“Fuck, woman, you look good.” He kissed me like he was starved for me.
Lust rushed through me in hot streaks, leaving my fingertips tingly. My hands slid down his shirt and cupped him through his jeans.
He growled into my lips. I broke the kiss with a laugh. “Let’s go for that ride.”
“I could ride you upstairs.” His hooded eyes raked over my tight tank.
“Later, lover boy. Now I want a ride on that big Harley of yours.”
He blinked and the regular Joe was back. “Like my bike, do you?”
“I do.” I bit my lip, surprised that I liked it so much. No one would ever peg me as a Harley rider. “I might have to get my own bike.”
“Damn, don’t say sexy things like that if I can’t take you to bed.” He squeezed my ass. “Grab the jacket. You’ll want it before we get back.” He grabbed his leather jacket from the hook beside the garage door.
Joe had bought me a leather jacket a few days ago, saying it was the only safe thing to wear on a bike. He sporadically wore a helmet, but a leather coat was a must. I didn’t understand his logic, at all.
We rode out through the city and into the countryside, of course that was never far away in Oklahoma City. Every time, we took a different route, another one I had no idea about. I was a creature of interstates—the quickest way wherever I was going. Joe liked back roads, the more hilly and curvy the better.
My impatience blew away as he drove too fast down the dark roads. I wish I could blame the zinging bubbles in my belly on the road, but it was Joe. He’d changed me in the few days we’d been together. He was dangerous, with his freewheeling way. He gave me peace too. I hadn’t even known I didn’t have it until Joe wedged himself into my life.
Between my dad, brothers, and then Jensen, I’ve spent years on edge. So many rules to follow and worries to hold in. Staying in the blue line’s good graces was like running an obstacle course. Dangers lurked everywhere, especially for a woman. Dad’s warnings of the double-standard for women had become more intense with Jensen. He’d always reminded me how much I had to lose.
But in the end, he’d lost it all, by ignoring all the rules he insisted I follow. He’d only wanted me to succeed. Right? Guilt tightened my chest. Of course my fiancé had my interests in mind when he’d hammered me with the rules. Then why hadn’t he followed them?
Joe didn’t care what I did, he just stood beside me. Maybe I’d been wrong about him and his bikers. I’d only had a small taste of the acceptance he’d described, and I wanted more.
Joe slowed and turned into a dive bar in the middle of nowhere. Bikes lined the front of the place. Nervousness added to the acid, making my stomach ache. I’d only met a few bikers and I didn’t know if I was ready for my illusions to be stripped from me. Not all bikers could be like Joe, otherwise they wouldn’t have such a bed rep. Right?
“Where are we?” I handed him my helmet.
“Jack’s Place. I need to meet someone here. The bar is a hangout for a lot of bikers but not part of any club. Jack ran with the Bandits back in the day, but he married and got out.” Joe threaded his fingers through mine. “You need a drink. You’re too tense.”
“What business?”
“Just a quick meeting. I’ll need you at the bar while I meet my guy.” He didn’t meet my eye but tugged me along to keep pace with him.
“What?” I stopped, not liking the sound of this.
“Charlie, it’s club business. You aren’t part of that.” There wasn’t even a hint of apology in his face.
“Because I’m a cop?” I fisted hands on hips.
“No, because you’re not a member. We don’t talk business in front of anyone. That’s the way it is.”
I didn’t like it, but it did make sense. “Is this about that phone call you got?”
“Yeah. And before you go all batshit crazy—”
“I am not crazy—” Now I was pissed.
“Yeah. Before you go off, would you let me into a police meeting?” He shook his head. “I remember how territorial you were.”
Shit, he had a point. I hated when he made sense. “Fine.”
“Glad we got that straight.” He winked at me, then held open the heavy red steel door and we walked into a boisterous bar with country music playing on an outdated jukebox in the corner. He headed toward the bar.
“JoJo, over here,” a tall thin Mexican called to him. He wore a Bandit cut.
I opened my mouth but the look he shot me had me shutting up.
“A minute, amigo.” He led me to the bar. “Bud in a bottle?” He spoke low in my ear. I nodded. “Anyone bothers you, feel free to kick their ass. Then I’ll end them.”
A chill swept through me at his menacing words. He was joking, wasn’t he?
He ordered two bottles of Bud from the bartender. He gave the guy a fifty. “She’s mine, yeah?”
The bartender nodded and stuffed the money in his pocket. No change? And was Joe talking about me? Where the hell did he get off saying that?
“Drink your beer, I’ll make this quick.”
I nodded and he was gone. The last thing I wanted to do was be surrounded by criminals and thugs with Joe gone. I could take care of myself, but what was he doing? This was exactly the kind of situation my dad and Jensen always warned me about.
Chapter Eighteen
JoJo
I glanced back at Charlie, who stared across the bar, looking at nothing. She’d been pissed, no doubt I could have handled it better but damn if I knew how.
I gave a nod to the Bandit across from me.
“Amigo, thanks for coming by.” His boot scooted out the chair across from him.
The Mexican smiled but it didn’t warm his features. “You have good taste.” He glanced toward my woman at the bar. “I have news.” He lit a cigarette and leaned toward me “You’re getting an upgrade in talent. Franco hired a group to put her down. Not the gang trash from before.”
“You know who?” This was what I’d expected, but icy dread flowed through me. Shit was about to get serious.
“Asked us, but we got no beef with other clubs and didn’t take the work, good paying work.” He nodded toward the bar. “Your woman has a hefty price tag, and you’re collateral as far as Vegas is concerned.”
This was the last push. If we could survive this, then Franco should change directions, at least I hoped so.
“Any other good news?” I drank down the whiskey someone had placed in front of me.
“You might have a day or so. I hear there’s another target they’re starting with.” He grinned. “You Brotherhood boys always in trouble for your pussy.”
“You know who the other target is?” I ignored his barb.
The biker assessed her. “The other cop. That’s where the Russians are headed.”
Dammit. I hated dealing with Russians, they were good and had a passion for bombs.
“Russian mob?” I couldn’t believe that.
He shook his head. “Nah, they don’t do Franco’s bidding.”
“Thanks for the information. I know you went out of your way.” I reached a hand over the table.
The Bandit grinned. “Got a present for you.” He motioned me to follow him.
I stopped by the bar and collected my girl. “Go to the bike,” I urged her. She wouldn’t like any of the biker’s presents, but I would.
She glanced at the biker and hurried out the door.
We followed my woman outside. “You picked a damn cop?” He shook his head in disgust.
“Can’t let Rebel have all the fun.” I doubted I had a shot at keeping her. And that sucked balls, but I could only do so much.
“Loco bunch.” He bent down and grabbed a canvas bag from his saddlebag. “Rebel asked me to arrange gear. You’ll find a present in the bushes behind her house, and the
se beauties are too explosive to leave lying around. Get me?”
I hefted the bag over my shoulder without looking inside. I’d bet on flash bangs and smoke grenades, maybe even the real thing. It was the Bandit, after all.
“Thanks, compadre, I appreciate the assist.” I headed for my bike. I heard his bike start, but I didn’t look back. I stuffed the sack in my saddlebag before kissing my girl. She jumped then melted back into me as I kissed behind her ear then moved down her neck. I wanted to do more but we had life to deal with now. Fun later.
“Bandits are freaking criminals. How do you know them?” She turned, spearing me with accusing eyes.
So much for trust. The woman blew hot and cold on me. But then she had reason. Bandits didn’t do anything legal.
“A friend, our clubs aren’t in business.” I was getting tired of defending myself and the club. “You need to call Brie, now.”
She frowned up at me. “Why?”
“Call her, on speaker.”
“Fine.” She gave me sass as she dug her phone out of her pocket. She dialed and it rang twice. “Brie.”
Brie’s voice came out of the phone. “You okay?”
“Yeah, you?”
“No, not at all.” Brie sobbed into the phone. “We barely escaped but Tom is shot in the leg—”
“Grazed me.” Tom spoke over her.
“Charlie, I was going to call soon, but... I hate to say this...”
“We’re out,” Tom called out. “Put in our resignation with Danvers, not coming back, not testifying. This isn’t worth either of our lives.”
Shit. While it was the smart choice, it put all the pressure on us.
“You should get out too. These guys were serious—we barely made it out.” Brie spoke between sobs.
“Don’t cry,” Charlie said with confidence not reflected on her face. “Go and be safe. Don’t call me again. Call Danvers and he’ll tell you when I’m clear. Tom, take good care of my girl.”
“I will. I hate to say it, but we have to go. Be safe.” The phone went dead.
I gathered Charlie in my arms and held her close. Her chin quivered once before her stubborn look cemented itself on her face. “It’s just us.” She gulped, looking left and right. “How long can we last?”
The thread of fear in her voice lit my temper. I hated these bullying bastards for scaring Charlie. “As long as it takes.”
“Yeah?” Her watery eyes almost undid me.
“Fucking swear to God. We’ll make it through.” I would deliver because Charlie wouldn’t tap out, it wasn’t how she was put together. I held her another minute then she stepped back.
She wiped at her eyes. “Let’s go.”
I put on my helmet and double-checked hers before we left the lot. Once we hit the highway, I called Rebel through the Bluetooth in my helmet.
“Go ahead.” Rebel spoke in my ear.
“Met the Bandit. What’d he leave me at home?” This situation had me tight with tension, and I hated unknowns.
“He’s left an MP5 for you. If the talent is getting better, I can’t have you outgunned. Delta’s coming back with Thorn. He’ll help keep eyes on you the next few days.”
Good backup and I might need it. “Okay. You know they hit Tom and Brie yesterday? They’re in the wind and never coming back.”
“Fuck. Elle and I will head your—”
“No. If the four of us can’t handle it, I’ll head home. I can bring her home?” This was another level of commitment for the club.
“Yeah, bring her now if you want, but it’ll just string out the end game.” Rebel said something I didn’t understand.
“Good to know it’s an option.” I had been pretty sure the club would back that play, but it was good to be sure.
“Brother, we’re with you, whatever it takes to keep your woman safe.”
“If only she agreed.”
“With what?” Rebel laughed.
“That’s she’s mine.” I hated admitting it, but Rebel deserved to know the truth.
“You deserve a hard time. I hope she makes you work for it.” Rebel laughed.
“Oh, she is.”
“Let me know what you need.” Rebel wasn’t backing away even if the mob did up the stakes.
“Will do.” I shouldn’t have ever doubted my brothers’ support.
We rode home in the eerie quiet of night. I emptied my mind and just enjoyed the speed. Each mile I sped through erased a bit more of the weight of the situation, freeing my mind. Worry wasn’t my friend, I needed to find the zone—alert and ready but not impatient. I’d spent years in the zone, but somehow with Charlie’s life at stake, I couldn’t stay focused because I cared too much.
I pulled into her drive. Then the garage, closing it as soon as I pulled inside. After I’d stowed my helmet, I swept my bike for bugs with the tech toy Delta had left for me. Then I swept both of us.
“Really? Every time we go out?” Charlie rolled her eyes.
“Every damn time, darling.” I pinched her ass as I moved the wand down her legs to her shoes. “Lift each foot.”
Satisfied we weren’t compromised, I put my toy back on the garage bench, and Charlie turned off the alarm. We entered the house in a two-person team with our guns drawn, clearing every room. I’d set up a second jammer in the house, so I wasn’t concerned with bugs here.
“You’re addicted to the tech.” Charlie grinned at me as I checked the jammer.
“Maybe.” I did like all the gadgets. Mostly I’d used the trackers to nab bounties, but with Charlie, I’d gotten into a whole new level of tech. The devices were cheap enough to use. In fact I bet the private sector outpaced the government these days. I didn’t have to get a warrant after all.
“Totally.” She pushed my arm.
“Give Danvers a call while I walk the perimeter.” I needed to pick up that MP5 before someone else did.
“Really? You’re being paranoid.”
Better paranoid than dead. I smacked her ass and headed out the back door, not bothering with a retort. My dark thoughts wouldn’t help.
I found the gun in a military duffel with a ridiculous amount of shells. I checked the edges of the property—all was quiet. By tomorrow, I’d have two more sets of eyes to keep Charlie safe. I just had to make it to then.
It was almost midnight when I came in the front door, locking it behind me. Charlie sat curled into herself on the couch.
I dropped the bag by the door and hurried to her. “What’s wrong?”
“Brie and Tom faced a full home invasion...it was his Marine buddy’s house. They used machine guns and flashbangs to storm the place at suppertime. Tom’s friend is in the hospital. He made a stand while the other two ran. Danvers said it’s the only way they got away. The killers caught them off guard, guns not even in the room with them. And no one knows how they tracked Tom and Brie to this guy,” she shivered. “We’re fucked.”
“Nah, we’re prepared. You got your gun?” I scooted her onto my lap, holding her close. Her heart beat a rapid rhythm against my chest.
“But what’s that going to do against automatics and flash bangs?”
“We’re locked and loaded. We have an MP5 and a bag of goodies from a friend. I left it in the—”
“Are those...they can’t be legal. Where? Who?” Her brows creased in a scowl. “We can’t—”
“We survive, and this is how. Think a minute. Do you want to know the answers to your questions? Isn’t it better to say they’re mine and let the chips fall—”
“No.” She stood and backed away from me. “We’re in this together.” Hurt marred her beautiful face.
Fuck. I’d hurt her, that was the last thing I’d wanted. I buried my head in my hands. Land mines were everywhere, and I didn’t have a map. I blew out a breath. “Yeah, we’re in this togethe
r.” I tried to muster a smile but fell short. “My bros arranged for the extra firepower from the biker I met.”
“The Bandit? Those guys, they’re not remotely legal.” She paced away from me.
“The bottom line for me? You being safe. If I step across some moral line in how I got the tools I need—” I had to say this but I was afraid it’d make her run the other way “—then that works for me.” I strode toward her, grasping each arm and staring at her until she met my gaze. “We’re being hunted, not everything can be by the book if we’re going to survive. We’re walking in shadows right now.”
She pulled out of my arms and turned away from me.
“Fuck, Charlie, I’m trying here, but I have one goal—to keep you alive and your life whole.” I swallowed the lump in my throat and spit out the rest. “If that costs me what we could have, I’ll fucking hate it, but I’ll pay the price.” I seriously hoped I wouldn’t end up losing her, but I’d rather she be alive to hate me.
Chapter Nineteen
Charlie
Joe’s truth hit me hard. I was crying about rules when my life was on the line. Franco and his killers wouldn’t play by the rules, yet I wanted us to. Hypocrite much, Pine? My head had been in a bad place since we’d gone to that sketchy bar. I’d spent the ride home imagining Joe in backroom deals with the Bandits. Thinking the worst, while he risked everything for me.
A tear ran down my cheek then another. I needed to get my shit together and focus on survival. When had I locked myself in a prison of others’ expectations? Breaking out was harder than I’d imagined, but I could do it, with Joe’s help.
“Darling, don’t cry.” Joe cradled me against his chest. “I’m sorry. I’m an ass.”
“No, no, it’s not you.” I wiped my nose on my arm and stepped back to meet his eyes. “I’m sorry to lay my stupidity on you. I’m glad we’re prepared. We need it all, and I’m worried it still won’t be enough to stop them.” I bit my lip and spilled my deepest fear. “I’m afraid no matter what we do, some day, somewhere, Franco will be waiting. Even if this plan works.”
His thumb wiped away a stray tear. “Nope. We’ll come to terms, I promise you that. This isn’t resolved until we find a lasting peace.”
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