Bought (Ghost Riders MC Book 1)

by Brook Wilder

  Diesel folded his arms.

  “Family?”

  “Cassie’s sister,” I clarified. “She apparently hasn’t called them yet.”

  We turned and walked toward the bikes.

  “Why you think she hasn’t called ’em?”

  It was unusual for Diesel to be this genuinely curious and I regarded him for a moment. The man had taken a liking to Cassie. I couldn’t blame him there. I sighed.

  “I’d wager she’s scared to.”

  “I feel her,” Diesel said.

  He saw the look of surprise on my face and shrugged.

  “You think I tell my Grandma what I do for a living? Fuck. I can’t even think about the look she’d give me. I couldn’t live with that.”

  I blinked. Diesel spent time with his grandmother?

  “Yeah,” I agreed quietly. “Let’s get back to HQ. I’m damn starved.”

  “Me too,” Diesel agreed jovially. “We should get ribs from that little eating joint tonight.”

  I chuckled at how speedily the man could go from serious to his usual nonsense.

  “Sure,” I agreed, much to Diesel’s delight. The man did love his food.

  By the time we got back to HQ, we were so hungry that Diesel immediately left to go round-up some grub while I stretched to get the kinks out of my back.

  The back door opened and Cassie leaned against the doorframe.

  “Hey, Stranger,” she said with a grin.

  I walked across the backyard, where we’d parked the motorcycles for safekeeping.

  “Hey,” I smiled. “Diesel went to get some food.”

  “Good,” Cassie said with enthusiasm.

  I laughed. “Are you that hungry?”

  “Nope,” she said as she slid her arms around my neck.

  She tipped up on her toes and I met her halfway in an energetic kiss.

  When the kiss broke, she pulled on my arm and tugged me inside. I half expected her to drag me upstairs to bed. Instead, I was surprised to see Liz sitting in the living room.

  “She stopped by to keep me company,” Cassie said, as she walked back over to the couch.

  I went over and smiled at Liz.

  “Haven’t gotten to catch up with you much since the warehouse, but I need to thank you for helping us with the cops in your town. I don’t know they would have bought it if it hadn’t been for you.”

  “No problem,” Liz said with a grin. “I’m just glad those ladies are going home. They deserve it, after all they were put through at the hands of Ruiz.”

  “Yeah,” I nodded.

  I sat down on the arm of the couch.

  “I also wanted to tell you that I’m sorry, Liz.”

  “For what?” Liz looked confused.

  I looked down at my hands.

  “I saw you that night at the auction and I didn’t intercede. I didn’t check up afterward to make sure you were okay. This is my fault.”

  “Cut the bullshit, Mason,” Liz scolded. “I was at that auction because I chose to be. I was there to get sold for the money. I knew the risk I was taking. So, don’t lay any guilt at your door. I’m a big girl.”

  My eyes caught hers and I saw she was being truthful.

  “Why would you do that Liz? If you needed money, why didn’t you just come to us?”

  “It’s complicated,” Liz said softly. “I had my reasons. There were things I didn’t want anyone to know about. When you have enemies, you do what you can to protect those you love. That’s all I was doing. Now, please, don’t ask me anymore.”

  “Okay,” I nodded.

  There was nothing else to do but accept it. Liz had always been as stubborn as the day is long, and the years Noah had been gone only seemed to have entrenched that quality in her more.

  “We do this on your terms,” I assured her.

  “Thanks, Boss,” she smiled.

  I smiled at the title. It almost felt like old times, except Noah wasn’t there. Noah, who’d helped me form the GRMC and been with me every step of the way. That, too, was Ruiz’s doing. But I promised myself that I’d sort that out and bring Noah home. I’d do that for Liz.

  Cassie came to stand next to me.

  “So, when’s Diesel getting back with that food?”

  She leaned against my leg as she asked the question.

  “Oh? What kind of food?” Liz asked curiously. “And will there be there enough for me?”

  I laughed.

  “I’m sure Diesel will buy every rib the place has. So, yes, there should be plenty.”

  “Ribs,” Liz exclaimed happily. “Man, have I missed good food!”

  Cassie nodded her agreement.

  A few minutes later, the back door was shoved open. Diesel grinned when he saw Liz.

  “Fancy seeing you here!”

  “Shut your trap and give me that food,” Liz said with a grin.

  She grabbed a bag out of Diesel’s hands and started removing the takeaway packages and laying them on the table.

  “So, here we go... Hey, have you guys got ranch sauce?”

  “For the last time, it’s dressing, Liz,” Diesel said, as he set down the rest of the bags. “Honestly, how long are you going to continue to call it sauce?”

  Liz scoffed. “How long are you going to be an asshole?”

  I shook my head.

  “They always bicker,” I said softly. “It’s their way of telling each other how much they were missed.”

  “I see,” Cassie laughed. “So, it’s like they’re siblings?”

  “Exactly,” I said. “I bet you and your sister fought.”

  Cassie snorted, but she didn’t respond. Her expression darkened for a moment. I gave her hand a squeeze.

  “Come on,” I said. “Let’s get some food before they eat it all.

  ***

  Later that night, after Diesel and Liz had crashed, Cassie and I sat up. We were sitting on the back porch, hanging our legs off the wooden boards. Cassie was wrapped up in a blanket to keep off the chill. I looked over at her.

  “Your sister called me today,” I ventured.

  “Oh?” Cassie said softly.

  I nodded when she didn’t respond further.

  “Yeah. Apparently, she was concerned because she hasn’t heard anything out of you. She thought I was keeping you from calling, or some such nonsense.”

  “That’s ridiculous,” Cassie said hotly. “If she wants to accuse someone of something, she can accuse me.”

  I cleared my throat.

  “Which she would do, only she doesn’t have your number and I refused to give it to her.”

  “Why?” Cassie looked at me curiously. “I had wondered why she hadn’t tried to harass me…” Cassie took a deep breath, “Why didn’t you give her my number when she asked?”

  “That’s not my call, Cassie,” I said simply. “I took your choice away when I brought you to that auction. I’m not taking it out of your hands again. I told her that, when you were ready, you’d call her.”

  Cassie blinked at me and wiped a tear from her cheek.

  “Thank you,” she said softly. “That means a lot.”

  “There’s something else I actually wanted to talk to you about. Ask you…really…”

  I stared up at the clear desert sky as I pondered how to say what I wanted to say.

  “It took me a long time to admit to myself why I didn’t let Ruiz have you that night.”

  Cassie leaned her head to the side.

  “So, have you figured it out yet?”

  “Yeah,” I laughed softly. “I’d probably have figured it out sooner if I hadn’t been so stupid.” I shrugged. “I couldn’t imagine letting anyone in after Dana, and I just wanted you close.”

  She smiled.

  “Well, through the auction block is an unconventional way to a girls’ heart, Mason.”

  I laughed at her words. She was so full of spunk and life. She always seemed to bounce back. I shook my head.

  “I’ll do what I can to hel
p you forgive me for what I caused you to go through. I’ll spend the rest of my life trying, Cassie.”

  Cassie turned toward me with her leg up on the boards. I could feel the pressure of her leg against mine.

  “Mason, what are you trying to say?”

  “I guess I’m trying – and mostly failing – to say that I love you, Cassie.”

  It had been so long since I’d had that feeling of affection without feeling the fear that went with it. The fact of the matter was that, looking at Cassie, I felt no fear. This was where I was supposed to be.

  “We’ve been through a lot since we met. But we’re partners. We just work better together.”

  A smile flitted across her face.

  “You know I love you, Mason.”

  I nodded.

  “Yeah, I think you might have mentioned it.”

  She laughed and playfully batted at my head. I bounced her hand away with my arm.

  “There’s something else I’m trying to say, though, that I don’t think is getting through. Hell, I guess I might as well do it properly, since this’ll be the only time I’ll ever do it.”

  I slipped the couple of feet off the porch to the ground and turned around. She eyed me curiously, warily. I took her hand in mine and sank down to the ground on one knee.

  “Cassie Rogers, will you marry me?”

  Cassie’s mouth fell open. She opened and closed it a few times until the shock wore off enough that she could get out the word.

  “Yes.”

  She slid off the porch and into my arms and we were kissing. It wasn’t rushed or heated. It was gentle and loving. We kissed until we heard someone clear their throat.

  We both looked up and saw Diesel standing in the doorway grinning.

  “’Bout damn time that happened,” he clapped his hands together. “It’s the ribs. It’s love food.”

  He turned happily and went back in the house as if he had orchestrated the whole thing.

  Cassie and I looked at each other. Her lip twitched and soon enough we were both laughing.

  I helped her to her feet. As we walked toward the porch steps, I shook my head.

  “Just like Diesel to take credit for my planning.”

  “Well, he did bring the ribs,” Cassie said with a giggle.

  I nodded.

  “You know? You’re right. He’s the mastermind. We should name our firstborn after him.”

  “No,” Cassie said with a laugh. “Maybe we should get a puppy and name it after him.”

  I considered the wisdom of that, then nodded.

  “Yes. We should do that.”

  Inside, Diesel was nowhere to be seen. Cassie turned to me and smiled.

  “I’ll call my family tomorrow.”

  “Why the sudden change?”

  I was honestly curious.

  Cassie shrugged.

  “Gotta tell them about the wedding,” she said with a laugh. “Besides, I miss them. Liz’s right. I need to give them the chance to be here for me.”

  “Whatever you need,” I assured her.

  Cassie smiled and tugged me toward the stairs.

  “Come on, all of that will wait until tomorrow.”

  Chapter 29

  Cassie

  I stepped up to my parents’ door with a lump in my throat. It felt like I’d been away much longer than just a few weeks. No, it felt like it had been years since I’d walked out that door and away from the secure life that had once been my normal. What was normal anymore? The question haunted me as I reached out to press the doorbell.

  As if it had been waiting on cue, the door swung open. My mother’s eyes filled with tears as she pulled me into a hug so tight I thought I might suffocate. I hugged her back fiercely, taking all the comfort I could from the gesture. I’d learned not to take things for granted. There might not be another chance to say or do something, after all.

  “Mom,” I whispered.

  The woman finally let go of me and wiped her tears away.

  “Oh, Cassie. We were so worried!”

  My father chimed in his agreement from where he stood behind her.

  “We certainly did. You gave us quite the scare.”

  He walked over and put his arm around my shoulders. The firm squeeze he gave me made me smile. He’d never been an overly affectionate man and the gesture meant a lot coming from him.

  Pearl came swiftly padding down the hallway and threw her arms around me, practically knocking our parents out of the way. Dad chuckled as I hugged Pearl back. Holding a grudge against the girl was simply not worth it, and practically impossible with Pearl sobbing on my shoulder.

  “Hey, it’s okay,” I said softly to her.

  She nodded as she stepped back, wiping tears from her cheeks.

  “I thought you hadn’t forgiven me. I thought you wouldn’t ever come home.”

  “Well,” I said softly. “I’m not back home to stay. I have moved on, and I actually have something to tell you guys.”

  We all walked into the living room, where my mother and father sat down next to each other while exchanging worried looks. I smiled at them. Pearl nudged me with her elbow.

  “You always were the drama queen.”

  “Ha,” I said softly and gave Pearl a smile. “I guess you’re right.”

  I cleared my throat.

  “I don’t know what all Pearl has told you, but I got into some trouble. Got kidnapped and things got very scary. That’s really all I want to say about it.”

  Mom wiped tears away and nodded.

  “We understand you not wanting to talk right away.”

  “Thanks,” I said with appreciation. “There’s something else you should know.” I walked over and sat down next to my mother. “I know you’ve been worried about me since long before all of this happened. I just want you to know that you don’t have to worry about me anymore. I’m okay.”

  “Is that what you wanted to tell us?” Dad asked curiously.

  “No,” I said and laughed. “I actually… I wanted to invite you and Mom – and even Pearl – to my wedding.”

  Mom’s mouth fell open.

  “Wedding?” She looked around at my father and Pearl. “What wedding?”

  Pearl shrugged.

  “First I’ve heard about it,” she grinned. “Does it have to do with that delicious boyfriend of yours?”

  I narrowed my eyes at her.

  “Let’s keep the MY part in mind there, Pearl.”

  “Just teasing,” Pearl said with a smile.

  Dad shushed Pearl. “Let her talk, Pearly.”

  My sister pouted a bit at being silenced but didn’t look that put-out.

  “Well, Pearl is right. It is about Mason. You see, Mason is the reason I’m standing here now. He helped me, saved me.”

  I gave Mom a smile.

  “Mom, please don’t look so worried. I know that in the past I’ve been a bit idealistic and naïve. But believe me when I say that I’m not that person anymore. I love Mason, and he loves me.”

  Mom frowned.

  “It’s not that I think ill of him – or you, Cassie. I just don’t know the man.”

  “I know,” I said sadly, then grinned. “But you’ll have years to get to know him. Please, say you’ll come to the wedding. It’s just going to be a small thing at the house. I’ll give you directions. I’d really love it if Dad could give me away.”

  Dad smiled and reached over to give my hand a squeeze.

  “Of course, I will. I do expect to have a long talk with this young man of yours, though.”

  “I bet Mason will adore every second of it,” I laughed.

  It took some doing to escape my parents’ clutches. But once I’d convinced them I wasn’t going to disappear, they reluctantly let me leave. Armed with directions to the house, the date and time of the wedding, along with phone numbers for both Mason and myself, my parents felt confident they could find me should I fail to show up again.

  I couldn’t blame them for their anx
iety. But, by the time I got in my car, I was exhausted with all the emotion.