“Then spill.”
I rested my hands on her bare thighs and looked up at her. “I just was afraid people wouldn’t be there when I woke up. I had this foster home when I was about eleven that I really liked. I went to sleep without a care in the world and woke up with my bag packed and I was out the door in my pajamas.”
“But that wasn’t your fault, Pipe. Staying awake all night wouldn’t have changed anything.”
“I know that now, but I still can’t sleep much.”
She sighed and rested her hands on top of mine. “But you did just sleep for six hours and then again for three.”
“I think that might have to do a bit with the workout you put me through.”
She ran her fingers up my arms and planted her hands on my chest. “Then I guess I need to work you out every night so you can get a good night's sleep.”
“Is that a threat?”
A smile spread across her lips. “More like a promise. A promise I’m going to fulfill right now.”
*
Chapter 22
Nikki
“I gotta run to Weston for the day.”
“Oh, okay.”
Pipe drank the rest of his coffee and set it on the counter. “Don’t look at me like that, sugar. I haven’t been there since last week.”
I rolled my eyes and grabbed his empty cup. “I know. We’ve kind of been in our own bubble the past few days. I can’t really expect to keep you all to myself.”
He grabbed my hand and pulled me around the counter. He turned, spreading his legs, and tucked me in between them.
“Hey, no hankie pankie on the clock,” Bos called from the window.
“You really think he has to say that every time I touch you?”
I put my hands on Pipe’s shoulders and sighed. “At least there isn’t anyone close when he yelled it this time. I swear, Mrs. Sawyer about had a heart attack yesterday when she turned around and saw your hand on my butt.”
“Hey, she should have been happy she got a show with her meal.” His hands went to my butt like they did every morning, and he gently squeezed. “We have a much smaller crowd today. Miller and Steve haven’t even looked up from their coffee yet, and I’m pretty sure Maury is sleeping.”
“You keeping tabs on everyone now?”
“Gotta keep you safe, sugar. Now kiss me so I can sort out Wrecker’s shit and be back here before you clock out.”
I leaned down and pressed a quick kiss to his lips. “If you’re not back in time, I’ll just have Bos give me a ride home.”
“I’ll be here. The only person you’re getting a ride home from is me. Although, I did tell Bos to keep an eye on you until I got back.”
“Oh good, now I’ll have him watching my every move. At least with you, I was able to distract you.”
He pulled a cigarette out of his pocket and stuck it in the corner of his mouth. I snatched it away and tucked it into my apron “Hey, give that back.”
I shook my head and pulled out of his arms. “Nope, I’ve decided you need to quit.”
He rolled his eyes and patted his pocket. “Good luck with that, sugar. I’ve got a full pack in here. You can keep that one to remind you of me while I’m gone.”
I lunged for his pocket, but he turned away and slipped out of his chair. “Behave while I’m gone, and try not to give Bos too much hell.”
He snagged me around the neck, pulling me close for a quick, heated kiss and then he was out the door before I could even think.
“You two are so darn cute together.” Alice breezed into the cafe and sat down in the chair Pipe had just been in. “I saw you two from the window, and I’m pretty sure a car passing by heard me sigh.”
I set Pipe’s empty cup in the window for Bos to take and sat down next to Alice. “And just what are you doing here? It’s your day off. If I were you, I would still be sleeping.”
Alice shook her head. “No, if you were me, you would still be in bed, but you wouldn’t be sleeping.” She wiggled her eyebrows and grabbed a menu.
“Um, you really need to look at a menu?” I laughed.
“Hey, I want to feel like an actual customer today. Maybe be a little difficult and send my food back to Bos a few times.”
“Try it, and I’ll add a special ingredient every time,” he called from the window.
Alice rolled her eyes. “I swear, that man has bionic ears,” she mumbled. “Man, we really do have a lot of shit on the menu, don’t we?”
“There’s a lot, but most of the people order the same thing, so Bos only makes about ten things off a menu that has thirty things.”
Alice smiled and pointed her finger at something on the menu. “When do you think was the last time Bos made Eggs Benedict?”
“Not happening,” he called.
“Oh, come on,” Alice protested. “It’s on the damn menu. What happened to the customer always being right?”
Bos stood in front of the window and pointed his spatula at Alice. “You’re getting a ham and cheese omelette, home fries, sourdough toast, and bacon.”
Alice shrugged. “I guess that’ll do.”
Bos rolled his eyes and moved his pointing spatula at me. “You tell your biker about Richard?”
“Richard?” Alice asked. “What do you need to tell Pipe about him?”
“He asked her out, and I think he’s got something weird going on in his head about Nikki.”
I scoffed and moved to the coffeepot. “Richard is harmless. I didn’t tell Pipe about him, but I will tonight. It’s Wednesday so Pipe can see him when he picks me up.” The more I thought about Richard trying to hurt me, the more I realized Bos was crazy for thinking Richard was infatuated with me.
“Backup, backup,” Alice insisted. “I have heard nothing about Richard and you. Spill.”
“He asked her out,” Bos called. “She told him no, but did it in a way that made it sound like she was interested.”
“Girl, you need to shut that shit down right now. I’m sure Bos has heard the same rumors I have. Richard is a few donuts short of a dozen.” Alice twirled her finger by her ear and stuck her tongue out. “I’d stay far away from him if he’s interested in you.”
Now Alice was warning me about Richard. “Look, I think you are both wrong, but like I said, Pipe can meet him tonight. and if he says the same thing you guys are, then we’ll have to close the diner and move it.”
Bos grunted. “More like we’ll have to fire your ass, and you’ll need to move back to Weston.”
“What?” Alice gasped. “You’re moving back to Weston?”
I rolled my eye and grabbed her a clean cup. “I don’t know. Pipe and I have only been actually together for a week. I think that’s a little too soon to jump the gun. I’m happy in Kales Corners right now, and as far as I know, so is Pipe.”
“Well, I guess you’re right. But you better promise you’ll tell me when you’re leaving, and you’ll have to come visit at least once a month.”
“I feel like this is kind of like a custody arrangement,” I mumbled. I filled her coffee cup and wandered over to the other two tables to see if they needed a refill.
Bos had her food done in record time, and I set it down in front of her. I sat back down next to Alice and stole a piece of bacon off her plate. “What are your plans today?”
Alice buttered her toast and shoved half a piece into her mouth. “Mah, tin my van.”
I tilted my head and took a bite of bacon. “How strange is it I actually know what you just said? Mall and then some Vin.”
Alice touched her nose and nodded her head. “Ding, ding,” she gasped as she swallowed. “Jesus, could you dry out the toast a little bit more, Bos, I just about choked on it.”
“Don’t put the whole damn piece in your mouth, and it won’t be a problem,” he grumbled.
“Old man is going to be the death of me,” Alice mumbled. “So, what are you doing after work besides Pipe?” She elbowed me in the side and wiggled her eyebrows.
> I rolled my eyes. “Not much. We’ve just been hanging out around the house lately.”
“You wanna go to The Bar tonight? They have dice and pull tabs tonight.”
“I thought you hated going to The Bar. Now you wanna actually hang out there voluntarily?”
She shrugged and shoveled in a fork full of eggs. “It’ll be fun, and we can play a couple games of pool.”
It actually sounded like fun, and I knew Pipe would be cool with it too. “If that’ll get you away from Vin for a night, then I’m down with it.”
I pulled out my phone, knowing Pipe was driving, but he would get the message when he got to Weston.
We were going to make our first public appearance as a couple. I was nervous, but a whole lot excited.
*
Chapter 23
Pipe
“Listen up,” Wrecker called. He slammed his gavel down and looked at each of us. “Shut the hell up, Maniac.”
Maniac stroked his beard and nodded at Wrecker. “Sorry, brother.”
Wrecker grunted. “Just shut your mouth, and you won’t have to be sorry. We got some shit to talk about.”
“This about Cora?” Nickel asked.
“Sure as fuck is. The more chicks we get around here, the more I wanna rip my fucking hair out.” Wrecker dropped the gavel on the table and scrubbed his hands down his face. “She’s got a friend.”
“Friend?” Maniac asked. “She can stay in my room,” he laughed.
The guys chuckled, and Wrecker slammed his hand down on the table. “Yuck it up, dumbasses, but we got some shit to discuss. Cora wants her friend to fucking live at the clubhouse. Apparently, she’s gotten into some shit, and she’s struggling to get out of it.”
“What kind of shit?” I asked.
“The kind that can get you a bullet in the back of your head. She was dating a guy from a rival club, they broke up, and now she knows some shit she shouldn’t.”
“What club?” Nickel asked.
“Hell Captains.”
“Them again,” Brinks scoffed. “I’m not the one who’s going to talk to them. They’re half-baked and a bunch of dumbasses.”
“Well, her friend didn’t realize they were a bunch of dumbasses until too late. Now they want her dead because she knows shit only members should know.”
“Well, how the hell does she know shit? Her dumbass boyfriend tell her stuff?” Maniac asked.
Wrecker nodded.
“Power of the pussy,” Slayer laughed. “Bet that guy got a taste, and he opened his mouth too much.”
That was probably exactly what happened. Now the guy was probably off scot-free, and now Cora’s friend was going to have to pay.
“What’s her name?” Slayer asked.
“Wren. I haven’t told Cora yes or no. I had first said that maybe Wren should go stay with her brother, but Cora said there was no way that was going to happen.”
Slayer leaned forward in his chair and rested his elbows on the table. “You ever stop to think why Cora isn’t a fan of her own brother?”
“Because he’s an asshole. We all know that,” Nickel laughed.
“What do you guys think of Wren staying at the clubhouse until her shit blows over?” Wrecker asked the room.
Brinks cleared his throat. “You really think this is going to blow over? You know if she comes in here, we’re going to be the ones who takes care of her problem for her.”
“That’s why I brought it to the table. Dealing with getting away from the River Valley bullshit and now adding in Cora’s friend means we’re gonna have double the bullshit to deal with.” Wrecker flattened his hands on the table. “Her friend is going to need to have someone on her twenty-four seven. Meaning, one of you is either going to have to volunteer, or I’m gonna make one of you do it.”
Everyone shifted in their chairs and looked at anything but Wrecker.
Wrecker looked at me, and I shook my head. No way in hell was I going to be Wren’s keeper. I had plans of moving back to Weston and spending all of my time in bed with Nikki.
“Jesus,” Maniac cried. “I’ll do it. How hard can it be?”
“Famous last words,” Nickel chuckled. “You ever had a woman for more than a few hours?” he asked.
Maniac flipped him off. “Not interested in that bull shit, man. I plan on keeping this chick in her room. From where I’m sitting, I’ve got a pretty easy job. You fuckers can deal with Jenkins and the Hell Captains.”
“You’re a dumbass, Maniac, but you can find out on your own how screwed you are. She’s friends with Cora, so you have to assume she’s going to be just like her,” Brinks laughed.
“Really?” Maniac asked, suddenly doubting his decision. “I want a redo.”
“Not a fucking chance,” Clash laughed. “Wren is all yours.”
“All right, now that is taken care of, we need to talk about River Valley. Jenkins called and asked us to make a run next week to California.”
“You’re fucking kidding me.”
“Is he insane?”
“Bull fucking shit.”
Nickel stood up and looked down at Wrecker. “This is fucking bullshit. It’s one thing making these runs around here, but now he wants us to cross five states with this shit strapped to the back of our bikes? Fuck him.”
“I’ll be making the run myself. I’m not going to put you guys on the line like that.” He crossed his arms over his chest. “That’s not an issue. What we need to talk about is what we are doing to get the hell away from this shit. You find anything out about who Jenkins made a deal with, Brinks?”
“Oakley Mykel. He is the guy behind The Ultra.”
“What in the fuck is The Ultra?” Maniac asked.
Brinks shook his head and pulled out his phone. “Exactly who I had hoped wasn’t involved in this, but they are.” He swiped a couple of times and flipped his phone around for us to see. “This is Oakley Mykel. A notorious drug dealer that is well known all over the US.”
“What’s he so notorious for?” Slayer asked.
“For getting the job done no matter what. Right now, the unofficial head count of people who got in his way and are no longer around is well over one hundred.”
Wrecker whistled low. “Jesus. I’ve never heard of the guy, but when we’re not into the drug deals and only into the muling, I guess we don’t need to know those details.”
“So how hard is it to get near this guy and get a meeting with him?” I asked.
“From what I’ve gathered from the surface, that is near to impossible. Our best chance of getting near him is to run into him accidentally.”
“What do you mean accidentlly?” Wrecker asked.
“Like a decoy,” Boink chimed in.
“That could work,” Brinks muttered. “I’m not sure who we could use and what they could be, but it’s something to consider.”
“Who does he have around him?” Wrecker asked. “Does he have an ol’ lady?”
Brinks had his nose buried in his phone. “From what I can find, he has a kid, but there doesn’t appear to be a mom or wife in sight.”
“Find out if he’s attached to anyone. The easiest way to get to any guy is through his dick. I might know a chick who’s looking for money that would fit the bill perfectly to try to get close to Oakley”
We all looked at Wrecker, half of us with our jaws dropped. “You know a woman?” Boink asked.
Jesus. We were all thinking the same thing, but leave it to Boink to say it out loud. Wrecker was unlike your typical biker. He didn’t sleep around, and he was rarely ever around anyone who wasn’t part of the club. We all assumed he had something going on the side, but none of us had the balls to ask him.
Wrecker grabbed the gavel and smashed it down on the table. “Find out if he’s with anyone. If not, let me know.” He strolled out of the room and slammed the door shut behind him.
“Well, that was unexpected. I thought the man was a monk,” Slayer chuckled.
“Or gay,”
Boink added.
“Now that I never thought,” Nickel laughed.
I rolled my eyes and pushed away from the table. “I’d worry more about Cora’s friend coming and Oakley than who Wrecker has in his bed.”
Maniac scoffed and put his head in his hands. “Why did I volunteer to do this? Maybe you should do it, Nickel. You got Karmen all figured out.”
Nickel shook his head. “Not fucking happening. Karmen is the only chick I signed up for. Wren is all yours, brother.”
“I’d advise not messing around with her though because she’s Cora’s friend, and I don’t know about anyone else, but that chick terrifies me.” Slayer shivered and grimaced. “She’s hot, but man, she has got a mouth on her. Pretty sure the chick would argue with the wall if she didn’t like the paint color.”
“Well, then it’s a good thing Maniac has to deal with her, and you have to help Brinks with the Oakley shit.” I stuck a cigarette in the corner of my mouth and flipped my lighter over in my hand. “I am gonna put the bike up and grab my truck before I head back to Kales Corners.”
“You’re going back? I thought for sure when Karmen told me you two hooked up that you would be back here last week.”
I pushed in my chair and shrugged. “I’m leaving that up to Nikki. I don’t mind the ride back and forth, although with it cooling down and the snow coming soon, it would be nicer to be closer to the clubhouse.” Having to park the bike every winter was a bummer, but with being so far away, I was parking it a bit sooner than normal because a two-way ride every day in forty degree weather tended to chill me to the bone by the time I got to the club or home.
“So you get to leave, and we have to stay here and figure shit out. Not fucking fair,” Slayer complained.
“Yeah, well, when you become VP, you can do that shit. I’ll see you fuckers later. Try not to drive Wrecker crazy.” Lord knows the man had enough shit on his plate right now, he didn’t need anything else distracting him.
I made it to the end of the hallway and ran into Wrecker who was walking out of his room. “You leaving?”
“I was gonna put the bike up and pull out my truck. That’ll take me a couple of hours, and then I’ll be gone. Did you need me to do anything?”
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