Knox's Stand (6 page)

Chapter Nine

“Thanks for the clothes,” Knox grudgingly thanked the lawyer as she handed him the paperwork releasing him from jail for the second time that week.

“You’re welcome,” Diamond’s response was just as begrudging.

His long steps had no trouble keeping up with her strides outside the courtroom where Viper and Rider were waiting.

Before Viper could talk, Diamond cut him off, “The bond wasn’t raised, pending the result of the final autopsy. When the autopsy or fingerprints come back, he could be back in, Viper. Whoever called that tip in wants him to take the fall. Any enemies that want him out of the way?” Diamond questioned.

“None. Even the Ohio branch of The Last Riders is calm right now,” Viper answered her question with one of his own. “Any idea who could be behind the call?”

“No, but I think the reason they called the state police is they were worried someone would recognize their voice,” Diamond stated; after the sheriff had mentioned it, she had become certain that this was the case.

The men all stared at each other.

Diamond shifted on her feet. “If there’s nothing else, I’m going home. It’s been a long day, Viper.”

Their attention turned to her. “Thanks, Ms. Richards,” Viper said.

Diamond nodded. “I’ll be in touch.”

Diamond left the men talking, going to her car which she had left in the sheriff’s parking lot. Opening her car door, she noticed The Last Riders had also parked their bikes not far from her car. She put the key in the ignition and it took a second before she realized her car wouldn’t start. Turning the key again, silence was the car’s only response.

Diamond picked up her cell phone, but a knock on her window had her turning toward the sound to find Knox was staring back at her.

Opening her door, he looked pointedly at the dead instrument panel. “Car won’t start?”

“No. I’m calling a tow truck.”

“Open the hood; we’ll take a look,” Knox said, stepping back from her car.

“That’s all right; I can cal
l—
”Diamond tried to put him off.

“Open the hood.” Knox didn’t wait for her answer, going to the front of her car with Viper and Rider following. Reluctantly, Diamond pressed the lever, releasing the hood to her car, and then stepped out   to stand beside the men who were all staring down at her engine.

Rider examined her engine several minutes before rising from the motor to look at her. “It’s the alternator. Leave it here tonight. In the morning I’ll go to the auto store and pick you up a new one.”

“That’s okay. I can handle it.” Diamond could already tell she was going to lose the battle, though. Men had an abundance of testosterone on two subjects, women and cars. Giving up, Diamond went to her car and got her briefcase as well as her purse out.

“How much does the alternator cost?” Diamond pulled her wallet out of her purse.

“Don’t worry about it,” Rider said, closing the hood of her car. “I’ll pay for it and you can pay me back.”

Diamond nodded her agreement. “All right.” Diamond locked her car. Scrolling her phone for taxis, she was about to call one when Knox spoke.

“I’ll give you a ride home.”

“No thanks, I’m calling a cab,” Diamond refused.

“Don’t be stupid. I can have you home before you can get someone here.” Diamond paused; she was tired and not feeling well. She was beginning to feel nauseous; having a feeling that she was coming down with her secretary’s virus. She just wanted to go home and climb into her bed.

“How?”

“Razer brought my bike. Beth picked him up already,” Knox answered, pointing to his bike.

She was not enthusiastic about getting on the back of a bike, but Diamond was feeling worse by the moment.

“Let’s go,” Diamond caved.

All three men looked at her in surprise at her easy capitulation.

“Are you all right?” Knox asked warily.

“I’m fine. It’s been a long day,” Diamond responded, trying to keep her heaving stomach calm a few more minutes.

“You’re telling me,” Knox said sarcastically, bringing back the vision of him barely covered in the sheet. Diamond almost changed her mind, but her heaving stomach had her climbing on the back of Knox’s bike and taking his helmet as he tied her briefcase onto the back of his bike.

Knox got on then turned on the bike, waving at Rider and Viper as he pulled out. Diamond remembered that she hadn’t told him where she lived, but wasn’t surprised when he drove in the direction of her apartment. Thankfully for Diamond’s stomach, she was able to make it there. As soon as Knox pulled to a stop in her parking lot, she jumped off his bike.

“Thanks.” Diamond took off at a run for her apartment.

When shaking fingers kept her from being able to unlock her door, a hand reached out, taking the keys from her and inserting them in the lock. As soon as the door was opened she took off again, dropping her purse on the floor by the door. She barely managed to slam the bathroom door shut and reach the toilet basin before she lost the contents of her stomach.

It was terrible. Her heaving stomach didn’t have much to expel as she had begun feeling unwell before lunch and hadn’t eaten. Diamond’s shaking hand reached out to brush her fallen hair back from her hot check.

“Diamond?” Knox’s voice could be heard through the closed door.

“Don’t call me that.” She might be down, but she wasn’t out. She hated that name.

“Are you all right?” Diamond didn’t want to hear the concern in his voice.

“I’m fine. You can go. It’s a stomach virus I caught off my secretary. I hope you don’t catch it.”

“I don’t get sick,” Knox answered. “Can I get you anything?”

“No. Just lock the door on your way out.” Diamond sat on her butt by the toilet, still afraid to move.

Just as Diamond heard him move away from the door then her outside door closing, her stomach began heaving again. She clung to the basin, thankful she was OCD about keeping a clean bathroom as she lost what little was left in her stomach. As sweat broke out across her body, Diamond tried to pull off her jacket, however she couldn’t stop heaving long enough to do so.

When the bathroom door opened and she felt a wet cloth brush her forehead,
Diamond whimpered in relief. Her jacket was pulled off one side and she quickly grabbed the wet rag as he maneuvered her jacket completely off.

“You’re burning up,” Knox said, hanging her jacket on a hook on the wall.

Diamond began shaking harder.

“You’re sure this is a virus and not food poisoning?” Knox asked, squatting down beside her.

Diamond nodded her head. “My secretary has been out two days with it.” Brushing her hair back again, Diamond didn’t want to imagine what she looked like with her fallen hair hanging over a toilet.

“You have anything for nausea in your cabinets?”

“No.”

“I’ll be back in ten minutes.”

“Knox, I’ll be fine. Just go home.”

He ignored her, leaving the bathroom, then Diamond heard her front door open and close. Relieved that he had finally left, Diamond managed to rewet the washcloth in the sink and wash her face, however she found out that brushing her teeth was a huge mistake when she was once again over the toilet when Knox returned.

Diamond looked up at him in frustration. “I told you, I’ll be all right.”

“Shut the fuck up.” Knox handed her the familiar pink medicine with a spoon. Diamond didn’t resist taking a dose of the medicine as well as the cool liquid to swallow after it.

Her stomach finally empty, she tried to rise to her feet as Knox helped her up. Grasping the sink basin for support, she again washed her face and brushed her teeth,
this time with better results.

Diamond turned from the sink to see Knox leaning against the doorframe. “Better?”

Diamond nodded her head, walking forward. Knox moved from the doorway, watching as she moved into her living room and then sunk down onto her couch where she laid her spinning head back.

Knox sat down in a chair, surveying the room. Diamond ignored the man who refused to leave.

“You got something against color?”

Diamond lifted her head weakly. “I like a calm environment.”

“Any more calm and you’d be dead.”

“Very funny. Maybe I should get mismatched furniture and put a bar in the corner, would that suit you better?” She refused to feel like a bitch about putting down the furniture at The Last Rider clubhouse when he was being so rude about her own decor.

“At least it would look like someone actually lived here.”

“You can go anytime.” Diamond lay back again weakly. “I’m over the worst of it.” She watched as Knox stood to his feet.

“You sure?” he asked, hesitating. Diamond could tell he was anxious to leave.

“Yes.” Diamond rebuffed the idea of being weak enough to need any help. “I’m sure.”

At that, he left her sitting on the couch.

She began to feel sorry for herself as soon as he’d left and then promptly became angry at herself for wishing he had stayed. Diamond couldn’t understand herself where he was concerned any more. He attracted her, and refusing to admit it was making the situation worse; that much was certain. It made her say ugly things that she didn’t mean and act like those who had treated her the same when she had been a child. Diamond had learned long ago that ignoring something made it blow up in your face. It was smarter to realize you had a problem and put up defenses to stop it. She just wasn’t sure how to get in front of this particular problem.

Ever since she had realized her father was a two-timing bastard, she had not let anyone close enough to rock the tame world she had built around herself. She didn’t like an environment in turmoil and tension, which is what she’d lived in constantly with Sex Piston as a sister and with her father as the President of the Destructors. She wanted a quiet environment that she could enjoy, yet was reluctant to admit that it was also boring.

She got up from the couch and made herself a cup of hot tea at the same time that her childish instincts were kicking in, making her want to call her mom, but she didn’t. Instead, she drank her tea and then went back to lay on the couch.

She must have dozed off, only waking groggily when she felt herself being lifted from the couch against a hard chest. Oddly, her panic instinct didn’t click in, she just lay there as she was carried into her bedroom.

Sickly, she mumbled that she had to go to the restroom. She was carried into the bathroom to lose the tea she had drunk after another round of nausea. When she was finished, Knox washed her face off, removing the glistening sweat that showed her fever had risen.

“Do you need to use the restroom?” Diamond heard Knox’s voice rousing her to her senses.

“Yes,” her dry voice croaked.

“Go ahead.” He left her, closing the door behind him. Diamond didn’t take long. As soon as she had flushed the toilet, Knox was back, lifting her into his arms once more and then carrying her into her bedroom. Standing her on her feet by her bed, he began unbuttoning her blouse.

“Stop. What are you doing?”

“Getting you out of these clothes. You have vomit on your blouse.”

Diamond flushed, losing her composure for a second. “I can do it.”

Knox removed his hands, however when Diamond’s shaking fingers only managed to fumble with the tiny buttons, Knox brushed her fingers away. His fingers had the shirt unbuttoned within seconds, sliding the blouse off before unsnapping her bra. Diamond reached out to cover her large breasts, but Knox ignored her efforts, stepping closer to her to reach his arms around her to unzip her skirt. When the skirt fell to her feet, leaving her standing in nothing other than her panties, Diamond’s face blushed under her already heated skin.

“I can get myself undressed,” Diamond snapped.

Knox ignored her and went to her chest against the wall. “Where are your nightgowns?” Diamond pointed to her dresser. “Top drawer.”

Knox moved to the dresser, opening the drawer. He looked down for several seconds before pulling out a thin blue gown that had lace on the edges. Coming back to her, he slid the gown over her head. The nightgown came to her mid thighs.

“I see you do like color after all.”

Diamond threw him a dirty look as she climbed into her bed. Her bright purple panties that were now covered by the bright blue gown didn’t give her much room to argue. Knox pulled the covers over her before going back into the bathroom and returning with the nausea medicine. Taking it and the cold water he had gotten from the kitchen, she drank them then lay down on her bed.

Knox sat down on the bed next to her. “I’m going to crash on your sofa.” Diamond opened her mouth to protest. “Call me if you need anything.” With that, he left her lying there, not knowing what to do. Her cramping stomach finally made the choice for her and she relaxed into the soft bed, letting the medicine ease her back into a light doze.

Throughout the night, he helped her back and forth to the bathroom. Towards dawn, the cramping in her stomach eased and she was able to fall asleep. She kept kicking the covers off then would get cold again, pulling the covers back around her.