she was done for the day. Completely done.
Her dad could make his own choices.
She lifted the cell out of her pocket. It was time to think about what she was going to do with her life and stop worrying about the talk that would go on without her. "Call me if you need me."
Rain nodded. Her dad nodded. She nodded. Shit, she had to get out of here before she forgot everything she learned about herself today.
She left the cabin, marched across the parking lot, and escaped the madness in the cabin to go work inside the bar. She picked up her step, anxious to find out how Torque was doing.
She should've paid more attention to him yesterday after she found out he was okay and her father hadn't seriously wounded him. Her priorities were wrong and until now, she hadn't seen how unfair she was being to Torque. She owed him an apology.
After that, she honestly didn't know what she was going to do.
She honored her position as his woman and wanted him back, but asking him to put up with her dad was too much for even her to handle, and he was a blood relative. She wasn't even sure Torque would want her to stay in Pitnam now that Los Li wasn't after her and she had a somewhat normal life back in Cali to go home to now.
Bruce waylaid her at the end of the hallway. "Hey...how are you doing?"
"Fine." She bobbed her head side to side to let him know she'd been better. "How's Torque?"
"Haven't seen him." Bruce flipped the towel in his hand over his shoulder.
Her shoulders slumped. "But you've heard from him, right? Someone has checked in on him?"
"Yeah, I'm sure he's fine." Bruce backed away. "It's Torque. You can't kill the son of a bitch."
She snarled. "That's not funny."
"It sort of is...he's been shot four times now." Bruce grinned, and quickly turned serious. "He's all right, sweetheart. Torque wouldn't want you to worry about him. He got a couple scratches. I'm sure he'll be here when he can."
"You don't know that though," she muttered, pulling out the cell phone Rain gave her last night.
She clicked on Torque's already listed number and held the cell to her ear. After five rings, the phone disconnected instead of going to voice mail. Where was he?
Maybe he was feeling better and thought he'd go to the garage and work. She hurried into the bar after Bruce. "What's Shift's Garage's phone number?"
"He's not there," Bruce said, wiping down the counter. "And before you ask, I don't know where he is."
"Well, who would know?" she asked.
"No clue." He shrugged. "Delivery is in the back room if you're here to get started doing your job. Taylor needs you to check the boxes. She doesn't think they sent the right order."
"I'm skipping my first break and taking the extra time at lunch." She blew out her breath, and headed to the storage room.
Her lunch break wasn't for another four hours, which was after the dinner crowd left and before the evening drinkers came. She pushed through the door. Since she had an hour and fifteen minutes, it'd allow her enough time to run over to Torque's house and check on him if she couldn't get ahold of him by then. It wasn't like him not to check in with the club during the day, and that worried her.
Taylor stuck her head in the room. "Did you find the boxes?"
"Yeah." She held up the handful of menus. "These are the menus I ordered."
"Really?" Taylor leaned against the doorframe. "We're going to a smaller offering?"
She put the menus back. "Rain wants to maximize what works, and trim back on what doesn't. People come here for burgers, appetizers, and drinks. They can get steak and baked potatoes at the hotel lounge in town. Besides, saltier foods mean more drinks ordered to quench the customer's thirst. That's where the money comes from, and—"
"The more tips the waitresses get in their pocket." Taylor smiled. "I like it. You're good for Cactus Cove. I loved Gladys, but changes make the world go round."
"I'm trying," she said, following Taylor back into the bar.
Taylor nudged her arm. "By the way, thanks for the overtime. Every little bit helps."
She smiled, feeling good about helping Taylor and Slade. Her own life might be a mess, but she enjoyed her work and the friendships she'd made while at Cactus Cove. "Can I ask you something before you get back to work?"
"Sure." Taylor placed her arm on Brandy's wrist and led her over away from the counter. "What's up?"
"Has Slade seen Torque or talked to him today?" she asked.
Taylor looked away. "Don't ask me that question."
She rocked back a foot, pressing a hand to her mouth. "Oh, God."
"No, no, oh God, no." Taylor grabbed Brandy's arms. "He's hurting, but he's moving around. I think he's mainly sore, which is to be expected."
Her heart raced and she sucked in air. This didn't make sense. If he was up and doing okay, then why hadn't he rode over and seen her?
"Then where is he?" she asked.
Taylor shook her head. "I don't know. Honestly, I really don't. Slade talked to him early this morning and went over to his house for a couple hours. When I asked Slade later, he said it was club business. That's probably all it is. You know these guys, if it has to do with Bantorus, they don't te
ll the old ladies."
Old ladies. She bit down on the side of her cheek. Was she still his woman?
After walking away from him when he needed her last night to deal with her dad, she couldn't blame him if he hated her. "Okay, thanks. You better get to work, and I need to check in with Bruce."
For the next four hours, she kept herself busy to keep her mind off Torque, her dad with Rain smoking pot in her cabin, and concentrated on getting through the evening until lunchtime. The minute it turned eight o'clock, she skipped eating, ran out the back door to jump in her car to go to Torque's house, and came to a complete stop.
She peered around the lot. The spot where she'd last parked her car was empty.
Chapter Twenty Three
At almost midnight, Torque rolled into the parking lot of Cactus Cove. It'd taken him longer than he thought to finish today, and he knew by the many phone calls he made to Bruce that Brandy's patience had left after her mid-shift lunch break.
Torque parked his Harley and peeled off his shirt. The constant ache in his shoulder turned into sharp throbbing as the dried material broke away from his wound. He rotated his arm and looked over the slice the bullet made, which still oozed. The bullet gouged a nice sized indent into his muscle, and he hoped the antibiotics Ginger brought him this morning did the trick.
His leg was fine, more like road rash than anything, though the meaty part of his calf consisted of a bruise the color of his motorcycle. He should've taken a day off and recuperated, but he had no extra time to waste. Brandy was not going to push him away a minute longer.
He removed a clean T-shirt from his bag on the side of his bike and stuffed the dirty one away. After he redressed, he walked into the bar. He took a second to locate his woman, and when he found her over by the pool table, arms crossed, nodding as if she was listening to Pauline, he tensed. He knew the raised brows, the vacate stare, the plastered half smile she gave Orca's woman. Brandy was deep in her head, and that was the last place he wanted her to be.
When he'd had her alone, she was always right there with him, promising forever on the back of his bike. Until her dad came, and he'd seen Brandy revert to the woman who got in his face the first time he met her. The light went out of her eyes, and the happy out of her world.
Yet, he couldn't help admiring her for the love she had for her dad, and not letting the hurt of her childhood bring her down. She pulled on her thigh-high boots and kicked ass. His chest warmed. Hell, she'd kicked his ass and he fell like a rock for her.
How he'd come to the place in his life where he needed someone else more than he needed his freedom was beyond understanding. He loved her, and the kind of love he had for her went deeper than the blood flowing in his veins. She was life.
She gave him beauty where before he had darkness. He'd never heard a softer sound than her whispering to him right before she fell asleep or felt the touch of a woman who was content to hug him. She gave until she exhausted herself, and he wanted to give her everything until she lit up his world with sunshine.
He rubbed his hand over his jaw, because he looked like a damn fool thinking words he'd never spoken to anyone before in his life. He stepped toward her and her eyes swept across the room and landed on him. Her chest rose with her gasp and her eyes shone bright. He quickened his steps, and if he hadn't been watching, he would've missed that first honest reaction when he caught her unaware. All wasn't lost.
By the time he reached her, she hid everything from her. Though the rigidness of her body was a sure sign that she wasn't happy.
She lifted her chin. "Where's my car?"
He bent his head and said in her ear. "I got rid of it."
"Why?" She pursed her lips, and damn if he didn't want to kiss them until they were soft and greedy for more.
"It's a Los Li car, and I won't have it on Bantorus land," he said.
She studied his eyes, and her body softened. Then she looked at his shoulders and down at his jeans. "You're okay?"
He sucked in a breath. "I'm fine."
Her gaze settled back on his eyes and her spine stiffened again. "How will I get back to Cali if you sold my car?"
He glanced over to the others watching them, and said, "Come with me."
"I'm still working," she said, not giving him an inch.
"Not for long." He lifted his chin, sought out Bruce, motioned with his head toward the door, and got a nod back in answer. "Your shifts over, and I have something to show you."
"It better be a new car, because I don't have the money to buy another one," she said.
He took her hand and led her across the room, thankful she followed him because if she hadn't he would've picked her up and packed her over his shoulder, and bled all over the fucking floor. Outside, he went straight to his motorcycle and handed her a helmet.
"Hop on," he said.
"I can't." She stood in the parking lot and glanced in the direction of the cabin. "Rain's been with my dad all night and when I left them to go back to work after lunch, my dad was flying high on pot and I think Rain was enjoying watching my dad get stoned. My dad was actually...I hate to say it...but I think he was okay with staying in the cabin."
"I heard." He took the helmet from her and put it on her head. "We'll only be gone an hour tops. Give me your time."
She stepped toward his Harley and hesitated. "Where are you taking me?"
She wasn't going to make this easy, and he loved that about her. He kissed her hard, pulled back, and smiled. "Home, sunshine."
On the ride to his house, he took his time. Selfish and feeling better than he had all day, he wanted to slow down and enjoy having her pressed against his body. For once, he had something bigger planned than nailing her until they were both exhausted.
Besides, she was worn down and defensive, trying to keep a hold on everything she held dear to her. Everyone expected her to jump...him, her dad, Rain. She needed time to shelf her responsibilities for once and take the time for herself that she deserved.
He had plans for her that'd make sure she never had to take on too much again.
He wanted to put his mark on her, give his life and live the remaining days doing the things he'd never given himself time to dream about, and he wanted to do all those things with her. Brandy brought that out of him.
Before her, he might've been out of prison, but he'd created his own walls to protect himself from allowing other to hurt him. Not any longer, because everything would change today.
The porch light lit up the driveway. He pulled clear up to the garage door and parked the Harley. Brandy climbed off the bike first, and he followed. She stood beside him and took off her helmet, setting it on the bike. He let her have time to notice the changes.
The manicured lawn Jedman spent the day cutting, the flowers Tori and Crystal planted early this morning in the new flowerbed that he couldn't give a shit about, but the Bantorus women swore Brandy would love. He stood back and let her walk out into the grass a few feet. Her head tilted one way before going the other, and she had yet to say a word.
Her hair blew in the cool night air. He had a hard time believing she was here. He hooked his hands in his pockets and breathed in. She belonged here more than he did because without her, he'd never be happy.
Brandy walked the sidewalk to the front door and peered up at the chrome glass fixture surrounding six bulbs, shielding her eyes against the brightness. He joined her and opened the new screen door. She walked past him, looking at him with questions in her eyes, but had yet to voice what she was thinking. He had no idea what was going through her head.
He flipped the light switch on inside the house and entered the living room. The Bantorus women had tried to talk him into decorating the inside as well as the outside, but he wanted Brandy to pick out colors, pillows, and all those things women like to do herself.
Slipping his hand into hers, he walked her down the hallway, past his bedroom, and opened the spare room. He'd left the light on, and the new bed with the black and r
ed comforter and six-drawer dresser almost appeared too big for the room. It wasn't much, but there was a private entrance with the sliding door on the back wall.
Brandy stepped inside and ran her fingers over the poster of Muhammad Ali holding the championship belt. She sniffed, and he leaned against the wall and put his hands in his pockets. He wanted to say so many things, but he'd never give his feelings for her justice.
She set the boxing gloves hanging on the bedpost to swinging, and laughed softly. "You know, he'll use these against you. He'll pick an argument, cuff you on the shoulder, and he'll have you out in the yard and using them on you before I can stop him."
"Maybe he can teach me a thing or two," he said.
She glanced at him and continued studying the room. "Rain told me he offered dad a job managing the bar this afternoon. Dad seemed happy about the offer. Though, I wonder...if the joint he was smoking had anything to do with his compliance."
He nodded, even though her back was to him. Rain letting Torque take responsibility for Haas cost him the price of sitting out on three runs, and clean up if Brandy's dad started a fight in the bar.
"It was you who did that for me," she stated, turning around, not even questioning his motives.
He shrugged. "Man needs a purpose. He needs to see his daughter content. I want to be the man who gives his daughter her happy back."
"Torque, I—"
"I'm not finished talking." He pushed off the wall, feeling old and beat, and approached her. "You and me have seen hell and survived. Never thought I'd reach out for someone offering me the sweetness in life, but here I am. I'm not going to let you walk away from me. You've made it possible to recognize what I've never given myself a chance at dreaming about, and I'm selfish, stubborn—"
"An asshole," she whispered in that soft voice that grabbed him by the throat and refused to let go.
He cupped her face, swiping the tear that escaped with his thumb. "Yeah, an asshole that won't let the best thing he's ever had slip away to California."
