Scorpion’s Desert Blossom (Horsemen of Wrath MC #2)

Chapter 1

It was Saturday, and most of the club was gathered at the clubhouse as usual.

We didn’t spend all day there, but you were guaranteed that everyone would be there throughout the day at some point.

It was early evening.

The entire club had been out for a long ride today. The weather had been perfect for it. Even though it was mid-October, the temperature was hot, and the sun was shining. That was one of the things I loved about living in Florida. We didn’t have to deal with the frigid temps and snow that other states did. I was a guy not made to live in anything that cold. Just thinking about them made me shiver.

Laughter drew my eye to a table in the common room.

Diablo, our president, was sitting there.

Next to him was his wife, Jauhnna.

Their daughter, Jaycee, was sitting on his lap. Her little hands moved a mile a minute as she signed what she wanted to say. After Diablo and Jauhnna adopted her, we all learned ASL, American Sign Language. Some of us were slower than others, so we had to slow her down when she got to signing too fast. She’d grin and sign “slowpokes.” It was a word she learned and loved to use.

Our big, burly, tattooed president, who would scare most adults, was grinning and laughing as he signed back.

Jauhnna watched them, smiling, as she held their three-month-old son, Chasin.

He was fast asleep.

The noise in the clubhouse didn’t bother him. I loved to tease her. That meant he was bound to be a biker one day. Jauhnna would smile and say she would be okay with it as long as he was a good one, like his daddy.

My mom always told stories of how I was as a baby in the club.

She claimed that I slept through everything—laughter, screaming, and fighting.

My dad had been in it with the prior generation, who founded the Horsemen.

Diablo’s dad had been part of that group. He’d been the enforcer. My dad had been the treasurer.

Seeing Chasin and recalling my mom and dad and how legacies worked in the MC life made me think of my best friend, Santiago, who everyone called Tiago.

Whenever I did, I couldn’t help the anger, pain, and disappointment that filled me.

He should be sitting next to me.

He was as much of a Horseman as any of us, but he’d been robbed of that life.

Tiago and I were born into the club.

We’d known nothing else from day one.

As we got older, we idolized our dads and vowed to join the club just like they had.

Our old men smiled and said Maybe. As we got into our teens, they made it clear that our path into the club would be longer and different from others.

They both worried that if something happened to the club or us, we wouldn’t have anything to fall back on.

It was a possibility that concerned them because they lived that way themselves.

Their solution was that we could begin prospecting once we graduated from high school.

However, instead of a standard year and a patch decision being made, we’d have to go longer. It wasn’t because they didn’t believe in us. It was to allow us time to go to college and get a four-year degree. They didn’t care in what as long as it was in something practical.

We complained and argued until we were almost blue, but they wouldn’t waver.

The rest of the club backed their decision.

Two very pissed-off guys started college the summer after high school.

We weren’t willing to wait until fall. We planned to go year-round to get our degrees and get out.

Eventually, our attitudes improved, and we saw the wisdom in what they asked us to do.

It wasn’t like having degrees would be a waste in the club.

They could be used to the advantage of our MC.

The rest of the club worked with us to schedule our prospect duties without interfering with our classes. Sometimes, we thought college might never end, but eventually, we graduated.

The club was planning a big party to celebrate the occasion.

Tiago and I suspected it was to be our patch-in party as well.

We’d done nothing that the club should vote us out for.

We were waiting for it impatiently. The club had a few things going on, which caused them to delay it a few weeks past graduation.

To this day, I wish I’d gone with him that night.

If I had, maybe I could’ve prevented what happened.

Instead, I let my best friend go alone.

The reason was that one of the hang-arounds I’d been trying to get to sleep with me had finally said yes. I’d been after her for six months. That night, I was supposed to meet her at her place. When Tiago asked me to go for a night ride, I explained why I couldn’t.

He knew how much time I put into trying to get into her pants.

He’d grinned, congratulated me, and said to have fun.

He insisted he wanted to hear about it the next day.

I’d waved him off without a second thought. I’d gone to meet the girl, and we had sex. I was feeling great when I returned to the compound. However, it was like walking into a funeral home. I tried not to recall that night and how it changed our lives, but I couldn’t.

Opening the door to the clubhouse, I swaggered in.

Wait until I tell the rest of the guys I scored.

I hoped Tiago was back from his ride.

He was the one I wanted to talk to about it the most. As I entered, a dark, oppressive feeling hit me. The room was too quiet for a Saturday. No bunnies or other women were hanging out. The brothers present were gathered in a group with their heads together. Voices were muted.

“What’s going on here? This place is dead,” I joked.

Several heads turned to stare at me, and I saw their sorrow.

I was about to ask what was wrong when my dad stood up and approached me.

His expression told me that whatever it was, it wasn’t good.

He put his arm around me and drew me to a chair. After I sat, he took the one next to me.

“Son, we need to talk.”

“Dad, what happened? Why is everyone so quiet and upset?” My mind raced.

We’d been having issues with another MC.

Had they done something? Were we at war with them? Those were the immediate things that came to mind.

“Son, there’s been an accident.

It happened not long ago.

We were waiting for you to get home,” Dad said.

Instantly, noting that my mom wasn’t there, and she would usually be with Dad, made my heart lurch.

“Is it Mom? Is she alright? Please, tell me she’s okay,” I said in a panic.

He gripped my forearm and shook his head.

I was about to throw up when he answered, “No, it’s not your mom.

She’s fine.”

I exhaled loudly in relief, but it was short-lived.

Dad continued, “It’s Tiago.

He’s the one who had an accident.”

I was back to fighting not to puke.

My heart accelerated again.

“Is he dead?” I could barely get the words out.

“The last we heard, he was alive, though in terrible shape.

He’s at the hospital.

His dad, some of the guys, your mom, and a few other old ladies are there.

He’s in surgery. We didn’t want you to return to this news and be here alone.”

I shot to my feet.

“What’re we waiting for? Let’s get to the hospital,” I barked.

It wasn’t long before we were headed that way.

I had to fight to concentrate on my riding to avoid another accident.

Due to the late hour, the trip to the hospital was short, though it felt like it took hours.

Seeing other people’s facial expressions in the waiting room would be funny under different circumstances.

This time, I barely acknowledged that anyone other than our club was there.

I scanned the room for two faces in particular.

I found them together. Mom was seated next to Tiago’s dad, Moondog. His road name was a play on his last name, Luna. His head was hanging down, and his hands were clasped in front of him. Moondog was leaning forward with his elbows resting on his legs. Mom said something. His head lifted, and he looked toward the door where we stood.

I swear, he appeared to have aged ten years in a night.

His eyes were bloodshot, and his face was worn-looking.

He had lines on his face I’d never seen.

When he spotted me, he slowly came to his feet. Mom stood as well. Not wanting them to walk all the way, I moved. We met halfway. Without a word, Moondog’s arms came around me, and he hugged me. His grip was so tight it was hard to breathe, but I didn’t complain. I wrapped my arms around him.

Moondog was like a second dad to me, just as my dad was one to Tiago.

Mom was snuggled in Dad’s arms as he whispered in her ear.

I could see that she’d been crying.

Her eyes were red. The rest of the club made their way to us. Eventually, someone suggested we step into the hallway outside the waiting room to talk. Moondog clung to me as we made our way there.

“How is he, Moon?” Dad asked.

Moondog shook his head.

“I don’t know.

He’s still in surgery.

They keep telling us to be patient, and someone will tell us when he’s done, but when will that be? What if they come and tell us he’s gone?” he asked hoarsely.

“Don’t think like that.

What Tiago needs is our prayers and positive thoughts.

He’ll pull through this,” our president, Diablo, said gruffly.

I saw his sister Julie’s anxious expression. She was standing toward the back, tears still running down her face. I had no idea where Diablo’s daughter, Brooklyn, was. Someone had to be watching the kids.

Others murmured words along the same line, but they came out hollow.

No one wanted to say it, but they were all thinking it.

Tiago wasn’t surviving this.

To fight away that thought, I asked the main question that had been burning inside of me since I heard.

“What happened? Dad said there was an accident. How?”

“Excuse me.

Are you the family of Santiago Luna?” a young woman’s voice asked, making us all turn.

“I’m his father,” Moondog said hopefully.

“I wanted to let you know that he’s still in surgery.

The doctors are working on him.

If you’d like, you can move to the post-op waiting room.

It’s on the second floor. Exit the elevator and turn left. You’ll see it. I’ll make sure they know you’re there,” she said kindly.

“Thank you.

We’ll do that,” Pres told her.

As she walked off, we slowly made our way to the elevators.

With so many of us there, it took both elevators to get us up and one to return to get more.

The room was right where the nurse said it was.

There was a man and a woman in there, but from the looks of it, they weren’t together. They gave us wary glances when we filed into the room. The woman got up and walked out. The man stayed, but he wasn’t making eye contact. We could’ve assured him he had nothing to worry about, but we had no time to worry about anyone else.

Huddled together, I was told the story.

I listened in disbelief to what I was told.

From what they knew, which wasn’t a lot, the police had been called to the accident scene.

A car and Tiago’s bike had been involved. They’d transported him right away to the hospital. There was no information on the driver of the car. According to Moondog, no one else had been brought in around the time Tiago had been, which led them to think the driver was either dead or not seriously hurt. My fury built. Whoever the driver was, better hope they were dead because if Tiago wasn’t alive and whole, I’d make sure their life was hell.

Once they had finished telling what they knew, we broke our huddle and spread out to sit or stand in small groups.

I sat with Moondog until I couldn’t sit anymore, and then I left him with Dad and Mom.

I walked over to stare out the window at the night and the parking lot.

I sent prayer after prayer up to the big man—Dear God, please, don’t let him die. We have so many plans and so much life to live.

***

“Excuse us, we’re looking for Santiago Luna’s family.

We were told they were here,” a man’s voice said from behind me.

I was back at the window.

Whirling around, I found two policemen standing in the waiting room doorway.

We’d been here for two hours.

I wanted to scream and demand someone tell us what the fuck was taking so long. Since I couldn’t do that, I’d settle for finding out what happened and what the story was with the other driver.

The cops were scanning the room.

I could tell they weren’t thrilled by a room full of bikers and would naturally see us as the enemies.

There weren’t many law enforcement officers who didn’t view us that way, even if you weren’t into illegal stuff, which we weren’t—those days had passed long before now.

It had been a long, bloody battle. Diablo had succeeded in getting the club out of it, but not without losing his wife, Amy. Another MC had killed her despite our club being clean. It made Diablo a hard, overprotective man.

“We’re his family.

This man is his father,” Dad stated.

“Could we see some identification?” one of the officers asked.

“Do you think we’d lie about this? Christ.

The man’s son is in surgery, and we’re waiting to see if he’ll be alright.

Don’t be a bigger dick than you have to be.

Tell us what you have to say,” Diablo snapped.

The officer didn’t appreciate the comment, but before he could say anything else, his partner shook his head and took over speaking.

Based on that move and his look, my guess was that he was the senior partner.

“We’re here to get an update on Santiago’s condition and to speak to his family.

Mr.

Luna, we can go somewhere private if you prefer to hear this alone,” the second cop offered.

“No, this is our family.

You can say or ask anything you want in front of them,” Moondog told him.

I’d moved closer.

“Mr.

Luna, please have a seat.

I’m Officer Hardy, and this is my partner, Officer Wiley,” the polite one stated as he followed Moondog to a set of chairs.

The rest of us trailed after them, but we let the three of them have the chairs while we stood or sat elsewhere. I stayed on my feet.

“Are you here to ask questions about my boy or to tell us you have information about what happened? All we were told was that a car was involved.

What caused it? Where’s the other driver? They weren’t brought into the ER,” Moondog rattled off.

“Give us a second, and we’ll answer what we can,” Hardy said.

“The cause of the accident is still under investigation.

However, you do realize that your son’s blood will be checked to see if he has alcohol or drugs in his system.

If he does, it doesn’t bode well for him,” Officer Wiley interjected before Hardy could continue.

This insinuation angered us all.

Moondog scowled at Wiley while the rest of us were muttering under our breaths.

Just because he was a biker and on a motorcycle didn’t mean Tiago was the cause of the accident.

And he sure as hell wouldn’t be high or drunk.

“My son knows better than ever to ride if he’s been drinking, even a little.

And he doesn’t do drugs, so I have no doubt his tests will come back clean.

Sorry to disappoint you, Officer Wiley,” Moondog snapped.

I saw Wiley’s mouth opening, and I knew that if he said one more offensive thing, I’d plant my fist in it.

A hand on my shoulder made me glance back.

I found Diablo standing there.

He shook his head, so I had no choice but to stay quiet. Dad was over by Moondog. He cast a warning look my way.

“Why don’t you head out to the car and make those calls we discussed on the way here? I’ve got this,” Hardy informed Wiley.

His partner gave him a disbelieving look, but the guy kept his mouth shut.

He rose and more or less stomped from the room.

I wanted to shout good riddance, but I still had Diablo’s hand on my shoulder.

“Sorry about that.

He’s green and hasn’t learned not to jump to conclusions.

The investigation is still underway.

He was right about that. And yes, per protocol, we’ll have your son’s blood tested. However, that would be the case, regardless. With an accident like this, all parties will submit to a blood alcohol and drug test. I have a few general questions for you. Can you answer them for me?”

“Sure, go ahead,” Moondog said.

“Do you know why your son was out in the area where we found him, riding alone and at night? I know that most bikers in a formal club tend to ride at least with a buddy, if not more.

Although I know that’s not always the case.”

“We do tend to ride together, but not every time.

As for why Tiago was out in that exact area, no, I don’t know.

I do know he left earlier to go for a ride.

He planned to ask his best friend to go with him, but he had other plans. Tiago decided to go anyway. It’s not uncommon to sometimes want to ride even at night when the weather is nice,” Moondog explained.

Guilt hit me when he said I didn’t go.

“Don’t you dare blame yourself.

You had no way of knowing this would happen.

And if you did go with him, we might be waiting here to hear about both of you,” Pres growled in my ear.

“Maybe, or maybe he would’ve never been on that road, or we saw the car first and avoided it,” I mumbled.

“You can’t play the what-if game.

If you do, it’ll drive you insane.

Believe me.

I know,” Diablo whispered.

“You said his best friend was asked to go.

Is he here?” Hardy asked.

Without waiting, I stepped forward, drawing his gaze.

“I’m his best friend.”

Hardy nodded.

“Hello.

May I ask your name?”

“It’s Kendrick Brady.”

“Alright, Mr.

Brady, do you know why your friend was in the Anastasia State Park area?”

“No, but we go all over when we take a ride.

He might’ve been out there watching the stars or listening to the ocean.

He loves the water.

He’s a surfer.”

“And he asked you to go, but you said no.

Was it unusual for him to ride alone, especially after dark?”

“It was more typical that I was with him, but I had other plans tonight.

He decided to go anyway.

He said he needed to feel the wind in his hair.

We ride at night fairly often.”

“May I ask what your plans were?”

“Hang on, what difference does that make? He had nothing to do with the accident.

Don’t answer that,” Dad stated.

Hardy glanced over at him.

“And you are?”

“I’m his father.”

“If you continue to ask rather than explain, this meeting is over without our lawyer present,” Diablo added.

“I’m not accusing any of you of hurting anyone.

Okay, let’s get back to the topic.

I’ll speak to Santiago once he’s out of surgery and find out his side of it.”

“What did the other driver say happened?” Moondog asked.

Hardy appeared uncomfortable before answering.

“I can’t disclose that at the moment.

I wouldn’t feel right saying it until everyone has been interviewed and our investigation is complete.” He rose to his feet and continued, “Here is my card.

I would appreciate it if you’d call once your son is out of surgery and awake.

We ask the staff to do it, but they can get busy and forget. I’ll be the contact person for the investigation. I’ll pray for your son’s recovery, Mr. Luna. If there’s anything I can do, just let me know.”

I paced as he shook hands with Moondog, Dad, and Diablo.

What were the cops hiding? I didn’t believe that the fact that it was an open investigation was why they wouldn’t say anything.

If the police didn’t tell us, we had other ways and contacts who would get the information for us.

***

A light pat on my leg had me opening my eyes.

It was to find Jaycee standing there.

She wore a concerned frown.

“What’s up, Shortcake?” I signed.

She giggled.

No matter how many times she was called Shortcake, she did it.

The difference in her in a matter of a year was tremendous.

She went from a sad girl with one person to communicate with, her foster mom, to one who ran, laughed, smiled, and loved life. We all thought fate played a hand in bringing her into the senior center last Halloween and meeting Jauhnna. Diablo made things roll from there, and they fostered and then adopted her.

“Why do you look so sad?” she signed.

“I was remembering something sad.

But seeing your pretty face has made me feel better.”

“I can show you my book.

It might make you feel good,” Jaycee offered.

I couldn’t say no.

None of us could.

She and her baby brother were the only small children in the club.

Diablo’s oldest daughter was married and had two boys, but they lived with her man’s club in Tennessee. They came to visit a few times a year, and Diablo and his new family went to see them the rest of the time. Thinking that Brooklyn was old enough to marry and have kids felt weird. I’d watched her grow up. I was nine years old when she was born. I still thought of her as a little sister.

Without a word, I picked Jaycee up and sat her on my lap.

She beamed that smile at me that got her anything she wanted, and then she opened her book.

I helped to hold it when she signed, and she did it for me when I did.

She’d turned five in the summer and started kindergarten a few months ago. She adored school, and books were one of her top loves.

After we finished her book, she chatted about her week at school and how her baby brother woke up last night crying.

To be that innocent and carefree was a blessing.

When we were young, we wished the years away to become adults.

Then, when we became adults, all we wanted to do was go back to being kids and have no responsibilities other than picking up after ourselves and maybe doing a few chores.

I didn’t know how long we were at it before Jauhnna came over.

She was without Chasin.

Glancing over, I saw Diablo holding him and talking to Turbo.

“Honey, it’s time to go home.

You need to get ready for bed.

Go to Daddy,” she instructed Jaycee.

Jaycee let out a sigh of disappointment, but she didn’t argue.

She kissed my cheek and signed “Love you” before she hopped down.

I touched her arm, so she looked at me.

I signed “I love you more” back. She giggled and then skipped over to her dad.

“You’re all so good with her.

Susanna saw her the other day and remarked on how different she is,” Jauhnna said.

Susanna was Jaycee’s former foster mom.

She still kept in touch. She was a great woman.

“She’s easy to be with.

She’s happy, and as long as she has people she can communicate with and isn’t locked in a world of silence, she’s content.

You and Diablo made her bloom the way she has.”

“It’s all of us, I think.

Anyway, thank you for letting her show you her book and talk.

Are you alright?”

“I was just thinking about something.

No worries.

I’m good.

You’d better get her home before the big bad devil gives us hell for keeping her up too late,” I teased. Diablo was coming up behind her.

“Keep it up, and I’ll show you the devil.

Are you ready to go, Serenity?”

“I am,” Jauhnna replied.

You could see the love they had for each other.

It came off of them in waves.

I remembered how devastated he was when he lost his first wife.

None of us ever expected him to take another old lady. When twenty-plus years passed, and he was still single, we would’ve bet millions he would spend the rest of his days alone, except for the women he’d take to bed whenever the mood struck. There’d been plenty of casual hookups over the years, although not where Brooklyn could see them.

When the club rescued Jauhnna from the trunk of a car along the road, Diablo was struck by her instantly.

Her appearance caused some friction at first with a few other brothers.

She was a beautiful woman.

We all looked at her twice, but backed off once Diablo put in his claim. No one was willing to go up against him. And seeing how they were, you knew they’d been made for each other.

“Thank you for entertaining Jaycee.

You need to talk? Come see me,” Diablo said.

Knowing him, he probably knew what, or I should say who, I was thinking of.

“I will, Pres.

Now, get them home.

See you later,” I told them.

He wrapped his arm around Jauhnna.

Since he was carrying a sleeping Chasin, Jaycee held her mom’s free hand.

She waved as she left.

She was slowly trying to say words out loud, but since she’d been deaf since birth, she had difficulty forming them with the correct sounds, which frustrated her. They had her working with a speech therapist. She might never fully speak, but it would be nice to have the option.

Observing them leave the clubhouse, an errant thought hit me.

It had cropped up more than once since Jauhnna joined the Horsemen family.

What would it be like to have someone wholly yours? A person to share everything with, no matter if it was good, bad, or terrible.

To be next to you when you went to sleep at night and when you woke?

I’d been with a lot of women over the years.

Being a biker’s kid and someone who shot up, developed muscles early, and had a reputation as a bad boy, even if I wasn’t, had made me popular with girls.

It had morphed into the same with women.

Tiago had been the same, and we’d been typical boys. We had sex, but it was always while ensuring we protected ourselves and the girls we were with. None had been lied to, nor did we mess with anyone innocent.

It hadn’t changed as I got older, and while I had a lot of great times and enjoyed the fuck out of sex, I wasn’t a guy who thought sex with one person was a death sentence.

I’d seen enough with our friends in the Warriors and their MC friends who’d become our friends to know if the person was the right one, then it could be heaven.

The key was finding the right person.

My parents had been the same way. In the case of Diablo and our friends, it seemed that their special ones stumbled into their lives when they were least expected and in the craziest ways, just like Jauhnna had.

I’d tried to picture what my forever woman would look like.

What kind of personality would she have? Did her having kids make a difference? I figured out whether there were kids or not didn’t matter to me.

You can love a child not of your blood.

Jaycee was a great example, and there were numerous others throughout the MCs. As far as personality, the woman would have to have one. Nothing was worse than trying to talk to a woman who couldn’t think for herself or string a coherent sentence together. Having common sense and brains was needed. She didn’t have to be a rocket scientist.

I thought I’d like one with her interests and a job she enjoyed.

She would have to have mental strength.

Even though we weren’t an outlaw club, we saw and were exposed to things that would horrify others.

My woman couldn’t hide in a corner and fear her shadow.

As for looks, I was clueless overall.

I had no type, such as I preferred blonds or only liked tall women.

I was a tall man at six feet four, and it would be nice if she were taller, but it wasn’t a requirement.

Body-wise, I’d been with a variety of differently built women. I found voluptuous turned me on the most. Some guys wouldn’t fuck a woman who wasn’t a size two model with no boobs, ass, hips, or meat on her bones. Those were the ones who turned me off. If I wanted to fuck a board, I’d stick my cock in the knothole in a fence post.

I did want someone who had a sexual appetite similar to mine.

I wouldn’t mind sex daily, but I knew not many women did.

As long as it didn’t end up that instead of her wanting sex a few times a week, she wanted it once a quarter, I’d be good.

I heard so many guys complain that their wives never wanted sex and were always tired.

If you listened to them closely and got to know them and their women over time, I saw a pattern.

They expected their women to have jobs, raise the kids, cook, and clean while their men worked and came home to sit and watch television or go out with their buddies.

Well, no wonder she was too tired and didn’t want sex.

I wouldn’t either. If I were a woman and my man was like that and whined about sex, I’d cave his head in with a hammer. Even Dad, a big alpha biker, hadn’t expected that of Mom. She would’ve beaten him straight with the nearest heavy object if he had. He helped with the housework and raised me.

Thinking of Mom, I checked the time.

It wasn’t quite nine o’clock.

It would be a little while until things got heated up in here.

I had time to slip out and call her. It had been a few weeks since we talked. I missed her since she’d moved closer to my aunt, Janan. Mom did it to help take care of her since she had poor health. Mom tried to convince Janan to move here, but she wouldn’t leave Virginia. I offered to pack and move her to Florida, but she felt better close to her doctors and where she knew everything. I hated to see my mom leave, but it helped her to be away from memories of Dad and his passing ten years ago.

She’d been aimless for a couple of years after he died of cancer.

He’d battled it, but it took him fast.

To be honest, I still mourned him.

I was sad that they’d never know him if I had kids. Shaking those thoughts away, I went to call her—enough depressing thoughts for one night.