Chapter 19
CHAPTER NINETEEN
Maggie—
The bed shifts, and I crack open my eyes to the bright morning light. Keno has his back to the headboard, and his phone in his hands.
I’m on my stomach, and I go up on my elbows, squinting. “Everything okay.”
He presses a soft kiss to my lips. “Everything’s fine. Just club stuff. Go back to sleep.”
I roll to my side and fall back asleep.
The next time I wake, it's to the smell of coffee and Keno shaking my hip. “Wake up, Six.”
I roll over, inhaling the aroma rising from the steaming mug, and sit up, taking the cup he offers. After a long sip, I smile. “Are you going to bring me coffee in bed every morning?”
“If that’s what it takes to keep you happy.” His phone goes off, and he glances at it. “Gotta take this. Give me a minute.”
He strides out of the room in just a pair of low-hanging jeans, the dimples at the base of his spine on display, as well as all that beautiful ink on his back.
Sipping the coffee, I smile to myself, thinking about last night and how he told me he loves me.
Keno is gone a long time, and I eventually slip my arms through his denim shirt, fastening a single snap and pad out into the living area.
I see him standing at the fireplace, snapping twigs and tossing them into the blaze he’s got going. He stares into the flames, but he seems miles away.
There’s a long run of silence, and I study him.
“Something’s wrong,” I say, and he turns. “What is it?”
“My nomad days are over.” He gets a far-off look in his eyes. “I guess sometimes we have to let go of the past to make room for the future, huh?”
“What about Texas?” I ask, feeling like my entire future hinges on his reply.
He shakes his head. “I’d hate Texas. I think we both would.”
“Are you sure? It’s a big opportunity for you.”
He answers my question with one of his own. “What is it you want in life, Six?”
I think carefully on my answer. “You, mornings like this waking up with you,” I shrug. “Maybe a baby or two.”
He grins. “Sweetheart, I’ll give you as many of those as you want. But is that enough? Will I be enough?”
“Yes. You, a warm fire, our future together… What could be better?”
He presses his forehead to mine. “I hope it’s enough. I want to be enough for you.”
“You are.” I lift my head that last inch to meet his mouth, swaying into him. He’s solid and strong, and the scent of him soothes me. “Say the words you said to me last night,” I whisper.
“I love you, Maggie,” he murmurs into the hair at my temple.
I close my eyes and listen to his heartbeat, soaking this moment in and wondering how I could ever be happier than I am right now.
But there’s something more I need. How do I ask him to do one more thing for me when he’s already done so much?
I pull back and search his eyes with a worried frown.
“What is it?” he asks.
I shake my head. “I want to ask you something, but it’s big.”
“Ask.”
“My brothers.”
His eyes slide closed. “I know. I hate that they’re putting you through this.”
I nod because he’s right, but I’m frantic for him to understand. My eyes fill with tears. “Please don’t kill them, Keno. Please.”
“It’s out of my hands, Maggie; do you understand that? And it’s out of yours, too.”
“How can I sit here and do nothing?”
“Because being in the middle of it helps no one.”
“Can’t you please stop the club from killing them?”
“I doubt it.”
“Please, Keno. If you care for me…”
“I care about you, Maggie. Don’t ever doubt that.” He presses his lips to my forehead. “I’ll do what I can. I can’t make any promises.”
“Thank you.”
He cups my face and gives me a long kiss that fires my desire and makes me wet. He brushes a thumb over my cheek. “Hell, is there anything I wouldn’t do for you, Six?”
I burrow against him, loving the feel of being in his arms.
Finally, pulling back, he strokes his thumb over my lower lip, and his eyes drop to my chest. “Show me your tits, pretty baby.”
I don’t hesitate, tugging the plackets until the snap pops open.
“Goddamn, sweetheart. Do you know how gorgeous you are? I want to fuck you right now, right here. You gonna let me?”
“Yes.”
He scoops me into his arms and carries me to the couch, then bends me over the arm. I hear his zipper, and the head of his cock circles the entrance to my pussy.
“Goddamn. You’re good and wet, and I’m about to explode.”
“Take me,” I pant, and he thrusts into me, his warm palm moving up my spine.
“There’s my girl. So hot and ready for me.”
He drags each stroke out until I need more and push against him.
He grabs my hips, his fingers digging in and holding me immobile. With every stroke, he hits that magic spot that has me writhing and bucking, needing more.
His fingers come around my hip and dive between my legs. He works my clit, knowing just the right amount of pressure and speed. That combined with what his dick is doing to my g-spot, I’m barreling toward an orgasm.
“Oh, God. Yes. Yes.”
His fingers ramp up their speed, and I fly over the edge into ecstasy, using the cushions to muffle my screams.
I fall back to earth, panting, all my nerve endings super sensitive from the orgasms that just rocked my world. I can feel the wetness coating him as he slides in and out of me.
He pulls me up so my back is pressed to his chest. It changes the angle, making it even more intense on my g-spot. I moan and wiggle.
Keno cups my breasts, his thumbs strumming my engorged and sensitive nipples.
It feels so damn good. His arms lock around my ribs, pinning me, and then he picks up his pace, our skin slapping together.
Keno curls forward and bites my shoulder. I moan and come hard. He grunts, and with three strokes, he’s right behind me.
I drag in a ragged breath, feeling like I could sink to the floor, but his strong arms keep me on my feet.
He kisses my temple. “Sweet Jesus, Maggie. That was good.”
“So good.”
He turns me to face him and smooths my hair from my face. “You get that anything I do, I do to keep you safe and protected, right?”
I frown at his strange words. “Yes, why?”
The sound of a motorcycle carries to me, drawing my eyes to the window. “Is someone coming?”
He stands and grabs his mug. “Better get dressed, baby. We’ve got company.”
I dash to the bedroom and dress in what I was wearing last night, then find a brush and run it through my hair. When I come back out, there are several paper bags of groceries sitting on the kitchen island.
On the floor by the door is my pink duffel bag.
I frown and move out the door to find Keno on the porch, sipping his coffee.
A motorcycle and a pickup truck sit parked in the drive.
Utah stands in the gravel with his arms folded; a prospect stands next to him.
When I step outside, Utah lifts his eyes to mine. “Hey, Maggie. Lola and my ol’ lady went by your apartment and grabbed you some clothes. I put the bag inside for you.”
“Thanks,” I say and look at Keno, not entirely sure what’s going on.
Keno lifts his mug toward the prospect. “This is Woody. He’s going to stay with you while I’m gone.”
“You’re leaving?” Panic fills me.
“Got some club business, Six. Woody will keep you safe.”
“Yes, ma’am,” the kid says.
“C’mere. Got something to show you.” Keno snags my hand and leads me down the stairs and to the back of the pickup. There’s a motocross bike loaded in the bed.
It’s not mine. In fact, it looks brand-new.
Utah tosses a set of keys to Keno, and Keno climbs up into the bed of the truck, then holds a hand out. “Come on. Have a look.”
I take his hand, and he pulls me up.
“Do you like it? It’s nice, right?” Keno says, running a palm over the seat.
“Wow. It’s really nice.”
Keno holds out the keys. “It’s yours.”
“What?”
“You need a bike for the race, and yours would never be fixed in time. Besides, it was time for an upgrade.”
“You bought me a motocross bike?”
“You like it?”
My eyes fill. “For real?”
“For real, baby.” He cups my cheek. “I’m not leaving it here, because I don’t want you riding it in these woods. But I knew you were worried about your bike, and I just wanted you to see this one.”
“But how did you do this? You were up here with me.”
“I made a call. Utah did the rest.”
I look at Utah. “Thank you.”
He grins. “I hope you like it. The guy said it was the best.”
“It’s perfect.” I look at Keno, then hug him. “Thank you.”
An hour later, Utah and Keno pull out, leaving Woody with me.
We watch television, and he tells me about a girl he’s seeing. He yawns and says he was up until 3:00am.
I put on a romantic comedy and soon hear him snoring. His head drops against the cushion, and his mouth opens.
My eyes fall to his cell phone lying on his thigh.
If I could get that phone, I could call Derek.
I creep closer and lift it off him. I hold it to his face for facial recognition, and it opens. He sniffles and swallows, then starts snoring again.
I tiptoe out of the room and into the bedroom, closing and locking the door. Then I call Derek.
When he doesn’t pick up, I text him and tell him it’s me.
I call back again, and this time he picks up.
I can hear racing motorcycles and know he’s at the track, qualifying.
“Derek?”
“What is it, Maggie?”
“The Royal Bastards know it was you. They know you and Remy shot their guy. They’re coming for you both, Derek, and they know where you are. You and Remy need to get out of town. Forget the race and just haul ass out of there.”
“What are you talking about? We never shot anybody.”
“Don’t fucking play games with me, Derek. They know. It doesn’t matter how. They’re going to kill you, do you fucking understand?” I hiss the words, trying to keep quiet.
Suddenly, it's Remy’s voice on the other end. “Don’t worry about us, Maggie. I’m taking care of Sully. That motherfucker is dead.”
“What do you mean?” I clutch the phone tightly to my ear.
“One of these days, Maggie. Boom.” Then he starts laughing.
Derek comes back on the line. “There’s no talking to him, Maggie.”
“He’s going to get you both killed. Get out of there, Derek. They know where you guys went. If Remy is too stupid to run, save yourself.”
“I’ll see ya, Maggie.”
He disconnects, and the line goes dead.
“Goddamn it,” I hiss, dialing my bar.
Baja picks up. “Gaslight.”
“It’s me, Maggie. Give me Lola’s number, will you?”
“Aren’t you supposed to be up at the cabin without a phone?”
“I just need Lola. I need feminine hygiene products. You want to go get ‘em for me?” I lie.
“Uh, no.” He rattles off her number, and I hang up on him.
I text Lola.
ME: It’s Maggie. I stole Woody’s phone to text you. Please come to the cabin.
LOLA: You okay?
ME: I’m being held prisoner. Come save me.
LOLA: Jesus. Men are stupid. I’m on my way.
Forty-five minutes later, she pulls up the drive.
The prospect is still asleep, and I sneak out the door and meet her at her car.
“What’s going on?” she asks.
“I’ll explain on the way. Just drive.” I climb into the back, and Isabella waves to me from the passenger seat.
“I just love secret road trips. Where are we going?” she asks.
“My place, I guess,” Lola says.
“Take me to my bar.”
Lola meets my eyes in her rearview mirror. “You sure.”
“Yep.”
“Okay. The Gaslight, it is.”
When we walk through the door, Baja yanks the stir stick out of his mouth.
“What the hell are you doing here?” he asks. “You’re supposed to be up at the cabin with Woody.”
“Where’s Keno?” I snap.
“He and the guys are halfway to Denver by now. And you shouldn’t be here.”
A woman sitting at the bar, sipping on a Coke with another girl, turns to me. “Did you say Keno?”
“Yes, why?”
“Because I’m looking for him.” She turns and reveals her pregnant belly. “He knocked me up and took off. I thought he might like to know he’s gonna be a father.”
My mouth drops open, and I stare at her belly.
Baja backs away and pulls his phone out.
I turn to Lola and Isabella, my eyes glazing and my lip trembling.
Lola grabs my hand. “Come on.” She leads me to the back stairs and up to my apartment.
Once the door closes, I burst into tears. “I can’t believe this is happening.”
“Look, you don’t know the whole story. We’re not even sure it’s his.”
“Was he in town six months ago?” I snap.
“Well, yeah, I guess he was. He and Shack have been here since before Halloween, I think. I know they were here for Thanksgiving. So…” She starts counting months off on her fingers.
I burst into tears and flop onto the couch. After a good cry, I wipe my eyes. “I’m so done. It’s over. I can’t do this.” I stand and begin pacing. Then a thought comes to my mind, and I look out the kitchen window into the alley.
There sits the pickup truck with the motocross bike still strapped in the bed.
“Lola,” I say. “Whose truck is that?”
I still have the keys to that bike in my pocket.
She comes to look.
“I think that’s Utah’s. Why?”
“Would his ol’ lady have a spare key fob for it?”
“Possibly. What are you thinking?”
“I have a race tomorrow. You want to be my pit crew?”
She looks at Izzy. “You up for a road trip, Izzy?”
“I’m in. But what about the guys?”
“Can I use your phone, Lola?” I ask.
“Sure.” She passes it to me and I text Keno.
ME: This is Maggie. I warned Derek. They’re going on the run, so you’re wasting a trip. By the way, there’s some chick at my bar who’s six months pregnant and claims you’re the father. Just thought you should know. Bye. Have a nice life, Daddy.
I pass it back to Lola.
She reads the text, then looks at me. “Oh, wow.”
“Yep,” I snap.
“Maggie, you know, if they’re on their bikes, he may not get this right away, so don’t be upset if he doesn’t call.”
Her phone immediately rings. She glances at the screen. “It’s Keno.” She holds it out to me. “Guess I was wrong.”
I answer and immediately hang up, then go to the number and block him. I pass the phone to Lola. “Are we going or what?”
“Sure.” She exchanges a look with Isabella. “I’ll call and get the key to the truck.”
An hour later, we’re on the road to Denver, having roped Utah’s ol’ lady, Kate, into this as well.
“How long is this trip?” Kate asks from the backseat of the crew cab.
“Five or six hours,” I reply.
“Damn. It’s gonna be late when we get there.”
“I made us a reservation at a nearby hotel,” I say, then look at Lola. “Thanks for doing this with me. I’ve never had a close friend like this before.”
She reaches over and squeezes my hand. “Well, you do now. In this world, we girls have to stick together.”
I stare out the windshield and try not to think of a little child who looks like Keno.
My heart is breaking into a million pieces.