Stealing the biker, p.4
Stealing the Biker, page 4
Despite my frustration with her constant nagging, guilt pulls at my heart. Sabrina has every right to be pissed. She’s not wrong. I’ve neglected her for the club. More than I ever thought I would.
I’d rather we continue this conversation in person. I’ll take you to dinner my next night off.
Don’t make any promises, Jimmy. You’ll just end up ditching me like always.
Her doubt cuts and I feel even lousier than I already was.
I don’t know what more explanation she wants. We’ve talked about how important the club is to me. No matter what I do or say, she only gets angrier with me.
I won’t.
We’ll see…
Her short response doesn’t bode well for our future conversation, but at least I’ve bought myself some time.
Being torn between my love for the club and my love of Sabrina is tearing us apart, and I’m not sure how to stop this collision course.
I plant my phone on the table and drown my sorrows in my beer and onion chips while Trenton chats up that pretty blonde by the bar. At least one of us is having some luck tonight.
“Hey, man. I’m going to wait around and catch a ride with Leslie.” He hands me his door key. “Don’t wait up.” He slaps me on the back. “Wait. What crawled up your ass?”
“Shit with Sabrina.” I top off my beer. “Trying to keep her and prospect isn’t working out so hot.”
“It won’t be this tough forever. Hang in there. And buy her some flowers.” He winks.
“Flowers.” I snort. “This grovel requires more than some colorful petals and candy.”
“Trust me. She’ll appreciate the effort. I know what I’m talking about.”
“Yeah. Guess that’s why Ember’s with Smoke.” I wince as soon as I say the words.
“Ouch. Ice cold, man.”
“I didn’t mean it.” I’m pissed at myself and shouldn’t take it out on the guy letting me crash at his pad. Bringing up Ember is a low blow I’m not proud of.
“You need to let off some steam or get shitfaced until you forget all your worries.” He holds up a finger for me to give him a minute. He stalks back to the bar and comes back with some shots.
“What about the blonde?”
“Bros before hoes. Us probies gotta stick together.”
It’s different for him. He’s a legacy. Earning his cut isn’t the same as it is for me. I don’t hold it against him. We need every leg up we can get. Both of us.
The potent liquid burns a trail down my throat, warming my insides as it ignites in my stomach. Repeating the act until we’re four rounds in the effects takes hold of me. Numbing the frustrating thoughts about Sabrina. Right now, she seems like someone else’s problem. The patrons around us blur together as I attempt to blink away the fuzz of the hazy lights.
“What’d I tell ya?” Trenton jabs a finger at my chest. “All you needed was right here.” He passes me another shot. “To freedom and pretty little blondes.” He throws an arm around the girl from earlier.
“Yeah.” I toss it back, slipping further into mindless oblivion, ignoring the way my stomach churns.
“All right. I think you boys have had enough.” She slips out from his embrace.
“Whatta ya mean?” He slurs his words, his eyes completely glossed over.
“Party time is over.”
“We can continue it back at my place.” He tries to spin her around and knocks her into the table, sending our discarded glasses to the floor.
“You two. Pay your tab and get out,” the bouncer tells us as Trenton continues to dance around the girl he was hoping to hookup with.
“Don’t be a cockblocker, buddy.”
“That’s my girlfriend, you stupid fuck.” He swings on Trenton, clocking him in the jaw, and all hell breaks loose.
Trenton stumbles back, but the punch doesn’t take him down. Quickly, he recovers his balance, swinging a haymaker of his own, missing his mark and hitting nothing but air.
Knowing better but too drunk to care, I throw myself into the fray. Fueled by liquor, I go for the bouncer, unleashing my own brand of ass whooping. I manage to deck him square in the jaw. “Fuck around and find out,” I holler, grabbing a beer bottle off a table and smashing it over the short but stout man’s head.
“Come get some.” Trenton punches a random dude who tries to get between us.
His pretty little girlfriend screams while the bartender comes out from behind the bar wielding a baseball bat. I grab Trenton and we stumble out of the bar as they chase after us, hurling insults.
We make it to my truck, erupting in laughter as Trenton rubs his jaw.
Fuck. I needed this.
“We need steak and eggs.” He slaps his palm against the dashboard.
“Turn that shit off,” Trenton yells.
I roll to my side, falling off his shitty couch, knocking my shoulder on the corner of his coffee table. “Ow. Fuck.” I pat my pants, looking for my phone to turn my alarm off.
I’m supposed to drive Kiesha to school today. All I want is to crawl back onto the couch and sleep for ten years. I flex my hands, catching sight of my busted knuckles. I nearly forgot about our bar fight, but the way my head throbs at the temples is the only reminder I need. I hope Trenton has coffee and clean towels. I’ve got a change of clothes in my truck.
My fingers fumble with the button on my jeans. The pull to go back to bed is growing stronger by the second, but I have a job to do. I slip on a fresh t-shirt and stare at my reflection in the mirror as I brush my teeth.
Lines of exhaustion are etched around my bloodshot eyes, and the bruises and scrapes across my raw knuckles mock me. I could have been home with my woman instead of getting into a barroom brawl. As shitty as I feel, it was fun. Made me feel alive.
Trenton passes by the bathroom on his way to the kitchen for the coffee I brewed. “Stop staring at yourself. Nothing you do is going to help your face.” He laughs.
I find him at the breakfast bar hugging a mug of coffee as black as asphalt.
The scent turns my stomach, but I force myself to take a few sips of the cup he poured me.
He lays his heads on the counter, slinging an arm across his eyes to block out the sunshine pouring through the window. “What the fuck did we do last night? My jaw hurts like a motherfucker.”
“You got your ass kicked, that’s what.”
“Damn. Did I at least get that blonde’s phone number?”
Chapter Six
I don’t know why I’m bothering trying to look cute for school. There’s no one left to impress now that I know Jonesy is a total dud. Everything sucks. What teeny bit of a social life I was building is dead. I don’t care that Jonesy has a kid. It’s the fact that he’s a deadbeat father that makes him so not worth the effort I’ve been putting in trying to get his attention. It pisses me off.
I finish curling my hair. At least the touch up Sam did on my color is as popping as my lip gloss. I grab the purple and black checkered flannel I stole out of my mom’s closet and put it on over a black crop top with my cute flare leg jeans with the knees ripped out. A black choker and my Doc Marten boots complete my look.
Not that anyone will appreciate it, except maybe Sam, but they don’t see me that way.
Shoving my stuff in my backpack, I follow the aroma of coffee into the kitchen, hoping there’s something easy to grab for breakfast on my way out the door to catch the bus.
It’s so unfair that I don’t have a car yet. Sam lives close to school, so it’d be out of their way to pick me up. Normally they drive me home, though. Sam hates having dinner with their moms. Plural. Their mom remarried a woman not long after divorcing their dad or something like that.
“Do we have any Pop-tarts so I can eat on the bus?” I pilfer through the pantry, not finding anything but some granola bars. Not the good ones that are chocolate covered either.
“Just ask Jimmy to take you through a drive thru.”
“What do you mean, ask Jimmy?” She can’t be serious. Not after the disaster of yesterday. I’ve got to come up with a new game plan to find a suitable date for the dance. I can’t do that if I have to go through another day of having a personal bodyguard with me.
“He’s supposed to drive you to and from school.”
“It’s not fair. The dance is a few weeks away, and I don’t have a date. Sam is going to their dad’s, so I won’t even have them. This is cruel and unusual punishment. No guy is going to ask me with Jimmy up my ass all day.”
“Language,” she snaps. Mom hates it when I cuss.
“Mooom. Please. Let me stay home then. Write me a note saying I’m sick or that we’re going out of town. At least then I won’t look like a dateless loser.”
“Honey, no one is going to think that. And if they do, then why would you want friends like that?”
“You don’t have a clue what it’s like. My social life is ruined. You don’t underst-.” I cut off as Mom’s boyfriend enters the kitchen, tugging a shirt down over his torso. Dang.
“What?” he questions in a deep sleepy tone that says they definitely did the business last night.
I’d be grossed out at the thought of my mom having sex if I wasn’t so impressed by how good-looking Prodigy is for an older guy. Well, older to me. But I shouldn’t really be surprised. Most of the Royal Bastards are hot. Like zaddies for sure.
“All right, Mom.” I smile big and go in for a high-five.
“Put your hand down,” she says with a shake of her head, but I don’t miss the slight grin she has on her face as she turns to her man. “Sorry if we woke you. Kiesha is being a brat this morning.”
“You know there are police officers at school. I’ll be fine. Come on. You look like a reasonable man. Tell her I’ll be fine.” I go for the kill, turning on the pouty faced lip tremble.
Mom purses her lips. “Who do you think has Jimmy watching over you?”
“Traitor,” I mumble and fold my arms across my chest and mean mug him with my best impression of my mother’s resting bitch face.
“Only trying to keep you safe. I don’t know what all you know, but I’m going to be straight with you. Your father is a dangerous and desperate individual. Until I have confirmation he’s not a threat to your mom or you and your sisters, then you’ll have the club’s protection.”
I stare at him, wondering if I heard him right. “Did you say sisters?”
“Shit.”
“Mom? Are you pregnant?” What the actual hell? This is crazy. I had no idea things were this serious. How long have they been hiding their relationship? Like I knew Mom had a flirtation with him or whatever, but I thought they just started going out for real.
“Maybe I should write that sick note,” she tells me, completely avoiding my questions.
“What’s going on? Oh, my god. Are you guys like getting married or something already? Am I going to be a big sister?”
Prodigy moves off to get some coffee. But I want to know what’s happening right now.
“We’ll talk about it once Kimber gets here. But no. I’m not pregnant. We’re not getting married.”
“Yet,” I hear Prodigy mutter under his breath. He catches my eyes and winks at me.
He’s so into her. I love this so much for her. Mom deserves to be happy after all the hell she’s been through.
My sister and her man show up, followed by Jimmy. If he hadn’t come into my life, I’d happily be oblivious to Jonesy being a douche and I’d at least have had a date to homecoming and a cute guy to take pictures with. Now I’m in the know and single, with no desire to mingle. Though, seeing how Prodigy is with my mom gives me hope that maybe someday I’ll find someone. Maybe.
“What’s so funny?” Kimber slips into the chair next to mine at the kitchen table.
“Mom’s getting married,” I tell her.
“Oh my God! Seriously,” she squeals, grabbing my arm and giving me a squeeze.
Mom takes a sip of her coffee, taking a seat across from us. “I don’t know where to start. You know I sometimes hire on workers at the daycare who come from a women’s shelter that is run by Lily, Murder’s sister. Well, I recently hired a woman by the name of Marie. A single mom who was coming out of a bad situation, much like the one I found myself in with your father. When she brought her daughter to work and with one look, I knew that the bad man they were running from had to be your father. She resembles Kiesha so much at that age. It’s uncanny.”
“So that’s why he’s in town?” my sister tenses up next to me.
I can’t believe this. We have another sister. He couldn’t bother to be a father to either of us, then went off to start a new family. To repeat his abusive behavior. He’s a monster.
“I believe so. But that’s why the club is looking after them and us. To make sure he doesn’t hurt anyone else.”
“He’s such a piece of shit. Who knows how many other siblings we have? How old is our sister?” I press, wondering how much else there is we don’t know. There could be others out there and we’d never know.
“Her name is Kieleigh, and I think she’s four.”
My mouth drops. Mom always said if she had another daughter, she would name her Kieleigh. Kimber, Kiesha, and Kieleigh.
“Does she know about us?” Kimber asks.
“I’m not sure. I don’t have any information other than what I’ve told you. I wish I knew more, but I’m finding things out as quickly as I can.”
I chew on my thumb, trying not to freak out that there’s a little girl out there who looks like me. I have another sister. “Can we meet her?”
“Once it’s safe to reach out. I will ask, but I can’t promise. That’s going to be up to Marie. Your father attacked her after he came after me. For now, her and your sister are in a safe location.”
“And Dad? Where is he now?”
“Wish I knew,” Prodigy answers. “If he makes contact with you, don’t engage. You let me, Link, Nav, or Jimmy know.”
At the mention of Jimmy, I’m reminded he’s here. I bet he’s loving this. My life is constantly blowing up right before his eyes.
“Are you going to kill him?” I ask point blank. Might as well get everything out in the open.
“Kiesha,” Mom snaps.
“I’m not stupid, Mom. I know about the club and what they are capable of.” They kill people all the time. At least when warranted. I hear things. At school. At the clubhouse. Conversations between Mom and my Aunt Pam and my sister. She tells me stuff. I hear it all.
“No one is killing anyone.”
“Dad would. He’d kill us all for a dollar and not care.” Kimber states, coolly.
This is too much. I need to get out of here. I turn to Jimmy. “Can you give me a ride to school?”
“Straight home after,” Mom warns.
Climbing into Jimmy’s track, the last place I want to be right now is school, but if I don’t show, Mom will get a call. The last thing I want is to add more to her plate or have her worrying about me. I’ll be fine. I’m used to disappointment.
“Do you…are you okay?” Jimmy asks as he slides into the driver’s seat.
“I don’t want to talk about it.”
“I get that, but bottling it all up isn’t good either.”
“Not now. I don’t need a lecture.” I stare out at the window, not able to focus on anything as tears blur my vision.
Jimmy tucks the rough pad of his finger under my chin, forcing me to meet his bloodshot gaze. “Then what do you need?” Did he sleep at all last night?
We stare at each other in silence for a beat before the sound of my sister and Nav leaving breaks the tension. “Honestly?” I shake my head. “I don’t know. Just drive me to school.” My stomach burns and churns. All I can think about is my stupid father and the fact that I have a sister. And that now maybe, just maybe, I might have a crush on Jimmy. Which is the stupidest idea I’ve ever had. But the way he looked at me just now. Like he’d give anything to take away my pain, makes me see him in a new light.
Not that it matters. He’s got a girlfriend, and my uncle would kill him if Prodigy doesn’t beat him to it.
Jimmy starts his truck and gives me one last glance like there’s more he wants to say but refrains before pulling out. I’m not sure if I appreciate his silence or if I’m annoyed at the lack of conversation.
Afraid of doing or saying something to further embarrass myself after the way I’ve behaved around him, I lean my head against the window, completely disconnected from reality. I’m in a nightmare, living a life that isn’t meant to be mine. My father’s out there somewhere and he may or may not want to hurt me. Everything is spiraling out of control and there’s nothing I can do about any of it.
Jimmy pulls into the same spot as yesterday, a little way from the school in the parking lot of a roofing business that closed up shop a few months ago. Idling the truck, he grabs my hand and I notice his busted knuckles. I want to ask what happened. Only it’s none of my business. I doubt he’d give me a real answer.
“I know you don’t want to talk about it. I just…if you ever change your mind, I want you to know I’m here.” The sincerity behind his tone and in his softened expression has my heart fluttering like the wings of a butterfly. My belly goes all warm and gooey as he stares at me.
“Thanks,” I murmur, glancing back down at his grip on my hand, soaking in his warmth, wishing that I could have a do over of yesterday. Wishing he didn’t have a girlfriend. That we’d met under different circumstances.
Most of the day passes me by in a blur. Even lunch with Jimmy isn’t enough to distract me from overthinking about my father and the news that I have a little sister. Jonesy Ripley is nothing but a distant memory. I push the greasy meat of my taco salad around with my fork, wishing I’d skipped. Mom would have understood with all that is going on.
“You okay?” Jimmy nudges me with his knee.
“No, I’m not okay,” I admit, my voice barely above a whisper.
