by Debra Kayn
She patted the bandage and straightened her arm. "I plan to talk with him more."
"Talking is always good." Her dad paused putting his supplies back in the bag and looked at her. "Rod's not my favorite person right now, but I will tell you that if Gia never questioned me or held me accountable, I would never have called you up after I found out you helped her."
Her throat closed. "You wouldn't have?"
"That's the kind of man I had become. In my head, I was doing you a favor leaving you to live your life without me. Gia let me see that I was making us both suffer by staying out of your life. Not sure I would've seen it myself if not for her supporting me. So, you ask Rod your questions if that's what is going to make you feel better. I don't care one way or another about how Rod chooses to deal with his brother." Her dad stood. "Now, take care of your arm. I'll change the bandage one more time tomorrow, and then we can leave the bandage off, and let the air seal the wound."
"It's going to scab, huh?" she said.
"Yeah." Her dad smiled. "Road rash isn't fun."
"You've crashed your motorcycle before?"
"More than once a long time ago when I had no business being on two wheels." He picked up his bag.
She shuddered at the mental picture of her dad having an accident. Was he wearing a helmet? Was someone after him when he crashed? Were the dangers she'd experienced since coming to Haugan a normal occurrence for members of Ronacks Motorcycle Club?
Rod came back inside, nodded at her dad in passing, and approached Heather. She stood and kissed him.
"Okay?" he asked.
"Perfect, except for an ugly elbow." She smirked. "I'll be relegated to wearing long sleeve shirts for the rest of my life and never shall a man escort me across the street by my scarred arm."
Rod frowned. She laughed and quickly lost her amusement when the tension remained etched across Rod's forehead.
"I was joking." She leaned into him. "I would never let scars define me."
He put his arm around her shoulders and held her tight. "I don't see scars on you, sassy. Though thinking about you with another man at your side pisses me off."
"Yeah, those imaginary gentlemen are perfect." She leaned back, and he refused to let her step away. "Oh, my God, you're jealous."
He shrugged.
A slow smile started in her stomach and exploded on her face.
Rod grunted. She threw her good arm around his neck, rocked to her toes, and kissed him hard. Giddy over Rod's possessive stance, she gave him everything she had and pulled away breathless.
"Damn." Rod smoothed her hair away from her face. "I wish I could stay."
"Then, don't go to the meeting," she said.
He inhaled deeply, and his body hardened. "I need to. I'm the one who called it."
"Will you come back after the meeting is over and explain to me what is going on?"
"After the meeting, I'm going home to check on Girl first. Then, I'll come to you." He ran his thumb over the curve of her jaw. "I need to go before I give Swiss any more reason to kick my ass."
"Dad isn't going to hurt you."
Rod's gaze intensified. "Then you don't know your dad as well as I do. You're his daughter. For him, family comes first."
It was her turn to frown. That wasn't her experience growing up, and she'd only come to learn lately that her dad cared about her. She found it hard to separate words from action.
"Call me if you need anything." Rod kissed her quickly.
"I will." She held his hand until he made it to the door and let him go.
She already missed him.
Determined to make something of her day and not dwell on the conversation she'd need to have with Rod about his brother, she went into the bedroom, stripped the bed, and put the sheets in the washing machine. Hope tangled with her insecurities.
Having seen her share of the wrong kind of men, devastating outcomes in relationships that had started with love, and men who'd changed over time during her work at the woman's shelter, she needed to be smart.
She needed more answers and make sure her attraction to Rod wasn't making her blind to his faults.
Chapter Twenty Two
Battery leaned against the pool table and rapped his knuckles against the felt surface calling the start of the meeting. Rod cleared his throat, prepared to inform everyone on what was happening. While only an informal meeting because it was his personal problem and not a direct threat to the club, all the Ronacks members attended.
"Last night..." Rod swung his gaze around the table. "There could've been an accident. A car pulled out in front of me in the parking lot at the grocery store. I kept the bike from tipping, but Heather banged up her arm as I pulled out of the skid."
"Will she be okay?" asked Mel.
He nodded. If he could've had five seconds more, the accident never would've happened. The coffee he'd consumed in the early hours rolled in his stomach. He'd always regret his failure to protect her.
"The man who pulled out on us had a gun and that caused me to try and swing the bike around to get Heather out of the line of fire. Once I got Heather safe behind my bike and settled on the ground, I confronted the man." Rod planted his hands on the edge of the pool table and forced his fingers to straighten. "It was my older brother, Tim."
Silence greeted him. His harsh breathing filled his ears. "I had hoped to never see him or have anything to do with him again."
"He pulled a gun on you?" LeWorth looked to Battery. "Do you want me to run a background on him?"
"Considering we're looking into a family member, Rod will be the one who makes that decision," said Battery.
"There's no need." Rod swallowed hard. "I can tell you everything you need to know about Tim."
"Maybe you could start with why my daughter was put in danger last night?" Swiss folded his arms across his chest. "What was your brother's plan and if you're going to keep thinking you can protect her, how are you going to do that when you've obviously let her get hurt?"
"Step down, Swiss." Battery widened his stance. "Everyone will have time to ask questions, and if you want to rake him over about his personal choices, you can wait until Rod hands over all the information first."
"Swiss, you can say or do what you want with me, and I'll answer." Rod turned his gaze to Swiss. "My brother is a mental case. Violent, belligerent, and unpredictable. It doesn't matter if he's on or off his medications, his biggest problem is he's a psychopath."
"Criminal background?" asked Battery.
"Besides loitering charges for the times he's living on the streets, he's got a long list of misdemeanors, but no felony charges." Rod paused. "Though I wouldn't fall back on what the police have caught him for. He's manipulating and calculating. Most of all, he's smart, and I'd bet my life that he's killed for the pure joy of it before."
"Fuck." Swiss walked away from the pool table.
LeWorth whistled low and leaned his hip against the table. "Obviously, his location is Haugan at the moment. Where does your brother go to when he's not here?"
"Far as I know, Missoula." Rod cleared his throat. "That's where we grew up. He has the house I was raised in."
"Does he work?" asked JayJay.
"I wouldn't think so. Not with his personality. It'd take less than ten minutes for someone meeting him for the first time to realize he's fucked up. Don't take that as he's not smart. He is." Rod distanced himself from the questions. "He'll steal what he needs and live without utilities as if he was a professional outdoorsman. Like I said, he's capable of taking care of himself and smart enough to slip under the radar."
Swiss stalked back to the group. "Have him committed before he hurts someone."
"It's not that easy," said Rod.
"I don't give a shit how hard it is to get him put somewhere far away from my daughter." Swiss stared Rod down.
"Montana law requires a court order to have someone committed. I've tried, but without Tim breaking the law, it won't happen. Tim knows that, and he'
s manipulative enough not to get caught, and when interviewed, he's convincing and appears saner than you or me." Rod stared at the table. "Dangerously smart."
"Brother or not, I have no problem driving him to Missoula myself or bagging the asshole and getting rid of him permanently." Swiss eyes hardened. "I respect you, brother. You haven't mentioned the attack outside the bar, which I'll remind you that you almost died. Was that your brother? Because it's looking more and more like that is something you can't face. I can."
"I'm in on whatever the majority decides," said Mel. "I want to clear this up and make the bar safe for Raelyn and Dukie."
"Hell, count me on the crew." JayJay tongued his lip ring. "Nobody comes after one of our women."
"Rod?" said Battery. "It's your call, but I'll remind you that any hit against the club, including the women, children, and families will be taken care of. Regardless if he's your brother or not, the rule stands. We're not going to sit around waiting for the next time he hurts one of our own."
He dipped his chin in acknowledgment. "Can I have twenty-four hours to deal with the problem myself?"
Swiss grunted. Rod looked at Heather's father. "In the meantime, Heather stays at the duplex where she's safe and Swiss can protect her. If I can't handle my brother myself, then the club can take over. It would be best if Tim's not confronted. He has a long memory, and while I hope to solve the immediate problem, it does nothing to guarantee he'll not be a threat to everyone he comes into contact with in a month, a year, or ten if we don't catch him."
Swiss stuck an unlit cigarette in his mouth. "Listen to what you said. You're willingly putting Heather into a dangerous situation where your brother will always be a threat."
Rod understood Swiss's need to bring his private relationship with Heather into play, but until Tim was caught, he couldn't and wouldn't hash over his desire to have Heather in his life at a club meeting.
"There are things only I can do, brother," said Rod, feeling the tightly controlled anger emanating off Swiss at Rod's use of brother, reminding him that within the club, the vice president had the upper hand.
"Bullshit." Swiss stepped closer. "Any threat to a family member will be dealt with swiftly and permanently. You were part of making up the fucking club rules, V.P."
Rod's chest tightened in reaction at having a pissing war about their club relationship, something that'd never happened between him and Swiss before. He understood Swiss's anger. But, none of them had a lifetime of dealing with a mentally ill and dangerous older brother.
"Twenty-four hours," said Rod. "I need a day and night, and someone to make sure my dog is taken care of. That's all I'm asking for."
Battery knocked on the pool table. "Granted."
Swiss's squint became more intense, but he remained quiet. Rod turned to his president and nodded his thanks.
"We'll go back to high security." Battery leaned forward and placed his hands on the table. "Heather will be protected."
Everyone agreed, including Rod and Swiss.
"Meeting adjourned." Battery walked away from the pool table and down the hall.
Swiss stopped Rod from leaving. LeWorth and Mel came closer. Rod put his hand out stopping them. If Swiss wanted to talk to him privately, he wasn't going to let the other members protect his ass.
"Outside. I'd like a smoke while you decide if you're going to kill me or not." Rod stepped around his long-time friend and M.C. brother and pushed through the front door.
He'd been on the right side of Swiss too many times not to know how dangerous the man could be when the need arose. Usually, he appreciated the strength and judgment he received from Swiss. Now Swiss being Heather's father threw him off balance.
They'd never talked about Heather or the changes in both their lives when she moved to Haugan, or why Swiss kept his daughter a secret. He only knew that he wasn't going to let any problems get between him and Heather.
Rod lit a cigarette. "Go ahead and say what you're thinking, man."
"I think you should stay away from my daughter until you know your brother is out of Haugan." Swiss flicked his lighter.
"I can't do that." Rod exhaled the smoke. "Heather wouldn't understand."
"Make her understand."
"Come on, Swiss." Rod fought his agitation. "Heather's not that kind of woman. She's all softness and empathy. The lifestyle...it's new to her. Do you think if she knew what kind of business we dealt with she'd stick around for me? For you? She'd jump in her car and hit the interstate. You think you know her, but you don't. She's not a little girl you can keep in the dark. She's a woman who is greedy for knowing more about her dad and she's thriving in the club surrounding her. Don't upset her life, which includes forcing me out of her life."
Swiss remained silent. Rod walked away before he said more and drove a wedge between them that became permanent. He'd handle the problem between him and Swiss later. Right now, he had to get rid of his brother, and he wasn't sure it was even possible without one of them getting killed.
He rode away from the club on his Harley and went straight to his house. By the time the gate closed, Girl had rushed from the backyard to his side and ran alongside his motorcycle happy to see him.
Once he cut the engine, he remained on his bike and patted his leg. "Come here, Girl."
Girl stood on her hind legs and put her paws on his thigh. He stroked her head, ruffled her ears, and Girl soaked up all the attention.
"Sorry about being MIA," he whispered. "I've backed myself up into a corner and have Swiss pissed, Heather confused, and the club backing me without knowing a damn thing."
The urge to ride out of town and keep going grew stronger. He bit down the impulse and reminded himself of his promise. He'd left home at eighteen years old and swore he'd never let his brother influence his life again. He had a home, a dog, and hopefully by the time he took care of shit, a woman who counted on him.
"I need to tell Heather what is going on." He scratched Girl under the chin. "I'm not sure she's going to understand that everything I've done was for..."
He sighed and got off the bike. "Let's go get you a treat. I need to pack a bag, and you're going to have to handle being here by yourself again...ah, fuck, Girl. You don't need this shit on your shoulders. Let's go inside for a bit."
The pressure of the situation weighed him down. He unlocked the front door, turned off the alarm, and instead of going about what needed to be done, he stood in his living room. Everything around him—the weapons stocked around the house, the gate, the alarm, the privacy drapes, the location of the house from the road was created to keep his brother away.
He understood Tim's way of thinking better than anyone. As soon as he made contact, he played right into Tim's hand, which was exactly what his brother wanted.
Chapter Twenty Three
Heather took the two bags of Chinese food from Rod that he'd brought with him and carried their dinner into the kitchen. Rod took off his vest and threw it on the couch.
"Thanks for bringing dinner." Heather inhaled the aroma coming from the bags. "I'm starving."
He sat on the closest barstool on the other side of the counter in Heather's kitchen, heavier and more tired than he'd felt in a long time. Picking up dinner wouldn't distract her from learning the truth, though he hoped it would soften the news.
Acting normal wouldn't change the fact that after they finished their meal, he'd walk away from her knowing he might not make it back.
Heather set two plates on the counter. He studied her movements. She used both hands without any hesitation.
"Your arm is doing better," he said.
"It is." She opened a white box and dished up the Chow Mein. "I forgot about my elbow earlier and bumped my arm on the washing machine when I was taking clothes out to put in the dryer. God, the pain was worse than hitting my funny bone. Although, get this. I guess I screamed, cause Gia and Dad came rushing over thinking I was getting murdered. It shouldn't...it wasn't funny, but it totally was. They wer
e both stumbling over each other to get through the hallway. Dad was cussing. Gia was telling him to hush and hurry. I was cracking up, which they didn't appreciate when they found me perfectly fine."
"You should've called me." He broke a fortune cookie in his hand and pulled out the paper.
"Hey," she said, putting her hand over his. "You're not supposed to read your fortune until after you eat. It's bad luck."
"Says who?" He slipped the fortune in his pocket, then brushed the crumbled cookie into his hand and tossed the pieces into the empty sack.
"Uh, everyone. Universal rule." She divided the fried shrimp and rice. "Don't you eat the cookie?"
"No." He raised his brow, questioning her on another unknown rule he broke.
She leaned closer and whispered, "I don’t like them unless they're dipped in hot mustard. That's the secret."
He grunted. He'd come back to the duplex with her in a good mood, joking, and sharing silly rules and all he could think about was disappointing her with the news he was leaving to go after his brother.
"Let's eat." She held up a fork in one hand and wooden chopsticks in the other. "What's your preference?"
"Fork."
"Smart man." She tossed the chopsticks in the garbage and walked around the counter to sit beside him. "The food smells so good."
He had no appetite.
"How did the meeting go?" She dipped her shrimp into hot mustard and then rolled the piece in the container of sesame seeds.
"Alright." He scooped up a forkful of Chow Mein, needing to change the subject until after she finished eating. "Did you talk to Raelyn about taking time off."
"Nope." She swallowed. "Like I said earlier, there's no need. I want to go back to work. Too much time off drives me nuts."
He finished his shrimp and brushed off his hands on his jeans. "It helps to stay busy."
While he was gone on the hunt to find Tim, she'd work. The Ronacks members would keep her safe, and the women would bolster her spirit if he failed to return. It was the best-case scenario he could come up with today.
