Death Dwellers Motorcycle Club:: Fifteen Bad Boy Biker Books

by Kathryn C. Kelly

  That could be decided on later. Right now, he’d seize the chance Roxanne was giving him. All because he was willing to learn to ride a motorcycle. He couldn’t wait to see what she’d do when he showed off the outlines of his tats.

  CHAPTER FIFTY-ONE

  When Cam called her and then Digger texted her, Roxy knew she had to take action. Knox was on a suicide mission to learn how to ride a motorcycle. According to Cam and Digger, he was doing it to win her back. Knox was a lot of things, but she’d never taken him for a brainless motherfucker. He couldn’t seem to understand, it was what was inside of him that mattered.

  They walked back to her house in silence, although he kept his arm around her waist. Overcome with relief that he hadn’t broken his head, she didn’t move out of his embrace. Besides, his touch felt so good. She wanted to enjoy it while she could.

  Inside, he closed and locked the door, turned and grabbed her wrists, pulling her close to him. He took possession of her mouth, consuming her, his taste and scent surrounding her. The rough, desperate kiss barely allowed her to catch her breath. She wanted to give in to him and her own need. Then, the harsh words he’d spoken to her pierced her thoughts, bursting her moment of weakness.

  Yanking herself away from him, Roxy stumbled back. All the hurt and humiliation she’d felt flew away. Anger replaced it. She narrowed her eyes and balled her fists, punching his jaw before she stopped herself.

  “You motherfucker,” she snarled, kicking his shin. “Why the fuck did you say all those things to me? How could you fix your month to insult me the way you did?” She shoved him back and he slammed into the door. She tried to knee his dick, but he blocked her, then sidestepped her next advance. “Your fucked-up words isn’t the way to solve a motherfucking thing.”

  Grabbing a glass from the counter, she threw it at him.

  He ducked. “This is the fucking way to solve shit?” he yelled, twisting backwards and crunching over the broken glass to escape her.

  “If you would just leave me the fuck alone! Let me get on with my fucking life, I wouldn’t want to kick your cock into your throat.”

  “Um, ouch?”

  She growled and took a step toward him, but he ran outside.

  “What the fuck is wrong with you, Roxanne?” he said, only his fingers showing where he gripped the door, to hold it open. “This is too womanish for you. You don’t throw shit.”

  “What the fuck do you mean too womanish? I haven’t suddenly grown a fucking dick, asshole.”

  He raised his palm. “That came out wrong. I just meant—”

  “I don’t throw shit,” she snapped. “I’ve never had occasion to throw shit at you. I want to bust your fucking head open and hug you; break your fucking face and love you.”

  Her voice trembled as hurt rose inside of her again. A sob escaped her. And another, until she broke down completely.

  Knox peeped inside.

  “Go away. I’ve decided there’s nothing for us to discuss.”

  Being the stubborn motherfucker that he was, he walked back into the house and closed the door, leaning against it. The pain on his face didn’t escape her.

  “I’m so sorry,” he said quietly. “I’ll spend the rest of my life making it up to you, if you just give me another chance. I’ll live at the club until the wedding. I’ll do anything. Please forgive me. Please, Roxanne.”

  She felt her resistance crumbling. He sounded so humble and sincere. If she followed her heart, she’d let her guard down and let him back into her life. But, if she listened to her head—recalled the times she’d been let down in a relationship—she’d insist he leave and be done with it.

  “You wouldn’t still have my ring on your finger if you didn’t feel something for me.”

  Sniffling, she held up her hand and glared at the ring. She pulled it off. “If your great-great grandparents had a happy fucking marriage, the motherfuckers cursed this ring for everyone else who wore it. Ever since I got this from you, our lives have been in fucking chaos.”

  Knox thrust his fingers through his hair. “Put it back on. Tomorrow, we’ll go to the jeweler together and find one especially for you.”

  “I’m not signing a fucking prenup. Unless you sign one for me.”

  He laughed. “What do you have—”

  Her narrowed gaze stopped him.

  “I don’t need your fucking money, Knox. Even if I didn’t have property in New Orleans and a little nest egg, I want for nothing because of these boys here.”

  “Okay.” Knox sounded chastened. “I’m sorry.”

  She licked her lips, studied the ring. Thought about Knox’s ugly words. He was fallible, a mere man. She didn’t hold grudges. It took too fucking much away from your soul, so she could let the argument go, accept his apology, and give him another chance.

  Her heart started to pound. The weight she’d carried around for days lifted. For the first time in weeks, her world felt right again. Drawing in a deep breath, she slid the ring back onto her finger.

  “One more chance, Knox. If you ever say anything like that to me again, we’re done.”

  He ran to her and lifted her into his arms, swinging her around and laughing through his tears.

  “I love you,” he said. “I love you.”

  “I love you, too, Knox. As much as I tried, I couldn’t stop my feelings for you.”

  Setting her on her feet, he bent and rained kisses on her face.

  “You’re not going to be sorry, Roxanne.”

  “I better not be,” she said as he nuzzled her neck.

  He lifted his head and pulled away from her. “I have to show you something, sweetheart.”

  She grinned. “I’m more than ready to see it.”

  “Not him,” he said with a chuckle, unbuttoning his shirt. “This.” He took the shirt off, revealing the black-ink outlines of a dragon that reached from shoulder-to-shoulder. On his arm were the makings of a full sleeve, although she wasn’t quite sure what it would be. He held up his hand and wiggled his ring finger. “I’m going to have my wedding ring tattooed here.”

  “Knox, you don’t have to do all of that.”

  He nodded. “I don’t but I want to. That’s the only way I can prove that I don’t look down on what you like.”

  “What am I going to do with you? You’re just too much!” she said, overcome with joy and happiness.

  He winked at her. “I’m enjoying myself spending time with the men. Val asks the stupidest questions. Outlaw is…Outlaw is the most logical person I’ve ever met. And Mortician likes to joke. They all have different ways to put you at ease. All unique to them.”

  Listening to his words, Roxy knew she’d made the right decision. He was finally taking the time to get to know each of the men.

  “If you want to learn to ride a motorcycle for yourself, then do it,” Roxy said, “but if you are doing it to impress me, you’ve got to stop. I don’t want you killing yourself.”

  He chuckled as his cell phone started to ring. “I want to learn for both of us,” he told her with certainty and answered the call. “This is Knox Harrington.”

  It must have been from a number he didn’t recognize.

  The color dropped from his face and he gasped. “I’ll be on the first flight on,” he breathed out, then disconnected the call.

  Roxy rushed to him and took his face between her hands. “What is it, Knox? What’s happened?”

  “It’s Callie,” he whispered.

  “Your ex-wife?”

  Knox nodded. “She’s been killed.”

  CHAPTER FIFTY-TWO

  Staring out the window in the back of the Uber, thoughts of Callie ran through Knox’s head. They’d met and married young. Maybe, their marriage had been doomed from the start. Neither of them had known what the hell they were doing and, with a newborn added into the mix not long after, it was a recipe for disaster. She was spoiled and…he swallowed…so was he. They’d wanted things their way, neither of them knowing the definition of the
word compromise. Trivial arguments that seemed so important to win had just been a reflection of their age. When his work on the force began to interfere with their marriage, Knox put her first. It hadn’t worked. They still ended up divorced. She’d taken Grant across the country to Boston, her hometown.

  “We’re here, sugar.” Roxanne’s quiet voice reached through Knox’s despair.

  He grabbed her hand and brought it to his lips, kissing the back of it. “Thank you for coming with me.”

  She leaned in and gave him a tender kiss.

  Opening the door, Knox slid out and then helped Roxanne to her feet. He didn’t know how his former in-laws would receive him, but, for the moment, Grant was in their care. Other than the fact that Callie had been killed, Knox knew nothing else.

  Clasping Roxanne’s hand again, he walked up the steps and rang the doorbell. It didn’t take long for the door to swing open, revealing Callie’s mother.

  “Audra, I’m so sorry,” he said, releasing Roxanne and hugging the other woman. “What happened? How did she die?”

  Audra stepped aside. “Come in.” She noticed Roxanne and blinked. “I’m Audra,” she said after a moment.

  Roxanne held out her hand. “Roxanne.”

  “Come in, both of you,” Audra said after she shook Roxanne’s hand.

  He placed his hand at the small of Roxanne’s back; together, they walked in, following Audra to the living room, where a houseful of friends and relatives were gathered. He knew most of the people there and couldn’t believe the circumstances under which he was seeing them. Seeing their grief seemed to increase his own, penetrating the shock he’d been living in for the past twenty-four hours.

  But he couldn’t give in to his feelings. He’d just won Roxanne back. How would she feel if she saw him crying over his ex-wife’s death?

  Roxanne squeezed his hand. “Knox,” she whispered. “Why don’t I go back to the hotel?”

  “I want you here,” he told her.

  “I’m here, sugar. But you don’t need me here. Grieve in peace, without thinking you’re hurting me.”

  She’d wanted to stay at the hotel in the first place. Knox should’ve known Callie’s family would be at this house.

  “Dad!” Grant cried, running into the room and barreling to Knox. His son sobbed in his arms. “Mom’s gone. Somebody shot her to death. It wasn’t a robbery or nothing. The police said she let her killer in. They took Mom from me.”

  “What?” Knox gasped, feeling as if he’d been sucker-punched. His thoughts ran together, not allowing him to focus on anything.

  “You’ve been listening, young man?” Audra said with disapproval.

  “I want Mom, Grandma,” Grant sobbed. “I just wanted to know where she was. When she was coming back.”

  Audra sighed, her eyes red-rimmed, her face haggard. “Go to your room,” she said kindly. “Some of the….you’re a little boy. It’s best for you not to hear what the adults are discussing.”

  “I don’t want to be in my room alone,” Grant said around tears.

  “I don’t mean to intrude,” Roxanne inserted, “but I can take Grant some—”

  Before she finished, Grant had rushed to her. She didn’t hesitate to wrap her arms around him and offer words of comfort.

  “Can I go with Roxy, Dad?” Grant begged.

  Knox started, then met Audra’s gaze. Though she nodded, she sagged in despair. With Callie gone, Grant would come to live with Knox and Roxanne. He’d never cut Audra out of his son’s life—she was his grandmother—but Grant living anywhere else was out of the question. He’d contact his lawyer before the day was out.

  “Yes, son. You can go back to the hotel with Roxanne.”

  Patting Knox’s back, she took Grant’s hand.” “Let’s call an Uber,” she said.

  “Okay,” he said, sounding hoarse and tired.

  Overwhelmed by the sheer gravity of the situation, Knox waited for his former in-laws to protest. He always expected the worst so he wouldn’t be surprised. No one said anything. Walking to Grant, he hugged his son, unsure of what to say or do. He stared at Roxanne, wordlessly asking for guidance.

  She gave him a tender, reassuring smile.

  “I’ll meet you two at the hotel,” he said, holding Grant close to him and then kissing his cheek.

  “Take your time, Knox,” Roxanne said. “We aren’t going anywhere.”

  Knox nodded. Fifteen minutes later, he ushered them into an Uber, kissing them both goodbye. Once the car drove away, he headed inside, wishing he could be any other place but here. His ex-wife had been murdered, though, and he intended to get the justice she deserved.

  “Is Mom in heaven?” Grant asked, tears lurking in his eyes, though he valiantly held them in.

  “Of course, sugar.”

  He picked up a French fry from his plate, then dropped it into the ketchup. “Will I see her again?”

  Roxy pushed her own plate aside. She’d barely touched any of her salad and should’ve followed her original plan of ordering coffee for herself from room service and whatever Grant decided upon. She was familiar with Boston and she was tired from the long flight. The last twenty-four hours had been sheer hell, watching Knox scramble to get to his son, consoling him over Callie’s death, and advising him to leave her behind. He needed her with him, he said. That was all Roxy needed to hear. Despite her reservations, she’d agreed to go.

  “I miss her, Roxy. Who hurt her?”

  Leaning forward in her dining chair, Roxy laid her hand on Grant’s arm. His muscles were taut, seeming to shake with the grief he felt. “You’ll always miss her, Grant, and yes, I believe you’ll see her again. I don’t know who hurt her, but I’m sure your dad will leave no stone unturned until he gets justice for her.”

  “Mom didn’t want Dad to marry you. Am I mean for liking you anyway? I tried to tell Mom that you were really nice, but she wouldn’t listen. That’s why I was at Grandma’s. Mom was mad at me because I was talking about the wedding. We thought she was pouting when she didn’t answer. Do you think Mom still loved me?”

  “You were the apple of Callie’s eyes.” Roxy had never talked to the woman personally, but whenever Grant visited, he was happy, well-adjusted, and boisterous. He spoke of the adventures he and his mom went on and of the places they visited. “You aren’t mean for liking me, Grant, although you’re young, so the situation is complicated. That just means your Mom still loved your Dad.” She squeezed his arm, then withdrew her hand. “He’s lovable like that.”

  “Dad didn’t love Mom,” Grant guessed.

  Roxy kept her wince to herself. This child was too young to have to go through this torment. Whoever the fuck had killed Callie needed to be dealt with by the bikers, instead of the law. “Yes, your father loved Callie,” she promised. “She was your mother, so she’d always be special to him. They just…they just couldn’t live together because they didn’t get along, so to keep liking one another, they separated. That way, they could be the best for themselves and as your mom and dad.”

  Tears slipped down Grant’s cheeks. Her heart breaking for him, Roxy moved to the sofa and opened her arms. Without hesitation, he flew into them, settling on her lap and crying against her. When K-P had been killed, Bailey was already grown, and Roxy had been hundreds of miles away in New Orleans. However, she remembered the day her own father had died of cancer. As broken up as her mother had been, she’d still sang a couple of hymns to her, in an attempt to offer solace in an unimaginable time. Not knowing what else to do, Roxy rested her chin on Grant’s head, and rocked him, singing the words to Amazing Grace. It was one of the few Christian songs she knew.

  After he cried himself to sleep, Roxy laid Grant on the sofa. Exhausted herself, she decided a nap would do her good. Stretching out on the chaise lounge, she closed her eyes and allowed sleep to claim her.

  “Roxanne?”

  Knox’s voice invaded her slumber and she stirred. Not satisfied, he shook her.

  “Stop, fuck
, Knox. Let me sleep.”

  “Let’s go to the bedroom, sweetheart.”

  “I’m fine where I’m at.”

  “Grant is already settled in the guestroom. You need to be comfortable, too.”

  Grumbling, she forced herself to awareness and sat up. “What time is it?” she asked around a yawn, allowing Knox to pull her to her feet and lead her to her bedroom.

  “After one in the morning.”

  “Fuck, how long have I been asleep?”

  “What time did you go to sleep?”

  “Fuck, I’m not sure. A couple of hours after we got back to the hotel.”

  In the bedroom, Roxy plopped down and laid her head on the soft pillow.

  “I’m ready to crash, too,” Knox said.

  Rustling clothes told Roxy he was undressing.

  “I’m bone-tired.”

  He climbed into the other side of the bed and drew her into his arms, spooning her. “Thank you, Roxanne. Thank you for being so understanding. I was no longer in love with—”

  “Stop, Knox.” Roxy changed positions, turning to face him. “You don’t have to explain anything to me. You still communicated with her because of Grant. She’s been a part of your life for many years.”

  “I don’t want you to doubt my feelings for you. I don’t want you to think I’m putting her family’s feelings before yours.”

  “Your interactions with other women have never made me question your regard for me. Your words have.”

  “My actions never backed up my words, though.”

  “We can discuss this at length at a later time. Right now, I want to set you straight. This isn’t about my feelings or your in-laws’ feelings. It’s about Grant. He needs to know who hurt his mother. I would expect no less from you. If I had a problem with it, I hope you would tell me to go fuck myself because that child is crushed. As his father, you do what you have to do.”

  Knox’s nose reddened. His eyes looked suspiciously watery.