Chapter 34
Ronnie flipped through the things hanging in her closet, trying to remember where she’d left her jacket. It had been at least a couple of months since she’d worn it. The weather hadn’t been cold enough to need it. Now, she was willing to be too warm, if it meant Demon would take her on his bike.
Spotting it, she pulled it off the hanger and tossed it on the still unmade bed before she pushed aside the running shoes she wore most days and reached for the boots she loved, but rarely had a reason to wear.
She grabbed a pair of socks from her drawer then carried the jacket, socks, and her boots into the living room.
“Almost ready,” she said as she dumped the jacket over the back of the couch and went to the recliner to put her boots on.
“Those are better than I’d hoped for,” Demon said.
She glanced up and found him focused on her boots, his head tilted to one side.
“Thanks. They’re some of my favorites, but I get odd looks for wearing them, so I don’t all that often.” She finished tying the last lace and stuck one foot out in front of her, resting on the heel. “You really like them?”
The boots weren’t anything special, just a pair of black Doc Marten 1919 style in black.
Part of why she loved them so much was that she’d wanted a pair for a long time and couldn’t justify the expense.
But a few years ago she’d found a shop that was going out of business and picked them up for thirty dollars.
It had been a temptation she hadn’t been able to resist, and she’d never regretted it, even if she didn’t wear them all that often these days.
“They’re a good, sturdy boot.” He moved until he stood beside her foot. It took a seconds and his lifting the leg of his jeans slightly for her to realize he wore a similar pair. “Nothing not to like about them.”
“But they’re not feminine. That’s what I usually hear.”
“So the fuck what? They’re functional. They get the job done, and you like them. That’s all that needs to matter.” He shrugged. “Screw anyone who thinks different.”
She stared at him for a moment, not sure if he was being honest or just telling her what he thought she wanted to hear.
“Ready?” he asked interrupting her thoughts.
She looked down at herself trying to decide if there was anything else she needed. Just her phone, it held all the necessities like ID and her debit card. Since she wasn’t driving, she didn’t even need keys.
“Almost.” She went to the counter where her phone was charging. After unplugging it, she shoved it in her bra then turned back to Demon. “Now I am.”
“I’m going to have a hard time not thinking about that all afternoon.” His gaze lifted from the top of her shirt to her face as he licked his lips. She recognized that look in his eyes.
“Nope. You said we could get out of the house. You promised me a ride on your bike. You’re not going to jump my bones and distract me.” She went to the sofa, grabbed her jacket, and put it on before going to the door.
“You got it, firecracker. I’ll take you for a ride. It won’t be a super long one right now, but as soon as I’m sure it’s safe, I’ll take you out for a longer one.”
“Sounds good.” She waited until he was next to her before opening the door.
He stepped outside first, holding one hand up so she would stay inside. She watched as he scanned the area, from one side of the street to the other, quickly at first as if looking for any obvious threats, then slowly as he turned his head back to where he’d started.
“We’re good.” He dropped his hand enough to reach for hers.
She stepped out and closed the door, hitting the button on the lock and listening to make sure the dead bolt engaged before she turned and let him pull her to where his bike sat under her carport, sideways as if he’d driven it up between the two vehicles then turned to hide it in front of Gavin’s rental.
Demon released her hand as he bent to mess with one of the saddle bags. She looked out at the street, resisting the urge to bounce on her toes. She was supposed to be an adult. She had to act like one, at least most of the time.
“Ever worn one of these?” Demon’s voice drew her attention back to him. He held a helmet out.
“No but I should be able to figure it out.” She took it and smacked it down on her head, then reached for the straps that hung on either side of her face.
“Babe, let me help you.” He picked the helmet up, spun it around and set it back down gently before he buckled the strap on one side and carefully adjusted the straps.
Her face heated but he didn’t seem to notice.
“I’ll have to pick you up a better one, but this will do for now.
” Once he had the helmet adjusted to suit him, he used one knuckle below her chin to tip her head back as he dropped his head to capture her mouth in a brief, hot kiss.
“Come on, firecracker, let’s go for that ride.
” He swung one leg over the bike and stood astride it.
“Where’s your helmet?”
“You’re wearing it.”
“I can’t take your helmet.”
“Babe, you’re more important than I am. I’ll get another helmet, but until then, you wear it or we’re not going anywhere.”
She scowled at him. Why was he like this?
“What do I do?” she asked, giving up.
“Put your foot here, swing your leg over like I did. Then just hold on and lean with me.”
She eyed him, then the bike for a moment, butterflies fluttering in her belly.
She wanted to do this, but it was just a little bit scary, then she did as he said, bracing one hand on his shoulders as she swung her leg over the seat like he’d done so she didn’t fall on her ass and embarrass herself even worse than putting the helmet on backwards.
“Comfortable?” he asked after she shifted a couple of times.
She wasn’t sure she should be pressed quite so close to him, but he seemed happy with it, so maybe it was what she was supposed to do.
If so, she could get used to this. He started the engine, it seemed louder than normal, but after he backed up a few steps, he aimed the front wheel toward the street, and they started to move forward.
She tightened her arms around his middle and did her best to do as he’d told her, lean with him.
It didn’t take long for her nervousness to blow away in the breeze.
She found herself closing her eyes and enjoying the feeling of the wind on her face, the warmth of the man she was holding on to, and the vibrations of the bike beneath her.
She lost herself in the sensations and all too soon he pulled off the road and into an enclosed parking lot.
“Where are we?” she asked over the sound of the engine.
“The clubhouse.” He backed the bike into line with several others before killing the engine.
“There are some of my brothers and a couple of the ol’ ladies here today.
I want you to meet a few people, I need to talk to someone for a few minutes, then we can look at finding something to do to entertain you.
” He waited while she climbed off, then he did the same, reaching up to release the catch on the helmet for her.
She stood to one side, looking around and not seeing anything remarkable while he stowed the helmet.
“I don’t need to be entertained.”
“I know, firecracker, but you’ll get into less trouble if we keep you busy.” Demon put one hand on the small of her back and guided her toward a metal door in the side of what looked like a huge warehouse.
“You make me sound like a toddler, or maybe a puppy.”
“Nah, you kiss much better than a puppy. A toddler too, come to think of it.”
“You spend much time around either?”
“Not really, at least not yet. Amber will be walking before long, then I won’t be able to say that.”
“Amber?”
Demon nodded. “My treasurer’s daughter. I think she’s here. At least her mama is, maybe you’ll get to meet her.”
They reached the door, he stepped around and opened it before she had a chance. This time, he motioned her in first, then followed her inside. She wondered at that for a moment. But she soon forgot it as she took in the room she’d just stepped into.
Ronnie stood inside the door, taking in the place.
There were several tables with chairs scattered through the room, in one corner was a pole from floor to ceiling, with TVs mounted to the wall on either side and sofas in front of it all.
There were a few men scattered around the room, some seated, some not.
A hand settled low on her back once more, but he didn’t try to move her.
Demon seemed content to stand there as long as she needed.
Before she had a chance to take the whole place in, a woman with long dark hair and curves that made Ronnie jealous, came out of a door to one side of the room, a phone to her ear.
“I don’t give a flying fuck what it costs you or how difficult it will be. Do it.” She fell silent, as if she was listening to whoever was on the other end of the line.
Ronnie didn’t know who the woman was talking to, but knew that she needed to know this woman.
After a couple of moments, the woman spoke again, this time her voice was low, but even Ronnie could tell she was dead serious, and probably even more pissed off than when she was yelling.
“I don’t care what it costs. I don’t care if you have to call in every favor you have out, if it costs you an entire shipment of whatever shit you’re importing now.
Either you clear the woman, making sure that anyone who ignores your cease order is dealt with in the same way as anyone who defies you, or you will never lay eyes on your granddaughter, not even a photograph. ”
As she spoke, another man, this one with longer hair and tattoos covering what Ronnie could see of both arms came from the same room the woman had come from, a baby in his arms. He didn’t look concerned as most of his attention was on the baby.
He grinned and talked to her as he moved through the room.
“You have twenty-four hours. I expect to hear from you by then. You can call this number.” She disconnected the call and shoved the phone into her pocket.
Ronnie watched as she scanned the room, a smile curved her lips as she spotted the man carrying the baby.
She seemed to catch the man’s eye, then nod once before she went back to reading the room.
It was easy to see when she spotted Demon and Ronnie, her smile changed from one of happy indulgence to something more professional as she approached them.
“Hi, you must be Veronica, I’m Krissi,” she said as she extended one hand.
Not knowing what else to do, Ronnie shook her hand.
“Nice to meet you. I’m Ronnie.”
Krissi’s smile warmed. “Ronnie then.” She turned to Demon. “Why are you just standing in the doorway? Come on in, get comfortable.”
“We will, I was just letting Ronnie get a feeling for the place.” He was silent for a moment then spoke again. “Puck said Giz is here. He in the other room?”
Krissi shook her head. “He went upstairs a few minutes ago. Not sure when he’ll be back down. He didn’t say anything more than he’d be back in a bit.”
“Is Jill here?” Demon asked.
Ronnie wondered who Jill was, and who went by Giz?
Krissi shook her head. “But Snake and Jennie came in a bit ago. Jenny was giggling like a school girl as they hurried upstairs. Giz was busy when that happened, but it seems like as soon as he got free, he headed up there. I’d lay odds he’s screwing with them.”
Screwing with them? Were there people somewhere above her having a threesome?
Ronnie didn’t know what her face looked like but clearly some of her thoughts showed on her face because Krissi waved one hand in the air, as if wiping away the idea.
“Not like that. I meant he’s messing with them. Jenny is Giz’s sister. She and Snake got together while Giz was on his honeymoon and he’s still not entirely over his sister settling down with one of his brothers. He takes every chance he gets to pick at them in one way or another.”
“Oh.” Ronnie blinked. “I mean to each his own, I just didn’t expect to hear someone talking about it so openly.” She couldn’t help the way her gaze flicked to the man still holding the baby as he spoke to another man, this one was tall, the sides of his head shaved and a long blond mohawk on top.
Krissi noticed her attention. Her smile went soft and affectionate.
“The one holding the baby is Ruger. He’s my ol’ man.
The blond is Sadist. His ol’ lady is Beth.
I won’t overwhelm you with names. They’ll be easier to remember if you can put faces to them.
The baby’s Amber, she’s mine. I’m sure she’ll hear plenty she probably shouldn’t.
Not to would be next to impossible around here, but we do try to keep things mostly clean around her.
She’s not talking yet, but she will be soon, and I have no doubt she’ll be a little sponge.
She’s already a daddy’s girl, as you can tell. ”
“My favorite part is that she’s almost as content with any of us as she is with her daddy,” Demon said beside her. “Come on. I want to see her little toothless grin.”
“Not toothless anymore. She’s got two in now and more on the way.”
“Awww. Why do they have to grow so fast?” He sounded disappointed.
Ronnie made a mental note to ask him later about kids.
From the way he watched someone else’s baby, she assumed he would want some, but how many?
She wasn’t sure how many she wanted, but knew she wanted at least two.
She wanted her kids to have someone they could count on like she had Gavin.
She might have felt like he’d abandoned her when she was a teenager, but now she understood it more.
Especially since he’d dropped everything to come back and help her now.