Bones by the Wood

by Johnson, Catherine

  Eventually, with a long, low groan, Dizzy rolled off her and out of her. Thea didn’t even try to contain the sound of her disappointment, she wanted him to know that she felt the loss.

  She didn’t have the strength to turn her head to watch him, but she felt the bed move and she knew that he’d been dealing with the condom before coming to lie back down next to her.

  “Jesus, sweetheart. You might just kill me.”

  “S’mutual. How’s your hand?” She was actually slurring her words. She about managed to turn her head so that she could see him. He was holding his hand in front of his face, turning it over, inspecting it.

  “You drew a little blood. Vampire.”

  “Sorry.”

  “You’re not.” He leaned over and pressed a kiss into her shoulder blade. “But it was worth it. I‘m gonna leave now, but only ‘cause if I don’t, I’ll fall asleep.”

  Thea had to work hard to remember why that wasn’t the best idea ever. Getting under the covers with him and curling up with her head on his chest was the thing she most wanted to do right at that moment. But Josh, yes, her son. Bad idea. She needed to let Dizzy go. This time.

  She stretched languorously as Dizzy rose, and watched him dress. Only when he sat on the edge of the bed to pull his boots on did she swing her feet to the floor and snag an oversized t-shirt from a drawer. By the time she’d pulled it over her head, he was done and ready to go.

  She walked with him to the door, and forced her exhausted fingers to work to get the key into the lock. He waited until the door was open to kiss her goodbye, which was a good thing, or she might not have let him leave. It was a long and lazy tangling of tongues, a promise of more to come. Again, Thea reconsidered why going back to bed together was a bad idea. But no, her first instinct had been right, and she needed some sleep before Josh got up, or before she had to get Josh up. She was impressed that Dizzy had already noted that fact about them. He was observant, no doubt.

  When they parted, Dizzy cupped her face in his palm. Thea leaned into it, wondering if she hadn’t been a cat in a past life, since she was fighting the desire to flat out purr.

  “When’re you workin’ tomorrow, sweetheart?”

  She had to make her brain think. “Same shift tomorrow.”

  “Okay. You sendin’ Josh in tomorrow?”

  Thea nodded into his palm.

  “I’ll try and drop by in the day. Be nice to visit, as much as I want a repeat performance. But if I don’t make it, I’ll be there when your shift ends. I’ll be there either way.”

  That feeling of exhilaration and terror swept over her again. She was being cared for, and it was lovely, but she simply didn’t know what to do with it. She wasn’t used to it at all. She just nodded again. It was possible that she was entirely too tired to speak.

  “Good. Lock the door behind me, sweetheart.”

  For one moment, Thea thought there were more words coming, but Dizzy laid a quick press of lips to her forehead, and then he was gone. Thea closed the door and locked it, and checked the locks. As she walked back to her room she ran her fingers over her lips, which were tender and a little bruised, and wondered whether it was all just a spectacularly vivid dream.

  Chapter Eighteen

  There wasn’t really anything to dislike about doing the runs for the Rojas family. They brought bank in and therefore were a necessary evil, but it was time out of life, hours on his bike, which was always good as far as Dizzy was concerned. There was the outlaw aspect, too, the thrill of danger, staying on the razor edge of alertness, which got his blood pumping and his cock hard. So, all good in his opinion. Flying down the highway, even sticking to the speed limit so as not to attract attention, and keeping watch for random patrols, it was a release, freedom.

  But this kind, the runs when they used the modified saddlebags, had become Dizzy’s favorite of all the ways they transported the various illegal goods for the Colombians. It was just him and his brothers, out on the highway, straight-pipes thundering, the wind rushing by. There was no van or truck to keep an eye on. It was always an early morning, dawn-ish, pick up. It took them a couple of hours to get south to the border, and then it was more than half a day to get to Absolution. The invitation to stay at the Louisiana clubhouse was always extended, as it had been to the Rabid Dogs when they’d handled this end of the business, but today they’d voted to do the run and return back in one fell swoop.

  There was no absolute need, and even though there had been no repercussions from their attack on the Los Perdidos, Dizzy and his brothers were a little nervy about straying far from home. They were staying in Louisiana the following week for Shark and Ashleigh’s wedding celebrations, so today, they would return home. They’d also voted, along with the Louisiana charter, not to try and combine the trips. If they got picked up by the law on their way in to the wedding, they’d ruin the day and they’d all owe Samuel’s wife at least one of their balls in penance.

  They’d left Nut in charge of the garage, confident in his abilities to keep things running and to handle anyone bringing vehicles in. That business was thriving. They needed to keep all their cash flows moving. The Dusky Kitten had taken a big financial hit when it had shut down the previous weekend.

  They arrived at the Louisiana clubhouse to make the exchange. Alerted by the noise of their engines, many of the members were outside waiting.

  Samuel walked over to him as Dizzy was still swinging his leg over his bike, and as soon as he had both feet on the ground, had pulled him into a hug.

  “Hey, boss. Everythin’ okay?” Samuel wasn’t usually quite so demonstrative.

  “I’m savin’ you from the wolves, brother.”

  “Huh?”

  Chiz ambled over. “Moira and Dolly. They’re on the lookout for you. They want the gossip on your new lady-friend.”

  Dizzy started the process of thinking through a tactical decision in his head, while outwardly playing a little dumb. “They want the skinny on Thea?”

  “Unless you’re bringin’ someone else to Tink’s weddin’?” Dizzy thought that Chiz looked a little more hopeful than was absolutely necessary; he might have to keep an eye on his brother around Thea. Chiz was quite the lady-killer... and sometimes that term had been applied a little too literally for comfort.

  Terry joined them, having finished greeting the other Texan members. “Oh yeah. Dolly and her are very interested in your girl, and you know what they’re like when they get their heads together.”

  Yeah, Dizzy knew alright. Dangerous, that’s what Moira and Dolly were once they got fixed on something. “They here?”

  Samuel cast a nervous glance over to the door of the clubhouse. “Been waitin’ here for a couple of hours for you. Dizz, if you don’t want the Inquisition, you should probably make this a quick turnaround. This is not a subject I can hold her off on.”

  Dizzy decided his decision was made. He didn’t think Thea had anything to fear from Moira and Dolly, he was pretty sure they’d get along, but he’d rather give them some details now than have them drag Thea off for a grilling the moment she stepped foot in the clubhouse. Still, that didn’t mean he was going to enjoy it.

  “S’okay. We’ll grab a beer before we go.”

  Samuel and Terry both shook their heads with rueful smiles. Chiz clapped him on the shoulder. “You’re a brave man, Dizz. Stupid, but brave.”

  Dizzy wasn’t of a mind to disagree with that assessment.

  His brothers from Texas were relieved to be getting a drink before they set off home. Dizzy looked around when he got through the door and spotted Moira and Dolly sitting at their usual table. As soon as Moira saw them walk in, she waved over a couple of the sweetbutts that were hanging around. He saw her tell them something, and then they were hurrying into the kitchen. That was a bonus, it looked like they’d be getting fed as well. He might have to suffer twenty questions, but it was worth it for the comfort of his brothers, and for Thea.

  “Pray for me, boss.”


  “Will do, Dizz. Will do.” Samuel clapped him on his shoulder and Dizzy went to meet his fate.

  “Hey Moira. Hey Dolly. Good to see you both.” He pulled out an empty chair and sat down. Before he had even gotten comfortable, Scrat the Prospect had set a cold beer down in front off him. Dizzy took a grateful swallow.

  “I’m guessin’ that Samuel primed you, cher.” Moira took a sip of her own drink. It was probably a vodka tonic. That was usually her poison of choice for afternoon drinking when the clubhouse wasn’t as busy.

  “He mentioned you wanted a word.”

  “I’ll just bet he did.” Dolly laughed. Dizzy tried not to think of it as a cackle, really tried.

  Moira eyed him over the rim of her glass. “After they visited with you and your boys last week, they came home with some very interesting tales about a girl. They’re sayin’ you’re plannin’ on bringin’ her over next week.”

  “That I am.” Dizzy affirmed. There was only one way to hit this, head on, or he’d be here all night. “Her name’s Thea. She’s from Ravensbridge. She’s got a boy, ten years old. His name’s Josh. He’ll be coming too.”

  Dolly perked up at that. “Oh, that’s fabulous. Jenny’ll have someone near her own age around.”

  Dizzy hadn’t thought about that, but he agreed, and was glad for Josh’s sake, too. Although, knowing Josh as he did now, he’d probably want to hang out with the patches in the garage.

  “That all, cher?” Moira looked at him over the rim of her glass.

  “Obviously not, or you wouldn’t be askin’. What else’ve they been tattlin’?”

  Moira laughed. “Bless you, cher. Chiz is just full of tales about how you’re cradle snatchin’.”

  “Hardly. She’s thirty.”

  “Still young.” Dolly commented speculatively.

  Dizzy shrugged. He wasn’t that much older than Thea, but they were making a fifteen-year age difference almost feel like kiddy-fiddling.

  “If you say so. She’s not a kid. She coped well last weekend. Got people organized. Made sure things ran smooth.” The way that Thea had dealt with the lockdown had impressed Dizzy. It had impressed him a lot. He’d compared Thea to the bar that Moira had set for how to act, how to handle club life even in difficult times, as an old lady, and she’d measured up.

  The two women regarded him shrewdly. Dizzy wasn’t fazed. He had nothing to hide from them. And maybe by giving them some details now, it’d go a little easier for Thea.

  “Where’s the boy’s father?” Moira asked.

  Or maybe it wouldn’t go easier. “You’ll have to ask Thea that. That’s her story to tell. Not mine.”

  “So he’s not around. You ready to be a daddy to that boy?”

  Dizzy didn’t appreciate a question that personal, even from his President’s old lady. “That’s between the three of us. That’s no one else’s business.”

  Moira accepted that answer like she’d been expecting it. “Where’d you meet her, cher?” Ahh, now Dizzy thought they were at the kernel of Moira’s interest.

  “At the convenience store. She works nights so she can be around for her kid durin’ the day. You thought she was a stripper.”

  Moira didn’t deny it. “They came back full of tales of this pretty young thing full of attitude. And I know you’re surrounded by pasties and Lucite heels these days, cher.”

  “Hardly.” Dizzy cocked his head. “Who said she was pretty?” He asked.

  Nope, that was definitely a cackle they both let out. “You keep your eye on Chiz, and maybe a little on Crash, cher. Chiz’ll flirt with her just to toy with you, but I think Crash maybe has a little bit of a crush.”

  Dizzy accepted that information silently. He wasn’t surprised by the jealousy and possessiveness that flooded him, but he was surprised by the violence of it. He kept very still for long moments lest he call Crash and Chiz both into the ring right the hell now.

  When he focused his attention back on Moira and Dolly, they were both looking extremely smug. Dizzy finished his beer. He was going to need another one, soon.

  “You done?”

  “For now, cher. I’m glad you’re bringin’ her here. We’ll keep an eye out for her.”

  “Yeah, that doesn’t soothe me none, ladies.”

  He hadn’t brought his Stetson, knowing that there would be nowhere to put it for the ride back once they’d offloaded the saddlebags to the Louisiana charter. He felt a little naked without it. He would have tipped it to the women before he left them. He nodded curtly instead, and stood. The sweetbutts were laying burgers out on the bar, and he wanted to say ‘hi’ to Fletch, who was sitting at the bar, before he left.

  Dizzy hitched himself onto a stool by Fletch’s side. Fletch raised his hand in Scrat’s direction and the young man shot over with two fresh beers.

  “You seemed to come out of that okay, brother. They get the details they were lookin’ for?”

  “Yeah. I hope so. I’m sure they’ll corner her next weekend anyway. They might give her an easier ride now.” Dizzy grabbed a burger. The girls had served them with trimmings, so there was no need to mess around. He took a bite. They weren’t bad.

  “S’not like you to be delusional, son.” Fletch scoffed.

  Dizzy shrugged, still chewing his mouthful of burger.

  “Must be serious, if you’re introducin’ her around, if you’re takin’ up with a lady with a kid?”

  Dizzy stopped eating and looked his friend and mentor, his surrogate father, in the eye. “It is.”

  “You got trust for her?”

  “Yes.”

  “You think that’ll stand up to the test?”

  “Already has.”

  Fletch was more astute than to pry for more details. Dizzy trusted Thea, that was enough for his friend, he didn’t need to know the ins and outs of how or why.

  They chatted on more inconsequential matters, and some of more consequence, such as the extermination of the Los Perdidos. By the time the Texan charter were ready to get on their way back home, Dizzy was comfortable in the knowledge that the two charters had the foundations of firm friendships. The events of the preceding weekend had bonded them, but this day had confirmed that they could get along without needing to expend a few hundred rounds of ammunition.

  The only low point was when Samuel informed them that Tag’s family had claimed his body and then politely, but firmly, requested that the MC stay away from the funeral. Tag’s relatives had never interfered with his choice to be a member of the club, but Dizzy knew that it had always caused friction in the family. Samuel had agreed to comply with their wishes. They would hold their own ceremony for their fallen brother, after the wedding.

  They said their goodbyes and were back on the road before the evening set in, but they were still going to lose the whole day to the run. For Dizzy, that meant he was going to miss the majority of Thea’s actual birthday. It was disappointing, but he was going to make it up to her. He’d had the opportunity to chat with Josh a couple more times during the week while Thea was out of earshot, and between them they had come up with a good plan.

  He’d been able to visit her during the day a couple of times, when he’d been able to escape from the garage. He’d met her every night at the store at the end of her shift. He was well aware that, every night for years, she had locked up that store and made it home without a hitch, but she hadn’t been with him for any of that time. Now she was and he didn’t like her being on her own while she cashed out the register and then drove across town to get home.

  Meeting her at that time had its benefits too. He still hated leaving her apartment after their athletic sessions, and it was messing with his body clock a little, but it was fucking worth it. He was making more time to work out in the club gym as well, because damn he needed his stamina for these long days. Thea liked their fucks like he did, hard and fast. Hearts and roses were fine too, but they rarely had the time for that, not the time he would want to take, anyway.

  They hit
a truck stop for coffee and a piss, and Dizzy took the opportunity to check the time. They were making good progress. At this rate he’d still be back in plenty of time to meet Thea from her shift. He was planning to ask her to help him work out the kinks from the day’s hard riding, and then maybe he’d get her to do a bit of hard riding of her own. Dizzy smiled to himself, earning some him some glances from his brothers, some smug, some curious. He wasn’t too bothered. It’d be a long day, so would tomorrow, but it was all definitely very worth it.

  Chapter Nineteen

  On Sunday morning, not too many hours after he’d left Thea’s building, Dizzy was parking at the curb outside it again. He settled his Stetson more firmly onto his head, and wondered how the morning was going to work out. Hopefully, it would work out just as he and Josh had planned.