Foolish Riot (Riot MC Book 5) Page 13

  He smiled. “And you fuckin’ love it.”

  ***

  After dozing off for nearly an hour, Roll woke up with a softly snoring Trixie cuddled into him. He gently moved her off of his chest and dressed. Had Blood not dropped the second-opinion bomb after church, he’d have been on his bike keeping Turk and Major company. As it was, he was pretty sure he’d missed his opportunity to ride with them. His mind was churning over what action to take, and when he was feeling at wit’s-end, he always shot pool

  He had finished his first game against himself when Volt and Major approached him in the back-corner of the clubhouse. He knew Volt was there, because he had seen him swirling a finger of Jack at the bar nearby, but Major’s presence was a complete surprise.

  Major knew the element of surprise was his only advantage, if the glint in his eye was anything for Roll to go by. “You may have only recently claimed her in church, but you know she’s got to be claimed. No. Wrong. You have known she has got to be claimed in a church setting. Been years, man. Years. We all know she’s solid and loyal to the fuckin’ core. Problem was she needed to be claimed, and your sorry ass didn’t do it.”

  “Now I have,” Roll offered.

  Major’s look communicated far more than his words did. “All of that being more than far too little too late.”

  Volt’s violent chin jerk garnered Roll’s undivided attention. “You say she’s claimed, but do those dirty assholes know that like they should?”

  The words of his President hit him hard and deep. The knee-jerk reaction was ‘Of course they knew,’ but realism was in Roll’s everyday existence, so it was feasible the Devil Lancers did not.

  “They attacked her in order to ‘send a message’ to me. Thinkin’ they were already under the —”

  “Thinkin’ ain’t the same as knowing, Roll. And as someone who’s assisted our Sergeant at Arms more than a time or two, you know that.”

  Blood and Cal wandered over to the three men, and Roll hoped they weren’t intent on putting in their opinions.

  Roll darted his gaze to them, and then back to Major and Volt. “What they don’t know is that I was forced to claim Trixie because of their actions so what difference does it make?”

  The sound Roll heard was one he would never forget. It was laced with pain. Before he could look over his shoulder, he saw the deer-in-headlights look on the faces of Blood and Cal. He didn’t want to see her pain, but he knew he had to look her in the eye.

  She hadn’t recovered yet, so he thought he had a chance to smooth things over. “Trixie, it isn’t—”

  “Who forced you to claim me?”

  “It isn’t what you think?”

  She shook her head. “Asked you a goddamn question. Who forced you to claim me?”

  “Trix,…”

  She sneered as she cut him off. “Don’t answer. I can guess. If it weren’t for this fuckin’ ‘H’ on my arm, not a damn thing, not one fuckin’ thing, would be different between us. Heathen may have intended for this ‘H’ to remind me of him, but by God it will forever remind me of you. How you got me in this fuckin’ mess. How you could never fuckin’ man-up and tell me what the fuck your problem was. If that makes me a bitch, so fuckin’ be it! It ain’t anything new. I’ve always been a bitch and always will be, the difference is, now I won’t get to be a biker bitch. So thanks for that, Roll!”

  He started to approach. There was no way he could let her get worked up about this. Or, more worked up, because she was visibly angrier than she had been in his room just hours ago.

  “Back off, motherfucker!”

  Roll shook his head. “You’re mine. I ain’t backin’ off.”

  “The fuck I am. I’m not your anything. No, wait, you’re right. I am yours, and what yours I am is your past!” She ended on a high-pitched shout. Those words made Roll’s stomach clench.

  “You need our protection, woman,” Cal rumbled from nearby.

  She tipped her chin up at Cal with a slight upturn of her lips. “Right you are, Sarge.” Roll watched Cal flinch at her calling him by his club position. It was rare she called any of the brothers by their positions instead of road names. “Which is why I’m headed straight to my Daddy’s. He’s not doin’ well, and there’s a gun in his home that I’ve been damn worried about for some time now. I’m gonna go get that, take it to the authorities and switch the registration to my name. Then—”

  “No,” Roll thundered.

  Her big brown eyes narrowed at him. “What d’ya mean, ‘No?’”

  “You aren’t gettin’ that gun, ‘cause it isn’t there.”

  “What?” she hollered, and she looked so damn gorgeous consumed with her anger.

  Roll couldn’t focus on that though. “Said it yourself. He ain’t doin’ well. For nearly five minutes, he mistook me for some guy you went to high school with, thought you were still in high school when that shit is over a decade behind you. Told me the first time I met him, that he had a gun in the house he didn’t actually need. I took it to Hock and Major took care of it.”

  Rage had sidled up to Trixie’s left side. “Cal’s right. You need our protection.”

  A nasty smile split her face. “Well, since Mr. Alabama over there fucked me again by doin’ somethin’ behind my back, I’ll take Riot protection, but not from the Jax chapter.”

  Roll’s blood ran cold, but he stayed focused.

  “What the fuck?” Blood growled.

  She shot big eyes through all of them. Cal, Blood, Roll, Rage, Volt, and Vamp and Liar who had just joined the huddle. “I’m gettin’ in my car. Not one of you. Not. One. Of. You. Will follow me.”

  “That is not a good—” Blood started.

  “I’m goin’ to Biloxi.” She paused and Roll’s guttural-sounding hiss filled the room, but Trixie shook her head as though she wouldn’t allow herself to process it. “And, if it seems I still need Riot protection, I’ll drop by their clubhouse and let them know which hotel I’m stayin’ at. One of you brothers are feelin’ benevolent, you can text me the address to that clubhouse.”

  “I’ll let Har know you’re comin’” This came from Beast, a transfer from the Biloxi chapter who was standing at the mouth of the hall, and the air went electric.

  Roll speared him with a look that should’ve set the man’s skin to burning. When Roll spoke, he was stunned to hear it in stereo.

  “The fuck you will,” he and Blood both said.

  He knew why he said it, and Roll had a hunch that Blood’s reason was the same, that being the second time Trixie ever came around the clubhouse, and Roll declaring she wouldn’t be with two men at the same time ever again. And from that point onward, she had not.

  Roll felt the blood drain from his face when Blood said, “I’ll call him. More to this than you realize, Beast.”

  Those words were a gut punch, and he didn’t know what was worse: his woman fleeing to a Riot chapter eight hours away, or his brother helping her do it.

  CHAPTER THIRTEEN

  Trixie

  Six hours later, I was on I-10 approaching Mobile Bay. My Momma’s family lived out in Pensacola. I remembered summers when I was seven and eight we would head to the USS Alabama Battleship Memorial Park, but the best part was the short tunnel on I-10. What can I say? I’m a native Floridian and thanks to the water table being so high, we didn’t get basements and we didn’t have tunnels. So, I powered the windows down and enjoyed the strange sounds of driving through a tunnel while inhaling the scent of automobile exhaust. I know that sounded crazy, but I smoked for over eleven years‒ what was a little carbon monoxide for a bit?

  Listening to the confined sounds of engines begin to wane as the end of the short tunnel neared, I was able to beat back the bitterness I had for my mother’s family. After Momma’s death, I didn’t hear from them as much. It wasn’t until I was much older that I wondered if they knew something was wrong with their son, and not just because he was the reason they lost their daughter. I had never told Momma or Daddy
about Uncle Derrick molesting me, but the few times I talked Daddy into calling Gramma and Grampa, there was something funny in their voices and then they’d ask to talk to Daddy. With short shakes of his hand, he’d wave me out of the room, and he kept his voice very low when he spoke to them.

  They didn’t call us, and after a while I stopped nagging Daddy to call them for me. It was the biggest reason why I figured they knew something was wrong. Seeing as Uncle Derrick wound up dead a few years later, and they didn’t contact Daddy then, either, I figured my suspicions were right.

  Either way, I rarely came this far west and when I did, it never failed that I thought about them. It wasn’t good for me to be so bitter about it, but I couldn’t help myself.

  Half an hour after clearing the tunnel, the Mississippi Welcome Center sign loomed ahead of me, and I noticed five different bikes making their way onto the interstate from the rest area. Three of them revved it up so they were merging in front of me and I saw the tell-tale Riot MC patch on their backs. A sad, but giddy, thrill shot through me seeing that because, no doubt, this was the welcoming committee.

  Blood had sent me two texts. The first said Har was aware of the entire situation. Grand. I didn’t think he needed that much intel, but as ever, the brothers never asked for my opinion. The second said Har would send a pack to greet me and guide me to the clubhouse. So, I was left without an address, but with three bikes in front and two behind me, no way I would get lost trying to find their compound.

  We exited the interstate and the three bikes led me north on a rural road. I was surprised their compound wasn’t closer to the casinos. After another five miles, we turned into a drive and I noticed there were multiple bikes parked in front of a two-story building. I parked my car close to the building, and hustled out.

  I expected at least one of the helmeted bikers to be Har or Brute, but I didn’t know any of them. The largest one approached me, not hiding his thoughts about me in the slightest. Based on the look he gave me, I was the biggest pain in his ass, probably that day, but quite possibly ever. Two could play his game, so I schooled my features to my resting bitch face.

  His lip snarled for a moment. “Let’s go. Inside. Now.”

  He made a move to grab my bicep, but I dodged him and stalked inside. Asshole.

  “To your right,” he muttered.

  I could not believe my eyes. No. This could not be right. The common room, the bar, the mere hint of a kitchen at the back…the entire place was set up identical to the Jax clubhouse; if it was, then this guy just told me to go to the room where they held church.

  Whatever.

  I followed his instructions and went to my right, and sure enough, there was a double-doored room with a humongous table inside. Har was leaning against it, and jerked his head to the side, indicating I should come in. As I entered, he was sauntering further into the room. I stopped at the foot of the table because in Jacksonville, only the president could take a woman into the room. To my knowledge, Teach and Volt only took their old ladies into the room, and it didn’t take a high school diploma to figure out why they did.

  Contemplation of that was interrupted when both doors closed behind me, and I turned to see Brute standing there. Below his name patch was a Vice President patch. That lead weight of humiliation settled on my chest. Shit. Guess Roll knew better than I did that coming here was not the best move.

  “Trix,” Har said in a gravelly tone.

  I looked to him.

  “Come over here.”

  Shit, shit. And double shit.

  I made my way to him, and saw Brute was headed that way on the other side of the table.

  “Blood told me what’s goin’ on,” Har said.

  I closed my eyes and breathed deep. When I opened them, Har looked confused.

  “You seem shy. It was a long time ago, but you were not shy when I last saw you, babe.”

  God. Jesus. I was so damn stupid.

  I shouldn’t have told those brothers I was headed over here. I should’ve just gone. Though I’d have played hell trying to find this place without the lead-in. I was also stupid as all hell, because that little voice that had told me years ago I should come to Biloxi in an effort to follow Har or Brute might well have been a damn good idea. He still looked interested in me and the vibe he was giving me made me feel like he still was, too. But that was foolish thinking on my part. No way a man like him, a man able to gain the presidency of a Riot MC chapter, a man who looked like he did, wouldn’t have an old lady. And if he didn’t, then there was no way he ever had intentions of settling down, either. Which really meant I’d moved from one situation to another one just like it. Stupid!

  Before I could say anything, he grabbed my arm. The stitches had dissolved, but no amount of anti-scarring gel was helping to make it less pink and angry.

  I felt his breath on my arm as he let out an angry sigh through his nose. His eyes were just as angry when he raised them to me.

  “Another MC President did this to you.”

  I pressed my lips together as I kept my eyes downcast.

  “Look at me, Trix.”

  When I did, there was a mixture of anger and remorse on his face.

  “Hate to say you made a trip for nothin’, but—”

  I shook my head. “Oh no, don’t you dare tell me—”

  “Don’t interrupt him, woman,” Brute growled.

  I narrowed my eyes at Brute, but he ignored me while Har chuckled which jostled my arm. I tried to pull away from his hold, but his grip tightened.

  “Good to see you still got your spunk. We’re gonna put you up in a room here, but we’re rollin’ out at o’dark-thirty so we’ll hit Jax before noon.”

  I pursed my lips as I debated how to play this, but Brute distracted me. “Can see those wheels turnin’, woman. You been claimed by a brother. He’s got a court date tomorrow, so he couldn’t come after you, even if he were willin’ to spit in the face of the law tellin’ him not to leave the state.”

  I was thoroughly confused. “Then why did Blood arrange for all of this? Why not just keep me in Jacksonville?”

  Brute and Har exchanged a look. “My VP over there tried, and failed, to talk me outta this. It mighta been ten years, Trix, but ain’t nobody sucked my cock better, and definitely ain’t no woman been half as eager as you were that night with us. When Blood told me what happened to you and the way you’ve been waitin’ for Roll to pull his thumb outta his ass, I decided how this would be played for our chapter.”

  Fucking triple shit!

  I should’ve known Blood would have somethin’ up his sleeve. That was the problem with me and my anger. It would get so strong that part of my mind seemed to shut down. Had I been able to remain calm, I would have realized Blood was giving up all too easily.

  Har gave me a sly smile. “Fuckin’ shame he claimed you. Can’t tell you how many times I’ve wished you’d come back that next night. Probably would’ve tied your sweet ass to my bike and brought you back.”

  A bizarre curl slid through my belly because, back then, part of me would’ve loved that idea. Oh, who was I trying to fool? I still would’ve dug my heels in so I could save myself for Roll.

  His foot darted out to nudge a rolling chair next to me. He put it in position behind me, while his free hand pulled a chair behind him, keeping his hold on my wounded arm the entire time. When he sat down, he tugged on my arm so I was forced to sit. Then he cocked his knees wide and pulled me close to him so his legs could close around mine. When I looked into his brilliant green eyes, I didn’t want to hear what he had to say.

  “But, he did claim you, and the question I’m askin’ myself is whether I’m obligated to acknowledge a claim at another chapter’s table. He hasn’t put a cut on you, even if he did get you cut. Problem is, I’m pretty sure you don’t swing that way.

  “Your timing couldn’t be worse. Just filled Beast’s old room, so the only room available has no door.”

  He let that hang, and he real
ly didn’t need to. Even though the Jacksonville chapter didn’t have a doorless room, I knew how those kinds of rooms were used by clubs, and if you were female and foolish enough to fall asleep in ‒or even enter ‒ one of those rooms, you were putting yourself up as fair game. For anything.

  I cleared my throat because I could tell my voice would be croaky. “Then where am I gonna—”

  “You’ll be in my room,” he responded quickly.

  I tugged at his hold again and he held firm. With my eyes on his, I whispered, “That doesn’t seem like a good idea.”

  His lips tipped in a sly fashion. “I know. Never stopped me before…and I suspect it never stopped you before either.”

  Fuck! Hadn’t Roll just said something similar to me not two weeks ago?

  I sucked it up and gave Har a hard look. “If it’s all the same to you, I’ll just go to the Grand like I planned to do in the beginning.”

  His head tipped to the side. “You remember my road name?”

  Tipping my chin down, I gave him a dubious look. “Of course I do, Har.”

  “Short for?”

  “Harm.”

  “Yeah. See, if you push this staying offsite business, you’re causing me problems.”

  “No, I’m—”

  “You are. If you’re at a casino, no matter how secure you think it is, I still gotta get at least two guys on you, probably have to get them a room too and make sure that room is adjacent to yours.”

  “You don’t.”

  His voice was edgy and firm when he spoke. “I do. I absolutely do. So, you cause me problems, you learn more about my road name.”

  My eyes slid left and right before I settled them on him again. “You’d cause me harm?”

  He chuckled without humor. “No. I’d cause you problems equal to or greater than the problems you’re causing me.”

  Clarity hit me like a beam to the head. “You wouldn’t.”

  The sly tip of his lips blossomed to a large, but slier, smile. “Oh, I would, Trix. Mainly because I get off on that kinda thing, but in this case, we’d both get off.”