Chapter Eleven

Avon buried his hands in the pockets of his jeans as he waited at a bench in the city park. This was his first day out without Matt by his side, and from the first second he stepped out of Robyn’s apartment, he wondered if it had been a mistake.

 

Today’s mission was critical, a fact he kept reminding himself of.

 

He squinted down the street, trying to catch sight of the friend he was waiting on. Slade. They’d met years ago, and Slade had always been something of a mentor, especially within the MC life. Slade had been president of a now-defunct MC and had spent plenty of time moonlighting undercover for the police. If anyone could help Avon shed some light on his confusion, it was Slade.

 

A light breeze moved past Avon, bringing the rich scent of summer and fresh-mown grass. Across the park, a few kids shrieked with laughter as they played tag. A normal childhood. Exactly what Matt would no longer have.

 

Down the winding path, Slade’s figure emerged, his tall, bulky frame, slightly heavier than the last time Avon had seen him. Avon nodded as his friend approached, and they gave each other a secret handshake once Slade arrived.

 

“Brother. It’s good to see you.” Avon grinned, looking him up and down. Without a kutte, he looked like just another wannabe motorcycle rider, with his ripped jeans and his clunky boots.

 

“Same to you.” Slade plopped down onto the park bench, immediately fishing a cigarette out of the pocket of his jeans. “We need to meet up more often. Maybe have a cookout. Hell, invite me to an MC party; I need some pussy in my life.”

 

Avon laughed, easing onto the park bench beside him. “I’m afraid to say there won’t be many MC parties in my future.”

 

Slade cast him a quizzical look as he lit up his cigarette. “Why? You guys going dry?”

 

“I haven’t been to the MC since we found Matt.” Avon leaned forward, resting his forearms on his knees. “This is the first time I’ve been away from him in three weeks.”

 

“Damn.”

 

“I made that boy a promise. He’s never gonna worry about getting hurt again.”

 

Slade nodded, squinting out at the day. “All right. So tell me your urgent business. What brings us here today?”

 

“I need some info on a guy that I think might have been involved with Matt’s kidnapping.” Avon let a puff of smoke waft by him, relishing the smell. He’d given up smoking four years ago but still enjoyed the occasional smell when others lit up nearby. “We were at Matt’s counseling appointment yesterday when he started freaking out because this one guy showed up. I mean, the type of bad reaction that you couldn’t fake.”

 

Slade nodded, taking a long draw of his cigarette. “What’s his name?”

 

“Keenan Lourdes.” Avon inspected his fingernails – cleaner than they had probably been his entire life, and that was entirely due to his domestic gig at Robyn’s. He was practically a stay-at-home dad. “Apparently, he owns the organization where Matt is getting his counseling. But I don’t know. The dude looks shady. Can you get any info about him?”

 

Slade blew out a big cloud of smoke as he crossed an ankle over his knee. He’d been out of the game for a while, but his connections were still good. Once undercover, always undercover, or something like that. “I can see what comes up. Name doesn’t ring a bell, but who knows.”

 

Avon nodded, running his hand through his hair. Part of him hoped he was wrong about Keenan. Maybe it was just his desire for revenge running rampant, sending up red flags where there were none. Because if the head of the organization rehabilitating Matt was messed up in something like kidnapping… well, that was way uglier than even Avon was prepared to deal with.

 

“Good. Turnaround?”

 

Slade shrugged. “A week? Depends on how deep I need to dig.”

 

Avon squeezed his shoulder. “You’re the best, Slade. You know that?”

 

“Nahhh.” Slade waved him off with the hand holding the cigarette. “Just doing what’s right for your little guy. Where you holed up?”

 

“Staying with the social worker that has temporary custody of him,” Avon replied, unable to fight the grin on his face.

 

Slade quirked a brow. “Is that how they’re running the social office these days?”

 

“No. She and I had a thing before. And now, well...” Avon heard the words in his head before he said them, like testing them out before he shared the news. “I’m gonna be a dad.”

 

“Damn! Atta boy!” Slade let a deep laugh, clapping Avon on the back. “So that’s why you’re hanging up the pussy hat.”

 

Avon snorted. “We’re not together. At least, not yet.” He paused, chewing on his bottom lip as he looked out over the park. A few kids jumped on swings nearby, their mother and father kissing as they watched over them. “It was a surprise, you know. She and I weren’t serious, but now I think I wanna be.”

 

Slade nodded slowly, shrugging. “Hey. If that gets your gullet.”

 

Avon smiled, slapping his friend on the back. “I gotta get back to Matt. See you later, bro.”

 

On the ride back to Robyn’s apartment, the rumble of his motorcycle between his legs almost felt like a relief. He’d missed this, even though holing up at Robyn’s had been for the best. Would he be able to leave it behind permanently? He sucked in deep breaths of the fresh air on his ride home, taking the scenic route through tree-lined side streets and curving roads outside of the city center.

 

Motorcycles were in his blood. The MC was in his blood. But he couldn’t lead the Chained Kings if he was gonna have a life with Matt… and Robyn.

 

The thought jarred a cold fear through him. Did he really want to be with Robyn? He revved the bike as he pulled into Robyn’s apartment complex. As he pulled into a spot right in front of her building, he saw both Matt’s and Robyn’s faces peeking out from the upstairs window. Matt beamed and waved.

 

So did Robyn.

 

He saluted them with two fingers as he parked the bike and cut the engine. He tugged off his helmet and gloves, smiling up at the window where Robyn lingered.

 

He hadn’t planned on mentioning Robyn to Slade. He didn’t even know how the words had formed on his lips – must be a side effect of sharing her home. Now he was getting way domestic. Cleaning bathrooms and making commitments.

 

He laughed to himself as he strutted up to the apartment building. The idea didn’t scare him half as bad as he thought it would. Robyn having his baby was one thing. Of course he’d be there by her side, help her raise the kid, do anything she needed.

 

But being with her, like a boyfriend? That was the part that fit unexpectedly well, like a glove he never knew he’d been missing.

 

When he got up to her apartment, she was waiting with the door open. Matt hung around behind her, almost within reach of her legs.

 

“Hi, Avon.” His little voice still brought so much joy after such a long absence. Avon grinned as Matt came over to him, wrapping his arms around his waist. He tousled his hair, catching Robyn’s shy gaze.

 

“Hey, buddy,” he said down to Matt. Looking at Robyn, he said, “Hey, you.”

 

She cocked a hip, tilting her head as she watched him. Space seemed to shrink between them. He could have sworn she was halfway across the room when he came in, but then suddenly she was within arm’s reach. He hooked his hand around her waist, bringing her up against him.

 

She didn’t fight it, didn’t even seem bothered. He searched her face for some sign that he shouldn’t do this, that maybe this intimacy was just in his head. Maybe he wanted something she really wouldn’t ever give him.

 

Desire flashed in her eyes, and he was bringing his lips to hers before he could even think better of it. Her lips were soft and warm against his, the kiss making his chest tight. When they pulled apart, he caught sight of Matt’s curious eyes looking up at them.

 

Avon squeezed her waist, smiling down at Matt. “You guys missed me, huh?”

 

Robyn laughed, her hand trailing up the length of his arm. His skin prickled where she’d touched him.

 

“Maybe a little,” she said in a low voice, one eyebrow lifting before she headed back into the living room.

 

The look in her eyes combined with the tone of her voice… Yeah, he knew what she was implying. And if Matt weren’t here and so liable to get confused, he would have made sure she didn’t walk away from him.

 

But for now, he had to play his cards right. Matt was vulnerable and still healing.

 

Which meant that Avon’s next step had to happen once Matt was fast asleep.