Chapter FiveAinsleyReese
“Knock, knock.” Nova pushed open my bedroom door, tray in hand. She’d been at my apartment since yesterday when I called her and gave her a head’s up about my brother. A little while ago, she’d prepared a bubble bath with Epsom salt and ordered me to relax while she saw to a meal. “I made my famous hamburger soup just for you.”
Not gonna lie. Her hamburger soup was fire. Any other time, I’d slurp it up without hesitation. But since I woke up to find Reese gone with just a single text, I hadn’t had an appetite. From what I gathered, he’d gone to the kitchen for water and saw Roman’s picture.
Nova snapped her fingers in front of me. Her fake nails were polished blue and decorated with silver stars and moons.
“You have to eat something,” she chided. “Roman will be home soon. One look at you and the game is up. He’ll know something more than a nightmare went on and, frankly, I don’t want to be on the receiving end of his fucking accusations.”
I looked at the bowl of soup. Curlicues of steam rose up, wafting a delicious scent into the air. Tears slid down my cheeks again. I wasn’t sure why I called Roman yesterday morning. After all the subterfuge, I’d nearly blown my cover. But my brother loved me. We were each other’s only family and he knew the right words to make me feel better.
“I’m marrying Dayton and moving to New York like Roman wants,” I said hoarsely. “The entire reason I went on the date was to have agency over my first time. It’s done. I slept with a guy I chose and now I can move forward with my plans.”
That thought only made me feel worse.
Scowling, Nova put her hands on her hips. “I’m sorry the guy walked out after he promised to call you or whatever, but it isn’t the end of the fucking world. Whether you marry Dayton or not, you can have any dick you want.”
Swiping my cheeks and sniffling, I glared at her. “What are we doing with Roman while I pitch pussy?”
“The same fucking thing we would’ve done with him if Reese had kept in contact. Deceive your sainted brother.”
“My sheltered existence has me so upset,” I lied morosely. I couldn’t admit to deep disappointment. I’d awakened, expecting to find Reese next to me. My plan had been to cook him a huge breakfast, soak in a hot bubble bath to ease the soreness between my legs and possibly make love with him again. “Where am I going to meet another guy before I marry Dayton and move to New York? I don’t think Roman’s going on a run anytime soon.”
“What’s wrong with you? It was supposed to be one night . Now, you’re talking about finding another dick because some old dude jetted on you?”
“Lou Lou’s older than Reese,” I said stiffly.
“Roman’s older than Reese.”
“What are you talking about?” I cried in confusion. Nova was jumping from one subject to the next that had no bearing on the Reese situation. “Didn’t you tell me I could have another dick? And what does Roman have to do with anything?”
“Nothing, Ains,” she huffed. “Just forget it. As usual, your spoiled brattiness is driving me insane. Luckily, Roman and I adore you and would do anything for you.”
“I know. I don’t know what I’d do without you. I trust you with my life. With everything.”
“It’s nothing, babe. I promise, although sometimes I wish I had someone like me to lean on. My mother walked away and never looked back.”
Whenever Nova brought up her mom, guilt surged into me thanks to Roman’s role in that situation.
“She should’ve stayed until Daddy straightened up or beat her to death if it meant staying for me.”
“You don’t mean that, Nova,” I said gently. “You were an adult. You could’ve left with her.”
“I think not. Leave with her and give up my place here? Are you insane? Why would I give up my life and status as Boom Boom’s baby girl to hide and struggle with her?”
That was all kinds of fucked-up. “You might’ve had to struggle and hide, but you would’ve been with your mom.”
“And you would’ve been alone,” Nova replied.
“You shouldn’t have sacrificed yourself because of me.”
“I didn’t. I stayed for the most important person in my life. Me . If I hadn’t stayed, I would never have met my sexy Cajun daddy.”
“Your sexy Cajun…” An image of Louisiana rose in my head. He had pretty turquoise eyes, even though they always seemed a little wild. His dark hair and dark beard were okay but couldn’t compare to Reese’s panty melting good looks.
Nova was becoming someone I didn’t recognize. Whatever was going on, I hoped we got past it soon. I missed my good friend. Perhaps, though, I’d overlooked the reason why she’d gotten so attached to Louisiana. She still felt as if her mother deserted her. Maybe, if she healed that deep damage, she’d put everything else into perspective.
“Why don’t you seek out Carol and try to repair your relationship? The last time Boom Boom beat her, she almost died. I know it hurt when she left, but you’re older. Surely, you understand why she did it.”
“There’s no greater love than a man who sacrifices himself for another,” Nova spat. “And a mother’s love is supposed to be all-consuming and unparalleled.”
“I wish I knew the right words to make you feel better—”
She glared at me. “You wouldn’t know shit. Roman spends his fucking life protecting you. Before that, Nicolette and Mac did. You can’t relate.”
“I’m sorry,” I said quietly, not knowing what else to say. We couldn’t bring up Carol’s name at the club, so Boom Boom probably prohibited Nova from discussing her mother, leaving an open wound inside her. “Remember how we once talked about moving in together?” I waved my hand around the room. “I want a bigger place, but you can move in sooner. It might be easier if you weren’t surrounded by memories of your mother.”
“Why the fuck would I want to live with you when I have my own trailer on club grounds? Daddy isn’t always the best, but he looks out for me and makes anyone who crosses me suffer.”
That almost sounded like a warning, but I knew my overwrought emotions made me feel that way.
“Enough about me,” Nova said briskly. “Let’s get back to you and Lou Lou’s friend.”
“There’s nothing to get back to. I felt a connection to him but it wasn’t mutual.” I glanced away, still inexplicably hurt over his treatment. “I’ll survive.”
“Are you going to eat the soup I toiled in the kitchen to prepare?”
“I’m not hungry,” I said hoarsely.
Sighing, Nova took the tray and set it on my dresser, then she sat next to me and took me in her arms. “This isn’t you talking, Ains. It’s your pussy. He must’ve fucked you so good that you can’t bear to give up his cock.”
I smiled. Leave it to Nova to cheer me up.
“That’s what kept drawing me to Lou Lou at first. Even when I hated that motherfucker, my kitty was willing to say hello to his cock anytime he asked.”
“You’re so silly,” I said around giggles, but instantly sobered when I remembered what Reese revealed about Lou Lou.
My muscles tautened and I tried to pull away.
“Okay, what now, Miss Ma’am?” Nova demanded, tightening her hold on me.
One thing about best friends. You couldn’t hide from them.
“How do you feel about Lou Lou now?”
She separated us and frowned. “You know how I feel about him. He’s my world. He’s the one. I’d lose my mind if we break up.”
“You’re twenty-three. He’s forty-two.”
“You’re an ageist now?”
Though it was a coward’s way out, it was the easier route. “You don’t know anything about his life outside of the fact that he’s a Royal Bastard. Your father’s enemy. My brother’s enemy. Fuck, the enemy of the entire fucking club.” I grabbed her arms and searched her face. “Suppose he just got with you to thumb his nose at the Bloody Scorpions? Suppose he’s just using you?”
Jerking away, she got to her feet. “Just because you’re so fucking miserable doesn’t mean I am. Shame on you for trying to ruin my happiness.”
“I’m not! Reese said—”
“One minute you’re sobbing behind his dick and the next minute you’re quoting him?”
“Louisiana is married , Nova.” What kind of a friend would I be withholding the information when she was in so deep? “ You’ve got to tell him to kick fucking rocks before he sends you away.”
The more I spoke, the angrier she became. Her glare cut through me, so I didn’t see her fist until it landed on my jaw.
“Fuck you, Ainsley,” she snarled in a wobbly voice. “You’re my best friend and I expected better than you carrying hearsay and falsehoods back to me.” She turned, stalked to my dresser, and swiped the tray off. On its way to the floor, the soup spattered on my wall and rained on the dresser before the bowl shattered.
The noise didn’t drown out Nova’s furious slam of my front door.
Beer in hand, I stood outside the Devil’s Pit. The early August evening was warm and slightly humid, with the golden hues of the sun casting shadows on the asphalt. A light breeze rolled off the nearby rivers, offering some relief from the heat.
Ironic our tail gunner had bike problems and needed assistance back to the club. Cursing, Bolt finally freed the chain that had snapped and then twisted. He was a lucky motherfucker not to have eaten asphalt.
He got to his feet and wiped his fingers on his jeans, trailing motor oil over the denim.
“Have yet to hear about your hot date,” he said, studying each chain link. “You seeing her again? It seemed to have worked. You’re out amongst the living instead of cooped up in your room.”
I sipped my beer. “There’s nothing to tell.”
“Is she a good cock sucker?”
“Wouldn’t know.” More beer to wash away the bitterness of betrayal. “She didn’t suck my cock.”
Bolt frowned as the heavy wooden door opened and Louisiana strolled out into the bright afternoon sun. I glowered at him. Ignoring me, he settled an arm around my shoulder, but I shrugged him off.
“Don’t be like that, Sarge.”
I grunted and sipped more of my beer.
“What’s crawled up your ass now, Reese?” Bolt asked, shaking his head. “You’ve been an emotional bitch since Trin’s death. The blind date was supposed to help you.”
“Tell him who the fuck you set me up with, asshole,” I ordered Louisiana. “No, excuse me, Lou Lou .”
That wiped the smirk off that motherfucker’s face.
Shaking his head, Bolt looked at Louisiana. “You’re taking that, bro? That’s a fucking insult.”
“It’s what his bitch calls him.”
Bolt lifted his brows. “Fuck, you got a side piece? Jinx will rip your balls off and shove them down your throat.”
Unconcerned, Louisiana shrugged. “I won’t risk my fucking wife over that cunt. She’s just a fuck. Wanted to knock her up and send her home to her daddy with her belly full of my kid at first. Had it happened as planned, I would’ve loved to have been there when she explained that.”
Bolt hooked a thumb in a belt loop and rocked on his feet. “Who might her daddy be?”
“Boom Boom.”
“Sonofabitch!” I tossed my empty bottle into the trash can near the door before I used it to bash Louisiana’s head. “Not only are you fucking the enemy’s daughter, but her old man is the fucking president of the club? Have you lost your fucking mind?”
Louisiana released a wad of spit. “That’s how I feel about Nova Wren. Fuck her. We haven’t been able to prove it but I know those motherfuckers took out Kenneth and stole our guns two years ago. I want justice for my kid brother and I’ll use anybody to get it.”
As angry as I was with Ainsley, she was innocent. For that matter, so was Nova, but I didn’t know her, so she wasn’t my concern. “So what the fuck did Ainsley do, motherfucker? Why did you fucking set me up with Roman Mac’s kid sister?”
Bolt whistled and scratched his long gray beard. He shook his head at Louisiana. “Boy, even for you that’s low.”
“You fucked her, Reese,” Louisiana said without heat. “It must not have mattered.”
“I didn’t find out until after.” I narrowed my eyes. “How the fuck did you know…never mind. Nova.”
“She tells me anything I want to know, although she pissed me off when she called me. Jinx had just left. Otherwise, she’d want to know who was on the phone.”
I didn’t want to hear about Nova, Jinx, or Ainsley. For that matter, I didn’t want to hear about Trinity. Since I left Ainsley’s apartment yesterday morning, my mind had been on her. The few times I thought about Trinity, I lacked the overwhelming guilt and grief that I usually felt. Turning, I opened the door and walked into the clubhouse. It was early evening, so only about fifteen members milled about. A few at the bar, some by the pool tables, and others on the sofa pushed against the wall. Our emblem was painted on the wall near the pool table that separated the short hallways for the male and female pissers.
A couple years ago, Jester convinced Razor to switch from white light bulbs to red. He liked that red sheen cast over everyone as if we cavorted in hell. Before anyone noticed me, I walked to the staircase that was located right past our storeroom and went up. Down led to the actual pit, suitable for riding out tornadoes and dust storms, and perfect to fuck up enemies.
I hurried to my room and slammed the door behind me once inside, not wanting to run into anyone. If Bolt hadn’t needed my help, I wouldn’t have left the room except to eat. Not only had the motherfucker sponsored me years ago, but he’d been like a father to me, so instead of calling Louisiana, our RC, he hit me up.
I walked to my window and gazed out. Our clubhouse was right near the river bend where the Kansas and Missouri rivers met, known as Kaw Point. Located near downtown, this confluence was a key landmark for Lewis and Clark during their 1804 expedition and remained an important part of our geography and history.
The scenic location blended natural beauty with an industrial backdrop. The Devil’s Pit was located in one of the warehouses, where just beyond was Kaw Point Park. Lush green trees framed the meeting of the muddy Kansas River and the wider Missouri River. The park itself featured walking trails, open grassy spaces, and an amphitheater with a breathtaking view of our twin city’s skyline. Kansas City, Missouri was just across the water.
Beyond the park’s natural beauty, the surrounding area had an industrial feel. Rail lines, warehouses, and old brick buildings were scattered nearby, reflecting KC’s deep ties to shipping and commerce. Bridges crisscrossed and connected Kansas and Missouri, while the riverbanks provided a mix of wild vegetation and urban infrastructure.
Seeing barges or boats navigating the river or opening my window to hear rushing water had always brought peace to me. Or, like now, when I just stood looking out without opening the window. Except I felt no calm.
Sunshine glimmered off the water. Days like this, with cool air and a cloudless blue sky, were made for riding.
My door opened. I didn’t have to turn. I already knew who it was.
“You could’ve fucking told me, Louisiana.”
Sighing, he closed the door. “I’m sorry, okay? I thought you’d get a kick out of it, too.”
“That stunt left me fucking vulnerable to attack from the Scorpions, asshole. Suppose one of them had seen us together? Then what? You want to put your fucking life at risk, be my fucking guest. I resent you gambling with mine.”
His boots pounded toward me. “Ainsley’s a cool chick,” he whispered. “A little too trusting. Shocking, considering she’s Nova’s bestie and Roman’s sister.”
Spinning, I narrowed my eyes. “If you’re thinking about playing some type of game with her, I will fucking kill you. You already did enough fucking damage. Ainsley’s cool for now, until you’re done with Nova.” He talked about her constantly. I knew so much about her, I’d pick her out from a crowd, though we’d never met. “Who I honestly believed you liked.”
He winced, leaned in closer. “I do. Kind of.” He blew out a breath. “You outed me to Bolt. What the fuck did you expect me to say? It started off the way I said. I want to avenge Kenneth. But fuck, I really care about her now. I was hoping you’d hit it off with her best friend, so we could double date sometimes. Nova thinks I’m hiding her.”
“You are, fuckhead.”
“If she got to know my best friend, she wouldn’t feel so fucking isolated.”
“She’ll just push for more. By the way, you never answered my fucking question. What did Ainsley do that made you want to involve her in your game?”
“She didn’t do anything, Reese. She didn’t want strings attached and you just needed a pick me up.”
“Are you stupid or are you dumb? That contradicts every goddamn thing you just spouted.”
“It’s complicated. Okay? I have my own fucking guilt where Trinity is concerned. If you hadn’t been with me and she was with you instead—”
“It doesn’t matter. Give me a straight answer about Ainsley.”
“Since she said she didn’t want anything serious, it made the date an easy sell to you. I was hoping…I don’t know, Reese.” He sighed. “As I said, I was hoping you hit it off and ran interference for me with Nova because they’re best friends. That’s it.”
I believed he hid his true motives. “There’s something called free will, fucker. I didn’t have that because you didn’t give me all the fucking facts.”
“I thought she’d tell you herself. Ainsley can hold a conversation with a rock. She fucking loves to talk. And ask questions. And talk . It was up to her to confess.”
“Spoken like a true asshole.”
Shame crossed his face before he rallied. “You feel the same way since you’re so pissed with her, you don’t want to ever talk to her again, but you haven’t thrown me out the fucking window.”
“Don’t tempt me,” I grumbled, and faced the window again. “Why the hell would you have Nova report to you about Ainsley and me?”
“I didn’t. She called me because she punched Ainsley.”
“That bitch did what ?” I roared, spinning to face him again.
“She told Nova I was married.” He folded his arms. “I assume you told Ainsley.”
“She asked. I told her to figure it out. That still didn’t give Nova the right to lay her hands on Ainsley. If she’s too fucking blind to face the truth, that’s her business. That bitch definitely shouldn’t blab Ainsley’s private life out of spite.”
Louisiana jammed a cigarette in his mouth and lit it before continuing. “It isn’t out of spite. Ainsley spent the fucking weekend crying and not eating because she woke up and found you gone.”
A stone dropped in my gut. I was agitated over the situation, not because I’d walked out on her. I didn’t even know her. Yet, just as I didn’t want her to throw her fucking life away on her brother’s behalf, I hated the thought she cried over me. It didn’t matter that I never wanted to see her again or hear her voice.
The smell of burning tobacco floated to me on a wisp of smoke from Louisiana’s cigarette. “Before the argument, Nova prepared a nice bubble bath for her. To help with the soreness.”
“I still might break your fucking face. You sound too goddamn amused.”
He huffed and smoke whooshed my way. “Why the fuck are you so angry? You got easy pussy for the cost of a dinner. She wanted to fuck. A warm, wet home to stick your cock in was almost guaranteed.”
I snatched a handful of his shirt and yanked him to me. I was three inches taller than Louisiana with more muscles and a faithful workout routine. “If you want to disrespect Nova that way, that’s up to you. Don’t ever do it to Ainsley. Ever .” I had one better. “As a matter of fact, don’t talk about her to me ever again. I don’t want to hear her fucking name. Am I clear?”
“Yeah, Reese,” he said, finally realizing how on edge I was.
“Yo, Sarge,” someone shouted through the door. I preferred Reese. Sarge sounded like a mutt’s name. “You in there?”
“Come in, Marquis,” I growled, and he peeped his head in. He was one of our newer members, a college dropout and a low-level drug dealer. “Warrior brought you a present.”
By the glee in his voice, I knew it was a Bloody Scorpion. Corralling and torturing those motherfuckers always brought me joy.
“In the pit I assume,” I said.
Marquis nodded.
I lifted a brow. “Who the fuck is it?”
“Roman Mac.”