Chapter 9
Suzi walked the black and white tiled corridor, heading down the long hall with a tray of meds balanced on the palm of one hand. Her soft soled shoes lightly squeaked off the freshly polished surface. The whirring noise of the machine could be overheard as the janitor polished the hallway of another wing. The previous night’s events came to mind, more specifically Lyle Murphy and his acquiescence to help Suzi with her fake fiancé issue. Tamera, and her sincere desire to help, had not thought the scheme entirely through. Sure, her uncle towered over most men, but Kaleb and the MC were far from normal. Suzi knew if Kaleb wanted to he could easily hurt Lyle in an attempt to scare him off. The last thing Suzi wanted was to put Lyle in harm’s way. Hopefully, Kaleb would see that her intended was indeed real, be a man about the whole ordeal, and release her from this ridiculous notion of being his personal feeding vein.
Too far into the game plan now to back out, Suzi knew she’d just have to carry through with their cockamamie plan and hope the barkeep didn’t get harmed in the process. She’d never forgive Kaleb if he laid one finger on Tamera’s uncle. Lyle had agreed to help Suzi out of the kindness of his heart, knowing full well what the MC and Kaleb were capable of. She certainly couldn’t allow Lyle’s mercy to be repaid by Kaleb’s desire for revenge against her.
But for now, she had a job to do with patients who needed her attention on them and not her thoughts on tomorrow night’s feeding of Kaleb and the many possible dire outcomes. Lyle had agreed to accompany her to the Blood ‘n’ Rave, where he would do nothing more than show up as her fiancé, proving to Kaleb that the man on the other side of the ring did exist. Suzi hoped he believed the ruse and would let her out of being his personal donor when there were so many others more than happy to step up and take her place. Suzi didn’t think she’d survive many more feedings without desire muddying up the entire mess.
Dear Lord, deny it all she tried, but Kaleb had brought her to the precipice of what promised to be one hell of an orgasm, regardless of how she had fought against it, then denied her the culmination, pulling away just before she reached the brass rings. Storming from the club with any dignity on trembling thighs and weak knees was almost impossible. But somehow she had managed to square her shoulders and walk past Draven, though she dare not spare him a glance should he look at her with pity, and out of the club into the brisk night air which certainly helped to cool her ardor. Suzi didn’t think she could withstand more nights of endless sexual torture. It was imperative that Kaleb believed her relationship with Lyle and release her from being his personal blood bank. If he didn’t, then she would make him wish he never met her. If he thought her the biggest bitch when Ion died, then he had no idea what would be in store for him if he continued to tease her. She would turn the tables on his sorry ass and leave him begging her to fuck him.
Bless his black heart, but that would be a cold day in hell.
Turning the corner to her wing, Suzi heard a familiar laugh coming from Grandpa Brahnam’s room. Thoughts of Kaleb quickly fled as she entered Cara’s grandfather’s room and found Cara Brahnam sitting on the edge of the bed, a large smile turning up her cheeks. Cara beamed, looking the definition of happy. It appeared that mated bliss had changed her life for the good. Kane must be treating her well. At least one of the twins was worth a damn. Suzi couldn’t be happier for Cara and was glad that her childhood friend had found that once in a lifetime love. She placed the tray of meds on a side table, well away from Grandpa’s reach, as Cara stood and walked over to Suzi and hugged her.
“It’s so good to see you,” Cara said.
“Well if it ain’t my pretty little nurse,” Grandpa said with a wink as he caught their attention.
Suzi smiled at the old man, squeezed his weathered hand and said, “You keep trying, Grandpa. Flattery will get you everywhere. Can I get you something? Are you hungry? It doesn’t look like you ate much.”
“Nope … and I don’t think I need those pills you brought either.”
“Sorry, but those you have to take.”
“Always bossing me around,” he grumbled, then turned to the television and aimed the remote at it. The chatter from the flat screen filled the silence.
Suzi turned to Cara. “When did you get back?”
“We just flew in this morning.”
“I could‘ve picked you up from the airport.”
“We rented a car,” Cara said. “We wanted to surprise everyone. We hadn’t planned on coming home yet, but club business needed attended to. Have you heard about it?”
Moisture gathered in Suzi’s eyes. “If you’re referring to Wheezer and Red Dot, yes, I heard.”
Cara blew out a stream of air. “So you’ve spoken to Hawk?”
“I wanted to make sure he was okay. Though nothing seems to faze him.”
“I don’t suppose,” Cara said. “So tell me … has Grandpa been behaving?”
“I’m sitting right here.”
They both smiled at the older man, earning him a pat on the knee by Cara. “You love it when we talk about you, Grandpa. It reminds you how much you’re loved.”
“Then that would’ve meant someone brought me peanut butter pie.” He pointed one gnarled finger at the dinner tray. “Do you see a piece of pie on that tray?”
“No,” Suzi said. “That’s because it isn’t part of your diet.”
“Bah! I’m ninety-two years old. I figure I can eat what I want and peanut butter pie is high on that list.”
“I’ll sneak you a piece next time I come by, Grandpa. That is if you treat your nurses like the saints they are,” Cara said, patting the older man’s shoulder. “Now, you finish your meal and quit being so damn stubborn.”
“And take your meds,” Suzi added, then handed him a small paper cup filled with four tablets. “You take these and I’ll let Cara bring you that piece of pie.”
“You heard her, Grandpa. You finish your meal and take those meds, and I’ll make sure I bring you a treat tomorrow.”
Suzi threw the empty paper cup into the gray receptacle, then looked back at Cara. “You seriously rented a car? I would have gladly picked you guys up.”
“I know you would’ve. But it was all so sudden. We sort of just packed up, called the airport, and well … here we are.”
“Where’d you guys go?”
“Italy … to see Mircea,” Cara said, surprising Suzi. No wonder they kept their whereabouts a secret. “To see that Kane was available to me.” She skirted the issue in front of her grandfather’s ears.
“And?”
“He granted our wish.” Cara’s answering smile spoke volumes. “I wanted to tell you in person, that’s why I never mentioned it in any of our phone conversations. Mircea granted Kane’s wish to be mated with me.”
“Mated?” Grandpa Brahnam asked, proving he was listening in on their conversation.
They’d have to be more careful what they said in front of the old man. His gaze honed in on his granddaughter.
“What the hell does that mean? Is it a new way of saying you got hitched?”
Cara winked at Suzi first before turning to her grandfather. “I was waiting for the right time, Grandpa. When Kane and I went to Italy, we applied for marriage so to speak. It’s a bit different where he comes from. They call it mated.”
“So what? Your name is now Cara…?”
“It’s still Brahnam, Grandpa. The women don’t take on their mate’s name.”
“That’s crazy shit, you ask me,” he grumbled. “Should’ve gotten married right here in the States and done it right.”
Cara kissed his temple. “I know, Grandpa. It wasn’t traditional.”
“What makes him not want to just up and leave you then? You have no ties. Maybe I should have a talk with your husband.”
Cara laughed. “Oh, no, you don’t. That’s why Kane’s not here with me right now. I wanted to explain it to you first without you going all ape shit on him. In his beliefs, mating is for life. There is no such thing as divorce. As Kane would tell you, ‘You work that shit out.’”
“Maybe he has more sense than I gave him credit for.”
“So it’s official then?” Suzi motioned for Cara to follow her into the hallway and out of Cara’s grandfather’s earshot. “What of Rosalee?”
Cara shrugged, leaning one shoulder against the cool hallway wall and crossing her arms over her chest. “Gone. After Kane and I were granted the wish to be mated, she up and disappeared.”
“You think she’s the one responsible for Wheezer and Red Dot then?”
“Kane believes she is. But I’m not sure. My gut tells me there’s more to it. She’s not acting on her own.”
“Does she ever?”
Cara rolled her eyes. “She’ll likely always be a thorn in my side. But I know what I signed up for.”
“There’s so much more I want to ask, but we can save that for another time.”
“Good idea,” Cara said. “I have to get going anyway. I need to stop by the Sheriff’s Office.”
“You asking for your old job back?”
Cara smiled. Suzi knew how much being a detective meant to her. Cara wasn’t about to let a little thing like being a vampire stop her.
“I never left the job. Just took an extended leave. Sheriff Ducat already told me my job was waiting for me whenever I want to get back to the job of solving crimes. My only hope is that my partner will be happy to see me. Something tells me Joe Hernandez isn’t going to be too happy with me. He hates the Tepes twins and the club. He’ll undoubtedly hate my association. Speaking of the twins, what is it between you and Kaleb anyway?”
“There’s nothing between us to talk about. If there was, you’d have been the first to know. Right now, he’s just an ass who thinks he has ultimate power.”
“Yeah?”
“And I plan to be the one to knock his sorry ass off that pedestal he’s been standing on.”
“What are you girls whispering about out there?” Grandpa Brahnam groused. “Ain’t no cause for secrets.”
Cara chuckled as she shook her head. Righting herself, she turned and headed back into her grandfather’s room, saying over her shoulder, “Good luck with that, Suzi. In my experience, it’s just better giving in to what they want.” She lowered her voice, “And much more pleasurable, too.”
“I heard that,” Grandpa Brahnam said. Suzi and Cara grinned.
Cara gave her grandfather a hug and kissed his weathered cheek. “I have to be going anyway, Grandpa.” Turning to Suzi, she briefly hugged her as well, then said, “Glad to be back, Suzi. I’ve missed you.”
“Don’t be a stranger. I live in Florence now. Pleasant was too small of a town to house both Hawk and I.”
Cara chuckled. “I suppose so. As soon as I get settled, I’ll come look you up for some girl time.”
“Kane going to allow you out of his sight?”
Cara’s eyes gleamed. She leaned in and whispered, “The man is insatiable, but we can’t stay in bed all day.”
“I heard that,” came from Grandpa again, causing them both to burst into laughter.
* * *
Kaleb paced the floor, his booted heels striking the wooden flooring in his agitated state as he awaited the Knights’ arrival. His skin crawled in restlessness. It had been two nights since he had last sought out Suzi Stevens. Keeping to his normal three-day feeding schedule meant he wouldn’t see her for another night, which didn’t sit well with him … not at all. He needed to know where she stayed so he could keep eyes on her at all times, justifying his desire with the fear she might not hold up her end of the bargain and skip out on being his donor. Knowing her fiancé spent time with her ate away at him, reminding him of the days she spent in Ion’s company. Christ, it all but killed him then to know she was in love with his brother’s son, lying with him when the sun went down. Kaleb had fucked her only once, and yet in all the years following, he hadn’t been able to forget her, the silkiness of her pale skin, the scent of her desire. Just thinking of her now stirred his groin.
Shit. He needed to get laid.
Maybe following their meeting with the Knights he’d head to the Rave and do just that. He had a lot of unspent energy he needed to get rid of. Nothing like a good piece of ass to take his mind off all his troubles. Kaleb stopped his pacing, let out a stream of curses, and flopped onto one of the sofas just as Kane exited his quarters and joined him. The coils groaned from the added extra weight.
Kane laid an arm across the back of the brown fabric. “What the hell is eating at you anyway, Hawk? You seem strung tighter than a violin.”
Kaleb ground his teeth, not wanting to share his weakness for the little brunette who had occupied his every thought since she had walked back into his life six nights back. He especially didn’t want to share his decade long obsession with Kane.
“What’s taking the Knights so damn long?” he asked, opting to avoid the real reason for his shitty mood.
Red had been invited to the clubhouse for a little chat by Kane, hoping they might be able to discover who had made the bogus call to Kaleb. The pres of the MC had stood by his declaration that none of his men made the damning call. Kane might’ve been convinced, but Kaleb still had his suspicions. His cell number hadn’t been public knowledge and the only other MC that had access to it had been the Knights. It seemed someone had a beef with the Sons … more specifically him. Kaleb believed this all fell on Rosalee’s doorstep. The entire incident had her scent all over it. But the question was, who the hell was helping her? She never acted alone, and Kaleb doubted she did now. Rosalee was a damn coward, always standing behind her stepfather’s robe. She knew Mircea would always protect her, even if he had been the one to banish her to Italy for her last crimes against the MC.
The door banged off the inside wall as Grayson and Alexander made a grand entrance, robust laughter drawing both Kaleb and Kane’s attention. Grayson pushed his ever-present sunglasses up on his head, pulling his overlong chestnut hair from his piercing blue eyes. The two MC brothers shared a private joke as Alexander shut the door and headed for the bar. Grayson joined Kaleb and Kane in the living area, sitting on the adjacent leather chair. His azure gaze turned up in merriment.
“You two seem far too serious for my liking. I say we grab a few fifths of whiskey and go looking for some tail. That is after our meet and greet with Red, of course. We haven’t yet celebrated Kane’s return. I say we gather the Sons and have a grandiose party.”
Kaleb knew Grayson’s desire to celebrate Kane’s return had more to do with his desire for entertainment as he still hadn’t quite gotten over Kane turning his back on the club, and all for the want of a woman. Grayson saw it as a sign of weakness. Maybe, Kaleb thought. But with his obsession over Suzi, he certainly couldn’t condemn his twin for his actions. He’d like to think he’d let Suzi rot. But damn if he could say that for certain.
“Nice of you to show up, Gypsy,” Kaleb said, at the late arrival of his VP. His heated gaze bore into Grayson.
“What the fuck?” Grayson’s humor quickly fled. “Xander and I made it before the Knights got here, so I don’t see what the hell you’re being such a dick about. Dude, you need to get laid. I know some ladies from Florence who are always up for a party. I could call them.”
Kaleb didn’t know what pissed him off more. The fact that Grayson voiced his own thoughts just moments ago, or the fact that he felt the need to point out the obvious.
“We have business to attend, Gypsy. My sex life isn’t up for discussion. Get your head in the fucking game.”
“Jesus. Where the hell did the real Hawk go? And who replaced him with this asshole?”
Alexander wisely kept out of the spiraling conversation. Instead he pulled out a stool by the bar and straddled it, leaning back, elbows on the armrests. Apparently, he thought it best to sit on the sidelines for this one.
Smart man.
That, or he, too, still wrestled his own demons for surviving a near beheading. Only the two of them shared the survivors’ guilt. Nicolas and Steven died in their place. Kaleb’s foul mood stemmed from that, as well as the little sprite named Suzi Stevens. Grayson seemed bent on pushing the boundaries of Kaleb’s self-control every chance he got, and at the moment those boundaries shouldn’t be tested. He certainly couldn’t argue with Grayson’s logic that he needed a piece of ass since he had those same thoughts, though he didn’t need a fellow brother to tell him as much. Regardless, their business with the Knights came first. Maybe then he’d take Grayson up on hitting the Rave, knowing he’d have several willing options for getting horizontal, because there were those biker groupies who made themselves available to the Sons. If Suzi meant to parade the fact she had a fiancé in front of him, then he’d make damn sure she knew his options were anything but limited.
The sound of approaching Harleys announced the arrival of their puppet club, saving an argument between the pres and VP. Gravel crunched beneath tires before the rumble of the V-twin engines cut short. Alexander walked to the door and opened it before the first knock came, showing Red and three of his men into the living area of the clubhouse. Kane and Kaleb stood while Gypsy stayed seated. The twins shook hands with each of the men, before offering them a seat on the sofa across from where they had been seated moments ago. Red and his VP sat while the other two men stood behind them, undoubtedly watching their backs. Trust no one seemed to be many MC’s mantras since it was imperative to all their survival. The Knights, though, had nothing to fear from the Sons as long as they continued to be useful.
“You bring us news, Red?” Kane asked as he settled back onto the couch. He glanced back at Alexander. “Bring us some Single Barrel Jack and low ball glasses, Xander.”
“I did some checking, Viper.” He then looked at Kaleb and nodded in respect. “Hawk. No one admitted to making that call, nor did they know of Viper’s absence from the States. I trust my men. If they say they didn’t make that call of distress, then I believe them.”
The man beside Red, wearing the VP patch, said, “I’m assuming whoever made that call had to have known that Viper had been MIA. Why else would Viper send out a distress call when he would be here among his brothers? Or why would the Sons be so willing to head out on a fool’s mission if they knew Viper’s whereabouts?”
“Bird and I interviewed every one of the Knights as well as our prospects,” Red said, putting a name to the VP for Kaleb. “I won’t vouch for our hangarounds. I don’t think we’ve had enough time or interaction yet with any of them to swear they speak the truth or to trust them implicitly.”
“Any new hangarounds within the last few months?” Kaleb asked.
“Not that I know of or that my men have spoken of. The Sons?” Red said.
“We haven’t been open to a lot of hangarounds as we aren’t a trusting bunch. This slaughter keeps up, we’ll definitely be in the market for increasing our numbers.”
Red narrowed his gaze. “You talking patching over?”
Kaleb looked at his twin, who sat quietly beside him. Kane’s expression gave nothing away to his thoughts on the matter of adding new patch members, more specifically taking on the Knights’ numbers. Since he had become a non-voting member, due to turning Cara into one of them, Kaleb supposed Kane probably felt he didn’t have a voice in the matter. Kaleb would speak with him again once they were alone. He looked at Grayson, who up to this point sat quietly listening in. Kaleb would bet that his looking to Kane first for direction didn’t sit well with his VP. Kaleb couldn’t blame him. He needed to remember that even though Kane had returned, he still had no voice in MC matters.
“I’m not sure the Sons are ready to patch another MC,” Grayson said, not taking his eyes from the pres. “It could be taken to a vote. But honestly, I don’t think the Knights have proven themselves as a puppet club.”
A muscle in Red’s cheek ticked. “I think I made it clear when Kane asked for an alignment of clubs that the Knights were no one’s puppet club.”
Grayson raised a brow in challenge. “Then what’re we even doing here? If you aren’t with us … you’re against us.”
“With … you … is what we are, Surfer Boy,” Bird said with a sneer as he drew the words out.
Red gnawed on a toothpick that poked out from his beard. The toothpick switched sides as he said, “The Knights … we’re no one’s patsies. I make that clear.”
“Call it what you will, Red,” Kane spoke up since he was the one who had made the original covenant. “You and I had an agreement that you would align yourself with the Sons. You prove yourselves, then maybe one day the Sons will patch you over and increase the Sons numbers. As Gypsy pointed out, you’re either with us or against us. Against us and we cut off your avenue to the coast. It’s because of our hospitality that you can run your guns through our state. Don’t forget your place with the Sons, Red. It was you who needed our help. Not the other way around.”
“May I remind you, I pay the Sons mighty well for that privilege? It’s a very lucrative deal for you.”
“Before this turns into a fucking pissing match, can we get back to the reason everyone is here?” Kaleb said, as Alexander placed the bottle of Jack in the center of the coffee table with eight glasses.
Kaleb felt the sooner they got the discussion over with, the quicker they got the Knights back on the road and out of Oregon. Grayson looked just shy of ripping someone’s throat out for the Surfer Boy comment. Though with his overlong, shoulder length hair and the ever-present sunglasses, he couldn’t say Bird was incorrect with his description of his MC brother.
Alexander poured two fingers of the whiskey in each glass, then handed them to each man.
“Look,” Red continued, “we’ll keep our ears out for someone who might have a beef with Hawk or the Sons.”
“Does anyone besides us know of our alignment?” Kaleb asked.
“It’s possible,” Red said. “Not that we talk about it, but you allow us to ride through Oregon without repercussions. That speaks volumes in itself.”
Kaleb certainly couldn’t argue with that logic.
“We’ve had your back before, and we continue to do so,” Bird said. “We hear anything, you’ll be the first to know.”
“Be sure that you do,” Grayson said, obvious disdain rolling off him.
Kaleb wondered if there wasn’t more to it than the reference to Grayson’s pretty boy looks. Kaleb chose to ignore the underlying currents for now. After all, unless it was Sons’ business, whatever issue lay between Bird and Grayson was no concern of his. Grayson could take care of his own.
Raising his glass in the air, he said, “Salute.”
Each man followed suit and downed the amber-colored liquid. The burn to the esophagus warmed him almost as much as communion. Standing, Kaleb held out his hand to Red, which the man stood and shook. Bird got to his feet as well, staring down Grayson. Both men looked ready to battle. Kaleb planned to question his VP about it once the Knights made their exit. He followed the fellow MC to the door.
“We’ll be in touch. You do the same.”
Red nodded and the four bikers left the clubhouse. Kaleb shut the door behind them, then glanced at his own men.
Gone was the scorn from Grayson’s face, now replaced with a large smile and a twinkle in his gaze. “Who’s game for a trip to the Rave and getting a little ass? Not pointing any fingers, but, Hawk, I think you could use the release.”
“You’re certainly one to talk, Gypsy.” Kaleb raised a brow in challenge. “Five minutes ago you looked ready to go to battle against Bird.”
Grayson shrugged, with a devil-may-care look. “What can I say? The bastard rubs me the wrong way. Call it a sixth sense. Now, how about finding us some women to party with?”
“I’m all up for communion, but the partying with the ladies, I’ll leave that to you three. I’m pretty sure Cara would rip some throats out if she caught another woman trying to get in my pants.” Kane chuckled. “Now, let’s go look up Draven and get us a party started.”