by Harley Wylde
“Don’t sugarcoat it or anything,” I muttered.
“Impertinent wench,” he said, but I could hear the affection in his voice.
“Do you have to go back to your meeting or whatever you call it?” I asked. “Do I for that matter?”
“We still need to know more about the men you think will come for you, but no. Neither of us will be going back right now. We’ll take your stuff back inside, where it belongs, and then I’ll call Torch and ask him to put us on speaker. I’m not going to ask you to face everyone right now, and I think Sarge will be happy to hear your voice and know that you’re all right. He sent me after you, because he wanted to say a few things to Tank and Wire.”
My heart warmed that my dad and Flicker wanted to protect me, cared what happened to me, and they both seemed to want me to stay. It was hard to argue, to push them away, when I couldn’t think of anything I’d like more than to make a home here with them. To finally feel like I belonged somewhere, like I was part of something, had a family. My mother had never been family to me. She’d been a necessary evil if I wanted to stay out of the foster care system, but that had been it.
Flicker took my bag and then led me by the hand into the house. He kicked the door shut and didn’t stop until we’d reached the bedroom, where he tossed my bag into the corner. Flicker sat on the edge of the bed and pulled me down onto his lap, his arm going around my waist as he anchored me to him. He dug his phone from his pocket and I saw Torch’s name on the screen as he turned on the speaker and I heard the phone ringing as it dialed his President.
“You get her?” Torch asked.
“She’s here and you’re on speaker. She said she’ll still talk to you, but she didn’t want to go back to Church, and I wasn’t going to make her.”
Torch sighed and muttered something that sounded like he was berating Tank, the one who hadn’t believed I wasn’t here to hurt anyone. I didn’t think I’d be making friends with that guy anytime soon.
“Pepper, I’m glad you’re still here,” Torch said. “I hate to press you right now, but the sooner we learn about the men from Vegas the quicker we can come up with a plan.”
“I don’t know much,” I said. “I haven’t met them or seen them. I know that my mother’s pimp would get drugs from a guy they called Big Tony. I always found the name funny because the guy is maybe one hundred pounds and barely over five feet tall. But I think he’s one of the main guys running drugs through Vegas.”
“So all we have is your junkie mother’s word that someone is after you, but you haven’t seen even a hint that someone is coming?” Torch asked.
“Right. She did ask me for twenty grand recently, and I laughed and turned her away. I didn’t know she was really in trouble.”
“What if she wasn’t?” someone else asked.
“What do you mean, Bats?” Flicker asked.
“What if she was just wanted to scare your girl as one last effort to torment her? She obviously wasn’t winning mother of the year. Is that something she would do, Pepper? Try to scare you?”
“Um, maybe. I don’t see the point since she was going to kill herself,” I said.
“Wire, look into Mary Ann White and see what you can find,” Torch said. “For now, we’ll just handle things business as usual, but, Pepper, be extra vigilant when you’re outside of the compound just in case we’re wrong.”
“Pepper, this is Tank,” I heard a deep voice say. I tensed when I heard his name. “I just wanted to apologize. I never meant to put you through that kind of pain. It’s my job to protect the club, and you’re an unknown.”
There were mumbled voices and Tank sighed.
“And I can be an asshole,” he said, “as everyone is pointing out to me. I don’t have the best track record around here for trusting women. My wife is one of the rare exceptions.”
“That’s because his wife is a damn saint to put up with him and smile while doing it,” someone else shouted.
“Shut it, asshole,” Tank said.
Flicker snickered. “That would be Grimm he’s yelling at.”
“When you’re convinced we aren’t all dicks like Tank, we’d love to have a proper meet and greet,” someone else said.
“And that’s Preacher. He’s right,” Flicker said. “When you think you can handle it, you need to meet all of them, and the women and kids. I won’t push you. Just let me know when you’re ready.”
I nodded and stared at the phone, waiting to see if anyone else would say anything. When it was quiet, I asked a question that had been squirming inside of my brain since I showed up at the front gate.
“If you have all have normal names, like my dad and Flicker, why do you all use such strange ones every day?” I asked.
It sounded like that entire room burst into laughter. After a moment, Torch answered. “They’re our road names, or club names if you will. They’re earned in one way or another. It’s an honor to be patched in and given a name, so that’s why we don’t use our birth names unless we’re around our wives and kids.”
“And then there’s my wife,” another voice said. “To this day she still calls me Venom over using my damn name.”
Someone laughed and I heard Venom growl at them.
“That was Bull, Ridley’s dad,” Flicker whispered. “Ridley showed up and pretty much claimed Venom, much to her daddy’s horror.”
The more I learned about the men on the other end of the phone, the more at ease I felt. Yes, I’d been embarrassed beyond belief when Wire had shared that part of my past, but they didn’t seem to care. Or rather, they didn’t hold it against me or look down on me for what happened. I wouldn’t say they didn’t care so much as they didn’t seem to think I was tainted because of what happened to me.
I heard a throat clear. “Pepper, my name’s Wraith, and I’m going to tell you something that’s common knowledge around here. My wife, Rin, was placed in her half-brother’s care when she was a teenager. He was a local pimp and asshole of huge proportions. He whored her out and if she didn’t comply, he’d beat her. Rin is accepted in this club and well-loved by everyone. So don’t think for one second that what happened to you makes us see you less than any other woman here.”
I looked up at Flicker and he nodded.
“If you ever want someone to talk to, another survivor,” Wraith said, “then I know my Rin would be happy to listen or share her story with you. Whatever you need, she’ll be there. Same goes for everyone else here that we call family. You’re not alone, sweet girl. Not unless you want to be.”
I felt my eyes tear and I leaned against Flicker.
“Thank you,” I said.
“Pepper, it’s Wire. I’m sorry for making you feel like you needed to run. They needed to know your history, and I swear to you that every man here, even the asshole at the end of the table, will protect you with our lives if it comes to that.”
“I already agreed I’m an asshole,” Tank said. “But don’t push it, computer nerd.”
“Really?” Wired asked. “That’s the best you have? Don’t forget I can wipe out your existence in a few keystrokes.”
I heard someone sigh.
“All right, children,” Torch said, sounding both tired and amused. “Everyone get the fuck out of here. Pepper, if there’s anything you can think of that might help solve the mystery around your mom’s death and what happened in Vegas, Flicker knows how to reach me.”
I heard the line disconnect and I closed my eyes a moment.
“Told you that everyone would love you,” Flicker said. “If Church is being dismissed, then I have no doubt your dad is about to show up. He’ll want to make sure you’re all right.”
“I’m tired,” I murmured, not feeling sleepy so much as emotionally drained.
“My sister always says that ice cream is the cure for everything. I always keep some in the freezer for Laken. Want some?” he asked.
“Will I ever get to meet your sister?”
“I’m actually surprised sh
e hasn’t shown up already. I can only assume her other half is holding her back. Laken isn’t the type to sit around. If she wants to do something, she does it. Which is how she ended up with Ryker in the first place.”
“That sounds… interesting?”
He snorted. “I wanted to punch the asshole. He fucked my baby sister in a bar, knocked her up, but I knew he was a manwhore and I wasn’t about to let him anywhere near her. They ended up together anyway. Even though he’s Hades Abyss and not a Dixie Reaper, they live here at the compound. His dad is the President and made up some bullshit job of ambassador between the clubs as an excuse for Ryker to stay here.”
I smiled a little. “Don’t you mean so your sister could stay here with her family? I think it’s sweet that he was willing to do that, and that Ryker didn’t demand that she go home with him.”
“Only you would call either Diablo or Spider sweet.”
“If he has a club name, why do you call him Ryker? Because you’re family now that they’re together?” I asked.
“He introduced himself to Laken as Ryker. He’s never been too thrilled over being under his daddy’s thumb. He’s patched into Hades Abyss, but he has little to do with them unless an emergency crops up. Around here, he just goes by Ryker unless he’s wearing his colors. These days, he won’t wear his cut unless he’s outside the compound. There’s been talk about patching him into the Dixie Reapers, but I think Ryker feels it would be a slap in his dad’s face, and while Spider can be a dick at times, they’re still blood. Honestly, from what I’ve heard, Spider is more than okay with it.”
“I can understand that. Mom was the only family I had, but I couldn’t stand her most of the time. Didn’t stop me from trying to clean her up when I found her in a puddle of her own vomit. Until…” I swallowed hard. “I just couldn’t do that anymore, couldn’t stay with her. It wasn’t safe and I wanted out. I refused to go down that path.”
“You did the right thing, sweetheart.”
I heard the front door open and slam shut, then booted steps.
“Where the fuck are you?” my dad yelled out.
“Bedroom,” Flicker shouted back.
“Y’all better not be naked. There’s just some shit a dad should never see.”
I couldn’t help the laughter that bubbled up. My dad opened the door, his hand over his eyes and he was peeking through his fingers. He dropped his hand when he saw we were both fully clothed, and he dramatically sighed. I smiled, the first true smile since I left the clubhouse earlier.
“Hi… Daddy,” I said.
“Hi, baby girl. You doing okay?” he asked.
I nodded, then shook my head. I ended up shrugging my shoulder. Honestly, I knew eventually I’d get back to the place where what happened didn’t weigh on me, but the memories were too fresh right now.
“I told her there was ice cream in the freezer. Laken insists it cures everything,” Flicker said.
“Why don’t we go to the diner? We can get a slice of pie and ask them to put ice cream on top,” my dad suggested. “All three of us can go.”
“You don’t have to treat me like I’ll break,” I said. “I survived what happened before, so I can damn sure deal with the memories of it.”
“Doesn’t mean you should have to,” Flicker said.
I knew arguing with him would be pointless. I’d found that most men didn’t listen unless you were saying something they wanted to hear. I doubted Flicker, or my dad, would be any different. So, I decided to go along for the ride and get pie with ice cream. If this was their way of cheering me up every time something bad happened, then I had a feeling I’d need a new wardrobe before long.
I wasn’t sure how to handle people wanting to take care of me, but as Flicker tightened his hold, I had to admit that it was rather nice. As long as he didn’t try to squash my independence, then I wouldn’t have an issue with it. In my entire life, no one other than Louis had really given a shit about me, or made time to ensure I was all right. Even my friends had their own lives that kept them busy. I wasn’t going to miss my life in Vegas even a little. I’d miss Louis, but we could always keep in touch. It was strange, being able to up and move across the country and not have a single regret, except that I didn’t leave sooner.
Every day was an adventure, and I couldn’t wait to see what the future with Flicker would be like.
Chapter Six
Flicker
I rubbed at my eyes and stared down at my coffee, my vision blurry from lack of sleep. It had been three days since Pepper tried to run, since Wire had reminded her of the hell she’d survived, and she had nightmares every fucking night. I’d tried wearing her out, in the best of ways, but even that didn’t seem to help. Not for the entire night. Between the incredible sex and waking to her screams, I wasn’t sleeping for shit, but I couldn’t really complain about it. Having Pepper in my bed, knowing she was mine, made the exhaustion more than worth it. I only wished I knew how to stop her from reliving the worst night of her life.
Wire had called too fucking early, before the sun was even up, and now I was sitting at the damn kitchen table waiting for him. I didn’t know what he needed to discuss that couldn’t be said over the fucking phone, or at a decent hour. When the front door opened and I heard more than one set of steps coming toward the kitchen, I eyed the doorway. Wire came into the room first, then Torch, Venom, and Tank followed. Fuck my life. The visit didn’t bode well for my morning.
The fact all the club officers, plus Wire, were now in my kitchen wasn’t comforting. If this was a club matter, Torch would have called Church. Meeting here meant it was personal. Which meant it most likely had to do with Pepper.
“I’d ask if you were hung over, but I’m guessing your woman is keeping you up all night,” Torch said with a smile.
“Lucky fucker,” Wire muttered.
“Yeah, she is, but not necessarily in the greatest of ways. Ever since Wire told everyone what happened to her, all those memories came back, and she’s been having nightmares.”
Wire winced and I could see the shame and remorse in his eyes. He hadn’t thought for a second what hearing that would do to Pepper, or even just reminding her of that night, and as much as I wanted to punch him, I could understand why he’d done it. Didn’t mean I liked it, nor approved of his methods. He could have asked Pepper to leave the fucking room before he started spewing that shit. It was hard enough for me to hear about it, but Pepper had fucking lived through it. The last thing she needed was to have all that dredged up and thrown in her face.
“We’re here because Wire found something about your girl,” Venom said.
“Like what?” I asked.
“Carmine Galetti has put out the word that Pepper is a person of interest to him. It’s a capture order, with a price for anyone who brings her in unharmed. So, the good news is they don’t want her dead,” Wire said.
“And the bad news?” I asked. If he’d made sure I knew that was the good part, that meant there was definitely something bad to be added to the statement.
“They’ve contacted every criminal family and every one percent club within three hundred miles of Las Vegas, and word is spreading. I don’t think they believed she’d travel so far when she left Vegas, and they likely aren’t even one hundred percent certain she isn’t still there somewhere. But the way the news is spreading means it will reach the East Coast before long,” Torch said. “I don’t think they’re aware of her connection to this club, or they would have widened their search.”
“And how did Wire find this information?” I asked, looking at the club hacker.
“Reckless Kings got wind of it in one of their chapters out that way. I contacted our allies about Pepper, wondering if anyone out west had heard something,” Wire said. “I did a search on the computer and didn’t find anything new since Church the other day. Got a hit on her mom, though. Mary Ann White’s body has been found, and her death was ruled an accidental overdose. I guess since Pepper took the suicide no
te with her, they don’t realize the bitch did it on purpose.”
“Are the Kings going to keep their eyes and ears open?” Tank asked. “If anyone gets word that Pepper is here and someone is coming for her, we need to know. I don’t have the panic room ready yet.”
I rubbed my beard and sighed. After Jacey had been snatched inside our own damn compound, Tank had decided enough was enough. A building went up about six yards from the clubhouse. Tank had installed a small armory in there, and was working on adding a panic room, which would actually be a sub-level under the structure. The men he’d hired were making it fireproof, bombproof, and completely safe for the women and kids. Since our families were growing rapidly, it almost meant we needed a large space and at least two small bathrooms down there. Just a pedestal sink, small shower, and toilet in each, but if shit went sideways fast and the Reapers were badly hobbled, they could be stuck down there for a while. A kitchen area was part of the plans as well.
Torch had already ordered at least a dozen bunk beds and half a dozen couches. His wife, Isabella, had suggested a cabinet of some sort to hold board games or other toys and books to keep the kids occupied, and another selection of reading material for the ladies. The space had been divided into six areas to give it a homier feel, if such a thing was possible for that type of shelter. It was our hope that damn thing would never be used, but our women did love to get themselves into trouble. Or more accurately, they showed up with trouble hot on their heels, much the way Pepper had.
“No one in this town would receive that type of message except us,” I said. “Not since we took care of Rin’s brother and the crooked politicians in town. I’m not going to put Pepper on lockdown, but I think it would be safer if she had someone with her whenever she left the compound. A brother and not just one of the old ladies.”
“Agreed,” Venom said.
“I wouldn’t say anything to Pepper just yet,” Torch said. “Unless she asks. Even then, try not to add to her stress levels right now. I’m sorry to hear she’s having nightmares. If you think she needs to speak to someone, I can call Doc Myron and ask if his partner would be willing to stop by.”
