Loving The Biker (MC Biker Romance) (17 page)

Thirty-five

Cole

The jealousy had taken me by surprise. When I’d seen Terin flirting with the guy in the parking lot, I’d wanted to throw her over my shoulder, find the nearest bed, and remind her that it had been my name she’d been gasping the day before. Instead, I waited until the douchebag had left, confronted and kissed her. Even as I claimed her mouth, I could tell she was fighting the attraction she had for me with everything she had. She was so damn stubborn. All I could do was give her time and see if she changed her mind. If she didn’t, I’d give her a couple of weeks and try again. I certainly wasn’t ready to give up on her. Not after the mind-blowing sex we’d had. No woman had ever gotten under my skin the way she had. Not only that, she had her shit together and that was sexier than hell.

My phone rang, breaking my train of thought. I checked the screen.

It was Tank.

“Hey man. What’s up?”

“Chips and Gomer have been released from custody,” he said, cracking sunflower seeds into the phone.

“You’re kidding me. Why?”

“I’m not sure but I thought you should know.”

“Thanks.”

“You should also know that he’s shooting his mouth off about visiting your detective friend. I think he’s planning on doing her some harm, Ice.”

My stomach clenched. Over my fucking dead body. “Is that right?”

“Yep. You want any help with this?” he asked, reading my mind.

“Nope. I can handle it.”  

“Okay, but you change your mind, you know I’ve got your back.”

“I appreciate it,” I said.

“Talk to you later.”

“Yeah.”

I hung up the phone and shoved it into my pocket. I knew where to find Chips. I’d find him before he put his hands on Terin again.

Thirty-six

Terin

When I got into my car, I noticed that Walters had called and left a message. Bronson had been fired, but I was still suspended. 

You still have your job
, I reminded myself.

I called him back, mainly because I still wanted to know about the caller on the gas station video.

“They’re still working on it,” he replied.

“Why is it taking so long?”

“It’s not a priority.”

“What about Ronnie’s murder? Have they figured out who did it yet?”

He didn’t answer right away. When he did, I felt like someone had hit me in the gut.

“I can’t share the information with you, O’Brien. I think you know why.”

“Why? Does it have something to do with the Gold Vipers?”

“I can’t get into it with you. You’re off the case, too. For obvious reasons.”

“I understand,” I replied, knowing I’d disappointed him.

“There’s something else that you should know. You’re being transferred to a different department.”

I let out a ragged breath. I knew it was going to happen. I’d made it happen.

It still hurt.

“Which department?”

“Cyber Crime. You’ll be required to take some Computer Investigation training courses.”

“Okay.”

“I’m sorry that you had to deal with Bronson. I had no idea he was such a fucking whack-job.”

“I know.”

“One thing you should be aware of… he was furious about being fired and because he knows where you live, I’d be very cautious.”

“Thanks for the warning.”

“Other than that, how are you doing?”

“I’m fine.”

“Good.”

“I’m sorry that I disappointed you,” I told him.

“You did,” he admitted. “But, I believe in you and think you deserve a second chance. Obviously, it can’t be in the same department, but you still have a job with the city of Jensen.”

“I do and I appreciate it,” I said, my eyes getting moist.

“I know you do, O’Brien. I know you do.”

***

I spent the rest of the week cleaning my apartment, watching movies, and working out at the gym. Fortunately, I didn’t find myself running into Cole either. It was a relief, and yet, I found myself thinking a lot about him. The short amount of time we’d spent together had been one of the best times I’d had with a man. It wasn’t just the sex, either. Not only did he know how to make me laugh, but he was a great listener.

When Saturday rolled around, my sister called me earlier in the day to make sure that I was still planning on attending her bachelorette party.

“Yes,” I said. “Of course.”

“Great. Other than that, how are things going?”

“Good,” I replied. I hadn’t told her or my mother that I’d been suspended.

“Any news on those murders from last week?”

“Nothing new,” I replied, although I didn’t really know myself. I quickly changed the subject. “So, is mom still planning on going tonight?”

“Yes,” she said. “So is Frannie, I guess.”

“This should be interesting,” I replied.

“Yes. Especially, since there will be strippers,” said Torie. “It’s been confirmed.”

“Really? Oh boy. Speaking of strippers, I had one ask me out at the gym.”

“You’re not going to go out with him, are you?” she asked wryly. “I mean, think of the diseases he probably has.”

“Just because he strips doesn’t mean he sleeps around,” I said, although I didn’t truly believe my own words.

“Of course he does. Guys are pigs, even the hot ones. I bet he’s getting laid every night by a different woman.”

“So why would he ask me out?”

“Because you’re more of a challenge, probably. I mean, you do look like a bitch.”

I snorted. “Excuse me?”

“You have that ‘don’t approach me’ look.”

I walked into my bathroom and stared at my reflection. “You think so?”

“Yes. I do, too. It’s in our genes.”

“Huh,” I replied, studying my face. I didn’t think that I looked like a bitch, not that I’d mind. I was in law enforcement. Bitchiness was a great skill to have. “I never knew.”

“Who’s going to tell you that you look like a bitch? Plus, you have a gun.” She chuckled. “A bitch with a gun. That would scare most men all the way to China. I suppose that since he’s a stripper, he thinks he’s got a handle on women though.”

“He doesn’t know that I have a gun,” I reminded her.

“So, you still look like a bitch.”

“Okay, I’m hanging up,” I said laughing.

“Be at my place around seven. The bus leaves at seven-thirty.”

“I’ll be there,” I promised her.

Thirty-seven

Cole

“You’re fucking kidding me?” I repeated, staring in shock as Tank presented me with my new cut. We were in the chapel and I was apparently getting patched

“This is no joke, brother,” said Tank. “Put it on.”

I removed my Prospect cut and handed it to him.

He tossed it into the garbage can. “Another one bites the dust,” he said, closing the lid.

I looked around the room at the other members, looking for disapproval, but everyone was smiling at me.

“I don’t know what to say,” I said, putting it on. “This has got to be the happiest day of my life. I had no idea that it would happen, and this soon?”

Tank patted me on the back. “I know it’s soon, but you earned it. Especially this week.”

It
had
been an eventful week. Not only had I discovered who it was that had shot up the Devil’s Ranger’s party, the one that Billy had been injured at, but I’d managed to set up a meeting between Schmitty and Tank. Apparently, Schmitty had been the one who’d ordered the hit on Ronnie and was now trying to bring peace between the two clubs. Tank was still a little skeptical about it, but was willing to meet in a safe place for a peace talk.

“You know what this means?” asked Tail, smiling at me from across the room.

“What?” I asked, smiling.

“We’re going to party like fucking rock stars tonight, my friend,” he said. “I even got us some Cuban cigars.”

“Nice,” I replied, as he held them up.

“By the way, here’s another gift,” said Tank, throwing me a box of rubbers. “Now that you’re patched, you’re going to have women fighting over you and we know how unprepared you are.”

They all laughed. I hadn’t mentioned Terin’s name, but I’d shared the condom story.

“There’s enough to cover an army in here,” I said, opening the box.

“I’ll take some of those,” said Hoss. “In case I get lucky.”

“That reminds me, did you check out any of those dating sites?” asked Tail.

“Yeah, I did. You gotta pay money for most of them. Then, you meet these chicks and hope they like you. Even if they don’t, it’s still a free meal for them and not so much as a hand job for you.  I may as well just go down the street and hand my credit card over to one of the hookers. At least it’s a sure thing and I’m not getting stiffed by the end of the night.”

We all laughed.

When the meeting was over, Tail and I had a beer together.

“Did you tell Raina about finding the shooters?” he asked.

“She knows,” I replied, remembering the conversation. Tank and I had both sat down with her. Apparently, the guys that had shot up the party had been Independents. They’d been screwed over by Ronnie, who owed them a large sum of money.  When he refused to pay, they retaliated by shooting up the party. I’d learned all of this from Chips. After Tank had informed me that he’d been released from custody, I hunted him down and beat the fuck out of him, during which he confessed to having known about the shooters all along. I forced him to tell Tank the same story. Afterward, we both spoke to Raina, who understood that there wasn’t anything we could do and that involving the law wasn’t an option. We all agreed that the person responsible for so much heartache was in fact Ronnie, who was now dead.

“So, you ready for tonight, brother?” Tail asked, clinking our bottles together.

“Damn right I’m ready.”

“Congrats, man. You deserve it,” he replied.

“Thanks. I just hope that everyone else thinks I’m worthy of wearing the cut,” I said.

“Gonna be honest with you, Ice… I was a little unsure of you. Hell, we all were. Especially after what took place before Tank brought you in.”

“Yeah, I know,” I said, sighing. “That’s something Raina and I will regret for the rest of our lives.”

“Emotions were running high. Hell, if I had a kid and something like that happened, I’d be looking for blood too.”

“Raina was in so much pain. She thought Billy was dead,” I said, staring at my beer bottle. “And that Slammer had ordered the shooting.”

“That’s what Ronnie wanted you to think. A quick death had been too merciful for that fucker. He should have been skinned alive.”

I agreed.

Sensing that I was still feeling unworthy about being patched, he leaned forward and looked into my eyes.  “Ice, you’re definitely one of us, man. You’ve got heart, soul, and as far as I’m concerned, have proved yourself. Not just by what you did this week either. I’ve been watching you. Everything we’ve had you do, whether it was cleaning toilets, setting mouse traps, or running to the liquor store before closing… you never complained. Not once. Never gave any attitude. Even better, you did what we told you to do and asked to do more. Hell, as far as I’m concerned, you’re a fucking rock star.”

“I wanted to prove myself,” I replied, grinning.

“You did, brother. You did.”

I noticed Hoss, who was playing darts with Raptor, staring at me from across the room. He smiled and raised his beer bottle.

“See, even Hoss has forgiven you,” said Tail, watching the exchange.

I wanted to believe that, but in my heart of hearts, I knew that it would take a lot longer for the old man to come around. He might accept me as a member of the club, but something told me that he was only doing it for Tank’s benefit.

Thirty-eight

Terin

I wasn’t exactly sure what to wear for the bachelorette party and settled on a pair of black jeans and a blue sequined tank top that sparkled when I moved. I carefully applied my makeup, quite a bit more than usual, and wore my hair down. I finished it off with a spritz of perfume and short high-heeled black suede boots that made my legs look longer.

When I arrived at my sister’s, her eyes lit up. “You look gorgeous! I wouldn’t have even recognized you. Now you don’t just have a bitch face. You have a sexy bitch face.”

“Thanks,” I said wryly. “You look beautifully bitchy yourself.” And she really did. Torie had on a little black dress, white high heels, and her blonde hair was piled on top of her head. Around her neck she wore a diamond pendent that looked like it cost more than my car.

She laughed and gave me a hug.

“Are you sure you should be wearing that?” I asked, following her into the living room.

“You sound just like mom,” she said. “Relax. Nothing is going to happen to my necklace. If I do lose it, somehow, it’s insured.”

“Okay.”

When we reached the living room, my mother was already there. She was sitting with another woman I assumed was Frannie.

“Terin!” she cried, jumping up from the sofa. “Look at you. You look so pretty!”

“Thanks mom,” I said as she pulled me into her arms. “You look very nice yourself.”

She stepped back and smiled down at her blue jeans and white, satin blouse. “Thanks. Frannie helped me pick it out. By the way,” she turned to the other woman. “By the way, I’d like you to meet my daughter, Frannie. This is Terin.”

The other woman stood up and we shook hands. She was about my height, with medium length blonde hair and laughing eyes.

“I’ve heard so much about you,” said Frannie, giving me a warm smile.

“Oh, crap,” I said, smiling back. “I hope she didn’t talk your ear off too badly.”

“Not at all. It’s been nice hearing about you and Torie. My own daughter has been away for the past three weeks and listening to your mother talk about the two of you has been refreshing.”

“Where is she? Vegas?” I asked.

“Yes,” said Frannie. “She was married there a couple days ago.”

“You don’t look too happy about it,” I said, noticing that her smile had waned.

She sighed. “Don’t get me wrong… I’m happy for her, just a little perturbed that they didn’t invite me to their wedding.”

“Didn’t she say it was a spur of the moment thing?” asked my mother.

“Yes, and… they’re supposed to be renewing their vows when they get back into town. I guess I’m just old fashioned,” said Frannie. “I’d have liked to have been at their original wedding.”

“What’s your daughter’s name?” I asked.

“Jessica,” she replied. “Jessica Stone, now,” she replied.

“The bus is here!” cried Torie, staring out the window. She turned and smiled at us. “Are you ready for a ‘what happens on the party bus, stays on the party bus’ kind of night?”

“Oh my,” said Frannie, smiling again. “I have a feeling I’m going to need some aspirin tomorrow morning.”

“That makes all of us,” said my younger sister. “If you do it right, that is. Let’s go ladies!”

***

There were fifteen of us all together, including mom and Frannie. As we stepped onto the bus, we were given cocktail mugs with colorful penis straws, soft feather boas, and tiaras.

“Okay everyone!” called out my sister’s best friend, Amanda, as we put on our boas and tiaras. “You’re all getting a scavenger hunt activity sheet, too.” She explained that we would get points for everything that we did on the list and at the end of the night, someone would get a prize.

I stared at some of items that we could do to earn points, including dancing on a table, getting a stranger to French kiss you, and dirty dancing with two guys at the same time.

“Looks like I’m going to fail this challenge,” I said dryly.

“Don’t be a party pooper,” said Torie.

“I’ll try not to be,” I said, staring at another activity. “Give your panties to a stranger? Does that mean we have to have sex with them?”

“Only if you want to,” said Amanda.

“Oh my,” said Mom, pointing to the list. “Am I reading this right? Get a stranger to buy you a Blow Job?”

“That’s a shot,” I told her.

She laughed. “Oh. I’d like to see what that looks like.”

“It’s actually pretty yummy,” said Amanda.

“So is the shot,” said my sister, winking.

“Torie,” laughed Mom. “Keep that to yourself!”

“You wanted to come, Mom,” she said, smiling. “You can only blame yourself!”

“Speaking of
coming
, we have male dancers meeting us in two hours,” said Amanda, looking at her watch with a devilish smile.

“Then let the party begin!” hollered Torie, raising a bottle of champagne.

Two night clubs and several cocktails later, most of us were feeling no pain. Including my mother and Frannie, who I could tell were having a blast. In fact, by the time we were leaving for the next bar, they had almost all of their activities checked on the scavenger hunt list.

“I’m so glad that you joined us!” hollered my mother to Frannie over the music.

“Me too!” she hollered back. Her tiara was crooked and her lipstick was smeared. But she wore a big smile. “I haven’t had this much fun since I was in college!”

“Where are we going next?” I asked the bus driver. I’d been nursing most of my drinks, knowing that we still had a long night. I also knew that if my sister and mother were going to be getting drunk, one of us had to keep their wits together.

“Rumors,” he replied.