“The months you were gone, we all missed you so much. Even Outlaw. We were just counting the days until you came back.”
“Let me think about it,” Roxy said quietly. “No way are you and your husband building me a fucking house.”
“What about a mother-in-law quarters? An addition to this house with your own separate entrance. It’ll have a bathroom, bedroom, living room, and small kitchen. It won’t be big at all.”
This was really important to Bailey. Roxy wanted to say yes. As Bailey stated, she’d had every intention of moving in with them beforehand, but with all the transition in her life, she didn’t want to agree and then suffer regrets. Whether her daughter knew it or not, things had changed in Roxy’s absence. Bailey had stood on her own two feet. Run her own household. Once Roxy returned for good, Bailey might realize the mistake.
“I think you are concerned for my health. That’s why you have me sitting on my ass. But, the bigger reason, is because you’ve started to do things a certain way and don’t need my interference.”
“That isn’t true,” Bailey insisted.
“We’ll see,” Roxy replied, glancing at the time. “Let me get dressed. We have to be at Kendall’s in twenty minutes.”
Bailey gave Roxy another long hug. As her daughter left, Roxy decided to play it by ear to discover where her place really was, once and for all.
Knox hadn’t bothered to shave this evening for the dinner date. He found a pair of ratty jeans, an old white T-shirt that had seen better days, and a pair of sneakers he should’ve tossed ages ago. He should fit right in now, although he had to take better care. He’d had to place the wire very carefully so it wouldn’t show through the cotton. Perhaps, he’d get one of them mentioning a girl they intended to sell. They were bound to slipup, sooner or later.
He rang the bell. A moment later, the door opened.
“Knox?” Johnnie greeted in surprise.
“Uh, yeah, hey.” Knox realized how it would appear to walk in on a family dinner. This date would give the impression of…a development between Roxy and him. “Roxy invited me.”
Johnnie stepped aside. “Come in. She’s in the den.”
“Okay.” Knox walked into the house and glanced around. Wondering what nefarious deeds had gotten the man such a beautiful home, he followed behind his host, remembering the gorgeous mansion he’d passed, located just off the pathway from the club.
According to Brooks, the big house belonged to Outlaw. As Knox had driven along the private access road to get here, he’d noticed all the custom built structures.
Not one of the motorcycle men deserved those places, whereas hardworking men like Brooks and Avalon had their livelihoods ruined because of these people. At the moment, for whatever reason, his uncle was still in the black. Or so it seemed. But Knox knew he wasn’t acquiring new cases and a lot had to happen before the law firm’s doors opened again.
Johnnie walked into the den that suddenly went pin-drop silent. “Your date’s here, Roxy.”
Every eye was on Knox. The relaxed scene he came upon surprised him. The women sat on one side, lounging on the sectional and matching chairs, while the men crowded around the bar. This seemed like a normal family gathering with normal people. He noted their clothes. Of course, all the guys wore their cuts, and most of them had jeans but one of them wore leather and another had running pants. Johnnie wore trousers. They were neat and well put together.
Shame hit Knox and he suddenly felt underdressed, especially when he saw Roxy’s outfit. She might’ve worn jeans but that top…that top that teased him with the glimpse of her lacy bra and caramel skin. Her hot pink stilettos didn’t surprise Knox in the least.
She looked at him with a critical eye and the disapproval crossing her face made him feel like an asshole.
“Knox.” Anger vibrated from Outlaw’s tone as he looked him up and down. “I ain’t gonna fuckin’ embarrass you and ask why the fuck you here lookin’ like you found your fuckin’ clothes on a fuckin’ garbage pile when you usually dressed the fuck up. I ain’t gonna fuckin’ say you probably thought us motherfuckers wasn’t fuckin’ worth the fuckin’ trouble. You know? What the fuck we is but stupid assfucks you gotta dress the fuck down for.” His glower sent a shiver through Knox. “You won the fuckin’ bet, Roxanne,” he continued, still staring. “The motherfucker showed the fuck up.”
Knox told himself Outlaw’s summary was just a lucky guess. The man couldn’t be certain of Knox’s motives, no matter how sure he sounded.
“I was running late,” Knox said smoothly, hard pressed not to drop his gaze from Outlaw’s. He refused to show his fear, though. Nor would he allow the man to see he was right in his speculation.
“Prez a freaky motherfucker like that,” Digger called. He wore the leather and had his dreads in a man bun. “Shit me and you never figure out, he know.” He grinned, not nice. “Make it hard to fuck him over.”
“I’m Ophelia,” a brown-haired girl, sitting near Zoann Taylor, introduced. Like the majority of the women in this room, she was pregnant, too. “I’ve heard a lot about you.”
“All good, I hope.”
“Maybe,” she said coyly.
“Ignore them.” Johnnie clapped him on the back. “Would you like a drink?”
“Hello, Knox.” Kendall’s voice travelled from behind him as she stood in a doorway on the opposite side of the room.
Turning, Knox found her staring at him with complete and total dislike. She transferred her brown gaze in Roxy’s direction.
“It seems you were right. He’s here.”
“Is something wrong, Kendall?” Johnnie asked, picking up on her attitude.
“Other than me thinking he’s a fucking asshole?” she said sweetly. “Nothing is wrong at all.”
Fuck. He never thought Kendall would blow his cover. She was supposed to be on his side. Not that she knew for certain what he was doing, but if she opened her mouth, it would arouse their suspicions.
“He’s here now,” Zoann responded, sounding bored. “For Roxy. Let him stay.”
“What am I missing?” Johnnie asked, his brow furrowed.
“A whole motherfuckin’ lot, motherfucker,” Outlaw snapped, then crooked his finger at Knox. “Come here. Tell us about your-fuckin-self.”
Gritting his teeth, Knox decided to do as directed. Kendall wanted a reason to throw him out and possibly open her mouth.
He stopped next to Mortician, aware of Roxy, wanting to look at her and see if she followed his movements. He heard feminine giggling and couldn’t help but smile. Looking at the end of the bar, he caught sight of Outlaw smirking at Megan and offering her a wink. She poked her tongue at him.
Flicking his gaze to Roxy, it disappointed Knox to find her in conversation with Bunny.
Johnnie strolled behind the bar. “What can I get you?”
“You probably don’t have what I drink,” Knox replied, with a cool smile.
Johnnie lifted a brow. “Try me.”
“Hennessy Pure White.” He doubted these yahoos had ever heard of the rare brandy.
“Sorry. I’m all out,” Johnnie said politely.
“It’s quite rare,” Knox explained.
Outlaw drew in on a just-lit cigarette and released the smoke. “For real, motherfucker?” he said, stuffing the pack back in his pocket and taking another drag.
“Yes, really,” Knox snapped. “Maybe, one day you’ll enjoy the finer things in life.”
“Son, you sound a little attitudinal,” Mortician said.
“I don’t have an attitude,” Knox gritted, fed up at having to placate them. “Would you prefer if I told you about the drink?”
“I’d prefer if you tell me what you want to drink now,” Johnnie demanded.
“Do you have white wine?”
Johnnie nodded. He grabbed a glass, then bent and produced a chilled bottle of wine. “A 2014 Far Niente Chardonnay good enough for you, Knox?” he asked.
Knox widened his eyes. Tha
t was a very good vintage. “Uh, yeah. Sure.”
For a little while, they all drank without speaking, only the chatter of the women filling the air. They sounded happy and carefree. Once Knox finished with their men, there’d be heartache and tears. Their families would be torn apart. Yet, wasn’t Brooks and Charlotte’s family torn? Their son-in-law was missing. Their life, as they knew it, was no more.
Roxy’s contagious laugh drew his attention and he glanced in her direction. As if she felt his gaze on her, she turned his way. Their eyes met and collided, and, for a moment, only the two of them existed. Her red lipstick widened her mouth and her long, curly hair gave her an untamed look.
“Next time we get some Pure White in, we’ll call you.” Mortician’s voice broke the moment.
Knox shook his head. “It’s okay. I shouldn’t have put you on the spot, asking for something most people don’t know about. We’re getting to know each other, so I won’t hold it against you that this was something new.”
Finishing off his cigarette, Outlaw tamped it out then leaned against the bar. “Listen up, Knox. I ain’t got a fuckin’ clue why the fuck Roxanne thought it was a good fuckin’ idea you come the fuck here. I don’t fuckin’ like you and I don’t fuckin’ trust you. You look the fuck down on us, on me, which make you a stupid assfuck. For your motherfuckin’ information, I can’t fuckin’ stand Hennessey Pure White. It ain’t ever been marketed in the States and for good fuckin’ reason. Test fuckin’ markets was in Europe and the Caribbean, so shut the fuck up.”
“Prez shocked the fuck out of you, huh?” Mortician chortled.
Prez left Knox speechless. For a moment, he couldn’t think of a response. He knew he had to say something. He couldn’t have them thinking he was better than them. It would screw everything up, especially his intentions to seduce Roxy into giving up the club’s secrets. Perhaps, though, Brooks would open up again. He’d offered a treasure trove earlier.
However, he really hadn’t expected them to know the specifics of his favorite drink. To be honest, he rarely had it. It was hell to get.
“How do you like working for Brooks?” Johnnie asked, sipping his beer.
“It’s a job,” Knox said, noncommittal, appreciative of the subject change. “Kind of boring. This is an MC, right? I thought there’d be illegal deals. Gunrunning. Drugs.”
Outlaw smirked at him. “Nope. We just a bunch of borin’ motherfuckers. Family men. We make a lotta fuckin’ donations to charities. Do runs to raise money for them. Shit like that.”
Anger at the blatant lie rose up in Knox. “Really? That’s not what I heard.” That’s not what he’d seen, either. Further proof of Outlaw’s stupidity. Further proof that Outlaw wasn’t on to him.
“What the fuck you heard and where the fuck you heard it?” Outlaw demanded.
He glanced in Roxy’s direction. “I never kiss and tell,” he said, allowing the insinuation to hang in the air. After all, he was there to trap them, not to be made a fool of or to lust after some older woman whose allegiance wasn’t to him.
“Son,” Mortician began, setting his hands on Knox’s shoulders. “That’s my momma-in-law. Just what the fuck you talking about?”
“Yeah,” Digger inserted. “What did Roxanne tell you?”
Knox shrugged, unease slipping into him at the dirty trick he was playing. “Did I say it was her?” he backtracked.
“Maybe, we should ask her,” Val said.
“That’s not necessary,” Knox said in a hurry, worried they’d do it. “Word on the street is the Dwellers were involved in the destruction of a law firm. Amongst other things.”
He wouldn’t waste this opportunity to test the waters. Roxy hadn’t even approached him yet. She’d barely greeted him. The song-and-dance with her might be long and drawn out. If he could find out the information in other ways, then he would.
However, not one of their expressions changed. It was as if they were still discussing the Hennessey Pure White.
“Motherfuckers say a lot,” Outlaw said finally. “That don’t mean the shit true.”
“Just as it isn’t true you beat the hell out of me,” Knox sneered, unable to stop himself.
Outlaw narrowed his eyes.
“Why would Prez fight you?” Mortician asked with real confusion in his eyes, throwing Knox for a loop for a moment. “He don’t fight.”
“I sure the fuck don’t. Baby,” he called, looking in Megan’s direction. “My ass fight?”
She chewed on her lip. “You mean like beat people up?”
“Yeah. Ain’t you doin’ a pussy lockout if my ass fight?”
“A what?” Knox asked as Megan nodded and said, “Yep. Total lockout.”
Outlaw returned his attention to Knox. “See? Why the fuck I wanna do that when I live to fuck Megan and eat her pussy?”
The others snickered. Despite himself, Knox smiled. Outlaw was insane, but he was also charismatic. If Knox didn’t know any better, what he was capable of, he might really like him.
Suddenly, a line of children screeched into view. Holding his arms out, CJ pretended he was an airplane and tilted and whirled to his father.
“’Law,” he said, stepping on his father’s boots and tipping his head back.
“Yeah, boy?”
“I hungry. I want pizza and steak and French fries and ice cream.”
“We eatin’ soon,” Outlaw promised, lifting his son up.
The child Knox recognized as Ro went to Johnnie, another little boy headed for Val, and Harley ran to Mortician. Two of the other kids went to Megan, the little blonde girl and another black-haired little boy as another boy went to Zoann.
Outlaw set CJ on his feet. At that moment, the little boy saw Knox and frowned. He looked from Knox to his father and back again.
“Him say find you, ‘Law,” CJ said, pointing at Knox. “Find you now.” He turned grave eyes to his dad. “Him mean. A real mean ashfuck.”
“CJ!” Meggie yelled. “Mr. Knox is an adult. Do not call him that.”
“Him is, MegAnn,” CJ insisted. “Him yelled at me.”
Outlaw sighed. “Say he, okay, boy? At the beginnin’ of a sentence use he, not him.” He looked at Knox. “Leave my kid the fuck alone. You got some-fuckin-thing to tell my ass, fuckin’ find me. I’ma only fuckin’ tell you this shit once. Hear me?”
“Clearly,” Knox said coolly.
“’Law make you get out your job if you don’t,” CJ said with triumph, leaning against Outlaw.
He nodded at his son and grinned. In response, CJ beamed at him.
When Knox looked at the man, he saw a mirror of the child. They were almost identical, except one was a grownup and the other a little boy who clearly idolized his dad.
Once Knox sent Outlaw away, that bond would be shattered as well.
His own son lived in a broken home and that had affected him terribly. He’d gone from happy to withdrawn. No matter how much Knox tried to keep in contact with him, his ex-wife kept a distance between them once she’d moved to Boston and taken their son with her.
But seeing Outlaw with his son altered Knox’s perception, if only a fraction. After all, if he truly loved his family, he wouldn’t engage in illegal activities.
Chapter Seventeen
Roxy kept her attention focused on the girls and their conversation, instead of storming to her feet and throwing Knox the fuck out. After an hour of his presence, she still hadn’t overcome her insult at the way he’d shown up. Why she hadn’t added anything to Outlaw calling him out, she wasn’t sure. As soon as she could, she intended to tell him about himself.
“Kendall, what time is dinner?” Bunny asked and patted her stomach. “We’re starving.”
A burst of male laughter drew Roxy’s attention to the other side of the room. Knox was staring in her direction, just as he had been whenever she glanced that way.
“Somebody has a crush,” Zoann observed with a chuckle.
“Oh, please, sugar.” Roxy arranged her hair
over her shoulder. “I’m too old for that shit. Besides, I’m not with his ass for me. It’s for the good of the club.”
“You’re never too old for romance,” Meggie assured her. “Maybe not with Knox, but you’ll find it with someone.”
“He might not be a cop.” Fee pretended to shift positions to steal a peek at Knox. Cash and Stretch were in New York for Stretch’s second surgery to correct his injured leg. Because of her pregnancy, Fee had decided to stay in Hortensia. “I think I agree with Johnnie on this one.”
“If Christopher says he’s a cop, he’s a cop,” Meggie said flatly.
“I don’t understand your husband’s position on this,” Kendall started, drawing Roxy’s full attention. They might be in Kendall’s house, but Roxy wouldn’t tolerate bullshit. “Knox should already be dead. He shouldn’t be allowed to roam freely about the club. Since when does Outlaw rely on anyone to gather information for him, especially a woman? Either Johnnie’s right and he isn’t a cop or your dear husband has another motive.”
“There’s no other motive,” Meggie stated. “He has to know if there are any others involved.”
“Then let him torture the information from him,” Kendall said without remorse.
“He can’t do that,” Meggie argued. “If he’s a cop and he’s wired, any wrong move on Christopher’s part will get him sent to jail, along with everybody else. The club would be ruined. Our families would be destroyed. Christopher needs to know who Knox is working for and why.”
Meggie’s words were a good reminder to Roxy that she needed to stay alert and focused. It didn’t matter if Knox had worn clothes that had been gnawed by rats. She’d gotten him there so Outlaw could interrogate him. This was just a game of cat-and-mouse, nothing more.
Getting to her feet, Kendall made her way across the room. Instead of going around to where Johnnie stood behind the bar, she squeezed next to Outlaw. He glared at her and moved back, while Meggie stiffened.
Death Dwellers Motorcycle Club:: Fifteen Bad Boy Biker Books Page 387
