“I don’t have the energy to make the first move, but please, will you kiss me?” She doesn’t need to ask me twice. After enjoying her lips for a minute, I pull back, not wanting her to be in pain.
Her face, relaxed after our caress, now frowns. “Shotgun? He took over from Irish, didn’t he? Why would he take a risk and do something like that? And why are all the other clubs taking part?”
“Because Irish saw something in you that we could all see, and all the other chapters come to that.” When she gives a sideways look, I explain to her, “You were taken out of the hospital far too early. You could have fuckin’ died on that journey due to lack of the right medical attention. I know, because when you arrived in Arizona, Doc nearly reamed us a new one when he saw the state you were in. They all admired your bravery, your lack of complaint, though you must have been in considerable pain. And Shotgun? Did you know he ended up with Irish’s old lady? He took on his kids and the baby when it was born. It was a rough ride by all accounts, guilt on both parties. But they’ve never forgotten Irish, and it’s part of their debt to him that they’re still helping you.”
She’s rendered speechless. All she can do is shake her head, until with a wince the motion pains her, and she stops.
She cuddles in against me. “There won’t be anything for the Mafia to link his death to me, will there?”
“Shotgun knows his shit. It will look like a hit that happened in the city, and his body dumped. Pippa’s checked, darlin’. You were written out of his will years back. There’s no reason anyone will come looking here for you, Trix.”
She surprises me by giggling. “I kind of hoped you might say they’d leave his body in Ohio.” It’s my turn to raise a quizzical brow. She sighs. “It’s a really weird state. Well, at least the part I was taken to. I saw a scarecrow in one of the fields we were passing. Coming from the city, it was something I hadn’t seen before, so I took note of it. But when I looked again, there was only the stake that it had been tied to. The scarecrow was gone.” I laugh, thinking she’s fucking with me. Then she continues, “And this guy called Phantom? He was standing right in front of me, then the next minute, he disappeared.” She shudders. “It was eerie, Freak, there’s something not natural about that club.”
I chuckle. “Babe, you were probably doped up to your eyeballs.”
She tightens her features. “I’m telling you, Freak, Raven’s Crest, Ohio, is simply strange.”
“So, I take it, no honeymoon in Ohio?”
“Not if I have any say in it.”
I hope to prove to her she’ll get a say in everything from now on unless it comes under club business.
CHAPTER FORTY-FIVE
TRIXIE
“You reckon we’ve got enough food in for tomorrow?” I ask Pippa. We’re currently in the kitchen baking up a storm. Freak has taken Ace out on his bike, so he doesn’t suspect anything.
“I reckon we have.” Pippa stands with her hands on her hips. “We can always order pizzas if not. When are you picking up the cake?”
“Tomorrow morning.” I dust the flour off my hands. “Freak’s never really celebrated Ace’s birthday before…”
“Why the fuck not?”
I’d asked him that exact question. “He’s a man.” I roll my eyes. “In the beginning, he couldn’t see the point as Ace was so young, and,” I grimace, “he had problems with things being overwhelming and new. Then, when Freak got tied up with the club, he was often out on a run and simply forgot. He got into the habit of just giving Ace some money, or a present if he knew what to get him.”
“Not a candidate for the world’s number one dad.”
I laugh along with her. “No, but he’s done his best. Anyway, he got him a car for his sixteenth, so tomorrow he’s just going to give it to him with no fanfare or fuss, and then take him out for a driving lesson. While we…”
“Decorate the clubhouse!” she finishes for me.
“Exactly. Do we know what other Kings are coming in?”
She shakes her head. “A few stayed over in California so they could hit us up before going home.” Switching topic, she asks, “Did you miss going to the rally?”
“Honestly?” When she nods, I continue, “Seeing the state of them when they got back, I take it it was a weekend of debauchery. Some of those hangovers, I don’t know how they managed to ride back.” We both laugh again.
“The poker run sounded fun, though. I’d like to go next year when Jade’s older.”
“Yeah, don’t get me wrong, I’d like to experience it as an old lady.” Thinking back, I don’t regret the times I went as a club girl. Like everyone else, I’d had fun. I just didn’t get the full effect from the back of anyone’s bike. I glance up at the clock on the wall. “Hey, Freak’s going to be back soon with Ace. We'd best get this shit packed away.”
We spend the next few moments boxing everything up. I wince as I pick up a heavy plastic tub, and Pippa’s eyes fill with sympathy. “How are you holding up?”
“I just get the odd twinge when I do too much.” Luckily, my ankle hadn’t been broken, but badly sprained. Instead of crutches, I’m able to hop along with it strapped up. But I was overconfident when I picked up this box, and grateful when she took the weight and lifted it away.
When we’ve finished, Pippa sighs. “One thing’s for certain, Trix. With you in the mix, Ace’s always going to have a birthday celebration from now on.”
