~ Ryder ~
Across town, Ace was waiting to see the club’s favorite private physician. Old Doc Reynolds has been patching up their battle wounds since the old days. When he wasn’t available, his snot-nosed son saw to their needs.
Leaning over the exam table, Ryder barked gruffly, “Don’t be such a freaking baby.”
Groaning, Ace slammed his head back against the headrest. “I cannot believe you shot me again, you piece of shit.”
Ryder’s expression morphed into a smirk. “But this time it was unintentional. That should count for something, right?”
“I’m not finished. You shot me then closed the hole with a fucking pool stick. What kind of person does that?”
“A person trying to help?”
“A dumbass, that’s who.”
Ryder’s lip curled, and he growled, “I saved your life.”
“Yeah, after you accidentally shot me.”
“So?”
“Accidentally shooting someone and then saving their life does not make you a hero,” Ace grumbled. “It falls into the category of righting your own mistake, dumbass.”
Grinning, Ryder poked at the wound. “You got me there. Thanks for not telling Tiff I screwed up.”
“You’re fucking welcome, dimwit. Do me a freaking favor from now on. Let me unjam any weapons.”
“Roger that, Ace.”
Ace’s gaze slid around the room, taking in all the bright lights and sterile equipment and other crap doctors used to patch up their patients. “I hate doctors’ offices. Used to throw a fit every time my mom took me to get a checkup. The old fucker used to poke and prod me in all the wrong places and enjoyed handling my junk a little too much for my liking.”
Ryder’s head jerked back. “Jesus, that’s all kinds of screwed up.”
“Yep, it seems he was doing a lot more with some of the other kids. Blew his brains out when the cops showed up at his house to arrest him.”
Darkness sounded off from the doorway. “Fuck him. I’d have cut his nuts off. You got a bitch for a doctor today anyways.”
“God, I hope she’s not some little old lady. That would mess with my head.”
“Pipe down, pipsqueak. If you’re a good little boy, I’ll take you for ice cream when we’re finished,” Darkness said with a crooked smile.
“Fuck you, man.”
“No, thanks. Unlike you, I have a beautiful woman to get home to.”
Holding up one finger, Ace deadpanned right back, “A woman I touched, with this finger right here.”
The smugness in Ace’s voice had clearly pissed Darkness off. “I’m gonna tag you back for that shit, the very first chance I get. Don’t think for a damned minute that being a fuckin’ cripple is gonna save you.”
“Cut it out, both of you,” Ryder barked. “The doc is on her way.”
Ace immediately bolted upright. “Is she really? I’m dying to get out of here. Is she young and sexy? I hope she had nice breasts. Gives a man something nice to look at while she works.”
Slapping him the back of the head, Ryder whispered, “She’s a doctor, not a fucking party favor. Get your head straight.” It truly pissed Ryder off that men were probably thinking that kind of shit about Tiffany when she was trying to help them. Then he remembered that he was one of those guys.
A slow smile spread over Ace’s face. “If I charm a doctor, that’ll beat your nurse all to hell.”
Ryder leaned over and looked his friend in the face. “I think your brain is broken.”
At that moment, the door flew open, and a female physician strolled into the room. “Hey, this is not the place for romance. Save the kissing for later.”
Ace stammered, “W-what? We’re not gay.”
Ryder straightened and grinned are her. “We are. He just doesn’t like people to know.”
Giving him a shove, Ace complained bitterly, “If I were gay, I wouldn’t be dating you. Jesus, you’ve got one ugly mug. It’s enough to give a man nightmares.”
Pretending to be wounded, Ryder stepped back, a hand pressed over his heart. “How can you shame me in front of new people?”
Suddenly grinning again, Ace replied, “If I could make you a little prettier, I would.”
“You are not the man I met a year ago.”
The pretty redhead chuckled at their antics. “Hey, I know that show. Want to know the kicker?”
Ace nodded.
“I’m Mrs. Reynolds or Dr. Reynolds, as the case may be. Isn’t that hilarious?”
Sounding disappointed, Ace mumbled dejectedly, “You’re married. It figures.”
“Well, I’m actually divorced. It’s still funny, though, right?”
Darkness complained from the doorway, as impatient as ever. “Yeah, it’s a fucking riot. Do you think you can patch up my brother, or do you just plan to stand around making jokes about obscure television shows all damned day?”
Swiveling her head around to look at Darkness, Dr. Reynolds’ delicate, rust-colored brow lifted. “I don’t think I like your attitude.”
“Don’t give a fuck, doc. Do your job.”
Frowning, Ryder had to admit that Darkness had absolutely no people skills. The man really knew how to wreck the fun moments in life as well.
Shooting Darkness an annoyed look, she stated coldly, “You can have a seat in the waiting room and take his gay friend with you. I don’t need any distractions when I—” Glancing back at Ace she continued, “When I work.”
“Fine, whatever. Just get the job done.”
Following his brother, Ryder murmured on the way out, “Remember to be a good little boy, and the doctor will give you a sticker.”
Dr. Reynolds laughed, which seemed to infuriate Ace all over again. “Fuck off. I’m glad you’re leaving. A little peace and quiet would be nice for a change.”
Falling into step beside Darkness on the way to the waiting room, Ryder mentioned casually, “That was a shitty way to treat a doctor. She agreed to squeeze Ace into her already tight schedule. It seems like you could be nice for once.”
“Bitches make me nervous. You know that, brother.”
“She ain’t some club whore. She’s a medical professional.”
His club president’s head jerked around to look at him. “Are you fucking kidding me?”
“Look, I know you ain’t ever gonna respect women. I’m just taking it upon myself to point out when you cross the line.”
“Fuck the damn line. Know what set me off about that one?”
“The pretty redhead making googly eyes at Ace?”
“Fuck if all the halfway decent bitches don’t look right over me like I’m fucking invisible.”
“That ain’t Ace’s fault.”
“You know I ain’t ever gonna get in a brother’s face over some hot bitch. I’ll stick with the occasional whore. At least they know their place.”
“Where might that be?”
He didn’t reply, but then again, he didn’t have to. His smile was as dark as his nickname implied. Everyone in the club knew Darkness had no love lost for women. After being royally fucked over by the love of his life some years ago, he considered all women manipulative and deceitful.
Ryder was of a similar mind but intelligent enough to know women came in all shapes, sizes, and personalities. Some were manipulative and deceitful, but a good bit of them were just real nice. Ryder had been lucky enough to draw the notice a good woman, so he knew they were out there.
Hanging out in the waiting room proved an impossible task for Darkness. He paced back and forth until everyone was shooting him annoyed looks. Then he went out to smoke a joint, came back in, and fidgeted in his seat like a crazy man. Ryder made productive use of his time by going through his e-mail. A couple of hours later, Ace came out on a pair of crutches looking like the cat who ate the canary.
Once outside, they got Ace settled in the back of the vehicle, and for once, his new friend and partner in crime was quiet.
Darkness climbed behind the wheel, insisting on driving. Ryder suspected it was just to have something to do. He turned to stare at Ace. “You must have been given some good drugs.”
“Yep.”
“What do you mean, ‘yep’? No ‘fuck off and shut the hell up, Ryder’? What’s up with you?”
Ace kept his eyes closed tight, raising Ryder’s suspicions. “Nothing.”
“Nothing, my ass. You’re more mellow than I’ve ever seen you. If I didn’t know better, I’d say you look like a brother who just got laid.”
“Mind your own business.”
Ryder’s brows popped, and with a fuck-load of shock in his voice, he said, “Fucking hell, you did get laid.”
Ace sighed. “Not exactly.” Unsnapping his pants, he pulled them open. Lipstick kisses were all over his lower abdomen.”
“That lipstick go all the way down, brother?”
“Yep,” he said with a cocky smirk.
“Bullshit.”
Pulling his pants down with one thumb, Ace’s lipstick-smeared junk flopped out. It even had a little red heart sticker stuck to the tip.
“Fuck me. Told you that she’d give you a sticker,” Ryder said, amused. “And I recognize that color lipstick. You got a blow job from your doctor? That’s all kinds of crazy.”
“Not only that.” Righting his pants, Ace shoved up his sleeve to reveal a phone number written on his arm in what appeared to be a black sharpie.
Ryder shook his head. “You lucky son of a bitch. I’ll take my thank you about now. If I hadn’t shot you, you never would have met her.”
Pulling his sleeve back down, Ace’s grin spread wider. “I’m almost inclined to give you one.”
“Shit, you are more chilled the fuck out than I’ve ever seen you. I guess we now know what it takes to get you to stop being a dick.”
“Whatever, man. Nothing could ruin this day for me.”
“I’ll bet you anything I can have you pissed the hell off inside of an hour,” Ryder challenged, ideas already beginning to form.
Darkness spoke in a low and menacing tone. “Leave the man alone. Let him enjoy the little happiness that’s come his way.”
Turning his attention to his president, Ryder took note of the classic and always there dark expression he wore and responded, “Yeah, why mess with him when Mister Doom and Gloom himself is sitting right here?”
Rather than answering, Darkness reached out and nailed him with one hard first across his face while still driving.
Ryder cupped his aching jaw, cursing under his breath. “What in the hell was that for?”
“Thinking I’m some easy fuck to mess with.”
Rubbing his jaw, Ryder stammered, “I-I didn’t think that…exactly.”
“Shut the fuck up. You do not have my permission to speak for the rest of the drive.”
Moving his lower jaw back and forth, Ryder canned the chitchat. He wished he could say this was out of character for his president. Unfortunately, the man hadn’t earned his road name for enjoying a romantic evening under the stars with his favorite bitch. There was a darkness lurking in his soul that made him unpredictable and as dangerous as a heart attack, and when he was in a mood like the one tonight, Ryder wasn’t stupid enough to cross him.