Retribution (The Lone Riders MC Series Book 2) (28 page)

‘You tell me,’ she said, unable to keep the smile off her face. It felt odd, to be so happy after everything that had happened, but if there was one thing she was learning fast it was that looking back helped nobody. Forward was the only way to go. And if she looked forward now, she couldn’t exactly see a future that was certain, but she could see one that she was quite willing to take a chance on.

‘Okay,’ he whispered, sliding a hand between her legs, pushing two fingers up into her, taking her completely by surprise. But it was a nice surprise. ‘I’d say you were more than ready.’

She let out a low laugh, gripping the pillow even tighter as she felt him move inside her, his lips kissing the back of her neck. ‘Then what are you waiting for, biker boy? Or is it still lawyer man?’

Pulling his fingers slowly out of her, he took hold of her hips and gently turned her over on to her back. ‘What would you do, Mia, if I told you I wanted to be a part of the Lone Riders?’

She frowned slightly, reaching up to stroke his cheek. ‘I don’t understand.’

‘I’m gonna talk to Coby. See what I have to do to get patched in.’

‘Patched in…? Ben, are you sure?’

‘Coby told me, if I wanted to be a part of the club he’d find a way to make that happen.’

‘You’ve already spoken to him about this?’

‘Sort of. It was mentioned a few days ago. Before all of this… Before everything happened. So I kind of need to see where the land lies now. See if there’s still something he could do.’

She looked up into his eyes. ‘You saved his life, Ben. I’m sure Coby’s the kind of man who won’t forget that.’

He smiled, leaning over to kiss her slowly, pushing her legs apart with his knee. ‘I’ve missed it, Mia. The life. I mean, don’t get me wrong, I don’t miss the Dark Angels; don’t miss the things that went on there. But I miss the life. And this place… I’ve seen what Coby Walker did for this club in a pretty short space of time. And I know he can do it again. He’ll get it back on its feet. And I want to be part of that resurrection, baby.’

She smiled too, stroking his cheek with her thumb. ‘Then I’m not gonna stop you. Biker boy.’

He laughed, his fingers intertwining with hers as he pushed inside her, his heart filling with a love he never knew he could feel as he watched her close her eyes and bite down on her lip. Mia Rose was his future. The Lone Riders had brought her to him, and she in turn had brought him to them, to start a whole new journey.

His future could just about turn out to be one worth living after all. God willing…

Thirty-Three

‘Do you believe Shane?’ Kip asked, joining Lexi on a bench outside the clubhouse.

She looked at her brother. ‘I don’t see any reason why I shouldn’t.’

‘It doesn’t make sense, though…’

‘Look, I’ve been through this with Coby, and like I said to him, that’s all we have to go on. And, in some respects, it makes a lot of sense. We were keeping Mia safe – or trying to. Which meant we were keeping her away from
him
…’

‘But why not target Dad? I mean, he was the one who sent her over here?’

‘You’ve just said it, Kip. She was over
here
. And Lennie wasn’t just looking to get some kind of revenge, he was also determined to get Mia back. He had to have someone to blame, and he obviously singled out Coby, for whatever reason.’

Kip sighed, lighting up a cigarette. ‘Still doesn’t make a whole lot of sense to me.’

‘Want something to take your mind off it then?’

Kip raised an eyebrow. ‘Like what?’

Lexi held up her left hand, wiggling her fingers to make sure he could see what she was showing him.

Kip frowned slightly, took a drag on his cigarette, and then finally realized what he was supposed to be looking at. ‘Really? The miserable bastard’s proposed?’

Lexi kicked him in the shin.

‘Jesus! That hurt, sis!’

‘It was supposed to. And yes, he’s proposed.’

Kip leaned over and planted a big kiss on Lexi’s cheek. ‘He’s a lucky man. And he better treat you right, or he’ll have me to answer to.’ He winked, and Lexi laughed. She’d never felt so happy. So settled. So willing to give this world the chance she’d fought against for far too long. And she was going to do that all with Coby Walker by her side.

‘I’m the lucky one,’ she whispered, looking down at the simple, understated diamond solitaire that sat on the third finger of her left hand. ‘I love him so much, Kip. All that pain, all that fucking pointless heartache, it was worth everything. Because he’s the only man I’ve ever loved.’

‘Oh, Jesus, don’t get all mushy on me, kiddo.’

‘You’re just jealous. Because
you
can’t find the woman of your dreams…’ Lexi stopped talking as she saw Kip’s expression change, his head go down. ‘Kip… I’m sorry. I didn’t mean that to sound so bloody insensitive.’

‘It’s okay.’ He raised his gaze, a strained smile on his face. ‘Really. It’s fine. I’m beginning to get used to the fact that she’s my sister now. She’s out of bounds. Off limits. And I know she’s happy with Ben. I just hope he looks after her, that’s all. Because this time, when I say he’ll have me to answer to if he doesn’t, I mean it.’

Lexi linked her arm through his, pulling him close. ‘We’re lucky to have a big brother like you. Mia and I, we’re very lucky girls.’

‘Yeah.’ This time Kip’s smile was more convincing. ‘And you’d both better remember that.’

‘Seriously though, Kip. You’re over all that, aren’t you? Because if Ben makes her happy…’

‘Lexi, I’m over it. Seriously. If she wants to be with Ben, who am I to stop them from being together?’

But Kip wasn’t finished with Ben Salter. He hadn’t even got started…

***

‘Something I can do for you, Sheriff?’ Ben asked, shielding his eyes from the afternoon sun as Michael Bailey got out of his car, making his way over to where Ben was standing.

‘Coby seems to be pushing on with getting this place back on its feet,’ Michael said, checking out the various vans parked all over the compound. ‘Getting outside help in, is he? Thought he usually liked to keep stuff like this in-house?’

‘He does. And he still is. They’re Luca’s cousins.’

Michael nodded, sticking his hands in his pockets as he turned to face Ben. ‘I’m glad you’re here, actually.’

Ben raised his eyebrows. ‘Really? Why?’

‘Well, what I’m here to see Coby about… Look, it might be better if you’re there too. When I tell him.’

Ben frowned. ‘Something happened?’

‘Let’s just say there’s been a development.’

‘A development?’

Michael briefly looked away, back over at one of the vans parked in the yard, watching as two men – one well-built, the other more slight and covered in tattoos – opened the back doors and hauled out three large tins of paint.

‘Michael?’

He turned back to face Ben. ‘You’re getting too close, Ben.’

‘I’m sorry?’ Ben laughed, slightly confused now. ‘What are we talking about here? Getting too close to what, exactly?’

Michael’s eyes met his, but Ben was still confused. ‘I’ve seen your father, Ben. He’s here. In
Paradise
.’

Ben’s gaze dropped to the floor, but only briefly. Then his eyes were back fixed on Michael’s, a determined look in them now. ‘Things are changing, Michael. And nobody is gonna stop me from doing what I need to do.’

‘Do you love Mia?’

‘Like you wouldn’t believe.’

‘Then maybe you should think about doing what’s best for
her
?’

‘What the hell are you talking about?’ Ben asked, narrowing his eyes as he stared at the sheriff, who stared back with a look just as determined.

‘Think long and hard about your next move, Ben. Please. Because there’s only so much I can do around here to…’

‘I’ve made my mind up, Michael.’

Michael didn’t break the stare, his eyes burning deep into Ben’s. ‘Then I hope to God you’re ready, son. I hope to God you’re ready.’

***

‘Married?’ Mia squealed, hugging Lexi so tight she could barely breathe. ‘Oh my God! That’s so exciting! Angie, did you hear that? Lexi and Coby are getting married!’

‘I heard, darlin’.’ Angie pulled Lexi into her arms, kissing her quickly. ‘About time that man made an honest woman of you.’ She winked, and Lexi smiled.

‘We didn’t want to do some big announcement or anything. So we’re kind of just letting the news filter through. After everything that’s happened we just felt this club needed something good to focus on. And I think everyone knows I would move heaven and earth to be that man’s wife. No matter what.’

‘Can we help plan the wedding?’ Mia asked, ridiculously excited, and it wasn’t even her wedding. But it was the next best thing – her sister’s. Her sister. She had a sister. She’d had a sister all of her life. And a brother. And when she thought about how close she and Kip had come to… But she was past the recriminations, past blaming people; blaming Charlie. She’d gained a new family, and that was something that only added to the happiness being with Ben had given her. Things were finally starting to fall into place, and she should embrace that. Enjoy that. Not dwell on how she got there. She was forgetting the bad things, and focusing on the good. That was the only way to move forward.

‘Of course you can help plan the wedding.’ Lexi smiled, crouching down to put Ozzie’s hat back on him after he’d pulled it off and thrown it down on the ground. ‘I could do with all the help I can get. I’m useless at that kind of thing.’

‘Any ideas on what kind of wedding you’d like?’ Angie asked, picking up her grandson, kissing his tiny cheek, which was met with the most beautiful baby giggle.

‘Nothing too big. Just something quiet. Close friends and family only. Keep it within the club.’

‘Did I hear someone say they’re getting married?’

Lexi swung around to see Charlie walking over, his face more relaxed than she’d seen it in days.

‘Coby finally got round to it, then?’ He smiled, kissing her quickly before checking out the ring.

‘Everyone keeps saying that as though it was something that was always gonna happen,’ Lexi sighed, sitting down on Coby’s Harley.

‘Because it always was,’ Charlie said, throwing Mia a smile, which she returned. ‘It might not have always looked that way but, thinking back… Of course it was always gonna happen.’

Lexi looked from her father to Mia, needing to see that the barrier between them was finally coming down; that Mia was starting to accept who she was. And she was met with something that gave her more than a glimmer of hope. ‘You’re gonna come over for the wedding, Dad, aren’t you?’

‘Just let me know when it is, kiddo, and your old dad’ll be over here quicker than you can say biker bride.’

Both Lexi and Mia laughed, and that was something that made Charlie’s heart swell. His family had just got bigger. And he was starting to feel like the happiest man alive.

‘Okay, kids. I’ve come to say goodbye, because me and the lads…’ His gaze dropped briefly, and Lexi knew that was because of Bear – a man who’d been by her dad’s side for as long as she could remember, and for his life to have ended the way it had, well, it was obviously confusing. For everybody, but especially for Charlie. ‘We’ve got to get back to
Newcastle
. There are questions that need answering over there, and a bit of a mess for me to clear up, so…’ He turned to Mia, letting loose a sigh of relief so huge it overwhelmed him as she fell into his arms, for the first time since the truth had come out, hugging him like he’d never been hugged before. ‘Hey, come on, sweetheart. It’s okay. I’m gonna be over here all the time, checking up on my two favorite girls.’

Lexi rolled her eyes, winking at Mia as she stepped back from Charlie, allowing Lexi to give him a hug, too. ‘I think we’re big enough to look after ourselves, Dad.’

Charlie looked at Mia, the smile he gave her wide and proud. ‘Yeah. Yeah, I know you are.’

He walked over to Angie, leaning over to kiss Ozzie, squeezing his tiny hand.

‘You keep an eye on everyone, you hear me, little man? Make sure they all behave.’

‘Safe journey home, Charlie,’ Angie said, but she was smiling too. Happy-ever-afters hadn’t exactly been a regular thing around this club, so when they happened; when things all started to come together, for once, it was a wonderful feeling.

‘You take care of yourself, beautiful. You hear me?’

‘Yeah.’ Angie nodded, giving him another smile. ‘You too.’

‘Right, well, I’ll just go inside, see how the renovations are coming along, say goodbye to the guys, then we’d better head off to the airport. We’ve got a plane to catch.’

Mia watched as he headed into the clubhouse.

‘You okay?’ Lexi asked softly.

‘Yeah.’ Mia smiled, turning to look at her sister. ‘Yeah. I’m fine.’ And she was. She really was. She had a lot to look forward to now. And she couldn’t wait for the ride to begin.

***

‘Can I have a word, Coby?’

Coby looked up from the plans he had spread out on the counter. ‘Something wrong, Sheriff? Or have you just come to see how the clean-up’s coming along?’

Michael dug his hands into his pockets, his gaze dipping for a second or two as he coughed slightly, before he raised his head. ‘A bit of both, actually.’

Coby frowned, looking from Michael to Ben, who was standing a little way behind the sheriff. ‘Does this concern him?’ he asked, jerking his head in Ben’s direction.

‘In the sense that you might need his advice, as your lawyer. And as someone who knows the ways of this world.’

‘Can you quit talking in riddles and tell me what the fuck this is about? I’m kind of busy right now…’

‘When was the last time any of you saw Shane?’

Coby’s frown deepened. ‘Yesterday. He was here, helping out with painting the apartment. Why?’

‘What time was that?’

‘About eleven thirty, in the morning.’

‘Anyone seen him since?’

Coby looked over at Ben, who just shrugged. He had no idea what this was about, either. ‘Not that I know of. He said he had something to do, left the clubhouse around half one… Look, Michael, what’s going on? I don’t fit the brothers here with tracking devices, they’re free to come and go…’

‘Something was found, on the night of the fire. Outside, round the back of the clubhouse. By the blue skip.’

Coby was starting to get impatient now. ‘And?’

‘It was an empty bottle. A bottle that had been filled with gasoline, so that means whoever dropped it probably had something to do with what happened.’

‘I thought that was all down to Bear?’ Coby said, frowning slightly. ‘I mean, he was the one inside…’

Michael threw Ben a quick look, but Ben was still none the wiser. He was as confused as Coby was.

‘The back door, the one that leads into the clubhouse from the yard, we’re assuming that whoever was responsible for starting the fire – we’re assuming they entered through that door. Coming in through the front would have been too obvious, given that everyone was out there at the time.’

‘Okay… So…’ Coby’s irritation was growing by the second.

‘When we checked round the back soon after, that door was locked.’

Coby and Ben exchanged more confused looks.

‘Whoever had gone inside, they wouldn’t have deliberately locked themselves in, would they? If Bear really had been the one responsible for whatever the hell this was, then he would have made damn sure that door was left open, giving him a means of escape. Because I’m as sure as hell that he had no intention of killing himself that night.’