Ringo’s Silence (Wolfsbane Ridge MC #9)

Chapter 1

Ringo

W alking into Bella’s Brew, I wave at Bella before heading to the back to take a seat in a booth. There’s a new woman behind the counter with Bella and I can tell it’s her first day. Bella seems to be trying to show her how to work the cappuccino machine.

I laugh a few seconds later when the woman does everything Bella shows her and then turns it on only for it to spray the liquid in every direction. The woman looks almost ready to cry until Bella laughs hysterically.

She must not know Bella very well. She’s not one to get mad about spills. Instead she’ll laugh while helping to clean up the mess.

The woman is obviously new around here as I can’t recall ever seeing her in town. I know every face around here and I don’t know her. She’s not one I’d forget anyway. She’s beautiful in a way that most wouldn’t recognize at first glance.

Her hair is a light brown that would probably flow to the middle of her back if it wasn’t pulled back in a ponytail. Her waist isn’t so thin that you’d wonder if she was eating enough either. Unable to stop myself, I look lower and my eyes land on wide hips with thighs a man could get lost in.

As if she could hear my thoughts, her gaze swings my way and I hurriedly look down at the table. A minute later I hear footsteps coming my way and I see the toes of her shoes from the corner of my eye.

“Bella said to bring this to you.”

Glancing up, I watch her as she sets a plate in front of me with a large piece of pecan pie and a glass of water. She waits several long minutes before turning to go back to where Bella is.

She says something to Bella and my eyes look in their direction. The woman’s face turns slightly red as if caught saying something and all Bella does is wink in my direction.

Turning my eyes back to my pie, I dig in, enjoying every crumb. I’m just finishing the last bite when I hear the bell over the door and look in that direction. A young boy around twelve or so, with a backpack on his back comes through the door.

The woman behind the counter, rushes over to him with a smile. There’s enough resemblance that anyone can tell that he’s her son. They talk for several moments before he leaves again and she goes back behind the counter.

Getting up from the table, I head towards Bella, bringing her my plate so that she doesn’t have to get it from the table.

“Thank you, Bella.” I say, handing everything to her.

“You’re welcome, big guy. Are you heading back to the clubhouse?” She asks as I watch the other woman walking towards us out of the corner of my eye.

“Yes.” I answer, unable to stop myself from looking up at the newcomer.

“I’m going to start mopping the kitchen.” She tells Bella.

“Yeah, that’s probably a good idea. We’ll be locking up soon.” Looking back at me, she says, “Ringo, this is my newest employee, Kimmie.”

I nod at her, unable to force any words out. It’s always been this way, unable to fully communicate with others in the way that I’d like. Always afraid of the stuttering that eventually comes out when speaking too many words.

“Nice to meet you, Ringo.” She says, offering her hand.

I stare at it for a long moment before taking it with my own. Feeling her soft, small hand wrapped in mine, I briefly wonder if she’s that soft all over.

I shouldn’t think such things. She has a kid which could mean there’s a husband somewhere. Realizing I’ve held her hand too long, I drop it quickly, stepping back.

“Night.” I nod at them both and head out the door.

Once the cool night air hits my face, I take a deep breath, filling my lungs to capacity. I love the night, especially when it turns off cooler just before winter. In my opinion it’s the best time to ride on a bike. There’s nothing else like it.

Walking to my bike, I’m just getting on when I see movement to my left. It’s the woman’s son sitting inside an old beat up SUV. He’s reading a book with a flashlight and is bundled up with a blanket.

Drawing my brows together, I wonder if he’s been in the vehicle the whole time she’s been at work but surely he hasn’t. I didn’t notice him before I went in although I really wasn’t paying attention. If he’s in the vehicle, there’s probably a good explanation like someone just dropped him off and now he has to wait for her to finish up.

Starting up my bike, I take off down the road, back to the clubhouse.

Kimmie

“You’ll have to forgive my friend Ringo. He doesn’t talk much.” Bella says, gaining my attention from the door the big man in a leather vest just walked out of.

“No worries.” I smile in her direction with a shrug of my shoulders.

I’m about to open my mouth to ask about the vest he was wearing with the odd wolf emblem on the back when we hear another very loud bike pulling in.

“Maybe your friend forgot something?” I ask, looking towards the windows.

“No. That would be my husband.”

Her answer surprises me as I watch yet another man walk in with the same kind of vest. My first thought when I see him is if they grow men around here on some mysterious tree.

Just like with Ringo, this new guy is tall, muscled, covered in tats and gorgeous as all hell.

“Hey babe, you ready to go?” He asks, walking up to the counter.

He finally notices me standing there and offers a smile.

“Blade, this is my newest employee, Kimmie. Kimmie, this is my husband, Blade.” Bella says, wiping her hands on a towel.

“Blade your real name?” I ask curiously.

“No. You can call him Chet if you want.” Bella giggles just as Blade growls under his breath.

“She won’t if she wants me to like her.” He says, raising his brows in my direction.

All of a sudden, I get an odd sensation of being watched and I look out towards my car where my son Remmy is sitting in the front seat.

“I’ll go finish up the floors in the kitchen.” I excuse myself, walking into the back.

It doesn’t take me long and I’m just pouring out the mop water when Bella comes into the back, shutting off lights as she goes.

“You did great today.” She says as we walk out together.

“I broke three plates.” I groan.

“It’s not that big a deal. My mom has broken way more than that while helping me out.” She laughs.

Her husband is already standing by his bike waiting for her when we lock the front door.

“See you in the morning?” She asks with a smile.

“Yes. Thank you. For this job I mean.”

“You bet.” She walks over, getting onto the bike. “Oh, don’t forget that I need your social security number for the employment forms.”

My heart rate accelerates at the thought. I’d be easy to track if I give her that number.

“I’ll bring it tomorrow.” I lie, hoping that I can come up with some excuse by then.

“Good night.” She says just as the bike starts up with a loud growl and I watch as they drive away.

Getting into the driver's seat of my own car, I look over at Remmy who is completely zoned into the game he’s currently playing.

“I’m sorry you’ve been out here so long, Remmy. Maybe tomorrow we can find out if there’s a park or something you can go to while I’m at work.”

“Really?” His eyes turn to me with a hopeful expression.

Times like now, I feel so bad that he’s not been able to have a real childhood. One where he is free to have friends for longer than a few months at a time and a real home where I could be the mother I have always wanted to be to him.

“Sure. We can ask Bella in the morning. Okay?” I smile, tapping down the urge to run my fingers through his hair. Something he says he’s getting too old for.

“Thanks, Mom.” He grins. “You think we might be able to find a place to sleep tonight that has free wifi? We could watch a movie online.”

“I’m not sure that any places here have that, Bud. We’ll see. Okay?”

He shakes his head and I grab the keys to start the ignition. I turn it over but it doesn’t do anything. I try yet again, hoping that it’ll work but it still does nothing.

“What’s wrong?” Remmy asks from the passenger seat.

“I’m not sure. I’ll see if maybe the battery cables are loose.” I pop the hood, getting out of the car.

Lifting up the hood, I look at the engine and truly wonder why it’s not killed over before now anyway. Everything is rusted under the hood and looks like it’s throwing grease everywhere.

Reaching over, I jiggle the battery cables but they are as tight as can be. My heart thumps in my chest heavily with the thought that there’s no possible way for me to fix this car yet alone get a new one if it comes to that.

There’s also no way we can stay here for longer than a couple of months. This car is our escape. The only way I can ensure that my son never has to face the reality of who his father really is.

Shutting the hood, I get back into the driver's seat with a sigh.

“Staying here then?” Remmy asks with a smile but I can still hear the disappointment in his voice.

“I’m sorry kiddo.” I can feel the tears filling up my eyes.

“It’s okay.” He shrugs. “We can just watch one of the ones already downloaded.”

“Do you have enough battery?” I ask, wiping away the tears before he sees them.

“Yes ma’am. I still have the extra one that is fully charged.”

“Well, then let’s watch a movie.” I grin, grabbing our pillows from the back seat.