Death Dwellers Motorcycle Club:: Fifteen Bad Boy Biker Books

by Kathryn C. Kelly

  His resentment increased. They thought circumstances made him overly sensitive. That wasn’t it.

  “Kendall said that before the bathroom incident,” Stretch reminded them.

  “It doesn’t matter when she said it,” Meggie interrupted. “She was telling you to be careful.”

  Stretch laughed without humor. “Really?”

  After the way Kendall had fucked with Meggie’s marriage, he wondered if she’d defend Kendall if she was clued in. “Kendall was concerned about me?”

  She nodded. “In the way that only she has.”

  She stepped closer to him, her gentle look reminding him of her willingness to side with Fee—them—and get Outlaw to accept their relationship. Stretch finally understood why Outlaw didn’t want to lose her and had almost went insane when she’d been injured. Faced with the prospect of losing Fee, he felt out-of-sorts and afraid, too.

  “Be careful, Stretch,” she whispered. “When you love someone, it’s hard to hide your feelings, especially in times like this. I don’t want anything to happen to you or Cash.”

  He appreciated her a lot. Unlike Kendall who tried to force herself on everyone, Meggie earned her status. Outlaw had ordered they respect her. She made them like her. Just as Kendall made everyone dislike her. “I understand, Meggie.”

  Johnnie glared between Cash and Stretch. “You’re going to have to make a choice. The club or your affair.”

  “They don’t,” Meggie flared. “They have to be less circumspect but they shouldn’t be made to choose.”

  “Stay out of this, Megan,” Johnnie declared, his scrutiny of her bordering inappropriate. “This is club business.”

  Not really. She was keeping the secret of Fee being with Stretch and Cash. That made it her business. However, Stretch couldn’t point that out.

  Meggie threw Johnnie the evil eye.

  “Christopher can’t fucking kill every member who has a problem with gay men, Megan,” he snapped. “That would be most of the fucking club.”

  Yes, they were bikers, and bikers were real men.

  “What the fuck made you join this club?” Val asked. “You fucking with your life if you can’t keep this shit under wraps, brother. You got to be more careful. Fucking at Cash’s house? That’s dumb shit.”

  “It’s Cash’s house,” Meggie argued, folding her arms at Johnnie’s narrowed eyes. “They should be able to do as they please.”

  She faced off with Johnnie for a moment, before he capitulated.

  “Right, Megan,” he agreed. “Except when brothers know where Cash lives.”

  Everyone turned to Cash. It was his fault that the brothers knew his house as an orgy pit. “Slipper and I were doing a job for Outlaw one day and I forgot something at the house,” he explained. “After that, I invited him over once or twice to party with me.”

  “What’s done is done.” Johnnie looked at Stretch. “I too am curious to know how you joined this club.”

  “Yeah, brother,” Mort inserted. “Outlaw never gave us that full story.”

  “I was at the Night Flyers’ clubhouse one night when Outlaw came in looking for Boy.” He shifted his weight and glanced at Meggie, glad he wouldn’t have to hold anything back since Outlaw was so forthcoming with her. She was in his corner. She deserved to hear everything, too. “I saw his cut and had already heard about the Dwellers. I started talking to him and he told me I was welcomed to come to the club anytime. When I went there, I met KP. Everybody,” he added, wondering if she got the connotation.

  She did. Her eyes widened. “You knew my dad?”

  “I did. They accepted me, and for the first time since I was eighteen, I had a place where I was welcomed.”

  After being kicked out of his parents’ house, Stretch lived on the streets for a while before he’d gotten involved with a biker from the Night Flyers MC, who’d taken Stretch in. Their relationship soon eroded under the pressure of the club lifestyle. The night Stretch met Outlaw he’d been at the MC, searching for Davis, who hadn’t been home in weeks. His last ray of hope had been used up by the time he walked into the Dwellers’ clubhouse. If things hadn’t worked out that night, he’d intended to end it all. He had a high school diploma but his job choices were very limited. Working as a clerk at a quikmart didn’t pay the cost of rent, food, and other necessities.

  The one time he’d admitted to being attracted to both men and women had lost him his family and a roof over his head, so he didn’t trust many people.

  Somehow, he’d found Outlaw, who’d been his saving grace, without even knowing it.

  “Christopher recognized a good man when he saw one.” Meggie glanced at her watch. “I guess enough time has gone by to make Slipper and his sons think this was a very important meeting. Just remember to appear neutral.”

  As Meggie headed for the door, Stretch laid a hand on her arm, stopping her. She’d accepted him without question, from the moment they’d met. He wanted to repay her, apologize for his role in what had happened to her father.

  “I knew your brother,” he blurted. “But my loyalty has always been with Outlaw. I’d never betray him.”

  “Not purposely,” she said.

  She was right. As long as he had an affair with Fee, he was betraying Outlaw.

  She took her hand in his. “That doesn’t matter right now. We just want Fee to survive.” Her words cracked, but she forced a smile. “I didn’t realize you’d been around so long,” she continued, swiping at a stray tear.

  “I became a hangaround about three months before Big Joe was gunned down and his head sent to the club.”

  Meggie stilled, the color draining from her face, her watery eyes widening. They very air around them stopped.

  “Fuuuucccckkkkk,” Mort groaned as Val and Johnnie covered their faces.

  “Daddy’s head?” she gasped.

  Stretch floundered. “I-I thought you were aware of what we did to him.”

  “Shut the fuck up.” Johnnie reached for Meggie, scowling when Mort got to her first, pulling her into his arms and whispering to her.

  “C-Christopher beheaded my father?” she managed.

  “I did,” Johnnie bit out, his look murderous enough to strike Stretch dead. “Do you understand me, Megan?”

  In other words, don’t hold his brutality against her husband.

  Before Meggie responded, the door opened and Outlaw walked in. Mort dropped his hands from Meggie’s shoulders and straightened up. Val leaned against the banister and looked over it. Johnnie clenched his jaw, although Stretch doubted Outlaw noticed their actions.

  He honed in on Meggie and her trembling.

  “What the fuck goin’ on in here?” He pulled her into his arms. “Megan, baby, why you cryin’?”

  She gripped his cut and drew in a sharp breath. “Do you have any news of Fee?” she asked around sniffles, swiping at her eyes.

  His brows snapped together and he took her face between her hands, studying her. “How the fuck me agreein’ to get them two motherfuckers the fuck away from them three assfucks end up with you in fuckin’ tears?”

  No one said anything. As Outlaw lasered them with his gaze, each of them looked away.

  “I didn’t realize how long Stretch had been in the club,” Meggie said, her eyes downcast.

  Outlaw’s confused frown deepened. “That shit makin’ you fuckin’ cry?”

  “Can we talk about it later?” she asked on a desperate note. “Once we know about Fee.”

  “Fee in recovery,” he said and judging by his look, he didn’t intend to drop it. “She not outta the woods, but she made it through the fuckin’ surgery. Now, tell me why the fuck you cryin’, Megan.”

  She glanced in the direction of the stairs, then looked into Outlaw’s eyes. “J-Johnnie decapitated Daddy after you killed him.”

  It wasn’t a question but a statement that stunned Outlaw speechless. Once again, his look skewered them before he focused on Stretch.

  “Leave, Megan.” Outlaw’s ha
rd voice shook Stretch up.

  “Christopher…”

  “Go, now.”

  “Don’t do anything to Stretch. It just shocked me.”

  “I ain’t fuckin’ blowin’ this motherfucker goddamn face off and tossin’ his lifeless motherfuckin’ body over this goddamn banister for bringin’ this shit up.” The look Outlaw gave to him told Stretch he wanted to. Badly. “I just gotta tell him one fuckin’ thing.”

  Suspicion entered Meggie’s eyes. “Promise?”

  Outlaw bent and kissed her. “Scout’s fuckin’ honor.”

  At the door, she paused. “Are you hiding anything else from me that I should know?”

  “You trust me, Megan?”

  “You know I do.”

  “Then if I’m fuckin’ hidin’ anything from you, it’s to protect you. Hear me? Ain’t involvin’ no other bitch. It’s all about you and your happiness. Some shit you just don’t fuckin’ need to know, baby.”

  She thought for a moment, then nodded, her eyes traveling to Val and then turning to the floor. “I understand,” she whispered.

  Outlaw scowled at Val. “I’m sure the fuck you do.”

  Without responding, she walked out, leaving them alone to face her husband’s wrath.

  Outlaw waited. Or counted. He stood still for a minute, before the door opened and Meggie stuck her head back in.

  “See, baby? We fine. You ain’t even heard me raise my voice.”

  Relieved, she smiled and backed out. This time, Outlaw didn’t wait. He grabbed Stretch by the throat and slammed him against the wall.

  “Listen up, assfuck, you fuckin’ like your motherfuckin’ head on your goddamn shoulders, don’t fuckin’ ever, ever bring shit up to Megan. Don’t talk ‘bout fuckin’ Big Joe or Dinah and fuckin’ especially not motherfuckin’ Traveler. Don’t mention no fuckin’ club shit to my girl. Got me?”

  His throat burning, Stretch nodded, afraid Outlaw would strangle him anyway. “I thought she knew,” he choked out.

  “Don’t fuckin’ think nothin’ about my girl. If you don’t know, shut the fuck up. Hear me?”

  “Yes,” he said, unable to curtail the slight tremble in his voice.

  Releasing him with an angry snarl, Outlaw turned to Val. “Know what, motherfucker?”

  “What?” Val croaked on a flinch.

  “I keep tellin’ my-fuckin-self you wasn’t fuckin stupid e-fuckin-nuff to try and force your fuckin’ cock in my wife. You one of my best fuckin’ friends and Bitsy old man. Ain’t matterin’ how the fuck much I press Megan, she ain’t changin’ her fuckin’ story about arguin’ over a fuckin’ dinner. If I ever get the fuckin’ proof I fuckin’ need that you fuckin’ tried to force yourself on my Megan while you was fuckin’ high, you fuckin’ dead. I just need real fuckin’ proof cuz that’s what the fuck she expectin’ of me. Not to kill motherfuckers randomly. To have a good fuckin’ reason to blow your fuckin’ brains out. Most days I ain’t believin’ you did something like that. Other days, like now, I ain’t too sure and it’s all I can fuckin’ do not to pull my piece and kill you.” He looked from Val to Mortician. “We all fuckin’ clear?”

  “Yeah, Prez,” Mort answered as Val nodded.

  The door opened again. Leaning against it to keep it open, Meggie sighed.

  “Slipper and the others are getting restless. Zoann suggested we all return to the club and she’ll stay overnight.”

  “You ain’t come to tell my fuckin’ ass that, Megan,” Outlaw snapped irritably. “You came to see if I fucked up these motherfuckers.”

  “I did,” she admitted. “But I also really wanted to relay that message.”

  Mort looked at her. “Meggie girl, we so sorry.”

  She offered him a sad smile as Outlaw heaved his shoulders.

  “I love you so much, Christopher,” she told him.

  “I love you more than I love my own fuckin’ life, baby. Ain’t never wantin’ nothin’ to hurt you.”

  “Living hurts,” she told him. “In the sense that we all have to face tragedy and heartache. How we live amidst those times, beyond those times, is what makes the difference.”

  “Yeah, baby.” Throwing a last glower to Val and Stretch, he allowed Meggie to take his hand guide him off the landing.

  Arriving back at the club at almost two-thirty in the morning, Cash joined Outlaw at his corner table with Johnnie, Val, Mort, Digger, and Stretch. Needing to be near Stretch, Cash stayed as close as possible without arousing more of Slipper’s suspicions. Cash understood both Johnnie’s and Meggie’s positions. However, with Fee in ICU and only immediate family members about to see her, Cash needed to be close to Stretch.

  Every now and then, the asshole, Slipper, walked to the table, under the pretense of wanting updates, but Cash knew he was being a nosy motherfucker.

  Outlaw knew it, too, and glared him away the last time. Slipper hadn’t brought his funky ass over in almost twenty minutes as brothers kept arriving to offer support and eat the breakfast Meggie and Bailey cooked.

  “Should I do more coffee?” Meggie asked Outlaw around a yawn. She rubbed her eyes, reddened from all the crying she’d done and plain fatigue.

  Outlaw pulled her onto his lap. “Fuck no. You tired, baby. Whatever the fuck we ain’t got, we ain’t needin’.”

  “We’re out of eggs,” Bailey announced, walking to the table and stopping next to Mortician. “We need to cook more.”

  “Hey, pretty girl,” he responded, wrapping his arms around her waist.

  “You and Megan go the fuck to my old room, Bailey,” Outlaw ordered, kissing Meggie on the mouth. “Sleep for a minute ‘til we through out here.”

  “Are you sure?” Meggie asked, getting to her feet and swaying.

  Cash wondered how long she’d been awake. Probably close to twenty-four hours.

  “Fuck, Megan.” Rising up, Outlaw swept her into his arms. “Follow me, Bailey.”

  Bailey yawned, then kissed her husband, stumbling behind Outlaw.

  Val held up his phone. As usual, he was texting his wife. “Puff said Fee sleeping peacefully.”

  “She’s going to make it, right?” Stretch asked, not looking at anyone in particular, but also not covering the fear and devastation in his voice.

  “Rein it the fuck in,” Johnnie warned, surprising Cash. “Christopher isn’t stupid. One look at you and he’ll know that your falling apart has to do with more than you finding her close to death.”

  “Fee’s going to be fine,” Cash swore, unable to remain silent. He reminded himself he’d friend-zoned Stretch, who, in turn had placed rules upon them. If he suddenly did something stupid, like touch him in comfort, he’d create a bunch of chaos that no one needed at the moment. “She’s a Donovan. A fighter.”

  “Yeah, Donovans and Caldwells not only strong enough to fight for their own lives, they crazy enough to fuck you up once they recover,” Digger said in his version of a pep talk.

  Mort frowned at him.

  “They is, Mort,” he said defensively. “Motherfuckers fighters and killers.”

  “Shut it, fuckhead,” Johnnie growled as Outlaw returned to the table, his expression a stark contrast to when Meggie had been around.

  Then, he’d had banked fury. Now, he let it shine through and pure rage blanketed his face. Fingers hooked in his mouth, he gave a loud whistle that brought immediate silence.

  “I wanna thank all you motherfuckers for comin’ to check on my ass,” he began, walking amongst the members since the podium hadn’t been dragged from the storage closet. “My lil’ sister was fuckin’ attacked by a motherfucker named Noah Carson. Riley workin’ on gatherin’ information so I’ma call his ass and take it from there.”

  Stretch raised a tablet. “I have this so you can Skype him.”

  Outlaw nodded and returned to the table. “Get him the fuck up for me.”

  Although Outlaw held the tablet and no one else could see the club’s PI, his voice came through loud and clear.

  “Noa
h Carson Counts, thirty-one. President of the Torpedoes MC. The club’s a former client of the firm currently on your payroll…”

  Riley’s voice droned on, but Cash stuck on the name Counts. Counts.

  Fuck, fuck, fuck.

  Counts. Of course more than one motherfucker in the world had the name but chance wasn’t that much of a bitch that the man Kendall had introduced Fee to and then blackmailed her into keeping secret wasn’t one and the same. The very blackmail Cash and Stretch had been included in by default…Kendall had…

  Fuck!

  Did that mean Kendall had something to do with Fee’s stabbing? Again, coincidence wasn’t that much of a motherfucker. On the other hand, live bitches manipulated fucked-up situations.

  Cash opened his mouth to speak. Confess.

  Get himself and Stretch killed. Get Johnnie divorced—killed…?—in his attempt to defend Kendall when Outlaw executed her for her betrayals.

  When would that bitch ever learn?

  “Noah motherfuckin’ Carson is Noah motherfuckin’ Carson Counts,” Outlaw snarled to the assembled crowd.

  Apparently, the call to Riley had ended and Cash missed it as he sat about to piss himself, fearing Outlaw’s wrath.

  “This motherfucker livin’ on borrowed fuckin’ time for fuckin’ with my lil sister. He one of the Torps that escaped the fuckin’ bombin’. The same motherfucker been tryin’ to contact my fuckin’ ass for weeks.”

  Shaking his leg in agitation, Cash shifted in his seat.

  “This a club-related attack,” Outlaw continued. “Ain’t no longer just personal. Motherfucker coulda just as soon went after Megan, any of your bitches, to get to me cuz I ain’t wantin’ nothin’ to do with them dirty motherfuckers.”

  Fuck, that meant unnecessary lockdown for the women.

  “The dickhead’s living on borrowed time,” Orange called. “If I see any Torp, I’m fucking them up on the spot.”

  Cash had to move fucking quick, not only to save his own ass, but to keep the girls from being cooped up on clubgrounds. That might not be so bad for Kendall. Unfortunately, he couldn’t single her out. Nor could he threaten her. Or even confront her.