One Wild Ride

by Shyla Colt

  “What do you think?” Lisa asked.

  Joey glanced at the other girls.

  “It’s missing something, but I’m not sure what.” Juliette tilted her head to the right.

  “I think I know. Hang tight.” Lisa rushed off.

  “What do you girls think? Are the dresses comfortable?” Juliette asked.

  “I think they’re gorgeous, Jul,” Hil said.

  “Agreed.” Evonne ran her hands down her waist. “I’d wear this again somewhere.”

  “Good.” Juliette looked pleased.

  “Here, I think this is what you ladies need.” Lisa knelt down and slipped a crystal–studded, heart-shaped clip onto the center of the shoe.

  “Perfect!” Juliette beamed. “What do you think, ladies?”

  “I think it’s Joey’s turn to get into the hot seat.” Hil grinned evilly.

  Joey rolled her eyes. “So mean.”

  “What? We’ve rarely see you in a dress. I think we’re anxious to see how you’ll look in something so fancy,” Evonne countered.

  “Now, that we have Evonne and Hilary set, have you put any thought to what you’d like Joey to wear?” Lisa said.

  “I want her in a similar dress, simple, elegant, but a bit different from Evonne and Hilary.”

  “I think I have just the one. How do you feel about Audrey Hepburn’s style?”

  “Adored it,” Juliette said.

  “Joey?” Lisa said.

  “Hey, I’m game for whatever Jul wants.” Joey held up her hands.

  “We have a dress that’s a nod to the little black number she wore in Breakfast at Tiffany’s. The cut is almost identical. The biggest difference is there’s no band around the waist, just one in the back.”

  “It sounds gorgeous,” Juliette cheered.

  “Wonderful. I’ll take you all back to the fitting rooms. Evonne and Hilary can get dressed and take a seat on the couch with Juliette. Joey, you’re up next to try on your dress.”

  Joey coasted on autopilot as she dressed and modeled, mentally wrestling with the newly gained knowledge of her paternity. She’d done as Wanderer asked and kept things to herself while he got his house in order, but it cost her. Dumbing down the issues with her mother and keeping everything inside had pushed them apart. She and Moose made so much progress that this felt like a slap in the face to keep this secret from him. By the time she and the girls went their separate ways from the shop, her brain was fried. She ambled over to her car. The phone vibrated in her pocket and she closed her eyes. Please be someone I want to talk to. She pulled it out and huffed at the name. Wanderer. “Hello?”

  “Joey, we’re ready for you to come down.” Her father’s voice sounded distorted.

  “Are you okay?” she asked.

  “Fine, it was time to pay my dues.” His gruff response did not lend to reassurance. “Like I said, it’s time to introduce you to the fold. We got some things going down and I don’t want you out there flying in the wind.”

  She rolled her eyes. “I’m not reckless.”

  “Josephine, this is important.”

  The serious tone stole the smart ass from her. “Okay. You want me to come there now?”

  “Immediately, yes.”

  “Okay, I’m on my way. I’m coming from the north side, so it’ll take me a bit.”

  “Okay, I’ll be waiting.” He disconnected before she could say more. If she’d been nervous the first time she’d gone to the club, now she was terrified.

  * * * * *

  “Moose man, we need to talk.”

  The worry in Hawk’s voice made him pause mid-page-turn of the magazine. “What’s up, Hawk?” He closed the book and gave the vice president his full attention.

  “I was over at the Eights’ club, and I saw someone on the way out who looked damn familiar. At first, I chalked it up to one of those everyone-has-a-twin moments, but it nagged me enough to make me get a closer look. After that, there was no mistaking their identity.” Hawk stepped inside Moose’s room and closed the door behind him.

  “What? You think they’re in bed with Peter’s men?” Moose leaned back against his the headboard of his bed.

  “No man. I saw Joey.”

  “What?” Moose clenched his fists.

  “Yeah, I don’t know why she was there. I didn’t see her interact with any member more than the other. But it did seem like she stood by Wanderer the whole time.”

  “What the fuck would she be doing with him?”

  “I don’t know. But you need to find out. I’ll give you twenty-four hours before I bring it to the Prez, man. If you want to keep her, you’d best have a decent answer for us by then.”

  Moose nodded, furious. This was the last thing he expected from Joey. She was always so open and frank. Maybe that was an all an act?

  “If you need anything, hit me up,” Hawk offered.

  The concern in Hawk’s eyes pissed Moose off. He’s probably feeling sorry for me. “Will do, brother.”

  Hawk threw up two fingers in the universal gesture of peace and disappeared out the doorway. Joey had been quiet recently. He’d chalked it up to whatever went down with her mom. He swung his legs over the bed and grabbed his boots, growing angrier with every second that passed. The thought of Joey being a liar made his chest ache. She’d weaseled her way into his heart. A sense of shock and helplessness flooded in. This is what happens when you risk your heart. You become vulnerable.

  “Fuck.” He punched the wall beside the doorframe. The sting grounded him. If he found out she’d done him dirty, the only thing that would keep him from wringing her neck would be this treaty with the Eights.

  Her car was absent from her driveway when he pulled up in front of her house. Perfect. He parked, got off the bike and headed inside with his key. With the door locked behind him, he began to turn on lights, examining her living space with a fresh pair of eyes as he sought out any connection he might have missed. All he saw were pictures of her and her mother and the girls.

  He sat down at the kitchen table and sifted through her pile of mail. Bills, credits cards trying to ensnare her, nothing out of the ordinary. He grunted, tossing the useless paper on the table and stalked to her room. The nightstand seemed too obvious, but he knelt down in front of it and opened the drawer. The pink vibrator and lube made him snicker. If only this were what she’d kept hidden.

  He bent down and looked under the bed, rolling his eyes at the plastic bins that held sheets and blankets. What was it with chicks and too much bedding and towels? He shook his head and slipped his hand beneath the mattress.

  The sound of an engine in the driveway pulled him from his browsing. He tucked the sheets back the way they were, did a quick sweep of the area with his eyes and turned out the lights before he walked downstairs. He sat at the table with his back to the wall, drumming his fingers on the table. There was nothing she could tell him other than the truth, to set this right.

  The door opened and for once the thought of seeing her gave him no pleasure.

  “Moose?”

  He heard the door shut, and the lock click into place. Game time. “In the kitchen.”

  “Today’s been long as hell. I’m so glad you’re here.” She came around the corner and grinned.

  He mentally held his breath. “Oh yeah, why was it so long?”

  “I had the dress fitting for me and the other girls. It wasn’t bad, but fancy dresses and heels aren’t my idea of a good time, you know?”

  He forced a small smile. “Yeah, I know any other reason?” Come on Jo-Jo, don’t burn me on this.

  “Like that isn’t enough?” she snickered. Her eyes darted around the room. She opened her mouth and closed it, shaking her head.

  “I could think of something I’d find more taxing, but I’ll give you one more chance to come clean.”

  The smile faded from her face. “What’s going on?” Concern and confusion darkened her eyes. She wrinkled her nose and narrowed her eyes.

  “That’s
what I want to know.” Moose shrugged, leaning back against the chair as he studied her carefully.

  Joey looked exhausted. There were circles forming under her eyes and tightness around her lips. Her shoulders were slumped and her eyes held shadows. “You know.” Her lower lip trembled.

  “All I know is Hawk saw you there with the Eights tonight, buddied up with Wanderer.”

  “He is not my buddy.” Her brown eyes flashed with anger.

  The venom in her words were the final nail in the coffin. You didn’t hold that much animosity toward someone unless you knew them. “Why not?”

  She huffed and shook her head. “Got a million and one answers. Do you have time?”

  “You need to make this right by me, Joey.”

  She smoothed a hand over her hair and shifted her weight. “Haven’t you wondered why I know so much about M.C.s?”

  “Yes, actually.”

  “My mom used to run with one, told me she did what needed to be done around the place and tried to hook an old man. In the end, she wound up with me and no claim. So she left the life behind. It’s been me and her ever since.” Her voice wavered and she dropped her gaze.

  “Why didn’t you tell me it was the Eights? I wouldn’t judge you or her.” He lowered his voice. It wasn’t exactly a story you wanted to share with someone else. Maybe that’s why she and her mom are fighting.

  “Because I didn’t know.”

  Moose’s jaw dropped.

  “She kept the details to herself and I never pushed. My mom is upfront and fearless. But too much talk about her past turns her antsy, sets her on edge and puts fear in her eyes. It was enough motivation to not push.” Joey leaned against the counter.

  “Why the sudden change?”

  “Because my father caught wind about us dating and decided it was time I be awarded my club status.”

  “Are you fucking kidding me?”

  “No, I’m not. He wanted to show up and spring on me. It didn’t sit right with my mom, so she sat me down and completed the picture she’d painted over the years.”

  “When she called you a few weeks ago?”

  “Yes, you can imagine I needed some time to get used to it before I even thought about telling someone else.”

  “Fair enough, but it’s been almost a month,” he pointed out, not about to give her an inch of leniency.

  “Wanderer had to set things right with his crew. They had no clue he was the father. He’d swept us under the rug. There’s a lot more to it, but it’s club business and not my place to air dirty laundry. I can tell you the next time you see him, his face will verify everything I’m saying. I wanted to talk to you about all this immediately. But I had to wait for the green light.”

  “Bullshit.” He growled. “I’m your man, aren’t I?”

  “We both know they only honor old lady ties and you don’t have that.”

  “So what? You’re the Eights’ princess now? You gonna get your own cut and put their flag on all your shit? Did Daddy tell you I’m not good enough?” He rose to his feet. The chair scraped over the tile.

  “No one’s saying that!” Joey shook her head.

  “Not outright. But fuck, Jo-Jo, you’ve been lying to my face.”

  “I never lied!”

  “Okay, omitted,” he sneered.

  “What do you want me to say, Moose? You know the rules better than me. I got shoved in an impossible position, and I navigated it the best I could.” She held her hands up, waving them wildly in the air.

  He pointed at her. “You’re the daughter of a fucking president. We never would’ve hooked up. Especially without me running it by your old man first and asking for permission. You know how many problems this could cause?”

  “Don’t you think I talked to Wanderer about that?” she defended.

  “I don’t know what the fuck you did, Joey.”

  She slapped her hands down on the counter. “Watch how you talk to me. I’m not the one who caused this.”

  “Oh, you find out you’re Eight royalty, and you want to talk to me crazy.” His chest heaved, and heat flooded his face.

  She stood up straight. “Because you’re being so polite to me?”

  “I trusted you,” Moose said.

  “And now you don’t?”

  “I don’t know what I feel. I’m not even sure what Tiny will say about this shit. I have to answer to them.” He pointed toward the door. “Tomorrow, I’ll be laying all this shit bare. I’m not about to risk my cut over your bullshit.”

  “It’s the truth,” she said through gritted teeth, gripping the edge of the counter tight.

  He shook his head. “This is why I don’t do commitment. It gets messy.”

  “Like I planned this?” she asked.

  “I never said you did. Doesn’t change the fact it affects me.”

  “You know what? If you’re so anxious to leave and get out of this commitment, there’s the front door!”

  Her words made him turn his head to the left as if he’d been slapped. “Just like that?” The words ripped him open like a sharp knife, turned in his gut and brought up to his chest.

  “I’m not going to try to hold on to you if you want to be free. I knew coming into this it was a possibility. I didn’t ask to be Wanderer’s daughter. I went my whole life not knowing that. I would’ve been fine without it. Maybe he didn’t want me ending up like my mom. I don’t know. We don’t talk like that.” She shook her head.

  The despondency in her voice tore him in two. “Jo—” Moose stepped forward and paused. “Shit.” He ran his hands through his hair. “I’m in a shitty place, Jo-Jo. I could fucking wring your neck, but I respect your loyalty. I understand that. But I trust you more than I’ve trusted any chick and this feels shady.”

  She glanced up and sniffled. The sound of her tears reinforced the asshole vibe that had begun to cling to him. “I’m an asshole when I’m mad, Joey, we both know that.”

  “Yeah…” Her voice warbled. “I knew you’d be pissed when I told you. I never imagined you’d find out from someone else.”

  An awkward tension settled between them. His skin felt too tight. The gray slate-colored walls that always set him at ease began to close in on him. He rubbed the back of his neck and walked the length of the kitchen. “I have to get out of here.” He shook his head.

  “Then go.”

  The broken sound in her voice made him cringe. “Jo.”

  “Do what you have to. Just don’t cross a line we can’t come back from.” She leaned down over the counter and refused to look up.

  With nothing left to say, he walked away before he could make matters worse.

  Chapter Ten

  Joey ignored the doorbell and scooped another spoonful of chocolate ice cream into her mouth. Still dressed in her pajamas from the night before, she had spent her day curled up on the couch under a blanket, watching movies. The idea was to get her mind off Moose. She failed miserably.

  The doorbell rang again, followed by a knock. “Ugh.” She set her ice cream down on a coaster on the end table and stood. If this is a salesperson… Glancing out the peephole, she frowned and unlocked the door. “Not that I’m not happy to see you, but what are you doing here, Jul?”

  “I want to know why Moose is passed out on my couch right now. He came over around nine last night and started getting trashed. I went up to bed early and left him and Shooter on their own. Both of them were sprawled out in my living room, nursing one hell of a hangover when I left.” Jul shook her head.

  Joey closed her eyes, happy he’d been accounted for. Part of her thought he’d get himself into a compromising position. Lord knew, biker bunnies smelled dissention and went for the jugular when presented the opportunity. “Come on in, this will take a while.” She stepped back.

  “Yeah, I could tell by the grunge wear and hasty bun.”

  “Don’t kick me when I’m down.” Joey glanced down at her black sweatpants and college t-shirt.

  “Joey, I’m n
ot. I’m just shocked. What kind of tidal wave hit you guys hard enough to create a rift like this so swiftly?”

  Joey sighed and shuffled into the living room, plopping back down on the end of the couch. She retrieved her pint of comfort and spooned another bite of ice-cold chocolate goodness into her mouth.

  Juliette joined her, waiting patiently for her to begin.

  “There’s no easy way to say this really. You know how my mom said she didn’t know who my father was?”

  “Yes.” Juliette nodded.

  “Well, that was a lie. A giant messy one. He’s the president of the Crazy Eights, a biker gang she apparently was born into.”

  Juliette looked away and looked back. “I— What?” She opened and closed her mouth, doing her best impression of a large-mouth bass.

  “Yeah, you think you’re shocked.” Joey scoffed.

  “And you had no clue? Because with your amassed knowledge of the club lifestyle, it’s hard to swallow.”

  “No, she told me the barebones. Made me think she was a club girl, looking to be made into an old lady.”

  “Why would she lie? It doesn’t fit the image I have of your mother.” Juliette pursed her lips.

  “No. The reasons were credible. Her father is a member of the Eights from another chapter. A mean son of a bitch, quick with his fists and sharp tongue, stuck in the dark ages of the ’fifties. She said being transferred down here to work in the branch’s club was a godsend. She fell in love with my father, and they started an affair behind everyone’s back.”

  “Is that a bad thing?” Juliette wondered.

  “A very bad one. You don’t shack up with a brother’s daughter without asking for permission. Then his own father died and the club was tossed into turmoil. They couldn’t take another blow and my father couldn’t deal with the war that dear old Grandfather would be sure to demand.” Joey shook her head.

  “Jesus, your life is a soap opera.”

  “Trust me, it’s much more fun when you’re watching it on television and not stuck in the middle of it. My Father caught wind of me dating Moose and decided it was time to claim birthright.”

  “What do you mean?”

  “I’m an Eight by birth and being the president’s kid turns me into biker royalty, to make a long story short.”