ACE (Defenders M.C. Book 4) (5 page)

8

Ace couldn’t decide how he felt.  The sex had been out of this world, but he felt guilty in a way he refused to think abobut.  He watched Janice as she cleaned the trailer.  It wasn’t much, but he hoped Marty would appreciate the gesture.  Janice had spent the last couple hours shopping for Marty’s room.  She had ordered the furniture a week ago and it was due to arrive any minute.  Janice had planned her trip around the furniture delivery and he hoped to hell it was all right when it got there.

Within a few hours Janice had bought enough stuff to fill the house.  He hadn’t had a single clue, but she acted like it was nothing to outfit the entire house.  Now all that was left was the furniture delivery and putting everything in its place. 

Ace paced the living room.  He wanted to show the place to Marty the next day so he hoped everything could be finished tonight.

“Would you stop it?”

Ace stopped pacing and looked to Janice who stood with her hands on her hips looking at him.

“What?”

“She is going to love this place.  It won’t matter if it’s finished or not.  Frankly I could use her help and she would love this part too.  Not up to me, but I’m just saying.”

Ace frowned.  “You think she’d rather be down here workin’?”

Janice just nodded, grabbed another bag and carried it to the bathroom.

Ace thought about that for a few seconds before he grabbed his phone and dialed Marty.  She answered on the second ring.

“Hey kid.  What are you up to today?”

“Hey there old man.  I’m not doing anything much…”

Ace heard something in her voice that made him frown, but decided not to push it.  “I could use some help with something so get your ass movin’.”

She laughed.  “With what and where is it movin’ to?”

“I’ll come get you.  Where are you?”

She paused.  “How about I meet you at the clubhouse in about fifteen minutes?”

“How about you tell me where the hell you are right now?”

She’s quiet.

“Now Marty.”

“I rode into town with Tommy and Jack to pick something up from the club.  Just going there and back…”

“Damn it Marty.  They touch you and I’ll fucking kill them.”

“They are aware of that fact, trust me.  They seem real nice…”

“They’d better.”  Ace heard a male voice, but couldn’t make out the words.  “Fifteen minutes Marty.”

“We are on our way back now.  Don’t get your panties in a bunch.”

“Watch it.”

“Sorry.  See you in fifteen.”

Ace hung up the phone and fumed a little.  She knew better than to run off without letting him know.  He knew Tommy and Jack would keep her safe, both men were close to making brother and wouldn’t do anything to jeopardize that, but Marty was his only blood kin and he couldn’t stand the thought of her in danger.

“I’m going to get her Janice.”  Ace raised his voice so Janice could hear him down the hall.

She poked her head out of the bathroom and gave him a thumbs up before she disappeared again.  That woman was something else. 

Ace couldn’t help the grin that curled his lips.  She had been something else last night too.  He adjusted his pants as he thought.  The clubhouse was only five minutes away…

He made his way to the bathroom.  Janice looked up when he stepped into the room.

“I’ve got ten minutes.”  He started unbuckling his belt and watched as her cheeks pinked.  She didn’t resist him when he pulled her to her feel and stood her in front of the mirror.  She only sighed when he pulled her shirt over her head and she moaned when he ran his hand down her belly.

“I want to watch your tits while I fuck you.”

He eased her shorts down and she stepped out of them as he slowly pushed her to the sink.  He grabbed her ass and forced her to stand on the toes so he could get a better angel.  Then he slid into her tight sheath and almost lost his mind.

Marty chewed her lip as she waited for Ace to pick her up.  She hadn’t thought anything about riding to town with Tommy and Jack even though they had seemed a little apprehensive.  What was the big deal?  Ace hadn’t been happy though and that worried her.  She heard cursing from the garage where the men worked on their bikes and stuck her head inside.

“You stupid piece of shit.”

She saw Jack lying on the floor with blood pouring from his nose.  She ran in before she thought.

“What the hell is going on?”

She looked up to find Mike standing over Jack.

“I have a name for you, asshole!  That suits you to a t!!   Where the hell do you get off shoving everybody around?”

Jack had recovered enough to stand and push Marty behind him as he faced Mike again.

“Shut the fuck up.  You don’t get to talk to me and you still owe me a bike wash.”  Mike said as he glared at her.

“This is between me and you Mike.  Leave Marty out of it.”

“Fuck you Jack.  You are nothing!  I will beat the shit out of you and do as I pleas with her so shut the fuck up.”

Jack gritted his teeth.  “Marty.  You need to clear out of here right now and I mean it.”

Marty looked at Jack and for the first time since that first morning in the club house, she felt real fear.  She had never been so glad to hear Ace’s bike in all her life.  He stepped through the doors and surveyed the scene before frowning at Marty.

“What the fuck is going on here?”  Ace demanded.

“Teaching this piece of shit a lesson and your kid got in the way.  You need to teach her a few manners Ace.”

“We’ve never had trouble Mike, but you keep on my kid and we’ll start.  I’ll not get in the middle of you and Jack, but you leave Marty out of it.  Marty let’s go.”

“You can’t just let him do this.  Jack won’t fight him.  You can’t let Mike kill him.”

“Hush.  Jack can handle whatever Mike dishes out.  It’s all part of being a prospect.  He’s too close to brother to want me to step in.”

“Bunch of barbarians!  I can’t see how any of you ever find women who could stand the sight of you!”  Marty said the words to the room but her eyes were squarely on Mike and he knew it.

9

Ace watched Marty light up when she realized what Ace had done for her.  She bounced on her feet as the furniture was unloaded and she got her first look at all of her things.

“You did all this for me?”

Ace nodded and was rewarded with a huge hug from Marty.

She wiped at tears as she met his eyes.

“I don’t know what to say.  I wasn’t sure you would want me to ever come back… or… I just didn’t know.”

He pulled her in again.  “Marty, this is your home anytime you want it.  You don’t have to ask, it’s just here and it’s all yours.”

He didn’t tell her that he had already put the whole place in her name.  It was legally her place.

She burrowed into his chest and he felt sorrow hit him hard.  How could she think he would ever turn her away?  He tried to clear his throat.

“Marty, I love you kid.  You are the only blood I have left.  I’ll always stand by you.”

She looked up.  “Ace?  Can I call you something else?”

“Like what?”

“Like dad or something?”

“You can call me anything you want to.”

“I’m not sure what will stick so I may try out a few things…”

Ace laughed.  “Whatever makes you happy Marty.  Now go help Janice get this place in order so we can move in.  I’m tired of sleeping in the clubhouse.”

She let out a little squeal and ran into the trailer.  It wasn’t much, but it was more than he had given her in her whole life and it meant more to her than he could have imagined.  It meant she was wanted. 

He let his mind wander back to the scene in the garage and picked up his phone.

“Hey Preach, got a sec?”

“Yeah, just a few.  What’s up?”

“Got any idea what’s eatin’ Mike?  He laid into Jack a while ago, didn’t seem to be a reason.”

“Yeah some shit going on with him.”

“Got anything to do with my kid?”

“Not that I know of, but he don’t like her.”

“I noticed.  He touches her and I’ll kill him.”

“I know how you feel, but let Marty fight her own battles here Ace.  There might be a day when you aren’t here and she will need to know how.”

Preach’s words stung because Ace knew that day was coming sooner than he wanted.  “It’s one thing if it’s justified, but he just hates her.”

“Shit.  Jack looks half dead.  I’ll call you back.”

Ace turned off his phone and frowned.  He hoped that shit wasn’t somehow Marty’s fault, but he had a feeling…

He pulled himself up the steps to his new home and opened the door.  He turned as he heard motorcycles nearing and threw his hand up when Spec, Law, and Ink pulled to a stop.  Nikki and Angel slid from behind their men and almost bounced to the porch.

“We came to help!!”  Angel announced as she passed him and made her way inside.

“We came to drink.”  Law held up a six pack.  The others pulled beer from their saddle bags and carried it inside.

“I hear Law is good at assembling furniture.”  Spec put in and dodged to fist Law aimed at his chest.

“Fuck no.  I’m not building shit today.  I’m just here ‘cause Nikki wanted to come help and I figured I could drink here as good as at home.”

“Come on in then.  Anybody else heading this way?”  Ace asked.

“Maybe Moose and Bambi.  Shad and Lacey might stop in.  Rider and Lizzie…”  Ink grinned.  “This place needs breaking in right.  Been thinkin’ about Marty too.  She needs some ink.”

“No she doesn’t.”  Ace frowned and Ink slapped him on the back.

“What you don’t know…”

The men filed into the new place and made themselves at home.  They didn’t sit around.  They had the beds up and mattresses on in no time at all and even went out to build a make shift fire pit out back.

The place was looking like home and the brothers turned out to make it feel like one too.  There was a party by dark and most of the brothers showed up with well wishes.  It was a night for families so the old ladies were the only women around.  It was a rare night.it was the kind of night Ace liked best.  No skanks up in your face, just the brothers sitting around sharing stories and talking about the good ole days.  Even Shadow talked.  Ace always marveled at the man.  He seemed to feel more himself in the flicker of the fire light.

Ace remembered Shadow as a boy.  He’d run around the campfire many nights before Preach had discovered that Shadow was his son.  It had been a different time then.  The Devils had been more pests than a threat and the Defenders were untouchable.  Now the Devils were a threat that if left unchecked could wipe the Defenders out for good. 

Ace looked around the fire.  Their numbers were down and they were getting in fewer prospects.  In a few years they would be extinct if things didn’t change.

He felt a slap on his shoulder.

“Stop that brother.  The Defenders will be fine.  You know I’ll make sure of that.”

Preach sat down beside Ace.

“Not as many as there used to be.”

“I’m calling in a few from Tucson.  Things are starting to get real and we may need them.  Did you know Marty used to date Harper Towery?”

Ace’s eyes landed on Marty who was sitting with Tommy.

“Fuck no.  Is that a problem?”

“May be just the opposite.  She didn’t try to hide anything.  She’s willing to see if she can get some information out of him.”

“I can’t have her in danger right now Preach.  I’m askin’ you not to do that to me right now.”

“I know that.  I’m tellin’ you she won’t be and you will have a say in this.  I just found out today.  She and Spec have had their heads together.”

“She is something isn’t she?”  Ace felt pride swell in his chest.

Marty’s laugh rang out over the crowd.

“You did good there Ace.  She has spunk and she knows how to handle herself.”  Preach took a long pull from his beer.

“I hope it stays that way.”  Ace leaned back in his chair and watched his daughter.  She needed to make her place and she needed to do it quick he was feeling this shit with every breath.

“You alright?”

“Yeah.”

“You told any of them?”

“Fuck no.  Not yet.”  He met Preach’s eyes.  “Just not yet.  I don’t want them to fucking look at me like I’m broken.  I just want her to know me as a whole man first.”

“I get that.  You doin’ what the doctor tells you?”

“Yeah I’m taking whatever they tell me.  Candy can tell you that if you need another word.”

Preach shook his head.  “Your word works for me.  Need anything?”

“Nope.  Toothpick comin’ home next moth?”

“Yeah.  Might not want Marty around for that.  It’s gonna be a rough party.”

“She’ll be back home by then.  Starts her last year of school.”

“That’s good.  Spec says she’s damn smart.  We could use her.”

“Since when do we use women for anything but fuckin’?”

“Since our numbers got low and we needed more boys than we can fucking find.  Candy been helpin’ Ink.  Spec says he could use Marty.  Not givin’ anything away, just extra shit.  You got a problem with that?”

“As long as she ain’t into nothin’ that could get her in trouble.  You promise me that right fucking now.”

“You know I can’t make that promise.”

“Then leave her out of it.”

Preach stood and stretched.  “Should have thought of that before you brought her home, brother.”