CHAPTER FOUR
The excitement of the unexpected visit from Mallory’s father seems to change the atmosphere of the party.
Oh, there’s still an abundance of the usual drugs, drunken dancing, and topless girls pouring shots. I swear at this point, I’m pretty much blind to all of those antics.
Besides the debauchery, there’s an air of everyone rushing around to please Mr. DeLova. And the few times I’ve met Stump he didn’t exactly seem like the type to go out of his way to please anyone.
Mallory also went from welcoming hostess to tense and edgy the minute her father showed up. I wish I could do something to help her out, but I’m not sure what would be helpful.
Even though we’ve only met a few times, I’m usually able to relax around her. I never feel like she’s waiting to stab me in the back.
Unlike other people I won’t name at the moment.
“Hope, why don’t we go in the kitchen and help out in there?” Tawny says, taking my arm and dragging me through the swinging doors before I give her an answer.
Z sort of trails behind us, and out of the corner of my eye, I catch him motioning Charlotte to follow me.
Well, at least I won’t be alone with Tawny.
It’s mostly club girls in the kitchen cooking and preparing drinks. Tawny takes over immediately and I admire the balls of her coming into someone else’s clubhouse and immediately bossing their girls around.
A short dark-haired young woman flinches when she realizes who Tawny is, and slinks out the door.
“Ten dollars says Sway’s banged her like a barn door,” Charlotte whispers in my ear.
“Ew, I don’t want to even… ew.”
Tawny glances over. “What’s wrong, girls?”
“Nothing.” I jam my elbow in Charlotte’s ribs, hoping she’ll keep her theory to herself.
Eventually there’s nothing left to do in the kitchen. Z pokes his head in and curls his finger at me. “Your man’s looking for you.”
“Sway out there?” Tawny calls out.
Z’s face smooths into an expressionless mask. “Not sure where he is, Tawny. Probably talking to Stump.”
Tawny narrows her eyes and glares at him, but his expression doesn’t change. Nor does his answer.
Eager to get back to Rock, I duck out of the kitchen. Rock’s sitting at the bar and he pulls me against him. “You want my chair?” he asks.
“Nope. This is nice.” I run my hands over his thighs, admiring the hard muscles underneath soft, worn denim. He cocks his head and pushes some hair off my cheek. “What are you doing, baby doll?” he asks in a low voice.
“Touching you.”
The corners of his eyes crinkle with his smile.
“Everything okay?” I ask.
“Hope so.”
Well, that doesn’t tell me anything.
He signals the girl behind the bar to bring me a drink.
“Oh! I’m so sorry about that,” Mallory says, joining us. “Dad’s going to kill me,” she says, and it doesn’t take a genius to recognize she’s referring to Stump. “I had no idea my father would be stopping by tonight.”
Rock grins. “Still keeping tabs on his baby girl?”
“Ugh,” she groans. “Please.” She turns my way. “Thanks so much for helping out.”
“I didn’t do much. It was mostly Tawny.”
Her lips quirk as if she’s familiar with Tawny’s brand of “helping.”
“So, Hope, did Rock ever tell you about the first time we met?” she asks with a devilish smile.
You’ve got to be kidding. Here I think Mallory’s so nice, and she wants to share a story about how she banged my husband back in the day?
Behind me, Rock groans. “You don’t have to share that story, Mallory.”
She grins even wider. “Oh come on. It’s cute.”
Another groan from Rock. “It’s really not.”
My face must betray what I’m thinking, because the smile slides off Mallory’s face. “It’s not that, Hope.” Her eyes sparkle with mischief again. “Chaser and I had just gotten engaged.” She wiggles her left hand in my direction and I stop to stare at the stack of pretty sparklers on her ring finger.
“I’ve always loved this ring, Mallory.”
She studies it for a minute with a secret smile. “Thank you. Anyway, Rock here came with his mentor, Grinder.” Her mouth pulls down. “How’s he doing, Rock?”
“Okay. Was out to see him not that long ago. We’re hoping he’s released soon.”
She nods and seems to collect her thoughts before continuing. “So, Rock was, what?”
“Thirteen, maybe,” Rock answers.
“Well, he looked at least sixteen. I didn’t realize he was younger because he seemed so sure of himself.” She puffs up her chest and holds up her arms in an imitation of a young, cocky Rochlan North.
Behind me, Rock snorts, but his arm around my waist tightens, drawing me closer.
“What Mallory is forgetting to mention is that she starred in one of the biggest music videos that year,” Rock says.
She blushes and drops her gaze to the floor. “He’s exaggerating, but yes.”
“And I didn’t know she was Chaser’s ol’ lady,” Rock adds.
Chaser slides up behind Mallory, wraps his arms around her, and hugs her to his chest. He leans down and kisses her cheek before addressing us. “Is Mal telling you about the time Rock hit on her and I almost kicked his ass?” he asks with a wide grin.
Rock shakes with laughter and sits forward. “Unfortunately, yes.”
“He was a little punk,” Chaser adds. “But a respectful one.” His easy-going manner fades and he takes on a more serious tone. “Grinder always thought highly of you, Rock. Even back then he said you’d be leading your club one day.”
Rock goes completely still and a few seconds pass before he answers. “Best mentor I could’ve had.”
Mallory’s bright smile smooths over the awkward moment and she goes on to regale me with juicy stories about her time trying to make it as a young actress in Hollywood.
“I’m going to fucking kill you!” someone screams so loud it carries over the music and conversation. The four of us turn, seeking the source of the commotion.
“Always something around here,” Mallory jokes, but when I turn her way, she seems troubled.
Tawny storms down the hallway with Sway right behind her. The lighting’s dim, but I’m pretty sure he’s buttoning his jeans as he chases her down.
“Great,” I groan.
Sway catches her arm and the two of them exchange a flurry of harsh words in front of the entire clubhouse. Conversation in the room quiets as everyone watches with wide eyes or laughs and badgers the troubled couple. Thank God no one turns down the music or the scene would be even more awkward.
Tawny pulls free and slams open a side door, disappearing into the night.
“I better go check on her.” I flash a smile at Mallory, feeling terrible we brought drama into their clubhouse.
Rock hasn’t released his hold on me and I turn to face him. “I should make sure she’s okay?” I phrase it as a question because I’m hoping he’ll tell me not to worry about it.
But he nods and gives me a quick kiss. “Thank you, baby doll.”
Groaning, I push my way through the crowd and out the same door Tawny stomped through minutes before.
I find her pacing along the side of the clubhouse, frantically smoking and tapping on her cell phone at the same time. Somehow she manages not to turn an ankle in her five-inch heels as she stomps over the uneven ground. Impressive.
“Tawny, are you okay?” I call out.
At first, it seems she didn’t hear me, but finally she shoves her phone in her pocket and looks at me. “I never should’ve come.”
Think. I’m a lawyer for fuck’s sake. I can come up with some helpful words, can’t I?
“Go back inside, Hope. I have a car coming. I’m fine,” she insists.
I take a few steps closer and lightly touch her arm. “Please don’t leave.”
Honestly, though, won’t it be a relief not to worry about her flipping out during the entire trip? I mean, this is just the first night and look what’s happened. Not that I blame her. How anyone can stay married to Sway mystifies me. Together they seem so toxic. “Why don’t you come back inside and talk to—”
She settles a bony hand on my shoulder, long talons lightly grazing my skin. “I’m all talked out, Hope. Just”—her gaze darts to the side—“watch your man. Put your foot down early and often. Don’t let him get away with shit.”
Oh please. If I thought Rock was anything like Sway, we wouldn’t be together. At a loss for a response, I simply nod.
“I know you two are still in that obsessed-lovey-dovey-honeymoon stage.” She blows out a wistful breath. “Believe it or not, I was in that spot once myself.”
That must have been a long, long time ago.
My heart squeezes, wanting so badly to do something to make this situation better for Tawny. Even though she either intimidates me or irritates me whenever we’re around each other, the pain in her eyes is almost too much to stand.
Her gaze strays to my stomach. “I wouldn’t wait much longer to have those babies. Men like ours need to fully claim their woman.”
That erases any sympathy I was feeling toward her. I almost choke. Gross. Maybe her man feels that way. Rock and Sway might both be bikers. Might both be presidents, but they’re nothing alike. Rock’s shown me over and over that I matter to him more than my reproductive organs. And anyway, doesn’t Tawny have two kids? Doesn’t seem like it helped her marriage one bit.
Thankfully, I express none of those thoughts.
A car skids to a stop on the road in front of the clubhouse.
“Are you sure you’re okay, Tawny? Who did you find to pick you up at this hour?”
“Don’t you worry about me. I’ll be fine.” She pulls me in for a hug and pats my hair. “Be careful. I’m sorry I won’t be there to look out for you on this trip. But I think you’ll do fine. You’re property of a Lost Kings president. Do us proud.”
I almost say, “Trinity will be there to make sure I don’t stick my feet in my mouth,” but catch myself at the last moment. No need to make Tawny feel more unwanted than she probably already does. Or point out that Tawny causes more problems than she solves.
We say goodbye one more time before she struts to the car without looking back, head held high. Her special brand of regal biker bitch on full display. Quite admirable under the circumstances, honestly.
As soon as the car’s out of sight, I sigh and shake my head.
“Shit,” I mutter, scuffing my boot against the crumbling asphalt, sending a bunch of little stones skittering away. A cloud of unease settles around me and I have the strongest urge to find Rock and hug him tight. To thank him for being who he is and tell him I love him.
“Thanks, Hope.” The gruff voice comes out of the dark to my left and I jump.
Sway steps out of the shadows.
“Jeez. You scared the crap out of me.” Why did he wait until his wife left to make his presence known? Like some killer clown from a horror movie waiting for the right moment to pounce on the hapless victim.
Without apologizing for startling me, he moves in closer. This must be what little fish feel like right before a giant shark scoops them up.
“Thanks for trying to get her to stay and waiting with her.” He nods toward the clubhouse. “Lotta old ladies woulda whipped her up into even more of a frenzy.” He smirks. “Or encouraged her to come slice off my balls.”
Yuck. Now I’m picturing what I assume is a wrinkly, hairy…I don’t want to think about Sway’s balls or… anything else.
“I’m worried about her.”
“She’ll be fine,” he says in a tired voice. “She always is.”
Maybe you should treat her better.
He lifts his chin in the direction of the road. “She tell you I’m fucking Stella?”
Taken aback by the change in subject and crude question, I pause. “Uh… she’s mentioned it before,” I mumble like an idiot.
Where the hell is Z? Isn’t he supposed to be following me around?
“I’m not.” He shrugs. “Just so you know. She’s not like that. It’s purely business.”
Good for you? “Why do you care what I think?”
“I don’t,” he answers bluntly. “But I’m tired of being accused of shit I haven’t done. Feel free to mention it to her next time you gals chat.”
Yeah, no thanks. I have zero desire to play family therapist with these two. Of course, the lawyer part of my personality decides to ignore that instinct. “You two obviously loved each other at some point.”
He stares down at me and I fight the urge to twitch. I may not like or respect Sway all that much, but he’s a terrifying man. I’m acutely aware of how much he towers over me.
Slowly, he slips a quarter out of his pocket and holds it in front of my face. Flashes of light bounce off the shiny coin as he twists it back and forth. “You ever hear that saying about love and hate being opposite sides of the same coin?”
I swallow hard and try to come up with something halfway intelligent that won’t piss him off or insult him. “To hate someone, you have to care about them.”
“I care about her more than she understands.”
It feels more like he’s using the word to mock me more than he’s explaining his feelings for his wife.
“Well, I’m sorry she’s not joining us for the rest of the trip.” I gesture toward the clubhouse where I really want to be right now.
“It’s probably better this way.”
As I try to step into the clubhouse, he slaps his hand against the doorframe, blocking my path. “You’re a better ol’ lady than I expected.”
“Uh, thanks.”
“Maybe Rock’s onto something with the quiet types.” He reaches out and tucks a piece of hair behind my ear. “I don’t picture you screaming at your man in the middle of a full party. Bet you never raise your voice to him at all.”
My entire body shudders with displeasure from the unwanted touch. Did he just insinuate I’m a pushover? Somehow, I keep my spine straight and don’t break eye contact. “He’s a good man.”
Sway’s lips twitch as if he’d heard the “unlike you” I left unspoken.
“Sway,” Z barks from behind us. “You’re needed inside.”
Oh, thank God.
Sway nods, acknowledging Z’s words without taking his eyes off me. “Thanks again.”
“Sure.”
Gravel crunches behind me as Z approaches. Sway disappears inside the clubhouse.
I practically collapse in relief that he’s finally gone. God, that was creepy.
Z’s arm grazes my shoulder. “You okay?” he asks. “What was that about?”
“No idea.” I throw my hands in the air. “Trust me, I didn’t initiate that conversation.”
He snorts as if the idea is absurd. “I figured that.”
“I was waiting with Tawny, and after she left, he popped up like some creepy-ass horror-movie clown. Thanked me for talking to her.” I lower my voice. “Wanted to assure me he’s not banging Stella. Like I care.”
The corners of his mouth turn up and he chuckles. “They’ve always been volatile, but it’s never exploded in front of another club before.”
“I feel bad, but—”
“Don’t.” He gives me a softer look. “I know you can’t help it.” Reaching past me, he grabs the door handle and pulls it open. “Come on, Rock’s probably wondering where you are.”
Rock is indeed wondering where I am. I spot him across the room in a tense discussion with Mr. DeLova. His gaze lands on me and a brief smile flickers over his mouth. Some of the tension in his posture slips away.
“I take it I should stay away?” I mutter to Z.
“Can’t say,” he says in a voice I can barely make out over the rest of the noise in the room. “DeLova’s a wild card tonight.”
“And the fun times keep coming,” I grumble. “Is he upset Wrath’s not here?”
“Maybe. Teller’s doing a fine job.”
My gaze sweeps over Teller, standing with his arms folded over his chest at Rock’s back, eyes scanning the room. The expression darkening his handsome face moves him closer to the Wrath end of the scary-biker spectrum tonight.
“How about you?”
“Well, I let you out of my sight for five seconds.”
I press a finger against my lips. “I won’t tell if you won’t.”
He chuckles. “Mallory was looking for you.”
Charlotte bumps my shoulder. “Where’d you go?”
“To talk to Tawny before she left.”
Charlotte rolls her eyes. “Drama queen, that one.” She tilts her head in Teller’s direction. “I’m going to jump him so hard later.”
Z bursts out laughing. “The fuck-off face works for you, huh?”
“Fuck yes.”
I chuckle and nudge Charlotte. “How much have you had to drink?”
“Probably too much.” She hands Z the rest of her beer. “I don’t usually drink at all,” she mumbles.
“It’s fine. We’re supposed to have fun on this trip.” I poke her in the side to lighten her up and she laughs.
Next to me, Z shakes his head. “Why you two making my job so hard?”
I widen my eyes and gasp in an exaggerated way that forces a chuckle out of Z.
“Are you saying we’re more difficult than wrangling dancers at Crystal Ball?”
“No. You’re definitely… easier. It’s just…”
“He can’t see us naked, Hope,” Charlotte finishes what Z was reluctant to say to our faces.
He holds up his hands. “She said it, not me.”
Someone turns the music up even louder, and I glance at Rock, who motions me over.
He takes my hand when I reach him and pulls me to his side. Mr. DeLova has ventured into the party, so I don’t have the pleasure of talking to him.
Rock leans down. “Everything okay?” he asks against my ear.
“Tawny went home and Sway… creepily thanked me for talking to her.”
He pulls back, a frown darkening his face. I wave my hand between us. “I’ll tell you more later.”
“Yes. You will.”
That bossy tone of his turns me on way more than it should. I silence any more questions with my lips against his.
After Hope explains her conversation with Sway, I decide he needs a punch in the face first thing in the morning.
“I know what you’re thinking,” Hope says without turning her head.
“Good, so it won’t be a shock when I lay him out tomorrow.”
“Please don’t,” she pleads. “We’re going to be on the road with him for two weeks.”
I’ll ask Z how much he overheard before I make a decision on how to handle Sway.
She taps my shoulder. “What I really want to talk about is young Rock trying to hit on Mallory.”
I snort with laughter and pull her closer. “You heard the whole story.”
“Oh, I doubt that.” She presses her lips against my arm. “How come you never mentioned it?”
“Honestly, I forgot about it until she brought it up.” I peer down at her. “Do you really want to hear about all the women I’ve tried to pick up in my life?”
“Ugh, no.” She chuckles and turns to face me. “Come on, though. It sounds like a cute story.”
“Not to me.”
“Right. The big stud struck out,” she teases. She stops laughing. “Thirteen, huh? Seems young to be so sure of yourself.”
Uncomfortable with the conversation, I shrug off her probing statement. “Had already been around the club for a couple years.”
“You don’t talk about Grinder a lot,” she says softly.
“Lot of complicated feelings there, baby doll.”
“You feel guilty he’s still in prison?”
“Every day.”
“Oh, Rock,” she whispers, hugging me tighter. I wasn’t looking for sympathy, but I love her up against me. And I can’t deny that confessing to her lifts some of the weight off my chest.
“Let’s get some sleep. Big day tomorrow.”
The next morning, Wrath, Trinity, and Murphy join us at the clubhouse.
“How was the ride?” I hug Trinity as if it’s been a month since I saw her instead of a day. “Where’s Heidi?”
“Right behind us,” Murphy says. “Alexa was out cold when we left, but we stopped about halfway and she was having a meltdown, so Heidi rode with them.”
“Oh, poor baby.”
He shrugs. “We knew that would happen. It’s just nice having them with me.”
A few minutes later, Murphy’s pickup slides into the lot with Carter behind the wheel. Murphy jogs over to meet them.
Today a lot of the club members have their families over, so it’s not unusual that Alexa’s here. Mallory and her daughter whisk Heidi and Alexa away to introduce Alexa to some of the other kids.
I finish packing my bag and Birch takes it to the van. “This is the way to travel on a bike,” I joke to Rock.
“Yeah?” He wraps an arm around my shoulders.
“I get to be with my man and bring all my girly supplies along.”
“Good thing we had the van.” He jerks his thumb toward Murphy’s truck. “I’m sure Murphy packed Alexa’s entire bedroom in the back of that pickup.”
“Thank you for helping them make this work. He’s really happy to have them along.”
He stops and surveys the parking lot, full of brothers checking out each other’s bikes and joking around. “Some guys like club life because it allows them to escape their families and responsibilities. But to guys like Murphy, it is the family.”
“And you.”
“And me,” he agrees. “National will be the same. A lot of families come. That’s why they rent out a whole hotel.” His mouth pulls into a filthy grin. “The dirty stuff will happen in the woods behind the hotel.”
“Oooh, tell me more about the dirty stuff.”
“I’m gonna show you the dirty stuff.” He yanks me closer. “Gonna fuck you from here to Mississippi.”
“Can’t wait.”
“Do I need to get the hose?” Z asks.
Rock turns and glowers. “Yeah, if you want me to choke you with it.”
“So hostile,” I tease, leaning up on tiptoes to kiss Rock’s cheek. “I’m going to talk to Mallory. No choking Z while I’m gone.”
“I’ll do my best.”
Z winks at me as I pass him, and I mouth, “behave.”
I find Mallory in the kitchen packing a cooler full of snacks for the guys.
“Do you need any help?” I ask.
“No, I’m almost done. Thanks, Hope.” She peers at me over the lid of the cooler. “Excited for the rally?”
“Sort of. Rock says it’s a really big one and it could get… lively.”
“That’s a good way to put it. But don’t worry. It ends up being pretty chill. Hopefully we’ll run into each other there.”
“Definitely.” We exchange numbers and promise to meet up for drinks.
While the Demons are busy, Trinity gathers Heidi, Alexa, and Charlotte by the guys’ bikes for pictures.
Even though Alexa yowls like a distressed cat every time she hears the rumble of a Harley engine, she seems to recognize which one is Murphy’s and reaches for it.
“Yes! Oh my God. Adorable.” Trinity bubbles over with excitement. “Let me take a picture of her on Murphy’s bike wearing her teeny-tiny, girly cut. She’s so flippin’ cute!”
“Blake,” Heidi calls out. She tilts her head toward the bike and he jogs over.
“What’s up?”
Trinity explains her vision while she throws out a bunch of instructions on how she wants the three of them to pose. Murphy wraps his arm around Alexa and sits her in front of him. She immediately stretches toward the handlebars, squirming to touch everything within reach.
“Thank God.” Murphy sighs with relief. “I was starting to worry she hated it.”
“Careful, Murphy. You don’t want her dating bikers when she’s older,” Z says.
Ignoring him, Murphy pulls Alexa close and kisses her cheeks. “Don’t gotta worry about that. You’re never dating at all.”
“Da!”
“Trin, did you film that so I can show it to her when she’s sixteen?” Murphy asks.
“Sounded more like she was mocking you. A baby version of ‘you’re so silly, daddy.’ Charlotte snorts with laughter and ruffles Alexa’s hair.
“No, she was agreeing with me.”
Alexa flaps her hands in the air. “Yeth!”
“See?” Murphy’s smug smile makes Heidi and Charlotte crack up.
“Murphy, what the fuck?” Wrath shouts. “Rock’s looking for you.”
“I’m right here. Your woman’s holding me hostage.” His complaint about Trinity’s photo session is negated by the contented smile stretched across his face.
Alexa purses her lips and narrows her eyes as Wrath approaches.
“Oh, wow. It’s like she knows you’re the fun police.” I snicker and clamp my hand over my mouth.
Wrath’s unamused gaze slides my way. “Very funny.”
“Here, take her.” Murphy holds Alexa out for Heidi, but Wrath scoops her up instead, swinging her into his arms.
“Eeee!”
“See, she knows I’m the fun uncle.”
“Don’t drop her,” Murphy says, walking backwards to keep an eye on Alexa, or make sure Wrath doesn’t sneak up on him. Hard to tell.
“Drop her? I’m gonna drop you if you don’t get your ass over there,” Wrath threatens.
Murphy answers by holding out his arms in a “come at me” sort of gesture. An invitation Wrath can’t resist. He hands Alexa to Heidi and sprints after him.
“Play nice, boys.” The rest of Charlotte’s warning is swallowed up by her laughter.
“Teller, control your woman,” Wrath calls out.
“I hope you got your pictures, Trin. I think the guys are ready to get back on the road.”
She runs over with her cellphone in her hand. “One more selfie.”
One hundred and one selfies later, Rock wraps an arm around my waist and says it’s time to go.
The two clubs ride out together. Rock already told me the Demons will go their separate way once we’re through Pennsylvania. He didn’t explain why, but I assume it’s a territory issue.
All I’m worried about is the next part of our adventure.