CLINT
A fter arriving back at the condo garage, I nearly picked up Ivy and carried her the rest of the way. She looked beaten down after a long day. I knew she had fun. A part of her didn’t want to leave, but exhaustion was written all over her face.
I thought back to my first trip to Disneyland. I couldn’t get enough and never wanted to leave. That first night, I was both exhausted and hyper. My parents stuck me between them in bed and told me boring stories until I crashed into sleep.
I didn’t plan to bore Ivy into submission, but I decided bossing her around might work. First, I told her to take a shower and change into nightclothes. I went through my messages while she shuffled away with Hanzee supervising her every move.
Rock had texted earlier about a meeting with the Black Rainbow Motorcycle Club. I was a little surprised when their president, Zodiac, didn’t play coy and drag out the process. There was bad blood between him and the old Little Memphis club. Ford took a bat to a few guys, including Zodiac back in the day. When I asked my dad today about that encounter, he claimed not to remember the details.
“I’ve hobbled many men, son. Don’t expect me to memorize each one. Life isn’t an exam.”
If Zodiac held a grudge, he hadn’t shown it yet. Rock said the meeting was scheduled for next week. My VP asked me for a list of people to bring.
I’d finished sending my choices when Ivy appeared in her two-piece sleepwear, looking sexy as hell. Despite her petite build, Ivy owned plenty of curves. The soft pale orange top clung to her perky tits and did little to hide how she was cold. Her nipples were begging for my attention.
Fucking would need to wait. Ivy yawned painfully while standing halfway between the bedroom and the kitchen.
I had her join me on the couch, where we found a TV show to watch. I encouraged Ivy to rest with her head on a pillow. She soon snuggled under a blanket. Every time I glanced at Ivy, she was watching me rather than the TV.
Hanzee sat on her feet, already attached to the new person in our life. I felt the same way. Today at my parents’ place was fun, but I felt possessive of Ivy. We needed more time alone. Unfortunately, tonight, she was exhausted.
“If you wake up and I’m gone, don’t worry,” I said as she watched me with barely open eyes. “I need to take Hanzee down to the courtyard for his last piss break of the evening. Sometimes, I see people and get to talking.”
Ivy stared at me with worried eyes. “I should have done things differently today with your parents.”
“No, today was good. Just rest.”
“I’m worried Uncle Linus will find me.”
Cocking an eyebrow, I asked, “Is your uncle a dangerous man?”
“No, but he had that loan shark and the hired muscle.”
“The loan shark wants money from Linus. He doesn’t care about you. Those men won’t come here to grab you just to pay off your rich uncle’s debt. They’ll shake him down instead.”
“How can you know?”
“There are loan sharks everywhere. In Little Memphis, they pay protection to my club or the Jokers, sometimes both. To keep people in line, I need to understand their businesses. That’s why I know a Reno loan shark won’t spend his money in Arkansas to pay back a debt from someone they already have access to.”
Ivy glanced at the windows nearby. I knew she had affection for the uncle who put her in this position. However, if he showed up in Little Memphis, I would have zero hesitation about burying him in the quarry. Linus Humphreys was my enemy, no different than anyone else who messed with my people.
Ivy’s paranoia about her uncle was mostly from exhaustion. The reality was he had no way to find her unless she gave him the address here. Maybe that reality set in because twenty minutes into an episode of “Survivor,” she was asleep.
I admired Ivy as the last of the sun disappeared. The sparkling city outside my windows felt different now that I had her in my life. I’d gotten set in my ways. Life hadn’t been chaotic for a long time. We handled threats quickly. Maybe I’d even gotten lazy.
The need to protect Ivy filled me with paranoia. I wanted her to have space to breathe freely. What kind of woman would she be without anyone sticking her in a cage?
I carried Hanzee out to the hallway, so his bell wouldn’t wake Ivy. He looked back at the condo door like we were forgetting someone. I started walking, knowing the little guy would follow. For all his barking bravado, Hanzee was no leader.
On my way down, I checked the courtyard’s security cameras to find Tricky with his dog, Fuzz.
My childhood friend had been building his club fast, seeming to double in size overnight. Though Rock figured Tricky would challenge us for Little Memphis soon, I wasn’t so sure. Tricky grew up with his father’s large club filled with menacing men. He figured size mattered.
In contrast, I was more focused on what each person brought to my club rather than the overall size. Tricky and I viewed the world differently.
As I entered the courtyard, Tricky stopped typing on his phone. He tossed his long, strawberry blond hair out of his face and smiled big.
“Where’s your girlfriend?” he taunted. “I’ve heard she’s a very mature sixteen-year-old.”
Tricky’s yellow Corgi stopped sniffing the bushes when he spotted Hanzee. The dogs met in the middle of the grassy area and did their dog-vibing thing.
I settled on a bench across from Tricky, who was a blonder version of his ginger dad, Joker. They owned the same husky build and shaggy hair.
Though I also took after my dad physically, Ford was the kind of man who filled up a space with menace. I didn’t scare people in that way. My personality was more like Joker’s than Ford’s.
My former club president was a guy prone to defusing tension with his humor and genial nature. When Joker switched gears to violence, his enemies rarely saw the threat coming.
Tricky also hid his darker tendencies. His shaggy, stoner-like appearance often fooled people into thinking he was harmless. Pushing six-three and wide-shouldered, Tricky lacked finesse in brawls. He simply bulldozed men until his opponents dropped.
His style never defeated a guy like me. Having started martial arts classes in junior high, I preferred to drop my enemy with well-placed punches rather than brutalizing my body in the hopes of outlasting the other guy.
The few times Tricky and I fought, he drew blood, but I always came out on top. He often claimed I made a better enforcer than leader, but he was fooling himself to think I’d ever obey another man.
“You need better snitches,” I told Tricky as he watched me. “Ivy is twenty-three.”
“You’ve got a soulmate,” Tricky said, snickering like a damn kid.
“Don’t you think your parents are soulmates?”
Tricky’s smile dropped away. His parents were a sensitive subject. Long before Ford and Shay met, Joker had been married to a woman named Darby. The rockabilly chick was ballsy as hell and once used a shotgun on home invaders.
Joker and Darby were a golden couple within the original Little Memphis club. I grew up hearing stories about them. After their son died, they broke up. Joker then married Amanda and had more kids. For some people, Tricky’s mom would always be second best next to Darby.
Though I wasn’t one of those people, Tricky remained sensitive about the topic of his parents around me. I assumed his “no girls allowed” stance on motorcycle clubs came from an overreaction to the Amanda vs. Darby situation. His mom was no shrinking violet, but she had zero interest in riding her own hog or throwing punches. Despite growing up around women in the Everything Nice Crew, Tricky always seemed to prefer women like Ivy to ones like Elle.
“Don’t be so sensitive,” Tricky taunted after an awkward moment when he considered defending Amanda from any perceived slight. Shaking off his grumpiness, Tricky grinned. “Of course, you’re lovestruck and talking about soulmates. Your club is overflowing with estrogen. Why wouldn’t you fall head over heels for a gas station hooker?”
Tricky liked to poke at people. His little snide comments worked, too. When people pitched a fit, he would flash his big, infectious smile and pretend the other person was overreacting.
Even though that tactic never worked on me, Tricky couldn’t help himself.
“Ivy’s uncle runs with dicey people,” I said, refusing to correct him on the hooker thing. “If you see anyone suspicious around here, be sure to raise the alarm.”
Not getting the reaction he wanted, Tricky only nodded. He glanced at our dogs, who didn’t particularly like each other. Fuzz was bigger and used his size to bully the Chihuahuas. When more than one of the little guys was around, they rallied together and bullied him back. Yet, right now, Hanzee stood alone.
I walked over to the dogs so Hanzee would settle down enough to do his business. Fuzz looked up at me like he might growl.
His original owner was one of Tricky’s many short-term girlfriends. He was a man prone to quick, deep, and fleeting infatuation. This particular chick moved in after a few days and brought her dog along. When she ran off to Tallahassee with a dipshit she knew growing up, the Corgi stayed behind.
The dog stared at me like I was his next meal. I smiled at how something so small could misread the situation so badly. I shouldn’t be surprised. Hanzee often barked at threats ten times his size.
One time, a dog yanked free from its owner and came running at the window of our old home. Badass Hanzee barked faster and louder, ready to fight. I doubted my little man had any clue how dead he would have been if that Rottweiler got hold of him.
“Well, good luck with your little lady,” Tricky said and stroked his lush beard. “Can’t believe you’ve got a stranger wandering alone in your place. You wouldn’t even leave me in there unsupervised.”
Leaving the dogs to sniff and piss, I sat across from Tricky. His sudden sour mood offered me the perfect chance to dump bad news on him.
“Speaking of rival bikers, I’m meeting with the Black Rainbow’s new president soon.”
Without missing a beat, Tricky muttered, “There’s a reason my dad never wanted to work with the Rainbow fuckers.”
“They’ve got new management. Is that why you’re poaching so many guys from Baton Rouge?”
“There’s bad blood with the new president and the guys he pushed out. Those men have sons looking to ride with the club that kicked Zodiac’s ass back in the day.”
“Is that what they tell you or is that what you know?”
“I wouldn’t patch in anyone I didn’t trust.”
Exhaling hard, I shook off my irritation with the LM Jokers’ quick expansion. I didn’t think Tricky planned to make a move against my club, but I knew he tended to reach for short-term fixes for long-term problems.
“You should invite me to this pow wow with Zodiac and his boys.”
“Is that what you want, Tricky? Won’t you look like my bitch if you come to the meeting I set up?”
Tricky didn’t give away how he hadn’t fully considered the situation. Though I held the upper hand, he kept smiling like nothing had changed. He learned that trick from his dad.
“Fine, do your thing, but understand how the Rainbow Bright bitches aren’t welcome in Little Memphis. If my guys see them riding around town, we won’t let that behavior stand.”
Flashing him a smile, I promised, “If you kill one of them and go to war, I’ll buy your mom the best roses in the state to place on your grave.”
“What, no eulogy? Hell, you ought to pay for my fucking funeral while you’re at it.”
“It’ll depend on how embarrassingly you die. If you get taken down by a tiny guy with a mullet, I might need to pretend I never knew you.”
“Do they really have a guy like that in their crew?”
“You’re the one with the Baton Rouge boys in your ranks. Ask them.”
Tricky’s blue eyes flickered around the courtyard before they focused hard on me.
“Are you sure this gas station hooker isn’t a ploy by someone trying to get close to you?” he asked and then shrugged. “You’re a tough nut to crack. Sending someone into your clubhouse wouldn’t gain any info, but sliding a pretty blonde between your sheets might offer someone the inside track.”
Leaning back on the bench, I fought the urge to punch Tricky in his smug face. This sensation in my chest was new. I rarely felt vulnerable. My family could hold their own. My club was filled with badasses. My only real weakness was my tiny dog and his giant ego.
But Ivy was fragile. She didn’t know this world, and she was desperate to be accepted. People could hurt her in a million different ways.
My temper sparked hot at the thought of Tricky messing with her head. “If you ever find yourself alone with Ivy, you'd best behave as if your mom’s watching. If not, I’m going to behave as if my mom’s watching.”
“Shay does enjoy a good brawl.”
“Especially when it’s her boy kicking someone’s ass.”
Tricky grinned. “I’ll be sweet to your lady. Even if she ditches you for another guy, I won’t hold a grudge.”
His dig at me didn’t land as he hoped. Mostly, I realized he still held a grudge over our childhood friend, Cher, dumping him to join the Crimson Guard.
She was the daughter of Hazard, a member of the Rawlins Heretics MC, and Anise, who rode with the Everything Nice Crew. Cher and her younger sister Stevie were destined to be like their wild mom. They jumped at the chance to join my club and ride with their friends.
Despite knowing Cher’s wild nature, Tricky talked about marrying her. He always seemed to go from zero to a hundred with women. But Tricky was genuinely torn up inside when she left him. I never understood why he figured that relationship would work. Did he really think Cher would be happy playing homemaker while Stevie rode motorcycles and kicked ass?
“Keep me informed with this Rainbow Bright thing,” Tricky said when I clicked my tongue for Hanzee to head inside. “Zodiac’s a troublemaker. If he wants to expand his territory into Arkansas, he might think you’re dumb enough to help him.”
“Sure,” I muttered, fighting the urge to roll my eyes. “Men are often distracted by my good looks.”
“And your hot club members,” Tricky grumbled.
“There’s no denying Rock is quite the beauty.”
Tricky cracked up, losing his edgy club president's bad attitude. He was still snickering at my comment when I walked to the side door and headed upstairs.
Hanzee couldn’t stand still, wandering around the elevator and seeming uneasy after Fuzz gave him the business downstairs. Already agitated, he began barking when we entered the condo to find a crying Ivy standing in the living room. She looked around like something was out to get her. As soon as her gaze locked on me, she calmed down.
“I was just downstairs,” I said, assuming she was startled to find herself alone.
“I heard my uncle’s voice,” Ivy said and looked around. “I heard him talking in my ear.”
“The one who died?” I asked, sliding off my jacket and resting my keys at the front table. “That’s just your mind playing tricks.”
“I left him to die,” she whimpered.
“He seemed relieved to see you escape,” I lied, just so she’d stop holding herself responsible.
Ivy looked up at me, thinking about my words. “Did he?”
“Yes. When he waved goodbye, he seemed relieved to know you would be safe.”
Ivy used her sleeves to wipe her eyes. She looked around and shivered.
“I swore I heard him.”
“It’s normal for your mind to play tricks when you’re overstimulated,” I said and slid my hand under her chin. When she focused her gaze on me, I smiled. “You’ve known me for less than two days.”
Ivy nodded, breaking free of her fear. Yet, I saw her reaching for guilt again.
“You’ve known Hanzee for even less,” I said before she could upset herself.
Ivy instantly smiled and looked down at the dog. He sat between our feet, watching us. Exhaling deeply, Ivy glanced at the smaller bedroom.
“I want you to sleep in my bed tonight,” I admitted, startling Ivy whose eyes widened in response. “I’m too lazy to sneak down every hour to check on you.”
Ivy glanced up at my loft bedroom and smiled at me. “I’ll keep my hands to myself.”
“Oh, you’ll try, but I am damn irresistible.”
Taking her hand, I walked to the couch. She sat right up against me, wanting comfort. I yanked the blanket over her as she used my chest as her pillow. Finally, I lifted Hanzee onto my lap.
Ivy puckered her lips, asking for what she wanted. I was relieved to kiss her again. Everything felt so fucking new, and I wasn’t a man accustomed to vulnerability. Yet, the more I knew Ivy, the less I could breathe right without her.