The ties that bind 3, p.7
The Ties That Bind 3, page 7
part #3 of The Ties That Bind Series
They must have been laughing behind his back the entire time, Slade thought viciously. The humiliation and betrayal he’d suffered at their expense curdled his blood. The hatred he felt for Rage and Claudia was enough to incinerate the world. Revenge had now become the focal point of Slade’s fucking existence. It consumed him. Patience had never been his strong suit, and he wouldn’t stop coming for them until his thirst for vengeance was slaked. No amount of paging her had made Claudia return his call. The fact that she’d gone off the grid and he was unable to confront her really stuck in his craw.
“You ever notice how the more things change, the more they stay the same, brother? I tried to warn you about how you treat your family, but no, the great ‘Slade Almighty’ wasn’t interested in listening to a voice of reason! You only ever saw them as possessions. You got lazy and complacent, thinking your behavior would go uncontested.”
“Fuck you, man!” Slade fired back.
Blaze was completely unrepentant. His wife Lucy was devastated about losing her best friend and the boys, who were her second children. With her vivacious, caring personality, Claudia was the heartbeat of their family. Lucy was livid with Slade and had been to the Lawson house several times already to read him the riot act. Of course, it fell on deaf ears. Slade was a brute, unapologetic son of a bitch and refused to see the hand he’d badly played in this bullshit. Blaze checked both ways before reversing and driving out of town, headed for the Immortals compound.
“That’s how you’re feeling, huh? Getting your stubborn ass to comprehend anything is an impossible fucking feat! That’s what it all boils down to! You’ve got a serious case of tunnel-vision if you can’t even see the hand you played in all this. You lost a fine woman, got one son in the ground, and the other—”
“Is just as dead to me,” Slade finished emphatically, corroded by bitterness. He was in this sorry state and having to be chauffeured around in a cage like a helpless little bitch, thanks to Ransom. “After everything I did to help him get ahead, he turns around and bites the hand feeding him!”
Blaze shouldn’t have been surprised at the venomous finality carved into his friend’s face, but sadly, he was. Slade was behaving like a demon-possessed. His friend hadn’t learned any lessons and remained unwilling to accept his role in the fuckfest that had unfolded.
“You’re wrong for that shit. Claudia was a true ride or die Old Lady, straight up! You took her ass for granted, expecting her to take your motherfucking blows of humiliation on the chin every damn time without flinching! The boys too! Now, I’ve said my piece and refuse to go back and forth on this matter with you.”
“Thank fucking God for that! You were starting to sound like an old washer woman with all that whining.”
Slade was relieved to have the subject changed. His pride refused to bend long enough for him to confide in Blaze regarding Claudia’s treachery. Irritably, he rubbed at the veins throbbing in his temple. He fished some Percocet out of his front jean pocket and popped them dry.
“The staff been increased at Flex yet?”
As expected, the MC hadn’t taken well to Ransom’s news of being under ATF surveillance. They’d retaliated by breaking into Inferno and destroying the camera system and looting all of the liquor and valuables from the apartment above before razing the building to the ground and setting the ruin on fire. Club Flex had become the official watering hole now, and business was booming.
“Currently trying out some eager mice from the clubhouse for strippers and waitresses. Four seem promising; one thinks she’s gonna get in if she blows everything with a pulse. Admit it, Slade; it was good of the kid to give us the heads up on Rage and Lorelai. He didn’t have to.”
They’d reached the compound and waited for the gates to be opened. Slade’s fingers curled into a fist that he clenched and unclenched repeatedly at the thought of Ransom the traitor.
“It’s the least he could’ve done since he’s fucking the enemy,” he jeered. “Who knows what information he’s already divulged?”
“Slade, I know you don’t really believe that bullshit. Ransom is as loyal as they come. Jackal still wants him up in North Cal. He was adamant about the kid doing a great job. They’re still down some men, and I’m going to stand for Ransom if he’s still interested to make sure he gets voted in. I suggest you do the same to represent a united front. What happened between you and your family has remained in-house. Our people are loyal, and only a fool with a death wish would loosen their lips.”
“Never!” Slade seethed. “That fucker made his choice! He and Harley shredded my family legacy! I wouldn’t vouch for him if my life depended on it. Send Shakes instead.”
They pulled up to Slade’s house, and his chest caved in knowing he’d be walking into emptiness. Guess he should have been used to it by now. Claudia had checked out of their marriage long before that.
“What’s the name of the mouse trying to nail everything in sight for a job?”
Blaze eyed him fishily. “Molly or Holly. Some shit. Not exactly sure. Why?”
“Send her my way. Best way to get over a bitch is to get another one under you.”
“Jesus Christ, Slade.”
“Spare me the lecture and make it fucking happen, alright?” Slade threw the door open and paused, a sneaking suspicion tripping his mind. He swiveled back to Blaze, knife-like blue eyes piercing him.
“Shakes is part of the morning shift. I didn’t see or hear his smart-ass this morning. Wanna tell me why that is?”
Taos, New Mexico
“Billy, Ramona has prepared the south wing overlooking the vineyards as well as your and Marcus’s rooms. That poor woman! I feel terrible for Ransom and his mother. As we’re no strangers to grief, I understand if they’d like more privacy and had the pool house readied as well.”
“Thank you, Grandmother. I’ll let them know. We sincerely appreciate your and Granddad’s generosity.”
Billy had called her grandmother on the way home and apprised her of everything that went down in Chatham. Conveniently she left out the part of her abduction at the hands of Pitch and Digger that was orchestrated by her father’s conniving ex-partner/lover. Billy didn’t see a point in bogging them down with pesky, minute details. Porsha assured her they were more than willing to open up their home to the now homeless duo.
“We’re happy to help in any way that we can. Ransom is a fine young man. I imagine he had to get it from somewhere. Do you like his mother?”
“She’s…nice,” Billy hedged.
The two women hadn’t talked much. Since Harley’s suicide, Claudia had been a subdued recluse. In Billy’s opinion, being around Ransom seemed to make her sadder. The only person who was capable of reaching her was Marcus.
“I wasn’t exactly her favorite person when we split up. Claudia’s rightfully overprotective of her children. Ransom was the youngest and now her only baby. She adores him, so I expect a little friction on occasion, now that it’s just him. I can handle it.”
“Well, you’re my baby, and I’ll be sure to let that be known if needed. For now, I’ll respect her grieving process. Losing one’s child…that’s a rocky road to recovery. It feels unnatural to outlive them. You never get over it,” Porsha sighed. “Their arrival and death change you in ways you can never prepare for. Your hopes and dreams for them die, too. However, you can learn to live with the loss and sadness and work through the guilt of moving forward.”
“It feels wrong to; however, you know it’s what they would want,” Billy added, thinking of her mother. Melody’s untimely death had brought her family together and created a bond that continued to strengthen between them.
“Don’t you dare stop living to mourn me when I’m gone, baby. Your life won’t end with mine. I’m only a chapter in your story. There will still be plenty of work for you to do. I’ve given you all I have to prepare you for the future, Billy. What you choose to do with it will be up to you.”
“Should I fly back? I hate that I have experience with this, but if it will help Mrs. Lawson…”
“No, thank you, Grandmother. That’s very considerate of you. I will pass along your condolences. Sending you hugs. I love you.”
“Not as much as I love you, young lady. Hold on one second, please.” Porsha glanced over her shoulder, searching the spacious suite she shared with her husband. It was empty and the terrace doors were shut.
“Neville?” she called out just to be sure.
When she received no answer, Porsha returned to her call. “Level with me, Billy. Are you and that burning hunk of love having sex? Fair warning, if you say no, my response will naturally be ‘Well why the hell not?’.”
Mortified, Billy fanned her suddenly warm face with her hand. “How is that a natural response for a grandmother??” she groaned.
“No need to sound so scandalized, dear. This may come as a surprise to you, but before anything else, I’m a red-blooded woman with perfect twenty-twenty vision that the good Lord has blessed me with to properly appreciate the foiiiiner things in life! Can I get an amen?”
Instantly Billy cringed, imagining the refined Porsha with her sleek pageboy and toned figure checking men out. “Uh, amen?”
“I’m glad we’re in agreement. Now answer my question, please.”
“I’m very well aware that you’re alive and kicking up a storm. However, I wasn’t expecting all that from you. To answer your question, yes, Ransom and I are intimate,” Billy responded primly. “And before you ask, yes, we’re being safe.”
“I suspected as much about the sex. He looks like he’d keep you thoroughly…entertained,” Porsha finished delicately.
“Grandmother…”
“There’s no need for embarrassment, Billy. I’m relieved to know you’re being safe, though not surprised. You’ve got a good head on your shoulders. With that being said, this conversation stays between us. As you know, having unmarried sex under our roof is unacceptable…”
“Yes, I understand, and Ransom does too. We would never cross that line, whether you were here or not. Please don’t worry if that’s what this conversation is all about.”
“Thank you. Your grandfather will appreciate that reassurance. As his wife, I wouldn’t dream of going against his wishes on this. However, Neville made no mention of the pool house…”
“Grandmother!” Billy gasped, flabbergasted by this unexpected turn of events. “Are you giving me permission to turn it into a sex house?”
“That’s a bit of a stretch, young lady. I’m not asking you to make it a den of iniquity!” Porsha huffed. “I’m simply saying that I trust you. You’re already doing it anyway. If you and Ransom would feel more comfortable there, then you have my permission to stay there while we’re gone. All I ask is that you be discreet.”
“Wow! My very own sex house! Most grandmothers just bake cookies but not mine! She goes above and beyond comfort food to keep a smile on her grandbaby’s face,” Billy teased.
“That’s enough out of you, smart-aleck!” Porsha chided. “I’m looking forward to us catching up when we return. I must go now. Your grandfather signed us up to go truffle hunting, and I don’t want to be late.”
“Sounds like you’re enjoying Italy.”
“We are having a marvelous time; however, you have been sorely missed. This time around, your grandfather has kept his business to a minimum, making it feel like a real vacation. We’ve only visited one wine region and that was in Chianti. How he’s managed to restrain himself is a mystery to me. You know he’s like a kid in a candy store around grapes.”
“They are his passion,” Billy agreed.
“Neville kept saying he wished you were here when we visited the Uffizi Gallery and Sienne Duomo. We’re going to the opera tomorrow. The Teatro alla Scala in Milan. You should see your grandfather! You know how much he loves it and regretted us not getting to visit last summer. I surprised him with tickets because you know Italy is where opera originated.”
“Before Italy was Italy in Venice, Rome, and Florence,” Billy dutifully recited what Neville had drilled into her head. They’d made a pact to explore each other’s interests while getting to know each other better. While she hadn’t hit him with the 2 Live Crew, watching her grandfather suffer through Salt-N-Pepa, Naughty By Nature, TLC, and Jodeci, to name a few, made up for the endless hours of listening to Luciano Pavarotti, Placido Domingo, and anything by Ruggero Leoncavallo he subjected her to.
“Your grandfather has been bragging about you to no end, bending the ears of Signor Carlino and his wife, Piera. They’ve graciously arranged for us to have a behind-the-scenes tour for him to take photos for you.”
“Wow! That would be so legit! Thank you,” Billy gushed.
“No thanks needed. Now, I really do have to go. Oh, and Billy?”
“Yes, ma’am?”
“Your grandfather and I go skinny-dipping in the pool every chance we get,” Porsha sweetly disclosed to her.
“Argh! Why would you feel the need to share that?!” her granddaughter whined, making her laugh. “That’s so evil!”
“It just felt apropos in this instance. Ciao, darling!”
“I can never set foot in there again,” Billy mumbled, smacking her forehead repeatedly. It did little to dislodge the image of Neville and Porsha, buck naked, carefree, and possibly getting busy as she’d hoped. “No one should.”
She hopped off the bed to finish packing. Ransom had gone to check the car and get snacks for their trip. Hopefully, he wasn’t out there smoking. Billy knew his stress had been severely triggered by Harley’s revelations in his letter. She was going to miss New Mexico. Ransom had made her fall in love with his home state, but right now it held too many memories that were bogging him down. In Billy’s opinion, they couldn’t get to California fast enough.
The snow fell in flurries around Ransom as he leaned against the side of the Toyota 4Runner and filled his lungs with nicotine, enjoying the soothing balm that settled on his tattered nerves. Smoking was a habit that he’d been trying to quit since reconciling with Billy. She detested cigarettes and the way they tasted on him; hence, the reason he was standing in the parking lot of the Taos Alpine Lodge they had been staying in for the past week. His eyes anxiously flickered up to their room on the second floor where he’d left Billy, giving her privacy to call her grandparents. They would be hitting the road back to California when she was done.
Ransom flicked the butt to the ground, grinding it under his boot as a vehicle pulled into the parking lot. Immediately, he recognized the white Dodge pickup that belonged to his Tia Lucy. Her son Lucas “Shakes” Gomez was at the wheel, flashing his jokester smile, and stopped in front of him. Very little fazed the amicable biker. It was a trait Ransom had always admired about him. He straightened and grinned as his childhood best friend/brother left the truck running and hopped out. The two men clasped each other in a bone-crushing hug as a wealth of emotion overcame them. They’d agreed to meet here so that Shakes could bring Ransom the rest of his stuff from the barracks. His friend was scrutinizing him thoroughly, taking in the black beanie covering his dark mane, black and white plaid shirt over a black thermal, jeans, and his ever-present, shit-kicker boots. Ransom stuffed his hands in his jean pockets and rocked back on his heels, patiently enduring the silent inquisition.
Amused, he asked, “Do I pass your fucking approval or you wanna check my teeth out too?”
“You’ve always been a pretty motherfucker, so my approval’s not necessary and you know it,” Shakes joked. He reached out and fingered the black strap around Ransom’s neck that was holding his camera at mid-chest level. “Who the fuck are you supposed to be? Next time I see your ass, you better not be wearing a Frenchy hat, turtleneck, and smoking a pipe.”
Ransom roared with laughter. “This is a Henri neck strap. Billy gave it to me for Christmas.”
“Merry Christmas, Ransom.” Billy wrapped her arms around his waist from behind when he opened the box and held up the expensive premium leather.
“Baby, you’ve already given me a camera bag and a flexible tripod. This is too much,” Ransom humbly expressed, running his fingers over his initials engraved at the end of the strap. “Thank you.”
She kissed the side of his neck. “Don’t give me that crap. You deserve good things. I’m going to make sure you receive them. Even if I have to shove them down your throat, man! This is me showing you that I believe in you and your talents. The world ain’t ready for you, babe.”
“I’m not even gonna lie, brother; you look naked as hell without your cut and your tats concealed. Like a true Wonder Bread white boy about to hit the slopes. Where’s your bike? Please tell me you’re at least still carrying a piece?”
His words struck a resonant chord in Ransom. He’d thought leaving the club after that fuckery with Slade would be easy with no stress or drama to contend with. Yet, every morning after getting dressed, he found himself still automatically reaching for his cut, ready to slip it on. He felt like Linus abandoning his blue security blanket. Ransom wondered if that feeling would ever diminish.
“Fuck off. A man who carries a gun tends to use it. I don’t need them problems. Rage and Claudia rented a U-haul for all of the stuff I managed to take from the house and took my bike. He left me his ride.” Ransom pointed at the 4Runner, belonging to Billy’s father, Marcus “Rage’’ Glover.
“Billy and I stayed. After that shit with Pitch and Digger, I just wanted to give her some more good memories of New Mexico before we left.”
Shakes frowned at the vehicle. “I still can’t believe that son of a bitch was undercover! Or that Lorelai was too! She fucked me better than I could have ever fucked her. Can’t forget about that traitorous bitch Minnie either,” he spat, blue eyes bridling with hostility. “Told you shit was off with her.”
