King Read online

  “I was a virgin. You knew that, yet you sent those men after me.”

  “How was I to know you were still a virgin? You and Shade were constantly together in high school. You joined the Navy together. You, Shade and Levi. The three of you were together all the time,” Brooke mocked her, the hatred she felt blazing from her eyes.

  “You couldn’t take it, could you, Brooke? I told you there wasn’t anything between me and Shade. You knew I was in love with Levi, that we were going to get married when we got out of the service.” Evie briefly closed her eyes.

  The friendship the three had shared had been strong. Evie and Levi had been high school sweethearts. When Shade had come to their school their junior year, he and Levi had become friends. The three of them had become close, going on double dates, sharing dreams, and graduating together. Afterwards, the three of them had decided to join the Navy together.

  “But it was Shade you were constantly talking to, it was his shoulder you cried on when you were raped, and it was his house you went to when you were discharged.” Brooke was almost screaming at her, her face turning an ugly color of red.

  “How could I go home, Brooke? You had already convinced Mom it was all my fault, that I had made those charges up. After Levi died, I had no reason to go back to Georgia, did I?”

  “You’re going to blame me for Levi’s death, too?”

  I’m not going to lose control, Evie kept telling herself over and over.

  “No, that was his fault. I told him to stay away from Thompson and his friends. I warned him they wouldn’t fight fair, and they didn’t. Thompson sucker-punched him; his falling and hitting his head was an accident.”

  Evie could still remember Shade’s face when he had come into her bedroom while she was staying with his mom and Penni. She had known it was bad before he had even opened his mouth. The horror of Levi’s death still gave her nightmares. She had once felt she’d been the reason he had died; it had taken Shade a long time to convince her she hadn’t been responsible.

  When Lily had hit her head during the robbery in Sex Piston’s shop and had nearly died, it had brought the pain of losing Levi back to both her and Shade. She had heard how violently he had reacted at the hospital and had wished she could have been there to help him as he had been there for her over the last seven years.

  Evie walked across the room, raising the blinds to let the sun inside. Moving to the next window, she raised those blinds, as well, wishing Brooke would just leave. However, she wouldn’t leave until she came to say whatever it was she considered important enough to confront Evie with.

  “What do you want, Brooke?”

  “I want to make peace between us; you, me and Shade.”

  It dawned on Evie then exactly why Brooke was there. “Please, don’t tell me you haven’t given up the hope of getting Shade. For God’s sake, Brooke, you’re pregnant with Merrick’s baby!”

  “This was an accident, and one I don’t intend to let affect my life. Besides, many men find women attractive when they’re pregnant.”

  Evie stared at her sister in disgust. “How have you managed to hide your true colors from Merrick?”

  “Merrick only sees the good in everyone.”

  “He must to be married to you. Although, the Lord knows I’ve tried unsuccessfully to find anything redeemable in you, so I’m not sure where he finds it.”

  Brooke looked down at her watch. “I need to get back to the church. I’ve offered to help Lily in the store this afternoon.”

  Evie’s blood ran cold.

  “Do not mess with Lily.”

  “I never expected Shade to end up with someone so meek and mild. She was quite a surprise. I never even expected him to be married, so it was quite a shock when she was introduced to me. Dean didn’t tell Merrick because he didn’t know we were sisters, which, by the way, caused me to have a lot of explaining to do to Merrick.”

  Evie could only imagine the fake look of innocence on Brooke’s face as she had lied to her husband. Brooke had always managed to make Evie look like she was jealous and resentful of her.

  “Whatever it is you’re thinking of doing, I wouldn’t, Brooke. Shade is never going to have anything to do with you—he hates you more than I do—and if you try to hurt Lily, you’ll see a side of him you never imagined existed.”

  Brooke actually shuddered in anticipation at her warning. “You really are sick!” Evie said.

  For a brief moment, Brooke’s face twisted into a mask of hatred. “I told you years ago he was mine, but you didn’t listen to me, Evie. You turned him against me. Well, he’ll see me in a whole different light now. You’ll see.”

  “No, he won’t. He loves Lily.”

  “For now. There isn’t much I can do until after the baby is born anyway.” Brooke turned toward the door. “You really need to get some furniture. I believe the church store has a few pieces sitting around.” With that, Brooke sauntered out the door.

  Evie wanted to slam it shut and lock it behind her. Instead, she closed it softly, not wanting to give Brooke the satisfaction of hearing Evie’s anger.

  She raised the windows, letting the fresh air in to relieve the room of Brooke’s cloying perfume and fill the house with a faint breeze after it had been sitting empty since being broken into before Lily and Shade had gotten married.

  Evie was about to pack her suitcase upstairs when she heard the roar of motors coming down the street. She didn’t wait for them to come to the house; she flung the door open, running outside. Jewel and Raci jumped off the backs of the bikes they were riding on.

  “Why didn’t you call? We would have picked you up at the airport,” Jewell complained.

  “I didn’t want to get you guys in trouble for missing work. I know what a slave-driver Shade can be,” she teased as Shade sat watching the commotion of her greeting everyone from his bike.

  “How did you know I was back? I was getting ready to call.”

  “I saw you when the security alarm went off,” Shade stated matter-of-factly while his eyes searched her face.

  “I forgot to key in the code.”

  “Your visitor must have distracted you.” Her eyes were caught by his; he had seen on the camera and came.

  “She didn’t stay long.”

  “Who stopped by?” Jewell asked curiously.

  “No one important.” She had never shared any of her past with any of the women of The Last Riders, even though the men all knew because they had been her support and crutch when it had all happened.

  Knowing better than to push for answers Evie wasn’t going to give, they all filed inside her new home.

  “So, what’s first?” Raci stared around the empty room.

  “The first thing is the furniture store. Want to go with me?”

  Raci, Jewell and Ember all agreed to go while the men were going to head back to the clubhouse.

  “You going to come by tonight?” Train slung an arm around her shoulder.

  “Not tonight. I’m tired from the trip and want to get unpacked,” Evie replied evasively, moving away slightly. Train’s frown had her smiling. “I’ll be there for work bright and early tomorrow, though, so don’t worry.”

  “It wasn’t work I was thinking about. I’ve missed having you around.” Evie smiled at him; that was quite an admission from Train.

  “I missed you guys, too,” Evie admitted.

  “If we’re going to get this house furnished, we need to get to the store,” Raci reminded her.

  “I’m coming.” Beth had dropped Evie’s car off for her yesterday and had left the keys on the kitchen counter. Picking them up, Evie grinned at her friends.

  “Let’s go spend some money,” the women yelled while the men groaned as everyone trailed out of the house.

  Shade was the last one out the door and waited for her to lock it. “Brooke cause any problems?”

  “Same old Brooke. What can I say? Shade, she’s really sick. I can’t believe she’s my sister.”

&nbs
p; “She’s not sick; she’s an evil bitch. I wish I had known who she was married to; I would have talked Lucky out of letting Merrick take over for him.”

  “It’s too late now. We’ll just have to deal with her.”

  Shade turned to walk back to his bike, but Evie grabbed his arm. “Shade, she’s still fixated on you. Watch out. I’m worried with Lily being around her so often.”

  Shade’s face darkened. “I didn’t want to talk to Lily about Brooke until I spoke with you first.”

  Evie sighed. “You’re going to have to tell her everything. I understand. I don’t want her hurt because you want to respect my privacy.”

  “Are you sure?”

  “Yes. Lily won’t talk about my past with anyone, and she of all people will understand me not wanting to talk about it.”

  “I’ll talk to her tonight.”

  “The sooner, the better. I don’t want to give Brooke any opportunity to damage what you and Lily have.”

  “If that bitch causes you any more problems, you tell me immediately.”

  “I will. I promise.”

  Shade gave her a brief nod before going to his bike.

  The women were yelling at her to hurry, hanging out Rider’s truck window. Evie smiled, rushing across the grassy lawn toward them.

  “It’s good to be home,” she told them, jumping up into the truck.

  “It’s about time,” Jewell said, scooting over to make room. “I thought you were going to be gone a couple of weeks, not months. What kept you?”

  “I needed to take care of some club business. It took longer than we thought, but now I’m back and I’m not leaving you guys again.”

  “Thank fuck. Guess who’s cooking dinner tomorrow night for everyone?” Raci laughed.

  Evie groaned. She had missed her friends, not the cooking duties.

  Putting the truck in gear, she drove to the furniture store as she listened contently to the chatter around her. This was where she belonged now, surrounded by her friends and The Last Riders. She wouldn’t forget that ever again.

  Chapter 22

  “We’ve got a problem.” King looked up from the computer screen at Henry’s comment.

  “Does it have to do with the club?”

  “Yeah.”

  “Then it’s your problem. I’m leaving in two days. The papers are signed. It’s now your club, your problem.” He looked back down at the computer screen.

  “Fine, I’ll tell Penni to fuck off. Since she’s Shade’s sister, I kind of figured that made you related.”

  “No, it doesn’t,” King rebutted then gave an aggravated sigh. He owed the woman; she had watched out for Lily during their college years. “What’s the problem?”

  “She won’t tell me; she wants to talk with you. She’s waiting downstairs.”

  “You left her downstairs on her own with the club busy?”

  “Yeah, the woman has an attitude.”

  “What did she do to piss you off?” King read the frustration in Henry’s face.

  “She offered Sherri a job as her assistant, told her she deserved better than shaking her ass on a stage for a bunch of horny old men.”

  King almost laughed but understood why Henry was upset; Sherri was their top earner, and one of Henry’s personal favorites.

  Getting to his feet, he went to the door. “You do know that eventually she’s going to move on.” King stopped when he saw the twisted expression of pain on his friend’s face at his casual comment.

  “She wouldn’t want me; I’m too old and ugly. She’s going with Max now, anyways.”

  “Max will have someone new in a couple of weeks. When he breaks it off with her, ask her out. She’ll go out with you.”

  “You think so?”

  “Yes.” King opened the door and went out with Henry following.

  Going downstairs, he came to a full stop when he saw what was going on. Penni was sitting at the bar, surrounded by his workers who should be waiting on the men in the club or dancing.

  “I better see what she wants before we don’t have anyone left working for us. Send her over.” King sat down at his booth, watching as Henry took Penni’s arm and led her across the room.

  “Hi, King.” He found himself returning the unaffected smile the woman gave. Penni was as boisterous as Lily was quiet and reserved.

  “Henry told me you’re trying to steal my workers.”

  “I think everyone deserves options, don’t you?”

  “They have options, just none that can bring them the kind of money I can.”

  “So I heard. Sherri was interested until I told her the pay scale.” She shrugged, unconcerned.

  King noticed at that point that Ice, Jackal and Max came in through the door. They went to the end of the bar closest to his booth, unashamedly listening to their conversation.

  Penni turned her head to see what King was staring at. Her blue eyes might be the same color as her brother’s, but his always remained expressionless while Penni’s showed every emotion she was feeling. Right now, they were spewing hatred at Jackal who was leaning sideways against the bar, facing the table with a beer in his hand.

  “What can I help you with, Penni?” King drew her attention back to him.

  “I heard you’re going back to Treepoint.”

  King stiffened. “How did you hear that?”

  “Vida, of course. Why? Is there a problem with me knowing?”

  “I didn’t want to advertise where I am moving to. It’s safer for Lily that way.”

  Penni waved her hand, unconcerned. “You don’t have to worry about that. I won’t say anything. I can keep a secret.” She gave him a wink.

  King blasted Ice with a look for letting the information out. Colton was a member of the Predators who had obviously confided in his wife, Vida, of King’s plans to leave Queen City. Ice shrugged, silently telling him Vida, Sawyer and Penni weren’t his problem.

  “I would appreciate it.” King motioned for the bartender to bring him a drink; he had a feeling he was going to need it before he could get rid of Penni.

  “Anyway, Evie left something behind for me, and I’ve decided I don’t want it. Could you give it back to her for me?”

  “Yes.”

  “Thanks.” King watched as she then dug in her large bag. He expected her to pull out a pair of earrings, not the forty-five revolver she whipped out and slapped down on the table between them.

  “Whoa,” Jackal said, spilling his beer.

  “Motherfucker,” Ice said, his hand going behind his back.

  King lifted his hand to Ice, stopping him, while glaring at Henry to step back.

  “She left it for me to use as protection, but I nearly shot my date last night when we went back to my apartment. I forgot it was under the couch cushion.” Her red face told exactly how she had been reminded of its presence.

  King picked it up from the table. Thankfully, the safety was on, so he simply placed it in his suit pocket.

  “I’ll see she gets it back.” He would give it back to her along with some strong words for letting Penni have it in the first place.

  “I appreciate it. I found something that will work that isn’t so big.” When she lifted her purse and started to look through it again, Jackal took the purse away from her.

  “Give that back!” Penni yelled, beginning to get up. Instead, Jackal pushed her back in the booth, sitting down next to her while going through her purse. King saw her smug smile as he searched her purse. He raised a brow when Jackal came up empty-handed.

  Penni jerked her purse back, reaching inside. When she pulled out her car keys, both men looked at them, stumped at how keys could be used as a weapon.

  “You going to strangle them with the cord?” Jackal asked, amused. Her car keys hung from a nylon cord with a tiny ball at the end, wrapped in the cord.

  “May I?” Penni asked him. King nodded, interested to see if she would try to use it to strangle Jackal, who was still laughing at her.

  A
fter Penni held the car keys in her hand and swung the ball at the table, Jackal quit laughing. King grabbed his drink at the thump the ball made against the table.

  “If someone tries to bother me, I’ll hit them with this. It’s supposed to knock them out.”

  King closed his mouth, looking at the innocuous ball. It could be a deadly weapon if used by the right hand. King narrowed his eyes on Penni. The exuberant woman hid a vicious streak. She reminded King of a pet one of his strippers had several years ago. Sheena had a pet chimpanzee she had trained to take off her top during her act. The men had loved it. Everyone thought it was adorable right up until the moment the little fucker had bitten off two of Sheena’s fingers.

  “I can see that.” King reached out, picking up the ball from the table. It was a metal ball bearing underneath the wrapped cord. If swung with enough force at a man’s temple, the damage could be permanent.

  “So, like I said, you can tell Evie I don’t need the gun,” Penni said happily, picking her keys back up from the table.

  King started laughing, unable to help himself. He should have known that if she was related to Shade, she would have a hidden side to her.

  “What’s so funny?” Penni asked suspiciously.

  “Nothing. I’ll give her your message.”

  “Thanks. Give Lily a kiss for me.” When her facial expression changed instantly, King knew the two had a deep friendship.

  “I want to thank you for being such a good friend to her.”

  “She’s like a sister to me, King.”

  “Has she—” King cleared his throat. “Does she ever talk about me?”

  “King, if you need answers from Lily, the best person to ask is her.” Penni wouldn’t betray any of Lily’s confidences, but he had hoped to find out if she had discussed her feelings of him being in her life.

  “I’ll do that.”

  “Good. She’s a special person. I’m happy she’s my sister-in-law.”