Their Ex's Redrock Dawn (Texas Alpha Biker) (22 page)

“We got enough,” Justice uttered. “If he should have a black eye or two before I lock him up, I’m just saying this
is
a fucking biker’s bar.”

Zeb growled fiercely, straightened, while Shaw bucked back at the complete change in aura he must have felt, and Zeb tore at the top of his tee shirt, until the wire came partly loose and could be seen.

“You see this fucker,” Zeb snarled to Shaw’s wide and darting eyes. “It’s a wire. You’ve just confessed.”

“No!” Shaw wailed.

Zeb grabbed him by the collar and slammed him into the back wall of the booth. Shaw’s head rocked back with a thud.

“Just so you know, stupid shit. Carly’s
my
woman now and you are a fucking stupid idiot for picking Tula over Carly.”

Then Zeb punched him once, heard his nose break, and he shoved him, letting go as Shaw wailed, and Zeb shoved out of the booth. “Stupid fuck,” Zeb growled, then he walked away as Justice passed him to arrest Shaw.

Before Zeb got outside, Tag got his shoulder. “That was fucking righteous, man,” Tag said.

Zeb nodded. “Thanks, man.”

Side by side they pushed through the bar doors, and once outside Zeb paced to the parking lot, then stalked around in a half-circle, trying to pace his adrenalin out. Vincent came up with Cabe by his side.

“You need a job, you’re hired,” Vincent said.

Zeb continued to pace in front of them. “Thanks.”

“Only had to do it once ... not five times,” Cabe said. “That guy is a stupid dick.”

Zeb nodded. “Yeah.” He kept pacing and shook his shoulders. A damn fight would be good right about then, he thought.

Tag pounded his shoulder once. “Semper fi, man. We’re all vets.”

Zeb stopped pacing and looked at each of them. “No shit.” They all nodded. “Thanks, guys, really couldn’t do it without you.”

“Well, we could all hug like Marine wussies,” Cabe said, looking at Tag, whom Zeb would bet was ex-marine. “Or we can go get our women.” Cabe pointed at Tag. “Which still leaves you out, brother.”

Then some hardass razzing ensued, which helped Zeb better than any other thing that could have happened, except what he did next, and that was find his woman and put her against him.

***

C
arly was shimming in her Rockstud Valentino stilettos when someone tall, hot, and with muscles from top to bottom hauled her back into him. The arm that came around her to do this showed a tattoo she knew, around a sinewy bicep, so she didn’t screech or turn and slap him; instead she moved her booty right back against him.

Warm breath heated her ear. “Those fucking heels, babe, make my cock hard.”

She was kind of drunk, so she giggled as Zeb slowed her body down to his rhythm that was sexy, swaying, and intense to a really fast song. The people around them shook and jumped like crazy, but all she felt was Zeb’s hard body molding and moving hers. She so wanted him like this. Who knew drunk made her super horny.

“Ranger,” she moaned, and her head fell back to his shoulder.

Zeb’s warm, firm lips kissed enticements along the curve of her neck as he swayed them, with his fingers spreading out over her belly. That hand pressed, keeping her booty over the hard ridge she could feel in his jeans as the lights strobed around them and they danced really slow and very naughty on the dark edges of the partially full dance floor.

Her happy drunken thoughts knew she should be thinking about stupid, really important life stuff, but she couldn’t manage it. Zeb was there and that meant he was okay, so instead she let her drunken horny side take over and she rolled against him, getting an aroused growl in her ear. His hand inched a little lower as they ground together.

“We’ll talk later. You’ll get the full story eventually,” Zeb said in her ear. “You don’t need to take it all at once, because all you really need to know, sweetness, is you’re
all
mine. That sweet, wet pussy’s mine, those soft, pouty lips are mine, those fuck-me legs, and that hot ass of yours are all mine.”

Her hand lifted and wound around the back of his neck as she arched into him. If they were not where they were at, she’d have him inside her just like this.

“Yes, baby,” she whispered to everything her man was laying down that she was
so
picking up.

––––––––

A
couple months later, Carly walked into the great room of her lake house, which was filled with people. The sliding glass doors over half the wall were all open so people could move inside, outside, or down to the lake, and they were everywhere. It was the Fourth of July and she and Zeb were throwing a party.

He’d told her to make it the party to end all parties, and he’d said seeing her lake house resort he’d known she could do it. So she had, and she grinned because he’d never thought she went over the top even when she’d had the party catered, had another army of helpers hired to serve, clean, and keep things filled, ordered like a thousand balloons, put streamers of red, white, and blue everywhere, got valets, and gave each guest a big package of fireworks to set off that night.

Then she’d made a guest list of almost a hundred, which included his army buddies (some of which they’d help fly in), Redrock locals like her besties and their husbands, and then all the young women from WTSF and the half a dozen young men the charity was working with.

Just then, Carly noticed the lethally graced Caval Rome prowling her way with the most beautiful young Indian woman, in her early twenties, Carly had ever seen, walking doe-eyed beside him. Carly had invited Caval and any of his mercenary friends, plus Justice, Angel, and even Jaggar, who had not shown up yet, she didn’t think.

“Carly, like you to meet my daughter, Blue,” Caval said, arriving in front of her.

Carly knew her eyebrow rose as she looked between them. Caval with his hair so black it had a bluish sheen to it where it hung straight down his broad chest covered in a blue tee shirt that had a closed white fist on it, next to the slender and delicate-looking young woman with browner hair pulled back, defining her exotic features. She’d never expected an edgy man like Caval to have a daughter.

Carly smiled. “It’s good to meet you, Blue. What a kickass name.”

Blue’s smile came slowly, nearly hesitant, and when it did come out the girl was even more beautiful. Caval had his hands full, Carly decided.

“Thank you,” Blue said shyly.

While Caval leaned near Carly’s ear. “You have an age group she can hang with around here?”

Carly looked into Caval’s light green eyes, which seemed to change to silver as she watched. “I sure do.” Over Caval’s shoulder she saw just the person. “Justice,” she called.

Justice Walkinghorse was not wearing his normal federal marshal getup, but Carly figured he’d never lose the jeans and boots. Justice walked over looking at Carly, but then his gaze traveled to whom she was with and it shifted back and hooked on to Blue. Something very interesting crossed Justice’s face that Carly thought might be interest.

“Justice, this is Blue and her father Caval. Blue doesn’t know anyone around here, you mind taking her to meet Angel and Vicki? You guys can even take the jet skis out if you want. There are plenty of suits and towels in the pool house down by the grotto.” Carly nudged Blue, who was gazing at her feet, blushing. “Go on.”

“Nice to meet you,” Justice said, and he got a peek from Blue.

Caval shook his head and grabbed a beer from a passing waiter. “Go on, Blue, honey,” he muttered.

Justice nodded to them both and gently touched the back of Blue’s shoulder to get her moving as Caval turned his back on her, but leaned into Carly’s ear. “That Indian better be a gentleman.”

Carly smiled. “He will be; it’s why I picked him.”

Caval nodded, and she was opening her mouth to ask him a dozen questions about Blue, who her mom was, and where she lived, when Caval walked off and disappeared into the crowd.

“Well damn,” Carly said.

“Well damn what?” Tess asked, from the other side of her.

Carly fluffed her ponytail, looking where Caval had been. “Caval Rome was just here,” she whispered to Tess, whose eyes widened. Both Rusty and Tess wanted to meet Caval with a burning curiosity. “He’s got an Indian princess daughter—she’s that pretty, Blue is her name, and I think Justice was smacked upside the head when I introduced them.”

“Damn, I missed him,” Tess said, popping a chip in her mouth to chew, then she said, “If you see him you have to show him to me so I can show Rusty, but I really think Justice has a thing for Angel.”

Carly nodded, stealing a chip from Tess’ hand with a grin. “This should be interesting. I can’t believe Caval has a daughter like that.”

Tess nodded, not having even seen Caval but taking Carly’s word for it, which Carly really liked. “I’ve already run into two of the Merc Inc. guys,” Tess said. “You can’t miss them; they all have on these tee shirts with a white fist on them, besides looking military-workout humongous and musclebound.” She leaned closer to Carly. “I swear one looks like
the
Rock.”

Carly’s eyes widened, looking at Tess, who nodded slowly. “Wow,” Carly offered.

“Yeah,” Tess said. “Double wow. This seriously is
the
best party.”

Carly’s inner hostess glowed. “Where’s Rusty—” she started to ask, but suddenly, right behind Tess, charged green eyes appeared above a kickass black goatee.

As if sensing a presence, Tess whirled, then exclaimed, “Finn!”

His grin was tummy tingling as Tess and he hugged briefly. Carly knew about Finn helping her out, even if she didn’t know him extremely well. Zeb had also told her all about the meeting out in the desert, and they’d speculated on Finn being undercover.

“Babe,” his deep voice rumbled to Tess, then he nodded toward her. “Carly.”

“Hey, Finn,” she said. “Glad you could make it.” Carly tagged a longneck passing by on a server’s tray, and she swung it toward Finn. “Have a beer.”

His long tan fingers grabbed it. “Thanks, doll. Can’t stay long, but wanted to stop by my neighbors.”

Tess tapped Finn’s shoulder. “No way. Out here? You too?”

Finn nodded. “Yeah, fixing up a place in the next cove over.” Finn cast his electric green eyes around. “Nothing like this palace, though. Seriously, doll, you do lake house up like great shit.”

Carly felt things inside her easing. No one seemed to think she was being pretentious at all. “Thanks,” she said, sincerely.

Finn lifted his beer in salute and took a sip, then asked, “Zeb around? I wanna tag him before I go.”

“They’re all at the dock making sure the younger people don’t get crazy with the ski boats, jet skis, water trampoline, paddle boards, tubes, and floating party lounge,” Tess said with a wicked grin.

“No shit,” Finn uttered, looking out at the people and open doors. “Damn, never have time,” he muttered.

Carly nudged his shoulder. “Half that stuff we rented, half we are keeping. You come over anytime and borrow anything we have for the lake you like.” Finn’s amazing eyes lit on her, as she whispered, “Thanks for the help, babe.”

Finn outright laughed at her calling him “babe,” while she and Tess enjoyed a smoking hot man looking even better than that, because he was laughing.

“Thanks, I’ll see you,” Finn said, after he stopped laughing, and to Tess he said, “You look happy, babe. I’m really glad.”

Tess slugged his arm. “Thanks, honey, I
so
am.”

After Finn went to find Zeb and the boys, Carly and Tess made their way to the indoor bar, where they both got a frozen margarita, light on alcohol, as it would get them through the night. While eating nuts at the bar, Tess had just been explaining to Carly that Cabe had taken Rusty from the party for a while to surprise her about something important.

Tess had whispered it might be “
the
question.”

But before Carly could exclaim in excitement, someone to the side of her said, “Sugar, you people around here sure do the best celebrations.”

Carly turned and saw Coco. “Coco, so good of you to come,” she said, thinking how pretty Coco looked in an airy yellow halter top dress with high wedged sandals.

“Carly,” Coco said, and they air-kissed.

“Coco, this is, Tess. Tess, this is Coco. Zeb and I met her a few weeks ago. She’s in town looking for a missing person.”

Tess and Coco nodded with smiles at each other, and it was no time at all before Tess was dragging Coco off to talk to her husband about Coco’s missing husband, while Carly went to check on the buffet table.

On the way there, Carly saw Justice sitting with Blue at one of the tables with umbrellas that had been set out by one side of the lake. Carly wondered where Angel and Vicki were, but she got distracted ordering her help to fry up more fried chicken, because everyone was eating more of that than the hot dogs and hamburgers.

***

Z
eb squinted as he rose from setting the wakeboard down, and he heard: “Justice wouldn’t come drive the ski boat, because he’s with that girl named Blue.”

“Yeah, what a name,” another girl said.

Zeb shrugged, shaking his head. Caval had stopped by and pointed out his kid, saying there were some crazy issues with her mom and he was trying to step up and keep Blue until it straightened out. Zeb could tell Caval would rather be pulling his teeth out than talking about such things, but it came to light that Caval thought the party might help his very shy daughter meet some friends, so he was “keeping his shit straight for her,” he’d said.

Zeb smiled, remembering the way, Vincent, Tag, and him had had to clue Caval in that Justice was the federal marshal he’d skimmed the edges working with, and there was no way that man would be anything but a gentleman with his little girl, who Zeb could see was actually a stunningly beautiful young woman, not a girl.

“I tried to be nice to Justice, like you said, and for a minute I thought it was working, until
she
showed up,” Angel said.

Zeb cleared his throat so the young women would know he was around and to stop doing soap opera where he could hear.