That was odd. They never came out to meet any of them when they arrived. They only did it for guests.
Pulling up next to Johan’s SUV he kicked the stand down, turned the bike off and swung his leg over the seat. Because his folks lived on the same property as the clubhouse he hadn’t worn a helmet, just his beanie, sunglasses and a bandanna pulled up over his nose and mouth.
Slipping his sunglasses off he hooked them into the neck of his tee and pulled the bandanna down as he walked over to where his folks were waiting. His dad was pissed and his mum looked worried. What the fuck was going on?
His mum didn’t give him a chance to ask.
“I’m so sorry, sweetheart. She arrived out of the blue and I didn’t know if you or Genna had invited her so I asked her to stay for dinner. I only realised my mistake when your dad and Genna arrived and nearly bit my head off.”
Ice frowned. “I didn’t invite anyone. Who the hell is here?”
Bulldog stepped up and put a big hand on his shoulder. “It’s Emmie, son. She ambushed your mother and got herself invited to dinner.”
“What the fuck?” Ice growled.
“My sentiments exactly.” Bulldog said softly. “We’ll understand if you need to leave.”
“Fuck that, Dad. This is my fucking home, not hers. She’s the one who needs to leave and I’ll personally fucking throw her out.”
“Gray.” A soft voice interrupted them and Ice felt his backbone go steel hard as he swivelled his head towards her. She looked fucking stunning in her tight red dress and heels. Her hair perfectly styled and her face made up. Glancing over her body he saw her tits were bigger and her hips had a curve it never had before. He tried fucking hard to ignore the rush of blood to his stupid cock.
It didn’t work, after everything she had done her body still had the power to turn him on.
But it took only one look into her eyes for him to realise she had bargained on that exact reaction. Totally explained the tight as hell dress, the fuck-me heels and the hair and face.
And just like frost under the morning sun his almost hard on disappeared.
“What the hell are you doing here, Emmie?” Ice gritted through tightly clenched teeth.
“I’m Emma now, and I tried to get Hawk and Genna to give me your number, but they refused and Hawk warned me not to set foot near his club. So I came here. I’m sorry I had to drag your parents into this. But it was the only way I knew I would get to see you. I have to talk to you, Gray. I need to explain.”
Ice saw tears glistening in her eyes but he didn’t believe those tears, she had always found it very easy to produce tears when she wanted to have her own way. And fuck knows he used to give her anything she wanted when she started with the waterworks.
But not this time, he was done being her lapdog.
“After Hawk’s warning you still came on to Iron Dogz property, defying him. Let me make something very clear to you. You aren’t welcome here, not now, not ever. You think I don’t know what happened after you accused me of fucking Jane? You think I don’t know you knew it was all lies? You think I don’t know about the guys you fucked after you left? I know fucking everything. And that shit you laid on Hawk about seeing me getting a blowjob from a club whore? We both know it’s a load of bullshit. So why don’t we get to the point of this fucked up little visit of yours? Say what you’ve got to say and then get the fuck off our property and out of our lives.”
Emma’s mouth had opened and shut several times while he laid it out for her, right in front of his parents and his avidly watching siblings. Spider stood at the far end of the veranda, watching with an angry frown, his phone in his hand. The little bastard was recording the entire conversation. Spider had never made a secret of his dislike of the bitch.
A look came into Emma’s eyes, a look Ice remembered very well. It reminded him of her bitch of a mother, she used to get the very same look in her eyes when she was about to lie to manipulate her daughter. Seems like the apple hasn’t fallen very far from that fucked up family tree.
“I...I’m so sorry, Gray. Sorry I never came back or called you but I was so confused and hurt. I…I…I found out I was pregnant after I left and I…I wanted to tell you but…but then…then…I lost the baby and I thought it would be better if I never told you. Now I know I should’ve come to you. I should have told you. But the longer I waited the more I couldn’t make myself tell you, so I carried on as if it never happened.”
“But it did happen. We did lose our child and I wanted to say I’m sorry and ask you to forgive me and give me another chance. We love each other, Gray. We will always love each other. We belong together. Everyone knows we were meant to be together. Please give me a chance to show you I can be the woman you need. Please, Gray.”
What. The. Fuck.
She sniffled and Ice watched as tears glistened in her eyes but never rolled down her cheeks. The fake as fuck bitch.
Ice was stunned. Stunned, heartbroken and enraged at the same time. Not only had she believed or pretended to believe Jane’s lies but she had taken his child from him. She had left him when she knew she was carrying his child and when she lost their child instead of coming to him she had kept on running from him.
Jesus. How was he supposed to deal with this shit?
“You need to leave, right the fuck now.” Ice bit out through tight lips then swung around and stormed around the side of the house away from the bitch.
He sank down on a chair on the back deck and dropped his head into his hands. Everything surrounding the shit the bitch had laid out was so fucked up. He was fucked up. Somewhere deep inside he still felt something for her, but it was for the girl he once knew. And that was the biggest fucking problem as far as he was concerned. How the hell could he still feel something for someone who had lied to him? Someone who was trying to manipulate him by professing her so-called love for him while dropping the bomb of their lost child.
What the hell was he supposed to do now?
The chair next to his creaked as his dad lowered his bulk into it and dropped his elbows onto his thighs, clasping his hands between his knees. Ice tipped his head slightly to the side to look at his dad, but he was staring at the wooden planks of the deck.
“She’s gone. Son, I know right now there are a million thoughts going through your head. But there is one thing you need to get straight. Everything she laid on you tonight happened seven years ago. There’s nothing you can do to change what happened. It’s done. Over.”
Ice pulled his beanie off and ran his fingers roughly through his hair and dropped his elbows on his knees, mimicking his dad. Playing with the beanie clasped between his fingers.
“How, Dad, how do I let it go? I waited for her for years before I made my move. I paid her fucking fees at University because her fucking mother got her hands on her student loan. I bought her a car so she would be safe going to class and the hospital. I did fucking everything for her and she knew I never stepped out on her and then she runs off and loses my kid.”
His dad put a hand over his knee and just held on to him.
“What you need to work out for yourself, son, is if you still love her. I’m not going to blow smoke up your ass and tell you we’ll be happy if you decide to get back with her. She not only hurt you, she hurt this family, especially your mother. Your mother is my old lady and my job is to protect her, but if you choose to be with Emma then we will try to understand and deal with it.”
Ice shook his head. “I don’t know, Dad. I don’t know what I feel right now. Mostly I just feel empty and used.”
“Take your time, Ice. Take your time and think this through. And if you need to talk it through with anybody I’m here. I’ll listen, no judgement.”
Bulldog stood and drew him up out of the chair and into his arms for a hard hug, slapping his back hard, twice, before he let go.
“Let’s get inside before your mother comes storming out because we’re ruining her dinner.” His dad joked as he closed a hand ov
er his shoulder and squeezed.
Dinner was a subdued affair until Gail looked up from her plate, took Johan’s hand and dropped the bomb.
“We’re having twins. One boy, one girl. We were going to keep it a secret but this family needs some good news right now. So, get out the champers, Dad. And apple juice for me, ugh.” She pulled a face making everyone laugh while his mum shouted with glee.
After Gail and Johan’s news the dinner became a celebration of the new lives being added to their family. Gail was over the moon that one of the babies was a boy and judging by the grin Johan wore he was just as excited.
Ice stayed as long as he could but eventually it became too difficult to keep a smile on his face and he left. Spider was right by his side as they rode through the compound gates and parked their bikes.
He was about to walk inside when Spider stopped him with a hand on his biceps. “I’m sorry for your loss, brother.” He said softly.
“Fuck, Spider, we don’t know if she was telling the truth. Or if the baby was even mine. Jesus, that’s a fucked up thought. I have to know, man. I can’t go through life not knowing.” Ice looked down at his dusty boots then up into his brother’s eyes. Spider’s face went hard and cold.
“I’ve got this, Ice. I swear I will get the truth, just promise me you won’t do anything until I can give you the truth. Don’t go to her because you’re feeling guilty or some shit. Take some time and think this through, brother. And know I’ve got your back, no matter what.”
Nodding Ice gave him what he wanted. “Okay, little brother, I’ll wait until I hear from you. Now I’m done with acting like a fucking bitch, let’s get inside and have a beer.”
“I’m with you, big brother.” Spider grinned but the grin didn’t reach his eyes. They stayed cold.
Ice and Spider were leaning on the bar, drinking their beers when Hawk and DC appeared next to them. By the sated grins on their faces he knew they had been having sex until shortly before walking into the common room. It was glaringly obvious to everyone in the room.
Hawk slapping a hand down on the bar counter had silence falling over the chattering crowd around them.
“Spread it around, brothers, we’ll be having a family braai (barbeque) on Saturday. Only family and invited guests will be allowed through the gate. Give the names of those you want to invite to Ziggy. Background checks on everyone will be mandatory. The braai is in celebration of DC taking my patch which is why it will be family and friends only.”
The announcement turned a quiet evening of a few beers into a celebration with plenty of shots being downed.
Hours later Ice’s head was spinning as he stumbled up the stairs to his room after waving off more than one club slut who tried to lock him down for the night. Not going to happen. He never took them to his room. He always fucked them in the back rooms or they sucked him off in a dark corner. He was drunk and not thinking straight so there wasn’t going to be any screwing tonight. Not ever going to make that fucking mistake.
Locking his door behind him Ice shrugged out of his kutte, threw it onto the couch and stumbled over to his bed. He collapsed full length across it and between one blink and the next he was asleep.
Hawk
The next day
Hawk grinned when his old lady walked into his office after one sharp knock, not waiting for him to give her permission to enter. Glancing at Ice he frowned when he saw his VP hadn’t reacted at all. That wasn’t right. It wasn’t like Ice to be so withdrawn and lost in his own head. It had to be the fucking bitch slithering back into their lives that was fucking with his concentration. Making a mental note to talk to his VP later he turned to his old lady as she sauntered towards him with what looked like a list in her hand.
“What do you have there, little bird?”
“You asked everyone to give the names of those they wanted to invite to Ziggy. I did, but he said because it’s a list and not one or two invites I had to run it past you first. So, this is my list of guests I want to invite.”
His woman grinned when his eyes widened when he saw the extent of her list.
“Jesus, baby. Who are all these people? I recognise some of these names but not all of them.”
She sighed and rolled her eyes at him and Hawk grinned. His woman was damned entertaining.
“All of them are important to me. You know my Warriors family and everyone who works at my shop.”
Hawk tapped on a name that he didn’t know. “Who is River Anderson?”
His little bird grinned wide. “I met her before we got together. She owns ARR, Anderson Rebuilds & Repairs, with her dad. She’s the one who fixed the damage to my lady after I had to lay her down. I got to know her and I really like her. You know I find it hard to connect with people but it was easy with her. I want her to come.”
Hawk glanced at his VP but it was clear the fucker was in his head somewhere and hadn’t paid any attention to what DC had said. Fuck. He would have to have a talk with the bastard. Looking back at his old lady he saw she was frowning at Ice. She had noticed his inattention as well.
“Okay, little bird, give the list to Ziggy.” Pointing up at the blinking red light of a camera he grinned. “He’s watching, so he already knows I’m okay with it.”
His woman stuck her tongue out at the camera, gave him a quick kiss and zoomed out of his office. On her way to give Ziggy a hard time.
As the door closed behind her he turned his eyes back to his VP who was still locked inside his head.
“Ice.” He had to call out twice before it registered with his brother.
Ice shook his head and blinked. “Sorry, Prez. What do you need?”
“I need you to oversee the security arrangements for the braai with Jagger. We are going to have a lot of vulnerable people here on Saturday, make sure they are safe while on our property.” Hawk was relieved to see his cousin was back to being his VP.
“I’ve got it, Prez. Jagger and I already sat down and hammered out a plan for Saturday. All we need to do now is allocate duties to the prospects and brothers.” Ice looked at his watch. “I actually have to meet with Jagger now.” He said as he pushed up out of the chair.
Hawk just nodded as he watched Ice leave with narrowed eyes.
That fucking bitch from his past was going to cause problems for his cousin. He could feel it in his gut.
CHAPTER FOUR
River
I had to be freaking crazy. I was on my way to a club braai, and not at a club whose members I knew. Nope, I knew only two people at this club and that was a scary thought. While I had worked on DC Michaels’s bike we had become friends. And our budding friendship was why I had been invited to help celebrate her taking a property of patch.
Following DC’s directions I turned off from the main road through big open gates onto a private but tarred road and slowly drove towards my destination. A high white wall obstructed my view of anything on the right hand side of the road while high game fence ran along the left. And then the high white wall curved away from the road and gave me a view of what awaited me. Huge steel gates.
The Iron Dogz MC’s compound.
My heart was beating really fast and my palms were sweating as I gave the armed guy at the gate my name. He checked it off on a list before I was directed to drive through the enormous steel gates with the snarling dog emblem and into the Iron Dogz MC’s compound. I was on another club’s property and that alone was enough to make me freaking shake in my boots. Then there was the fact that even though Sparrow has been dead for five years, technically I still belonged to the Sinner’s Sons MC and because of Duncan always would.
I had a personal invite from the old lady of the president of the Iron Dogz MC, but what if it wasn’t enough?
My nerves did not stop me from admiring the neat layout of the clubhouse and the separate parking for bikes and cages. I was about to head towards where the other cars and bakkies were parked when a wildly waving Wrench headed me off and pointed me in the opposite di
rection to where a few other cars were parked under large shady trees. And knowing the way clubs worked I knew they most probably belonged to the families of the officers of the club. I slowly drove to where he pointed and he was right next to me when I stopped and turned off the ignition.
I wasn’t cold so I left my jacket but took my phone out of my small back pack. Drawing in a deep breath I smiled at Wrench and got out of the car, locking it behind me then slipping the keys into the front pocket of my jeans. I slid my phone into the opposite pocket.
“Hey, Boss, DC told me you were coming so I was looking out for you. I thought you would be in the SUV so I didn’t immediately recognise you. Hell, you hardly ever take this monster out of the garage. Which is why I had you park over here where your ride wouldn’t get scratched. Where’s my little brother? I thought he would be coming with you.”
I gave him a quick hug and grinned. “The monster needed a run to charge her battery. I was nervous about my boykie running wild around people I don’t know, but it’s not the reason why he isn’t here. It’s Dagger’s weekend with him and they’ve gone fishing and off-roading with club friends.”
“I was looking forward to introducing my little bro to my brothers. But I’ll do it the next time you come for a visit.”
I looked around at the rows of shining bikes, the men hanging out on the wide veranda and the women hanging around them and shrugged.
“I’m not sure I’ll be invited again when they know who my old man was, Wrench. The Dogz and the Sons are allies but they aren’t friends.”
Wrench grinned. “No worries, Boss. My prez knows who you are. Ziggy did a background check when I got the job with you and there’s no probs, we’re totally fine.”
I wasn’t sure if I liked that they had looked into me but it was months too late to get pissed about it.
Lost And Found In Blue (Iron Dogz MC Book 2) Page 3
