Page 65 of One Night with the Biker

“Christopher Caldwell,” Bash said, and I choked. “Outlaw. The Death Dwellers. If it wasn’t for the little cunt he married, Daddy would still be alive and we could all live happily ever after.”

I stared at Bash. He was part ofthoseAmerican Scorpions? The destruction of their clubhouses, the deaths of their leaders, their near total annihilation had been fodder for the rumor mill for years. All orchestrated by Outlaw.

Bash gulped half his alcohol. “I have a contact in the club.”

“You’ve infiltrated the Dwellers?”

He shrugged. “Don’t concern yourself with that. Sometimes, seeing Christopher so happy makes me wonder if I’m missing anything. If I was just a little fucking better, would a woman love me the way his young cunt loves him?”

“Oh, he’s one of those. Forty or fifty with an eighteen-year-old.”

Bash’s eyes crinkled when he grinned. “Meggie’s in her thirties. She’s been with him since she was eighteen. But she adores him. She’s given him fine sons and beautiful daughters.”

“Does Outlaw have sisters?”

“He had five. Two are left. Cleaner’s father had the other three killed.”

Boom Boom moved restlessly on a stool at the bar and glowered at me. “I don’t know what all of this has to do with Ainsley.”

“I’m going to call a couple of my sons. I thought about bringing in a dumb ass who couldn’t see his cock for his balls if he had fucking illustrations.”

I couldn’t stop my laugh.

“But he’d be more of a fucking headache. I’d have to draw illustrations for him to understand.” Bash smiled and waved hishand. He dropped his voice to a confidential tone. “None of that concerns you. This is my plan: I’m going to offer to help you as a way to soothe Boom Boom’s annoyance. I’d just as well kill him, but I trust you’ll do that for me.”

I didn’t respond.

Bash sniffed and nodded in approval. “By the time you arrive home, I’ll see to it you have your prosthetics.” He leaned in. “Just use them wisely.”

“As much as I appreciate the offer, my answer is no.” I didn’t want to be indebted to this psychopath.

“Your call, Roman, but my guess is you’re going to need working fucking hands sooner rather than later to protect your little sister. Come on, brother. Have you ever heard of a handless hero?”

I still couldn’t trust that Boom Boom hadn’t put Bash up to this to test my loyalty. “Say I’d accept your offer. How much would you charge me?”

Bash drained another glass and smiled. “Not what I’d charge you. It’s what I’ll charge Boom Boom. He came seeking my money from the sale of your little sister and his daughter. By the time he leaves, his wallet will be much lighter.”

“You’re underestimating my president. He’s smart.”

“Perhaps.” He poured another glass and tipped it to me. “But I’m smarter.”

In my adult life, I never particularly saw myself as a caregiver. When Bolt and Ma Siller’s kids needed me, I never turned them down. I considered them family, and families looked out for each other.

By the time of my mother’s death, she’d taught me to cook. The only woman I ever cooked for was Jinx with the singular goal of fucking her. It worked like a charm, too. She was so impressed with my meal, she considered that foreplay.

But actually cooking for her because she needed tender, love, and care? Never. It didn’t cross my mind, not even when she came down with the flu.

Ainsley was different. She’d gone through so many emotions over the past two days, I didn’t want her to worry about anything but rest and relaxation. I definitely didn’t want her hunting for a meal or toiling in the kitchen.

Once I convinced her to take another nap, I called Louisiana to see how things were. I was concerned that neither Jinx nor he had left a message for me, but they’d stopped in Natchez, MS and would reach Baton Rouge tomorrow. He sounded thoroughly dejected, so I figured it wasn’t going well.

I’d tried to talk her into giving him another chance. It was up to him to convince her it was worth a shot.

Then, I called Ma Siller. I needed her to hear from me about Ainsley’s pregnancy. Once Bolt found out, he’d fly off the handle and spin shit in a completely different direction. He’d have her hating me.

The call went better than expected. She congratulated me and sounded truly happy. I hated to capitulate to her demand that I bring Ainsley around to meet her, but she wouldn’t let me hang up until I promised her. If Bolt forbade me to bring Ainsley around his wife, children, and grandchildren, I couldn’t go against his wishes. It wasn’t necessarily a club matter, but it was about respect.

Once I finished with those calls, I checked the refrigerator. There wasn’t a lot of food. Jinx spent most of her time at the club since she ran the bar for us, so it made sense she wouldn’t have a lot of food on hand. I’d always wondered why Louisiana didn’t buy a place for them closer to the club. I don’t think he’d ever fucked over his wife before, but it made it a helluva lot easier if their home base was over an hour away.

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