Retribution (The Lone Riders MC Series Book 2) (16 page)

‘How long have you…?’

‘Not long.’

‘After everything that’s happened, he kept that secret all those years? Watched Mia grow up around him, watched me and her play together, Christ, we were best friends when we were kids! And he didn’t say anything, even after her parents… Jesus, Coby… what the hell is going on here?’

He rested a hand on the wall behind her, leaning right into her, his fingers slowly running over her collarbone. ‘I don’t know, darlin’. But I sure as hell know a way we can forget all this shit for a few minutes. And that can’t be a bad thing. We all need to forget, just for a little while.’

‘What if Mia and Kip…?’

‘Ben’s around, Lex. He’ll step in. He won’t let anything happen.’

‘And the mood he’s in, you think it’ll be a calm intervention?’

‘Right now, baby girl, I don’t give a fuck. As long as your brother hasn’t got his dick anywhere near Mia we’re okay. For now. And I reckon even Kip’s conscience won’t let him sleep with another brother’s girl this soon…’

‘Ben isn’t a brother, though. Is he?’

Coby moved his hand down, sliding it up and under her short skirt, his mouth now brushing her neck. ‘He’s a good kid, your brother.’

‘He’s also a man, Coby.’

‘Even
he
won’t move
this
fast, darlin’. Come on, kid…’

‘This is fucking crazy…’ But the feel of his lips on her skin, his hand sliding into her panties, it was masking the reality. Temporarily putting everything else on hold. Allowing her to forget a truth that horrified her; a secret her father should never have kept. But maybe Coby was right. Even Kip wouldn’t push Mia into something he knew she wasn’t ready for. She wasn’t his. She was somebody else’s. And after everything that had happened with her and Jesse, and the shit-storm that had kicked up; the way Kip had reacted to all of that… Yeah. Maybe Coby was right. Maybe they had nothing to worry about. Yet.

‘Crazy’s good, remember?’ Coby murmured, sliding her panties down over her thighs with one hand, lifting his leg and pushing down with his boot to get them past her knees, until they fell to the floor.

Lexi stepped out of them, kicking them away, giving into him, because he wasn’t giving her much choice. Her head was spinning, her mind clouded and full of questions, but all she could concentrate on right now were his fingers sliding inside her, thrusting into her hard and fast. It was a fucked-up reason to have sex – finding out a girl you’d known all your life was your sister – but for some reason Lexi felt more turned-on than she had done in a long while, and even though, at the same time, it disgusted her, and she hated herself for it, for the way it was making her feel, all she wanted was her big, handsome Scottish soldier inside her. To take away the confusion for a few, beautiful minutes.

‘Turn around,’ he growled, and Lexi wasn’t going to disobey him. Not this time. She wanted this just as much as he did; maybe more. So she did as he asked, facing the wall, placing her hands up against it, closing her eyes as she felt him slide her skirt up over her hips. ‘Baby, baby, baby…’ Coby groaned, his mouth resting against the back of her neck, his breath warm on her skin, causing her to breathe in sharply. ‘I am gonna ride you so hard you won’t give a shit about nothing else, you hear me?’

She nodded, keeping her eyes closed, his fingers sliding between hers as he pressed up against her, his mouth still brushing over her skin, so gently it drove her crazy. But then the tempo changed, the atmosphere becoming darker as he pushed inside her so roughly she couldn’t hold back the cry of pain. But he needed this release, he needed her to be his outlet, and she would do anything for this man. Anything. So she clung on to him, gripping his fingers tight as he continued to thrust into her, his body slamming against hers.

And then the pain subsided, replaced by a feeling of temporary calm as he slowed down slightly, his movements more gentle. Letting go of one of her hands he took hold of her hip, pulling her back towards him and she bit down on her lip as he speeded back up a touch, the force of his thrusts hitting their limit within her as he took her over.

‘Open those beautiful legs wider, baby, come on.’

She did as she was told, moving her feet farther apart and he slid his hand around to touch her, the circular motion of his fingers along with his dick inside her becoming too much for Lexi to bear. Her legs were weak, her knees almost giving way as she felt everything start to build; her stomach was in knots, her skin on fire as he sped right up, pushing so hard, thrusting too fast, desperate to reach the end. And because of this the pain returned, cutting through Lexi in a swift, almost violent wave, but it was quickly washed away, all forgotten as she felt him explode, his cries filling the room as he spilled out inside of her. She could feel it all, feel every drop of him filling her up, a warmth spreading through her that was beautiful and painful and necessary. He gave her a strength she craved; that drug she couldn’t live without. The way he loved her, it wasn’t everyone’s idea of perfect, but she’d take anything he had to give her, because he made her feel strong. And she loved him like she’d never loved anyone before.

‘Don’t you ever leave me, darlin’, you hear me?’ he murmured, his mouth resting on her neck, his hands on her hips keeping her against him. He was still inside her, and she was glad of that. It kept the reality at bay for just a little while longer. ‘Because I can’t do any of this shit without you.’

He pulled her up and away from the wall, and she leaned back against him. ‘I’m not going anywhere,’ she whispered, gasping quietly as his body finally left hers.

He turned her around, kissing her so slowly it almost made Lexi cry. He could switch from rough to wonderful in a split second, and maybe that’s what made him so exciting, she didn’t know. She only knew that she’d fought hard for this man, and she wasn’t letting him go, wasn’t going to let anyone take him from her, not after everything they’d gone through to get here. They were king and queen of this compound, and that’s the way she intended it to stay. The secrets and the lies that still surrounded them, they could try their hardest to tear everything apart but they wouldn’t win, not this time. The danger and the threats that had suddenly returned, they’d disappear, any pain they caused would be dealt with, and they’d move on. Nothing was going to get in the way, not any more. Of that she was determined.

‘We’re gonna be okay, Coby, aren’t we?’ She stroked his rough skin with her fingertips, lightly tracing the scar on his cheek.

‘We’ll get through it,’ he said, tilting her chin up so her eyes met his. ‘Like we always do.’

She smiled, winding her fingers in his hair, trying not to let the things she’d just found out take over too much. She had to be in control here, for so many reasons. ‘Yeah. Like we always do,’ she whispered, closing her eyes and falling into him once more, his mouth on hers, his arms wrapping around her. They’d get through this.

Like they always did…

Twenty

‘What the fuck is going on here?’ Ben threw his glass at the wall, whisky spraying the brickwork.

Kip pulled away from Mia, who looked at Ben with an expression that dripped regret. But he was too angry to fully acknowledge that. He just wanted Kip away from her.

‘She was upset,’ Kip said, holding his hands up as way of an apology, one that Ben wasn’t accepting.

With a swift swipe he pushed Kip’s hands away, their eyes locking. ‘You were taking advantage.’

‘I was trying to make her feel better,’ Kip sneered, moving his face closer to Ben’s, the tension rising too rapidly for Mia and she jumped down from the table, throwing herself between them before anything got out of hand.

‘Jesus Christ, will you two grow up!’ she shouted, pushing them apart, both of them staggering backwards.

‘You’ve got a fucking nerve,’ Ben said, his eyes still on Kip’s, the tension not really diffusing much, despite Mia’s intervention. ‘Hitting on someone else’s woman, after all the high morality shit you spouted when Lexi…’

‘This has got nothing to do with Lexi,’ Kip hit back.

Ben laughed, finally breaking the stare, his eyes dropping to the ground for a second or two before he raised his gaze back up to meet Kip’s. ‘You know what we’re going through here. You know how she’s feeling right now…’

‘No, I don’t think
either
of you know how I’m feeling right now,’ Mia cut in, looking from one to the other, well aware they could all do without this kind of crap kicking off. And well aware that she hadn’t helped, letting Kip get that close. ‘Look, I’m sorry. I’m really sorry, but, you’ve been pushing me away, Ben…’

‘And that’s your defence, huh?’

‘Oh, for Christ’s sake…’ she sighed, sitting down on the bench.

‘You really do have no fucking idea, do you?’ Kip said, shaking his head as he looked at Ben.

‘You were playing on her vulnerability.’

Mia stood up. She’d had enough now. Yes, she’d been in the wrong, and it shouldn’t have happened, but at least Kip wasn’t making her feel confused or pressured. He just made her feel – well, nothing, really. And right now, that’s all she wanted to feel. ‘The pair of you can fight it out between you, and whatever the outcome, I really don’t give a shit.’

‘Mia!’ Ben shouted after her, but she didn’t acknowledge him, just strode into the clubhouse without looking back. ‘
Fuck
!’

‘Good job, mate.’

Ben looked at Kip, narrowing his eyes. ‘Don’t piss me off, Kip. You really, really don’t want to do that.’

Kip took a couple more steps forward so he was right up in Ben’s face, his mouth twisting into another sneer. ‘Who the hell do you think you are, huh? You walk back in here after all this…’

Ben caught Kip’s wrist as he raised his arm, gripping it tight. ‘I know exactly who I am. Brother. And so do you. Which is why I’m advising you to back off. Right now.’

Kip yanked his arm free, taking a step back, but his eyes never left Ben’s. ‘This isn’t over.’

Ben watched him walk off before throwing his head back, sighing quietly. It wasn’t going to go away. Not now. And that was something he not only had to get used to, it was something he had to deal with.

***

‘I can go check up near the cabin.’

Coby looked at Shane, sitting back in his chair at the head of the table. It was a late-night church, after the arrival of the Newcastle Lone Riders, but he needed to get everyone up to speed. Keep the momentum going. Taking his foot off the pedal now wouldn’t be a great idea. ‘You really think he’d stay that close to Lone Riders property?’ Coby questioned, turning the gavel over and over between his fingers.

Shane shrugged. ‘He might think that’d be the last place we’d look, it being so obvious and all.’

‘I don’t think he’s that naïve,’ Coby sighed, looking down at the table. ‘But, we might as well check all bases close to home, as well as further afield. He’s been seen in Hilton, and over in Vegas, and I’ve got people keeping an eye out in both those places. So I guess it wouldn’t hurt to keep watch over home turf, huh?’

‘There’re enough of us around to make sure he doesn’t leave town, if he’s here,’ Kip said, leaning back in his seat, his hands in his pockets, his cap pushed right back on his head. ‘As long as we don’t drop the ball.’

Coby brought the gavel down on to the table, banging it hard against the thick wood. ‘Right. You all know what you’re doing. Stay in touch, keep me posted, and don’t do anything stupid. Okay?’ He turned to Bear, Geordie and Miller. He didn’t know these guys all that well, personally, but he knew they were more than capable of holding their own in any situation. Charlie would only have sent his best men for something like this. After all, Coby knew Mia wasn’t just anyone. She was the daughter of one of the founding members of the Lone Riders. So only his best men would do. ‘Bear, you go with Kip, Jesse and Cain. Geordie, Miller, you ride out with Luca and Walt. Shane – you sure you’re okay to go it alone?’

Shane nodded.

‘Well, if you need back-up just shout. Right, if that’s all sorted… Go on. Get out of here, the lot of you.’

Once everyone was out of the room Coby leaned forward, dropping his head into his hands. Was it really worth it? All the trying to bring this club back to what he’d wanted it to be only for shit like this to happen? Had he been naïve to think he could actually turn it all around?

‘Everything finished in here?’

He looked up at the sound of her voice, a smile crossing his tired face. ‘Yeah. We’re all done. Everyone’s back out there now.’

‘Do you want a drink?’

‘I don’t want one, darlin’…’ He got up, kicking his chair back under the table. ‘I fucking need one.’

Lexi smiled as he took her hand, following her out of the chapel, closing the door behind him. ‘You should get some sleep,’ she said, leaning into him as his arm fell around her shoulders.

‘How can I sleep, Lex? With all this shit going on. And your dad’s on his way. He’ll be here in a few hours…’

‘You can’t deal with this properly if you’re tired, Coby.’

‘Quit with the nagging, sweetheart, all right?’ He pulled himself up on to a bar stool, grabbing a bottle of whisky that was standing on the counter, pouring a large measure into an empty tumbler, knocking it straight back in one mouthful. ‘Go do something useful.’

‘Hey! Where do you get off talking to me like that?’

He turned his head to look at her, his eyes suddenly cold and dark. ‘Lexi, darlin’, I’m really not in the mood for this. So either get yourself a drink, shut up and join me, or go do something else. Help your mum tidy the kitchen or something.’

‘Jesus Christ!’ she laughed, turning away from him for a second before swinging back around to face him. ‘I am struggling here, Coby, okay? I am fucking struggling, with shit I’m having to keep secret, crap I’m having to deal with that involves me and my brother and a situation that could turn into something so wrong…’

‘And you think I wanted to be privy to that information? Huh? Do you think I needed that fucking burden on top of everything else? I didn’t even want Mia here, if the truth be told. All those other chapters he could have sent her to…’

‘He sent her here for a reason, Coby.’

‘Aye, Lexi, I can see that. It’s fucking obvious now.’

‘
Don’t
take your shit out on me, do you hear?’

‘We fuck and fight, darlin’. That’s what we do.’ He poured himself another shot of whisky, downing that in one mouthful, too. ‘Now, like I said, either shut up and join me, or get the fuck out of my face. I need to think.’

‘We need to tell Kip the truth, Coby.’

‘Did you hear what I just said? Look, I need you to make sure nobody except the brothers looking for Lennie leave this compound. So go do that, okay? Keep an eye on the kids, make sure the women know their place; let’s keep this lockdown working.’

Lexi stared at him, shaking her head. ‘Fuck you,’ she said quietly, before walking away.

Coby slammed his glass down on the counter, swearing quietly under his breath.

‘Tough church tonight?’ Ben asked, sliding on to the stool next to him.

Coby looked up. ‘That’s none of your business. What we do in there has got nothing to do with you.’

‘It does when it concerns my girlfriend.’

‘You’re not a member of this club, Ben.’

‘What if I wanted to be?’

Coby’s eyes narrowed as he continued to stare at Ben, a short, sharp laugh escaping. ‘Did you really just ask that?’

‘I’m serious, Coby.’

Coby laughed again, shaking his head as he picked up the whisky bottle, draining the last of it into his tumbler. ‘Not worth the risk, Benny boy.’

‘That risk could be good for this chapter. Think about it.’

‘Look, kiddo, I’ve got enough to deal with right now without you dropping this on me. You’re our lawyer, okay? You work for us, you’re not
one
of us. You get us out of shit, you don’t drag us into it, and if you…’ He pushed a hand through his hair, finishing off his drink. ‘It’s not gonna happen, Ben.’ He held his gaze, but the younger man’s resolve seemed to be strengthening the more time he spent with the Lone Riders. Something that didn’t escape Coby’s notice. ‘Just – take a step back, okay? For your own sake, as well as ours.’

***

‘Did you bring any food?’

Shane threw a foil wrapped sandwich at Lennie, who immediately unwrapped it and bit into it as though he hadn’t eaten in a week. ‘Jesus, Lennie. You cleaned out the cupboards already?’

‘I need my food, brother.’ He winked. ‘Got to keep my strength up.’

Shane sat down on the arm of the couch, clasping his hands between his knees, turning his head to look out of the window behind him.

‘Think someone might have followed you?’ Lennie asked warily, tearing another chunk out of the sandwich.

Shane shook his head. ‘No. I’m all alone. I’m Coby’s V.P., remember? He trusts me.’

Lennie laughed, wiping his mouth with the back of his hand. ‘That brother got one hell of a surprise coming his way.’

‘This ain’t some joke, Lennie.’

Lennie held up his hands in surrender. ‘Hey, I know. I know. But what you’re doing, Shane, it’s risky. I mean, you got plans for what you’re gonna do once the truth is out?’

‘I’ve got plans. But they got nothing to do with you. All you need to do is listen to me, follow any instructions I give you, and then you can do whatever the hell you need to. It won’t be my concern no more.’

‘How’s Mia?’ Lennie finished the sandwich, rolling the foil up into a tight ball and hurling it at the waste basket. ‘Shot!’ he yelled, punching the air as the foil ball landed in the bin.

‘Mia’s okay,’ Shane sighed, rubbing a hand along the back of his neck. ‘She’s fine.’

‘That lawyer guy still balling her?’

‘I’m not keeping tabs on her fucking love life, Lennie.’

‘Jesus, all right. What the hell crawled up
your
arse tonight?’

Shane stood up, pacing the floor in front of the couch. ‘I just want this over with. Done.’

‘Amen to that.’

Shane stopped pacing, sitting back down on the arm of the couch. ‘Look. Maybe we should move you.’

Lennie frowned, lighting up a cigarette and taking a deep draw. ‘Why? I thought this place was safe.’

‘As safe as it
can
be,’ Shane said, looking out of the window again. ‘This shack was my uncle’s. I didn’t even know he’d lived in
Paradise
until my cousin told me. Christ knows what
he
was running from… He loved coming up here, apparently. Alone, with his thoughts.’

‘Yeah, well, it’s fucking isolated, I’ll give you that. Enough to drive you bloody mad, the silence.’

‘But it’s too close for comfort now. The MC’s cabin is just a short ride away, and they’re gonna be coming up here now, scanning the place for signs… and Charlie’s sent reinforcements from Newcastle to help out.’

‘Who?’

‘Bear, Geordie, Miller. And I know them, Lennie. I know they’re three of Charlie’s best, and you know that, too. They’ll stop at nothing, so maybe moving you…’

‘I’m staying put.’

Shane fixed him with a look. ‘You ain’t running this show, brother.’

‘And neither are you. We need each other, remember? I’m staying here.’

Shane sighed again, bowing his head, his feet tapping the wooden floor nervously. ‘Charlie’s on his way to
California
, too.’

Lennie shrugged. ‘I’m not scared of Charlie Hart.’

Shane raised his head, narrowing his eyes as he looked at Lennie. ‘Yeah, well, maybe you should be. He may be getting older, but that man has influence and power we don’t even know about.’

‘He’s too old school for this game now.’

‘And you’re too cocky for your own good… Do you know what? Fuck this!’ Shane stood up, taking a deep breath, running both hands over his hair. ‘I’m getting you out of here. I know somewhere in Hilton…’