“Son of a bitch! I’ll throw your ass in one of the cells!” Knox threatened as he stood.
“You can try.” Lucky braced himself as Knox scowled, sitting back down.
“I’ve talked to Willa. She understands this is going to take some time. Even if I find Clay Meyer, he’s never met those kids, so why would he agree to take them? I advised her to let me find foster homes for them.”
“I don’t have to guess what she said.”
“She feels too guilty over killing Lewis,” Knox confirmed.
“The bastard would have killed Rachel if she hadn’t shot him.”
“We both know that, and Willa knows that, but she feels like she’s doing the right thing. Maybe she is. They’re better off with Willa than in foster care. It’s her decision to make; that’s for fucking sure.”
“Offer the men you have searching more money to find the uncle. I’ll pay their fee.”
“It’s your wallet. I’ll give them a call.” Knox reached for his phone. “You going to tell me why you want to help Willa out?”
“She used to be a member of my church. I just want to help; that’s the only reason.”
“Keep telling yourself that, brother, and maybe you’ll start to believe it.”
Lucky left Knox’s office, going to his bike, while Knox was on the phone with his investigators. The other brothers were sitting on their bikes, waiting for him.
“Find out what you wanted to know?” Viper questioned.
“Anyone want to make a bet that it concerned Willa?” Lucky didn’t have to see Shade’s eyes behind his sunglasses to know they were mocking him.
“Kiss my ass!” Lucky snarled, already pissed off at Knox’s laid-back attitude toward helping Willa.
“No, thanks.”
Lucky sat down on his bike. “Shade, one day, you’re going to push me too far. You’ve had a problem with me since I was discharged, and I’m getting fucking sick of it. Either tell me what the beef is or get the hell off my back.”
Shade’s face, as always, was impassive unless he was with his wife. “You’re not ready to hear what I have to say. When you are, believe me, brother, I’ll let you know.”
Lucky’s hands tightened on his handlebars as he backed his bike up. “You’re a fucking asshole. I don’t know what Lily sees in you.”
His anger didn’t faze Shade. “Probably the same thing Willa sees in you. At least I was smart enough to catch my woman. I thought Rider was the dumb fuck in the club, but you proved me wrong.”
Lucky roared out of the parking lot, leaving the three men behind.
One day, he promised himself, I am going to kick Shade’s ass. The bastard would have to be drunk off his ass, and Lucky would have to leave town for a few weeks afterward to give Shade time to cool down, but it would be worth the beating Shade would give him to even the score. Some things in life were priceless, and getting one over on Shade would be one of them.
He eyed the street Willa lived on as he passed. Getting his mind off the curvy woman would be another. He hated to admit it, but he was beginning to believe Shade was right—he was a dumb fuck.
* * *
He was sitting at the kitchen table later that night when Viper called a meeting. The brothers gathered in the room next to the kitchen, filling the two large rooms.
Viper’s hand went up, quieting the room. “The brothers from Ohio will be coming in this weekend. We have two new recruits who are ready to be initiated. Also, Moon wants to stay here. He wants to get out of Ohio for a while.”
“Why?” Rider asked from the back of the crowded room.
“He’s feeling the heat. The mayor’s daughter wanted to join the club because of Moon, so now the mayor has the cops constantly watching the place. He’s hoping that, if he leaves, the bastard will leave the club alone.”
Train groaned. “Don’t tell us we have another Brooke on our hands.”
“Not hardly. Moon says the woman’s not the problem; it’s the father. She’s moved on, but the mayor’s holding a grudge. Guess he doesn’t want to be reminded that his daughter was fucked by a biker,” Viper reasoned.
“It’ll be nice having another member taking a shift at the factory,” Rider gloated. Lucky wondered if Rider would use his additional free time to renew his pursuit of Willa.
“I’m due some time off, so I get first dibs.” Lucky glared at a crestfallen Rider.
“That’s up to me,” Jewell spoke up, quelling the budding argument between the two members.
Jewell had taken over managing the factory from Shade and had been doing a good job. Lucky promised himself he would fuck her senseless tonight. When he was finished with her, Rider would be working the next two weeks without a day off. Of course, Lucky saw the same determined expression on Rider’s face.
Jewell sat on her chair with a grin on her lips.
As soon as Viper concluded the meeting, Lucky moved to Jewell, taking her hand and tugging her closer to his body until her breasts were pressed to his chest.
“Let’s go to my room,” he murmured seductively.
Rider came up behind her, pressing his cock against her ass. “Mind if I join you?” His mouth went to Jewell’s neck.
“Yes, I do. I’m not in the mood to share tonight. Pick another woman.”
“Don’t want another woman tonight. You pick someone else,” Rider countered.
Lucky pulled Jewell closer, notching her pussy against his cock.
“Before you two use your dicks to pull strings for days off, I’ll be doing the schedules.” Viper gave each of them evil grins.
Jewell’s face dropped. Seeing it, Lucky felt like an asshole for his plans to manipulate her.
“In that case, Rider, you can pick the bedroom,” Lucky offered to make amends.
“Why not here?”
Jewell’s eyes filled with lust.
Lucky checked out the occupants of the room, seeing Lily and Winter weren’t around.
His hands tugged off Jewell’s top, baring her breasts. “Good choice.”
Chapter 5
Willa stared at the empty space she was contemplating renting. Was she making the right decision? She had asked Drake for the key to take another look at the space. It used to be a small clothing store that had gone out of business and had sat empty for over a year. Drake had advised on renovating the building, but it would take a large amount of cash to convert the store to a bakery, and she was too afraid to sink all her money into a new business.
She was walking toward the back of the store, mentally debating if she was making the right decision, when a sound from the doorway had her spinning, her breathing accelerating in fear. Seeing a grim Lucky leaning against the doorway didn’t lessen her fear, either.
“What in the fuck are you doing here so late?”
His harsh question had her finding her backbone, resenting the tone he was using with her.
“It’s only eight o’clock,” Willa snapped.
“The diner closes early on Sunday. You shouldn’t be in a deserted building so late.”
She refused to feel guilty for her snapped response. “It’s right across the street from the sheriff’s office. If I needed help, all I would have to do is yell. I’m hardly in any danger.”
Her words didn’t lessen his anger; instead, his face became even grimmer as Lucky straightened from the doorway, walking toward her. Unconsciously, she backed away, coming to a stop when she felt the wall at her back. Lucky didn’t stop until he was practically touching her.
“You think someone who is going to rob or rape you will give you the time to make any noise?”
Willa tried to keep her breathing calm, afraid if she breathed too deeply, her breasts would brush his chest. She pressed back harder against the wall.
“There hasn’t been a robbery in Treepoint in ten years, and no one is going to rape me.”
“That’s the most asinine thing I’ve ever heard. Why are
you in here, anyway?”
“I’m thinking of renting it to set up a bakery.” Willa was angry at herself for explaining anything to him after his cutting remark.
“This dump?” Lucky snorted. “Don’t waste your money.”
“You don’t have to be so negative. It’s in a good location—”
“It’s going to take a shit load of money to convert this to a bakery. You have that kind of cash?”
Willa turned her head to the side, tearing her gaze away from his intense focus. “Why do you have to be so mean to me? I’m never rude to you unless you provoke me.”
Lucky’s hand reached out, turning her face back to him. His voice dropped. “You really want to know?”
Willa shivered as her body reacted to the attraction she was helpless against.
“Because I’m a bastard. There’s nothing redeeming about me.” When he stepped closer until his chest was pressed against her breasts, her legs trembled, barely supporting her.
“Don’t say that.” Willa refused to believe anyone was unredeemable.
“Why? It’s the truth,” he stated.
Lucky lowered his head, and Willa felt the faintest touch of his mouth against the pulse beating at the base of her throat. Before she could tell him to stop, however, he was stepping away.
“Don’t waste your money.” Turning, he left her gawking after him as if she was an immature sixteen-year-old.
She looked around the store again, reluctantly agreeing with him. It would take more money than she wanted to spend on her initial investment. That left her with two options: either she built new on the property that Drake had suggested next to King’s restaurant, or she kept searching for another spot.
Sighing, she went to the light switch, flicking the lights out before going outside and locking the door behind her.
Willa saw Lucky across the street, sitting on his motorcycle as he talked to Knox. The sheriff had his back to her, but Lucky’s gaze was pinned on her as she got inside her van.
Driving home, her hand went to her throat, touching the spot Lucky’s lips had brushed. Why had he touched her? He had made no attempt to touch her before. The coward in her wanted to shy away from him, run when he was near. However, the bolder side of her, which she had never given reign to, had wanted more than the brief touch he had given her, even if the attraction she felt was one-sided.
She stopped in her driveway, and for a split second, she wanted to escape the responsibilities waiting for her inside. She was so tired of doing everything herself. Just once, she wished she had someone to lean on, to share her problems with instead of constantly worrying about the decisions she was making. Gathering her purse, she locked her car.
As she was unlocking her front door, she heard a motorcycle roar past. Willa paused, seeing Lucky ride by on the main street. Envying him his freedom, she went inside.
“All done?” Willa asked Rachel, who was sitting at the table with Sissy.
“Just finished.” Rachel closed the laptop before rising to her feet.
“I appreciate you keeping an eye on the children while I went out.”
“I’m happy to help.” Rachel grinned at her. “Sissy is almost caught up with her work. A couple more sessions and she should be good for the rest of the school year.”
“Let me know how much I owe you—” Willa began.
“Don’t be ridiculous.” Rachel shook her head. “I enjoy working with Sissy. Since Cash built me a lab at the factory, I spend too much time buried in my work.”
“Cash is like a different man since he’s married you.”
Rachel’s face glowed with happiness. “I never thought that he’d settle down and make such a wonderful husband.”
Willa reached out without thought, giving Rachel a hug. Rachel gave her a strange look when she released her.
“I think that’s the first time I’ve ever seen you voluntarily touch someone.”
Willa blushed.
“I better be going.” Rachel picked up her laptop. “Sissy, I’ll see you tomorrow night.”
All Rachel received in response was a curt nod.
As soon as the door closed behind her, Willa began straightening the living room, expecting Sissy to give her the silent treatment as she went to her room.
“Why did you wait for Rachel to get here before you left?” Her tone alerted Willa to the fact that Sissy was angry.
“I didn’t want to leave Chrissy, Charlie, and Caroline unsupervised,” she explained.
“I could have watched my cousins,” she snapped.
“I won’t leave them alone with you again until I’m sure you will watch them closer than you did the last time,” Willa explained.
Sissy stood, her hands clenching into fists. “You fat bitch, they’re my family, not yours. As soon as I turn eighteen, I’ll get custody of them and take care of them myself.”
Willa wished she could become immune to the insults Sissy was constantly giving her, but the fact was each hurt as much as the first one she had given the night she had brought the children home.
“Do you seriously believe that Child Services will give you the children? You don’t even have a job to support them.” Willa tried to make the girl see reason.
“I’ll find one when I graduate.”
“Really? Because I haven’t seen you lift a hand to so much as load the dishwasher. You think you will be able to find a job that will give you the finances to support the five of you in a town filled with unemployed workers?”
“If you can do it, I can.” Her arrogance was dooming Sissy to failure.
“Sissy, I’m working before you get up in the morning and long after you go to sleep. If you have the motivation, then you can accomplish your goal, but you’re going to have to have a bigger motivation than trying to hurt me.”
“Sorry I’m not going to kill someone so that I won’t be a lonely, old hag. Do you think giving them a home to live in is going to make up for murdering their father?”
Despite herself, Willa couldn’t hide her wince. “I think you should go to bed.”
“I’m going.” Sissy stomped to the stairway in a teenage snit that had her believing she was right and everyone else was screwed up. “Willa, the next time you go out, I’ll watch the kids.” Her hands were clenched by her sides when she made her demand.
“No, Sissy, you won’t. It’s not about proving you’re capable of watching them or that you can make me give in to you; it’s about their safety.”
“Are you saying they aren’t safe with me?” she spat at her hatefully.
“I’m saying I won’t take the chance with their safety,” she countered.
“I’m going to prove you wrong. I’ll make sure we’re here only long enough for me to turn eighteen.”
“Go for it, Sissy. Prove me wrong. No one will be on your side, cheering you on as much as me.”
Sissy’s mouth tightened into a sneer. “I hate you!”
“I love you,” Willa replied, listening to the girl run up the steps and slamming her bedroom door.
“Lord, give me the strength to deal with her pain. Can my life become any more difficult?” she mumbled the question out loud to herself as she straightened the couch cushions.
Loud music blared down the steps.
“I’ll take that as a yes.”
Chapter 6
A knock sounded at the door as Willa was placing a cake in the oven. Using a dish towel, she wiped the powdered sugar from her fingertips as she went to answer it.
“I’ve got it.”
Willa watched as Sissy came down the steps, dressed in a short skirt and cream tank top. Sissy opened the door, revealing a young man Willa wished she didn’t recognize.
“Hey, Sissy, you ready?” Jace asked, his eyes going over Sissy’s trim body appreciatively.
Before she could answer, Willa broke in. “Where are you going?”
Sissy rolled her eyes at Jace before
she answered. “We’re going to a movie. I’ll be back later.”
“I’ll expect you by ten,” Willa stated firmly.
Sissy brushed past Jace, leaving without either confirming or denying she would keep her curfew.
“I’ll have her back by ten,” Jace promised before following after the headstrong girl.
“Thanks,” Willa said, closing the door after them.
Returning to the kitchen, she continued with her baking. She had several orders to complete tonight so they could be delivered in the morning.
She worked steadily until she had frosted the last order of two dozen cupcakes for a birthday party. Closing the pretty pink box, she glanced at the clock, frowning when she saw the time—ten forty-five.
“So much for Jace’s promises.” Biting her lip, she went to her living room window, looking outside at the empty street.
Taking her cell phone out of her pocket, she called Sissy’s phone. When she didn’t answer, she called Drake, Jace’s father.
“Hello.”
“I’m sorry to disturb you, Drake, but are Jace and Sissy there?”
“No, Jace isn’t here. Why would Sissy be here?” he said sharply.
“They went out earlier tonight. I asked Sissy to be home by ten, and she’s not home yet.”
“He’s out with Sissy?”
“Yes. Do you have a problem with him dating Sissy?” Willa began to feel outrage on behalf of Sissy.
“I don’t”—his voice was filled with amusement—“but his girlfriend Nicole might.”
“Oh. Do you have any idea where they could be?”
“No, Jace doesn’t confide in me where he takes his women.”
“Sissy is just seventeen. She’s a child,” Willa snapped.
“Maybe to you and me, but not to Jace.” Willa sensed that Drake thought she was overreacting. “Hang on, Willa. I have another call.” The other end of the phone went silent.
She was about to hang up in frustration when he came back on the line.
“I know where they are. I’ll be there in five minutes to pick you up.”