Outlaw Road (A MC Romance) (26 page)

If the Ronin then knew what was in store, would he have stuck it out or run screaming? I honestly didn't know for sure. That version of me seemed like such a different person now. So far removed.

The knocking came again.

Flora groaned and pushed herself onto her side in a pitiful attempt to wake up. “Is there someone at the door?”

I sighed. I'd held onto her as long as I could, but the rest of the world had caught up. I stood, throwing on a pair of boxers. My clothes were still wet from that glorious shower sex, but I did find a powder blue bathrobe. It wasn't the most flattering thing, but it did cover what it was meant to.

Poet's lean build braced against the adjacent exterior wall when I opened the door. He cocked his head back, brushing his shaggy brown hair out of his face. “And now good-morrow to our waking souls. That's a good look on you.”

I shook my head and smiled. I knew someone was going to stop by, but I didn't think it'd be him. “It helps me get in touch with my tender side. Hey, Rem. Good to see that you made it.” We embraced like only bikers could. “Don't you have a club to run?”

“It's going to take a few weeks to clean up our involvement in this mess. Consider this my lunch break.”

“The Knights?” I asked with more curiosity than concern.

“All but dismantled. With no leadership or income, the rest of their chapters will either splinter off or dissolve. Either way, they're no longer a threat to us. You were right, going after them now was the correct play.”

I nodded. “You gonna torch the mansion?”

“We'll salvage whatever we can to recoup our losses, compensate our fallen brothers' families, and to get those girls somewhere safe.”

With the mountain of drugs in there, it was almost a shame we didn't deal. Drugs were a dirty game, one I've always been glad we weren't playing anymore. “If we're not going to burn it, what comes next??

“After we scrub the place, there won't be any proof we were there. We'll let the cops do their jobs. With some well placed bribes, it should look like Lucky got ambitious and used his Knights to go after his brothers' trafficking empire. The cops get to be the heroes for toppling two massive criminal organizations, and we get to stay out of the news.” Poet shrugged. “Win win.”

Remy had vision, that was for sure. It was why he was running things. The man was an artist at finding all the angles.

“Damn, I was hoping for a parade in my honor.”

Remy snorted. “Maybe next time.”

“With all the wreckage to get out in front of, I figured I'd only get a phone call from you, if anything at all. What brings you here?”

“Yeah, well. I couldn't give you your bike through the phone.”

“No shit...” In all the chaos, I hadn't had the chance to ask Flora where she'd left it. I think part of the reason I didn't bring it up was because I was worried she'd say that it was destroyed or something. I nearly jogged past him.

Barefoot and in the bathrobe, I went far enough down the outside hallway for the cracked parking lot to come into view. There were a few beater cars around, but it was otherwise empty. The only exceptions were an idling black SUV, with a few Steel Veins hanging around smoking, and the familiar dusty chrome of my heavily missed bike.

And my bike's rider?

Claudine hung her helmet on the handlebars, making her way toward us.

“We found it in the grass near the house,” Remy said, casually approaching up to me.

“You let her ride my bike?”

“She said she was a friend of yours, and I wasn't going to let her ride mine.” He slapped me on the back and gave me a sly grin.

It was a short walk that brought her to us. Claudine looked about as rested as she could be, all things considered. “Morning, Ronin. Is Flora awake?”

“Should be. Room twenty-three.”

“Thanks.” Smoothing her hair, she walked around me.

I grabbed her hand as she passed. “Good choice.”

Claudine smiled, catching my meaning. I was glad she'd stayed. Passing me, she headed towards my room.

“So what's next for you, Ronin?” Poet leaned his back against the railing. 

“Hadn't had time to think that far ahead.” I watched Claudine knock on the open door to our room, then slip inside. When I turned back, Poet was holding out a set of patches.

“You still looking for a home?”

My hand came up, fingers flexing. “You're letting me back in?”

“Something like that.” Poet gestured that I should look at the patches.

Taking them, I squinted. “The Leslie chapter?” It was the Knights that had forced the Veins to kick me out. Being let back in was one thing, but this... The unlikeliness of it slapped me like a wet fish. “You want me to join the mother chapter,
your
chapter?” This was a huge honor. I felt the need to look around for cameras. This had to be a joke.

Since the changing of the guard, Steel Veins' membership became extremely strict throughout the whole club. This was especially true of Remy's crew. He only allowed in those he trusted personally.

“Don't you think you've been running long enough?” he asked.

I chuckled and looked off, thinking it over. I'd always been an outsider, even in the Steel Veins. As a Nomad, I was a loner in an organization that prided itself on brotherhood and family. Joining an actual chapter... I'd toyed with the idea every once and a while, but it never seemed like a good fit for me. Even if I'd wanted to, I had something of a reckless reputation. No chapter would risk taking me on.

I looked back down at the embroidered cloth rectangles in my hand. There were two of them. One of them read 'SGT. AT ARMS.' “You're joking, right?”

Remy packed and lit a cigarette, letting the smoke invade, then retreat, from his lungs.“What you did yesterday, most men couldn't have done, especially for the reasons that you did. That shows me that you do care about something larger than yourself, and that you're determined to see it all the way through, no matter how hopeless or desperate.”

Poet handed me a smoke. I took it.

Lighting my cigarette, he continued. “Hate to tarnish your reputation, but those are some pretty admirable qualities. When things get rough, I want a man with those qualities watching my back. The whole chapter agrees, Connor. You're finally ready for this.”

I laughed and looked away. Shaking my head, I turned back to him. “You're serious, aren’t you?” He turned out his hands and raised his eyebrows in an expression that casually said
yes
.

Flora, my bike, my club... and the piece of myself that I'd been searching for, all within reach. All I had to do was take it.

“On one condition.”

Remy rolled his hand for me to continue.

“Flora's sister comes with us. I want the club to take care of her, too.”

“Might be a little cramped at the clubhouse, but we can carve out some space for her. There's also a methadone clinic at Leslie memorial, it can help her kick the addiction. We'll even foot the bill. Hell, Star will probably find a way to make it tax deductible.”

My smile was hard to mute. “Your girl
is
pretty crafty. Hey, one more thing. We got any extra hardware kicking around? If I've learned anything, it's that both these girls are going to want to ride. I can't imagine the Knights need their bikes anymore.”

“I think we can dig up something. Lucky's not using his at the moment, I'm sure he wouldn't mind donating to the cause.” Remy smiled knowingly. “Look at that! Concern for others... Shit, man, you have changed.”

I laughed. “I just don't want them stealing my bike anymore.”

Flora

––––––––

T
he wind whipped through my hair, long strands curling close to my ears like they had a secret for me. With the fringes of winter on the horizon, today was possibly one of the last days with sun in some time.

I wasn't going to let it be wasted.

Bending low over the bike, I gripped the handlebars. The smile on my face was frozen there, my cheeks aching from the tension of my joy. Nothing came close to this freedom. I'd thought I'd appreciated the sensation long ago, but now I knew better. After coming so close to death, I'd never waste another moment on Earth.

Never again.

At my side, an engine revved. The young woman by my hip was thrusting forward on her bike, as if she was daring the wind to take her captive. Even with a helmet on, her thick hair danced and coiled like a long line of mist on a mountain. Pink glowed on her skin, the surface shiny, fresh.

I knew that face well. I carried it in my pocket everywhere I went.

It had taken a month in rehab, but Claudine had turned back time. She resembled the woman I'd spent years looking up to. Literally, and figuratively. The Veins had been incredibly kind to us both, making sure that we were taken care of.

Truly, I had many people to thank.

But only one of them held a special place in my heart.

Peeking over my shoulder, I saw Ronin a split second before he rolled close to me on the empty road. The day he'd told me that Claudine and I had a new home, if we wanted it, had been one of the best moments of my life.

To be honest, most of my best moments involved Ronin, in some way.

The biker had remained at my side as I healed from my gunshot, but more than that... his concern and devotion had been there from the start. The night he'd yanked me over his shoulder, shoving me away from Lucky's brothel, I hadn't known what would happen.

Not this,
I thought with a wistful smile.
I never imagined this.

When I'd told him I needed to go back to Lakeview, he'd said he was coming along. It had nothing to do with me wanting to live in that barren town again, of course. I'd wanted to make sure of a couple of things.

One, that my parents were still alright—and they were.

And two...

I needed to know that Fiddle was gone.

A big part of me had hoped he'd still be there. But when we'd rolled up, the scum of a man had cleared out. No doubt he'd gotten word of what had gone down with the Knights.

I didn't care where he was as long as he was out of the picture, but... sometimes?

Sometimes, I imagined him at the bottom of a ditch. That was cathartic.

Pulling away from Lakeview, Claudine at my side, was something from a dream. It had been exactly what I'd longed for, back when we were younger. That wasn't even that long ago, but the old me felt a galaxy away.

I'd changed, and I knew that. I didn't mind. I just thought about snakes again, and shedding their skin. I had seen a shadow on the world, looked into the grim eyes of terrible people. But I'd come out the other side, and from the darkness, something greater—brighter—had bloomed.

Smiling at Ronin... at Connor... I motioned for us to stop. He got the hint, as did my sister. Together we pulled off the road, our tires kicking up the hard, packed dirt that came with these cold times. Tugging my helmet free, I smoothed my hair.

“What's up?” Ronin asked, idling beside me.

Faced with his searing hazel eyes, those charming lips, I hesitated. “Nothing. I just wanted to stop for a rest.”

Claudine caught my eye, and in the way only sister's can, she read my mind. Turning her bike, she said, “You guys rest. I want to see what's up this way, see you in a bit!”

That wonderful woman. She really did know me to my core.

Hopping off my motorcycle, I stretched my arms high. Ronin didn't climb down, but that was fine. He could be anywhere, and as long as I could touch him... everything would
always
be fine.

He tilted his head as I approached, his smirk starting to spread. “What's that look for?” he asked.

“What look?” Bending against his thigh, my hands came up, knowing where they wanted to be. My fingertips caressed his jaw, exploring the stubble and scars I knew so well. The map that made up this man was one I'd traveled many times.

Chuckling, a sound low and gritty, he pulled me onto the bike in front of him. Sitting in his lap as I was, he had no trouble catching my chin, drawing me close. He spoke with nothing but the air between us. “
That
look, darlin'.”

Tangling my grip in his hair, I kissed him as softly as I could. My palm rolled down, brushing his hard shoulders—the smooth leather of his vest. Ronin's new patches tracked under my nails, their edges giving me comfort.

I wanted to kiss him forever. What a beautiful existence that would have been. Somehow, along the way, I'd fallen in love with a man that was both angel and demon. I craved both sides of him, because that was who he was—he needed both.

So did I.

Cupping my cheeks, he held me back enough so we could breathe. The proof of our desire swirled in the cool air, condensing in white waves. “You're in a good mood,” he said.

Watching him through my eyelashes, my smile went sideways. “I'm just really happy. This... everything...” Turning, I gestured at the empty road, the sky above, trying to explain something so much bigger than myself. “Connor, everything is perfect. Every day, I want to tell you again and again that I love you. That I love
this.
”

Setting his chin on my head, he held me against his chest. I could feel his heart beating, a music for the ages. “Careful. If you say it too much, it'll become boring.” I started to pull away, but he chuckled, telling me he was joking.

Nuzzling closer, like it was possible to blend into one person, I sighed. Life was so strange. I used to hate this man. I'd tried to run from him, and once, I actually had. That still cut me deep, recalling the memory of his voice as I drove down that Florida strip.

He said he forgave me.

I didn't know if I could ever forgive myself.

In my soul, I wanted to make up for every perceived betrayal that had been carved there by me. My anger at Claudine, when she'd turned her back and broke my trust, swam among all of it. I didn't blame her, not anymore, but I suspected my sister was haunted by her flaws. It was possible she always would be.

Maybe Ronin, too.

“Sinners and saints,” I said under my breath.