Defiant Loyalty (Comanche Sons Motorcycle Club Book 2)

by Sophia Hampton

  “I guess so.” He sighed. Alright, so he wasn’t likely to get to the bottom of this secret so soon. He would have to put in more of an effort. Chance was up for the task. It wasn’t often that she threw him a challenge. She wasn’t the sort to subject him to the silent treatment or give him dirty glances. If Riley had a problem, he was bound to hear about it, blunt, direct, and in full volume. And that is why he was all the more intrigued by her unusually reticent attitude. Something was up, and he intended to find out what it was.

  They went out of the apartment. He locked the door and pocketed the key. He tried to hold her hand, but she slipped past him quickly as if she intended to avoid that. More and more intriguing. Was he in trouble for the fight they had yesterday, or was this something else altogether? Riley wasn't the kind to hold a grudge so he must have done something today to piss her off. He just couldn’t figure it out. They strolled to the nearest mall, and she headed for a boutique. He was reluctant to leave her, so he tagged along.

  “You’re not much of a shopper,” he commented.

  “It’s easier to be on the run with few possessions,” she admitted. “Of course, I do possess more than five shirts.”

  “Maybe we can take a look at clothes for me once you’re done…if we have time,” he offered as a peace offering.

  She glanced at him and a ghost of a smile flitted across her lips. Ok. So she wasn't pissed at him. It was something else. But what? “You don’t have to change your habits because of me.”

  “I don’t mind. As you said, I do have more than enough space in the closet. It’s just that no one ever pointed this out ever before.”

  “Have you ever lived with a woman?”

  “No, you’re the first one.”

  She clutched the shirts in her hand. “We’re not really living together. This is a temporary situation.”

  The stab in his heart was brutal, and the worst of it was that she didn’t really mean it. “Yeah, of course. But I am quite enjoying it.”

  He wanted to ask her if she also felt happy living with him, but he didn’t have the guts. Never ask a question if you’re not prepared to hear the answer. He wasn't ready for a rejection. He was far more invested in this relationship than she was. The thought was scary. “I should go try on these clothes,” she said and turned away.

  He watched her walk away. It hurt to realize that the woman he loved just didn’t feel the same way. Was it because there was something lacking in him? Or perhaps she didn’t want to become embroiled in a relationship right now? Chance walked around. He saw a peach dress, picked it up, and turned it around. He could imagine her wearing it.

  The saleswoman materialized by his side. “Are you looking for anything specific, sir?”

  Chance was flabbergasted. What the hell was he thinking? Shopping for Riley now; really…what was wrong with him? “I was just browsing,” he said, but Chance did take the dress over to the fitting room. She was out, inspecting her shirt in the mirror. “Why don’t you try this also? It’s not a shirt, but I think it will look good on you.” Her eyebrows came together as she inspected the dress. He fully expected her to say no, but much to his relief, she took the dress from his hands and walked inside. He breathed a sigh of relief. “Uncharted territory, boy. Take it easy,” he muttered after she was gone.

  When she came out, the dress was in her hand along with the other shirts. They walked to the counter and paid for everything. Chance didn’t comment. It was enough that she liked something he picked up. Baby steps. Baby steps. He reminded himself.

  “Should we check out some clothes for you?”

  “Yes, of course.”

  They moved to another shop. As Chance was about to enter the store behind her, he had the strangest feeling as if he was being watched by someone. Quickly, he turned around and saw a guy in a blue hoodie disappear down the corner. Had that been Riley’s brother who was watching them or was he becoming paranoid?

  “What is it?”

  “No, nothing.” He shrugged and followed her inside. Surely, no one could afford to follow them day and night just to look for an opportunity to kill Riley. But the thought did remind him that he still hadn’t done anything about finding out about Wesley’s past history while he was in jail. He would do so today. “Ok, so here we go. This looks good.”

  She gave him a look. “You have the exact same one in cream.”

  “Do I?” He scratched his cheek. “Well then, you choose.”

  She rolled her eyes but picked up a different striped t-shirt. “Ok. Don’t you have an opinion on this? Do you like it? Hate it? Want something with a different collar? A different color.”

  “Love, if you choose something, I’m bound to like.” He adjusted the collar of his shirt. “And let’s face it, anything I wear, I am going to rock it.”

  “In that case, I will choose whatever I like and you have to wear it.”

  “Fine by me.”

  She walked around the store, looking at different shirts and then finally picked one that was violently purple. He blanched but then smoothed his expression into neutral. “That’s fine, love. If you like it, I will wear it.”

  She glared at him and put the shirt back. “You’re too much, Chance. How can you just…leave such a decision in my hands?”

  He grabbed her hand and brought it to his lips. “Because I trust you.”

  All the breath appeared to whoosh out of her lungs. Her hand trembled in his grip. She tugged it free. “I will pick something else.” Without much effort, they picked out three shirts, and he paid for them. They strolled out. “I should head to the bar.”

  He checked the watch. “Ok, then. Why don’t you give me your shopping bag? I will drop it off at home after I take you to the bar, and then I’ve got work to do.”

  “Why don’t I just go to the bar and you can go home?”

  “Don’t be silly. It’s not safe,” he said without really thinking about it. He’d gotten too used to escorting her everywhere. “I will take you.”

  She put a hand on her hips. “I’m not a child. Not only can I take care of myself, but also I have been doing it for the past many years, so you don’t need to act like you are my bodyguard or something like that.”

  Chance had enough. “Do you prefer to have a reason to fight or do you just want to start shrieking at the top of your voice unless one of us becomes tired?”

  “What? Why? The nerve of you…”

  “No, not me. This time is the problem lies with you. I don’t know what’s gotten into you, but you’re in a funk since morning. It’s fine by me, but I can tell already that you’re spoiling for a fight, so whether you want to have it here or later at home, it’s ok with me. But I am walking you to the bar and that’s just it.”

  She adjusted the strap of her purse. For a moment he was scared that she might take it off and whack him on the head with it, but violence wasn’t her style. “You’re not the boss of me.” She flounced away while he shook his head. Chance ran to catch up with her. “There is nothing wrong with me. I am perfectly fine.”

  “So, you have not been in a strange mood since morning?”

  “Of course, not. I don’t have moods.”

  “All women have moods,” he muttered. Seeing her livid expression, he cleared his throat. “And men too, sometimes. There is nothing wrong with feeling a little out of it.”

  “I am not in a bad mood.”

  “Ok, fine.” They marched in silence. The day was bright and clear, and a nice breeze flitted around the trees. “Thanks for making me buy the shirts. I wouldn’t have done it if you hadn’t pushed me.”

  She sniffed. Her hair, soft and silky, shifted around her head and with one hand, she pushed it back. “You are welcome.”

  “I was thinking, perhaps, we could go away for a weekend. Remember our plan, the one that was so rudely interrupted.”

  “Ah!” She glanced at him. He saw the conflict on her face. She wanted to say yes. She desired to say no. Then, she sighed. “Yes, that
one. It would be great to get away for a weekend.”

  “So we could leave this Friday. I can rent a car.”

  “Are you sure? Your work?”

  “I can manage.” Since he delivered to bars and also did some other odds jobs for the biker’s club, Chance sometimes worked on weekends, but it was something he could take care of in advance. “Let me talk to Jack. He is the one who owns the cabin.”

  She looked so beautiful as she walked beside him. He just couldn’t get over the sheer magnetism that attracted him to her. Desire skipped through his nerves as he resisted the urge to take her in his arms and ask her point blank as to what was bothering her. She wouldn’t tell. It was better to stick to safe topics for now.

  “He’s also in the club?” she asked.

  “No, actually, he was in the army with me. Still is, actually.”

  She glanced at him with an unsure expression in her eyes. “So, you’re still in touch with your army buddies?”

  Chance wasn’t very comfortable talking about it but now that he’d opened the topic, he didn’t mind telling her. “Some of them, yes. Others cut contact me after…well, after I was sent to jail, but some of them seemed to think that it wasn’t my fault. I wasn’t the one who started the fight, I just ended it. Still, the law is the law and the army had to make the right call.”

  “Ok, you can ask your friend. I will talk to Johnny and see if I can take off for the weekend. Now that Jane is managing so well, he can afford for me not to be there for some time. Plus he just hired another new waiter,” she said.

  “Who?”

  “No idea. I have not met him as yet. His shift timings are different than mine, and he works only for three hours a day which works well for Johnny because he doesn't really need a full time waiter.”

  “Great then. I bet he wouldn’t have a problem if you went with me.” Chance was reluctant to part ways with her just yet. A nagging feeling echoed in his brain, but he couldn't quite make sense of it. What was it? Something she said? Something he felt? He couldn’t be sure. Chance pushed opened the back door and strode in behind her. “I will just talk to Ryan and see if he has a new list ready for me.”

  “You can put these things on my shelf,” she said. They walked into the locker area which was really a cubby where each worker was assigned a shelf for their stuff. “The bottom one is mine.” She pointed at it, and then stared with horror at the macabre sight that met her eyes.

  Chance couldn’t quite believe it. Surely this was a mistake. No, it couldn’t possibly be. The bags dropped from his hand as he bent to take a look. Someone had taken an ordinary ragdoll and stuffed a knife through its heart. “What the fuck is that?” he said.

  Miriam came in and shrieked. “Voodoo?” said Riley.

  “Don’t be silly,” said Chance. He hunched forward to take a closer look. “It’s…a message, I believe.” Taking out a pen from his pocket, he turned the doll away and read the note that was pinned to its back. “You’re next.”

  They both gazed at each other in horror. Whoever did this not only managed to access the bar but also was quite aware of the shelf that belonged to her. The message was clear; her brother was near, and he wasn’t giving up after the last failed attempt. Whatever she did, wherever she went, Riley wouldn’t be free until this man was sent behind bars.

  Chance had to do something. He just couldn’t take it anymore. From now on, until this thing was settled, he would dedicate his life to it until he solved this mystery.

  Chapter Seven

  Riley was hyperventilating. She couldn’t help it. Wesley somehow managed to penetrate deep inside her inner sanctum. Her work place wasn’t safe anymore. It appeared that no matter what she did, he found her—and this time he delivered a blow from which it was hard to recover.

  “Who could have done such a thing?” said Miriam. One look at Riley’s face and she shut up. Instead, she grasped her hand and tugged her out of the room. “Come now, we’ll have a cup of coffee.”

  “I don’t want coffee.” She was shivering. Riley could feel herself succumbing to the stress that plagued her. This was the final straw. She just couldn’t take it anymore. “I…we should call the police.”

  “We’ll do that, honey. You just sit here and breathe. Breathe deeply.”

  Johnny strode into the room. He probably heard all the commotion and came out to investigate. “Why the hell are you not at your work stations? Come on, girls, chop chop. Time is wasting.”

  “Can’t you give her a minute?” barked Miriam, not as all intimidated by his loud voice. “She just went through a terrible shock.”

  “What the fuck happened?”

  “What happened is that you allowed a complete stranger to waltz in here when you know quite well that she has already been attacked once,” said Chance as he strode in. “I have already called the police, and they are on their way.”

  “What the hell did you do that for? It’s forbidden to call them here,” sputtered Johnny. “You know the rules as well as I do.”

  “Fuck the rules. I don’t give a shit about them. Her life is in danger, and you’re responsible for it.” Chance pointed a finger at him.

  “What did I do?”

  “You hired a waiter without running his name through a check, without references.”

  “Hey man, if I asked for references from my workforce, I wouldn’t get anyone. Half the people who turn up here don’t have anything to show for their past and they don’t want the hassle.” Johnny raised his hands. “Which waiter are you talking about? Mike. He seemed on the level.”

  Chance strode right up to Johnny. “Did you check his ID? Ask for a phone number, an address, anything?”

  “No man. Why the hell would I do that? He said he wanted three hours of work, and that was just perfect for me. I was looking for someone like that, and he fit the bill to the T.”

  “So, you were in need of some part time help, and this guy shows up. He has no references, but he is willing to work for the exact number of hours that you want. You don’t think it’s suspicious?”

  Johnny shook his head. He was as baffled as the rest of the crew. Riley was the only one who understood where Chance was going. Ingenious, really. Her brother had staked this place. He figured out a way to access the interior. Why? Did he want another chance to take a swipe at her? Or was this exercise just done so that he could leave a message? Maybe he wanted to rattle her. If so, he succeeded.

  This was a deadly game, and so far he was quite ahead of her.

  “That man is the same one who is chasing Riley with the sole intention of killing her. He wants her dead, and you allowed him the perfect opportunity to take a close look at the place where she works.”

  Johnny blanched. He stared from her to Chance, and then back again. “I heard…but I wasn’t…I didn’t know…”

  Ryan strode out of the kitchen, as there was some noise outside. Then, he came back in and said, “The police are here.”

  Johnny gripped Chance’s collar. “You shouldn’t have called them, you idiot. We will all get into trouble.”

  “I don’t give a shit. All I want is to keep her safe, and I will do anything to achieve that.” Chance shook himself free. Walking over to Riley, he gripped her hand and tugged her to her feet. “Come one, we’ve got to talk to them. No one touch that thing until the police have taken a look. They will likely take it away for fingerprints.”

  “What nonsense is this?” said Johnny, as he ran a hand through his hair.

  As if she was sleepwalking, Riley allowed Chance to tug her to the main hall. The same two officers who took down her report were on the scene. While Chance talked to them, she merely nodded along. Riley didn’t have anything new to add.

  “We would like to see the evidence.”

  While Chance took the police inside, she just sat there on one of the chairs. Riley was too shocked to do anything. She hadn’t expected that her brother would do something so drastic. Following her was one thing, but actually acce
ssing her workplace was another. She never saw him, but Jane did. Johnny did. They were near him. He could have killed one of them to make a point. It was a good thing that the only thing he decided to do was to leave a message. He could have left behind a corpse also.

  The thought of that sent a wave of icy fear careening through her spine. She took a deep breath to calm her nerves. Miriam came out. “The police are talking to Jane, Johnny, and Ryan since they saw the waiter.”

  “Was he due to come in today?” asked Riley.

  “Not today, tomorrow. Doubt he will show up now,” she said. “Are you sure that was your brother?”