Breaking The Biker (The Biker Series) - An MC Gold Vipers Motorcycle Club Biker Romance Novel (14 page)

“No. I suppose I should call him,” I said, looking toward my purse. “And my Uncle Sal.”

“I took the liberty of contacting Sal. He was worried sick about you.”

I stared at him in surprise. “Thank you. Did you tell him about Billy?”

“No. I thought you’d want to.”

“I do, actually. He’s not going to believe it. I still can’t myself.”

“I’m sure life seems like a total mind-fuck for you right now. At least that trip is ending well.”

I snorted. “No shit.”

“By the way, how are you getting back to Davenport?”

“Joanna’s going to drive me. We’ll be leaving soon.”

“I’ll follow you back. Make sure nothing else happens to you guys.”

“You don’t have to do that.”

“I know, but I want to.”

“Why are you being so nice to me?” I asked, wondering if it was because of Cole.

I wasn’t really sure myself. All I knew is that I had this wanting to protect the young woman in front of me, along with her son. Sure, she was gorgeous, with those arctic blue eyes and full lips. Not to mention that she was still wearing a hospital gown and I could tell that she wasn’t wearing a bra. Chances were, she wasn’t wearing any panties either. I was such a sick bastard. “Someone has to.”

She looked disappointed as if expecting something more. “Oh.”

“And I was really hoping to get into your panties before Billy and Joanna returned. Or should I say, under that hospital gown.”

Raina’s jaw dropped.

I laughed at the shock on her face. “Just playing, princess. Trying to lighten the mood. It’s been a hell of day, hasn’t it?”

Raina gave me a slow, sexy smile. “Damn right and it could turn out to be a hell of a night if you play your cards right.”

My eyebrows shot up. “Uh… what?” I asked, not sure if I’d heard her correctly.

“Go and lock the door.”

I stood up. “Seriously?”

She began to laugh.

“That’s cold,” I said, shaking my head.

“Sorry. I just had to fuck with you. You should have seen your face.”

I wondered if she’d noticed the reaction below my belt. “I’m a horn-dog, what can I say?” I replied while nonchalantly trying to adjust myself. “Have to admit, I thought you were offering me a bone and I was about ready to run with it.”

“And I thought it was you, offering me a bone.”

I grinned. “I’m always offering that. I just need to be a gentleman right now before you find out what I’m really about and kick me out of here.”

“And what are you really about?”

“What do you think I’m really about?”

“Personally, I think you’re just a softy who would do almost anything for a woman.”

“You’ve got that backward. See, when I’m hard women will do almost anything for
me
.”

She laughed and shook her head.

“You think I’m joking? They don’t call me Tank for nothing.”

“I figured it had something to do with you eating a lot.”

Grinning wickedly, I dropped my eyes to her lap. “I do have a hearty appetite.”

Raina’s cheeks turned pink.

“Sorry. Too much?”

“No. I work in a bar. I’ve seen and heard it all.”

I work in a bar, too. Fortunately, in the back.”

“What do you mean?”

“I own Griffin’s. I spend most of my time in the office, going over the books and shit.”

“Ah. Running a strip joint must be a lot of work.”

I shrugged. “It’s not so bad. I helped my old man out for many years, and learned a few things. The club has helped out a lot, too.”

“That’s good. You seem like the kind of guy people really want to help.”

“Probably because I’m intimidating.”

She could tell I was joking and smiled. “I have no doubt you are when you need to be. But, I also see a really good guy. And… you seem to be pretty sweet with kids, too.”

“It’s easy to do when you don’t have to live with them.”

“So, you don’t want children?”

“What do you mean? I have seventeen of them already.”

Raina gave me a shocked look. “What?”

“The guys in my club. They’re just a bunch of kids. Can’t see myself taking care of more than those rascals.”

She smiled.

There was a knock on the door and the doctor, an older man with gray hair and glasses, entered the room. He looked at me and then Raina. “I bet you’re ready to get out of here. Is this your ride?”

“No,” she said laughing. “He’s just a friend.”

I stood up and held out my hand. “The name’s Tank. How’s she doing, Doc?”

Sliding the clipboard under his arm, he shook my hand. “She’s doing well. Raina was a very lucky woman.”

“Good to hear.” I looked at her. “I’ll let you talk to the doctor while I go find Billy and Joanna.”

“Thanks,” she said.

“Nice meeting you, Doc.”

“Same to you,” he said.

As I was leaving the room, I overheard him asking her about insurance and stopped outside the door.

“I don’t have any right now,” she said in a low voice. “Can I set up some kind of a payment plan?”

“I’m sure the hospital can arrange that.”

“Thanks goodness,” she replied. “I’m a little strapped for cash.”

“Don’t worry about medical bills right now,” he said in a kind voice. “Worry about recovering and taking care of your son.”

“I’ll try.”

Wanting to make things easier for her so she could focus on more important things, I headed toward the front desk and made arrangements to pay her medical bills.

It was almost ten by the time we left the hospital. Billy had since fallen asleep and Justin carried him out to my car, while Joanna pushed me in a wheelchair.

“Darn, we don’t have a car seat,” I said, remembering how I’d taken it out of the car the week before. 

“Let’s get one then,” said Tank. “There’s a store right up the road.”

“Good idea. We’ll just have to use a seatbelt until we get there,” said Joanna, in a low voice. “I’m sure he’ll be fine, but if we get pulled over, I never said that.”

“Right,” I said, pulling myself out of the wheelchair. I opened the back door of the car and watched as Justin gently put Billy inside and buckled the seatbelt.

Billy, who was groggy, opened his eyes. “Where’s Tuffy?”

“Here he is,” I replied, holding him up.

Justin took the stuffed animal from me and handed it to Billy, who wrapped his arms around the toy and smiled.

“Thank you,” I whispered, smiling warmly at him.

He grinned back at me through the darkness. “My pleasure. He’s a good kid.”

“Bye, Tank,” said Billy, yawning. “I wuv you.”

The look on Justin’s face was priceless. I knew he didn’t know Billy enough to actually have real feelings for him, but that didn’t stop the burly biker from trying his best to return the sentiment.

“You know, kid, you’re pretty easy to love yourself,” he replied. 

Joanna looked at me over the car, smiling in amusement. I grinned back.

“You really don’t have to come with us,” I told him as he closed the back door.

“Nonsense,” he replied. “I said we’d get this kid a car seat and that’s what we’re going to do.”

“I can do it myself,” I said, feeling a little awkward that he was doing so much for us.

Joanna cleared her throat and opened the driver’s side door. “Yeah… I’ll be waiting in the car,” she said. “While you two figure things out.”

“Nothing to figure out,” said Justin, starting to walk away toward his bike, which was on the other side of the parking lot. “The store is right up the road. You can see it from here. I’ll meet you there.”

“If that’s what you really want,” I said. “To go shopping for car seats.”

He turned around and began walking backward. “Let’s be real, here. You already know what I want,” he said, a smile in his voice. “And just so you know…  I always get what I want.”

Understanding his meaning, I felt a tingling in a region that had been dormant for the last twelve months.

“I don’t know what that means,” I lied.

“Don’t worry. You’ll learn soon enough.”

I opened my mouth to give him a witty comeback, but nothing came out. The truth was, I didn’t exactly know how to respond.

“Cat got your tongue?”

“Something like that.”

He gave me a wicked grin and headed to his motorcycle.

When I got into the car, Joanna gave me a strange look.

“What?” I asked.

“What’s going on with you two?” she asked, starting the engine.

“I don’t really know,” I replied, buckling my seatbelt. “We just met yesterday.”

She backed out of the parking spot and we both watched as Justin swung his leg over the side of the motorcycle and started the engine.

“Mm… He’s gorgeous, I’ll give him that. But, he’s also dangerous.”

“I know,” I replied. “I’m not getting involved with him, if that’s what you’re wondering.”

“Good, because you already have enough things to worry about in your life at the moment. Hell, so do I,” she mumbled.

“Speaking of which, do you know if they caught Phillip yet?” I asked, glancing toward the backseat. Billy had already fallen back asleep, still holding the stuffed animal.

“No. I haven’t heard anything. I’m sure they’ll find him pretty quickly, though.”

“If not, you should stay at my place,” I said. “In case he shows up at yours.”

“As much as I appreciate your offer, my mother has already insisted that I stay with her. You’re more than welcome to join me, too. At least until things get settled down?”

“Thank you, but I just want to bring Billy home, where he belongs. I think he needs to be there, especially after what’s been happening.”

She nodded. “You’re probably right. He needs to get back to his routine and the comfort of his bed.”

I pulled my phone out of my purse. “I’m surprised that Cole hasn’t called me back, yet,” I said, a little worried.

“Did you leave him a message about finding Billy?”

“Yes, and that’s why I’m a little freaked out that he hasn’t responded. Not even a text.”

She bit her lip. “Hopefully, he’s okay. I still don’t understand what the big hype is about joining that club of his. Tank’s club is bad enough. I’ve heard the stories around town. But, the Devil’s Rangers? Those guys are nothing but criminals. How did he get involved with them anyway?”

“A friend of his from high school got him into it,” I said. “He started hanging around the club and then they made him a Prospect. I hope he’s okay.”

“Well, he’s a grown man and I hate to say it, but you and Billy would be better off not having him around.”

“He’s my brother,” I said.

“He’s also a brother to thugs and that puts you and Billy in danger.”

I sighed. “I know. I just wish I could talk some sense into him.”

“I know. He’s going to either learn the hard way, of who he’s mixed up with, or… I don’t even want to think about it.”

Neither did I, but I knew she was right.

We followed Justin to the large warehouse store and parked next to him. He got off of his bike and walked over.

I opened up the door and was about to get out when he stopped me.

“You shouldn’t be walking on that leg. Why don’t you stay out here and I’ll run in and buy him a car seat?”

“No. You don’t have to do that,” I insisted.

“I know but I’m going to anyway.”

“I’ll go and buy him one,” said Joanna, opening up her door.

“No. I said that I’d handle this,” said Justin. “Just stay out here and watch over these two.”

Joanna frowned. “You sure?”

“Of course I’m sure. Do you have any preference in car seats?” he asked me.

“Something safe but not too expensive,” I replied.

He nodded. “Okay. I’ll be back.”

“Thank you!” I called, as he turned around and began walking toward the store entrance.

He waved his hand in answer.

Joanna got back into the vehicle and we watched him strut into the store.

“I swear to God, that man has the nicest ass I’ve ever seen,” she said under her breath.

I’d been checking it out too. “Yes, it’s… very nice.”

“If he ever needs a lawyer, you let me know. I’ll let him pay off my retainer in bed,” she said, pulling down the car’s visor.

“I thought you said he was too dangerous to get involved with?” I said, smirking.

“I’m not talking about getting involved. I’m just talking about an hour on his lap,” she whispered. “Maybe a little ‘me’ time on his face, too.”

Biting back laughter, I turned around to make sure that Billy hadn’t heard. Luckily, he was still sleeping. “How can you be thinking about
that
, after everything that’s happened?” I asked, although my own mind had been going ‘there’ as well. Especially with Justin. There was something about him that was beginning to get under my skin.

She let out a sigh. “To be honest, we haven’t been intimate for so long and the man has been so hard to live with. I told you that.”

“Yes. Why did you stay married to him then?” I asked.

She shrugged. “I don’t know. I guess I thought things would get better and decided to wait.”

“It’s a good thing you did, otherwise we might not have known that Billy was still alive.”

“Very true,” she said, yawning.

“Are you going to be okay to drive? You must be exhausted.”

“I have to admit, I’m bushed. It’s only a two hour drive, though. I should be fine.”

As much as I wanted to go home that night, she looked wiped out and with the pain medication I was taking, I didn’t want to risk driving. “Maybe we should get a motel room? Just for the night?” I said. “What do you think?”

She yawned again. “You know, that might not be a bad idea. I’m not looking forward to facing my mother tonight, either. She’s going to barrage me with questions about Phillip, you, and Billy. Speaking of motels, look,” she pointed up the street to a sign that read ‘Vacancy’. “There’s one right there.”

I turned to look. “I think we should do it.”

“Are you sure? Billy made his demands pretty clear. He wants to go home.”

“I know, but he can go home tomorrow. What’s important is that Billy is back with me. And, besides, he’s got Tuffy,” I replied, smiling again.

She sat up straighter, her eyes glittering in the darkness. “Okay, you know what? If we are staying out here, it’s going to be my treat and I say we find an actual ‘hotel’ with a nice restaurant and maybe even a masseuse.” She pulled out her cell phone. “After everything that’s happened, I’d like some R&R. Even if it’s for only one night.”

My eyes widened. “Really?”

“Yes,” she replied, searching the internet.

“I’d just like a few hours to sleep,” I said, sitting deeper into the seat. “Maybe a burger, too. I can’t remember the last time I ate.”

“We’ll get one of those for you, too. Oh, here we go…” she smiled. “The James Drake Hotel. They even have a spa.” Her smile faltered. “It’s not open right now, though. Drat.”

“The hotel?”

“No. The spa. I want a massage, dammit.”

“Maybe you can talk him into it,” I said, watching as Justin stepped out of the store carrying a big box.

“Honey, if anyone is getting a massage from that guy, it’s going to be you.”