Chapter 16
ROCK
Rock didn’t believe in coincidence. Not in this life and not in this world.
So when the church doors opened, and a woman walked in like she didn’t belong—but also didn’t hesitate—he paid attention.
He’d been leaning against the far wall of the Royal Harlots’ clubhouse, arms crossed over his chest, hanging back in the shadows.
Most people forgot he was there, and that was exactly what he wanted.
She didn’t look at him right away—but he saw the shift in her demeanor when she noticed him. He could tell that she remembered him from the way her shoulders tightened just slightly, like something in her had already clocked every exit in the room.
Ember stepped in behind her, talking, pushing, doing what Ember did best—taking up space and daring anyone to challenge it.
The woman—Josie, if he remembered right—held her ground.
She didn’t shrink around Ember, but didn’t posture either.
That was the part that caught his attention.
Most people coming into a place like this either tried to prove something or pretended they weren’t nervous.
But Josie did neither. She simply observed her surroundings, as though she was cataloging every detail of the clubhouse.
Like she was writing it all down somewhere in that head of hers.
Rock straightened off the wall. If she was staying, and something told him she was, he’d have time to figure out why she was in town.
He pushed off the wall and crossed the room, his boots quiet against the worn floor.
A couple of the Harlots glanced his way, then back to whatever they were doing, but no one interfered, because they knew better.
Ember noticed him coming—of course, she did. Her mouth curved slightly, like she’d been waiting for him to interfere. “Josie,” Ember said, gesturing lazily in his direction. “Do you remember Rock? Try not to stab him. He’s useful.”
Josie’s gaze finally landed on him fully, and yeah, he saw the hint of hesitation. She took him in the same way he’d taken her in—piece by piece as though sizing her up. Rock stopped a few feet in front of her.
“Rodgers,” he said, nodding at her.
Her brow lifted just slightly. “Feel free to call me Josie,” she said, turning to Ember. “And yes, I remember Rock.”
“You here for a visit or are you sticking around?” he asked. Her lips twitched. It was the most that he’d ever seen Josie smile.
“Didn’t realize I needed to file my itinerary with you, Rock,” she teased.
“You don’t,” he said. “But people who don’t usually have something to hide.” Silence stretched between them for half a beat. He could tell that he hit a nerve. She seemed more nervous, and if he was reading the signs correctly, her breathing had picked up.
Then she shifted her weight, crossing her arms across her chest. “You always interrogate club members, or is that just me?”
Ember snorted behind her. “Oh, this should be good.”
Rock didn’t look away from Josie. “You’re not a club member.” Anger flickered across her features, but was gone as fast as it came. It told him enough, though. She was trying to control her anger, and he knew that Josie Rodgers had learned that lesson the hard way.
“Good to know,” she said, voice even. “I’ll keep that in mind.”
Rock tilted his head slightly. “You never did answer my question. Are you planning on staying?”
“Undecided,” she breathed, not really giving him an answer still.
“Ember doesn’t invite people in for no good reason,” he said. “Do you have a good reason for being here, Josie?”
“That is between my sister-in-law and me,” she spat.
She wasn’t making any of this easy, and why should she?
The first and last time that he saw her, he wasn’t the nicest person to her.
If he were a betting man, he’d put money on Josie trying to piss him off so he’d leave her alone.
But for some reason, when it came to the woman, he couldn’t seem to help himself.
He wanted to know more about her. She was hiding something—something dark from her past, and he wanted to know what it was.
Sure, one could argue that it wasn’t his business, but he just couldn’t seem to get her out of his head.
He thought about walking away, but instead he stepped a little closer to her.
He didn’t crowd her, but gave her just enough space to test her.
She didn’t move. Josie didn’t back up and held her ground like she’d drawn a line and dared him to cross it.
Yeah, something was going on with the blond vixen, and he definitely found it interesting.
“You don’t scare easily,” he said.
“No,” she replied. “I just don’t see the point in showing fear.”
Ember laughed outright at that. “This is why you’re my favorite sister-in-law,” she said.
“I’m your only sister-in-law,” Josie pointed out, causing Ember to laugh again.
“I’ve forgotten how funny you are,” Ember said, putting her arm around Josie. “It’s good to have you home.”
“I haven’t decided if I’m staying yet,” Josie pointed out.
“Right, no pressure,” Ember said, “But talk to your brother before you take off again.”
“I’ll get around to seeing Jack, don’t you worry,” Josie said. Rock felt as though he was watching a ping pong match between the two strong-willed women. He wanted to stick around to see who won, but he had other things that needed attention.
“I have some shit to do back in my office,” Ember said. “Can you stick around and not get into any trouble?” she asked. Rock wasn’t sure if she was asking him that or if she was asking Josie. Ember walked away, not waiting for an answer as Josie grumbled something about her being overly dramatic.
Rock hated silence, and Josie was giving him the silent treatment. He studied her for another second, then asked, “What do you do for work, Rodgers?”
“I’m a writer,” she said. “And I told you to call me Josie.” That wasn’t what he’d expected.
“Yeah?” he said. “What do you write about?” Her gaze held his, and he wasn’t sure if she’d give him an answer or not.
“I write about things people don’t like to talk about.
” That tracked. Before he could push further, the front door opened again, hard enough to echo through the room.
Rock didn’t have to turn to know who it was, but he did anyway.
Jack Rodgers stood in the doorway, his jaw tight, and his eyes already locked on the woman standing in front of him, and then onto Rock.
And just like that, the temperature in the room dropped ten degrees.
“Well,” Ember walked back into the clubhouse, probably hearing the ruckus. “This is gonna go great,” she said under her breath, sounding almost amused. Jack stepped inside, shutting the door behind him with a controlled kind of force.
“You hung up on me,” he said, eyes still on Josie.
“Yeah, well, I was done talking,” she shot back.
“You don’t just hang up on someone when you’re done talking,” he replied. “You exchange pleasantries. Well, people with manners do, at least. It’s funny how that works.” His gaze shifted and landed on Rock.
“You must be Rock,” Jack said. He had seen Jack around town and at the Royal Bastards clubhouse. They had never been introduced, but Rock knew exactly who he was.
Rock didn’t move. “You must be the detective who doesn’t trust anything he can’t control.”
Ember winced. “Oh, we’re starting there today?
Bold choice.” Jack ignored her. Took a few steps forward until he was standing just off Josie’s shoulder—close enough to be protective without touching her.
He was claiming space without making it obvious, but Rock noticed—so did Josie. Her jaw tightened just slightly.
“You got a problem?” Jack asked.
Rock met his stare, unblinking. “Not yet.”
“That can change, if you’re not careful,” Jack said.
“Good thing that I’m always careful, then,” Rock insisted. The tension snapped tight between them, and it felt explosive.
Josie exhaled slowly. “Are we done with the testosterone competition, or do you both need a minute?”
Ember barked a laugh. “God, I love you, Josie.”
Jack didn’t look away from Rock. “You don’t know him.”
“I don’t need to,” Josie said. “I know you, and right now, you’re acting like a caveman.” Rock saw the way Jack’s expression shifted—just for a second, and then it was gone.
“Josie,” Jack said, quieter now, “I’m not doing this here.”
“That works for me,” she replied. Ember stepped forward, sliding herself between all of them like she was used to managing chaos.
“All right,” she said. “New rule. Nobody starts a war in my clubhouse before I’ve had coffee.”
“This isn’t—” Jack started.
Ember cut him off with a look. “Don’t.” He stopped talking because, unlike everyone else in the room, Jack Rodgers actually listened. Well, most of the time.
Ember turned back to Josie, expression shifting just slightly. “You hungry?” she asked. Josie blinked, thrown off just enough to show it.
“Yeah,” she admitted.
“Good—the kitchen is still stocked,” Ember offered before glancing back at Rock.
“You’re on perimeter later. Try not to antagonize my family before then.
” She was right. Ember had hired him to secure the clubhouse and keep it that way after her sister, Lillith, and her guy, Tank, practically started a fucking war in the place.
Rock’s gaze flicked back to Josie. “Can’t promise that.”
Josie smiled. “Wouldn’t want you to hold back on my account.
” And yeah, there it was again—that flicker of something under the surface.
It wasn’t fear, not exactly, but something sharper.
It was something that said she’d been through enough that a man like him didn’t register as the worst thing in the room.
Rock watched her walk past him toward the back of the clubhouse, and he didn’t miss the way Jack tracked her every step, or the way Ember watched both of them like she already knew this was going to get complicated.
Rock pushed off the spot he’d been standing in, because yeah, it was. And something told him that Josie Rodgers wasn’t just passing through. She was the kind of woman who changed the balance of a place just by walking into it. And whether she meant to or not, she was about to do exactly that.
Josie (Royal Harlots MC: Yonkers, NY Chapter Book 3) Universal Link coming soon!
What’s coming next from K.L. Ramsey? You won’t want to miss Giving Up the Ring (No Mercy Book 3). It’s coming in May 2026!