After a few miles, she even started to relax, melting into his large warm body. She tried to keep her eyes open to watch where they were going, but there wasn’t anything to see beyond the headlights. Not a single car had passed them. Every once in a while, she would get a glimpse of a cornfield but no houses. It didn’t take long for her own eyes to start drifting shut. He was just so warm and solid. Jada let her mind wander, and it instantly went to the man in front of her. She wondered what his story was. Why he could be so sweet and kind to Maddie, but to her, he was curt and abrupt.
She also wondered about the bruises he had on his face and hands like he had been in a bad fight recently. But the biggest thing that had her mind going was why in the hell was she so attracted to him? Was it like a savior complex thing? He was good looking, hell they all were, but she wasn’t sitting there thinking about Creed or Jinx. Hell, both of them had been nicer to her, but there was just something about Brass.
He had to easily be a couple of inches over six feet. His features weren’t what a person would call classically handsome but more a ruggedly handsome as if he worked outside and did some kind of manly job. Shit, he could take off the leather cut and put on a flannel, and he would look like a lumberjack. Jada giggled to herself, she was really losing it now if she was making this biker into a lumberjack. But still, she debated in her mind, lumberjack or biker, which was sexier?
Jada rubbed her hand up his stomach, feeling each and every ridge of his muscles through the thin t-shirt he was wearing. Yeah, it didn’t matter what this man wore or did for a living, he was sexy, period. Realizing what she’d been doing—basically groping the poor man—she went to pull her hand back, but Brass brought one hand down and placed it over hers, keeping it on his stomach, only moving it when he started to turn the bike.
Jada lifted her head when the bike started to slow. She had been so caught up in her thoughts, she hadn’t paid attention to where or how long they’d been driving. She still couldn’t see anything, but the road had gotten rougher. She could see through the beam of the headlight they were now on gravel. A couple of minutes later, a dark, creepy looking farmhouse came into view. She had hoped they weren’t going there but knew she wasn’t going to be that lucky.
Chapter Seven
Shit, this chick was driving him crazy. He should have let Creed take her, but there was a part of him that didn’t want to see her on the other man's bike, brother or not. She needed to be on his bike. Hell, he hadn’t even felt this way with Suzy. He wanted to kick his own ass for being such a prick to her, but he couldn’t seem to help it. There was something about Jada that was different, but some shit was still the same.
The look on her face when she saw his bike had pissed him off. He had seen that look before on Suzie’s face, and he made assumptions. He should have known Jada would be worried about Maddie. Hell, any person with a kid would have been. He knew Jinx would be careful with the kid, but Jada hadn’t known. He should have explained it before Jinx had to, but he was just stuck thinking yet another chick was judging him.
Then there was the shit about Tuck. Besides mentioning his name when they first met, Jada didn’t seem to want to talk about him in front of Maddie. He was her fucking father. The kid and Tuck had a right to know each other. Tuck had been looking for her since he found out she existed. None of their research had even mentioned Jada. They had a file on Mazie which didn’t include any siblings. All her known associates were from a rough crowd—bikers, druggies, and gang members. A couple of previous employers or coworkers but no sister. Maddie had called her Aunt Jay, so he had to assume she was family. But how had they missed her? Why hadn’t she been mentioned by any of the people they questioned the last few months about Maddie’s whereabouts? Even the hospital records that Tal and Jinx had hacked hadn’t mentioned Jada.
But Jada knew Tuck's name, so why hadn’t she or the kid's mom contacted him? Jada didn’t seem like the type of person to have a devious nature, but hell, what did he really know about women and what made their minds work? He had thought he had Suzie figured out—sweet and kind, the type of woman a man could settle down with have a couple of rug rats and live happily fucking ever after—but he had been way off base. All Suzie had wanted was his dick. He wasn’t good enough for anything else, not even to share a simple meal. She had refused to get on his bike more than once, not wanting to be seen riding around with him.
Suzie hadn’t said that shit to him outright, no, she made excuses. She didn’t want to mess up her hair, or she wasn’t wearing the right fucking clothes or shoes. Brass had heard her talking to Reagan, knew she had issues with the MC and the lifestyle they led, but she was also in the know. She knew the RBMC wasn’t like other MCs. Knew they had a higher mission and standards, but she saw the leather, patches, and bikes and turned her nose up. A part of him wondered if Jada would be the same way. She was riding with him now, but if she wasn’t in danger, would she still be willing? Did he even want her to be?
When he felt her hand rubbing against his stomach, he wanted to moan, but he held it back. She was so soft against his back, he liked the feeling of her breasts pillowed against him. But that hand was really getting to him. She kept moving it softly around his stomach, gently examining every inch of him that she could reach. There was a part of him that wanted her to go lower, to take his now hard cock into her hand and use the same touch there.
Brass wondered if she would be soft, sweet, and gentle like this while he fucked her or if she would be hot, wild, and crazy. Brass smiled; Jada would be both. She had a fire to her, but she was also soft. That could make for some very interesting times. Brass was no saint. If he saw a chick he wanted to bang, he did it. There were plenty of women hanging around the club who wanted his dick. If the urge hit and the circumstances were right, he filled the need. But there had only been one woman he’d wanted for more than just a mindless fuck from, and she had basically spit in his face. He wouldn’t make that mistake again. If the opportunity came, he would fuck Jada; if it didn’t, he would find someone else.
Making up his mind that was how it was going to be, Brass felt Jada stiffen a little and start to move her hand away. He should have let her do it. Distance was good, but for some reason, he couldn’t, bringing his own hand down to cover hers, he kept it on him. He didn’t want to analyze why that damn touch meant so much to him. When the turn off for the safe house came into his view, he was almost glad he had to move his hand. Even happier when she kept her hand where he’d been holding it. Shit.
Jinx’s words earlier kept playing in his mind—Jada was quality—but he had been fooled before and wasn’t ready to be played for a fool again. She might be quality, but that didn’t mean she was for him. Parking the bike, he tapped Jada’s leg twice, indicating he wanted her to move. He needed to get away from her for a little while. As soon as she let go, he got up and went to help Jinx with Maddie, feeling like he wanted to kick his own ass when he couldn’t help looking back to make sure she’d got off the bike okay.
Jinx was already unstrapping Maddie by the time he got there. All Brass had to do was walk up and Maddie held her little arms out to him, and he smiled, picking her up.
“What did you think of your first bike ride, little one?”
“It was so fun,” Maddie said, smiling wide. “Uncle Jinx said I could do it again anytime Aunt Jay said it was okay. He told me you're my Uncle, too. Do you want to be my Uncle? And if you’re my Uncle, then you can take me on your bike, it’s prettier, I like the pictures on it.”
Brass laughed. She had said all that in that squeaky little kid voice, all big eyes and smiles. This kid was special. He couldn’t wait for Tuck to finally meet her, but for right now, he didn’t mind one fucking bit taking on the Uncle role.
“Baby girl, I will take you for a ride on my prettier bike,” Brass said smiling at Jinx, “anytime you want. Uncle Jinx’s bike isn’t pretty enough for a little princess like you, right?”
Maddie nodded, then put her bottom l
ip out when she looked at Jinx like she was sorry she had agreed which made Brass smile bigger. This kid was one of kind. Jinx came over and rubbed her back.
“It’s okay, Maddie. Uncle Brass’ bike does look more like a girl’s bike. Maybe you can get him to put some pink streamers on the handlebars, just for your ride.”
Oh, fuck! Brass knew from the smile on the kid’s face, he would do it too, all she had to do was ask. Damn, where were those brass balls everyone accused him of having?
“We need to talk,” Creed walked up and said. Nodding at Maddie, he looked at Jada who was walking his way. “Why don’t you take Miss Maddie in and get her settled. Blacktop Renegades are sending in a team.”
Brass didn’t do what Creed wanted. He knew as soon as he got Maddie out of earshot, they were going to start questioning Jada, and he wanted to be there for it. He also wanted to make sure they weren’t too hard on her.
“Maddie, how about you let Uncle Jinx take you inside? He has My Little Pony on his phone, and I bet you if you asked nicely, he would let you watch it with him.”
“Really! I love My Little Pony, they’re so cute!”
“Really!” Brass said excitedly. “He even knows all the songs! Sings them all the time.”
“Oh,” Maddie said in awe and held her hands out to Jinx like he had just hung the moon for her. Brass might have been a little jealous, but payback was a bitch. Jinx took Maddie and started to walk away, saying under his breath, “Asshole.”
Brass didn’t get a chance to give another dig before Jada walked up.
“What’s going on?” Brass let Creed take the lead of this. He had been talking with Talon, so he was more prepared, but Brass had a few questions of his own.
“Jada, I’m going to come right out with it. Who are you and why were you taken with Maddie?” Creed asked.
“What do you mean, who am I?” Jada questioned.
“We have a file on both Mazie Linkus and Maddie, neither of them mentioned you. Maddie calls you her Aunt, but all records indicate Mazie didn’t have any siblings. There is also no Jada Baxter listed living in or around the last known address of Ms. Linkus.”
“There wouldn’t be. I didn’t live near Mazie at any time if I could help it.”
“You need to answer the question, Jada, how are you connected to Mazie and Maddie? Or are you working with the Vultures?” Brass growled.
“Brass,” Creed warned, but Jada had already started talking.
“Working with who?”
“The men in the warehouse, the ones you shot. It’s kind of convenient you only fired two shots, each on them. Do you have something to hide? Something you didn’t want them to say or us to find out?”
“Brass!” Creed growled again.
He knew he was handling this wrong, but he couldn’t seem to help himself. He had no doubts Jada had no ties to The Vultures, but something was fucking off.
“Are you serious? I shot those men to protect Maddie and you, asshole. Would you have preferred I just sat there and let you get shot?”
“Answer the question, Jada!”
“Which fucking one, how am I connected to Maddie or Mazie? Or do I have some fucking kind of agenda here, getting myself kidnapped and assaulted just to be in the right place at the right time?” Jada put her hands on her hips and looked him right in the eye. “I’m connected because my sister dropped Maddie off at my doorstep when she was three months old and left,” she said through gritted teeth. “I have raised her every day since then. I am CONNECTED to Maddie because I am the ONLY parent she has ever known.”
“Jada,” Brass warned.
“What! Oh, you want more? How’s this; my sister's father fucked my mother who happened to be their maid. He claimed Mazie but not me. My last known address is in St. Louis, MO. If you would like the street address, I can give that to you too. But sorry, the assholes who kidnapped us took my wallet with my driver’s license, credit cards, and everything else, so I can’t exactly give you proof of that right now. Get your little minions to work and verify my story. You’ll find I have guardianship papers for Maddie Baxter. That is the name Mazie gave her. Not Masterson or Linkus.”
“If you knew about Tuck, why didn’t you contact him, he’s her father.”
“I did contact him, several times. If my apartment is still in the same shape as it was before we were taken, I can prove it. I have the letters that say Return to Sender. I have the number of some jerk I had to pay to get that, but it goes to a disconnected phone. Hell, I have everything. I even sent letters and called your Clubhouse. So, fuck you.” Jada pushed past Brass and went to Creed.
“Maddie has medication she has to take every day. She hasn’t had it in three days. Someone needs to get that prescription filled for her. I usually fill it at the Rite-Aid on Fifth Street. If someone can just call and have it transferred here, please. She isn’t showing any symptoms now, but she needs that medicine.”
“FUCK!” Creed barked, pushing his hands through his hair. “Okay, let me make some calls. We knew she was sick as a baby but had no idea she still was. We have a group coming in with a van and a covered trailer. Once they get here, we’re going to load up. It’s too late tonight to get the medicine she needs to be called in, but if you know the name of it, when we get back to Defiance there is an E.R. Doctor we deal with who might be able to get it to us sooner. We’re only about two hours away.”
“Defiance? I thought you guys were from Frankfort, Kentucky. What state are we even in right now?”
“We’re in West Virginia, but like I said, we aren’t that far from home. Why don’t you go inside with Maddie, and Jinx and I will make some calls to set everything up for her?” Jada nodded and started to walk away.
Brass knew he needed to say something before she went inside. Reaching out, he took her arm in his hand stopping her, Jada pulled away a little but stopped.
“Jada, I get this is a lot to take in, and we’re asking you to trust us when we haven’t earned it. But that little girl belongs to our President which means she’s part of our Club, a big part. We’ll make sure she is safe at all costs, you have my word on that.”
“I don’t doubt that, Brass. But does that safety include me? Because if you think I am just going to turn around and walk out of Maddie’s life, you will be sorely disappointed. That little girl is my life. I would die for her. I’ve already proved I’ll kill for her. So, you two go ahead and check out my story, make sure all the ‘i’s are dotted and ‘t’s are crossed. But know this, I will not just blindly leave that child with a man I have never met because as of right now, your President, the one who makes Maddie your family, is still just the sperm donor who created her to me. He proves himself otherwise, I’ll consider what the best move for Maddie is, but for right now, you guys don’t talk to her about Tucker Masterson. She has had so much disappointment in her life, and I don’t want her to have anymore.” With that, Jada pulled away and walked off towards the house.
When she made it through the door Creed said, “Fuck man what is your deal! I know you can be an asshole on the best fucking day, but shit, you know better than to handle shit that way.”
Brass did know better, but shit, it was just Jada. A part of him wanted to prove she wasn’t who she appeared to be.
“You got the information, call it in. If it checks out, I’ll apologize to the chick; if it doesn’t, Jinx can take the next go around.”
“Jesus!” Creed said, stalking off, leaving Brass there.
“Wait, man, change of plans. Call your contact, Kat, have him look into Jada’s story. I’ll call Tal.”
“Do you really think we need two sets of eyes looking into this?”
Brass thought about that; if Jada was really who she said she was, then no, they didn’t need the two men looking into her, but he wanted to make sure. Tal was good, damn good, but having Kat’s input would be better.
Chapter Eight
Jada walked into the farmhouse fuming. She no longer cared how creepy it
looked or what she would find inside, just as long as she got away from Brass. The guy seemed to have a multiple personality disorder. One second, he was nice, and the next, he was a total ass. Her head hadn’t stopped spinning since she’d met the man. Plus, she hated talking about her family, well, all of them except Maddie. Add to that pile of crap, she was attracted to the man. It didn’t make sense, but there it was. He got her all hot and bothered, then doused that arousal with ice water. Shit, maybe she was in shock from what had happened at the warehouse and before.
Once she got inside, she saw Maddie sitting on an old couch, holding a cellphone. Jada went right to her and sat down next to her.
“What are you watching, baby girl?” Maddie didn’t say anything. So engrossed in the show, all she did was tilt the phone toward Jada, so she could see the screen and snuggled closer. Jinx walked into the room with a paper cup in his hand and gave it to her. Damn, she hadn’t had coffee since before this whole thing had started. For a while there, she had been lucky to get a glass of water. Taking the cup Jada said, “Thank you” and felt the tears forming in her eyes from the kind gesture. Jinx nodded and sat down in an armchair next to the couch. After a while, Maddie drifted off.
“How are you holding up with all of this?” Jinx asked.
“Which part?” Jada laughed careful to keep her voice soft so as not disturb Maddie.
“Yeah, seems like you’ve had a lot to deal with. Maddie told me that you two have been with those guys for a long time, but she didn’t know exactly how long.”
“What’s today’s date? Jada hadn’t even thought about how long they’d been gone, she’d been just trying to get through, day by day.
“April ninth,” Jinx answered.
Brass: Ruthless Bastards (RBMC Book 6) Page 5
