“Or?” she asked.
“Or you can go with them. You’ll have to meet them sooner or later.” Panic flashed across her face, and I smiled a little. “Honey, they don’t bite. And I can’t think of a single reason they won’t love you. If anyone is going to get a hard time from Ridley, it will be me, and I admittedly deserve it. I told you I wasn’t very nice when she wanted to be with Venom. But that’s my problem and not yours.”
“All right. I’ll meet them.”
I winked at her. “I’ll make sure it’s painless. Maybe we can all go out to dinner together. You’ll love the kids. Farrah is a little hyper because of her age, but she’s a sweetheart, and Mariah already has everyone wrapped around her little finger.”
Her brow furrowed a little.
“You do like kids, don’t you?” I asked.
“It’s not that. I mean, I was around kids of all ages when I was in the system. I’ve just not really been around many since then. But…”
“But what, angel?”
“If you’re their grandfather… and we’re together… they’re not going to call me Grandma, are they?”
I nearly choked on my bite of pasta and burst out laughing. I’d never even thought of that. Oh yeah, my daughter was going to give me grief for sure. And judging the narrow-eyed glare Darian was casting my way now, she wasn’t much happier about the situation.
“Honey, you can ask them to call you whatever you want.” I fought a smile. “But I’d love to see the look on my daughter’s face if her kids call you Grandma.”
She snorted and went back to eating, but I caught the little smile lurking at the corners of her lips. I had a feeling with Darian in my life there would never be a dull moment.
Chapter Five
Darian
We’d barely finished lunch before we were summoned to the clubhouse again. I didn’t know what was going on, and I didn’t think Bull did either. He looked concerned but held my hand tightly as we walked down the narrow hall to the room at the far end. The door stood ajar, and I saw a bank of computer monitors before we stepped inside. Torch and Venom were already there, along with two other guys I hadn’t met before.
“Close the door,” Torch said.
Bull pushed it shut, then wrapped his arm around me, as if he were trying to shield me from whatever was about to happen.
“Why the fucking hell didn’t either of you say a word about her daddy being Damon Crosse?” Torch asked, anger blazing in his eyes.
My heart pounded in my chest. Who the hell was my dad that just hearing his name had put that look on the President’s face?
Bull looked from one man to another. “I just found out right before I sent that text to Wire. Why? Who the fuck is Damon Crosse?”
Torch lifted a brow and looked at the man next to him. The giant, nearly as big as Bull, folded his arms over his chest. Venom didn’t look pleased with the situation either, and the guy sitting in front of all those screens looked… worried?
“You might know him by the name Scratch,” Venom said.
“Oh, shit,” Bull muttered. “He helped Ridley, so he can’t be all bad, right?”
“You willing to take that chance?” one of the unknown men asked.
“Tank, what the fuck should I do about it? I can’t change who her daddy is,” Bull said.
“Ink her. Tonight,” the man at the computer said. “Devil’s Boneyard has their own hacker. Shade. He’s not as good as me, but he’s good enough that he’ll be able to figure out who was just searching for his VP. We might not have long before they show up on our doorstep. I should have talked to Torch before running my search, but I hadn’t known he already knew who the man was. I figured her dad was just someone average, and not part of a MC. If I’d known I was looking up the VP of Devil’s Boneyard, I’d have taken a different route.”
“Shit, Wire,” Bull mumbled.
“He’s right,” Torch said. “If you’re set on keeping her, she needs to be inked tonight. There’s no guarantee even that will stop her daddy from dragging her out of here, but it’s your best shot.”
“Um, who’s Scratch, and what’s the Devil’s Boneyard?” I asked.
“Scratch is your daddy’s road name. He’s the VP of a club in the Florida Panhandle called Devil’s Boneyard, and he runs a chop shop there. From what little I know of that club, none of them are married or have old ladies, and none have children. Or at least, that’s the rumor,” Torch said. “Something about not having any weak links.”
“Which makes your woman rather rare,” Venom said. “If those rumors are true. And it likely means Scratch doesn’t know he has a daughter, or at least he doesn’t know she’s alive.”
“Fuck me,” Bull muttered.
“What do you mean by inked?” I asked.
Bull winced. “We kind of forgot that step in explaining things. The old ladies of the Dixie Reapers get a property tattoo. Ridley and Isabella both opted to get theirs on their forearm just above their wrist. But it can go on your back, or I guess anywhere else you want it.”
“You mean like a tattoo?” I asked, my voice coming out as a squeak. I was deathly afraid of needles.
“Yeah, a tattoo,” Bull said. “We can make it as plain or as pretty as you want.”
“But I…” I swallowed hard. “That’s the only way to keep me safe?”
“There are no guarantees,” Wire said. “But yeah, it’s your best shot at staying with Bull when your daddy dearest shows up. Assuming you want to stay.”
“I want to stay,” I blurted then looked up at Bull. “I want to stay with you. If I have to get a tattoo, then I will, but I’ll need you to hold my hand. I can’t stand needles.”
“Zipper’s already here,” Tank said. “We called him when we called you. Figured you’d want to get this over with.”
Bull nodded. He led me from the room and through another door. I was surprised that the space had been set up like a mini tattoo shop. Another man wearing one of those leather cuts was sitting on a stool and pulled out different bottles of ink and prepped some sort of machine.
“Zipper, this is Darian,” Bull said, pushing the door shut behind us.
Zipper smiled at me. “Nice to meet you, Darian. Ever had a tattoo before?”
“No, and um… I should probably tell you I’m scared of needles.”
He nodded, then motioned to the chair. “Have a seat.”
I eased onto the black leather, and Bull took my hand. Zipper explained how the tattooing process worked, talked to me about aftercare, and even showed me how the tattoo gun operated. I wasn’t quite so nervous by the time he was finished with this spiel, but I still held tight to Bull’s hand.
“Do you know what you want?” Zipper asked, looking at Bull.
“She needs something delicate, like her, but she’s strong too,” Bull said.
“Got it. Strong but pretty.” Zipper winked at me. “Any color preferences?”
“I like every color of the rainbow,” I said. “Except orange.”
“Where are you from, darlin’? I detect an accent that isn’t from around here,” Zipper said.
“Georgia,” I answered.
Zipper got a thoughtful look on his face, then pulled out his phone. He tapped and scrolled the screen, but I didn’t know what he was searching for. After a moment, he turned it toward me. There was a beautiful butterfly on the screen. It was mostly a pale yellow and black but the bottom of the wings was a brilliant blue.
“It’s the Tiger Swallowtail,” Zipper said. “And according to Google, it’s the state butterfly for Georgia. I could work that into your tattoo if you want.”
“It’s beautiful,” I said.
“I was thinking of maybe a Magnolia blossom too, depending on where you want this. If it’s going on your arm, there won’t be much room.”
“Why a Magnolia blossom?” Bull asked.
“Because they’re beautiful trees, but they’re also pretty damn strong. Like your woman. But I can ink whatev
er the two of you want.”
“I like the idea of the flower and the butterfly,” I said. “But it needs to be somewhere that I can show to other people without having to get naked.”
Zipper chuckled. “Well, there’s your lower back, or across your ribs. Both would give me enough room to work. But I have to tell you, the rib area hurts like a bitch compared to getting it on your back. Lots of bones to ink across.”
I tightened my grip on Bull’s hand. I didn’t like the idea of pain, but I wanted the tattoo somewhere I could see it and enjoy it. If I was going to do this, and I had no doubt it would be my only tattoo, then I might as well go all out.
“Ribs,” I said.
Admiration shone in Zipper’s eyes as he nodded. “I’ll get the inks set up. You’ll have to either take off your shirt or at least pull it up to the bottom of your bra. I promise to remain a gentleman either way.”
There was something in his eyes, a flash of pain, and I wondered what caused it. Was there maybe someone special in his life, and he just wasn’t interested in any other females? Or perhaps someone he wished was part of his life. Maybe someone he’d lost? I readjusted on the chair, and Bull helped arrange my shirt, and then I said a prayer that I wouldn’t embarrass the both of us by screaming my damn head off while Zipper inked me.
I tried to take calming breaths and relax as much as possible, but the moment the tattoo gun touched my skin I tensed. I focused on Bull, staring into his eyes, and tried not to think about the pain. Tears pricked my eyes, but I refused to let them fall. He thought I was strong, and I was going to prove him right.
It felt like the tattoo took forever, and my stomach was rumbling by the time Zipper was finished. He put some ointment over my newly inked ribs, then let me look in a mirror before he covered the tattoo. I remembered his words from earlier, about how to care for it, and promised to follow his instructions carefully. Bull helped me stand and pulled my shirt down to hide my exposed torso.
I paused as I started to follow Bull out of the room and turned back to Zipper. “Whoever she is, maybe she misses you too,” I said.
His eyebrows rose, and a half-smile tipped up the corner of his lips. “Maybe.”
Without another word, I followed Bull from the room. My ribs ached, and I tried not to wince with every step I took. Even though it had probably been the most painful thing I’d ever done, I wasn’t sorry. Even though it looked raw and angry right now, the artwork was beautiful. Who’d have ever guessed a rough and tough biker could be so artistic? I wondered if he’d done Bull’s tattoos. Some of them were really gorgeous, and one was on the scary side with creepy skulls hanging on a tree filled with ravens. Whoever had done it was talented, but the image freaked me out a little. I hadn’t had the nerve to ask Bull the meaning behind it.
“Where are we going now?” I asked.
“I thought we’d sit at the bar and have a burger and fries, then head home to take care of your new ink. I’ll text Venom and set up something for dinnertime with Ridley and the girls.”
My stomach flipped and flopped at the thought of meeting his daughter and grandchildren. What was Ridley going to think about her dad being with me? He’d said I was younger than her. If our roles were reversed, I probably wouldn’t be too happy about the situation. Oh hell. Dad. That word. I’d never much thought about my dad once I’d reached my teen years, figuring he’d forgotten me just like my mother had. But what if I’d been wrong all this time? I didn’t know what to think about him being a biker in another club, and I really hoped he didn’t cause trouble for me now. I’d been without him for this long. I’d survive fifty years without his presence in my life.
It worried me that Torch seemed concerned, though. I didn’t really know the guy, but he didn’t seem like the type to be apprehensive over nothing. If he thought my dad might come for me, then I had to wonder if that might really happen. I wasn’t sure how I felt about meeting the man after all these years. To me, he was just a sperm donor and likely an unwilling one. Oh, I had no doubt he’d fucked my mother, but then so had half the state of Georgia if the social worker could be believed. Not that the woman knew I’d overheard her telling a coworker about the type of person my mother was.
Bull gripped my hips and lifted me onto a barstool, then claimed the seat next to me. A young guy wearing one of those cuts came over. I noticed his said Prospect on it, not that I had any idea what that meant. I might have watched an episode or two of Sons of Anarchy, but I’d never really gotten into the show or understood what was going on. I was more of a Buffy the Vampire Slayer kind of TV watcher. Even though the show had been before my time, I’d stumbled across some episodes on TV one day and had gotten hooked. Who didn’t love a kickass girl who killed vampires and demons?
Bull ordered our food, which probably should have bothered me. I’d often enough heard women bitch when their men ordered for them, but honestly, it was kind of nice having someone take care of me. I’d been struggling for so long that I finally felt like I could breathe. Even though I had a possible confrontation with my dad hanging over my head, all things considered, life was pretty good right now. The best it had ever been, in fact.
“Ivan,” Bull said. “This is Darian, my old lady as of today.”
It still felt weird getting called that when I was only twenty-one. Maybe I’d get used to it at some point. I still didn’t understand the concept of old ladies. I was his, but we weren’t married, and yet I was more than a girlfriend. At least, I thought that’s how it worked? There was definitely a learning curve.
Ivan flashed me a smile. “Welcome to the Dixie Reapers.”
He was cute, in a boyish way. Not that he was a boy. If I had to guess, he was probably older than me, but he didn’t have anything on Bull. But then, I’d never met anyone I found as attractive as the man sitting next to me. Probably a good thing since I’d just agreed to be his forever.
Ivan wandered off, calling out our order to someone on the other side of a small serving window. With my back to the room, I couldn’t really observe anyone. On the way to the bar, I’d noticed a few women who were barely dressed, and I wondered who they were. Did they belong to someone like I belonged to Bull? Was I expected to dress that way? Bull hadn’t said anything about my clothing choices when we’d gone shopping. There was still so much I didn’t know about this way of life, and I had a feeling I needed to learn fast. Everything had happened so suddenly, and I felt a little like Dorothy being dropped into Oz by the twister.
Our food was delivered, and as I picked up my burger to take a bite, the cloying scent of perfume filled my nose, making me gag. I turned toward the scent, and my eyes widened at the blonde with long, red nails currently plastered to Bull’s side. She was batting her eyes at him and practically shoving her cleavage into his face, but Bull didn’t look the least bit happy with the situation. The woman was everything I wasn’t. Sexy, definitely older than me, and she had this aura that screamed she knew exactly what she was doing in the bedroom.
I stared, not certain how I was supposed to react. Technically, he was mine, but was I supposed to smack the shit out of her and demand she take her hands off my man? Or was I supposed to let Bull handle it? I didn’t like the look she was giving him, and as her hand slid down to his thigh, then crept closer to his crotch, I felt a spark of something deep inside.
“Hey! Keep your bitch-ass hands off him,” I yelled at her.
Bull slowly turned his head my way, a slight smile on his face. I gulped and blinked, not knowing where my outburst had come from. I’d never felt possessive of someone before, or ever been prone to violence, but I suddenly wanted to drag the woman away by her platinum strands of perfect hair and toss her out on her ass, which was probably perfect too.
The woman sneered at me. “You stay out of this, little girl. I know what Bull likes. There’s history between us, and you can never please him the way I do.”
My eyes widened as I looked from her to him. There was a flash of something in his ey
es, almost like shame, and I knew that what she said was true. Whoever she was, they’d obviously slept together, possibly lots of times. If he’d had someone like her, what the hell was he doing with me? I could never look like this woman, no matter how much makeup I put on, or how tight my clothes were. I’d never have a body like that.
“Darian,” he said softly, but I held up a hand and slid off the barstool.
Insecurities hounded me as I stared at the perfect woman. I knew that Bull hadn’t given me any reason to feel inferior to her, but I did just the same. Maybe it was because no one had ever wanted me. Abandonment issues or something. Maybe it was growing up without hugs and praise from an adult for my entire life. Or maybe I was just fucked up all on my own.
“I’m not that hungry.” Skirting around them, I headed outside.
He called out to me, but I just moved faster. I remembered the direction of Bull’s house and started doing this half-walk, half-jog that I hoped would put some distance between us. Bull hadn’t locked the door when we’d left earlier so getting inside shouldn’t be an issue. I should have stayed to fight for him, deep down I knew that, but I still didn’t feel confident with my place in his life. Yes, he’d inked me and said I was his, but what exactly did that mean in his world? Would I have to deal with women like that one all the time? Were there a lot of them he’d slept with that still hung around? I didn’t know how I felt about that. And even worse, even though he said I was his, did that mean he was really mine? Or would I have to share him?
I knew part of my worries had to do with my upbringing or lack of one, but it also had a great deal to do with the fact I didn’t know the man I’d let claim me. Oh, he made me feel things no one else ever had before, and I felt safe and cherished when his arms were around me. But I honestly didn’t know much about him. I didn’t know his past, how he came to be part of the Dixie Reapers, or anything else. Maybe we’d moved too fast, but I didn’t regret my decision. I’d just have to learn to grow a thicker skin.
My entire world had changed so suddenly, and I wasn’t even sure which way was up right now. It didn’t take me long to realize I was lost somewhere in the compound. The houses I passed didn’t look the least bit familiar, and I wondered if I’d missed a turn. I had no idea how big this place was, but I felt a sudden spike of fear that I’d be wandering around out here all day and night. The farther I walked, the fewer homes I saw. Maybe I should have just knocked on someone’s door? But I hadn’t met many people since coming here, and I didn’t know what kind of reception I would get. Yeah, I now had ink saying I was Bull’s, but would they really care?
Bull (Dixie Reapers MC 4) Page 6
