Beth went to go inside the door, but hesitated and turned back to Loker. “I want to see Lily, but I don’t want Ton upset. Would you find him and let him know he wasn’t responsible, that Lily will be fine?”
“I will handle it.”
“Bring him in to see Lily. He won’t rest until he does.”
“Beth, we won’t intrude.” Loker protested.
“Bring him back or I will come get him,” Beth threatened.
Loker smiled, finally agreeing. He took her by the arm, stopping her before she could leave. “Beth your first concern should have been for Lily, instead you took the time to comfort a man that could have been responsible for her death. I never give out markers, I pay my debts, but you have mine. If you ever need anything, let me know.”
Beth just shook her head at him and went to find Lily’s doctor. She wasn’t aware of the incredulity on the faces of the men around her. She was the first person, man or women, to have the head of The Last Riders owe a marker.
Chapter 7
Beth signed the last paper releasing her sister. “Are you ready?”
Lily nodded, then winced at the action. Seeing Beth’s worried frown, “I’m fine. I just have to remember to keep my head still.”
Beth touched Lily’s pale face. “Let’s go home. Evie was supposed to meet us outside twenty minutes ago.”
The orderly pushed Lily in a wheelchair to the hospital entrance, Beth followed behind, carrying Lily’s overnight bag. Once outside, Beth searched the parking lot for Evie’s car but didn’t see it. She was about to reach inside her purse for her cell phone when a dark blue car pulled up in front of them.
Razer and Shade both got out of the car. Beth could only stare in stunned surprised.
Razer opened the back door with a smile at the openly surprised women.
“Your chariot awaits ladies,” Razer said with a casual smile.
“But Evie is picking us up.” Beth protested. She didn’t want to get in the close confines of the car with Razer and Lily was looking even unhappier at the idea.
“Evie was, but Loker called, he rented this car until yours is repaired. He asked us to drop it off to you.”
“He shouldn’t have done that, Ton was not responsible for the accident.”
“You can take that up with him; Loker didn’t want to leave Ton alone so he asked me. I wasn’t busy so here I am. Now you ladies ready to roll?”
Beth helplessly rolled her eyes at Lily, stepping back as Razer maneuvered the wheelchair away from the orderly. Deftly, he guided the wheelchair to the waiting car. Shade opened the door to the car as Razer pushed the wheelchair as close as possible. He turned to Beth.
“Get in on the other side and help her slide in.” Beth hesitated, but knew she had little choice. Going to the other side of the car, she opened the door. Once inside, she helped Lily inside the car, carefully adjusting her sprained ankle. Lily’s scared eyes met hers; Beth gave her a reassuring smile.
“You good?” Shade had bent down next to ask Lily.
“Yes.” Her response tremulous. Lily’s hand reached down to smooth down the dress that had ridden up her slim thighs. Shade’s eyes followed her movement, which was when Beth realized he wasn’t wearing his sunglasses. His baby blues without the sunglasses hiding them should be illegal. Beth thought any young girl faced with a specimen such as Shade would use the opportunity to flirt outrageously, yet Lily leaned away and averted her face. Beth didn’t know whether to be concerned or thankful.
Razer shut Beth’s door before getting into the front seat; Shade closed Lily’s door, also getting in the front. The ride was quiet for a few minutes before Razer filled the taut silence with innocuous comments on the rental car. The conversation relaxed the girls, their stiffened bodies gradually sinking into the luxurious seats. The conversation gradually switched to how Lily was enjoying college. Her responses were at first stilted, but as she talked about her classes, she became more animated until they pulled up in front of Beth’s house.
Razer went to the trunk to get Lily’s overnight bag and crutches after he opened Beth’s door. Shade was waiting next to an already opened door by Lily, moving away when Beth took the crutches from Razer. She helped Lily from the car, the trio watched as the girl put the crutches under her arms, but wincing when she lifted her arms. Lily tried to laugh it off.
“I guess I am still a little stiff.”
With the crutches under her arms, she took a step forward slowly, a small whimper escaped her, yet she didn’t stop attempting another step forward. Her pain was obvious to the onlookers; they all could see she was in extreme pain.
“For Christ’s sake.” Shade finally exploded. He lifted a startled Lily into his arms without warning. The crutches fell to the ground; Lily’s body arched, trying to throw herself out of his arms.
Beth started to go to her, but Razer took her by the arm, leading her to the house.
“Wait, I can walk on the crutches.” Desperately, Lily tried to wrench out of his arms. Shade gave her a small toss into the air; automatically Lily’s arms circled his neck, holding on to him. Her breasts pressed to his chest.
“Be careful, you don’t want me to drop you.” Shade laughed, walking to the door of the house. Lily loosened her grip on his shoulders so that she could lean back without being pressed so close to his chest, instead pressing her hands there to give her more breathing room.
Beth and Razer were waiting inside. “Where do you want her?”
Beth motioned to the couch, which she had already pulled out into a bed, ready for her use. Beth didn’t want to confine Lily to the upstairs with her foot. Their parents had purchased the fold out couch for visiting members of the church.
Shade gently laid Lily on the bed, making sure she was comfortable before leaving without a word.
Speechless, Beth just stared at the closed door. “ Yes…well…thanks for picking us up.” Beth turned as the door opened again, Shade was carrying the crutches. He leaned them against the couch, close to Lily. Again, he left without a word.
Razer fought his amusement. “Shade’s not big on manners.” He tried to excuse his friend; the women just stared at him.
“Is he going to come back again?” Beth asked, staring at the door.
“No, I think that was it for now. Is there anything I can do for you before I leave?” Both women shook their heads.
“Alright then, catch you later.” Razer went to stand next to Lily, touching her banaged forehead. “Stay safe.”
“Thanks.” Lily shyly smiled at Razer. Not about to let Shade outdo him, he left without another word.
As soon as the door closed with a snap, the sister’s stared at each other both wondering why the men had been so considerate and helpful, both a contradiction to the tough biker image they projected.
Chapter 8
Dean called Beth several times throughout the week to check in on Lily, but anytime the conversation became personal, he would switch topics. Beth hung up from their latest conversation confused at his strange behavior. He had yet to become amorous towards her after months of dating; but he had definitely led her to believe that was where they were headed. Beth had thought the trip to Las Vegas would bring a new level of intimacy to their relationship. Now Dean was acting once again like her Pastor; Beth didn’t know what to make of it. Lily was going back to school tomorrow and Beth would be driving her. She had hoped that he would offer to keep her company; he had instead mentioned a scheduled meeting with a parishioner.
Early the next day the sisters left Treepoint while it was still dark; it was a three-hour drive so they decided to stop and eat lunch before driving on to Lily’s dorm. The college was bustling with students outside the large dorm. Beth walked by Lily’s side as they passed through the common room to reach the elevators; she noticed none of the other students said hi or even acknowledged Lily.
“Have you made many friends Lily?”
Lily paused in opening her door before answering truthfull
y as she entered her room.
“Not really, I guess I thought because it was a religious college, the other students would be serious about their courses. They think because I don’t go to their get togethers that I don’t want to be friends.”
Beth hugged her sister. Remembering how uncomfortable she had felt her freshman year.
“It’ll get easier. You will find students you will have more in common with, don’t get discouraged.”
“I won’t. It doesn’t bother me, I need to study more than I need friends to distract me.”
"I am sure your studies won’t suffer if you take time to go out for lunch or dinner. Don’t close yourself off to new acquaintances or experiences.”
Lilly grinned, “I won’t.”
Beth left her sister sitting at her small desk pulling books out of her backpack, worried about how isolated she seemed. It was late afternoon when she arrived back in Treepoint. Beth pulled into the Sheriff’s Office. He had called yesterday to ask her to stop by his office. She had told him she would stop in on her way back from dropping Lily off.
The receptionist showed her to his office immediately. Will Hunter had been sheriff for the last fourteen years and had attended her father’s church. There wasn’t much he didn’t know about the small community and what he didn’t, he made it his mission to find out. If it could adversely affect the town he protected; every measure was taken to see that the townspeople remained safe. Inside and outside the boundaries of the law; every recourse at his disposal was used with ruthless disregard. Her father and Will had a tumultuous relationship. Beth had often thought that he had only attended her father’s church to keep a cautious eye on the influential church leader.
“Hello Beth, have a seat.” He rose as she entered the room, and then resumed his as she took the chair in front of his desk.
“Lily doing well?” The sheriff picked up an ink pen lying on his desk. The pen slid back and forth between his fingers.
“Yes, still a little sore, but she is much better. Thank you for asking. You said you had some news on my car?” The pen was put back on the desk as he clasped his hands together leaning towards Beth.
“Yes, I am afraid you’re not going to like what the report confirmed. The mechanic found your brake lines had been tampered with. Someone definitely wanted to hurt, if not kill you. Everyone in town knows your constantly driving up and down those mountain roads. They are treacherous on a good day with a car in good working order, deadly with a car with no brakes.
Concerned, Beth sat forward in her chair. “You are sure Lily wasn’t the intended victim?”
The sheriff leaned back in his seat shaking his head. “No, Lily drives the car too infrequently, when someone wants someone dead they pick a plan that has the highest chance of success at the first attempt. Do you have any ideas as to who would want to hurt you? Anyone you made angry lately? Old boyfriends?”
Beth could only shake her head negatively to each question.
“All right, think about it and let me know. Be careful Beth I have already told my deputies to keep an around the clock check on your house. But you need to be extremely cautious.”
“I will Sheriff, and if I think of anyone, I will call you immediately.”
“Don’t hesitate to call me day or night.”
“When can I get my car back?”
“Soon as you can get someone to come and get it from the lot out back. Insurance should find it’s totaled. I suggest you look for a new car.”
Beth left the sheriff’s office worried and more than a little frightened. She had not been able to think of a single person who could have a reason to harm her. Looking at her watch, Beth walked across the street to meet Dean for their dinner date. They had been meeting at the diner every Thursday evening for dinner since they had begun dating.
Finding an empty booth was easy, that was why they had picked the diner, that and because the church was beside the sheriff’s office just across the street. It made it convenient when he worked late. The diner was never busy during the weeknights and they could enjoy a quiet conversation after work. Beth had ordered a drink and was scrolling down her messages on her cell phone that had come in while she was in the sheriff’s office; looking up when Razer slid into the seat in front of her.
“What are you doing? I am waiting for someone,” Beth said.
“Pastor Dean, I know. When you didn’t respond to his message, he didn’t want you to be left waiting for him.” Glancing at her cell phone, Beth had just finished reading the message from Dean when Razer had slid into the booth.
“Since when does Dean use you to pass on his messages?”
“I guess I am just lucky. I was in the right place at the right time. I offered to relay his message and he took me up on it. Now what are we ordering?”
“Nothing. I am going home.” Beth motioned for the waitress.
Razer stopped her. “Come on Beth. Don’t make me eat alone. Nothing can happen here. Sit and have dinner with me," Razer wheedled.
Unsure, Beth picked up her glass of water and took a sip.
The waitress approached, taking their order. Beth raised her brow at the amount of food he ordered.
“What can I say, I’m a growing boy.” He said as the waitress walked away.
More like he needed to keep his energy to perform all the orgies he participated in every night, Beth thought nastily.
“Now, now, I can read that look on your face, it wasn’t nice thoughts you were thinking. Care to tell?”
“I don’t know what you mean,” Beth said haughtily.
“Come on I will pay for your dinner if you tell me what you were just thinking.”
“I can pay for my own dinner.”
“Chicken.”
Angered, she replied. “I bet it does take a lot of food to supply you with enough energy to keep everybody happy.”
With a wicked glint in his eyes, “Just what do you mean by that?”
“Well, you are delivering cars for Loker James, delivering messages for Pastor Dean.”
“Oh, I thought you meant me keeping the girls happy,” he whispered seductively. “Baby I can do it all.”
“I know you can, I saw that for myself.” Beth was done. She again started to get up, but the waitress setting the food down in front off them forestalled her movement.
“Eat Beth, I will behave. Please, it was a lame ass attempt to bring up an embarrassing situation that I think it would do good for us to clear the air about.”
Beth picked up her fork. “I don’t think we need to discuss it at all.”
Razer followed her cue and started eating. Beth had long since lost her appetite, desperately wanting the meal over. Unable to eat more than a few bites of food, Beth sat and watched as he demolished his own food then poached her still full plate.
“Want any dessert?” Razer asked when he finished.
“No thanks.” Beth opened her purse determined to pay her part and beat a hasty retreat.
Razer seeing her intent forestalled the attempt. “Beth I want to apologize for how things went down with us. I can guess it was an extremely embarrassing situation that you found yourself in that night.”
Beth looked out the window, unable to meet his eyes.
“I’d like to start over and get to know you; I handled my attraction to you all wrong. If you give me a chance I can promise this attraction we feel for each other will be worth the effort.”
She immediately shook her head. “I am not attracted to you.”
“You were. Beth that night on your couch you wanted me, but because you weren’t comfortable with me, your values kept you from fucking me; but they didn’t stop you from coming on my hand. At my clubhouse, you were overwhelmed with things moving so fast and bolted.” When Beth would have interrupted, he ignored her. “Still, you invited me in that night and stupidly I said no. Later you came to me knowing you wanted to fuck me and walked into a situation that shocked you.”
Beth looked at hi
m, his words bringing back that humiliating night. “Razer please, I don’t want to go over this. You want the air clear. It’s clear. You want to be friends, fine were friends. But we are not now or in the future going to be fuck buddies, which I think is what you want from me. You have your choice of those at your club. You don’t need me for that. You showed me that night that you have no respect for women.”
Angry now, Razer cut her off. "How did I not respect you Beth? Did I pressure you into doing something you didn’t want? Did I rape you? The minute I saw you weren’t on the same page as me in my bedroom, I let you leave. Did I call you any names or try to change your mind?"
“No.” Beth admitted.
“None of the men in the club disrespect the women there. Yes, we share a highly sexual relationship that I admit. We enjoy each other not only as sexual companions, but share friendships. None of us want a typical relationship. We are not ashamed of our lifestyle and don’t feel the need to explain it to strangers. To enter our club is a choice both the men and the women freely make. Especially the women we do not recruit. The women all seek entrance on their own. None of them are forced to be there; in fact many of the women have been lower members of the club for years performing many jobs that benefit the club.”
Before Beth could jump in and say “blowjobs," Razer shook his head as if reading her mind. “No, relaying messages, accounting, taking messages, delivering messages and yes, providing sex. If they don’t want to stay, they leave, but we have rules for them to become members to make sure it’s the type of life they want and no one is coercing them into anything they are not comfortable doing.”
“I can’t handle a man going from woman to woman," Beth stated. “Sex has to mean something to me," Beth confessed. “I know it’s old fashioned.”
“Not old-fashioned, sweet. But Beth, I have to be honest, my dick doesn’t have a woman’s name on it and it won’t ever. I like sex and enjoy a variety of partners. I practice safe sex and the others in the house do too, it’s a hard rule. Anyone caught not doing so leaves the club. On the other hand, I can understand and respect your views on sex. Can’t you do the same? I am not asking you to have sex tonight or introduce you to a threesome," he teased at her shocked expression. “But we could see where this attraction goes, maybe draw closer and have a little fun or be able to move on with it out of our systems."