Ride To The Edge (Lucifer's Saints MC) (Rough Riders MC Series Book 4) (18 page)

“So you’re Ewan’s little girl.” Hardy laughed long and hard. “I thought the man was a fuckin’ monk. He never mentioned an ol’ lady or brought anyone around the clubhouse. He wouldn’t touch the whores either. He was a good VP. I was sorry when he bowed out and didn’t follow me to the States.”

“He couldn’t, Dex.” Hailey stared at me before she gazed back at Hardy and continued. “He loves living on that island but more than that, he just wanted to go back home. When the London and Belfast charters disbanded, he spoke to Dizzy and he allowed him to form an Edinburgh charter. A lot of the brothers from Belfast and London followed him. Brian McVeigh, the VP of the Belfast charter is me da’s VP. They didn’t mind moving to Scotland. Said the weather is still shit but at least the conditions are better.”

Hardy shook his head in amazement. “And who would have known you, of all people, would end up in my ol’ lady’s band?”

“It weren’t easy, Dex. Had to do a lot of convincing with this one.” She indicated Kris. “It just so happened Seth fucked up for the last time, and I ended up with a slot but that was sheer blind luck. Coulda been anyone really who got that spot but I was the lucky one.”

I smiled proudly. “I don’t believe in luck, Hailey. I think you ended up exactly where you were always supposed to be and we’re so lucky and proud to have you.”

She let go of Kris’s hand long enough to embrace me warmly. “Thanks, Talia. I’m just glad you gave me a chance. I’ve been a huge fan of Winter’s Regret forever—I mean, since they’ve been out. Even when Seth was the lead singer. I know everyone goes on and on about Scarlet Fever but my top three bands of all time are Winter’s Regret, Bring Me The Horizon and Breathless Eternity—in no particular order. I don’t know . . . music has to speak to me and all three bands truly do. The fact that I’m now a member of one is absolutely mind blowing.”

“Um, not to change the subject,” I began, “but should we leave Harley with Razr like that?”

Everyone turned to watch what I was staring at and he’d captured a crow and balanced it gently on his finger while she gingerly touched the bird’s feathers.

“He looks like he could crush someone to death, right? But actually, he’s a complete and total sweetheart,” Hailey mused as Kris tucked an arm around her waist. “I don’t doubt he has a mean streak from hell if you fuck with him or someone he loves but he’s been nothing but sweet to Harley since they met. Almost like they have some kind of insane chemical reaction and physical connection. He just . . . he seems to get her in a way I’ve never seen any man understand my sister. It’s refreshing to be honest.”

I studied Razr and realized Hailey was right. I’d taken one look at him, declared him the scary, insane biker that every club had to have, and damn near written him off. That’s not to say that he was unattractive because he wasn’t but he hid his looks behind a mustache-goatee number and kept his gray eyes emotionless—almost like they were dead.

I suppose he looked like the standard type of what most people thought of when they imagined a biker but his façade completely contradicted his behavior. There was a heart so covered in scars underneath his chest that I hoped someone would help him find it because he needed to be saved. Not in a literal sense but an emotional and psychological sense. Someone had done a number on him that had almost fucked him up for life but I could see the goodness in him and I couldn’t have been the only one—I knew that for a fact or he wouldn’t be the newest member in the Vegas charter.

“Time to get started,” Hailey interrupted my thoughts. “Layla and Kink are getting a little bit too handsy. I thought this performance was for her ‘cause she’s leaving for Birch Creek?”

“Birch
Tree
,” I corrected. “Yeah, let’s get on the stage so we can sing a few songs and get off so we can have some fun.”

Hailey and Kris rounded up the other members as I climbed upon the makeshift stage. It was sturdy and could hold the weight of us and our instruments—including Niko’s drum kit—just fine. As a band, we’d decided to do three songs for Layla, including a new one that would be featured on
No Regrets
.

We performed “Love (Conquers All)” and “Bring Back My Heart”—two of her favorites and reveled in the applause as the crowd really enjoyed our performance.

I waited for the crowd to settle down before I swallowed the rest of my imported beer and set it on the ground of the makeshift stage. “Since we won’t be seeing you for a while, babe, the band wanted to perform a song from our upcoming album. When you and Kink get time in the near future, I hope to see you in the audience when we start performing at Vogue Hotel and Casino again next year. The song we all chose for you two was ‘Nothing Else (Means A Damn Thing).’ I hope you enjoy it.”

The song was mid-tempo, not mosh pit friendly though it wasn’t quite a slow song to the point where you wanted to lean against your partner in attempt at dancing that was pretty much an acceptable form of groping.

I began, knowing the lyrics already by heart because it was one of my favorite songs on the album.

Hope and change,

You're the one I claim, the one I needed in my heart

'Cause life is strange

And the ones you cling on to, well they can tear you apart

All I ever wanted

Was you and I, you make that so very clear

I was so haunted

I couldn't see you, my dear

I allowed for the building of the guitar beats and Niko’s precision drum playing as I launched into the chorus.

Now I know that life would never be the same

Because you laid your face and fame

Into my heart

I cannot start

Not wanting you in my life

Forever—fuck the strife

We'll fight it together

And move on

Cause baby, you're the one

The crowd cheered as couples did come together on the makeshift dance floor and slow dance to our mid tempo song but I continued with the lyrics that had come from the bottom of my heart never the less.

Times like this,

I look around and think how could I ever been so blind

People I dismiss

Don't mean a thing 'cause I truly have to find

All the things I missed

Too busy looking far behind

From the very first kiss

You left all of them to find

Me not around to diss

And I'll never forget the love

Me and you found

Devils and Gods above

Are circling all around

Jealous that we beat odds

Baby I’d do it all over again

‘Cause I know that we would win!

I launched into the chorus again and the whole crowd seemed to be moved by the song, which made my spirit soar and my voice fly free. Some of the best concerts I’d ever had were in smaller venues because it felt more intimate.

As Kris, Hailey and Linx launched into a guitar and bass filled portion of the song, I slowly swung my head because I was in that zone. I felt the music and the music felt me. I couldn’t think of a better way to live than with the man you loved by your side, two beautiful children and doing what I absolutely loved for a living.

As the guitar part ended and the drum beats softened, my voice rose into the sky again.

In this life there are second chances

Third, fourth and fifth glances

But they don't mean a thing

If you haven't got that precious ring

The one we both can hear in our ears

When we know that we're both near

Each other and nothing else means a damn thing

To you or me ‘cause now that we both see

That we’re not a fluke or fling

You and I were meant to be

I launched into the chorus again and the song felt so right. It was supposed to be sung that night, not only to Layla and Kink but to my one true love: Hardy. I could see his eyes and he was as mesmerized by me as I was by him. We loved each other so much and our coming together wasn’t a happy coincidence or something that just happened. We were meant to be with one another and that was a beautiful thing.

The song eventually came to end and the crowd went up in hollers, claps and drunken cheers but as I faced the audience again after looking at my band mates, one man wasn’t clapping or cheering at all. He was tall, lanky and lean with reddish-blond hair and ice blue eyes that were cold as stone. Those eyes haunted me because I knew them from somewhere.

“Dad! Daddy! What are you doing here?”

Mira had separated from Pyro and was grabbing at the man but he pushed her away.

“You betrayed me too, you little Judas whore. Just like that no good, cock sucking half-breed piece of shit I fucked to get you. Stay the fuck away from me.”

Hardy was quick on his feet and before I knew it, he stood in front of Nel Decker. “Get the fuck out of here, old man. Your time is done and you got no business here. If I were you, I would be plannin’ on what you’re gonna do when you get to Pelican Bay and everyone finds out you’re a sick fucking pedophile.”

Nel laughed but it was cold, lifeless and eerie. “Who the fuck said anything about me goin’ to jail, boy? Nah, that ain’t gonna happen. I’m gonna make you hurt in ways you never dreamed though and you’ll wish you’d killed me instead of waitin’ to catch me.”

I watched in slow motion as he pistol whipped Hardy with a shotgun and then aimed it directly at me. My fight or flight seemed to be defective tonight as I still rode the wave of a fantastic performance. I could see as he stood confidently and wrapped his finger around the trigger. I closed my eyes, not wanting to be apart of my own death though it made no damn sense and then a gunshot rang out but it was the wrong caliber weapon.

I’d recognize the sound of a nine-millimeter anywhere; especially an expensive well made one.

I opened my eyes to see Razr holding the gun while Nel laid on the ground, dead as disco with his eyes open to stare at nothingness for the world to see. He’d shot him in the head and with brain matter decorating the pavement, there was no way he’d be coming back ever again.

He helped Hardy up and with reluctance, walked him back inside the clubhouse as my old man held his head.

The party was officially over, and it’d literally ended with a bang.

M
y head pounded with a fierce throb from being pistol whipped by a goddamn shotgun but still, my first thought was on my ol’ lady. I pulled away from Razr and sat on the barstool. As I tried to get up, I suffered from a horrific case of a splitting headache and vertigo.

It was Razr again who caught my fall and set me back up on the barstool. “Prez, you all right?”

“Fuck no. How’s my ol’ lady—did she get hurt?”

He shook his head. “I blew the guy’s head away before he could even fire at Talia.”

“Thank God,” I murmured under my breath.

I could finally breathe again knowing my baby was going to be okay and we’d eliminated a serious threat.

Ronan, Cricket, Quinn, Chemist, Bookie, and Pyro poured into the clubhouse along with the band, surrounding a shaken Talia who still looked shell-shocked someone had tried to kill her.

She wasn’t the only one. My blood seemed to turned into molten lava as it flowed through my veins and all I wanted was pure, cold, chaotic revenge with a shot of justice on the side. Actually, at this point, I didn’t give a fuck who had kids and who didn’t—I wanted every member of the White Knights club annihilated.

“Church. Fucking now!” I roared with anger though it made my head ache even worse.

“What about the rest of the guys who are rounding up the women outside?” Bookie questioned though his voice remained calm.

“You guys can tell them what’s going on. All of you,” I pointed to the guys, including Razr, “get your asses in that room and planted to a motherfuckin’ chair.”

I stood, still feeling woozy but I watched as Razr situated himself right behind me as we walked to church so if something did happen, he’d be there to help me up. He looked like a stringy motherfucker too, all lean muscle though not too thin to be mistaken for a male model, but he was a hell of a lot stronger than he initially appeared to be. I was a big guy, and he helped me up like he was picking up one of my kids.

I’d been wary of him at first but now that he’d done what he did, besides Ronan, he was the only guy I would trust with my life in my own charter. It’s not that I instantly disliked everyone else because they didn’t take a bullet or try to save Talia instead. This guy just did it. No fucking hesitation. He saw a threat and he dispatched it like it meant nothing. Another day at the office as far as he was concerned.

That kind of loyalty couldn’t be bought, and now he had me wonderin’ why he left the Barstow charter. They should have been so lucky to have a quick-handed fucker like him around.

As soon as everyone was seated, I grabbed a Camel from the pack Razr threw on the table and lit it immediately before I said, “Before we even begin this emergency meeting, you wanna tell me what you’re doing in my charter again, Razr?” I inquired in a cool voice that belied my logic to asking the question.

Razr already had a cigarette smoldering between his lips. He dragged and grabbed it with two fingers before he exhaled through his mouth and nose. “The truth? I fucked the Prez’s daughter. She’s eighteen, and had been after me for months. I’d tried to be the good guy and walk away but when you get home from a run smelling like a fucking hog, walk into your house, take a shower and come out with a naked, creamy skinned blonde on your bed with her legs spread . . . what would you have done?

“Anyway, she told her dad she was in love with me and wanted to be my old lady when I didn’t say shit about commitment—I fucked her ‘cause I was horny as hell, not ‘cause I wanted to wife the bitch. Anyway, when I turned her offer down, the Prez saw red, and threatened to pull my patch if I didn’t find another club to take me. I called Chemist ‘cause he’s my cousin and with everyone present—except you, Prez—they voted me in.”

“If you fuck my daughter, I’ll kill ya—granted she’s still in diapers so the chances of you and Eden hookin’ up are slim to none.” I dragged from my cigarette. I want you to be a part of the council. Bookie is needed back in Birch Tree so that leaves a spot open. Ronan is VP, Pyro is Sergeant-At-Arms, Cricket is Road Captain, and Quinn is Treasurer. How ‘bout you be Secretary once Bookie leaves?”

“What about Chemist?” Razr wondered out loud as he looked around the table.

“I’m the resident drug store but that’s not an official position on the charter. I handle all the makings of meth and have expanded into purp though I just deal with the chemical side of mixing the Promethazine with the codeine syrup. The soda and jolly rancher are for the end user to pick up and provide, not me.”

Razr shook his head. “Damn, man. You was always good with making shit when we was kids with that chemistry set of yours. Don’t surprise me you join an MC just to make drugs ‘cause you can.”

Although I should have been kind of pissed off that Chemist and Razr had decided to go down memory lane together after all the shit that had happened that night, I couldn’t. The guy had a natural charisma after you got to know him and he had the other guys at the table laughing their asses off. We all needed a bit of a break because after this meeting was over, we wouldn’t be gettin’ one for a while.

“You all know why I called this meeting. I almost lost my ol’ lady out there and if it wasn’t for Razr’s quick thinkin’, I’d be in Kink’s shoes but that much worse because I got two kids who are under the age of three, and never would have gotten to know their mum and what a fantastic person she is. We all know that ain’t no way to raise kids. I wouldn’t even pretend to be all right because we all know I wouldn’t be. I’d be a goddamn mess and guess what? Shit rolls downhill.

“The thought of that prick, Jaden, gettin’ a hold of my son would kill me but he’d be able to fight me on it ‘cause I’d be a raging druggie and alcoholic tryin’ to forget the love of my life that I’d lost. Eden wouldn’t stand a chance and would probably be taken by Trey, or Trista. They wouldn’t allow their cousin’s baby to be raised by the likes of me. ‘Cause you know what else I’d be? A raging, homicidal maniac pickin’ off Deckers for sport until I erased their whole fucking family off the earth.”

Quinn cleared his throat. “I know Marion is a Decker but she also happens to be someone I care about. What would happen to her? She’s Brad’s kid—not Nel’s.”

I shook my head before I dragged on the rest of my cigarette and put it out in the ashtray. “Not gonna lie to you, brother. If you care about her, keep her as far from me as possible, even now. I don’t want to see a fuckin’ Decker unless it’s a dead motherfuckin’ Decker.”

“I alerted Eve to what happened,” Pyro spoke up. “I didn’t tell her the truth though—I said I shot Nel ‘cause I didn’t want Razr to be questioned for doin’ somethin’ any of us woulda done given the chance. He was just quicker on his feet.”

“So, what’s the plan? You didn’t call us in here to discuss what might have happened but what will happen. What do we do, Hardy?” Ronan inquired.

“It’s war against all Deckers. I can’t kill Brad, and Marion will do just fine if she stays away from me—Jake too. But their ol’ ladies? I want every one of them dead by tomorrow.”

Bookie stared at me quizzically. “You mean Nel and Brad’s ol’ ladies?”

“For now but eventually, Jake’s too. Nel wants to come into my club and try to murder my ol’ lady? He’s got another think comin’. I don’t want any of those bitches breathin’ come tomorrow mornin’. Let those two motherfuckers know what it feels like to lose an ol’ lady,” I expressed coldly before I slammed my hands on the wooden table.

“And there’s no way we can talk you out of this because this is some fucked up shit,” Pyro spoke up. “You and I are agents, Hardy. We don’t indiscriminately kill women and children. I don’t like either of their ol’ ladies either but to murder them in cold blood for something they didn’t do? I’m not feelin’ this plan.”

His ice blue glare—so much like Nel’s—centered on me. “You’re gonna start something that none of us are gonna be able to stop. What happens when they start targetin’ our old ladies? You ever thought about that? Talia
didn’t
die—fuck, she wasn’t even injured. I can’t go along with a war that could cost me everything I love just because what you loved was
threatened
but
not
harmed today. We all know what we’re in for when we put these cuts on our back. Anything else and you’re just beggin’ to go to war.”

I glared back at Pyro with an icy stare. “Has it ever occurred to you that war has already began?”

“Maybe it has but what kind of war you willin’ to fight, man? ‘Cause what you talking is some crazy ass Vietnam or Afghanistan shit. A guerilla war we’ll be in for years, and nothin’ will come from it but a lot of heartache and a lotta fuckin’ funerals,” Ronan continued. “I’m with Pyro on this. I say no.”

“What about the rest of you?”

Razr glanced at me. “I’d be with you . . . if that motherfucker had injured or murdered your ol’ lady but he didn’t. I’m in a new charter and I can’t afford to be pissin’ people off. I’m gonna have to say no.”

“Chemist?”

“Hell fuckin’ no. By the time it ends, we’ll be broke, emotionally bankrupt and won’t have pot to piss in or a window to throw it out of. Some shit you just gotta let go, Prez.”

“Bookie?”

“Yeah, I’d be all for it but since I’m not in the Vegas charter any longer, I don’t have a say. Plus you’d gotta get somethin’ like that cleared with Cillian, and I highly doubt he’d approve that kind of retribution.”

Pyro’s phone buzzed and he read the text before he looked me dead in the eyes. “The situation has been handled. A cleanup crew has removed the body and any signs that Nel was even here. As far as his club knows, he just disappeared. I think we should leave it that way and concentrate on what the main mission is, Hardy.”

“The main mission . . .” I trailed off while deep in thought. “This meeting is adjourned, my brothers. I understand why you feel the way you do, and I can respect that. Nothing will be done against the White Knights unless it’s government sanctioned.” I slammed the gavel down and the boys stood and filed out, all with the exception of Ronan.

He closed the door behind the other members as the last one—Bookie—finally left and leaned against the door with his arms crossed against his solid chest.

I didn’t have to guess what he was thinking; Ronan’s violet-blue eyes always made his feelings quite clear and I was about to get an earful from a man that had suffered enough to last two lifetimes.

He slicked his hand through his brown hair and sighed. “You don’t think I understand but I do . . . actually better than you do. If you weren’t my uncle, I’d undermine your authority, go straight to my dad and have him pull your patch for having gone absolutely motherfuckin’ loony tunes on us, bro. What you pulled in this meeting was
not
cool and you sure as shit know it.”

“What are you talking about?” I didn’t want a moral discussion with him at this point—I just wanted him to get the hell out of here so I could go see my ol’ lady and calm her own fears.

“You wanted to go to war for Talia? Someone who has better security than ninety-nine point nine percent of the other old ladies? The only reason they weren’t here was because she gave them the night off. She’s a world famous star and the lead singer of Winter’s Regret yet you thought it would be okay to lose a brother—or five—over her pampered ass? You pompous, sanctimonious motherfucker.” Ronan lit a cigarette and stared at me like I was cow dung he’d just wiped off the bottom of his biker boots.

“So let me get this straight . . . just because I’m married to a famous woman, she somehow ranks better than any ol’ lady in here, and I shouldn’t want to seek revenge?” I asked my VP.