Shade Read online

  “Let’s get out of here.”

  “You want to go back to the clubhouse?” Razer asked, getting on his bike.

  “Fuck no. I’m going to have a look at Beth’s car.”

  * * *

  Shade sat next to Razer near the entrance to the hospital.

  “There they are,” Razer said unnecessarily, since Shade had seen them the instant they came outside.

  After Razer pulled forward, bringing the dark blue car to a stop in front of the hospital, Shade opened the door and got out to see both sisters staring at them in surprise.

  “Your chariot awaits, ladies.” Shade grimaced at Razer’s lame comment. He was trying to ease the women’s tension, but it sure as shit hadn’t worked.

  “But Evie is picking us up,” Beth protested, standing still.

  Lily’s eyes darkened in fear as her gaze went to Razer coming to a stop next to him. He felt a jolt of electricity as she looked at him, taking in the tattoos that covered his body. He had never pretended to be the boy next door.

  “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 wasn’t 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, are you ladies ready to roll?”

  Shade held back as Razer took the wheelchair away from the orderly. He wanted to be the one to help Lily into the car yet could see from her terrified gaze that Razer came across as less threatening to her.

  Shade watched as Razer and Beth helped Lily into the car. When she was in and Razer had moved away, Shade knelt down beside her, removing his sunglasses so he could see her clearly.

  “You good?” he asked.

  “Yes.” At the tremble to her voice, something twisted inside of him, relishing the fear he felt emanating from her in waves.

  She wasn’t like other women who would stare at him. He was well aware of his attraction to them, knew they fantasized about having sex with a bad boy, and he did his best to make their dreams come true. When Lily stared at him, though, he was her worst nightmare.

  She smoothed down the dress which had ridden up her silky thighs when Razer and Beth had helped her into the vehicle. Shade’s eyes followed her movement, a sexual aura hanging around him despite his attempt to tone it down. He tried to soften his facial features, to lower his voice to place them on a more intimate level. However, the woman wasn’t reassured. She saw right through him, her discerning gaze shifting slightly away along with her body so he wasn’t as close to her.

  Shade lithely stood, closing the car door then getting in the front seat. Razer talked to the women during the drive, but Shade wasn’t paying attention. He was studying Lily in the rearview mirror as she talked about college.

  Razer pulled up in front of their house much too soon for Shade, and they got out of the car. While Razer grabbed Lily’s bag out of the trunk, Shade opened Lily’s door, stepping away as Beth handed Lily her crutches.

  Her sister helped her get out of the car, and Shade didn’t miss Lily’s wince as she placed the crutches under her arms.

  “I guess I’m still a little stiff.” Lily tried to laugh it off.

  When she took a step forward slowly, a whimper escaping from her pursed lips, Shade expected her to stop and ask for help; instead, she attempted another step. Her face was filled with pain, which was unacceptable to him.

  “For Christ’s sake,” he finally exploded.

  Unable to watch any longer, he swept her off her feet and into his arms. The crutches fell to the ground as she arched her back, trying to throw herself out of his arms as if his touch were burning her flesh.

  He knew Beth didn’t like him touching her pretty little sister. He saw her take a step forward, but Razer held her back as Lily continued to struggle.

  “Wait, I can walk on the crutches.” Lily tried to reason with him.

  He gave her a small toss into the air, as if he was going to drop her, causing her to circle her arms around his neck, holding on to him.

  “Be careful, you don’t want me to drop you.” He laughed, trying to ease the tension. However, the feel of her breasts against his chest had him clenching his teeth until she leaned away from him as he packed her into the house.

  “Where do you want her?”

  Beth motioned to the couch, where he gently laid her down on it, making sure her back was propped up with a pillow and another under her sprained ankle. He then went outside to get her crutches without explanation, afraid his hoarse voice would give away how her nearness had affected him. He went back inside without knocking, taking the crutches to lay them within her reach. When he saw her face turn up to him, her lips parted as she tried to catch her breath, Shade turned on his feet immediately and got the hell out of there.

  Closing the door behind him, he worked to slow down his breathing.

  “Fuck.” He was in trouble.

  Chapter 6

  The car door opened, and the sheriff slid into the front seat of his cruiser. He was about to start the car when he glanced into the rearview mirror.

  “Shit, Shade, you trying to give me a heart attack?”

  “No, I just wanted to give you a heads-up. Checked out Beth’s car, only thing wrong was cut brake lines. Looks like someone was trying to hurt, if not kill her.”

  “You could have told me this in a phone call without scaring me to death,” his father snapped.

  “I could have, but that wouldn’t have been as much fun.” Shade gave his father a wry smile before becoming serious. “Call Beth in for a talk. Try to find out who would want to hurt her, and tell her to be careful. Make sure she understands that someone wants her dead.”

  “I don’t want to scare her,” his father argued back.

  “If she doesn’t take you seriously, Lily will be put in danger again. If you tell her the truth, she’ll watch Lily closer or keep her away entirely.”

  “Lily’s the one you’re concerned about? What’s going on with you two?” Concerned eyes met his in the mirror.

  “Nothing.” Shade looked out the squad car’s windows before opening the door to slide out. “Have your deputies do patrols around her house, too.”

  “Anything else?”

  “Tell Rachel I said hi.” Shade hadn’t been able to visit his stepmother lately, and he was getting tired of her text messages asking him to come by.

  Shade quickly disappeared into the trees bordering the sheriff’s office. He had one more stop to make before he could return to the clubhouse.

  He watched the church until he was sure no one was inside except Lucky. The dumb fuck left the doors open until he went to bed at night, in case a parishioner wanted to stop by for a chat. Shade had warned him that, if his cover was blown, anyone out for revenge could walk right in to take him out, but he wouldn’t listen.

  Shade didn’t knock on Lucky’s office door; he simply went in and closed the door behind him.

  Lucky wasn’t surprised to see him, either.

  “Is that all you do, play Peeping Lucky when you’re bored?” Shade took a seat in the chair in front of Lucky’s desk.

  “I don’t have a lot to keep me occupied,” Lucky replied, turning away from the window. “How’s your dad?” The comment let Shade know he had seen him get out of his father’s car.

  The windows behind his desk faced the sheriff’s office, the ones on the left faced office buildings behind the church, and the windows to the right faced the diner. He had the whole town under his surveillance without leaving his fucking office.

  “He’s fine. I was just telling him someone cut Beth’s brake line.” That time, it was Shade watching for Lucky’s reaction.

  “Do you know who did it?”

  “No, they didn’t leave a calling card behind,” Shade answered sharply.

  “I gave Razer his chance. Has he used it?” Lucky decided to change topi
cs and acknowledge the elephant in the room. “I’ve avoided her and her calls, but I’m not waiting forever for Razer to make up his mind.”

  “He waited for you. When the other men in the unit left your ass in that village, Razer waited. You kept him waiting for three days while you helped that sick family. Razer got you back to the unit safely when no one else gave a fuck. He put his life on the line for you.”

  “I don’t need you to remind me; I remember. What am I supposed to do, just pretend I don’t care about her?”

  “Let’s be real, Lucky; you don’t. She’s a beautiful woman, and you haven’t had any pussy for a couple of years. I told you to pretend to go on a sabbatical for a couple of days and visit the Ohio clubhouse.”

  “I won’t do that.”

  Shade shook his head. “Then, brother, I suggest you pull out the soap and grab a shower, because Beth isn’t going to be the one to help you with your blue balls. Razer will make his move.”

  Lucky took a seat behind his desk, picking up a pencil to hold in a tight grip. “What did you come here for, Shade?”

  “Don’t be mad at me, brother. You want a pretty woman to keep your bed warm while you find your pipeline? Find someone else.”

  “She’s perfect,” Lucky said unhappily.

  “What were you planning on doing with her after the investigation is over?”

  “It might have worked out, and we would have had a long and happy marriage.”

  “Yeah, and pigs might fucking fly. You and Razer are just alike. You both like variety in your beer and pussy.”

  “I would have stayed faithful,” Lucky snapped.

  “If you had married her, of that I have no doubt. Once you make a vow, you always keep it. That’s why you want to get married, so you don’t break your holy vow before you get done with your case. But what about afterward? You keep saying you’re leaving the church when it’s over. Beth would be left behind along with the church.”

  “Churches allow divorces now.”

  “Leaving you a clear conscience to divorce her. Jesus, save me from hypocrites.”

  “I’m not a hypocrite. Our marriage could have worked out.” The pencil broke in his hand.

  “I guess we’ll never know, will we? She’s Razer’s.” Shade made sure Lucky heard the finality in his voice.

  “Why did you come here?” Lucky repeated.

  “I need a favor.”

  Lucky burst out laughing. “You want a favor from me after pissing me off? What do you want?”

  “I want you to keep an ear out for anything you hear about Charles.”

  “Lily’s boyfriend?”

  “He’s not her boyfriend,” Shade snapped.

  “Now who’s pissed?”

  “Just do it.” Shade stood up from the chair.

  “Why should I help you out? I don’t owe you any favors,” Lucky mocked.

  “Not yet, but you will. Sooner or later, everyone eventually needs my help. Think of it as insurance for the future.”

  Lucky studied him steadily. “All right. I’ll let you know if I hear anything.”

  “You do that.” Shade walked to the door, opening it.

  “When I need a favor.”

  Shade slammed the door behind him. The pious bastard would make him pay a high price for any information he found out, but Shade believed in preparing for the future. He wanted information to use against Charles if he ever needed it.

  Shade had learned to be a good judge of character, and he had a feeling church boy wasn’t as squeaky clean as he pretended.

  * * *

  Shade sat at the bar drinking his whiskey. He moved slightly to his left, trying to discern through the dim lighting exactly how close Lily’s sister was letting the brothers get. When she scanned the crowded room to see if anyone was watching, he made sure to drop his gaze to his drink. The last thing he wanted to do was frighten her off. He wanted to draw her closer.

  One thing he had learned since becoming interested in Lily was that the sisters were close. Where one went, the other did, too. It was what he was counting on.

  His lips quirked when Razer and Beth stood up to leave together, but then Shade’s smile disappeared seconds later when he heard shots from outside.

  “Outside, now! I heard gunfire!” Shade yelled, running out the back door of the bar, where he had heard the shot coming from the surrounding mountain. When he didn’t see or hear anything he ran to the front of the parking lot where he saw Razer standing by Beth’s car.

  Razer motioned for him to stay with Beth, as he disconnected from a call and took off into the woods with Rider and Knox.

  “Stay down!” Shade snapped when he saw Beth’s head begin to rise.

  His experienced gaze studied the wooded hillside. He wished he had been standing outside when the shot had been fired; the flash would have shown him where the shooter had hidden. From the direction Razer, Rider, and Knox had taken off, the shooter had chosen the best view of Beth’s car. She had been the target.

  Razer came out of the wooded hillside, looking aggravated, followed by Knox.

  “Did you find anything?” Shade asked, knowing the shooter was already gone.

  “No. Rider is still looking.”

  “Who the fuck would be brave enough to piss Viper off by taking a hit out on you?” Knox questioned grimly.

  “Don’t know.” Shade remained silent at Razer’s words, not enlightening them that Razer hadn’t been the target.

  “Cops here.” Knox’s warning didn’t come as a surprise with the blue lights flashing.

  Shade stood silently as his father approached while Razer opened the car door for a shaky Beth.

  “Who called the police?” Beth asked.

  “I did,” Razer answered. “Didn’t want them thinking we were the ones out here with a gun.”

  “Beth, Razer.” The sheriff nodded toward him and Knox. “What happened?”

  “Beth and I were by her car when someone fired a shot at me,” Razer began explaining.

  “Don’t expect it was you they were shooting at,” the sheriff corrected with a look toward Beth.

  “What do you mean?” Razer looked at the sheriff in confusion.

  “I thought I told you to be careful?” The sheriff leveled a look at Beth.

  “I was, but how was I supposed to know someone would be crazy enough to shoot at me in front of witnesses?”

  “Someone is trying to kill Beth? Why?” Razer asked, clearly confused, before his eyes met Shade’s accusingly.

  Shade had wanted to see if Beth would tell Razer that Lily’s car accident was really an attempt on her life, and his question had just been answered. He had thought she would behave like most women would—freaking out with the news someone was trying to kill her. But she had proven she would keep things hidden from Razer, which meant he couldn’t only use him as a source of information on the sisters.

  “I’m still investigating,” the sheriff responded.

  “You’re investigating? Since when?”

  “Since I discovered her car’s brakes had been tampered with. I haven’t been able to find any prints or witnesses to the tampering. I have the deputies keeping an eye on her. She was supposed to be home like she usually is when she’s not working. Someone either had to follow her here or knew she was going to be here. Did you notice anyone following?”

  “No, but I wasn’t paying attention,” Beth admitted.

  “Show me where the shot came from, Razer. Beth, get back in the car.”

  Beth did as she was told.

  Shade leaned against the car door while the other men talked. When they finished, Knox went back inside the bar and Razer came back toward him.

  His angry gaze warned he wasn’t happy Shade hadn’t told him about Beth’s brakes being tampered with, since they had been together when Shade had examined the car. Shade met his gaze directly, stepping away from the car as Razer got in beside Beth.

  Shade waited until the car had left the parking lot bef
ore he headed for the hillside. Only two men in the club were good at tracking. He was one, and Cash was the other. He was hoping he would find something the others had missed.

  He really didn’t give a shit what Beth had become involved in to make herself an enemy, but it placed Lily in danger, and that he wouldn’t tolerate.

  Chapter 7

  Shade drove his bike into the club parking lot. Pulling to a stop when he saw the door open at the house, he looked up and saw Beth. Even from where he was sitting, he could see the pain on her face.

  Quickly, he took out his cell, punching in Razer’s number.

  “Beth is leaving the house. From her face, I would say she knows what went down this morning.”

  “Keep her there. I’ll be there in five.” The line disconnected.

  Shade positioned himself in front of Beth’s car door.

  “Hi, Beth.”

  “Shade.” Beth paused, probably because Shade wasn’t budging from her car door. “Excuse me, Shade. I would like to get in my car.”

  Shade remained where he was.

  “Oh, going somewhere?” Shade knew it was a dumbass question, but he was trying to buy Razer time to get there.

  “Yes. Do you mind?” She tried to maneuver around him, but he remained still.

  “Actually, I do. Razer will be here in a minute. He wants you to wait for him.”

  “But I don’t want to wait for Razer,” Beth argued.

  “Take that up with him.” He shrugged.

  “To do that, I would have to be here, which I don’t want to be. Now, would you please move out of my way?”

  “Too late.” Shade gave a nod toward Razer as he blocked Beth’s car with his bike. He then backed off, going up the steps to the clubhouse, letting the two fight it out.

  When he went inside the door, the women were standing at the window, watching the show.

  Natasha turned her head when he entered. “She’s pissed off at me, isn’t she?”