“Didn’t need to, the Sheriff told us you were fine.” Razer gave a negligent shrug. “Since we found out who was responsible for stealing the money, we can open the factory. The other members came in from Ohio, so we have been busy celebrating.”
“I see that.”
“Actually, I am glad you showed up.” Evie got up from Cash’s lap and opened the closet, dragging out Beth’s suitcase and a large canvas bag. Bringing both to Beth. “I was going to bring this down to your house later today. Since the factory is going to open full-time, I don’t need the extra work. My folders and keys are in the bag. Crash could you take these to Beth’s car for her?”
Crash rose from the chair, picking up the suitcase and the bag leaving the room. His look saying he was glad to escape the upcoming confrontation. Beth wanted to escape with her pride also, but was determined to see it through to the bitter end.
“Can I talk to you in private for a few minutes?” she asked Razer.
“No need, look there is no reason to make this hard Beth. I let you crash here while there was a hit out on you, but now it’s over. We both had a good time, but I need my space back. Kinda need my room.” His hand dropped to delve between Bliss’s thighs. Her head fell back to his shoulder, her thighs spread wider.
Beth closed her eyes. “Please Razer, I can…” pleading blue eyes stared into his emotionless ones.
“Listen bitch, I don’t know how much more blunt I have to be, but here goes. We had fun, but I don’t want or need a permanent roommate. I like variety in my pussy and I can see the way you look at me that you are getting too attached. I don’t want attachments, what I do want again, is pussy. Offered you a place to stay that was safe while you needed it, you don’t need it anymore. The bad guy is in jail, so you’re safe. You can go home and I can have my room back.”
Razer stood up, holding Bliss who wrapped her legs tightly around his waist. “Now if you will excuse us, I am going to my room and see if her pussy is as tight as yours was when I popped your cherry.” With those last cutting words, Razer gave her his back, carrying a clinging Bliss up the stairs with him. Beth stood there a few seconds after she heard his door close. Forcing the nausea in her throat down, and several deep breaths later; she pasted a fake smile on her face and left the house with everyone in the room a witness to her humiliation. In her car, she started it aware of several eyes watching her from the house, but carefully drove home.
Beth didn’t remember the drive, only realizing what she was doing when she sat down on the couch.
She didn’t know how long she sat there before a knock brought her back to awareness. Automatically, she answered the door to find the Sheriff’s wife outside.
“Beth, you look horrible. I can’t believe they released you so soon. If I had realized you looked so bad, then I would have been here immediately.”
“I’m fine. I just ran an errand before I came home. I just overdid it; as soon as I get some rest I will be good as new.”
The woman’s sharp gaze studied her for several seconds before ushering her upstairs to bed, helping her to shower, and then putting her to bed like a child. Pulling the covers over her, she even leaned down and brushed a small kiss on Beth’s bruised cheek.
“Don’t worry dear, everything always looks better the next day.” Rachel turned the lights out, reminding her just to call if she needed anything. She was staying the night in Lily’s room. Beth wanted to argue with her, but exhaustion and heartache stopped her. She was too tired to put up an argument.
Chapter 17
Rachel was wrong, everything was not better the next day. Beth dragged herself out of bed early, determined to get back to work. Her clients depended on her and she was not going to let them down.
The sheriff’s wife argued with her about going back to work so soon, but Beth was firm in her insistence that she was better. Finally the good-hearted woman left her in peace, saying she would call her that evening.
Beth made her rounds of clients. It was hard since Evie quit to get all the patients done and she was literally shaking when she let herself in to her house to collapse on the sofa. Curling into a ball, she snagged the phone, calling Rachel to tell her she was going to bed and would not need her assistance that night. Hearing the hurt in the woman’s voice, Beth almost broke, but hardened her resolve and said goodnight. Beth fell asleep for several hours waking to fix herself some soup which she ate with no appetite, but knowing she had to eat to keep her strength.
The last two days of the week was more of the same. Beth worked hard and eating what she could force down her throat, all the time aware her heart was breaking. Imagining Razer with the different women at the clubhouse was like a movie playing in her mind. The picture of Razer stroking Bliss was engraved in her memory and it tormented her constantly.
On Saturday she drove to see Lily. Her sister took one look at her bruised face and heartbroken eyes and held her arms open. Beth and Lily lay on her tiny bed as she was finally able to let go, crying her misery onto her sister’s shoulder. Lily lay next to her, stroking her back, murmuring questions, giving her unconditional love to soothe her broken ego.
“I hate him,” Beth sobbed.
“I do too,” Lily whispered her agreement.
“I miss him so badly. I don’t think I can do this Lily. Maybe if I go talk to him?”
“Do you think it would matter to him?”
“No.”
“Then that answers your question.”
“I love him Lily.”
“I know, but you can’t have him. You have to let it go.”
“I don’t know if I can,” Beth admitted, ashamed of being so weak.
“Then let’s go.” Lily stood up. “We can leave now and be there in a couple of hours.” Beth also got up, picked up her keys and purse. She actually made it to the door before she stopped. Her forehead touched the door as she started crying again; she didn’t resist when Lily led her back to sit on the bed.
“It’s over.”
“Yes Beth, whatever you shared with Razer is over.” With those words, Beth accepted what she had known from the first time she had seen Razer in front of the police station with that motorcycle, that given half a chance he would break her heart.
Chapter 18
The party was dying down and the ones who hadn’t been lucky enough to find a bed for the night were sprawled on any available furniture sturdy enough to hold their weight. Several had even thought ahead, bringing a sleeping bag and found an open piece of floor to crash on the available space.
Slowly, methodically, he went down the steps, careful, not to make a sound. He didn’t want to wake anyone. He had planned everything down to the final detail, determined no drunk assed member would screw his plans up at the last minute.
With his thumb on the detonator, he headed for the door. The sudden burst of light coming on blinded him for a second. Startled, he spun around to see Viper, Razer, and Cash standing by the door.
“Hey man, you are going to wake everyone. Douse the lights.”
“Everyone is already awake, what are you doing awake? Last I saw, you were upstairs with Evie.”
Memphis shrugged. “She’s asleep. Thought I would go for a ride.”
“Sounds good, mind if we join you?” Viper asked.
“Was wanting some alone time.” Memphis started to move forward, but the three men blocked his path.
“We do mind.”
Memphis turned to leave through the backdoor, but found his way blocked by the members he thought had been sleeping. Outnumbered, he tried to brazen his way out.
“What’s up Viper, since when does me going for a ride become club business?”
“It becomes our business when you’re planning on blowing us to smithereens on your lone ride.”
“I don’t know what the fuck you are talking about.”
“Search him Razer.” Viper ordered. Razer took a step forward. Memphis tried to make a break for it. He tried to force himself through t
he men blocking the door, but found himself with his face shoved into the wall and his arms held high behind his back. When he tried to fight free, Viper smashed his face into the wall using his hair.
“Stay the fuck still.”
Memphis felt hands going through his pockets.
“Well look what I found.” Cash pulled the detonator out of his pocket, lifting it where all the members could see it. Razer jerked him from the wall, throwing him across the room. Knox caught him, throwing him down on the couch.
“Took three fucking years of my life to figure out who betrayed my brother. You sorry piece of shit killed him for fifty grand. I would have given you the fucking money if you had asked, you mother fucker.”
Memphis knew he was a dead man so he knew lying would just make it more painful.
“I would have done it for free,” Memphis shrugged. Viper lunged at him, but Razer and Cash held him back.
“He is just trying to piss you off so you will kill him quick. Find out your answers first,” Razer reasoned.
“First answer my question, then I will answer yours. How did you finally figure it out?”
“Sam, we promised protection and no jail time if she told us who her father paid to kill my brother.”
“She didn’t know. Bedford swore he wouldn’t tell. He was scared enough of me to keep his mouth shut.”
“Sam followed her father one time to one of your meetings. She recognized you when she started hanging around the house.”
“Damn slut.”
“I answered your question, now answer ours. “
“I killed Gavin because he was a pain in my ass. I was dealing drugs on the side, he was going to tell you at the next meeting. I would have been out. I couldn’t have that going down. I had a plan and was going to stick to it no matter what happened. Him being dead distracted everyone. I moved a lot of the patents to my name, with the money I made off them and the insurance policy on everyone, I would have been a rich man.”
The insurance policy had been taken with the eight friends when they had started their survival business. That way, if any one was killed, the business would not be affected. The insurance was made out to the surviving group members. The bomb he had planted and planned to detonate would have killed a large number of them, especially those carrying the larger chunks of stock.
“What did you do with my brother’s body?” Viper braced himself for Memphis’s answer.
“I buried him behind the Road Demon’s clubhouse.” When Viper struck out at Memphis, no one tried to stop him. Memphis was still alive when Viper pulled back with a final jab to his jaw. Memphis lay on the floor groaning curled into a ball.
“Tomorrow I will ask for a meet with the Road Demon’s to try and get Gavin’s body. If it’s not there…”
“I am telling the truth. What are you going to do with me?”
“Keep you alive long enough to bring Gavin home. After that the club will deal with you one by one.”
Memphis had hoped for a quick death, but Viper had taken away hope with his words. Each of the original members would stand in a circle with him standing in the middle, the members would then each give him a killing blow. It wouldn’t matter if he were dead after the one chosen to go first. In this case, because it was Viper’s brother, he would be allowed the first strike. After each had their turn, he would be disposed of just like he had disposed of Gavin. The only difference was Gavin would be coming home to a proper burial.
“We are going to show you the same mercy that you showed my brother,” Viper’s promise was deadly accurate.
Chapter 19
Beth came out of the restaurant, her heels clicking on the pavement. Pastor Dean had asked to meet her to talk. It had been hard sitting at the booth with him bringing back memories of the dates they had shared, interchanged with thoughts of what might have happened if she hadn’t been so attracted to Razer from the moment she saw him. Fortunately, Beth had realized that a relationship with Dean would have never worked. The sexual chemistry that she had shared with Razer was absent with Dean.
The meeting hadn’t lasted long. He was unhappy with the way she was looking. Beth had to admit she had lost quite a bit of weight since Razer had finished with her. The paleness of her face and lackluster hair gave her an appearance of being ill. Beth had assured him she was fine, but she could see the disbelief in his eyes.
“Thank you for your concern, but I am fine.” Beth laid her hand on top of his.” It’s not everyday a girl gets kidnapped and pistol whipped.” She gave a self-deprecating smile. “Perhaps I should have taken that Las Vegas trip.” Beth had returned his gift, not wanting to go alone. She had no one that she could bear to spend time with right now other than Lily and she was busy with school.
“I could arrange it for you.”
“No thank you, I have no one to cover my patients right now. Perhaps this summer when Lily is out of school. I have couple of interviews next week to hire someone to replace Evie.” Dean saw the flash of pain Beth was unable to hide. Beth without waiting, began discussing church business, offering to volunteer to have a rummage sale for a member who had a fire and their belongings destroyed.
Dean leaned back in his seat watching her pick at her food as she talked, getting the message that the members of The Last Riders were not up for discussion.
Beth left Dean sitting with two church members who had stopped by their table to volunteer their services. With a grin, Beth escaped using the excuse of an early workday before leaving Dean in their clutches.
Outside, it was just getting dark when she heard the loud motors of the bikes. Beth didn’t hesitate in her footsteps across the parking lot, neither did she turn her head to see the passing bikers. She didn’t pay attention to the rising sound of the motors drawing closer and it was only when she almost walked into Razer’s bike that she lifted her head. Another pulled in behind her pinning her in between the two bikes. Shade and Evie each gave her a nod as Razer and Shade’s motors were cut. The sudden silence was a relief.
“Beth.”
“Razer.”
“How have you been?”
“Good.” Beth didn’t ask how he was, she didn’t care. At least that was what she kept telling herself.
“You don’t look so good.”
Beth shrugged. “Appearances can be deceiving.” Razer nodded. Beth stared at her car behind Razer’s back to keep from looking at him.
Razer cleared his throat, drawing her attention to him. Beth stared at his mirrored eyeglasses to keep from staring at him on his bike. His hair was a little longer since the last time she had seen him. Wearing leather pants and a black shirt with a leather jacket, she wanted to jump on the back of his bike and forget everything that had happened. A wry smile touched her lips at imagining Razer’s horrified reaction if she did.
“Yes they can and that’s why I want to talk to you. Can we go somewhere to talk? I would like to explain some things to you.”
“No explanations are necessary, you got your message across clearly the last time I saw you.” Beth took a step to the right, trying to get to her car.
“Beth let him explain. I want to explain how sorry I am for the way things went down. If you would listen…”
Beth stopped and turned meeting Evie’s eyes. Evie flinched from the pain this time Beth didn’t try to hide.
“I don’t need explanations, Evie. I provided employment for you until the factory opened. It’s not your fault that I misinterpreted it and thought we had become friends.”
“We were friends… no we are friends. Beth listen to me…”
With a sad smile, Beth shook her head.
“No Evie, you are no friend of mine. You left me in that hospital to wake up alone, not knowing what had happened and scared. I kept thinking you would come by and bring me a few magazines or a few things I could have used. You never did. Then when I came to the club and humiliated in front of everyone by a man I cared about, did my friend stand by me? No, she ignored me and
cut me deep by quitting when I needed her most. Did my friend come by and see me to let me cry on her shoulder? No you didn’t. A friend would have been there for me. I would have been there for you.”
Beth finished in a soft voice. Evie looked stricken when Beth finished. Again Beth took a step, determined this time to leave.
“Beth, wait I can explain.” Razer’s hand snapped out and caught her arm, keeping her from leaving. Beth took a deep breath and let Razer have his piece also.
“Razer, explanations are not necessary for the simple reason they won’t make a difference to how I feel about you. You were wrong that night at your house. I wasn’t beginning to care for you, I had fallen in love with you. I knew you didn’t return my feelings and I let it happen anyway. I have had a few bad weeks since then, but I am getting over you. If the explanations you want to give me end with you wanting to be friends, that won’t work for me. It would be too painful for me to see you with other women and not touch you myself.” When Razer would have spoken, Beth raised a hand to stop him. “Let me finish, on the other hand, if you are hoping these explanations lead to us being back together again, that no longer is an option. You are incapable of giving me the relationship I need to be happy, which involves trust, fidelity and love. Because even if you swore to do all three, I would never ever believe in you again.”
This time when Beth took a step forward, Razer’s hand dropped to his side. Both bikes sat immobile as Beth carefully maneuvered her SUV around the bikes, pulling out onto the road without a look backward.
“We fucked up bad.” Evie’s head fell forward to Shade’s back.
“More like crashed and burned,” Dean said, stepping out from behind a parked van.
“Back off Dean. You had no business eavesdropping.”
“I had every right, I handed you that girl on a silver platter and what did you do? You screwed her over so now I not only don’t have her, but you don’t have her, and it’s not looking like you ever will.” Dean ruthlessly threw Beth’s words back in Razer’s face.