As much as I wanted to make all our dreams come true, I couldn’t help but fear the doom lurking over the club. Whatever was on the horizon for the Satan’s Knights didn’t just have the power to ruin mine and Linc’s relationship, it held the power to leave me a loner once again. It was hard not to acknowledge I could lose him again and this time it wouldn’t be because he walked away—that much I was sure of.
No, the only way I was losing Linc now was if he lost his life. As much as I know about the lifestyle in which we live and as much as I accept, I can’t help but fear it. I imagine I’m not the only woman living the life with a brother who feels this way and I can almost guarantee only the strongest of women survive it.
Vowing to be one of the strong ones, I didn’t flinch when Jack Parrish strutted into the garage and ordered me to take the day off. Something was going on that required all the attention of the club and Jack insisted Linc go to his scheduled appointments. Still unable to drive himself, Jack appointed me his driver.
I didn’t mind and after his grueling therapy session, I drove him to the hospital for his appointment with the surgeon that repaired the fractures in his legs. I stayed behind in the waiting room as he went in for x-rays and accompanied him into the exam room when the doctor went over the films.
Both sets of fractures were healing. The bones had fused together and, the calcium was building around the breaks. It would be a full year before they were considered a hundred percent healed, but the doctor praised him for his hard work and told him his legs were strong enough to bear all his weight. He didn’t want him overdoing it though and recommended he walked with a cane for another few weeks.
“When can I ride?” Linc asked, cutting the doctor off.
“It’s too risky,” the doctor commented, closing his chart. “The bones aren’t a hundred percent heeled. They’re very vulnerable and brittle. Should you take a fall, it’s very likely you’ll suffer another break and I fear it won’t be repairable this time.”
“So, you’re telling me I can’t ride until my bones are a hundred percent healed?”
“I don’t recommend it is what I’m saying,” he amends. “You can slip on a banana peel and break those same bones. The concern is that I won’t be able to surgically repair them again.”
It was obvious Linc wasn’t happy with what the doctor had said and when we left his office, he asked me for the keys to the truck.
“If I can’t ride, I’m going to fucking drive,” he growled.
I tried to talk to him, to make him understand the doctor had his best interest in mind but, he insisted it was fine, that Stryker had been letting him drive for over two weeks. He was frustrated and needed to release the tension in his body which led us to Xonerated.
Working out wasn’t my thing hence the reason I’m sitting in the car while he attacks the weights. In between listening to music and scouring Facebook, my phone starts ringing. I don’t know why I decide today should be the day I answer her call but, before I can think better of it, I accept the call.
“Hi, baby,” she croons into the phone. “I’ve been trying to get you for weeks.”
“Any particular reason?” I reply. The tone of my voice is sharp and cold.
“Well, I wanted to see how you were doing of course,” she says. I hear the flicker of her lighter and picture her blowing a billow of smoke. Sighing, I wait for her to elaborate knowing she doesn’t care how I’m doing.
“Right, well, I’m great,” I tell her. Glancing out the window, I spot Linc walking toward the truck. Sweat drips from his brow as he runs his fingers through his hair and rounds the front of the truck.
“I was also wondering if you happened to be in touch with your uncle since your little predicament.”
“You mean since I showed up at the clubhouse with two black eyes and you told me you didn’t want to get involved in my mess?”
“That’s not what I said is it?”
Linc slides into the truck next to me and leans over the console to press a sweaty kiss on my cheek. It isn’t usual for me not to respond to his touch and so, when I stare at him blankly, his brows knit together in confusion.
“That’s exactly what you said before telling me I should’ve gone to Shady and make him take care of my mess.”
Linc’s jaw ticks as I draw the phone away from my ear.
“My mother,” I explain, bringing the speaker back to my ear. “Look, I don’t have time for this.”
“He cut me off,” she blurts.
“Who?”
“Al,” she reveals. “Told me he was done supporting me because I failed you. Now, baby, I need you to call him up and tell him I patched things up between us.”
Trying to process her words, I stare at Linc wondering if he heard what she said too. My uncle has been cleaning up after my mother since my dad died. No matter what mess she seemed to get herself into, he was always there making it right, handing her envelopes of money so I never longed for anything. I never thought I’d see the day where he cut her off.
“Kelly?”
“I’m not going to do that,” I rasp. “He’s done so much for you and me over the years and you never so much as gave the man a lick of gratitude. Good, he cut you off. He should’ve done it years ago. Now, if that’s the only reason you called, I’m hanging up.”
“Kelly, don’t you dare,” she shrieks as I lower the phone. My thumb hovers over the end button for a second before I push down and end the call. I stare at the call history for a beat before deciding to turn the phone off altogether.
“You okay?” Linc questions, draping his arm across the back of my seat.
“I’m fine,” I murmur, lifting my gaze to his. “I guess I’m surprised. I never thought Uncle Al would turn his back on her.”
He doesn’t respond other than trail a hand down my arm. Finally, I take a deep breath and toss my phone into the glove box before turning to him.
“Anyway, do you feel better?” To lighten the mood, I ball my hands into fists and punch the air. “Work out all your frustration or whatever it is you do while you’re there?”
“For the most part,” he says with a smile. His eyes dart to my lips briefly before he finds my eyes again. “There was a class trip going on so, I have to go back in two hours to use the pool.”
At the mention of the pool, I turn my head and force a smile.
“Alright, well, I’m starving. Do you want to grab something to eat in the meantime? Then you can drop me off and come back.”
Taking my hand with one of his, he cups my chin with the other and forces my eyes back to him.
“I thought you’d come back with me.”
Shrugging my shoulders.
“Okay, if that’s what you want but, can we grab something to eat while we wait?”
He nods but doesn’t remove his hand from my chin.
“Kelly,” he whispers my name.
“Hmm?”
“Are you still afraid of the water?”
Unable to look away, I bite down on my lower lip. I’ve never had a reason to share my fear with anyone else which meant I didn’t have anyone pushing me to conquer it. Nodding my head, I reply because verbally admitting I’m afraid of drowning still sounds ridiculous to my own ears.
“Let me help you,” he pleads. “We’ll start off in the shallow end, get you familiar with the water and then when you’re ready I will teach you how to swim.”
I bite back my initial response of no and contemplate his offer. Right now, together, we’re spitting in the face of his own fear. We’re defying the rules he set for himself simply by being together. Every day he struggles to ignore the fear of losing me but, he chooses to focus on the commitment he’s made to love me.
It makes me wonder if I can find the same strength he has.
“I don’t have a bathing suit,” I say finally, watching his lips quirk.
“Then, we have two hours to get you something to eat and a bathing suit.”
“How deep is the p
ool?”
“It starts at three and a half feet and gradually goes to twelve feet.”
“Promise me we don’t go further than three and a half feet and you got yourself a deal,” I reply, drawing in a deep breath.
Love.
It makes you feel so invincible that you become fearless.
Until a ruthless villain instills the fear of God in you.
The villain you never saw coming.
The one you thought never knew your name.
Chapter Thirty-four
I forgot how fucking amazing Kelly looked in a bikini. The skimpy little thing pushed her perfect tits up and molded the globes of her ass like a second skin. I also loved that she still had her belly button pierced.
“Is it cold?” she questions, standing at the edge of the pool.
“It’s heated,” I reply, wiping the water away from my eyes. “Come on, I promise I won’t let anything happen to you.”
Gnawing on her lip, she watches me intently as she dips one bare foot into the water. Holding the railing, she takes another step before pausing with both feet in the water. Releasing her lip, her eyes widen as she stares at both feet submerged on the top step.
I fight the smile and wade closer to her. Extending my hands out, I lift my head and meet her gaze.
“Jump in,” I dare.
“You’re crazy,” she laughs, loosening her grip on the rail.
“I’ll catch you,” I assert.
“You ever watch Dirty Dancing?” Thinking better of it, she shakes her head. “Of course you haven’t,” she corrects. “But, I kind of feel like Baby right now, the girl from the movie.”
I laugh.
“When Johnny takes her to the lake to teach her the lifts,” I say, shocking her. A grin spreads across her full lips and without realizing it, she takes another step.
“You saw the movie?”
“You forget I was in the hospital for three months and at the mercy of mediocre television,” I say, continuing to distract her.
“What else did you watch?” she asks, waggling her eyebrows.
“I’d rather hang onto my man card than answer that question,” I reply, taking her hands as her feet touch the floor of the pool. Her eyes widen as she wraps her arms around my neck.
“I’m in the water,” she whispers.
“Yeah, baby, you are,” I rasp, kissing her softly.
“And, I’m okay,” she adds.
“You’re fine,” I agree.
The water comes up to her waist, making her comfortable enough to loosen her hold on my neck. Bringing my hands to her hips, I pull her closer to me and bury my nose in her neck.
“Thank you,” I say against her skin.
“For what?”
“For trusting me. For coming back into my life. For giving me a second chance. For being my girl. Thank you for everything,” I say hoarsely, lifting my head.
Our eyes lock and the smile she gives me is brighter than anyone I’ve ever known.
“I love you,” she whispers.
Touching her forehead to mine, she wraps her legs around my waist.
“Thank you for that too,” I say, pressing against her. Wading through the water, I push her against the wall of the pool. Lifting my hands to her face, I cradle her cheeks and lean in to take her mouth. “I love you too, Kelly. More than you’ll ever know. More than I can ever show you,” I confess before covering her mouth with mine.
With a swimming pool full of people, I fight to control myself—sure Anthony Bianci wouldn’t like it much if I ripped Kelly’s bathing suit bottoms down her legs and fucked her senseless in front of his clients. Covering her body with mine, I squeeze her tit in the palm of my hand and dip a finger into her bottoms.
“We need to get out of here, so I can fuck you right,” I growl against her ear as I slide my finger inside her. “So, I can properly take care of this pussy.”
“Or you can fuck me right here,” she hisses.
“There are people everywhere,” I grunt.
“They don’t have to know,” she whispers, tugging the ends of my hair. “I promise to be quiet.”
“You don’t know how to be quiet,” I retort.
“Fuck me, Linc.”
All thoughts of Bianci and his patrons cease to exist the moment she pulls my cock from my trunks. Pushing the scrap of material away from her pussy, I spread her legs further apart and push into her. She drops her mouth to my shoulder and covers her cries as I piston my hips. Her back scrapes against the wall of the pool as I slide my free hand under the water. Finding her clit, I start to massage it with my thumb as she tightens around my cock.
“I’m going to come,” she whispers against my ear. “In front of all these people, you’re going to make me come.”
A growl escapes my throat as I feel her spasm around me.
“My little troublemaker,” I pant as the water swirls around. I pump into her one more time and the waves slap at our skin as I give into my release. Her legs lock tightly around me as she reaches behind her to grab the lip of the pool. Her knuckles turn white as her body slides further under.
“Linc,” she whispers.
Taking her hips, I press her against me.
“I got you,” I pant.
“I think I’ve had enough of the water,” she says, unwinding her legs from my waist.
“Now, you’ve had enough,” I accuse, laughing. Leaning forward she, nibbles on my shoulder.
“You’re going to pay for that, music man,” she hisses.
“Come on, I’ll take you for dinner,” I say. Lifting her ass, I slide out of her. Taking her hands in mine, I lead her to the ladder.
“We grabbed a hot dog off the street before we went searching for the bathing suit,” she replies.
“That was two hours ago, I’m fucking starving,” I tell her, fixing her bathing suit as she climbs the ladder in front of me. “Besides, it’s going to take us at least an hour and a half before we get to where we are going for dinner,” I tell her.
Hoisting myself out of the pool, I take the towel she offers me and lean into her. Pressing my lips to hers quickly, I drape an arm around her shoulders and bring her into my side.
“Ever been to Philadelphia?”
“You’re kidding me, right?”
“Is that a yes?”
“No, I’ve never been to Philly,” she clarifies.
“Well, we’re going,” I tell her, making up my mind.
“Linc, that’s a long drive for someone who just got back behind the wheel.”
“So, you’ll drive. Gives me a chance to appreciate the view,” I reply.
Parting ways, she went into the women’s locker room and I made my way to the men’s. Showering the scent of chlorine away, we dressed and met one another outside the gym. It dawned on me as I made my way to the car that I hadn’t checked my phone in hours. Not, that I’m one of those guys who always has his phone his hand but, over the last few days shit’s been tight with the club.
The cop fucking with Blackie over his late wife made a play, sending him off the grid at a really crucial time. Everyone, including myself, worried that the recovering drug addict was on a bender. With the club up in arms over this mess with our vice president, Jack suggested Kelly take me to my appointments. Our swimming lesson wasn’t part of the schedule and I forgot all about the latest crisis to hit the Knights.
Heading down to Philly for a cheesesteak was a spur of the moment idea and probably not the best one. Not after realizing I didn’t have my phone but, I didn’t want my time with Kelly to end. For a brief pause, it was like we were back in North Carolina and the couple who did whatever the fuck they wanted, whenever they wanted. The offer of a raincheck sat on my tongue, never fully making its way past my lips.
Unwilling to disappoint her, I slid into the passenger seat and eased my conscience by assuring myself if anyone needed to get a hold of me, all they had to do was call Kelly’s phone. Besides, we were going to Philly, not fucking
Guam. We’d be home in under four hours and that’s allotting a half hour at Pat’s.
Or so I thought.
We were making great timing until we finished our subs, made our way back to the truck and it didn’t start. At first, I thought she forgot to turn off the lights. I figured we’d find someone to boost us and we’ll be back on the road in no time.
I stopped figuring shit out when that didn’t go right either. Instead of beating myself up over it and ruining the day, I got me and Kelly a room at a nearby motel. Once we were settled into our room and Kelly was curled into my side, I used her phone to call Stryker.
“Hey, it’s me, I’m on Kelly’s phone,” I say when he answers the phone.
“Where the fuck have you been all day?” he barks.
“Whoa,” I say, sitting up. “I left my phone back at Wolf’s. Jack knew Kelly was taking me to therapy and to my doctor’s appointment.”
“Both of which were hours ago,” he hisses. “I’m going to ask you again, where the fuck have you been all day? You know what, forget it, just get your ass back to Wolf’s. Jack has us all on lockdown here.”
Hearing Stryker yell through the phone causes Kelly to sit up too. At the mention of a lockdown, concern wears on her pretty face and dread churns in my gut.
“Did you hear me? The club is on lockdown. We can’t locate Blackie, Brantley has lost his mind. He killed Jones and took Pipe. No one knows where he took him or if he’s even alive.”
My head spins at the information. Jones was our hook with the police department. Jack’s been greasing his palm since the day he took the gavel and we’d all likely be rotting in a cell if it wasn’t for him. Back in the day, Brantley had a hard on for Blackie’s wife but, what Pipe has to do with any of that or why he would take him is a mystery to me.”
“Now, get your fucking ass back here.”
“I can’t,” I mutter, swiping a hand over my face. “We’re in Philly. The truck broke down and I got us a room. I can’t get it towed until the morning—”
Loner (The Nomad Series Book 4) Page 25
