Iย WOKEย up early the next morning. My mouth tasted like peat and I briefly thought about Barrettโs choice of drink. It lingered on the tongue. I was giving my teeth a vigorous brushing when Colt pushed open the bathroom door. He came in to stand behind me, dropping a morning kiss on my bare shoulder.
We didnโt say anything as we brushed our teeth in companionable silence. Colt was just rinsing his mouth when his cell phone rang. He grabbed a hand towel and wiped his face as he strode from the bathroom.
I heard him answer the call and speak to someone on the other end. When he hung up, he came back, leaned against the bathroom doorjamb, and watched me.
โYes?โ I taunted. โLike something you see?โ
โWhole lotta something,โ he admitted with a sensual grin.
I was wearing a white lace camisole and a pair of clean underwear Colt had thoughtfully packed in a small bag, as if heโd known all along weโd be staying overnight. It was odd to be with a man who planned, had it all figured out, even a spare change of clothes.
Iโd gone to bed with last nightโs makeup on my face and I tended to the destruction now. I threw my hair into a messy bun and turned on the faucet.
โWho was on the phone?โ
โBoxer. Everyone is already at the clubhouse for the lockdown.โ
โGood. I guess.โ
Colt raised an eyebrow. โWhatโs that supposed to mean?โ
โFreedom restricted, everyone on top of one another, barely any privacy. It will get old fast. Joni and I were already going nuts, staying at the clubhouse.โ I sighed and reached for a bottle of high-end facial cleanser. โI miss our home.โ
โOur home, huh?โ
โOur home,โ I repeated.
โI need you to be patient, just a bit longer, okay?โ
โI know,โ I muttered. I splashed warm water onto my face and then grabbed a clean hand towel and patted my skin dry. โItโs justโwell, I feel like Iโm just along for the ride, you know? I donโtย doย anything. I just sit and wait and let you protect me. I need to do something, Colt.โ
He ran his hands through his disheveled hair, making the muscles of his chest dance. The ink of my name across his pectoral rippled and my heart felt heavy with emotion.
โIโm talking to Sanchez today. That will dictate everything that happens from here on out.โ
โSanchez might not come through, you know.โ He smiled. โHe will.โ
โHow can you be so sure?โ โYouโve met Barrett.โ โUh, yeah.โ
โIf Sanchez isnโt convinced, Iโll get Barrett to intervene. Sheโll step up to bat for us.โ
โWhy would she?โ I asked. โI mean, I know you and Flynn are friends, of a sort. But why would they help us unless they will benefit directly?โ
โThatโs just it,โ he said with a dry smile. โThey would benefit.โ
โI donโt get it. Maybe itโs the scotch I had last night, but I donโt understand.โ
He rubbed a thumb across his jaw, the noise of stubble against skin sounding like sandpaper against wood. โBarrett talked about her business partnership with Sanchez, yeah?โ
I nodded.
โFlynn and Barrett own a scotch distillery in Dornoch, where they live. They make bottles of scotch, pack Sanchezโs product in the boxes, and have them distributed.โ
I blinked. โTheyโre drug mules?โ
Colt shrugged. โAmong other things.โ โBut, why?โ
Colt mulled his words over for a moment before saying, โThey have certain political affiliations theyโd prefer to keep close to the vest. But letโs just say they belong to the Scottish version of the IRA.โ
I inhaled a shaky breath. โOkay, I wasnโt expecting that. Damn, now I
reallyย want to know how Barrett and Flynn met.โ
โItโs a damn good story,โ Colt admitted. He finally pushed away from the doorjamb. โYou ready to get out of here? Head back to Waco? Iโve got more shit to handle than just Sanchez.โ
I nodded, swallowing. โAre youโwhat are you going to do about Knight?โ
Colt cracked his knuckles. โHave a talk with him. Man to man.โ
I didnโt like the sound of that. On top of Sanchez, the Iron Horsemen, and a hell of a lot of cocaine, Colt was going to have to go face-to-face with another Blue Angel president, a man we needed to show our strength in Waco. A man whose club we needed for back up.
I prayed like hell it didnโt turn into a blood bath of Blue Angel against Blue Angel. Colt couldnโt afford this to get personal, but Knight was hiding something.
Colt pulled on a pair of jeans and reached for his cell, reading the screen. โZip just texted. Heโs gonna get Joni moving. Theyโll meet us back
in Waco, along with everyone else. You almost ready to get out of here?โ โWhat about saying goodbye to Barrett and Flynn?โ
He grinned. โDarlinโ, theyโre already on their private jet bound for Scotland.โ
A few hours later, Colt and I walked into madness.
โThank God youโre here!โ Darcy said, throwing her arms around me.
I removed my leather jacket. โLet me change and then put me to work.โ Darcy nodded and let out a sigh. She looked at Colt and glared. โNext time, a little more warning would be nice. Iโm trying to get the guest rooms cleaned and ready for all the new faces around here. Right now Knight and
the boys are out back. I told them to get out of my hair and let me work.โ Colt grinned and kissed her cheek. โYouโre the best.โ
Someone barreled into my legs and wrapped small, thin arms around them. Lily looked up at me and grinned, showing the loss of one of her front teeth.
โHi!โ she exclaimed.
โYou lost something,โ I said, poking the hole with my pointer finger and making her giggle.
โMama says the Tooth Fairy is gonna come visit me tonight,โ Lily stated in excitement. โDo you think Iโll get to meet her?โ
โEr,โ I began, โI donโt think it works that way. The Tooth Fairy is all about mystery.โ
Thank you, Darcy mouthed.
After I changed clothes, I went back to the kitchen to help Darcy.
Rachel and Allison were already there.
โThe kids keep interrupting,โ Darcy said in a harassed voice. โDo you mind going to entertain them while we finish getting the meal together?โ
โSure thing.โ
I waved to the men having beers and sitting at the picnic tables while the kids ran in circles around the yard. After spending a few minutes with them, I realized I was no match for their zeal and energy. How the hell did Darcy do it?
Knight sat on one of the picnic tabletops, drinking from his bottle of beer, watching me. I saw Colt out of the corner of my eye, his face darkening when he realized that Knight was studying me.
I swallowed, wondering when it would come to a head. Colt had enough on his plate. He didnโt need the Knight thing weighing on him, and in my state of inebriation the night before, Iโd blurted out my thoughts to Colt. If I had it to do over, I wouldโve waited.
Not that I wouldโve handled Knight myself. I didnโt know him. I didnโt know his personality. I was comfortable with my Blue Angels, but that did not extend to other brothers outside the Waco chapter.
I frowned when I realized how I was thinking about my new family. Chosen, not born.
Strong. Loyal. Fierce.
What would they do if Knight was a threat to me?
Darcy came out the back to announce that dinner was ready. We were eating relatively early, but there would be leftovers to munch on through the rest of the night. Everyone flocked to the food and formed a line leading into the house and kitchenโthe kids went first.
Colt joined me at the back fence as I waited for the line to clear out. โYou okay, babe?โ he asked, sliding his arm around my waist. โIs it Knight? I promise Iโll talk to him.โ
โItโs not Knight,โ I lied. And then because I wanted to distract him, I blurted out, โCan we please not have kids for a while?โ
He looked down at me and smiled. โSure, darlinโ. Whatever you want.โ I held up my finger and pointed it at him. โDonโt do that.โ
โDonโt do what?โ he asked with sham innocence.
โDonโt pretend to give in to what Iโm asking and then make plans behind my back.โ
He laughed. โI promise I wonโt knock you up until you give me the green light. Happy?โ
โHappy.โ
โBut I gotta tell ya.โ His mouth drew closer. โItโs all I can think about.โ โYouโre insane.โ I teasingly pushed against his chest. I looked around
the backyard and frowned. โWhereโs Joni?โ I hadnโt seen her since weโd gotten back from Dallas.
โProbably in her room sleeping off her hangover,โ Colt said dryly.
โIโll tell her dinnerโs ready and ask if she wants me to bring her a plate.โ I kissed him quickly and then eased away from him.
I wormed my way around the bodies waiting in line for food so I could take the backstairs up to the third floor. As I turned the corner, I saw Zip had Joni pressed against the closed door of her bedroom. There was no space between their bodies and his fingers were in her hair, his lips on hers. Her hands gripped his leather cut like she was afraid if she didnโt hold onto him, sheโd fall down.
I cleared my throat.
Zip tore his mouth from Joniโs and whipped his head toward me. His pupils were dilated with lust and his face morphed into a mask of shock at being caught.
โDinnerโs ready,โ I said lamely.
Zip pushed away from the wall and sauntered toward me. โDonโt say anything to Colt.โ
โZip.โ Joniโs tone was a warning but it sounded tired.
โI wonโt say anything,โ I said. It was Joni who I addressed yet I didnโt take my eyes off Zip. His gaze searched my face and finally he whispered, โThank you.โ
Zip didnโt look at Joni as he headed down the stairs.
When I was sure he was gone, I said to Joni, โYouโre certainly playing a dangerous game. Out in the open like that.โ
โDo you want to come in?โ she asked, turning the knob on her door. โHell yeah I want to come in,โ I said, still trying to wrap my brain
around what Iโd just seen. โWhen did heโhow did youโand heโโ
โLast night. Well, actually, early this morning.โ She smiled slightly. โHe saw me on stage and came to my hotel room. And then heโahโโ
โI didnโt interrupt you guys just now, did I?โ
She shook her head. โWe were saying goodbye.โ
I arched an eyebrow. โDidnโt look like goodbye from where I was standing. You guys are playing with fire. Sneaking around in the clubhouse? Just be glad it was me who saw you guys and not someone else. Like Boxer.โ
Joni sobered.
I nodded. โYeah. Boxer is totally aware that thereโsย somethingย between you and Zip. Itโs obvious to anyone with two eyes. You have to tell Colt.โ
โI canโt,โ she pleaded. โNot yet.โ
โIs this Zip talking, or you? Is this because he doesnโt want a relationship?โ
She shook her head. โListen to what you just said. Youโre already calling it a relationship. I need timeโwe need timeโto figure out what all this is without the pressure of telling my brother.โ
โIโm in the middle now,โ I said softly.
Her eyes were contrite. โIโm sorry. I really am.โ
โNo. Donโt be. Weโre friends, and Iโll keep your secret. Even ifโwhen
โall this blows up.โ
โI just have to make sure this is real, you know? Before I go messing with everyoneโs lives.โ
โWhat does Zip want?โ โTo tell Colt.โ
โThatโs surprising. If he wanted you only for a one night stand, would he even bother wanting to tell Colt?โ
โI donโt know.โ Her brow furrowed. โThey have weird rules about getting involved with sisters. Like a code of honor or something. So Zip might want to tell Colt for the sake of brotherhood and respect, regardless if he has real feelings for me or not.โ
โThis is a clusterfuck,โ I muttered.
โAnd I hate that I even have to say this, but please donโt tell Darcy or the others.โ
โI wonโt. If you divulge one thing.โ โWhat?โ
I grinned. โHow hot was the sex?โ
Joni and I came down the stairs and grabbed ourselves plates of food to take outside. The boys had lit a bonfire and torches to keep the bugs away. The cool beer went down far too easily.
After the sun set, Darcy ushered the kids inside and plopped them in front of the TV in the entertainment room down in the basement. Little ears had a tendency to hear things they werenโt supposed to hear, so it was club policy to keep them on another floor entirely.
Colt spent most of the night with his arm around my shoulder and every time I tried to leave, heโd ask where I was going. Clearly he didnโt feel comfortable leaving me alone because of what Iโd said about Knight.
But Knight wasnโt even paying attention to me, or if he was, I was somehow not seeing it.
โSorry we couldnโt offer you a rowdier party,โ Boxer said to Bishop, Knightโs VP.
โPlenty of time for pussy later,โ Bishop said. โAnyone need another beer? Iโm headed to the cooler.โ
We shook our heads and then Bishop wandered off in search of another brew.
I let out a laugh. โYou guys sure are fond of that word.โ
โIt might be my favorite word,โ Boxer said with a wry grin. โI wouldnโt mind seeing your friend Shellyโs pretty pinkโโ
โThatโs enough. Youโre done. Sheโs engaged, dude.โ โI can take her fiancรฉ.โ
โHeโs trained in Krav Maga and carries a pistol.โ โNo shit!โ
I nodded.
โThen I guess I need to woo her with the promise of my hugeโโ
I flicked his forehead, lightly, but just enough to get him to stop talking. โOw.โ
โThat didnโt hurt.โ I rolled my eyes. โIt couldโve hurt,โ Boxer protested. โYouโre a weenie.โ
โYou just called me aโPrez, your woman just called me a weenie.โ โSheโs not wrong.โ An easy smile slid across Coltโs lips. It transformed
the planes and angles of his face. If it werenโt for the bonfireโs flames, he wouldโve looked downright boyish, which wasnโt a word Iโd ever thought to call Colt. But all men had the ability to look young and carefree, impish and up to no good when they were happy.
It was one of those moments where my breath caught and I thought about a time when Colt would have a son of his own and the same expression would be stamped across his face.
Colt stared down at me and I could see the flames from the fire flickering in his eyes. I wanted to tell him what Iโd just felt, about the emotions tearing through me with such promise I could almost taste the sweetness of joy on my tongue. But we werenโt alone and now wasnโt the time.
โPrez,โ Zip said, sliding out from the shadows and coming to stand next to Colt, pulling his attention. โItโs time.โ
Colt nodded to his VP. He leaned down to my ear. โIโm about to talk to Sanchez. Iโd feel better if you went to our room.โ
โIโll be okay,โ I assured him. โIโll hang with the girls. Safety in numbers.โ
He kissed me quickly and then with a nod at Zip, the two of them left the bonfire, heading for the shed that was built just off the clubhouse where the boys held church.
โAnother beer?โ Boxer asked me.
โHmm?โ I was only listening with half an ear; my gaze caught Knightโs, who was still sitting on a picnic table top, not appearing as though heโd moved. Not even to get another beer. He looked lost in thought. Looked lost in general.
His eyes pinged to mine.
I suddenly didnโt want to talk to the girls. โWhatโs Knight drinking?โ I asked Boxer. He shot me a look. โWhy?โ
โBecause he needs a refill.โ โYou gonna take it to him?โ โYeah.โ
โWhy?โ
โStop asking me why,โ I snapped. โBut if you want to know, I think I owe it to Colt to get to know Knight. Iโm the presidentโs Old Lady, right? Itโs my job to make outsiders feel welcome.โ
โKnightโs not an outsider. Heโs a Blue Angel.โ โSemantics. And you know what I meant.โ
โLook at you, fitting in with your new family.โ Boxer wrapped an arm around my neck and pulled me to his chest so he could plop a kiss on top of my head. โProud of ya, Mia.โ
His words werenโt condescending and they felt like a warm breeze on my skin. I smiled up at him. โYouโre okay, you know that?โ
โJust okay?โ He puffed out his chest. โTell everyone Iโm amazing.โ
I pushed against him and he released me. With a laugh I headed toward a picnic table that was covered in full booze bottles, plastic red cups, and a tin bucket full of ice that was rapidly melting in the heat from the nearby fire. I swiped a bottle of Jack and headed toward Knight. He watched me approach with an unwavering, intense gaze.
โHey,โ I said.
โHey.โ His tone was wary, like he didnโt trust or understand why I was standing in front of him.
โThought you could use another drink.โ I held out the bottle of bourbon to him.
His eyes dropped from me to stare at the bottle. His fingers gripped the neck and he took it from me. โWhyโd you bring this to me?โ
I shrugged. โYou look lonely over here. Thought Iโd come say hi. We didnโt really get a chance to talk at The Rex.โ
โI was busy with other shit.โ He nodded and unscrewed the lid. โThanks.โ He took a swig and then limply let his hand drop so the bottle almost touched the bench.
โSo youโre from Coeur dโAlene,โ I said. โYeah.โ
Knight clearly hadnโt perfected the art of conversation. I thought about leaving him to his own devices, but then he lifted the bottle of Jack to me.
A silent offering of friendship.
โThanks.โ I took the bottle and drank.
A ghost of a grin flittered across Knightโs mouth. Half his face was concealed in shadow, but what I could see was covered in a beard. But he had a nice smile.
โHave a seat,โ he said, gesturing to the spot next to him.
โOkay.โ I scrambled up to the tableโs top and plunked down next to him, far enough away that should our knees fall to the sides, we wouldnโt touch.
I stared at the fire when I asked my question. โWhat was that? Back at The Rex?โ
โWhat are you talking about?โ
โWhen you saw me. You lookedโI donโt even know how to describe
it.โ
โAre you always like this?โ he asked. โLike what?โ
โBlunt.โ
โWhat do I have to lose by being blunt?โ I asked. โYou didnโt answer the question.โ
โNeither did you.โ
He took the bottle of Jack back and downed a few swallows. โHow old are you,โ he asked suddenly.
I frowned. โWhy does it matter?โ
โPlease?โ His tone was low, but I heard the plea just the same. โTwenty-five.โ
โTwenty-five,โ he murmured.
Icy fear slithered down my spine. I didnโt know why Knight was asking
about my age. His expression gave nothing away. He just continued to drink and I sat there next to him, feeling like an idiot.
I made a move to get up off the table. His hand shot out to grip my knee.
I froze.
Before I knew what was happening, a blur sailed through the air and tackled Knight. The bottle of Jack dropped from Knightโs hand and his back hit the table.
โWhat the hell!โ I yelled, clambering to get out of the way of the fight.
โI saw you touch her, fucker,โ Boxer growled. โYou touched Coltโs woman.โ
Boxer didnโt give Knight time to defend himself because he punched the older man right in the face. Knight was no slouch, though. He let Boxer get in one good hit, but then he quickly rebounded, using his legs to launch Boxer off him.
Boxer hit the ground with a thud, but before he made a move to get back up, Knight was climbing off the table. The corner of his lip was bloody, but otherwise didnโt look like heโd taken a punch or been winded at all.
โItโs not what you think,โ Knight began.
โFuck you and fuck your shit,โ Boxer said, rising. โYou donโt fucking touch another brotherโs woman. Youโre a brother! You know this!โ
Sounds of conversation had ceased. Old Ladies and Blue Angels had crowded closer, trying to piece together what had just gone down.
Knight didnโt look at Boxerโinstead he stared at me. โYour motherโฆ her name was Scarlett OโBanion.โ
My eyes widened. โHow did youโโ
โBecause,โ Knightโs eyes were grim. โIโm your father.โ