by E. C. Land
She furrows her brows together and makes a displeased expression. “I’m not Uncle Jonathan’s daughter.”
I blink a few times, trying to process what she’s just said. She said uncle like he’s her uncle too. There are only two Stonewalls that I know of, my uncle, Jonathan, and my deadbeat trash mother, Adalind. “Well, now I’m the one who’s embarrassed. I thought you knew, but the way you’re going white kinda tells me you don’t know about me at all. I’m Harper, your sister.”
What?
There’s no fuckin’ way this is true. If it was, my uncle would’ve told me, right?
From the corner of my eye, I see the front door being shoved open and much to my surprise, Coyote from the Devil’s Riot MC charges through. “Sorry, I gotta go.” I dismiss Harper and head over to Coyote.
The club Coyote belongs to and the Reapers are good. We officially became allies not too long ago because of a deal we made with the Steele brothers. They’re the largest gunrunners in North America and need more help to discreetly transport their guns. While they’re trying to be legitimate in most of their businesses, the word on the street is that Jordan Steele oversees their darker business operations these days. I know the Steeles are paying the Reapers around a hundred thousand a month for our club’s services after I unintentionally overheard my dad and Zane talking, so I’m sure they’re paying the Devil’s Riot MC around the same amount.
I continue over to Coyote and put a hand on his shoulder. He turns back, ready to lay one into me before he realizes who I am. “Shit, man. You good?” I ask, obviously able to tell he isn’t good. His eyes are bloodshot and he’s on a manhunt.
“Dex?” Coyote mutters as he recognizes me. “What are you doing here?”
“I go to school here.” I laugh. “You know, like most college kids. I thought you knew I was going to school for a couple years.”
“Yeah, just didn’t know it was this school. Ironic, my sister’s at the same school. Hence my fuckin’ being in some frat house. Need to get her ass out of here,” he snarls, fury rolling off him as he scans the area.
Oh fuck. This isn’t good. “Man, look, you know she’s gonna be in a frat house. This is college, after all. Just let her live a little, you know?” I do my best to calm him down and let him see reason.
“Fuck that. She’s here to get her education. Not party it up and end up knocked up. Shit happens at places like this and I’m not about to have my baby sister fuckin’ raped or hurt by a frat fucker that can’t keep his dick in his pants.” This isn’t good. Coyote’s more wound up than I originally realized.
“She’s your sister. You know for a fact she’s not going to do something stupid like fuck a dude without a wrap on ‘em. Look, I don’t know your sister, but I’m sure she isn’t one of them dumb bimbos. How do you even know she’s here to begin with? There’s gotta be loads of other parties going on tonight too.”
“Her phone has a tracker in it that Nerd uses to keep up with where she’s at. Came up here to check on her, take her and her roommate, Ember, to dinner before their classes started tomorrow. Found them gone, called him. He gave me the location.” Coyote shrugs.
Oh fuck. I know what he just said. I look over and see Ember standing where she was a few minutes ago. “I actually met Ember. Want me to introduce you both?” If I can get him over to Ember, I might be able to buy Josh and Cara a few more minutes. Hell, maybe they’ll be down here by then. Josh was practically pawing at her like a bear.
“I know who Ember is. Shit, the fact she’s here at all is surprising. Her uncles are fuckin’ protective of her. Their heads would explode if they knew she was at a frat party. Once I find Cara, I’ll have to pull them both out of here and have a word with them about this shit,” he growls while his eyes lock on Ember.
Motherfucker. I’ve just made shit worse. “They’re grown women, Coy’. You can’t control them forever, you know?”
“Doesn’t matter. They’re both club princesses and are up here unprotected. Both clubs have enemies and them being here without protection is a disaster waiting to happen. Now, I gotta find my fuckin’ sister.” Coyote storms off toward the stairs, heading up to the bedrooms if I had to guess.
Goddammit. I have no other choice but to follow him, so I do. The man’s name might be Coyote, but he has the speed of a cheetah. By the time I catch up with him, he’s tearing through a doorway, threatening to kill ‘this fucker’.
I rush up behind him, grabbing him by the shoulder when I’m shoved against the wall so hard something pops in my back. “Brother, I can vouch for Josh. He’s not a bad dude. He’s my roomie.”
“Doesn’t fuckin’ matter if he’s the first president’s kid. Cara, get your ass outside fuckin’ now. I need to deal with this joker,” Coyote scolds. Cara’s face turns to a bright scarlet red from sheer embarrassment.
I can’t say I blame her. I’d never be subjected to the same shit chicks are, but damn, it’s intense.
I step in between Josh and Coyote. “I’ll deal with him and Josh won’t touch Cara ever again.”
“The hell?” Josh comments. Goddammit. Fuckin’ idiot.
I turn my head back and look at Josh. “Dude, if you touch her again, you’re signin’ your death certificate. Coyote will fuck you up.”
Josh shakes his head, obviously not pleased. Hell, he doesn’t have to follow through with it. He just needs to convince Coyote that he never wants to touch Cara again because he feels too threatened. Hell if I care who Cara fucks.
“Coyote, why did you have to come here?” Cara whines, still using the sheet to shield herself while she puts her clothes back on.
“You came here for a degree in psychology, not dick,” Coyote growls back to her.
Little did any of us realize a group of guys are hangin’ out in the hallway. At Coyote’s retort, they go ‘oooh’. Cara puckers her lip out and it starts to tremble and before we know it, she’s running out of the bedroom and probably the house. Jesus Christ. Coyote has really done it now.
Josh starts to run after her, but Coyote grabs him by the neck. “Don’t you dare.”
“He won’t touch her. He’s just leaving too,” I tell Coyote while looking at Josh. Josh nods in agreement, muttering under his breath how he’s had enough of this for the night.
“Want to go grab a beer or a bite to eat?” I suggest, never minding seeing Coyote, but I don’t think it’s a good idea for him to be around his sister right now. Especially with the way he just got her so upset.
“Yeah, sounds good. Better than going to deal with more of Cara’s drama now,” Coyote grinds out.
Chapter Five
Ember
A loud commotion coming from the stairs draws everyone’s attention and voices can be heard over the music.
What in the world is going on?
It’s bad enough, I was ready to go and can’t find Cara. I’d seen Dex talking to some other girl after asking if it would be cool to come back and hang out with me. Hence my reason for being more than ready to leave. I already know I’m not very pretty and this goes to prove it even more.
I mean, seriously, she’s gorgeous compared to me, so why wouldn’t he want to talk to her.
Wanting to get out of there, I pull my phone out of my pocket. I start to pull up Cara’s number to let her know when all of a sudden, I see a flash of her blonde hair as she runs for the front door.
Okay, what the hell?
Running after her, I catch up to her on the sidewalk.
“Cara, are you okay?” I ask, grabbing her arm.
“No,” she sobs, turning to look at me, eyeliner already running down her face. Oh boy, this isn’t good.
“What happened?”
“Coyote showed up and decided to act like a big ape.” Yeah. Definitely not good, her brother coming up here. “Why does he have to keep acting like I’m some kid rather than an adult. I’ll be nineteen in two and a half months from now. I don’t need him constantly acting like the jerk he’s known to be.”
“I’m sorry, Cara, come on, let’s get out of here,” I suggest, thinking this might call for a trip to the ice cream shop on the other side of the campus.
“Thanks, Ember,” Cara whispers, her breath hitching as she tries to gain control of her emotions.
“No problem, that’s what friends are for.” Which if I admit, Cara has easily become my best friend with how close we’ve become since meeting our first day here.
“God, do you know because of him, my date to prom canceled on me for someone I thought was my friend. Coyote got his club brother Nerd to take me. How sad is that? It doesn’t help I’ve been in love with Nerd since like forever and to have him take me to a dance when he’d likely be doing anything else.” Yikes, I hadn’t officially met Coyote yet, but he knows who I am and he sounds just as bad as my uncles.
If Cara thinks her brother getting Nerd to go with her to her prom was a big deal, it’s nothing compared to my uncles having to give me the ‘TALK’ or, better yet, take me to get personal products. They could have had one of the clubwhores around to at least do that; however, I’m glad they didn’t. I didn’t want some skank explaining to me the best way to give a blowjob or which positions the club members like best.
Thank God they haven’t tried to descend on me because I’d lose my mind. I promised them to report in weekly, but they were to leave me alone otherwise. Let me have my college experience without their hovering.
My uncles, Reaper and Angel, protested against me leaving for school, wanting me to go to the University of Texas or LSU. They didn’t understand my need to get as far away from them all as possible, unlike my other uncles. It’s not easy growing up surrounded by men I blame for the loss of my parents. They know this, along with how much I love them as well.
“Where are we going?” Cara asks as we pass our dorm.
“To get ice cream,” I say without looking in her direction.
“Ugh, I don’t know. I probably look like a hot mess right now.” I wasn’t about to argue with her on that.
“You can go in the restroom there and clean up while I order us some cones to devour.” I shrug.
“I guess. Did your uncles do anything like what my brother did tonight?” Cara asks.
“Oh yeah. But after finding my boyfriend screwing another dude, I kind of completely stopped dating altogether,” I inform her nonchalantly.
Cara brings us to a halt as she grabs my arm. “Oh shit, you caught your ex with another guy?”
“Yep, caught him giving it to Garrett from behind. Worst of that experience was when they saw me standing there, neither was worried about it as they carried on. And that night, my ex didn’t even call to explain himself,” I mutter, not liking the memory coming back up.
I guess seeing Dex earlier talking to another chick brought it all back for me. Good thing I didn’t get his number like I really wanted to do.
Dex has to be the most beautiful guy I’d ever met and the fact we have so much in common is unreal. I would have loved to have gotten to know him more.
“Holy shit, that’s just messed up,” Cara declares, eyes wide in shock.
“Yeah, you’re tellin’ me. Now let’s get to the ice cream shop. I think if we’re going to have a compare and contrast night, then we really need more than a couple cones. More like two pints of mint chip or cookie dough,” I grumble.
“Cookie dough sounds good for me. But what about instead of compare and contrast, we stop at a Redbox to grab Bloodshot?” Now that was a great idea.
You’re on.” I nod, smiling in anticipation of watching a Vin Diesel movie. I don’t normally think bald guys are hot; however, when it comes to that man, he works it. Plus, his muscles really do it for me.
The rest of the way to the ice cream shop, the two of us giggle and talk about which Vin movies were our favorites. Fast and the Furious with him as Dom is really freaking great, but in my opinion, him in XXX was the best. How badass does one have to be to do what he does?
Okay, so I have a thing for the man. I can’t help it and the idea of watching one of his movies really helps to take my mind off of Dex.
Chapter Six
Dex
The great thing about college campuses is how there’s always a bar or two around the area. I mean, it’s revenue central since most college kids just want to get wasted at whatever opportune moment they can. We deal with our stress by drinking and that’s a fact.
I’m sittin’ here across from Coyote at the bar just outside the east side of campus. Back at the club, they didn’t really give a shit about underage drinkin’, but out here, shit’s different. I can’t waltz into a bar and get a drink because they’re legally required to ID me. Luckily for me, Coyote came with me and went up to the bar to grab our drinks while I grabbed a table back in the corner.
The bar isn’t full tonight, but it’s busy enough. Most people are probably out partying and I can’t say I blame them. College parties give us the opportunity to meet people we might be having classes with or whatever, and if someone isn’t lookin’ for that, at least they can get laid.
“How you feelin’?” I question Coyote, who is visibly still reeling from finding Cara with Josh.
“Honestly? Bro, I’m shocked at all this.”
I furrow my brows. “All what?”
“How small this fuckin’ world is. How in the hell did you and Cara end up at the same school together? Like what in the actual fuck?” Coyote is caught in disbelief, but I can’t say I blame him.
“My uncle is the dean here, so he helped me manage to get a scholarship. To be honest, I didn’t have many other colleges wanting me so, it seemed like the only way to get an education. You know what kind of stickler my dad’s becoming and all, especially for the younger ones. If I don’t set an example, it’ll probably look bad.”
Coyote nods. “Yeah, I get that. How are your dad and Ashley doing?”
What a question. “They aren’t bad. Dad’s settled into his VP role well. Ashley’s . . . well, ya know, the typical biker mom. Noelle’s doing amazing. In second grade now and from what I’ve heard, she’s already made so many new friends and has the teachers wrapped around her finger. And Fist, well, he’s just a drooling ball of chub.”
Coyote cackles. “Yeah, he’s what, two?”
“Nah, almost there tho. Mom’s pregnant again too.” Ashley is technically my stepmother, but if it wasn’t for her, I’d never know what a mother’s love would’ve ever felt like. She might not have birthed me, but the woman is my mother.
“No shit. Your dad doesn’t ever stop, does he?”
I laugh, shaking my head. “Nope. Pretty sure he’d have a whole baseball team if he wanted. How’re Tinsley and Cody?”
Coyote takes a sip of his beer and beams brightly. “Man, they’re fuckin’ amazing. Tinsley’s pregnant. Don’t think I told you that.”
“Shit. You’re kidding.” To say I’m shocked is an understatement. Cody’s mom was murdered and Tinsley adopted him and has been raising him with Coyote. Cody can’t be more than three months old.
“Yeah, I’m really hopin’ this is another lil’ man. Cody has been so easy, so I’m prayin’ for another dude.”
“Goddamn. Never thought I’d ever hear that comin’ through your lips. You prayin’ for a baby boy that is.”
Coyote chuckles lightly and rakes his fingers through his hair. “One day, you’ll understand, brother. Count on it. When you find that bitch that makes everything in your world turn to fire, you’re just gonna wanna keep pumpin’ her full of kids. I don’t think I’ll ever stop with Tinsley. That’s a fact.”
I laugh, though Coyote and I are at two different places in our lives. He’s almost hitting his thirties while I’m a good ten years younger than him. Here I am goin’ to college, tryin’ my best to get an education, and he’s deep into the club life. Granted, when I graduate, I’ll be going straight back to the club, but the whole point in comin’ here was to get my degree to help me get some more legitimate revenu
e for the club. We can’t keep evading the ATF. One day our luck is gonna run out, and I wanna make sure we have something solid set up as far as good cash flow without a speck of blood money in there.
“Yeah, maybe one day. So, how’s other shit goin’ on at the club?”
Coyote cocks a brow before he shuts his eyes and shakes his head. “Dude, I don’t know how Stoney didn’t kill Boss.” Boss is the Prez to the Iron Vex MC up in Queens, New York. She also happens to be Stoney’s baby momma.
“Why you sayin’ that?” I don’t normally dig into other people’s business, but Coyote sure has me curious.
“‘Cause . . . I mean, if I were Stoney, I might’ve killed Boss. All that sass. All that fuckin’ talkin’ back and shit, and then add in the fact she hid his kid from him for that long? Jesus. It was fucked up. Stoney’s far too good for her, though, signing away his parental rights. I mean shit, if I was him, I would’ve ripped Destiny right from her arms and taken her ass to court. Any sane judge would’ve sided with Stoney, given what Boss did.”
“Let me play devil’s advocate here. You know Boss has been through some heavy shit. Everyone in her family is dead, dude. She probably didn’t want the baby to get taken from her too. It’s not exactly like she and Stoney live within a reasonable distance. They can’t alternate every weekend and that shit. You know?”
Coyote picks up his beer and twirls the glass in his hand. “I don’t appreciate you tryin’ to defend her actions. Then again, maybe I’m a bit sour considering the same damn thing was done to me.”
I nod, understanding his point. “I get that, but at least Stoney and Boss were able to work everything out.”
“Yeah, so she can live her happily-ever-after with that son of a bitch Cowboy,” Coyote grumbles, his skin turning a bit red from what I imagine is anger. This hits too close to home for him, so I get why he’s frustrated.
