Revolution (The Lone Riders MC Series Book #1)

by Betham, Michelle

  ‘Listen, Tay, I am doing my best here. But this shit, it’s gotta stop. And soon. I’m getting too old to be running round playing ignorant.’

  Tay stood up, picking up his cut from the couch and slipping it on. ‘Your money’s in the top drawer.’

  ‘Jesus, Tay…’ Michael sighed, leaning back and sliding open the desk drawer, taking out a pile of cash. ‘What the hell am I supposed to do with this? I’m on duty, for Christ’s sake.’

  ‘Want me to keep it safe for you?’

  Michael threw his old friend a slightly withering look. ‘Would you? Not sure I’ve got enough pockets here to carry all this around with me.’

  Tay took the money off him, throwing it back into the drawer. ‘I’ll get Kel to put it in the safe in the chapel. Just let us know when you want it.’

  ‘Thanks.’ Sheriff Bailey stood up, hooking his fingers into his belt. ‘Make sure none of this blows back on me, Tay. Okay?’

  ‘Yeah. Got it.’

  ‘Good… Hey, I hear Charlie’s here in Paradise.’

  ‘Doesn’t take long for word to get out, does it?’

  ‘Small town. That’s the price you pay. Any reason for his visit? Something going down with the club I should be made aware of?’

  Tay looked outside into the compound before closing the door of the office, leaning back against it.

  ‘Oh, shit!’ Michael sighed. ‘That was a question I’d really hoped was going to have a negative answer.’

  ‘Lexi and Coby, they have a kid.’

  Michael’s expression was one of both surprise and confusion. ‘Huh? But… how? I mean, they’ve only been together a few weeks…’

  Tay shook his head. ‘It goes back way further than that. It started when Lexi was in England…’

  Michael held his hands up to stop Tay from talking. ‘Hang on. I knew he went over there, and I don’t even want to bring up the reason why. The least said about that the better. But I thought it was a straightforward job, that nobody was supposed to know he was over in Newcastle.’

  ‘Yeah, well, we hadn’t planned on Lexi being there, had we? She was supposed to be on holiday. She wasn’t supposed to find out. And we also hadn’t planned on Coby’s wandering dick.’

  ‘Oh, Jesus…’ Michael sighed, bowing his head. ‘And Charlie – I’m assuming he’s got the kid with him?’

  Tay nodded.

  ‘So everyone has to know now, right?’

  ‘Guess so. No other way around it. Look, in all honesty, nobody’s really gonna care all that much about something that happened years ago – something that isn’t really a surprise around here…’

  ‘Yeah, okay, you can tell me too much sometimes, remember? I told you I didn’t want to hear any more about why Coby was over there. I prefer to stay as ignorant as I possibly can. I’ve had enough sleepless nights as it is.’ Michael looked back up at Tay. ‘Boy or girl?’

  ‘Little boy. Ozzie. Almost five months old now. Coby hasn’t even met him yet.’

  ‘Jesus Christ… the way you people live your fucking lives…’ Michael let out a long sigh. ‘You expecting any shit to hit the fan over this?’

  Tay shrugged. ‘Kip might kick off, you know, this being his family and all that. He was pissed off enough when Lexi rocked back up here, so we have no idea how he’s gonna take this news.’

  ‘Couldn’t you have told him before? Shouldn’t you have told him before?’

  ‘Michael, believe me, this is more messed-up than I wanted it to be, but all kinds of crap has been happening…’

  ‘Yeah, okay, I get it. Thanks for letting me know. Is he coming here? To the compound?’

  ‘Tonight.’

  ‘Maybe I’ll stop by tomorrow. Meet the newest addition to the club.’

  ‘Be good to see you.’

  Sheriff Bailey opened the door, looking back at Tay before he left. ‘Please tell me you really are gonna try and go totally legit now. It would certainly make my life a whole lot easier.’

  Tay smiled, leaning back against the wall, reaching into his pocket for his cigarettes. ‘Scout’s promise, Sheriff.’

  Michael couldn’t help giving a wry smile. ‘Shit, Tay. You ain’t ever been near no goddamn Scouts.’

  ***

  Lexi clung on to Coby as they sped along the quiet, dusty roads that surrounded Paradise, the smell of leather and engine oil, along with the roar of the Harley, filling her with a feeling of calm; that weird and unexplainable safety.

  Keeping one hand on Coby’s waist she raised the other one high above her head, letting out a loud shriek, ridding herself of anything she didn’t want to feel – frustration, fear, none of it was welcome right now. She was going to kick its ass, stamp it down, not allow it to spoil today. Because today she got her baby back. Today her boy was going to meet his daddy, start his new life. And, okay, there was still the small job of letting everyone else know he existed, but they’d handle that. She was just counting down the hours until she saw her son again.

  ‘You okay back there?’ Coby shouted, turning round briefly, a smile on his handsome face.

  ‘I’m fine!’ she yelled, letting forth another shriek, punching the air. She’d forgotten how free she felt when she was out here, on the open road. Her dad and the guys back in Newcastle had sought out and helped her customize a Harley of her own when she’d been over in the UK, and she’d spent so many hours just riding around on it, forgetting all the crap that had surrounded her. It had been her escape. Her freedom. And she kind of missed having her own bike. Maybe she’d have to see about getting it shipped over.

  ‘That’s my girl,’ Coby laughed, his eyes back on the road now as he allowed the bike to pick up just a touch more speed, the tyres kicking up dust and dirt, the debris from last night’s torrential rain.

  She put her other hand back on Coby’s waist, closing her eyes as the sun hit her face, the wind instantly cooling her. And there was a part of her that wished they could just keep on riding. Far away from here. But another part of her – the part that still held on to rationale and reality – knew that could never happen.

  Coby pulled the bike over into a lay-by, kicking up more dust as he spun it around, before killing the engine. Pulling off his helmet he pushed a hand through his hair. Lexi did the same, shaking her hair out as she climbed off the bike.

  ‘Well, you certainly know how to take a girl out into the middle of nowhere,’ she said, turning around to take in the view of open road, and not much else. They were surrounded by something that resembled only wasteland, although Lexi could see Paradise out in the distance. They were actually looking down on the town from where they were.

  ‘It’s quiet. Not that many people come through here, not unless they’re lost. That’s why we got the cabin up there, behind those hills.’

  Lexi shielded her eyes from the sun, looking up to where Coby pointed. ‘I didn’t realize the cabin was so far outside of Paradise.’

  ‘Yeah, well, you know how it is. Can’t have everything in one place.’

  ‘So, why are we here? By the side of the road? Why not go to the cabin, if you want some privacy?’

  Coby smiled, turning around so he was facing the back of the bike, but he was still straddling the huge leather seat. ‘Who said anything about wanting privacy?’

  She smiled, too, placing her hands on the pillion pad, leaning forward to kiss him, parting his lips with her tongue, silently ordering him to open his mouth wider, moaning quietly as he did just that. ‘Now I know why you wanted me to wear this skirt,’ she whispered, her mouth still resting on his. ‘Which is probably highly unorthodox, I mean, what if I came off the bike, huh? My legs wouldn’t stand a chance.’

  He reached out to push her hair back from her face, kissing her a little harder this time. ‘Your legs are gonna be just fine, darlin’. I’m the best ride you’re ever gonna get round here, remember?’

  ‘Yeah. Ain’t that the truth,’ she groaned, closing her eyes as he slid a hand up under her short denim s
kirt, finding the edges of her panties, his fingers sliding into the sides, and then pulling away.

  ‘Take them off.’

  ‘Is that an order?’ But she was already slowly pushing them down.

  ‘It’s a request.’

  His eyes stayed locked on hers as she stepped out of her panties, crouching down to pick them up, tucking them into the top pocket of his cut.

  ‘Come here,’ he whispered, pulling her down by her hips so she straddled him.

  ‘You got something in mind here, soldier?’

  He smiled, pulling off his leather gloves and placing them behind him. ‘Always, beautiful.’ He kissed her gently, his mouth moving slowly against hers. ‘Jesus Christ, I’m about to live out one of my favourite fucking fantasies.’

  ‘Again,’ Lexi whispered, her fingers lightly stroking the back of his neck, her legs hooking around his, keeping her steady. ‘You’re about to live out one of your favourite fantasies, again.’

  He smiled, unzipping his jeans. ‘Aye. Again.’

  Lexi raised her hips slightly, closing her eyes as he lowered her back down before sliding effortlessly inside her, and all she felt was an overwhelming surge of excitement – the thrill and the danger of being caught fucking by the side of the road probably the biggest turn on she’d ever had. Just like the first time they’d done this, all those years ago. And they hadn’t been caught then, either.

  ‘Oh, Jesus, you feel so fucking good,’ Coby moaned, his fingers stroking her inner thighs, and Lexi couldn’t help but let out the tiniest of groans as she pushed down on him, his breath warm on her neck, the rough denim of his jeans rubbing against her skin. ‘So, so good.’

  ‘You are such a bad influence,’ she groaned, gripping his shoulders tighter as he pushed deeper, his hands still on her thighs, his thumb touching her, stroking her, helping those beautiful tingles spread further and faster up her body, her legs already beginning to feel the effect.

  He laughed, that deep, incredibly sexy laugh of his and she groaned louder, arching her back slightly, pushing herself down on him again, pulling him in deeper. ‘A bad influence, on a bad, bad girl,’ he whispered, his mouth almost touching hers.

  She breathed in deep, her stomach contracting as she felt the wave start to wash over her faster, felt the rhythm speed up. And then it was happening. He was shooting out into her with a force that was breathtaking. She could feel every spasm, every push he gave, and she took it all, needing that lifeline he could give her, wanting every single part of him to be a part of her, too.

  ‘Fuck!’ he shouted, throwing his head back and laughing. He was done. But she wasn’t, and she arched her back further as he stayed inside of her. ‘Need some help, kid?’ he asked, his eyes now locked on hers.

  She nodded, pushing his hair back behind his ears, kissing him slowly, moaning quietly as his fingers started working their magic, touching her, taking her to that point of no return. She let go of him, leaning backwards, her fingers clinging on to the bike, her legs gripping his tighter, and as he swiftly replaced his dick with his fingers she let out a howl of pure pleasure, her thighs opening wider, her inner muscles clutching him tighter as she came in a barrage of cries and screams so loud he had to kiss her to shut her up.

  ‘Jesus, Lexi, keep it down, sweetheart.’

  He slowly pulled out of her and she stretched out, smiling lazily. ‘I love you so much, Coby Walker.’

  ‘Yeah.’ He grinned, reaching behind him to retrieve his gloves, pulling them back on. ‘Can’t say I blame you there.’

  She pushed him gently. ‘Watch it, old man.’

  ‘Hey, missy. Less of the old man, hmm?’

  She leant forward, grabbing hold of his cut, pulling him to her, kissing him deep. ‘If it wasn’t for the fact you’ve got one of the hottest bikes in the compound I probably wouldn’t have bothered opening my legs for you again.’

  He raised an eyebrow, an action Lexi found unbelievably sexy. ‘Oh, really?’

  ‘Yeah,’ she whispered, her fingers still holding on to his cut, the leather soft between her fingers. ‘Really… well, that and the fact that the older you get, the sexier you become…’ Her mouth rested on his. ‘So-damn-sexy…’ She let her fingertips trail over his rough face as she kissed him long and slow.

  ‘I’ll take that as a compliment.’ He smiled, his hand running up her leg, his thumb stroking her inner thigh.

  ‘Good. Because I really do love you, Coby. All the shit we’ve been through, all the crap that’s still to come, none of it matters. As long as I’ve got you. And Ozzie.’ She pulled him in for one more kiss, the roughness of his beard on her skin familiar and comforting. ‘We are gonna be okay, aren’t we?’

  ‘Our little family is gonna be just fine, baby. I promise you that. Everything I do now, I’m doing it for you, and our boy. I really need you to believe that, Lexi. Okay? Everything I do now, it’s for us.’

  She smiled, a not entirely confident smile, but she’d been around this life for far too long to think that anything was guaranteed. ‘We haven’t even lived together, Coby. We stay over at the clubhouse all the time, or you go home to your place and I’m back at mine… but we’re mainly there, at the clubhouse. And we can’t keep doing that when Ozzie’s here. We need to start being a family. Are you really ready for that?’

  ‘Are you?’

  She looked down, watching as her fingers ran the length of his cut, sliding down to touch the denim of his jeans. ‘I have to be.’

  ‘His family won’t be just you and me, Lex. He’s gonna have a whole heap of people there to look after him – to look out for him. So we can do this. He’s gonna be loved, baby. He is gonna be loved, so much.’

  ‘I know.’ She smiled again, a slightly more confident smile this time.

  ‘All you need to know, kid, is that I am doing everything in my power to make sure things get better for us. Everything in my power.’

  Everything. And even if he wasn’t completely proud of every action he was taking – every action he’d taken – he knew he was doing the right thing. The only thing he could do now. Times were changing, for everyone. Times were changing…

  Twenty-Seven

  Charlie Hart stepped out of the taxi, cradling his baby grandson to him, his mass of dark hair covered by a tiny black bandana sporting the Lone Riders colors.

  ‘Well, kiddo, here we are. Paradise. Your new home. The town you’re gonna grow up in.’ He kissed the top of Ozzie’s head, hugging him closer. ‘And it’s a town I haven’t visited in so long.’ Charlie looked up at the compound across the road, most of it in darkness now except for the string of lights hanging from the canopy that lit up the area just outside the clubhouse.

  He felt his stomach churn slightly, at the memories being dredged up inside of him. At the prospect of what was about to go down in that compound over the next few days. But it had to be done. Charlie Hart had a long memory. It was time.

  ‘You’re finally gonna meet your dad, son. And, even though he’s not the man I would have chosen for your mum, he’ll look after you. He’ll look after you both, I have no doubt about that. Because I’m gonna make sure he does.’ Ozzie shifted in his arms, half asleep but aware that something was going on. Charlie kissed him again, rubbing his back. ‘Yeah. You’re gonna be okay here, kiddo. Because your granddad isn’t going back home until everything is just the way he wants it to be.’ He took one more look over at the compound before turning his back on it. ‘Come on. Let’s give them all a bit more time, hmm? Me and you, we’ll go get ourselves something to eat. Won’t do anyone any harm to wait a little bit longer.’

  He headed off along the street, pulling his cap down over his eyes, not stopping until he reached a small diner on the corner. Walking inside he smiled over at the waitress, nodding when she mouthed ‘coffee?’ He’d drank enough of it to drown in over the course of the day, and all the travelling and the hours he’d spent on the road since he’d got here were finally starting to get to him, so Christ knows w
hat it was all doing to his baby grandson. But another cup wouldn’t do any harm. If anything it might recharge his weary batteries. He wasn’t a young man anymore. Sometimes he needed a kick-start.

  Swapping Ozzie over to his other arm he walked towards the back of the diner, to a table set away from the window, tucked in a corner. He slipped into the booth, keeping Ozzie cuddled against him.

  ‘Everything okay?’

  Charlie looked up at the man sitting opposite him. ‘Everything’s fine. Me and the little fella, we’ll head over to the compound in a little while. Just want the lad here to have his bottle before we go. It’s been another long day for him.’

  The man smiled at Ozzie, who held out his arms, smiling the biggest smile back at him and the man reached over and took him from Charlie, hugging him tight. ‘Hey there, little guy. How you doing, huh?’

  The waitress stopped by their table, poured them some coffee, took Charlie’s food order, and happily obliged when Charlie asked her if she’d mind heating up his grandson’s bottle in their microwave. She took Ozzie’s bottle and left them with a friendly smile, aimed mostly at Ozzie. Because what woman could resist a gorgeous baby face? And Ozzie, he sure as hell was gorgeous.

  ‘Does Coby know the score?’ the man asked, cradling Ozzie in the crook of his arm, the baby quite happily amusing himself with a paper napkin he’d picked up from the table.

  Charlie nodded, taking a sip of coffee. ‘He’s up to speed.’

  The man kissed the top of Ozzie’s head, receiving a big smile in return. ‘And Tay?’

  ‘He’s got no idea. Coby’s played a blinder.’

  ‘He’s a good man. Coby. A very lucky man.’

  Charlie looked at him. ‘You played your part well, too.’

  The man lowered his head, his fingers fanning out on Ozzie’s tiny chest.

  Charlie leant forward, clasping his hands together on the table in front of him. ‘You didn’t love her. Not the way Coby did – does. And it might not be what I want for my daughter, but… she can’t escape any of this any more than the rest of us can. She doesn’t really want to walk away because, if she did, she’d be lost. So if she has to live in this world, then I want her to live in it with a man who can protect her and love her and keep her safe…’