6. Jameson
SIX
There wasn’ta single day that went by lately where I didn’t try and figure out what the fuck had happened to my life.
A month ago, I was the only leader of the Chaos Kings, a club with over two hundred members. I’d been the president since I was nineteen years old. I had respect, loyalty. I owned a garage in Richland, and the club was more prosperous from legal work than we ever had been from doing illegitimate shit. Our club had renovated and expanded. I’d bought a house, it was small, but it was mine. I was doing well with my other real-estate ventures too.
I had a vice president that had my back…someone I thought was my friend.
But fuck me, everything went to hell really fucking fast.
I wasn’t present for the moment the shit hit the fan with Luke and Penelope. I’d left town the second I heard she was pregnant, but when I’d returned, the club had been a mess. That was right after Luke and Penny broke up…it all happened in a blink. Pen was pregnant, the club was treating her like shit. I was trying to keep it all together and then Penelope’s mom got sick.
It was like every day something new had imploded in my life. Some new threat seemed to grow overnight, ready to fuck me over the second I woke up.
I had started looking for ways to help Penny after Wanda had begged for me to get her daughter away from the club. We all knew it wasn’t as easy as stashing her away. She was carrying Luke’s baby, one of the highest-ranking members in a powerful club. I was trying to do right by her, while still keeping my club intact.
But then Luke made the decision for me and defected, taking a solid chunk of my club with him. It forced me to look outside the box for another solution. Which brought me here, to the Stone Riders. I had heard they wanted a meeting through my cousin Giles, and after dealing with all the bullshit drama from the Chaos Kings from the previous six months, I finally got in touch with him and had him set up a meeting with Killian Quinn.
I’d heard the story of Natty Langford from when Simon Stone had made that trade for her. What he did for her…it just simply wasn’t done. The amount of money he gave up in that deal, all for one girl. Didn’t make any sense, but years later, there were rumors that Natty was still with the Stone Riders and it had my curiosity piqued. If she had been moved here, and she’d stayed then perhaps the club was safe. Maybe they could take Penny in, and she could have her baby in peace, stay safe until Luke was dealt with.
That was the plan.
Unfortunately, I had no way of knowing Luke had his own agenda, which apparently included teaming up with a previous member from the Stone Riders, Jefferson Quinn. Killian’s father had been in prison for murder, and suddenly freed thanks to a corrupt senator. His sole focus once getting out was to overthrow the Stone Riders. Luke had a similar goal with wanting to take over the Chaos Kings, so the two became a team.
Jefferson had arrived in the middle of the day with Luke and drew a line in the sand. Join them or die. Several had joined but ten of my loyal men were killed, and I was so utterly terrified for Penelope’s life that I got her out, abandoning my club and driving straight to Rose Ridge.
My plan to leave her with the Stone Riders ended when Luke and Jefferson claimed the clubhouse. My men had nowhere to go that was safe. So, we ventured here, and now lived in the abandoned house on the back of Stone Rider property. I hated how misplaced I felt, and even worse, how each day I spent around the Stone Riders, I was starting to feel like maybe I’d never had the loyalty of my men in the first place.
Maybe they always wanted a leader like Jefferson Quinn, or worse, Tuck Holloway—Luke’s father had always garnered more loyalty for his antiquated ways of thinking.
The cold air bit at my face, bringing me back to the present. Back to that steady thrum of violence hammering away in my chest.
I had warned them.
Every single, fucking one of my men that came here, that if they touched Pen, they’d be dead on the spot. It was the primary rule when we’d arrived in Stone Rider territory. Respect their club and keep their distance from Penelope.
Simple fucking rules.
Rules, Bones and Kline had blatantly ignored.
I exited the cabin, veering toward my bike, but someone rode up over the hill from the Stone Riders club, stopping next to me.
Wes shoved his boot down, lowering the kickstand for his bike.
“What’s your plan?”
I straddled the seat and gripped the handlebars. “You were there when I gave the warning.”
Wes dipped his head, then looked off toward the house where my club was set up.
“You go in and murder two members in front of everyone, it won’t set an example. It will insight a riot. Your club is hanging by a thread as it is.”
My jaw worked as I tried to rein in the anger surging through me.
“What am I supposed to do then? It can’t go unchecked.”
Wes stepped closer; his leather jacket still had the stitch marks of when he was president. I was curious if it bothered him that he’d lost the spot to Killian.
“First of all, you need to figure out a way to keep Penelope safe. Obviously, there’s bad blood, or anger…whatever the fuck, but your word alone isn’t working. You need to do something that shows she’s untouchable, and then I would wait, and when it’s time to strike, I’d make it look like an accident.”
That held some merit, but I didn’t want the fuckers near Pen in the meantime and more importantly what was I supposed to do to show them she was untouchable?
“I need ideas.” I voiced out loud, staring at the ground.
Wes patted my back and gestured toward the Stone Riders clubhouse.
“Let’s go talk to Killian; he might have some thoughts.”
I dismounted and stared at the cabin, worry tightening my chest.
“I’ll put Harris on watching Pen. He’s a good guy, the only one I trust to watch Cali when she leaves for town, or goes anywhere,” Wes offered, pulling out his phone.
I instantly relaxed and followed him to the club.
The club was quieter than I’d seen it in the past, with just a few prospects milling about and old timers. Wes led us through the back hall until we rounded the corner. He must have texted Killian because the leader walked out of the office and continued until the three of us were shut inside the church doors.
“You gonna kill ‘em?” Killian asked, pulling out a chair. A sinister smile tilted his lips as he set his phone in front of him on the table.
“He tried to, but I stopped him,” Wes answered, taking a seat across from Killian.
“Wes talked me into waiting…but I need help figuring out what to do so the club will respect her. Right now, they’re pissed at Luke and see her as the next viable option to take out that anger.”
Wes glanced down at the table, likely in thought. Killian clicked his tongue and slid his phone around in front of him.
“Give her your patch.”
Wes shook his head. “You weren’t there, these fuckers wanted to hurt her. I don’t think a patch will do it.”
I nodded in agreement, regardless that the patch was essentially our version of a wedding ring, with Pen, it wouldn’t hold the same value. Not being pregnant with Luke’s baby.
“She’s knocked up with his VP’s baby…a patch won’t mean shit,” Wes continued, still voicing his thoughts.
Both men stared at one another, as if they were thinking something.
“What?”
They continued silently speaking; Killian’s brow raised and then he let out a sigh.
“How do you feel about marriage?”
My stomach flipped. “Marriage?”
Killian stood, stretching his arms over his head.
“Only thing more final than a patch. You could eventually pull her from the club and set her up as a citizen wife, too.”
Citizen wives were for members who were married but their significant other had nothing to do with the club whatsoever. That would keep Pen and the baby safe…especially if she were my wife.
But…fuck. Marriage?
Heat worked up my neck as I considered the idea.
It would be fake.
Pen would go for it because it would keep her and the kid safe…but it would just be a ruse, similarly if I were to hand her my patch.
“That mess with things for you?” Killian asked, gesturing toward me. “You have someone?”
I shook my head. “No…just thinking through things.”
Wes stood next, grabbing his cell.
“Might be the most reasonable solution and it won’t leave this room that it was suggested. Everyone will have to believe it in order for it to work. You guys in a place where you can pretend?”
Fuck.
“Yeah…we—it could work.”
Both men moved toward the church doors.
“When you’re ready to take care of those two that nearly hurt her, tell us. We’ll go with you. Cover your back.”
What a fucking joke that I had to result to having aid from my previous rivals. I didn’t even have a vice president, or any loyal friends I could ask to help me bury a few bodies. How fucking far I’ve fallen.
I nodded my thanks and followed them to the doors, but as they were opened, Wes froze in place.
Killian did too, staring over at the fireplace in the center of the room.
Penelope and Natty were standing…and Silas Silva, the president of the Death Raiders, was talking to them.
“Fuck,” Wes breathed.
Killian’s jaw worked. “He just walked in?”
“Apparently so,” Wes mused. “Where the fuck is Giles?”
I looked around for my cousin who was currently the acting vice president of the Stone Riders. Although, I’d yet to see him at Killian’s side as often as I saw Wes.
The interaction between Silas and Natty was brief. Silas handed something to Natty and then walked off, and Killian powered through the doors, slightly trailing him. Wes lifted his head, indicating that I should follow them.
I glanced over at Pen, and then trailed the two Stone Riders outside.
Silas was already heading toward his bike. Giles was standing near it.
“Prez, I can explai—” Giles started, but Killian shook his head.
“Shut the fuc?—”
“Watch who you’re speaking to…” I snapped at Killian, reminding him that was my blood, and if he wanted to degrade him, he’d not do it in my presence.
Giles gave me a quick nod of appreciation while Killian’s jaw worked.
Silas turned, inspecting our exchange with a slight raise in his eyebrows. “Told you I’d be stopping in.”
“I assumed you’d have the decency to at least text,” Killian scolded, stopping just a few feet from the Raiders’ bike.
Silas wore a long-sleeved shirt, and slowly slid his jacket with all his patches over his arms.
“Thank you for at least going in without your colors.”
Silas nodded, then dipped his head.
“Natty was out walking this morning…a Chaos King was out there.”
I stepped closer, only to have Silas toss a leather cut at me.
The name sewn into the cut was covered in blood. Sandman.
“Tried going after her.” Silas narrowed his gaze at me before slipping his shades on. The December sun was bright, the air frigid but the sky was clear.
“He dead now?”
Silas nodded then addressed Killian. “She was walking to our meeting spot…told her not to go out there alone anymore.”
Killian nodded, his face reflecting he had about as many questions as I did.
“I’m not going to text you when I come around. But I will be cautious, and I’ll always slip out of my colors out of respect.”
Killian let out a sigh and then nodded.
“Fine. Fuck.”
He shook his head then spun on his heel and walked away.
I stayed put, staring at the Death Raider.
Silas gestured with his head toward the cut. “He was part of the group that defected, right?”
I nodded, still gripping the sullied leather in my palms. This meant Luke and Jefferson had sent men to keep eyes on us, and they were close.
“Sorry Natty was in danger, I’m glad she?—”
“Don’t—” Silas cut me off, practically choking on the words. “Don’t say her name.”
I lifted my head, delighted that he’d slipped enough to show his weakness to me.
He had no idea how that had my mind churning with ways to mess with him. If I didn’t have Pen to worry about, I’d push on what was so obviously a painful bruise for him.
Feigning innocence, I muttered, “I didn’t mean anyth?—”
He stepped closer. “Let’s be clear. I allowed you to live after meeting with her because Killian was present, but if you ever talk to her alone, I will kill you. She is not available; she is not open property. She is mine.”
I smiled, unable to help myself.
“From what I’ve observed, Natty seems to belong to herself. In fact, she seems perfectly content here, without you.”
His fingers twitched as if he wanted to throw a punch.
But his lips twisted to the side. “When you can protect yours, you can say shit about mine. But rumor has it, Luke’s old lady is in your care, but your members nearly ran her over. You’re a pathetic leader, Jameson. The king of chaos has toppled from his throne and now he’s relying on the Stone Riders for scraps of safety. Watch who you’re speaking to and stay the fuck away from what’s mine.”
With that, he turned and straddled his bike, keeping that cold glare on me the entire time. With a rev of his engine, he took off, spraying gravel as he went.
Fuck him. Fuck this place and fuck Luke for putting us through this shit.
I turned back toward the house, needing to see Pen. I’d given her some time to process outside of the cabin. I’d had time to form a plan. Now I needed to see her.
I needed to run this marriage idea by her.
Or fuck…maybe I should just toss a ring at her and tell her to put it on and inform her we were getting married. I had to keep her safe, and if this would do it then saying no wasn’t an option. But even as I thought it, my stomach tilted.
Penelope and I had a complicated past.
One full of unspoken truths, missed chances, and stolen moments.
I’d hurt her. She had hurt me.
It was fate’s twisted sense of humor that we were now thrown together in some odd, domesticated role.
The irony was cruel.