Refuge (Riot MC Book 1)

by Emily Minton

  A few brothers shout out offers to help before he even explains the situation. I keep my mouth shut, wanting to know what is going on. There’s no question that I will be by his side; I just want to know what I’m going to be dealing with before voicing an opinion.

  “If she’s right, her fucking stepbrother is trying to kill her,” he says, letting us all hear the anger in his voice.

  He goes on to tell us all the shit that has been happening, explaining in detail how Ronni’s mom and stepdad died. When he starts telling us about the so-called accidents Ronni has been having, I feel my own anger grow. By the time he’s done explaining about her inheritance and the dickhead’s need for it, my anger has turned to fury.

  “How did Veronica find out her brother owed loan sharks?” the club’s enforcer, Walker, asks. “I doubt the fucker aired all his dirty laundry on Facebook.”

  “You’d be surprised what people put on Facebook. It would shock the shit out of you,” Ram, the club’s secretary, pipes in. “Half the time, when y’all ask me to track someone down, I do that by searching their social media profiles.”

  “Her friend found the information. Erin’s some kind of computer savant,” Tito responds, cracking his first smile of the day. “I swear, that chick could tell us the last time the dick took a shit if she had a computer in her hand.”

  Tito keeps talking for a few minutes, answering every question the brothers throw at him. I zone out after a bit, trying to focus on what he said before. I keep running it all through my head, coming to a conclusion that causes my stomach to clench.

  “He killed his dad and Ronni’s mom,” I mumble to no one in particular. “He tried to kill Ronni, too. Wanted them all dead at once.”

  At twenty-nine, I have seen a lot of shit in my life. As a biker, I have seen more than my fair share of bad shit. Even so, I have never seen anyone taking out their whole family in one day. That is beyond fucked up.

  “Yeah, that’s what she thinks. The bastard wanted everyone out of the way, so all the money would be his.” Tito looks at me, his brown eyes turning nearly black. “As soon as I get out of jail, that fucker’s gonna pay for it. I’m gonna have his blood on my hands before I bury him six feet under.”

  “How much money are we talking about?” Brass asks, placing his hands on the top of the table. “Not that it matters, but we need to know what we are dealing with so we can figure out how to stop him.”

  “More than six million, and it all goes to that stupid fucker if something happens to her,” Tito responds, causing a few brothers to let out a low whistle. “I’m figuring he’s let the loan sharks know where he’s going to be getting the money to pay them back, so we may not be dealing with just the stepbrother. The big boys may be in the game now, wanting to ensure they get their money, even if it means killing an innocent girl.”

  “With money like that on the line, people do crazy shit,” Walker states, folding his arms over his chest.

  Fuck, he’s right. With that kind of money on the line, people will be coming out of the woodwork to take Ronni down. Hell, if you know the right people, you can have someone taken out for less than a grand. When you’re talking about millions, anyone and everyone will be doing their part to get a piece of the pie.

  “Brother, I hate to break it to you, but Veronica is far from a little girl now. From what I saw, she’s all woman,” Taz says with a smile, breaking the tension. “If I didn’t think you’d cut off my balls, I’d make her my woman and enjoy every minute of it.”

  “If you want to keep your balls, you better stay away from my girl,” Tito growls, throwing a sneer at our brother.

  I look at Taz, surprised as fuck at his words. As far as I know, none of the brothers have seen Ronni since she was a little girl. Thinking back to the snot-nosed little kid that I knew, I can’t imagine her as anything but a child.

  “I’m just telling you like it is,” Taz replies, still smiling.

  Tito’s lips tip up just before he starts to shake his head. “I knew I shouldn’t have let you come to Chicago with me.”

  Ah, that explains it. About a year ago, Taz and Tito went to Chicago to talk to the Sicilians about an upcoming gun shipment. Neither one ever mentioned seeing Ronni, but they really had no reason to. The club comes first, and right then, we were focused on how to get the guns together and nothing else.

  “I’ve heard of people getting into debt from gambling, but we’re talking some major money here. Are you sure gambling is all this is about?” Brass asks, bringing up a valid question.

  Tito shakes his head, leaning back in his seat. “I don’t know. That’s all my girl told me, but I’m thinking he may be fighting a few more vices. When I saw him back in December, there was no doubt in my mind he was flying high. I wasn’t around him long enough to know what he was on, but I’d guess he’s filling his nose with blow every chance he gets.”

  Fuck, that just adds another layer to this shit. Depending on who he is buying his powder from, he could be dealing with men who would rather cut your throat than shake your hand. You never know when it comes to drug dealers. I should know. Our club may not be pushing dope on the corner, but we supply half the drugs that come into Indy. If someone owed us millions of dollars, there’s no telling how far we would go to get it back.

  “If this guy is gambling, I’m betting he spends most of his time in Vegas. I’ve got friends in one of the clubs out there. If someone owed them that kind of money, and that person had a connection to this club, they’d let me know,” Walker states with a shake of his head. “I don’t think we need to worry about what he’s paying for nose candy. We need to be focused on the assholes that loan him money to play games they know he’s never gonna win.”

  “If we can just make it through the next few months, this shit should blow over. Veronica doesn’t have control of the money until she turns twenty-five, which is in three months,” Tito explains, his voice serious again. “After that, she plans on giving every penny to some charity. When that happens, no one will gain shit from killing her.”

  “You’ve gotta be shitting me. She’s really giving away over six million dollars?” Brass asks, sounding nearly as surprised as I feel.

  “My girl doesn’t want shit from her mom or stepdad, especially not their money,” Tito responds, pride shining in his eyes. “She says they didn’t want anything to do with her when they were alive, and she doesn’t want anything to do with them now that they’re dead.”

  I let out a whistle, my respect for the kid growing by the second. “I think that girl got more from you than she did from her mom.”

  He just nods as he goes on talking to the brothers. He answers a few more questions, letting everyone have their chance to voice their opinion, before calling for a vote. Does Riot MC go to bat for our President’s daughter or not? The answer is a no-brainer as far as I’m concerned. Ronni is blood, so we’ve got her back.

  After the vote, a unanimous agreement to back our President, Tito looks to me. “I know you’ve got a lot of shit going down with Cline’s mom, but I need you to do me a favor.”

  “How can I help?” I ask, willing to do whatever he needs.

  Tito takes another drink from the bottle before answering. “I need you to go to the airport on Saturday to pick up Veronica. She’ll need to stay at your house until I get out of jail. I want her protected, and I know you’ll protect her.”

  Fuck, anything but that. I liked her as a kid, but she was just a little girl then. I doubt I’m gonna care much for the woman she’s become. Hell, with the way she grew up, she’s probably some stuck-up bitch that will look down her nose at me. I could brush it off, ignore her ass, but I don’t want Cline around that. She already has a crazy as fuck bitch around her two weeks out of the month; she doesn’t need a snotty bitch the other two.

  When I don’t answer quickly enough, he starts talking again. “If you’re not willing to take her in, I’m not going to jail. I’ll hit the road and h
ide out with her until this shit blows over.”

  Fuck, I can’t let that happen. If he runs, he’ll go down hard. When they do get their hands on him, he’ll be back in front of Judge Porter again. That man not only has a stick up his ass, he also has a hard-on for Riot MC. If he had his way, we would all be rotting away in jail. With Tito being the President, the bastard would probably shoot his load if he got the chance to give Tito some real time.

  I raise my hand in his direction and shake my head. “No reason for you to do that shit. Serve your time and get it over with. If you hit the road, that month could turn into years.”

  “I realize that,” he says with a shrug. “But, this is my little girl we’re talking about. I’ll do the extra time if I have to.”

  I take a deep breath, trying to see things his way. I understand why he’s asking me. My place is safe, safer than any of the other brothers’ houses. Not only am I there, but Brass has an Airstream parked in my backyard. She’ll have two eyes on her at all times. The only place safer would be the clubhouse, but I doubt he’d be willing to let her stay here.

  “She can stay with me,” I agree, but I then attempt to make him see reason. “But, don’t you think she’d be safer at the clubhouse.”

  He shakes his head before responding. “I don’t want her staying here. She’s not used to the club, and I don’t feel right just dropping her here on her own. She knows you, even if it has been a long time since she’s been around you. Plus, she’ll be safe there with you and Brass watching over her day and night.”

  “The Pres is right,” Brass adds, bringing the point home. “No fucking way would you drop Cline off at the club, not if she wasn’t used to being here. You’d want a brother you trust watching over her.”

  Taz leans forward, placing his forearms on the table top. “Who’s gonna be with her while we go to Tennessee?”

  Walker pipes in, drawing my attention to him. “She could stay at the clubhouse for those few days. Me and the brothers will watch over her.”

  “She’ll go with the boys to Tennessee. She and Boz’s old lady are friends,” Tito states, causing me to blink in surprise.

  How the fuck Ronni knows Boz’s woman is beyond me. Hell, I haven’t even met the woman yet, and I’ve known Boz for years. I always thought Tito kept Ronni away from this life, but I guess I was wrong. Seems like he just kept her away from this club. It looks like I don’t know shit where that girl is concerned.

  “If anything happens to her, heads will roll,” Tito says with finality, scanning the room. “She may be staying with Van, but every single brother will have her back. If she so much as gets a fucking bruise, I’ll lay you motherfuckers out.”

  With that, he pounds the gavel and stands up. “Meeting’s over.”

  Chapter Six

  Van

  The clubhouse is packed tight. Damn near every brother is here to have one last drink with Tito before he goes inside. The way they’re all acting, you’d think the Pres was facing ten years behind bars instead of thirty days. He’s acting the same way, though. The man has already taken three bitches back to his room and let another suck him off at the bar. Guess he’s getting his fill before he has nothing more than his hand as company.

  If my mom was a different kind of woman, I’d probably be pissed at his never-ending stream of pussy. With the way she is, the way their relationship is, I can’t hold anything against him. She does her own thing, and he does his. I doubt they’ve shared a bed since I was just a kid. Again, I can’t blame him.

  Deciding I have a need of my own, I focus my attention on the woman sitting in my lap. Running my hand up the leg of the club whore, I slide it under her skirt and glide my finger over her already dripping pussy. Slipping one finger inside of her, I hook it in a way that causes her to let out a gasp. I latch on to her thigh with my other hand and give it a squeeze. The bitch has been grinding on me all damn night, and I’m ready to do more than just play.

  “It’s time to go to my room,” I mumble, pulling my hands away and pushing her off my lap.

  Standing up, she tosses her hair over her shoulder and shoots me a wink. “I didn’t think you’d ever ask.”

  “Don’t remember asking,” I say, smiling her way. “That was an order.”

  Before I can get out of my seat, I notice Tito heading my way. The way his eyes latch onto mine, I know he wants to talk. I pat the chick’s ass, pointing for her to head to my room, then lean back in my chair, waiting to hear what the Pres has to say.

  Instead of taking one of the empty seats at my table, he motions for me to follow him. He walks out of the room and heads down the hall. I get up and follow, feeling the effect of all the alcohol I’ve consumed in the last few hours. I wouldn’t say I was drunk, but I’m heading that way and enjoying every minute of it.

  When we get to his office, he opens the door and heads straight to his desk. Walking in, I shut the door behind me before stepping over and leaning against the corner of his desk. Sitting down, he pulls out a bottle of José and two shot glasses, filling both to the rim. Handing one to me, he tosses his back then refills it. I quickly empty mine, loving the way it burns going down.

  “I’m trusting you to take care of Veronica. I wouldn’t trust anyone but you, so don’t fuck this up,” he states, before downing his second glass.

  I see a flash of fear in his eyes, the first I’ve ever seen, and suddenly feel like shit for trying to get him to have her stay at the clubhouse. This is the man who stepped in and took care of me when my own father couldn’t do it anymore. I owe him this and so much more.

  Throwing back my shot, I pull in a deep breath and reply, “I won’t fuck up.”

  “I know you won’t, Van.” He leans back in his chair and looks at me before letting out a frustrated breath. “It’s my job to take care of her, and I just fucking hate that I can’t be here to do it myself.”

  Realizing the man needs to relax, I reach into the inside pocket of my cut and pull out an already rolled joint. Dragging a lighter out of my jeans pocket, I bring the joint to my lips. I light up and breathe in a deep drag, feeling the smoke making its way into my lungs. One more pull, then I pass it across the desk to Tito. He takes a few drags before handing it back to me.

  “You should just let me take out the fucking stepbrother,” I state, something I have already said a dozen times tonight. “Then, the problem would be resolved.”

  “If he’s called a hit on her, taking him out won’t solve anything.” He shakes his head, motioning for me to pass the joint back.

  Taking one more drag, I pass it his way. “It’d be fun, though.”

  “You’re probably right about that.” Tito cracks a smile and shakes his head. “I’m gonna have Walker pick him up, bring him in.”

  “What?” I ask, feeling pissed as fuck. “Why the fuck are you sending Walker?”

  I offered to go after the bastard, and Tito said no. Other than my trip to Tennessee, the asshole ordered me to keep my ass in Cotton Plains until he gets out of jail. He said he'd be the one to take care of Ronni’s stepbrother, and that won’t happen until he’s a free man.

  “I know you wanted to go, but I want you here with Veronica. She needs to be your first priority,” he states, his voice hard. “Not to mention, Walker has connections with a crew out in Vegas. Since that asshole is there, figure we could put those connections to use. Walker will be able to get in and out without any trouble.”

  “What do you want done with him when he gets here?” I ask, knowing he is right but not willing to admit it.

  “I figure, after he goes a round with you and Brass in the hole, we’ll know if he paid someone to take out my little girl.” He lays the remnants of the joint in the ashtray. “Once we have those answers, I’ll decide what to do next.”

  The clubhouse sits on property that Tito’s grandfather bought in the seventies. There is a little more than eighty acres, most of it still uncleared and covered with trees. When h
e bought it, there was a house sitting on the land. He tore it down, planning on building a new one, but he died a year after buying it, leaving it to Tito’s dad. Instead of a home, a clubhouse was built.

  A few years later, an old cellar was found about a half an acre behind the clubhouse. It sat empty until Tito took over. He realized it could be useful to the club. He had the boys clean it up, extend it, and reinforce the walls. Now, it’s known as the hole. More than a few men have lost their lives there; no doubt, Ronni’s stepbrother will, too.

  “We need to talk about your mom,” he states, changing the subject.

  He goes quiet after that, just leaving it hanging out there. I wait for him to say more, but he doesn’t. Instead, he just stares at me as if he needs me to give him permission to say what he wants to say. No doubt, it’s not gonna be good.

  “What about her?” I ask, wondering what the fuck is going on now.

  “I told her to stay away from the club until I get out of jail. I need you to make sure she follows that order.” He looks me straight in the eye. “I know she’s your mother, but I want you to keep her away from your house, too.”

  I shake my head, leaning back in my seat. “That bitch never comes to my house anyway. I don’t see her dropping by anytime soon.”

  “I want you to make sure it stays that way and do so by making sure she knows she’s not welcome,” he orders, leaving no room for discussion.

  I nod, reaching for the bottle of José, and pour both of us another shot. “You can consider it done, brother.”

  He swallows back his shot then says, “She doesn’t know it yet, but I’m cutting her loose as soon as I get home. In fact, I’m eighty-sixing her for life. I won’t do anything until I’m out, just to make sure she doesn’t cause any problems, but once I’m back, she won’t be allowed on any of the club properties ever again.”