Chapter 28
Great Picture
Ivy
Alexandra and I were standing around her Keurig waiting for my chai latte to brew.
“I can’t wait for this to be done and over,” I said.
She nodded. “Yeah, I can relate. Some crap went down with me back in late April, early May, and waiting for shit to get sorted sucks.”
The Keurig finished, and we took our tea to the living room.
Alexandra sat down with one leg folded under her. “I don’t know if anyone mentioned it, but if things go smooth at this meet, the brothers are going to have a blow-out party tonight.”
My brows drew together. “I thought that happened last night.”
She chuckled. “Oh no. Tonight, they’ll be partying until at least two in the morning.”
“As fun as that sounds, I was kind of looking forward to sleeping in my own bed tonight.”
She grinned. “No you’re not. You want to go tonight. It’s what makes it all worth it.”
“I’ll have to take your word for it,” I said.
“Have I steered you wrong yet?” she asked.
I thought about it for a beat. “No, you haven’t. And I’m so glad you warned me about Ryan picking the locks because that would have freaked me out huge.”
An hour later I heard the sound of a motorcycle. The living room had beautiful picture windows that looked out to the street and since the drapes were opened wide, I spied Ryan walking his bike to a stop.
I dashed out the door, down the front walk, jumped up and nearly tackled him. He caught me, wrapped his arms around my waist with his hands at my ass, and he went back on a foot, but steadied himself.
“Jesus, Trouble. You’re gonna send us both to the ER.”
I leaned back and cupped his cheeks. “Not a chance, my man.”
His lips quirked. “You hurried off earlier, but I love you, too. Don’t think that was lost on me.”
My eyes widened. “Oh my God. We’re gonna get arrested for indecency if you don’t hush.”
“Why?” he asked on a laugh.
“Because I want to jump you right now.”
He squeezed my ass. “Hop down, sweetheart.”
“Well, that’s a great picture,” Alexandra said from behind me.
I dropped my legs and turned to face her. “What are you talking about?”
She turned her phone to me. On the screen was a fantastic picture from a side angle of Ryan holding me and me cupping his cheeks. My mind filled with visions of canvas pictures in Mom’s living room and I knew I wanted to get that shot printed.
“You have to send that to me,” I said.
“Consider it done,” Alexandra said.
I shifted so I could see Alexandra and Ryan. “Speaking of ‘done’, is the situation handled?”
His eyes darted to Alexandra and back to me. “Tentatively, yes. I hate to leave so soon, Lex, but she and I should go.”
Alexandra shook her head and swatted a hand out at us. “No worries. I get it. Ride safe.”
“Thanks for the tea,” I said, and followed Ryan to his bike.
I led Ryan into my townhouse. The moment Ryan closed and locked the door, he stalked to me and kissed me hard.
His hands were roving my body with clear intentions, but I broke the kiss. “What’s the story? Are we staying here tonight?”
He pressed his lips together for a moment. “I hate to tell you this, but we’re going back to the clubhouse this afternoon.”
I stepped back, out of his hold. “What? Why? I thought the threat was dealt with now.”
He sighed. “In theory, but none of us trust it yet. Besides, you need to meet the rest of the Biloxi brothers you missed last night. Seeing as you love me.”
I shot him a small smile. “Okay. But how long before we know everything’s over?”
His chest rose with his deep inhale. “Tonight, sweetheart. Volt’s gonna call Bridge and we’re verifying some of what Sig said. He’s Boyd and Campbell’s uncle.”
“All right. Do I need to bring anything for this party?”
He grinned. “No. The club has it handled.”
“Really? From what Alexandra said, it’s supposed to be a blow-out party.”
He bent and took off his boots. “It probably will be, Trouble, but you don’t need to worry about it. Speaking of that, the way you flew out of Bluff’s house, were you really that worried about me?”
My eyes slid to the side.
He sauntered to me and pulled me into his arms. “It’s all right to say so, baby.”
“I was worried, but seeing you pull up to their house made me rather—”
“Excited,” he said.
I smirked and ran my hands up his abdomen along his chest to his shoulders. “Relieved, is more like it.”
He leaned down and nipped my earlobe. “Glad to be of service.”
I leaned back and gave him a questioning glance. “Of service?”
He nodded. “Pretty sure you could return the favor… be of service and give me some relief.”
I dipped my chin. “Are you hinting at me going down on you?”
“I love having your mouth on me, Ivy.”
“Pretty sure that makes two of us, honey.”
He cocked a brow at me.
I arched both my brows. “Let’s do this in my bedroom.”
When we rode into the Riot MC compound at a quarter after six, I sat snug to Ryan’s back on his bike with my arms wrapped around his waist.
If I’d thought there were a lot of bikers here last night, this proved me wrong.
From what Ryan had mentioned when we ate lunch, there were four Biloxi brothers I hadn’t met last night, but from the lengthy line-up of motorcycles parked behind the clubhouse, there had to be over two dozen more bikers here than last night.
“That’s a lot of bikes,” I said, as Ryan powered off the engine.
“It’s Saturday. More brothers are free today than on a weekday, and all the Devil Lancers are here, now that they don’t have to follow Bridge and Sig.”
He led me across the backyard to where some men were gathered around a large pot drinking beer.
One of the men turned his head to us. He had hair that was an attractive light brown with a heavy hint of red. In profile, he had a well-defined jaw, and a goatee surrounding his lips. A calculating gleam hit his eyes as he watched us approach.
Ryan slung an arm around my shoulders. “Har. Sorry we missed you last night.”
Har turned to us fully. I saw his cut had a patch beneath his road name that indicated he was a chapter president.
“Nickel, it’s been too damn long,” Har said, reaching a hand out toward Ryan.
Ryan let go of me to shake Har’s hand, and get a loud back-clap from Har.
Another man stood close by who was about two inches taller than Har. He had dark hair, but it was shot through with hints of gray. This man had bulk to spare, and that alone made him intimidating.
Ryan stepped away from Har and looked at the other man. “Brute, it’s good to see you.”
“Gamble wasn’t kidding,” Brute said, his eyes fixed on me.
Ryan turned his head to me and back to Brute. “What do you mean?”
A mischievous smile curled Brute’s lips and he shook his head. “You’ll have to ask Gamble.” He stepped toward me with a hand outstretched. “I’m Brute. It’s great to meet you, Ivy.”
I shook his hand and was pleasantly surprised at his grip – not too firm, but not limp either. “It’s nice to meet you, too.”
Ryan introduced me to Cynic and Roman.
The group went silent and the men exchanged glances.
Cynic dragged his thumb and forefinger along his goatee. “Do you run, Ivy?”
My smile faltered and I turned a questioning look to Ryan before meeting Cynic’s gaze. “Not if I can help it. Why?”
Cynic’s deep chuckled filled the air. “Just curious.”
The others were grinning and I turned to Ryan. “What am I missing?”
Ryan gave a slow head shake. “Mom likes to run. Some people say it’s part of how she and Dad met.” His eyes cut through the group. “But I say that’s bullshit. Her being a lawyer had everything to do with it.”
There was movement on the concrete patio and I saw Alexandra heading our way. “I told you they were here,” she called over her shoulder to Bluff.
She hurried to us and grabbed my hand, but looked at the Biloxi brothers. “Sorry, but I’m stealing her. She has lots of people to meet, and not a lot of time before people are too blotto.”
“Or high, if you’re taking her to meet any Devil Lancers,” Cynic muttered.
Alexandra shifted her gaze to Ryan. “Nickel, we’ll be in the common room. Don’t worry.”
My man locked eyes with me. “Stick by her side, babe.”
I nodded and Alexandra tugged me away.
“First, what are you drinking? Wine or beer?”
“I’m thinking beer,” I said.
Alexandra nodded. “Cool. We’ll get you set up first, but you have to meet Rainey and Vamp. She’s in charge of mortgage lending at one of the credit unions and she’s got a close friend who’s in real estate too.”
Within an hour, I’d met close to twenty people. If it weren’t for the unique road names, I wasn’t sure I’d remember them all.
I was sitting on a couch in the common room sipping my second beer watching Simone, Volt’s daughter, rocking her one-year-old daughter to sleep.
It would be a while before I’d be ready for that…
but at the same time I was envious of that connection.
For that matter, I couldn’t imagine how her little girl was able to fall asleep in a room with so much noise.
The music wasn’t overly loud, but it felt like the people talking were growing louder by the minute.
“You can hold her,” Simone said, looking at me.
I held up my beer and my other hand in front of me. “Oh, I don’t want her to wake up.”
Simone smiled. “She’s out, and it’s almost impossible to wake her once she falls asleep.”
Alexandra turned her face to me. “That’s the truth. I wish I could sleep that deeply.”
I set my drink down and took little Felicity into my arms. Like Simone said, she didn’t wake at all. I got her situated against my shoulder, and marveled at her soft skin and her immense body heat. There was something soothing about holding a sleeping child.
Ryan and his brother wandered into the common room, but only Ryan stopped short with his eyes fixed on me. From the struck look on his face, I wasn’t sure if he liked what he saw or wanted to bolt for the hills – not that there were many hills around here.
Simone looked over her shoulder and saw Ryan staring. “Oh, that’s my cue to get her into her Pack-n-Play.”
Ryan blinked then came closer. “No, Simone, it’s fine.”