A Rebel In The Roses (Black Rebel Riders' MC Book 8) (15 page)

18

JT

Drying Kimmie’s banging body off from the shower we just shared I try not to hate her. I try to forget the way she made me feel this morning, like I was nothing. Like I had never mattered to her.

With the soft black towel wrapped around her body she takes our dirty clothes and stuffs them in the bottom of the hamper. Next she takes a box of tampons from under the sink and opens one. Taking the bloody rag, she rubs it over the tampon before tossing it in the toilet.

“What are you doing?” I ask completely confused.

“Staging the scene, you know if the cops come nosing around. I can say the blood is from me.”

“Damn woman, you’re good.”

“I can be, if you’ll let me,” she tosses out over her shoulder.

“That so?” I rub my hand over the back of my neck.

“Mmm hmm.” She bends over to put the box back under the sink, flashing her curvy ass at me.

I slap her ass throwing her off her game.

She looks over her shoulder at me. “
Someone's
in a better mood.”

Ignoring her dig at my attitude, I decide to say
fuck it
and enjoy what’s in front of me,
right now.

After handing her my phone and wallet to carry, I pick her up slinging her over my shoulder like a caveman. Packing her down the hall like a sack of potatoes giggling, her ass is hanging out for all to see. For that asshole
Stone
to see. I got his number. In the shower, I was thinking back on last night, how he
gave
Kimmie to me. He wanted to show me he calls the shots with her. We’ll see about that. Kimmie will never be his property. I know what she was trying to do this morning. It’s so obvious now. She was trying to protect me.

I don’t need her
protection
; I only need
her.

Stone’s got some stripper chick, Penny, pinned to the wall giving it to her hard and fast.

I move past them quickly and take Kimmie to the room we were in last night, dropping her on the bed. She belongs to me. Whatever the cost of having her is, I’ll
gladly
pay it.

She doesn’t know it yet, but I’ll go to war with Stone for her if I have to. The shit that happened with Dawn tonight has my head fucked, but I know one thing, life is too short not to go after what you want.

Right now, I’m going after Kimmie,
full force
.

She laughs pulling me down on top of her. My towel falls to the floor, and she places my stuff on the nightstand as I snake over top of her sexy as sin body.

“Hey,” she says, biting that thick bottom lip that I want to kiss the fuck out of.

“Hey,” I shoot back, rubbing the head of my dick over her swollen pussy lips.

“I owe you an apology.”

“Later. Right now, I want to get lost inside you and forget everything about today. A girl I loved almost died. I don't want to think about feelings. I don’t want to think about anything except sinking balls deep inside you. Can you do that for me Kimmie? Can you get lost with me?”

“Yeah
Hulk,
I can do that.” She wraps her legs around me and guides me in.

Fuck yeah
, that’s what I’m talking about. Her nails scratch down my back, her pussy squeezing me so damn tight.

Kimmie

JT is pounding into me, fucking me so damn hard, I can hardly breathe. I still want to talk to him, but he doesn't want a heart to heart. He wants to fuck the night away. I can give him that. I can give him whatever he needs from me.

I was an idiot, but I know now that I can’t be without him. I’ll do anything to stay by his side. Whatever he wants…I’ll do it if it means he will forgive me. If he’ll give me a chance to make things right, I’ll be his.

I can find another way to pay for school. I’ll work two jobs, whatever I gotta do.

When he said a girl he loved, not
loves,
almost died—I knew…I knew he wanted me too. He wouldn't have been so hurt by my actions if he didn’t care.  

His teeth graze my nipple as he sucks my tender bud into his mouth with a popping sound from him suctioning his lips over the point.

I moan in ecstasy, savoring being his and the only thing on his mind.

The ringing of his cell phone near my head interrupts the moment.

“Ignore it,” he growls when I push against his chest.

“It could be important,” I counter.

Not asking for permission, I slide the bar across the screen. “Hello,” I answer.

JT bites my tit hard, and I pinch his nipple in return.

It’s his ex, Romeo’s daughter. I hope she isn’t calling to drag him away from me. I know it sounds selfish, but I just got him after wanting him for all these years. I’m not letting him go. I know its mean, considering the girl has been through a rough ordeal, but I make a show of being loud so she knows he’s in bed with
me
.

Taking the phone, he rolls to his back. I slide on top of him and sink down on his cock as he talks to her. He puts the phone on speaker, laying it on the pillow next to his head.

The girl thanks him and JT grips my hips letting me know he's still in the moment with me. She can talk all she wants, he’s
mine
now.

Hearing that he beat up the guy that gave her the drugs makes me proud of JT. Dawn calls him a good guy, and yeah, he’s
my
good man now. I try to let go of my jealousy and still my movements when I realize she isn’t calling to take him away from me. She didn’t call to burst my bubble, she called to let him go. She’s saying goodbye.

The call ends and my jealousy slips away, with everything but the two of us forgotten.

JT raises his hips up pushing so deep inside me, I think I’ll always feel him in me.

“
Fuck Kimmie
,” he whispers against my lips before slipping his tongue in my mouth.

Our tongues mingle, melding together as our hips rub together. His hands roam over the outline of my ass before he lays me back down.

“Roll over,” he demands running a finger over my clit.

I do as he wishes; my ass is up in the air. His skillful fingers tease at my backside.

“I’m not taking this tonight, but I will, soon,” he promises.

I squeal, biting the pillow. That's something I have yet to experience, and I’m not sure I want to. However, for JT, I’ll at least try.

“Don’t freak out, taking your ass is something we will build up to. I’ll make sure you enjoy yourself.” His lips brush over my shoulder as he teases at my sensitive spot with his dick. Just the thought makes me wet. Maybe he’s right…I will enjoy it.

Those sweet, torturous lips of his trail down my spine, marking me as his.

Mute

Dawn’s dad is breathing down my neck trying to intimidate me, but he doesn't’ scare me. I survived my father. I survived being burned alive. I can take whatever ass kicking he wants to bring my way.

I remember when he came into the bakery. The day he took Sunshine away. I saw how concerned he was for his daughter. He had no problem asking for what she needed. He wasn’t the least bit embarrassed by it. He was caring, tender even.

Dawn was just a girl back then; she still is in ways.

Hearing her talk to JT proved that she is growing up, fast. She handled that call with dignity and maturity. I could hear every word that passed between them, she let him go and let me in.

“Daddy,
stop
!” Dawn pleads as he grips the collar of my shirt.

His attention turns on her.

“I’ll deal with
ye
later, now you,” he says pointing at me, “You can get the fuck out,” he warns.

“Nu,” I argue. I’m not leaving her alone with
him
, not when he’s so heated. I don’t think he’d hurt her, but I never thought Paul would turn on me either. I never thought he’d cut out part of my tongue.

He steps back to me. “Are you stupid son? I said
get the fuck out.
This doesn’t concern you. Feel me?”

I glare back at him. I won’t back down from
him
. I shove past him, bumping him with my shoulder and glance back over to Dawn.

Romeo spins around, disbelieving I had the balls to stand up to him.

“Ye gonna take me on boy?”

Lifting my chin, I imply that
hell yeah
, I’ll go to bat for Dawn. I’ll take him on, for her.

Just before things turn ugly, Sunshine steps into the room with Dawn’s doctor.

“Patrick, let’s give them a minute. I’m sure you’re hungry.”

I look to Dawn and she nods for me to go. I only leave because the doctor is staying in the room.

I follow Sunshine to the cafeteria and take a seat at a nearby table while she orders breakfast for the two of us.

I fiddle with my phone, trying not to worry what’s going to happen with Dawn. They could put her in the mental ward if they wanted to. They could rule her overdose as being suicidal instead of accidental.

Sunshine slams a tray on the table.

“I don’t know
what
is going on between you and Dawn, but I could hear Romeo all the way down the hall at the nurse’s station. Whatever it is Patrick, I want it to end,
now.
You’re too old for her and you both live under my roof.”

I shake my head; she can’t keep me from Dawn. 

I pull up her phone number and type her a message.

Mute: I’ll move out then. I care about her.

Her phone pings and she reads my message with a frown.

She sighs. “If you choose her, it will be
without
any help from me. Dawn is troubled, and she’ll only bring you down.”

I don’t bother with arguing, instead I take my plate of pancakes and eat in silence, ignoring her
mom
glare. It’s too late for that. Her bullshit isn’t going to work on me. We don’t have that type of relationship, and I doubt we ever will. I’m not ready to forgive her for giving me away.

By the time I finish eating, Romeo and Dawn are walking into the cafeteria. Seems she’s been discharged.

“You ready to get out of here?” Romeo says putting his hand on Sunshine’s back squeezing her shoulder hard with a scowl.

Scooting her chair back she says, “Yeah, let’s go home.”

Dawn is peering at me through her lashes with a big grin on her face.

I don’t know what she’s so happy about, but I dump my plate, and toss out the rest of my orange juice.

When we get out front to the parking lot, Romeo looks at me and says, “Drive Dawn to the house in your mom’s car.”

“
No
, I don’t like that plan,” Sunshine snaps.

“I didn’t fucking ask
ye
what ye
want
or what ye
like
.
You’ll
be riding with me.”

Before he hands me the keys he says, “There's going to be rules, rules set by
me
. You earned my respect back there with the way ye stood up to me. Not many would have.”

I open my mouth, trying to be the man Dawn wants and needs, “Thunt thu.” I mean to say
thank you,
and he doesn’t make me feel dumb.

He nods and kisses Dawn on the forehead. “I love ye kid. Never forget that.”

“I know daddy, I know.”  She grabs him and hugs him, tight.

I start up the car and Dawn lays her head on my shoulder.

I feel like I’ve finally found my someday when her hand runs up the inside of my thigh.

“Patrick,” she says my name coolly.

“Yeth,” I reply, getting used to talking with her.

“Being with me won’t be easy. We both have a lot of shit that weighs us down.”

“Nuh huh, I knu.”

She smiles at my attempt to hold a conversation.

Dawn sees past my imperfections; she sees past the scars that mark me.

She sees the real me, the man buried beneath the pain and shame.

And I see her, the
real
her, the beautiful broken girl. I look at her and see my happily ever after, my forever.

    
19

Romeo

I drove like a bat out of hell to get home to Dawn. The whole way to the hospital my mind kept flashing back to the night I made a similar drive. The drive where I rushed back from Florida to save my son. I made a lot of mistakes with Striker, mistakes I hope to never repeat.

I’m scared that I’m gonna lose my baby girl. I’m afraid that she’s gonna be just like her mother. The thought kills me. I never want that life for her. I don’t want her being chased by demons. I can’t figure out for the life of me why she’d do that. How could she be so damn
stupid
?

When I get ahold of her I’m going to lay down the law, and if she doesn’t want to listen, I’ll lock her ass up until she can see reason. 

Sunshine is waiting for me in the parking lot. Grim offered to come with me, but it sounded like Rebel is stirring up a shit storm. He had a call from Foxie saying Rebel knew about Baby and Striker—that they were in Florida. That shit’s gonna be a
Goddamned
mess. However, that shit show is the last thing on my mind. I’ve gotta be a dad to the kids I have. Grim and Foxie can settle that shit. Rebel is their problem not mine.

Sunshine does her best to fill me in on the situation as I storm through the doors of the emergency room. I really don’t want to hear shit from her mouth right now. The sound of her voice is grating my nerves, like nails on a chalkboard.

I’m given access to the floor my daughter is on instantly, they
don't
want to fuck with me. My veins are popping out of my neck, as if my tattoos and my leather cut weren't enough of a warning.

Sunshine trails behind me. I have some words for her about locking Dawn in her room, and taking over when I told her to let the damn girl be.
That
conversation will be had later. Right now my daughter is all that matters.

Her doctor is just making his morning rounds and when he sees me heading to Dawn’s room he stops me.

“Mr. Wells, I’d like to talk to you about your daughter in private.”

“Lead the way,” I growl.

We step into a family waiting room and if he tries to lay into me I will knock his ass out. I don’t need anyone telling me how to be a father. I’ve made enough mistakes to know I’m not a very good one, but at least I try.
Goddamn
it I try.

“Are you aware of your daughter’s drug problem?”

“Are you aware of who I am? Get to the point before I put my boot in your ass.”

Sunshine squeezes my arm and I shove her off. She’s on my shit list right now.

“Sir there’s no need to threaten me. My only interest here is the health and wellbeing of your daughter. Social services and the police will be calling on you soon, now that you’re here.”

I flick my teeth with my tongue. No skin off my back. Not the first time I’ve dealt with the pigs.

“Can I see my kid now?”

“In a moment, I’d like to let you take her home. I have a number here, it’s for a counselor that deals with troubled teens. I think your daughter can benefit from seeing a professional.”

“Anything else Doc?”

“No, I’ll sign off on her release. Your girl was very lucky.”

I leave Sunshine to handle signing off on Dawn’s release.

I need to see her for myself.

I need to see she really will be okay.

Then I’m gonna bust her ass, like I should have years ago.

When I open the door to Dawn’s room Sunshine and that devil Paul’s spawn—Mute is up in the bed with her canoodling like lovers.
Fuck no
. Daddy ain’t havin’ this shit. Seems Sunshine has more explaining to do.

I trusted her to watch over my daughter, and what do I come home to find? I come home to my daughter nearly dead and then snuggling up with her intended step-brother, who is t
oo damn old for her
.

The motherfucker has the balls to step to me.
Me!
I don’t know whether to pat him on the back, shake his hand, or slit his throat.

I’ll have to decide later.

Sunshine interrupts saying she can’t sign off on Dawn’s release papers. That high and mighty doctor is with her. This motherfucker is gonna say one wrong word too many and I’m gonna snap his neck.

Sunshine gets her boy out of my face, and I tell that cocksucking doctor to get the fuck out after I sign his forms. He did his part.

“Just remember what I said about counseling,” he says as he goes to the door.

I nod and he moves the fuck on. Smart man.

“You want to explain to me why ye were cuddled up with the devils’ spawn or why ye were shooting poison in your veins? You pick which one you want to explain first.” I cross my arms and wait. I’ve got all damn day.

I’m expecting her to make up some sob story about how some boy took advantage of her, that she didn’t know what was happening, and that Patrick stepped up and saved her like a hero.

What I’m not expecting is for my child to look me dead in the eye and say, “I know what you did…I saw you…standing over her dead body. Knowing you murdered my mom is killing me. It’s ate away at me piece by piece. Bit by bit.”

“Dawn…”

“No.” She shakes her head. “
You
listen and you listen
good
. Your sin nearly destroyed me. But I am done living my life based on you and your choices. I am done being haunted by her death. I’m done keeping your secret. I won’t turn you in, but I won’t carry the burden of knowing the truth anymore. I travelled mom’s road and it wasn’t a pretty one. I wanted to forget what happened, but I wanted to feel close to her too. I’m done with that though; I never want to go down that path again. Patrick is good for me and I'm good for him. We both carry the scars of our parents. We’re both fighting to move forward and make a life for ourselves. I know I fucked up dad, but so did
you
. You
can’t
keep him away from me.”

Her words shred me and break me into a million pieces. I did this to my
daughter
, the child who looked up at me as if I was some sort of Goddamned hero.
I broke her
. 

I wipe at my eyes attempting not to break down and cry. My heart feels dead.

“I don’t want to
take
him from ye. I’ll never take another
thing
from you, another
person,
as long as I am breathing. I didn’t mean for things to go down with your mom the way they did. She wanted to take ye, Jamie, and Miracle away from me. The three of ye are all my sorry ass has. I couldn’t let her take ye away. I won’t ask for your forgiveness. I don’t deserve it. I’ve fucked a lot of shit up baby girl. I screwed up with Miracle, but she has a better life. I promise ye from this day forward, I’m gonna be your dad. The dad you deserve. We’ll get through this shit together. I’ll help Patrick, get him set up with his own place and job. If he wants to be with ye, he’s gonna do right by ye, prove to
me
he's the man for ye.”

“All we can do is try, right?” She smiles, and I know it won’t be easy, but she’s right we
will
damn sure try.