Chapter 19
Ricochet
The families were clearing out because a whole different kind of party was starting up. The sweet butts who worked for us had stuck mostly to the clubhouse while the barbecue was happening. They knew to keep out of the way while we had everyone’s families here.
Sylvia was the one exception. She was out on the grass, playing with the kids, and speaking with the old ladies.
No one had ever treated her like a sweet butt.
We all knew it was only a matter of time before some guy came to one of our parties—maybe a weekender—saw her and fell head over heels for the older woman.
Anytime we went on a run to help out our brothers or friends, we kept an eye out for a man worthy of Syl.
She was incredibly kind and deserved a man who would take care of her. We wouldn’t let her go to just anyone.
There’d been more than once where Syl had sat with me after the nightmares had woken me and sleep was a far distant memory.
I usually headed downstairs to drink my troubles away.
It was as though she had a sixth sense about when one of us needed something.
Us younger guys considered her an honorary mother, while the older men thought of her as a beloved sister.
Either way, she was as much a part of our club as Kit was.
Both women had a place here for as long as they wanted one.
I detoured over to her, because she was holding a sleepy Caitlyn.
Jordan came along with me, though I could tell she was a little tipsy, so I slowed my pace.
A grin tugged at my mouth. I was glad Jordan had enjoyed her time with the others.
It hadn’t even bothered me when I heard what they were talking about, though I’d put a glower on my face.
I had a lot of explaining I needed to do for my old lady.
As soon as I approached, Caitlyn smiled. She lifted my dog tags over her head and handed them over.
“Thanks, Kid,” I said, ruffling her hair.
Her eyes were heavy, and she was resting her head on Syl’s shoulder.
“Jordan, this is Sylvia. Syl, this is Jordan.”
“Hi,” Sylvia said, giving Jordan a warm smile and juggling Caitlyn’s limp body so she could shake my girl’s hand. “It’s so nice to meet you.”
“It’s nice to meet you as well,” Jordan replied. “I wish we had a bit more time to talk.” She motioned to the little girl, who was now fast asleep in Syl’s embrace.
If only I could fucking sleep like that.
Out loud, I said, “Next time.” I nodded a goodnight to Sylvia and Jordan gave her a little wave.
“You’re so good with kids,” Jordan murmured as we walked away, toward the clubhouse.
I wasn’t dragging her along anymore, not now that I’d noticed her unsteady gait.
She was happy and relaxed though, so I owed the girls for that.
Her fingers were wrapped up in mine and she was strolling next to me.
My mind settled, letting go of the ever vigilant state it was usually in. All it took was the touch of her hand.
Jordan leaned into my side and I caught the scent of citrus.
She was like a warm sunny day. Fresh and unburdened by the horrors I’d seen in my life.
Again the thought that it was selfish of me to drag her into my world crossed my mind.
Part of me thought, hoped, that it would be the opposite.
The more time I spent with her, the more she was pulling me into her world.
I might escape my darkness after all, and she would be my motivation to do so.
She was the only thing that was keeping the encroaching darkness at bay and while I didn’t want to let her go, I knew for a fact that even if I tried, I wouldn’t be able to. Wrapping my arm around her shoulders, I tucked her up against my body.
We walked into the clubhouse right as Butcher switched the music over to something less suited to the family atmosphere. He gave us a nod and a grin as a pair of young women walked through the door.
Shaking my head as he went over to ‘show them around’, I reached over the bar and grabbed a bottle of vodka.
Scarlett laughed as she handed over two shot glasses.
“Looks like you two are going to have your own party.” She winked at Jordan.
It was a friendly gesture, unlike Pixie who was huddled up in the corner, staring down at her phone.
Ever since Pixie had picked a fight with Seek, and Hellfire had been forced to put her in her place, she’d been sullen and quiet.
It was better than her being sullen and loud about it.
Hell had put the fear of God into her that day, though, so she was behaving.
All it had taken was pointing out the fact that she was going to lose the one thing she wanted, being connected to this club, and the shot of losing out on finding a biker of her own.
“Thanks, Scarlett,” I called over my shoulder as I led Jordan upstairs.
“We’re not staying down here?” she asked, looking up at me.
“Fuck no. This party isn’t for old ladies.” The single guys liked to let loose at these things and a lot of the bikers from other clubs were going to be here tonight. I didn’t want to spend the night hovering over my woman to make sure no one tried shit when I could be with her upstairs.
She narrowed her eyes at me as I waited at the top of the stairs for her to pass me, but she didn’t say anything about me calling her my old lady.
“Fourth door on the left.”
She led the way and opened the door to my room before stepping in. “This is nice,” she said, going over and sitting on my bed.
“It’s fine for now.” It was a dorm style room that was big enough to fit my king size bed, dresser, and the rest of the meager belongings I kept.
I didn’t need a lot of space, or a fancy place to live.
That would change once I had a wife and kids—one day—but for now, I was just grateful that it had an ensuite bathroom.
Setting the glasses on the dresser, I poured a shot. My eyebrow arched up as she stood and sashayed over to me. The flirtatious look in her eyes amused me.
“Is that for me?”
“I think you’ve had enough,” I countered.
Her full lower lip poked out in a pout so adorable I couldn’t resist. I handed the shot over. Pouring myself one, I kept my eyes on her. She was waiting for me to finish.
“Do you know how long it’s been since I cut loose and got drunk?” she asked.
“How long?”
A frown marred her pretty face. “Too long,” she responded as though she was just doing the math now. “Four years.”
“You haven’t partied since you turned twenty-one?”
We both tossed back our shots and a predatory feeling crept over me as I watched her lick the alcohol from her lips. Jesus she was going to kill me. I was willing to bet she had no clue how she was affecting me.
“Oh! No, a year. Last year with Gwen. But before that was another year.” She gave me a satisfied smile. She was proud even though her math wasn’t adding up. I didn’t mention anything as she handed the glass back to me. “Another, please.”
My eyes were glued to the little strip of flesh that her flowy top exposed as she reached her arm out.
Who knew an inch wide swath of skin on a woman’s stomach would have my cock aching in a matter of seconds.
It was because it was this woman. My woman.
It was going to be damn near impossible to play her little game.
She didn’t think it was a game, but that’s what it was.
She was testing me to make sure I wasn’t going to get what I wanted and bail.
If only there was a way to convince her that she was truly what I wanted.
Time. That was the only way of winning this wary creature over.
Not so wary now.
I planned to take advantage of that so I could get to know her more. I handed back the shot glass and chuckled when she immediately tossed it back. “Better catch up.”
“You’d better slow down.”
“Nope.” Her smile was dazzling, and I knew she was close to her limit.
“How about we play a game?”
Interest sparked in her eyes. “I’m good at games.”
“And not competitive at all,” I told her with a grin.
“Oh, no. I am,” she said, going back to sit on my bed again. “My brother says I’m…” She paused and I watched her for signs that she might throw up. But she just leaned back on her hands and continued, “He says I’m no fun.”
“Something tells me he’s wrong.”
She let out a heavy sigh. “No. Noah’s right. I’m a stick in the mud. I have been ever since-” She bit her lower lip and I had to hold back a groan.
I wanted to be the one biting and licking at those lips. Not to mention the things I wanted to do with the rest of her. “Ever since what?”
She shook her head. “Not drunk enough to talk about that.”
“About what?”
“Dan the Douche.”
My eyebrows shot up even as anger boiled in my gut.
I didn’t like another man’s name passing her lips.
The last thing I wanted to know about was some guy she was with, but I had a deep-seated need to know everything about her.
I had to know so I was aware of any threats in her life.
So far, I knew she was a falconer, worked at The Wildlife Sanctuary, and had a brother named Noah.
If she didn’t start opening up to me, I’d have to learn about her another way. I’d rather she told me everything.
Before I could say anything, she started talking. She’d already forgotten that she wasn’t drunk enough, according to her, for this story.
“I used to be a lot of fun.” Her tone was defensive. “We dated for two years. He used to be a lot of fun.”
I folded my arms over my chest to keep her from seeing the way my hands were bunching into fists. I wanted to use them on her ex. There was hurt there, buried in her eyes. Her tone was tight as she spoke. She didn’t like reliving this.