The Dead Saga | Book 7 | Odium 7

by Riley, Claire C.

  “I promise,” I said, my chest feeling full.

  “Together or not at all,” he said, loving my body with every thrust of his hips and every kiss of his lips.

  “Together or not at all,” I agreed.

  Mikey nuzzled his face into the side of my neck, kissing along my throat. Our bodies were connected, our hearts combined. And I knew I’d never get enough of him either.

  With a final thrust of his hips, he called out, grinding himself into me, and I threw my head back, moaning his name. His hand ran along my throat, along the delicate skin, the pad of his thumb sliding up to rub against my bottom lip. Our bodies were hot and sticky, and I clung to him, never wanting to let him go ever.

  “I love you,” he said, kisses my lips.

  And I knew he meant it. I could see it in his face. Feel it in his body. And I knew it in my heart.

  *

  I strapped the attachment to my back and rolled my shoulders, adjusting myself to the leather. The scent of it reminded me of the clubhouse, of Shooter and Highlander. Of Balls and all the other bikers there. It was funny how I missed them all, despite being happy where I was and not wanting to go back. I felt something like being homesick, even though I felt more at home here with Mikey than I had ever felt anywhere else.

  “You ready?” he asked, and I nodded, my hand patting my side for the knife in the sheath on my thigh.

  Mikey leaned over and pressed a kiss to my temple. “Okay, let’s go then.”

  We opened the door, turning to lock it behind us. We’d found the keys hung up in the kitchen by the back door and we’d secured the lower windows with plywood that we could slide off during the day.

  Aiken had given us a truck on the promise that we traded with them if we found anything good, and we’d agreed. So far we’d only been out and caught animals for meat—a couple of squirrels and nothing worth sharing—but maybe today we’d get something more substantial. Maybe something we could share with Haven. I wasn’t sure if that was something I wanted to happen. Haven had been Mikey’s home, but it also held a lot of memories for him, and though we tried to put it all behind us, going back there was still going back. And I only ever wanted to go forward now.

  Still, in a world like this, there really wasn’t any way to live without help from others, and Haven had a lot of things we needed. Perhaps one day we’d be as well stocked as them, but today was not that day.

  Mikey shoved the map into the pocket of his cargo pants and turned to look at me, the sun catching off his hair and making me smile. Small splashes of gray had sprouted at the sides of his hair over the past year, and it looked good on him. He was too young to go gray, but I guess that was what trauma did to you.

  We were walking today, three miles east to a small town we could see on the map. It looked to have only a handful of stores and houses. A town of no more than a couple of hundred. It was hardly a town at all. But places like that had popped up all over, and so many hadn’t even been on maps.

  The roar of an engine echoed through the trees, and some birds in the trees opposite the house flew up out of their nests, scared away by the loud and obtrusive noises. Mikey’s smile fell into a hard scowl and he came back to my side as three motorcycles pulled into the clearing.

  Highlander, Linc, and Gauge pulled off their helmets and shut off their engines, the sudden quietness deafening.

  I reached for Mikey’s hand, finding it already reaching for mine. Highlander climbed off his bike and strode toward me, his arms wide, a huge smile on his face.

  “Queen B, how the feck ‘ave ya been?”

  40.

  Nina

  I smiled and released Mikey’s hand so I could go to Highlander, wrapping my arms around his large frame and hugging him hard. I wasn’t normally a hugger, but something about that great big oaf had turned me into one.

  “I’m good, really good,” I mumbled as he picked me up and swung me around laughing.

  “Aah, still weigh less than a church mouse, I see. Skinny little twig, ya needs to eat.” He pinched the nonexistent fat on my side as he dropped me back on my feet.

  “Ouch,” I snapped, slapping at his hand. He laughed and pinched the other side. His gaze fell to the leather strap.

  “Still good? No problems?”

  I shook my head no. “It’s fine. It’s comfier the more I wear it. Had to get some cream from Stormy, though, since it was rubbing. I think after all the fighting…” My words trailed off. “Well, you know, you were there.”

  “Aye, I know. I think we all came away from that a little fucked up. If all you needed was a bit o’ cream, I’d call that a win, darlin’.”

  “Me too,” I said, giving him another smile.

  It was so good to see him, his leather-and-smoke scent wrapping around me and taking away the homesickness I’d felt earlier. I hated that I’d missed that stupid man as much as I had.

  “So…” I said with a small shrug as I let my gaze fall behind him to Linc and Gauge. Linc gave me a small wave, but Gauge stared angrily at the ground. “What’s this little impromptu visit all about? We decided against a housewarming,” I teased. “Thought it was a bit too much and we hadn’t managed to redecorate yet.”

  “Och no, really?”

  I nodded. “I’m afraid so. I decided I didn’t want my home filled with so many dirty, smelly men. It ruins the ambiance and the zen of the place.”

  Highlander held a hand to his chest. “Och, ya kill me, darlin’.” He laughed and I laughed with him. “I washed at least three weeks ago. This scent is what turns all the women to my whims.”

  I glanced behind me at Mikey, seeing his stern gaze on Gauge, his jaw ticking as he ground his back teeth together. It must have taken everything in his power not to say anything to him, and I respected him for staying up there on the porch steps.

  “So?” I prompted Highlander. “It really is great to see you, but I’m not sure why you’re here.”

  “Well, I bought some new attachments for your arm, for starters,” he said with a smile, and my eyes went wide with excitement at that. Since the war with the Savages I’d only had the machete attachment. I hadn’t had the nerve to go to the clubhouse and get my things. “Brought you some food too. Some of the old ladies baked you some bread and cakes and shit.”

  “Oh my God, Highlander! Why didn’t you open with that? Give me the food!” I gasped in annoyance, my stomach rumbling loudly.

  He chuckled and headed to his bike, opening his saddlebag and pulling out a brown paper bag and handing it to me. Linc handed him a brown leather sachet and Highlander flipped the top open, showing me the arm attachments inside before handing it to me with a grin.

  “Just a couple o’ things I’ve been working on, darlin’,” he said proudly. “One that Balls had been working on before…” He shrugged, not finishing his sentence because we all knew that Balls was dead.

  “It’s Shooter,” Gauge said, finally looking up at me.

  My gaze slid to him, worry catching in my words. “What about him?”

  Gauge looked pissed off, sad, and worried. “He’s…” He shrugged.

  “He’s a little fucked up since what happened with you two,” Highlander intervened. “Thought maybe if we could check on you and report back that you were okay, that maybe it would help him. Maybe he could, I dunno…visit sometime.”

  “Absolutely not,” Mikey said, coming to stand by my side.

  “Mikey, it’s okay,” I placated.

  “No, it’s not,” he growled. “He kept you from me. He tried to have me killed. He comes anywhere near us and I’ll fucking end him.”

  Gauge stepped off his bike and cracked his neck from side to side. “Like to hear you say that again.”

  “Let me say it nice and clear for you so there’s no misunderstanding of my meaning then,” Mikey snapped, stepping forward.

  I placed a hand on Gauge’s chest as I stepped in front of Mikey. “Woah, woah there, Terminator, no need to fight.”

  Gauge
’s gaze was locked on Mikey and I heard Highlander sigh heavily. “Sorry about this, love. I never meant to bring trouble to your door.”

  “It’s okay. I think it’s best you all go now though. I’m fine. You can see I’m fine. So report that back and be on your way.”

  “Aye, so you are.” Highlander turned to Gauge. “Come on then, dickface, let’s get back to the clubhouse.”

  Gauge and Mikey were still locked in a staring contest and I groaned and rolled my eyes. “As much as I love to see two strapping men roll around in the mud bare-chested, I’m hungry and want to eat my cake. So either get on with the side show or chill out and back off.”

  Gauge’s gaze slid to me, a small frown on his face. “Haven’t missed that smart mouth,” he grumbled.

  I rolled my eyes and snorted. “That’s a lie. Everyone loves my smart mouth. I make life more colorful with it.”

  “That’s one way to put it,” he said, giving Mikey one last look up and down before going back to his bike.

  Mikey wrapped his arms around my middle and pulled my back against his chest, placing a kiss on the top of my head, and I knew that in his own way he was showing Gauge that I was well and truly with him and we were happy. And he wanted that message passing on to Shooter. Guilt unfurled in my belly, but I didn’t stop Mikey.

  Because no matter how guilty I felt, I couldn’t deny Mikey.

  Not now.

  Not ever again.

  Linc nudged Highlander and the other man turned to scowl at him. “Stop fecking poking me, ya little shit. Say what you need to say.”

  “We need directions to Haven,” Linc said, and I felt Mikey tense.

  “Why?” Mikey asked.

  “Need to speak to Aiken.”

  “Why?” Mikey repeated.

  “Club business,” Gauge snapped.

  “Can’t take you there unless I know why,” Mikey said, giving the proverbial middle finger. “So tell me or fuck off.”

  “We want to make a trade agreement with them. We have stuff that they may need, and vice versa. Nothing other than that. Same offer applies to you two. The more of us that work together, the safer we’re all gonna be, right?” Highlander said. “We need to make sure that what happened with the Savages doesn’t happen again. Ever.”

  I nodded in agreement, but Mikey had released me, folding his arms over his broad chest. “I’ll need to speak to Aiken alone first. He won’t be happy if I just turn up with three strangers.”

  “We’re hardly strangers,” Gauge snapped. “We fought together, side by side, killing those bitches. We saved each other’s lives. Battle saved Aiken’s life, if I remember correctly.”

  Mikey grunted out a dry laugh. “Was that before or after you tried to kill me?”

  “That was different,” Gauge replied.

  “You’ve got some damn nerve,” Mikey growled.

  I turned to Mikey, needing to calm the situation down quickly. I hated that the Highwaymen had brought so much anger to our door, but this could actually be a good thing. The Savages had grown so strong because people needed stuff. They needed water and food and supplies, and they had used that to their advantage. If we all traded between one another, no one could do that again. Maybe we could even find other people—other groups that might need help and might want to trade. The only way the world was going to work was if we did it together.

  “He’s right, Mikey. I don’t think Aiken would mind them knowing. They have a lot of stuff that Haven could use. Haven has lots of people and supplies, and they’ll need to restock. Highlander designed my arm attachment. He’s great with mechanics. You said Haven wanted to build a water tower, right? He could help with that. They have fighters, cooks, mechanics, vehicles…”

  “Calm ya tits, darlin’, let’s not give all the secrets away,” Highlander drolled with a raised eyebrow.

  Mikey sighed, clearly not happy with me disagreeing with him in front of these men, but whether he liked it or not, these men, at least some of them, would always be my people. I trusted Highlander and I trusted Linc. Gauge I didn’t, not after what had happened, but Highlander would keep things okay between us.

  “Fine,” Mikey agreed unhappily.

  *

  The gates to Haven stayed closed as we approached, and it wasn’t until Mikey climbed out of the truck and waved up at Moo, a fierce young girl who looked like she’d kick your ass if you looked at her wrong, that the gates opened.

  We were directed toward the left-hand side and ordered to park the bikes and trucks there. Stepping out of the truck, I felt the familiar nerves at being there build in me again, and I looked over at Mikey for reassurance, but he was too focused on watching Gauge to notice.

  Aiken, the leader of Haven, strutted toward us, his hands tucked into the pockets of his jeans. Beside him was O’Donnell. She’d cut her hair short since we’d last been her, and it hung to her chin in blond waves. She was doing her best to keep her features calm, but the look of hate on her face for me was evident.

  Behind them were some other people that Mikey had introduced me to when we’d been there previously—Kelli, Carl, SJ, and some others. Carl had a bandage wrapped around his head and his chin was at his chest as he watched where he walked. I only recognized him because Mikey mumbled their names, reminding me. I smiled, trying to look confident and calm.

  “Mikey,” Aiken said. “You bringing guests to my door like this…” He tutted dryly. “You know how I like to be forewarned of new arrivals. We have a system in place for a reason.”

  “I know, and I’m sorry, but I figured you already knew these guys and it would be okay since we’d all fought side by side.” Mikey shrugged.

  “It’s my fault really,” I said, stepping forward.

  “I just bet it is,” Aiken drolled, his gaze still on Mikey and effectively dismissing me. My blood boiled at his obvious rejection, and I wondered how Mikey would react. I had a short temper and an even shorter fuse, but Mikey’s was worse than mine recently. Instead of getting pissy, I sighed and continued talking.

  “I told him you’d be okay about it. They want to set up a trading system and I thought that would be a good thing for everyone,” I continued.

  Aiken let out a short sharp laugh. “You and Mikey getting hungry out there already, huh?”

  “No, it’s not about that,” I argued, huffing out my frustrations.

  Aiken pulled the toothpick from between his teeth and looked over Highlander, Gauge, and Linc. “So you want to set up a trading system, huh?” he asked, all business.

  I heard the other bikers stand up behind me and I turned, watching as they took off their helmets. I hoped it was Highlander that spoke next and not Gauge, because Gauge was an asshole and would likely piss Aiken off more than he already was.

  It turns out it was Carl who spoke next, shoving between Kelli and O’Donnell as he stepped forward, coming close to the bikers.

  “Lincoln?” he said quietly at first, and then louder: “Lincoln, son?”

  I looked between the three burly bikers and Carl. Linc stood there, frozen to the spot, his helmet falling from his fingers as he stared at Carl.

  “Dad?”

  “Dad?” Highlander said incredulously, breaking the silence between us all. “Who’s your daddy, son? That wee man there?” he said, pointing at Carl. And he was right—compared to Lincoln, who was all six feet of strength and broadness, Carl seemed tiny, his brown leather jacket hanging from his thin shoulders.

  Carl stepped toward Linc and grabbed the other man in his arms. He held him close and then pulled back, staring into his face as if not quite believing his own eyes. His hands moving up over his shoulders, his cheeks, his hair, assessing that yes, this was his son.

  “Lincoln, I don’t understand,” he said, his words catching in his throat.

  Linc shook his head. “I don’t either.”

  “I thought you were dead,” Carl said, his words sounding strangled. “I thought you and your mom… God, is your mom here too? P
lease tell me she is.”

  Lincoln nodded, his smile widening. “She’s back at the clubhouse, Dad. We can go get her. We can be a family again!”

  Carl pulled Lincoln against his chest and hugged him hard again. “Son, we were just apart for a little while, but we were still a family.”

  Lincoln swiped at his eyes. “Yeah, Dad,” he said, the words choking in his throat.

  After several long moments the two men pulled apart and Carl looked over at the Highlander and Gauge, a frown on his face.

  “How did you meet these guys?”

  “I thought we were done for, but then these guys found us. They took care of us both, gave us a home.”

  “Aye,” Highlander said, slapping Linc on the back and almost knocking both men over, “we made him one of our own. He’s a smart little shit, if ya ask me. Loves the ladies too, if ya know what I mean.”

  Lincoln turned and smirked at Highlander. “Shut up, dickwad.”

  “Language,” Carl said automatically before catching himself.

  I stared at him and then we all laughed.

  “Your mom would have told you to watch your language I’m sure,” Carl said slowly, a smile forming before falling away. “I thought you were both gone. I thought I’d never see you again. I couldn’t get back to you. I tried! I tried for weeks, months even…and when I did, when I got there, you were both gone and there was blood...so much blood that I thought no one could have survived it.” Carl choked up, a sob bubbling out of his throat as he held Lincoln in his arms and practically squeezed the life out of him. “I wanted it to be over for me too because I wanted to be with you both, but somehow I ended up here and…”

  “It’s okay, dad, you don’t need to explain. I get it,” Lincoln said. He pushed his glasses out of the way as he wiped his eyes.

  “Och, look at him cryin’, makes me heart bleed,” Highlander said loudly and we all laughed.

  “I can’t believe that you’re really here,” Carl sobbed. He looked Lincoln up and down. “And look at you. You’re the image of your mom, son.” Pain pulled at his mouth as he tried to hold in his tears and Lincoln pressed his forehead to Carl’s. “She’s okay, right?”