28. Rebel
REBEL
“No. That can’t be right. He’s been helping us, and the club is everything to him. It was more important to him than me and Mom. Why would he risk it all like this? And he didn’t—I saw his face at the rally. He was surprised I was there. There’s no way that was an act.”
Melody looks so fucking confused and vulnerable. When we picked her up, she was a little unsteady, but hearing about the possible impending death of your father is sobering for anyone. She can’t seem to stay still. Sitting, standing, and now she’s pacing up and down the length of my quarters.
Fuck, I just wanna put my arms around her and tell her it’s all gonna be alright, but I can’t fucking promise that. And maybe that’s the worst part of it all. I can’t comfort her if I’m part of the thing that could hurt her.
Riptide runs his fingers through his hair, looking as frustrated as I feel.
“I know it doesn’t add up. We’re not saying Eagle-eye doesn’t have his suspicions, but on the surface it’s a solid offer.
Your father’s an important man and nobody would believe Rocco was offering him up lightly.
And from what you’ve said, Joker and Clutch have been tight for a long time. Would he betray his brother like that?”
“Not Uncle Clutch.” She whirls on us, her face pale.
“I’ve known him all my life. I mean, I think I have.
He’d come by to visit or help me and Mom almost as often as Dad.
Heck, while Dad was in prison, Clutch was the one to make sure we had everything we needed.
I wouldn’t say he was a second father or anything like that, but there’s no world where he’d turn on Dad without a good reason. ”
“So you trust him?” Mad Dog sounds suspicious. I’m fucking suspicious too. This shit doesn’t feel right.
“As much as I trust anyone.” She catches herself, looking around the room at the three of us.
“Look, you probably know more about the Devil’s Brigade than I do.
I’ve seen enough since this started to understand that I don’t know what they’re capable of in your world, but in mine, yeah.
He might do the scary, bossy biker thing, but he’d never really hurt me. ”
“Do you think your dad could’ve done it?
” I ask her straight out. “As VP, Clutch would be next in line if something happened to Rocco, but it’s not a fucking royal dynasty.
The club would follow whoever shows they have the balls to do the job, and who they’re most loyal to. Could that be your father?”
To her credit, she takes a little time to think about it, instead of a knee-jerk no. “I don’t know. He’s away so much, and he’s already shown he’s able to keep a life separate from me for most of my life without me figuring it out. I don’t know, maybe I’m just stupid.”
I can’t hold myself back anymore. Two steps and I’ve got her in my arms, pulling her in close and pressing her head against my chest. “You’re not stupid.
You were kept in the dark. There’s a big fucking difference, and that’s on your father.
Shit, remember when I told you I grew up surrounded by all this, and I’ve never been sure I wanted to do that to my own fucking family?
I don’t know if what happened to you is any better.
At least I knew what I was dealing with.
My father was an asshole because he was an asshole, not because he was a biker. ”
Her arms slide around me and she relaxes a little. “Do you think maybe Uncle Clutch has a plan? Maybe Dad’s in danger or something.”
I stroke her hair. “Could be. Fuck, you know we don’t wanna give you away, and especially not to the fucking Devil’s Brigade. We’ve got no reason to trust them, and every reason to keep you here. The idea of you going away has me on edge.”
“If Prez has made a decision…” Mad Dog trails off, and it might be the first time I’ve ever heard him unhappy about having to put the club first.
Riptide comes over, and I let Melody go just enough for him to fit on her other side, holding her between us. “We’ll do what we have to do. You’re not getting rid of us that easily, baby.”
“Clutch has always been good to me. If going along with this means fewer people get hurt, then I’ll do it,” she says. Her voice is nervous but determined. “You wouldn’t kill Dad without finding out for sure, and I wouldn’t have to stay away forever. Right?”
We exchange glances.
“You’d be right to hate me for it, but I can’t promise anything. Lightning is owed his due, and Thunder, Shadow and Outlaw are gonna do it for him if he can’t.” I let my hand drift down to her neck and between her shoulders. “Eagle-eye is hard, but he’s not an idiot. He’ll play this carefully.”
Mad Dog jumps in. “Yeah. He’s taking the deal because it’s the best shot we have right now of getting the truth from your father.
We already refused Rocco’s first offer. If we keep refusing, it’s going to look like we’re the ones in the wrong.
Hate to say it, but Joker’s best chance to live through this is with us. ”
“Damned if we do, damned if we don’t,” she murmurs through a sniffle.
I nod. “But we’ll do our best to make sure that it’s done as safely as possible. Your father is secure for now. They won’t risk hurting him before the exchange.”
“Okay.” She straightens, but still leans into my hand. “Then I’ll be a dutiful hostage and let you return me. And then, if it’s okay, I’ll come back as soon as I can. I feel dumb asking if you want that, but…”
“Baby, we’re gonna be right fucking here waiting on you. We’ll stay as close as possible without putting you in even more danger.” Mad Dog grins. “We just found you. You didn’t think we were gonna let go that fucking easily, did you?”
That actually gets a smile out of her, but it doesn’t last long. “If things go badly—”
“Mel,” I interrupt. “No matter what happens. I don’t care how fucking wrong things go, we will make sure you’re alright.
I know there are some pretty heavy stakes right now, but we’ll be here on the other side of it.
The only fucking way we’re backing off is if you tell us to. I need you to know that, ‘k?
“Yeah, okay.” She takes a deep breath and nods.
“Plan’s ready then.” Riptide counts off on his fingers.
“We bring you and our new buddy Killjoy to the exchange. It goes well and you ride back with Clutch to prove to the Brigade that you’re safe.
We bring in your dad, figure out what the fuck is going on and get in touch with you when we know what’s going to happen. ”
“Simple.” She lets out a nervous little laugh. “How are you going to contact me? Do I get my phone back?”
“Right before the exchange,” I confirm. “We want a direct line of communication.”
Melody looks up at me with pretty hazel eyes. She looks scared, but ready. “This could be it, I guess. The last time before everything might go horribly, horribly wrong.”
“It won’t,” Mad Dog says firmly.
“Of course not, but, just in case, could we…” Melody nibbles her lower lip. “I don’t want to waste the time we have left.”
“C’mon. Let’s make sure you know what you have to come back to.” Taking her by the wrist, I pull her with me toward my bed. “Plenty of room on it.”
Melody ends up with me on one side, Riptide on the other, and Mad Dog on the end, rubbing her feet.
Riptide strokes her hair while I caress her hip.
I want to spend all the time in the world on her, and keep her like this forever, but she’s right, everything could change tomorrow.
She lets out a soft sigh and snuggles deeper between us.
Riptide slips down so they’re face to face. “I wanna kiss you. Make sure you don’t forget me.”
“I won’t forget—” She’s cut off by his lips covering hers.
“Let’s make it memorable,” Mad Dog says with a laugh. “I want a turn, too.”
“Not a bad idea, to be honest.” I grin as I move to her other side. As soon as Riptide lets up, I turn her head to me, pulling her close.
“Please,” she whispers.
She tastes like everything I fucking want in a woman. It takes just a moment after my tongue finds hers before she’s kissing me back with the passion of someone who doesn’t know how much time they have left.
When I let up, she’s breathing heavier and there’s a spark in her eyes that wasn’t there a moment ago. Mad Dog crawls up the bed, pulling her closer so he can reach. He pauses. “All of us?” he asks softly.
Melody nods. “Always.”